Met up with Mattias out in Palm Springs this weekend and we wanted to try out a new course at the right time and price so we snagged an 8:30am tee time at Desert Island. Just our luck the restaurant shut down the day before for summer, but there were some snacks available in the pro shop to get us going.

Grass range is somewhat small but perfectly functional and the fir... » More

Met up with Mattias out in Palm Springs this weekend and we wanted to try out a new course at the right time and price so we snagged an 8:30am tee time at Desert Island. Just our luck the restaurant shut down the day before for summer, but there were some snacks available in the pro shop to get us going.

Grass range is somewhat small but perfectly functional and the first tee box is directly adjacent to it. We opted to ride on a hot early morning and played from the blue tees. Having little knowledge of this course, I assumed it would be one of those tight but relatively short, limited space tracks like Woodhaven or the old Rancho Mirage. I was pleasantly surprised that it was nothing like either of those. Desert Island gives good account of itself in terms of narrow target areas (with lots of trees framing), plenty of dangerous water features on select holes, tough bunkers and actual length, especially with the varied par 3s. It's a lot of fun.

Conditions at end of peak season were also quite good. The greens did not necessarily look their very best, and some of the later ones still had some punch damage, but they rolled very true and consistently in terms of speed, and they weren't too tricked out or gimmicky at all. They held shots well and generally rewarded good putts. The fairways were also in very good shape overall with a few dry and thin spots here and there, while the rough was very playable and at a perfect length for the strays. Bunkers had nice sand in them and were always well stocked, while the tee boxes were mostly all flat and level with a few of them showing some wear.

There was no cart service which was a bummer on a hot day and a holiday weekend no less, but the real killer is no food/drink services at the turn. I'm not sure if there's an alternative later in the summer, but I would advise stocking up yourself if it remains like that for the coming months. POP was excellent with no waiting on the front nine, but I believe a group started on the back nine just in front of us and unfortunately they really brought the pace down but we still managed to finish in just over four hours.

I really enjoyed this course a lot more than I thought I would and would love to come back some time during prime time when it's even in better shape. I think it's a fun challenge as well, especially that crazy 9th hole island fairway that managed to take a big chunk out of what would have been a really good scorecard!
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Walked on yesterday, Memorial Day, around 12:40pm and got right out at 1:10pm. I seem to have good luck on holidays and Sundays walking out and getting off the first tee fairly quickly. Played with 3 high school kids on the Coronado golf team. Good bunch of young men.

Everything is in good shape right now. No complaints on any aspect of the course. Greens held s... » More

Walked on yesterday, Memorial Day, around 12:40pm and got right out at 1:10pm. I seem to have good luck on holidays and Sundays walking out and getting off the first tee fairly quickly. Played with 3 high school kids on the Coronado golf team. Good bunch of young men.

Everything is in good shape right now. No complaints on any aspect of the course. Greens held shots well and were a good speed with no bumpiness. Teeboxes were fairly level with minimal divot damage, no problems finding a spot for the peg. Fairways were excellent. Provided some decent roll and nice cushion. I didn't have a bad lie all day. Rough seemed to be up more than usual. Had a couple of thick lies in some spots. I didn't find any bunkers, so can't comment on those, but they looked ok from what I could tell. Service was just fine all around. Bev. cart was out and about. POP was right at 5hrs. which is fairly common. Lots of waiting as usual. $59 non-resident rate to walk is getting a little steep, but it's still worth it. Always recommend.
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Played The Home Course this morning with a couple of friends for the first time this year, and really enjoyed it. Conditions are just as good as I remember, greens are rolling really nicely at a very consistent medium/quick pace. There's a pitch mark to fix here and there, but not nearly as many as most of the places I play. Fairways are awesome, they'll give you plenty of roll... » More

Played The Home Course this morning with a couple of friends for the first time this year, and really enjoyed it. Conditions are just as good as I remember, greens are rolling really nicely at a very consistent medium/quick pace. There's a pitch mark to fix here and there, but not nearly as many as most of the places I play. Fairways are awesome, they'll give you plenty of roll and always a good lie to hit from. The rough is in great shape as well, not too long or punishing. If you go way off line, you're in the long grass which is very hit and miss. You could get a good lie, or you might never see that ball again. I found the greenside bunker on #3, and it had a good layer of nice sand, and was well raked. Tee boxes were all flat, and for the most part pretty good. We played the blue/white combo, and you can tell from the wear on those boxes that it is a popular choice. We teed off right on time at 7:36, and I think we got around in right about 4 hours, 3 of us walking behind a couple of foursomes in carts. We waited here and there (nothing worth complaining about) and were never pushed, for a very comfortable pace. Warming up on a really nice grass range is always a treat, plus they've got a nice chipping green with a practice bunker, and two excellent practice putting greens that rolled just like the ones out on the course. Customer service everywhere (pro shop, restaurant, marshals) was excellent as well. You just can't go wrong with this place.
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From 5/18

The Demise of SilverRock...

What happened to SilverRock! What a disaster it has become.


