Played Shadow Ridge with a Tee Off.com special of $26 because they just aerated the greens and punched the fairways. I am not going to comment on the course conditions per se as it was made well awar... Continue »

Played Shadow Ridge with a Tee Off.com special of $26 because they just aerated the greens and punched the fairways. I am not going to comment on the course conditions per se as it was made well aware to me that the course had undergone heavy maintenance the week before. I would say give it 2 more weeks and it should be in good shape, Serivce was excellent from check in to cleaning clubs/departure. The food/drink cart was around quite often (it was approaching 110 so that gatorade went down FAST.) I found for a resort course the layout interesting, (18 was my favorite with the creek bisecting your drive and continuing down the left. and definitely want to play it again. Only negative and just a personal pet peeve was that some holes had long meandering drives between them,

Great layout, with the exception of the 18th. Uncharacteristic hole compared to the rest of the course. Greens were grainy, but otherwise decent. Bunkers were fluffy at times, hard on others and need... Continue »

Great layout, with the exception of the 18th. Uncharacteristic hole compared to the rest of the course. Greens were grainy, but otherwise decent. Bunkers were fluffy at times, hard on others and needed raking in spots. One of the best layouts in the valley and solid overall design.

One big complaint. No course marshall on the back 9 and there were resort guests wondering all over the course. On one hole, a couple of resort 'gentlemen' decided to play football in the fairway bunkers. On another hole, a family decided to take a stroll around the green side water hazard and take pictures of each other while we waited to hit our approaches in. Not good.

Played the Greens (6621/71.5/130) in 4H, 45M, matched up with Donna, Peggy & Nancy. The weather was around 65, clear with a little breeze. I enjoy this course layout and the course conditions were n... Continue »

Played the Greens (6621/71.5/130) in 4H, 45M, matched up with Donna, Peggy & Nancy. The weather was around 65, clear with a little breeze. I enjoy this course layout and the course conditions were near perfect. Numerous large fairway bunkers to avoid, but the landing areas on most par 4's & par 5's tee shots are generous in width. However, from the tee shot landing area in, the difficulty goes up considerably. The greens are large, undulating and well protected by traps or hazards. MUCH more break than you would initially think. There are also many runoff or collection areas around these greens, so putts or chips that are hit offline, too weak or too bold can easily end up off the green. The tees had most divots already repaired. Very lush and well maintained. The fairways were lush and well maintained. Most divots already repaired. Mowed close, enjoyed watching shots roll close to the ground like watching the Masters on TV. The rough was also lush and just tall enough to make you think twice when using longer clubs. The sand traps were well maintained with beautiful white sand. Numerous traps that appear to be green side from the tee are actually 25-50 yards from greens, so you can easily get unusual length sand shots here. I felt like the par 71 layout played tougher than the ratings indicated because of the green complexes. the layout has numerous shorter par 4's that could produce doubles or worse equally as easy as a par/birdie. Two par 4's over 460 from even the next to back set of tees. Par 3's a good variation in length and look. The customer service was excellent from everyone encountered. Drink cart out and around numerous times. Excellent practice facility. Overall, a very fun layout in excellent condition. Definitely recommended.

Played the Greens (6621/71.5/130) in 4H, 10M, matched up with Dave & Troy using Underpar. The weather was clear, mid 60's, little wind, excellent for golf. The course conditions were near perfect. M... Continue »

Played the Greens (6621/71.5/130) in 4H, 10M, matched up with Dave & Troy using Underpar. The weather was clear, mid 60's, little wind, excellent for golf. The course conditions were near perfect. Matt's prior review was spot on. Driving areas on most par 4's & par 5's are generous in width. Numerous fairway bunkers to avoid, but I found many to not be in my prime landing zones as I was either short of or over many of them from the Greens. However, from your tee shot in, the difficulty goes up considerably. The greens are large, well protected by traps or hazards and are very undulating. I almost NEVER had a straight putt and was often playing 2 to 3' of break on even 15-25' putts... and frequently not playing enough break. There are also many runoff or collection areas around these greens, so putts or chips that are hit offline, too weak or too bold can easily end up off the green. Tees lush and well maintained. Most divots already repaired. Both the fairways and rough were lush and well maintained. Most divots already repaired. The beautiful white sand was adequate in amount, good in quality and very well maintained. Numerous traps are 25-50 yards from greens, so you can easily get unusual length sand shots here. Par 71 layout that plays tougher than the ratings. Numerous shorter par 4's that could produce doubles or worse equally as easy as a par/birdie. Two par 4's over 460 from even the next to back set of tees. Par 3's a good variation. The customer service was very good from everyone encountered. Drink cart out and around numerous times. Very fun layout in excellent condition. Definitely recommended.

