Golf Courses: There are two 18-hole golf courses, both designed by Ted Robinson, and an unusual 18-hole championship putting course.
The Palms: Built in 1987, these 18 holes wind around the resort’s waterways.
The Valley: This course shows such classic Ted Robinson features as effective water usage, multi-tiered greens framed by palm trees, and undulating fairways.
The Greens: Located adjacent to the lobby bar at the hotel, this 18-hole putting course stands out for its use of classic features of full-length courses, including sand bunkers, water hazards, strategically placed trees, and rolling “fairways,” all played with only a putter. Par 54, 1,435 feet.
Spa & Fitness Center: Located along the lake, a couple of hundred yards from the hotel lobby, the 38,000-square-foot Spa Desert Springs has adopted a “California casual” decor of split-face limestone and Brazilian ipe wood throughout its interior. Both the men’s and women’s areas have saunas, steam rooms, and hot and cold plunge pools, and outdoor whirlpools, the latter overlooking the resort’s Ted Robinson-designed golf course. A door from each leads to a Spa Bistro, which serves light snacks. New to both areas, however, is a Turkish hammam: a spacious steam chamber infused with essential oils and set at 105 degrees (which allows for a longer relaxation period than a traditional steam room). Digitally programmable Kohler Desert Rain showers with five heads let guests fully choreograph their shower experience. The men’s side also has a 50-inche flat-screen TV. Outside, there’s a saltwater pool with views of the golf course and homes lining the lake.
The spa treatments draw heavily on the healing ingredients and customs of the surrounding Sonoran Desert—including locally harvested citrus and dates, cactus flower, and aloe. However, it remains eclectic in also adopting European customs of using mud as a detoxifier, Ayurvedic warm oil and crushed herb treatments, Turkish sea salts, and more. There is also a new emphasis on “spa together,” in which couples and groups can enjoy treatments together. Finally, they have added a 600-square-foot Spa Sanctuary, a private suite destined to cater to VIPs and the Hollywood elite. It has a private entrance and butler.
Those wanting to workout have the Fitness Center, a complete workout center with lines of treadmills, exercycles (recumbent and upright), and elliptical and standard StairMasters plus a full suite off LifeFitness machines, free weights, and dumbbells. It’s is a partly mirrored room with windows on outside entrance. TVs hang from ceiling in front of workout machines and each of the cardio stations has its own television. There are also a variety of classes, including morning power walks (3.5 miles in about 45 minutes), spinning, yoga, and mat Pilates. There’s also a shop with spa products and workout gear, a salon and hallways leading to women’s locker in one direction, men’s in the other. These each have tile showers, sauna, steam, and menthol steam and hot and cold plunge pools. A door from each leads to the Bistro, which serves light snacks, and to an outdoor lap pool bordered by lounge chairs. There’s another small fitness center, with a handful of cardiovascular machines, at one corner of the tennis building where it has windows on the outside.
Children's programs: There is a wide variety of kid's recreation and programming available.
Dining: The main restaurant is the Rockwood Grill, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a garden terrace just off the lake. It is supplemented by the Mikado Japanese Steakhouse, seafood at Fishermen’s Landing, sushi in the Lobby Bar, a poolside grill, and a Starbucks.
484 Reviews on “JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa - Peter Burwash International”
Tessa and Dave are excellent perceptive enthusiastic tennis instructors. I have no hesitation in recommending this tennis program.
Fantastic resort. Loved the opportunity to play on clay and hard court. Too bad the grass courts were closed in October. Friendly staff and great coaches as well.
The property is well maintained. The service at the front desk of the tennis center is what you would expect from a first class resort. I took two lessons from Tess who is a great teaching pro. I wanted a good workout and she delivered while diagnosing some glitches in my mechanics. Overall I am very impressed with the people and facility. This is my 4th visit to this resort and I will go again.
The resort has great facilities (hard, clay, and grass courts) and a variety of playing opportunities (several different clinic and lesson options), but the pros elevate the experience here. I had clinics with Jim and Tess, who were both very knowledgeable and personable. They provide insightful instruction, good conversation, and a workout if you’re looking for it. Afterward, the Marriott is a great place to eat well and unwind. I’ll definitely be back.
My husband and I decided to spend our 10 year anniversary here after some suggestions by friends and previous reviews on various websites. It was an amazing experience! We had the tennis vacation package and it was perfect for us. The staff was extremely accommodating and allowed us to tailor our needs on a daily basis. Both of our private lessons with Dave and Tess were informative and extremely useful. The drill sessions (which essentially were like private clinics since there was only one other person in the class) were fun but challenging. They even let us have a clinic on the clay courts without any objection or hesitation! Both instructors were genuinely interested in our tennis histories and progress and spent extra time (over an additional hour) discussing strategies. Customer service was superb.