Played a very good round of golf at what was formerly my favorite course in the Desert and Valley. This place has turned into a ruination with its service and horrible course conditions. I play here every year on my Desert Trips, and this has the look... » More

From 5/18

The Demise of SilverRock...

What happened to SilverRock! What a disaster it has become.


Played a very good round of golf at what was formerly my favorite course in the Desert and Valley. This place has turned into a ruination with its service and horrible course conditions. I play here every year on my Desert Trips, and this has the looks of a course that may be going under.


For the positive, the layout is superb. For a someone who is a real golfer, the layout and design are as good as it gets in the Desert and Valley.


As for the reality of things, the Starter insulted and cursed profanities at one of our playing partners calling him an a**hole because he was unable to share a cart due to recent flu, however, the cart was paid as a required single, and the Starter continued his tirade with the intent of ruining the golf round for the entire group because he could not get his way. I have never seen actions like this on a golf course from any type of employee. This man needs to be fired and sent to anger management and self-respect counseling. He really made a complete fool of himself.


On top of that, the Golf Cart Drink Lady, did not serve us once on the course despite it being 103 degrees. We even attempted to chase her down twice to purchase drinks, while yelling please stop, and she drove off as quickly as she could. On one occasion she clearly saw our group and made a full effort to avoid us by driving off and hitting the gas on her cart. Based on the perspective of this individual and her actions, it was evident that she was not there to provide service and was in a rush to get to her other job, most likely.


SilverRock is a fun Players Course that is a legitimate test of golf with wind speeds that exceeded 20 mph at times. SilverRock is a very well-designed course that places premium on accuracy off the tee and into greens. The course features clear definition between its mid-sized fairways and rough areas, well placed bunkering on fairways and proximate to greens, along with strategic water hazards on a couple of holes, and normally with fast greens.


However, on this day they were not Greens, they are to be referred to as the Dirts! Dirt and disease everywhere and areas of fury overgrowth. Worst greens I have ever played on, it was frankly sad, especially based on the price and past conditions.


The course layout is rated a 5 out of 5, conditions are rated a 2 out of 5. I note the following:


Tee Boxes: notable damage. Average condition for a Muni.


Fairways: Mixed green, yellow, and dry and at times tight. Average condition for a Muni.


Greens: An absolute disaster. Extensive damage that included dirt spots, dead spots, fury overgrowth, and bumpiness. Speed cannot be determined as each spot presented its own adventure. Failure in condition.


Sand: Maintained and firm. Average condition.


Rough: rough was defined from the fairway and green collared but not too overgrown, about 2 – 4 inches. Very grabby at times. Average condition.


Waste Areas: - Waste areas on various holes did not offer the opportunity of recovery due to their overgrown nature. Above average.


Driving Range: The range was dry and hitting off dirt mainly. Good for me as a low handicapper as I had to focus on perfect ball contact and compression, which carried over to the course for a very good ball striking round. But horrible if expecting grass to hit from. Balls were average condition Pinnacles, expected better. You are on a flat section hitting into a grass valley with green markers at 100, 150, 200, 225, and 250 yards. Range ran out at about 300+ish.


Practice Putting Green: Absolute trash like the course Greens, aka “Dirts” on the course.


POP: 5 hours – wait was encountered on numerous holes. Course playing speed was evident mismanagement with no Marshalls on the course. Pretty sad.


The SilverRock facility included a nice restaurant, and an average bungalow pro shop. Service received at both was average at best. However, the food was very good.


Really enjoyed this layout, food, and the quality of my play for the day. However, conditions and service here were an absolute fail, at the lowest level of golf. Can’t believe what we paid, for what we received. And to compound it, one of our playing partners was a first timer here who we hyped the course up for. He was very disgusted and wanted his money back.


Again, this place looks like it is in major trouble. With all the unfinished and abandoned construction, absolute failure of service and conditions, along with the general vibe, I can only presume the worst.


Play here is you are paying half the price or if their service and conditions are significantly improved.


Wishing SilverRock better days! They are pretty rough right now...
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Great layout for a more value-oriented round of golf: $55 for a morning 8:50 tee time as a single walker (cart is included, but I preferred to walk).

Greens rolled true and were actually pretty speedy after the sun warmed them up. Teeboxes were kind of hit or miss, but you could always find a flat spot to stand on. Bunkers are pretty crappy, one that I hit out of was ... » More

Great layout for a more value-oriented round of golf: $55 for a morning 8:50 tee time as a single walker (cart is included, but I preferred to walk).

Greens rolled true and were actually pretty speedy after the sun warmed them up. Teeboxes were kind of hit or miss, but you could always find a flat spot to stand on. Bunkers are pretty crappy, one that I hit out of was just flat hard mud. Fairways had some bare spots but landing areas generally had fine turf. Huge practice green, friendly and helpful staff, nice clean facility overall. POP right on the money at just over 4 hours, as a single walking I was sent off the back and caught up to and joined a twosome, then joined a threesome on the front.

The layout is fun and interesting: some doglegs, some water, some driveable par 4's, there's even a blind tee shot from the tips.

Give it a try, it's not overly fancy but is absolutely one of the better courses in this area and a good value for the money.
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