desert willow golf resort

Firecliff Course Reopens Following Multi-Million Dollar Renovation

Firecliff Reimagined: A New Chapter Begins at Desert Willow Golf Resort

New Greens. New Tees. Same Firecliff Challenge—Now Elevated.

March 17, 2025

After a transformative summer renovation, the Firecliff Course at Desert Willow Golf Resort has reopened with upgraded greens, refined tee boxes, and rejuvenated fairways. In this post, we explore what’s new, what remains iconic, and why this next chapter of Firecliff offers golfers an experience that’s both familiar, and elevated.

Jodi Shaver
Marketing Manager
Desert Willow Golf Resort
Palm Desert, California

Hole 1, Firecliff Course, Green to Fairway

There’s a moment, just before the first tee, when the desert quiets and the mountains stand still, like the course is holding its breath, waiting to reveal what’s next. And now, what comes next at Firecliff is something truly extraordinary.

After months of thoughtful renovation, Desert Willow Golf Resort proudly reopened the Firecliff Course on December 20, 2024, unveiling a new era for one of Palm Desert’s most iconic golfing experiences. With a focus on playability, precision, and presentation, this multi-million dollar transformation honors the character of Firecliff while elevating every moment on the course.

Where Challenge Meets Renewal

Long celebrated for its bold design, native desert beauty, and tournament-level conditioning, Firecliff has always asked for your best game. Now, it offers even more.

Renovation highlights include:

Fraise Mowed Fairways
Deep turf rejuvenation ensures optimal fairway conditions heading into the 2025 season and beyond.
New Mini Verde Bermudagrass Greens
Smooth, fast, and true, these upgraded surfaces deliver year-round consistency and a more refined putting experience.
Leveled, Reshaped, and Expanded Tee Boxes
Every teeing area has been redesigned for improved alignment, turf quality, and aesthetic impact, enhancing play for every skill level.

A Familiar Challenge – Now Elevated

While the upgrades are striking, Firecliff remains unmistakably itself: a course that winds with the land, framed by native flora and desert sky. The strategic demands, bold bunkering, and thoughtful routing haven’t changed—they’ve simply been polished, clarified, and brought to new life.

One returning guest summed it up best:

“Firecliff has always been spectacular, but now it’s something more. The new greens are smooth and true. The tee boxes frame each hole beautifully. It plays exactly how great golf should feel—confident, crisp, and unforgettable.”

GolfPass Reviewer

Now Open for Play

The new Firecliff Course is ready to welcome you back, with its familiar challenge and a fresh sense of possibility. Whether you’re a returning guest or playing it for the first time, we invite you to walk the fairways, read the new greens, and experience what it means to play desert golf at its finest.

Book Your Tee Time Today

Explore More

See the transformation from tee to green

Explore More of Firecliff

Read the Full Press Release

Whether you’ve played Firecliff a hundred times or are stepping onto its fairways for the first time, this next chapter invites you to see the course in a new light. The strategy remains. The spirit endures. But the experience, now elevated, is yours to discover. We can’t wait to welcome you back.

Warmly,
Jodi
Marketing Manager, Desert Willow Golf Resort

About the Author

Jodi Shaver, Marketing Manager

Jodi Shaver is the Marketing Manager at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, where she’s proudly spent the past 15 years bringing the story of the resort to life. An Indiana native and proud Purdue Boilermaker, Jodi is passionate about sharing the beauty, spirit, and unforgettable experiences that make Desert Willow so special. She’s grateful to share it all with you, one story at a time.

Tag us on Instagram @desertwillowgolfresort or use #FirecliffReimagined for a chance to be featured

Savor the Best at Desert Willow’s Terrace Restaurant During CVB Restaurant Week

Join us at the Terrace Restaurant for a culinary experience like no other during the highly anticipated CVB Restaurant Week! Nestled within the scenic Desert Willow Golf Resort, the Terrace Restaurant offers an exquisite dining experience, perfect for breakfast and lunch.

Start your day with our delectable breakfast menu, featuring a variety of mouth-watering options to suit every palate. Indulge in our signature dishes, all available for just $15:

Gravlox & Bagel: Cured salmon with capers, cream cheese, diced tomatoes, and onions, served with a toasted bagel.
Made to Order Omelet: Build your own omelet with a choice of three ingredients: ham, sausage, bacon, cheese, peppers, onion, tomato, or mushrooms. Served with hashbrowns and choice of toast.
The Monte Cristo: Layers of ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese dipped in egg batter, grilled golden brown, served with raspberry sauce and choice of side.
Corned Beef Hash: Freshly ground corned beef hash, two eggs any style, roasted potatoes, and sautéed onions, served with a choice of toast.
Crème Brulee French Toast: Sliced brioche bread layered with crème Brulee filling, drizzled with vanilla sauce, served with strawberry rhubarb compote and fresh seasonal berries.

As the day progresses, our $15 lunch menu awaits with a delightful array of dishes designed to satisfy your midday cravings:

Papaya Chicken: Chicken salad-filled papaya, field greens, mandarin oranges, cilantro lime vinaigrette, and date nut bread.
Cobb Salad: Iceberg, ham, turkey, bacon, egg, tomato, dried cranberry, jack cheese, bleu cheese crumbles, and bleu cheese dressing.
The Firecliff Burger: 1/2lb patty, jalapeno bacon, roasted red pepper, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle sauce.
Fish Tacos: Pico de gallo, baja slaw, tortilla chips, and guacamole.
Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl: Diced tuna with lemongrass sauce, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, mango, poached pear, green onion, shaved carrots, and cucumber with spicy mayo.

Why Choose the Terrace Restaurant?