The only weakness would be the fact we couldn’t play on the grass courts due to the expected annual reseeding. But that just gives us a reason to come back again! You definitely won’t be disappointed with the quality and friendliness of the tennis professionals, the variety of clinics offered, the quality of the grounds and courts, and the location! Such a memorable experience!
My wife and I are 3.5 and 4.5 players and learned so much from PBI instructor Jim. His tennis clinics are essentials for tennis players who want to improve their games with simple techniques and strategies. He brings you back to the basics.This is an ideal vacation place for tennis players. Extra comment: Very disappointed that they took jacuzzi out of the Marriott Desert Springs Villas and Resorts.
My experience was outstanding. The 8:00 am drills with Tess were just what I was looking for today. Tess was knowledgeable and gave me tools and new techniques to improve my game. She was pleasant to work with and I feel I benefited greatly from her expertise. Again, thank u Tess.
Visiting Palm Desert in July I was concerned about being able to get some quality tennis. However, Jim ran the clinics even with low enrollment which was such a bonus. The instruction was excellent. Jim worked on a few things I was struggling with and made minor adjustments. This has given me some things to work on and renewed my commitment to improving my game. I am telling all of my tennis friends to stop by and sign up for a clinic while visiting the Palm Desert area.
We found an excellent instructor. During our 8 tennis days we learned tecnique and strategy in a very simple way. These are The best tennis lessons we have ever taken. The academy director Jim, was very nice and helpfull.
Jim Leupold is Master tennis instructor. He finds your flaws, regardless of your level, and finds a way improve your game. Lessons with Jim is always the highlight of our trip.
I have attended drills at this resort over three different trips – every time I am happy I did it! They are consistently top notch – great quality, fun and I get things I can implement right away!
I am a lifelong tennis player and really appreciated the ability of the staff to arrange matches for me. The courts are in great shape and the availability of grass courts is a real plus.
This is a top notch tennis facility situated in a first class resort. The pro staff, especially Jim Leupold, is great.
My week-long vacation at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa was in a word — FANTASTIC! It surpassed all my expecations, and my expectations were high considering all the great things I had heard about JW’s and Peter Burwash Tennis. From the moment I arrived until the second I had to sadly say good-bye — the service was of the highest standard.
I picked Palm Springs for my destination while watching Indian Wells, and I chose the JW because of the tennis — grass courts and clay courts and because of the JW reputation! I’m so glad that I did! The resort is unsurpassed in its beauty, service and amenities … including the spa, the food, the accomodations, the pools, the staff and of course — the tennis!!
The tennis facilities are outstanding and the only thing better than the tennis facilities is the Tennis Club staff! Megan at the front desk of the Tennis Club is warm and inviting and welcoming. The perfect first impression for any guest! I was extremely lucky to experience lessons from two of the pros — Travis — whose last name I don’t know, and Charles Doucette. I had two private lessons with Travis and three with Charles. I cannot say enough about them!! They were the highlight of my vacation. They were knowledgeable, encouraging and challenging — the perfect instruction mix — and they were so much fun!
I have recommended the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa to all my friends, family and co-workers and I can’t stop talking about my exceptional tennis experience. It really was more than I could have hoped for — the only thing that would have made it better would have been if Rafa Nadal had been there … maybe next year. I have nothing negative to say — I don’t even have anything that I could call “just average”. It was exceptional on all levels! I really have to give another “shout out” to the tennis pros at the JW. Charles and Travis are star attractions!! I hope to visit again next year … if not sooner. 🙂
We really enjoyed the tennis clinics and private lesson given by Jim Leupold, tennis pro. They were well run and lots of fun.
Desert Springs is my favorite spot to play tennis in the desert… and it’s my favorite vacation. I had the pleasure of taking a private with Jim and he always teaches me something new that (sometimes more than one thing) in a way that I remember and bring home with me. My game is constantly changing and improving thanks to him. In the past I’ve even come down on a solo-vacation just to work on my tennis.
This place is spectacular. Its ascetically pleasing and a great place for either intense training, social tennis, or learning basics. I went last year and felt obligated to come back because I enjoyed it so much. They have all 3 surfaces (clay, hard, and grass) which is pretty unique. The pros change yearly, but the tennis director and head pro stay there. The pros are knowledgeable and cordial, and call each person by name. The system put in place is comprehensive, and I not only get a good workout, but I also learn a lot of tennis strategy. The desert is dry not humid, but I would say the weakness is that it gets very hot and if you skip out on sunscreen you will get burned.
I have been coming to the JW Marriott for years and have always had a wonderful experience. The pros are the best! Jim and his team never fail to help improve my game! The courts are perfect! I had never played on a grass court before visiting. Such fun! The tennis activities are great. The instruction, whether a private lesson or clinic, are so valuable!
