DESERT SPRINGS JW MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA (760-341-2211)
VALLEY COURSE
Palm Springs Golf Course Review
The Valley Course is one of two championship layouts at the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert. Both the Valley and Palm courses were designed by Ted Robinson, and are conveniently located on property and serviced by one clubhouse, which provides a pro shop and restaurant/lounge plus changing facilities with showers for men and women. A grass range and several practice greens are also adjacent. The resort is set in an incredibly beautiful environment, surrounding by mountains and decorated with palms plus native and tropical foliage. Voted as one of America's top 50 golf resorts, the property has also been acclaimed as a Silver Medalist resort by Golf Magazine and is on the Gold List of Conde Nast Traveler.
AAA has awarded the resort 4 Diamonds, successful Meetings Magazine has given the property its Ace Award, and Golf for Women Magazine has listed the courses in the Top 50 Women Friendly category. The 884 room hotel provides activities and services that includes 5 swimming pools and numerous Jacuzzis, 8 restaurants/lounges plus Starbucks, a Lawn & Tennis Club, a full service luxury spa, 20 shops with distinctive merchandise, executive business center, children's activity center, convention/meeting facilities, bike rentals and boat rides plus more! For more info on the resort, visit our page for the Desert Springs JW Marriott, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
Valley Course Review
Both golf courses feature the Leading Edge Technologies GPS on all carts, providing accurate yardages from tee to the pin. In addition, 100, 150 and 200 yard blocks are visible on the fairways of all par fours and fives. The Valley Course provides four sets of tees that play to yardages and slopes measuring 6627 yards/127 slope, 6323 ayrds/125 slope, 6023 yards/122 slope for men and 126 for women, and 5262 yards with a slope of 118 from the forward tees.
The opening hole gets one's attention immediately, as the approach along this rolling fairway is played downhill to a green framed by palm trees that front a gorgeous mountain backdrop. The front side is incredibly undulating - highlighted by the swales and depressions that create the roller-coaster terrain on the par three 3rd hole. Numbers seven and eight are a memorable pair. The 7th is a short par four that demands an accurate lay-up to the 80 yard zone along the left side, with water in play on the right for those who venture too far. This is followed by a beautiful par three with a carry over a pond.
The twelfth is also a beautiful par three hole, featuring play from an elevated tee to a well bunkered green complex that is framed by exotic palms. A creek crosses in front and runs along the right side of the par four 14th, and number 16 is another short par four that will challenge the strategy of golfers, as a pond situated in front of the putting surface demands accurate placement off the tee. The green is a small target, creating the need for golfers to land as close as possible to the hazard, which begins about 40 yards away and winds along the right. The finishing hole is a good one - which begins simply enough but demands length off the tee to set up a reasonable approach over water to a wonderfully landscaped green complex.
The Valley Course is a wonderful resort experience, and one that is player friendly from the White and Red tee boxes. Golfers will find the green complexes to be beautiful but challenging, with ridges, tiers and undulations requiring accurate iron play. There is a nice mix of wide and tightly tree lined fairways, affording most players with opportunities to use every club in their bag. This is a gorgeous golf course - open for public play - and highly recommended. For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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