Stunning Views: Dine with a breathtaking view of the lush greens and picturesque landscape of Desert Willow Golf Resort.
Fresh, Local Ingredients: We take pride in using locally sourced ingredients to create our dishes, ensuring the highest quality and freshness.
Exceptional Service: Our dedicated team is committed to providing you with an unforgettable dining experience.

During CVB Restaurant Week, enjoy special offers and exclusive menu items crafted just for this event. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore new flavors and enjoy a memorable meal with friends and family.

Visit Us Today!

Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, our restaurant promises a dining experience that will leave you coming back for more.

For more information and to view our full menu, visit our website https://www.desertwillow.com/terracerestaurant/ or call us at (760) 346-7060.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @dineGPS and @theterraceatdesertwillow for the latest updates and mouth-watering photos!

Firecliff Renovation Closure at Desert Willow Golf Resort

Exciting Changes Coming to Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort

Date: May 13 – September 22, 2024

We are thrilled to announce a significant renovation project for Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort, enhancing your future golfing experience. From May 13 to September 22, 2024, Firecliff will be temporarily closed to undergo these exciting changes.

What’s Happening?

Desert Willow Golf Resort has committed to converting all of Firecliff’s greens to the superior Mini Verde Bermudagrass. This change will ensure our greens are more resilient, providing a consistent and high-quality playing surface that golfers will appreciate for years to come.

In addition to the greens, all tee boxes will be leveled. This process includes some reshaping and enlarging, aiming to enhance playability and improve the overall aesthetics of the course.

Key Dates:

Closure: May 13, 2024
Re-opening: September 23, 2024

We understand that this closure may be inconvenient for our regular golfers, but we assure you that these upgrades are well worth the wait. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible golfing experience, and these renovations are a significant step towards achieving that.

What to Expect:

When Firecliff reopens on September 23, 2024, you can look forward to:

Enhanced Greens: The new Mini Verde Bermudagrass will offer a more consistent and enjoyable putting surface.
Improved Tee Boxes: Leveling, reshaping, and enlarging will provide better starting points for each hole, enhancing your overall gameplay.

We are excited about these improvements and cannot wait to share the enhanced Firecliff course with you. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this renovation period.

Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to experience a transformed Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort!

Contact Us:

For any questions or further information, please feel free to reach out to our team at Desert Willow Golf Resort. We are here to assist you during this transition and look forward to welcoming you back to an improved Firecliff course this fall.

Follow Us: Stay connected with us on social media for updates and sneak peeks of the renovation process.

Facebook: Desert Willow Golf Resort
Instagram: @DesertWillowGolfResort

Thank you for your continued support and loyalty to Desert Willow Golf Resort. Here’s to many more rounds of golf on a beautifully enhanced Firecliff course!

Seasonal Transition Update at Desert Willow Golf Resort

Attention Guests: Important Course Conditions Update

Greetings from Desert Willow Golf Resort!

As many of you have noticed, this spring has brought us unusually cool weather, which has been a mixed blessing. While the cooler temperatures have allowed our cool-season grasses to thrive longer than expected, it has also created some challenges as we transition back to our warm-season grasses.

Our team has been working diligently to manage this transition. The tees, fairways, and rough areas of the course have transitioned adequately, ensuring that most of your play experience remains top-notch. However, our greens have faced significant challenges. The extended cool season has resulted in discoloration on the putting surfaces. Despite their appearance, we assure you that the greens are still functional, and putts are rolling well.

We understand that these changes might affect your golfing experience, and we deeply appreciate your patience and understanding during this period. As a gesture of goodwill, we are offering a maximum rate of $95 for your rounds. If you have already secured a reservation at a higher rate, rest assured that your tee time will be updated to $95 before you check in.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work through this seasonal transition. We look forward to welcoming you to Desert Willow Golf Resort and providing you with the best possible golfing experience.

Warm regards,

The Desert Willow Golf Resort Team

Exciting Developments in Palm Desert: Wave Pool Groundbreaking at Desert Willow Golf Resort

Palm Desert residents and visitors, get ready for a thrilling new addition to our beautiful desert oasis! The community is abuzz with excitement as we celebrate the groundbreaking of a brand-new wave pool, brought to us by DSRT Surf resort, inside the renowned Desert Willow Golf Resort.

Catching Waves in the Desert

Who would have thought that the heart of Palm Desert would become a hotspot for surfing enthusiasts? Thanks to the innovative vision of DSRT Surf resort, this dream is becoming a reality. The wave pool promises to offer an exhilarating experience for surfers of all levels, from beginners looking to catch their first wave to seasoned pros seeking the perfect ride.

A Transformative Addition

The addition of the wave pool is not just about fun and recreation. It marks a significant enhancement to the Desert Willow Golf Resort, already known for its stunning landscapes and top-notch golf facilities. This new feature is set to attract more visitors to the area, boosting local tourism and providing a unique recreational outlet for residents.

Community Excitement

The groundbreaking ceremony was a momentous occasion, filled with enthusiasm and anticipation. Local officials, community members, and representatives from DSRT Surf resort gathered to celebrate this exciting new project. The wave pool is expected to be a game-changer for Palm Desert, adding to the city’s appeal and providing a new way to enjoy the beautiful desert environment.

Looking Forward

As construction begins, the community eagerly awaits the completion of the wave pool. Updates on the progress will be shared regularly, and we can’t wait to see the final result. This project is a testament to the innovative spirit and dedication to enhancing the quality of life in Palm Desert.

Stay tuned for more updates as we ride the wave of excitement toward the grand opening of the DSRT Surf resort wave pool at Desert Willow Golf Resort. Whether you’re a local resident or planning a visit to Palm Desert, prepare to dive into this fantastic new experience!

For more details on the groundbreaking event and future updates, check out the full article here.