I been going to JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort &N Spa for the last 10 years, enjoying the tennis facilites as well as the tennis program offer by the professional staff. In addition, I very much enjoyed the matched up which is arrange througth the staff. In additon, to high quality facilities maintain by the resort. the one area which I would like to see improvements on is the hard courts behind the baseline which causes the balls to bounce high, and another area for improvement matching up players with the same rating and qualification.
The resort’s head pro Jim Leopold does a great job promoting tennis for both those vacationing and those close by who want to play on all three surfaces. During the couple of weeks in March where tennis players come from all over to the desrt for the Indian Wells tournament, he has a daily round robin to get people out playing. This year they had hired a lovely pro, Joanna Kacprzyk, from Poland to teach clinics. Hoping they find a way to keep her at the resort so she’ll be there when we come back next year.
All the pros (Jim, Dave, Charles and Joanna) were not just pros at tennis but pros at pleasing customers and improving our tennis skills. Even though the place was mobbed with people attending BNP Paribas tournament, all staff including the retail shop were accommodating and responsive. We had the opportunity to play 2 hrs on grass courts; don’t miss that experience. The clinics were great and the PBI tennis show a hoot! We’ve played tennis all over the country with many visits to Hilton Head and Florida resorts, but this was the best tennis experience ever.
Wow. What an incredible place. Jim and Dave are two excellent pros and I’ve yet to experience better clinics and private lessons at any other resort I’ve visited. Two BIG thumbs up!!
My wife and I had an amazing visit, and really enjoy getting to know Jim Leupold and his tennis staff who were hosting a top collegiate tournament while we were there. I also had a chance to spend a couple of hours on court with Charles Doucette one of the PBI Pros on staff and was really impressed with his energy, enthusiasm and over all positive personality – not to mention he gave me a great workout and has an excellent all round game. We would highly recommend visiting this resort
The programs and facilities at this club are outstanding. Jim Luepold provides encouragement, sound reasoning for all drills, and concise analysis of how to improve your game. His drills and techniques for improvement keep me coming back every year.
I had a great time working on my game with Jim Leupold,the Director of Tennis. He has a great deal of knowledge and was able to convey it in an easy to understand manner and in a way that I was able to incorporate into my game right away. He was quickly able to identify areas of my game and swing that needed improvement and offer great drills and tips for getting me back on track. The facilities are great, plenty of courts available, easy to book lesson times, and staff that is very responsive. I would highly recommend Jim as well as this resort.
My first tennis camp and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was very impressed with the instruction and the staff were extremely personable and friendly. I learned some techniques that have already made a huge difference — such as relaxing my racket hand and understanding (finally) what a doubles strategy entails. But most impressive to me was the way they straightened out my backhand — truly remarkable given the years I have been struggling — and my serve. I am not ready to quit my day job and join the senior circuit but I am eager to get back out on the court. I highly recommend them and will certainly plan to return.
We spent a week at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort over Christmas this year and I was so pleased to find so many opportunities to play and learn at the PBI Tennis center there. The clinics offered were really helpful and the instructors were not only great teachers but fun, entertaining and knowledgable. I learned many techniques and strategies to take home and gained a lot of confidence, all while having a great time. I also found that there was something for every level of player – my sister, a novice, took private lessons, I’m a 3.0 level player and loved the clinics, and my husband, a 4.0 player, had ample opportunity to play in clinics and matches. And the courts and setting is just beautiful.
Jim and Dave are outstanding coaches. They are great listeners and the “tweeks” they made to my game have made a tremendous difference- immediately. Excellent communicators, very friendly staff.
Nice resort but the main reason I am writing is because of the tennis facility. Good mix of hard, clay and grass courts. I used to play but have been off the courts for eight years. I took two lessons while there last week and was very impressed with the information and approach. Jim’s approach helped me to visualize what he was trying to teach me. While being very personable, he didn’t spend the whole time talking. He allowed me to get right to it. Great lesson.
I think the clinics were the best ever I have attended. I would highly recommend you attend any programs that are offer. I attended 3 clinics and each one made a big difference in my game.
Seek out Jim, the head pro, for his professionalism and thoughtful, insightful advice on all aspects of your game. Superb facility and service!
We enjoyed our tennis at the Desert Springs Racquet Club, Palm Desert. A clay court was available for us each morning at 8:00. The courts were in great condition. We participated in 2 separate classes, ground strokes and half-court. The instruction was directed specifically to areas of improvement and was beneficial to each of us. It was fun! The instructors were knowledgeable and their instructions were most helpful.
