An Exclusive View
If crossing over from Cathedral City to Rancho Mirage is the metaphorical equivalent of dipping your toe into the pool of luxury, by the time you reach Portola Ave. in Palm Desert, you’re all the way in.
Or should we say, all the way up? Home to some of America’s finest country clubs and golf resorts, Palm Desert also boasts the most significant elevation changes of any of the major valley cities. That’s made it a hotbed for the New Hollywood set, whose many hillside vacation homes boast views of practically the entire valley floor.
The same views can be enjoyed from nearly every tee at DESERT FALLS COUNTRY CLUB (760-340-5646, www.clubcorp.com) which, while private, has become a favorite for local and national tournaments, including the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Charity Tournament and the Drysdale Hall of Fame Golf Classic.
That’s largely due to Ron Fream’s one-of-a-kind design, combining the elements of classic links courses with more traditional desert features. With a slope rating of 145 from the back tees, Desert Falls ranks among the desert’s five most difficult courses — one of the reasons the PGA regularly brings its tour aspirants there for early-round PGA Tour qualifying. However, in a bit of design ingenuity, Fream placed five sets of tees on almost every hole, meaning the course’s length and difficulty can be customized to match nearly any golfer’s individual skills.
While the tees receive much of the attention, Desert Falls is just as notable for its greens — particularly the 18,000-square-foot 14th, the largest green west of the Rocky Mountains — and sand traps, many of which are large, deep and a near kiss goodnight for anyone unlucky enough to find one.
Of course, if you’re not a celebrity golfer or PGA Tour aspirant, your only chance to play the course is to either be a member, or cozy up to one. Memberships start as low as $10,000, and can be customized to include as many or as few of the club’s many amenities as are desired. Desert Falls does not run up the prices on members with food or drink minimums (there are none) or high monthly dues (more reasonable than most), and limits outside play to fewer than 15 percent of prime-time hours — a lower total than the significant majority of “private” clubs.
Memberships are given out by invitation only, but if you don’t know a member, don’t fear — membership director Greg Hogle will be happy to introduce you to one who could then sponsor your membership application.
What it all means for members is greater course access at lower rates — a combination you don’t have to be a celebrity to appreciate.