I play here weekly and the course has been in great shape (for what it is - a muni) for the past few months. Greens are really quite good - soft, smooth and relatively fast. Fairways are mostly lush and playable with a handful of spots that are bare/GUR. There's been improvement in the tee boxes lately and I'd rate them as average at this point. Rough is fairly short and thin, with many large stretches of hardpan once you get into the deep rough. It's a walkable course and a nice setting nestled between Cowles Mountain and Lake Murray. The back nine is especially scenic (holes 11-13) and plays along Lake Murray for stretches. Overall the course is in probably the best shape I've ever seen it in, so now's the time to get out and give it a shot.

Played the Boulder course this morning with my Dad on $40 Underpar deal. First time playing it from the back tees and it remained a fun straightforward layout. For the uninitiated, desert wash/waste runs along just about every hole on the course. Lots of elevated green complexes, but once you are on the green they're pretty level. Very easy to have a nice putting day here. Course was in very good shape today. Tee boxes level and lush, fairways tight and healthy, rough on the short side but lush. Greens were in great shape as well, but not running too fast. Only complaint is that the traps were a little thin. Otherwise everything was great. IWe like this place. Always in nice shape. One of the best values in the Coachella valley.

Played on the afternoon of 4/2, so this is a bit late.

I'll be honest, I've been visiting the desert for over 5 years now and I never knew this place existed until I booked the tee time. First off, I really liked the layout. It's a little more rolling and links style than many of the offerings in the desert. Course was a fair test. A handful of holes where you need to keep it dry, but mostly a what you see is what you get affair. Some interesting shaped greens and tough multi-tiered complexes. The Y-shaped green on number 14 stands out in this regard. It's a 210 yard par three with a sinisterly-sloped green. I made the mistake of going long by 3-4 yards when the pin was in the middle back. I was just a couple of yards off the green, but once I got to my ball I knew it would take a miracle to avoid a 5 (I didn't...lol). Course measured in the 6900-7000 yards range from the back tees, but it played shorter than that (I'll get to that in a minute). Nice mix of yardages from hole to hole (couple of reachable par 5s, a couple long par 3s, a drivable par 4 (number 7?).

As for course conditions, the turf was very hard in the fairways and rough. Good grass coverage overall, but the ground was hard and shots would run quite a bit. I lost balls long into the water on holes 1 and 10 after playing what I thought were perfect layups off the tee. On 10, a flat hole, I hit a 2 hybrid 295 yards into the water at the end of the fairway (I do not hit a hybrid 295...lol). Granted, the course looked fine and I didn't have any problems hitting out of either the fairway or rough. It was just hard and fast. Same goes with the greens. Greens had good coverage and putted well, but they were on the hard side. Didn't suck too many shots back, mostly a decent sized hop and a 5-10 foot release. Good thing the fairways were hard and I was bouncing my drives out 300+ yards. Allowed me to hit a lot of wedges and short irons that I could bring in high. I don't think I would have had a lot of success holding greens with mid-to-long irons. There were plenty of traps, but I only remember hitting out of one of them, a short par 3 on the back, and the sand was fine in that one.

Overall, it's a fun layout and the type of place where you can post a good score and build some confidence. If they could soften up the fairways and greens a bit, it would be a very fine layout. I would play again at the right price.

Played on 1/8 with my $19 birthday round. Played Mission/Friars. Teed off (as a 3 some) at 6:37am and didn't have anyone in front of us until we hit the Friars 9 around 8:00am. Then things basically ground to a halt. There was one horribly slow foursome that caused the tee boxes to be backed up four groups deep on some holes. Ended up around 2:45 to play the second nine.

Conditions seemed improved over where the course was in the Fall. Greens were in good shape. Cut tight and rolling very quickly. I really struggled reading the greens, especially on the Friars nine, where I struck it reasonably well but ended with 21 putts...lol.

Fairways had some areas of burnout/packed mud because of flood damage from the recent heavy rains, but there were always some good areas nearby to move to (winter rules!). They were cut short. Rough was fairly short and playable. Generally decent coverage but some trouble areas just like the fairways. I think I was in one bunker and there was enough sand that you didn't need to be worry about blading it 70 yards over the green. Grass on tee boxes was a little long, but nothing that inhibited play. A few could also use some leveling, but again nothing too drastic. So, overall, the course was in pretty good condition and certainly worth the $19 I paid for the cart!

I've always liked the layout at Riverwalk. It's a very playable course for all skill levels. It's got a good mix of shot making and grip it and rip it holes. And it's nice to walk a flatter layout once in a while. Definitely a place to put on your list if you are struggling and need to get your game right.