My wife and I are owners at another Marriott in Palm Desert, but always trade to stay at Desert Springs because of the outstanding tennis facilities and instruction. We normally come in June (it’s a dry heat!) and we play every day on clay (which is a real treat for us). We have also benefitted greatly from the daily clinics put on by Jim Leupold and his staff. They are always friendly, professional, and remarkably “tuned in” to the needs of the various levels of players. This is a great tennis experience, and we always look forward to our stays.
I recently had a lesson with Jim Leupold when I stayed at the property over this past weekend. Jim was outstanding. I am a seasoned tennis player and have taken many lessons throughtout the years with many pro’s. Jim was able to help me with an issue I have been experiencing with my serve now for a couple of years – he literally fixed it within 10 minutes – with just a few words of instruction. He is an outstanding tennis professional and I will definitely make a point of coming back to hit with him soon.
Great instruction!!
Jim Leupold is the best! Great facility with mountain vistas in the background. Grass courts in addition to har-tru and hard. Decent stretching area and pro shop.
What an awesome staff lead by Jim Leupold! I spent 5 long days on the court doing clinics a drills and enjoyed every minute! The daily choices of clinics were great and the staff was so fun and professional, I wish I could have stayed longer. Same level Round Robin opportunities were a little tough to get together though. But I got lots of valuable and practical tidbits to improve my game; I came home with 2 pages of notes!!
For seven years now I’ve played exclusively at this resort while visiting the desert area which translates into 20-30 days spent on their tennis courts. The tennis staff is second to none. The facility is first class and their pros have greatly improved my game.
My wife and I attended several of the clinics in March during the BNP Paribas Open. jim and hist staff do a great job and the focus on cosnsitency and keeping it simple has helped a bunch. I amy even have a decent volley someday if i get a chance to attend their volley clinic a couple more times.
Even though we have plenty of excellent tennis facilities close to us in Atlanta, I decided to take my wife to the desert for her 40th birthday for what we hoped to be a great experience, setting high expectations from what we read and expected. I was surprised that these expectations were so far surpassed that I couldn’t believe it. My wife kept telling me she was having the time of her life. From the first class resort, spa and dining, we were WELL taken care of.
But, it was the tennis that set everything apart. The instruction was so spot on that I was actually taken aback. The instructors were so personable and all on the same page that each clinic built upon itself. They had something for every level. My wife thought that she might had planned too much tennis when we were coming out and in the end, she couldn’t get enough.
All of this in the end was all an extention of the leader, Jim Leupold. The vibe at this facility so friendly that you feel like your part of the family there. If we do this again, which we will, coming back here, even though it’s across country, will be first on our list. We might even bring the kids as there is so much for them to do as well.
Went down for the Indian Wells Tennis Tourney. Played tennis every morning with another couple that went with us. Tory was our pro 3 of the 5 days and is EXCELLENT! Ask for him when you go. I demo’d the WIlson Juice from the pro shop and bought it as soon as we got back home. This is our second visit and we will be back! JW Marriott has EVERYTHING you need & the lakes & pools are Spectacular.
Strength: Great facilities, friendly staff, good clinics. Weakness: Game-matching, I am a 4.5 singles player staying there for a week and I did not receive one call for a match.
John Karsant is patient and an effective communicator. The lessons, analogies, and principles I’ve learned from such a short session and encounter, revolutionized the way I play. It was as if someone came in my mind and realigned everything I know about playing tennis- all for the better. I would definitely recommend his services and personally I’m looking forward to working with him again.
I had a hitting lesson with John Karsant. He gave me some very useful tips to better my forehand and serve consistency and placement. It was nice to hear new teaching concepts and John presented them in a way that was easy to comprehend and put them in use. I could not complain about a thing, and I will definitely return to this tennis complex for future vacations. Thanks for the great experience!
A warm & friendly tennis staff. Great tennis facility with several grass courts and a great hotel in a beautiful setting. If you are going to a clinic be sure you are placed in an appropriate skill group to get the most out of the class.
My stay at the JW Marriot Desert Springs was a great trip mostly due to the efforts of one of the pros, John Karsant. I hit with and he is a great instruction, super friendly and offered great advice. He also went to extra efforts to find me matches. Great experience!
Nice facilities the staff is good. The grand slam doubles (all three surfaces) is a really good time. It is pretty pricey the drills were $35 and think they should have been closer to $20. Regular court time was $22 per hour again pretty pricey
Very much enjoyed Jim Leupold pbi tennis show on Sat morning
Staff was extremely friendly and very adept at offering quality instruction for all skill levels. I participated in several clinics, had a private lesson and played in their grand slam round robin offered. Top notch enjoyable experience.
This is lovely facility with grass and clay courts to boot! Wonderful to visit socal during the winter or spring. Hotel is very nice too. I have been here many times and look forward to returning year after year!