Desert Falls Country Club

A Pro’s Perspective . . .

Playing Desert Falls is a good test for any player.  The course is set up so that if you are hitting the ball well you can score.  The fairways are generous off of the tee and if you place the ball, you can access the pins to make some birdies.  The greens are receptive and always in good shape.  The greens are also well bunkered and an errant shot is very difficult to get up and down.
Desert Falls is another Valley course that has many memorable holes, especially on the back 9.  No. 14 is a par 3 that has what we call the ”Mickey Mouse” green because it is shaped like the head of Mickey Mouse.  If you put your ball on the wrong tier on 14, it is virtually impossible to two putt.

Every hole on Desert Falls has it’s own unique characteristics. You can make a birdie look easy and you can easily make a double.  Work on your bunker game because the traps are well placed and nasty.  If your short game is weak, bring a lawn chair and umbrella because you can get beached on #4.

John Klug, Director of Golf at Desert Falls, is an old friend of DesertCADDIE.com and a Nebraska boy.  Klug has shot his share of sub-par rounds and is an active player on the Section and Chapter PGA Circuit.  I doubt if John can throw down a 62 like Chip Brooke did a few years back. With a rating of 74 and 7,000 yards, Desert Falls doesn’t give up too many low numbers like that.

An Amateur’s Perspective . . .

When I first stepped out of the Desert Fall’s Clubhouse the view of the course in front of me brought one phrase to mind . . . “wide open spaces.”  The Desert Falls course has a very open feel to it.  It is a course that puts you in the desert amongst beautiful lakes, green fairways and many oases of palm trees.

Desert Falls is the busiest course I’ve played this season compared to Oasis, Indian Palms and  Eagle Falls.  We thought a 3 p.m. tee time would help us avoid the crowds, but that was not the case.  Evidence that Desert Falls is a very POPULAR course for sure!  With a spectacular clubhouse, driving range and practice facility.

Bring your shovel to the fourth hole.  The green is protected by multiple bunkers that surround the front side from all approach angles.  I’ve never seen a series of bunkers like this one.  It made for a very memorable hole and it left me wishing I had a caddie on the cart to rake up my footprints . . . so much sand!

The ninth hole is a par-5 that is very difficult.  The green is placed near a large lake at a strange angle.  I will have to play that hole a few more times to figure it out.  The green is not a straight shot unless you go over the lake . . . I’m sure Spiderman can do it!  You really need to plan your approach on this hole if you want to make it onto the green without extra strokes or losing a ball in the lake.  Of course, this green sits right in front of the clubhouse balcony where golfers take in the scene below while sipping on their after-golf cocktail.  You can also see players coming in on the 18th hole as it parallels the 9th  hole and shares the lake. With our late tee time I was only able to play the first 9 holes.  The 14th hole is noted for it’s large green. It is a par-3 with an 18,000 square foot green, the largest this side of the Rockies.

There is plenty of water and sand on this course, so be prepared to drop a few balls and do a bit of raking. This course comes well ranked and highly recommended!

Golf Magazine called Desert Falls “One of the most challenging and enjoyable courses in Southern California” (June 1994).

Southern California PGA listed Desert Falls one of the top ten courses in the desert (1996).

Golf Digest’s Seventh Annual “Best Places to Play” (2007) gave Desert Falls four stars for outstanding course condition, professional staff, rate of play, and overall value.

For more information on playing Desert Falls, visit their Web site:
http://www.clubcorp.com/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=PCH&MFCODE=DSFCC&SUBGRP=15