First time ever playing Steele Canyon. Took advantage of my $20 birthday round this afternoon after the morning rain tapered off. Played Vineyard/Canyon and loved both layouts. Course was in great condition considering the morning rains. Greens were very receptive to approach shots and really in almost perfect condition. Putted smooth and fast. Fairways had good coverage and were cut thin. Rough was fairly short dormant bermuda so no real penalty for missing fairways. Very good scoring conditions. I usually shoot low 80s when I travel, but managed to post 37/37 on the two nines. Nice birthday gift from the golf gods!

Anyhow, I really loved this place and can't wait to return.

Played Cottonwood (Ivanhoe) for the first time this Sunday, 4/14/14. Got a lunchtime rate of $24 on GolfNow, so I figured I'd finally give it a shot. Not a very memorable layout and the course conditioning was pretty shoddy - tons of crab grass and weeds growing all over the place, hard traps, etc. Also, seemed to be a bunch of construction type equipment strewn all over the place. Having said that, the tee boxes were mostly level and the greens were in decent shape and putted true. The best part of the day was the pace of play - wide open - and got around in 3.5 hours.

Overall, I won't be back, as there are better options for a cheap round of golf.

Played this morning on an internet deal for $32. The first time I have ever been glad not to have checked Greenskeeper before booking a tee time. Reviews are pretty poor for the South course but we found it to be in impeccably good condition. Fairway, rough, traps and tee boxes were all in good to great shape, but the greens were in absolutely mint condition. Smooth, FAST, and rolling true. Super steal at the price we paid.

Also, I've played the North many times and this was my first time on the South and I actually preferred the layout. Great desert scenery and lots of challenging tight fairways. Fun day.

Played Monday morning, 6/25/12. First time playing the course and I left impressed overall. Tee boxes, fairways, rough and especially the sand traps - were all immaculate. Frankly, I was amazed that they keep the majority of the course in such amazing condition given the heat. The greens, however, were a slow bumpy mess. It looked like they had been aerated in the somewhat not too distant past and they were not recovering well. Given the overall attention paid to conditioning, I'm assuming that they'll get the greens back into shape shortly.

Course layout was straightforward and pleasing to the eye. Big wide fairways and short rough. Lots of water and bunkers, but if you play a smart round of golf you can easily work your way around them. Have to mention the bunkers again. Because I play most of my golf in the San Diego area where it seems like all you ever get is thin hardpan sand traps, I've lost all of my bunker-play confidence and become spooked about playing out of traps. The sand traps at Desert Springs are so lush, light and soft that it rekindled my joy of bunker play and rebuilt my confidence (for now) out of the sand. By the end of the round I was actually looking forward to hitting sand shots to see how close I could get them.

Customer service was spot on. Lots of trips by the staff to offer free fruit and ice cold towels, etc. For the $39 I paid, it is more than a great deal and I will definitely play it again when the opportunity presents itself.

Marriott Desert Springs Golf Course Review
Palm Springs California Golf Course Reviews

Played Legends (Temeku Hills) for the first time on Saturday, 11/19. Definitely a fun layout. Lots of elevations changes and doglegs, with a nice mix of challenging and scoring holes. The par 3's were fairly long, but the course made up for it with some shorter par fours and fives. Tee to green, I'd rate the conditions as slightly above-average. The course was a little on the brown side but it didn't effect play or the way the ball rolled out on shots. As others have said, the greens were outstanding. Every putt I hit rolled true and the speed was consistent from green to green. Quite a few multi-tiered greens as well, so a premium is placed on club selection and approach placement. Overall, it was a great experience and definitely worth the rates they're currently charging. Recommend.

Legends Golf Club Course Review
Temecula California Golf Course Reviews

Played Desert Dunes back in late February and it was a great value at roughly $35 w/cart. It's a great layout and the course conditions were on par with courses in the $75-100 range. Smooth, true greens and lush healthy fairways. And as others have mentioned - this is a great place to spot wildlife. I loved that it's isolated, with no buildings around to speak of other than the clubhouse. A true desert golf experience

Just an FYI, but the wind was really kicking the morning we played which made it a real challenge - but a fun one. If you don't like playing in the wind, or are a high spin player with a ballooning ball flight, I would avoid this place. But if you've got some guts and want to work on your "wind" game, it's hard to beat Desert Dunes.

Hit this course up a couple of times over the last two months. Played very early (second group off both times) so pace of play was great and I was able to walk 18 holes in around 3:15. The course is a standard muni - mostly flat and in fair condition. What makes it fun and an okay challenge is that it's a decent length from the blue tees (6500 yds) and there is some sort of water hazard or OB that comes into play on just about every hole.

The greens were especially well kept for it being a muni. They held iron shots well and rolled true.

Overall, I think it's a great value at $29 (the primetime weekend walking rate) or $16 (twilight). I will play here again.