Desert Willow Golf Resort
The desert has always seemed extra-terrestrial with its arresting landscape and odd visuals. The Coachella Valley floor adjacent to the oasis known as Palm Desert is carpeted with thousands of wind turbines that make the region resemble an "X-Files" movie set more than an idyllic vacation destination. But even from outer space, any creature can appreciate that Palm Desert is nothing short of a golfer's paradise. The city is nestled at the foot the San Jacinto Mountains, 2 hours east of Los Angeles on I-10 but direct flights from Canada into the Palm Springs International Airport are becoming more frequent every year.
Names such as Bighorn, Ironwood, and Shadow Mountain are the first to come to mind when Palm Desert golf is mentioned but they are private clubs requiring an invitation to get a tee time. However, a public facility may be the equal of any of them and is owned by the city itself so it is open to all visitors to the area. Desert Willow consists of two excellent courses designed by Michael Hurdzan - Firecliff and Mountain View. Hurdzan's portfolio also includes familiar names in Canada such as Royal Woodbine and Devil's Paintbrush near Toronto and Westwood Plateau in the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam.
Firecliff embodies challenging desert golf as it boasts a slope of 138 and over 7,000 yards from the pro tees. The fairways and greens are generally spacious but errant shots can end up in any of the numerous hazards: more than 100 sand traps and waste bunkers. (Go figure, lots of sand in the desert). Don't look for doglegs here. The property is expansive so you won't find holes that feel "shoehorned" in to suit its boundaries. Because it's rye grass based, Firecliff doesn't re-open from fall overseeding until late October so if you're planning to play both Desert Willow tracks, don't book your trip until November at the earliest.
Mountain View is rated as the slightly easier track but possesses more scenic holes than Firecliff and opens earlier in the season because of its Bermuda turf. Even though it measures at only about 100 yards shorter from the tips than its cousin, Mountain View has a much more compact feel to it as it winds its way around the Club Intrawest resort near the turn and the new Westin Villas near the clubhouse. Each of the club's power carts (included in the greens fee) is equipped with a state of the art GPS monitor that supplies accurate distances on the course but also allows guests to view a fly-over of each hole thereby eliminating the typical duffer's excuse of "lack of course knowledge" for a poor score.
The natural beauty and wildlife of the desert are always present as you make your way around both courses. Gregarious roadrunners are not bashful about approaching golfers, obviously accustomed to getting the odd handout. You probably won't find a more picturesque practice range than at Desert Willow with the rugged mountains providing a gorgeous backdrop. As the sun arches from east to west throughout the day, the San Jacinto range is slowly transformed from "purple mountain majesty" to sun-drenched golden, providing ample distraction to a golf game. The smog-free valley air doesn't obscure the great views and is devoid of the oppressive humidity that comes with warm temperatures in Florida.
Peak season in Palm Desert is from January to April and Desert Willow primetime greens fees top out at $185 for visitors, but like many other "munis", local residents receive a significant discount. Rates are lowest in the summer but Southwestern golf from May to September isn't worth the scorching temperatures. So the best value can be had in November and December with $145 greens fees. If you prefer to sleep in a little later, a midday rate of $125 is available for tee times after 11 a.m. or for early risers, the same price applies for those who like to tee off before 8 a.m. The accessibility and competitive rates of Desert Willow keep tee sheets fuller than its private competitors, so it's recommended that you reserve early. To book a tee time, you can call 760-346-7060. For more information, go online at desertwillow.com.
---
Bruce Dowbiggin grew up in Montreal, lived for a good spell of his working life in Toronto, and moved to Calgary near the beginning of this decade to write a general sports column for the Calgary Herald. He is also a successful author, having published five books including the latest, Meaning of Puck: How Hockey Explains Modern Canada and he's won two Gemini Awards as a sportscaster. Bruce's column on sports media appears exclusively on globesports.com. He can be reached at dowbboy@shaw.ca and on twitter @dowbboy