Played two rounds out here this weekend. Course is in fantastic shape. Fairways and greens play amazing. Rough is visible but not too long. Definitely not long enough to stop a shot from rolling i... Continue »

Played two rounds out here this weekend. Course is in fantastic shape. Fairways and greens play amazing. Rough is visible but not too long. Definitely not long enough to stop a shot from rolling in the water. Sand was soft and fluffy, though a little too easy to find if you are hitting short. Greens are very large and if you are not landing in the right area you are going to be three putting. Tee boxes were really good, not perfect but among the best I've played off of.

Facility is great. Full driving range, multiple practice greens. Sand to practice out of too. $25 for all day practice or free with a round. I've never enjoyed food at a Marriott run property (hotels included) and the restaurant here doesn't change my opinion.

Great people and service, an absolute pleasure to play.

Played midday on Sunday the 10th with my buddies using the underpar deal.

Much like Indian Canyons the previous day... SO MUCH GREEN!! Not used to seeing that color on a golf course recently. Tee b... Continue »

Played midday on Sunday the 10th with my buddies using the underpar deal.

Much like Indian Canyons the previous day... SO MUCH GREEN!! Not used to seeing that color on a golf course recently. Tee boxes were firm and level with plenty of coverage. Fairways are big, filled out great from the overseeding, but do have their fair share of divots. Rough was very good and not too penalizing. Greens were frightening: smooth and quick.

Unlike Indian Canyons, this course doesn't play nice. It is a sledgehammer in the form of 18 holes with #18 being the final swing at your head. Current conditions are beautiful, but be warned that any missed shots, specifically approaches leaving downhill recovery shots, will cost you. It's been some time since I've played a course needing such precision on approach shots. Fantastic course but bring the First-Aid kit.

As is customary at this time of year, I once again set up camp at Marriott's Shadow Ridge facility for a four-day getaway, using the GK Event at Indian Wells as an excuse to do so. Holding rank as my ... Continue »

