MARRIOTT'S SHADOW RIDGE FALDO CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
(760-674-2700)
Palm Springs Golf Course Review
Marriott's Shadow Ridge is a Nick Faldo Championship design that is widely recognized as one of the finest golf experiences in the Palm Springs region. Set against the backdrop of the gorgeous Santa Rosa Mountains, the Faldo Course was created to look and play differently from all the other courses in the desert. Bold, intricate sand bunkering along a vastly rolling terrain has helped to accomplish this feat! This course will not only test a player's skill. But also his imagination and character, thus taking resort golf to another level. 
Five sets of tee boxes are provided to afford all levels of players to choose a set that fits their game. The Black tees measure 7006 yards with a slope of 134, while alternate sets measure in at 6621 yards/130 slope, 6204 yards/125 slope, 5708 yards/124 slope, and 5158 yards with a playable 118 slope from the forward tees. Small pines and palm trees line most of the well manicured fairways, but the abundant sand traps located near the landing zones and greenside truly shape the holes and define the strategy. The scope and shapes of these bunkers truly set them apart from all we encountered on other area courses.
Perimeter mounding and native high grasses also come into play on errant tee shots and approaches, but most players should be able to find the rolling landing areas off the tee. Once on the short grass, golfers will be confronted with undulating green complexes, many protected by deep bunkers, grass depressions, swales and collection areas. Miss the putting surfaces and up and downs can be tricky business. Water also comes into play on 6 holes in the form of crossing creeks or perimeter ponds, highlighted by the beautiful par four ninth which features a lake along the left which squeezes the green complex, making for a tight approach shot.
The four finishing holes also present interesting water features, including the hazard on 16 which runs the length of the hole along the right and similarly juts into the landing area, creating a green complex flanked by water in front, back and to the right. The par three 17th over a beautiful pond presents the only forced carry of the round, although this hazard is basically out of play from the forward tees. A creek rising out of a natural area meanders across the fairway and finishes greenside to the right of the 18th putting complex - a gorgeous finishing hole!
Simply put, this is one of the top golf courses in the Palm Springs area. We highly recommend a round here! 360 degree panoramic mountain vistas are worth the price of admission. The course is well marked with sprinkler heads measured to the center of the green, GPS on all carts provides accurate distance to the center of the green, and pin location card on cart offers +/- information on daily hole placements. Along with the Marriott Golf Academy, there is a grass range and practice greens on property, and the spectacular clubhouse features a pro shop, restaurant/lounge, banquet and outing facilities - plus a health club with locker room and showers available to members and guests. For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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