As is customary at this time of year, I once again set up camp at Marriott's Shadow Ridge facility for a four-day getaway, using the GK Event at Indian Wells as an excuse to do so. Holding rank as my favorite course in the Coachella Valley, the Nick Faldo-penned layout provides all I could ask for in a first-class facility: a golf course that challenges all facets of my game while holding my interest from beginning to end, a peerless practice area, flawless playing conditions, and the nicest staff of employees I've encountered anywhere. It's why I never leave the property once I'm settled in. Rather than launch into a full-blown diatribe describing the course's characteristics, etc., I'll devote this review strictly to current playing conditions. For detailed background info, you can access my review from December 2013. First round of the week began at 9:15 Saturday morning, followed by another 15 holes at 2:15 that afternoon. In both instances, pace-of-play was better than I expected, especially after reading all these reviews of 5 hour rounds being the norm at other courses. Paired up with three Korean gentlemen in the AM and our elapsed time was right around 4 hours and 15 minutes, which allowed a brief respite on the range before joining friends for the latter round. Monday's round, as a threesome with a 10:48 tee time, ran just under four hours despite a somewhat sluggish back nine. Going back to Saturday's afternoon round, it took two hours to play the front side but just 45 minutes to get another six holes in as the twosome ahead bailed out after #9. It was somewhat refreshing to play in this manner as the three of us made a concerted effort to try to get as many holes in as possible. The pace-of-play was quick yet not rushed; hit the tee shot, go to the ball, make a quick decision regarding club selection, and repeat the process...saving idle conversation for dinner later that evening. Wow...what a concept. Tee boxes, fairways, rough (relatively short at about 1"-1.5"), and bunkers were in pristine shape. Heard a story that one group complained to the Pro Shop that there wasn't any cushion provided by the fairway turf. Had to laugh at that one but I'll refrain from disparaging any high handicappers with my response. I will say the fairways are perfect launching pads unless you're a habitual scooper of the ball so bear that in mind. Very reminiscent of what you'll find at Barona Creek, they obviously leave no margin for error but there's no sweeter feeling when you make spot-on contact. The greens, which I view as the course's ultimate line of defense, were flawless...quite possibly the best I've ever seen them. Smooth as glass with hardly any ball mark damage whatsoever, they held well-struck lofted irons, as long as you were able to find a flat spot on the green. Faldo incorporated some pronounced undulations and false fronts into these greens so precise approach shots are necessary in order to avoid putting big numbers on the card. That may not be to everyone's liking and there's a good chance first time visitors may struggle due to their unfamiliarity with the slopes and contours, yet there are collection areas surrounding every green that offer a fair opportunity to get up and down with a variety of club choice options. Conditions were windy and cold on Monday, which dried out the greens a bit, in turn making some of the pin positions downright diabolical. The front pin on the Par-3 fourth hole comes to mind, followed by the back center cut on the Par-3 seventeenth. If you've played there, I'm sure you can relate. Green speed was excellent...very quick...and the ball rolled smooth and true. If you read my synopsis of The Celebrity Course at Indian Wells, you can certainly understand my disgust and disappointment with the putting surfaces I encountered there but I'll lay that rant to rest. Although not a guarantee, I almost certainly expect course conditions in the Coachella Valley to be in, or very close to, prime condition at this time of year unless some freak weather event is in play. The high season rates, in my view, would dictate that fact. Shadow Ridge met those expectations and, to be honest with you, actually exceeded them in some instances. What also factors into my decision to adopt Shadow Ridge as my "home-away-from-home" course is the quality of people employed there. Whether it's on the golf course or in the hotel/resort facility, I've had nothing but pleasant experiences with everyone I've come in contact with, and I'm referencing a ten year time period. It's especially nice to see familiar faces year after year, people who remember your name and interact with you like a close friend. I often find the check-in process to take longer than the expected 5 minutes since it can easily morph into a 15-20 minute conversation about a number of different topics; such is the outgoing personality of this place. This is a perfect time to book a round at Shadow Ridge and experience firsthand what this great facility has to offer. Even if you're not going to play the course, a mere $20.00 grants you all-day access to the practice facilities that allow you to sharpen your game from driver through putter, including just about every shot imaginable from 100 yards and in. I'm already chomping at the bit wondering when I'll be taking up temporary residence again.

Played 10/4, the final day before closing for winter seeding. Too bad that was the final day because it was in such great condition! We were here a couple months ago and conditions were surprisingly n... Continue »

Played 10/4, the final day before closing for winter seeding. Too bad that was the final day because it was in such great condition! We were here a couple months ago and conditions were surprisingly not stellar, since every time I had ever played before, regardless of season, it's always been near perfect. Today was back to the excellent conditions we are used to here. Today was made even better by an awesome surprise of seeing kviser on the range and getting to hook up and play with him and our now new friend, dabldya. Thank you to the course for getting us switched around as kviser detailed in his review. This is one of my favorite courses in the area for the course, range, pro shop, restaurant, and last but not least, the excellent staff of cart attendants. I highly recommend this course any time of the year.

Played yesterday, using my nearly expired Underpar.com voucher. Made a tee time for 1:39 p.m. for a twosome with my old pal, and fairly new GKer, dabldya. While warming up on the range, a familiar voi... Continue »

Played yesterday, using my nearly expired Underpar.com voucher. Made a tee time for 1:39 p.m. for a twosome with my old pal, and fairly new GKer, dabldya. While warming up on the range, a familiar voice asked if I needed a lesson: turns out acesfull and TeaGal were waiting to tee off at 1:58. We asked the starter to manipulate the tee sheet and we all went off together just before 2:00, finishing at around 6:30. It was my first time at this course and I already know it is going to be one of my favorites in the area. Nice clubhouse and pro shop, all grass range, and a couple of good practice greens. Good end-of-season conditions with nice, smooth Bermuda grass greens, great sand bunkers, and generous landing areas (that is, until you get to #18). Lots of slight elevation changes to keep things interesting and give you some good roll on many tee shots. The scenery is just great with views of the nearby mountains and lush landscaping throughout the course. Good times with good friends! Hopefully, Underpar will have more $89 vouchers next year, so I can come back.