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.
485 Reviews on “JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa - Peter Burwash International”
last year I picked this resort because of the location ( weather ) and variety of sports because I am a golfer and my wife and I both play tennis. We returned this year and everything we liked was the same as last year The rooms are newly renovated and would recommend a room with a view of the pool area , mountains and golf courses. The food is excellent and the service is very good. Both years we took two tennis lessons with the head pro and they were fun and instructional both times
we go to california from norway to train tennis with mr Jim Leupold for the 4th year in a row. we stayed for 4 weeks with tennis clinics/lessons every day. Jim is an amazing coach. first: the philosofy: teaching us to play effortless. secondly technique: he is able to clearify and simplify all strokes, so that we get a solid foundation -a natural understanding. third tactics: we been working on patterns. both single and double play greatly improved. solid logic. jim idientifies excatly what can be improved and how. gives us valuable advise and drills to take with us back home to practice. Looking forward to travel back in 2020. thank you Jim.
The tennis program here is outstanding thanks to Jim. Filling out the rating was confusing due to the “no opinion” rating. I would rate this resort staff for tennis the highest possible. If 5 balls= highest. That is my rating. I have been to tennis resorts all over the U SA in the Southern region.
The tennis centre at Desert Springs is the best in this area. This is due to Jim and his wonderful instruction and clinics as well as the fabulous facilities. See you in 2021 Jim!
As a tennis aficionado ,and world traveler along with my wife, a nationally ranked player, it has become a tennis maxim that if you are looking for a destination to fulfill your sports, golf ,spa, cuisine ,and pool experience look no further . The lawn and tennis club, along with pickle ball ,provide a stellar experience, as I enjoyed this week-long with remarkable weather,The tennis Director brought years of acumen to my lesson, and helped get me ready for the grass court season which will start after Roland Garros is over. This is ,as the late Robin Leach said on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, a special place to enjoy in a great setting.
Beautiful property with amazing grass courts. Had one of the best lessons I’ve ever taken. Dan took my serve from something I loathed to something I love.
There were no weaknesses that I could see. The hotel was amazingly clean and well staffed. The tennis pavilion was well maintained as were the courts. Clark was a terrific tennis pro.
Awesome Tennis Facility, People, Lessons and program. I recently did 6 days of clinics. The best clinics I have taken. The instructors were always positive and supportive. The instruction was clear, personalized and simple to execute. The place is beautiful and my tennis always jumps a level after visting.
Really enjoyed our time on court this year during Indian Wells. Played clay, grass and hard courts. Facilities and the pros were both outstanding. Can’t wait to go back!
My husband and I had several lessons with Clark Corey to bring us back up to speed. We have known Clark for many years and were thrilled to find him at Desert Springs where we were vacationing. He is always excellent and one of the best around. The tennis facility at Desert Springs is outstanding and offers a lot to visitors and locals. We would definitely recommend it and Clark to anyone.
Excellent doubles clinic for 2 hours! Great tips, strong doubles strategy and positive reinforcement! Clark Corey was the best! We hope to book him next year to get us match ready for the BNP Senior Cup! Yeah!
can’t say enough about this place! Amazing accommodations, incredible facilities, LOTS of fun activities to do, incredible pool, great destination. I have stayed in both the hotel and the villas…both GREAT!
We have been vacationing at the Desert Springs villas at the JW for 28 years and stay for 6-8 weeks. During our stays, Dora at the tennis center has always made sure that we have had all the matches we want. She does an excellent job of matching abilities so you enjoy the play. Jim also sees to any situations that might need his expertise. If there is a shortage of guests to play, Dora maintains a list of “community players” who fill in. In addition to Dora’s list we have developed a spread sheet of names and the dates they will be at the resort. We live on Hilton Head Island and it is an easy transition from there to the resort courts. Thank you Jim and Dora! See you in 2020.
My wife (3.0) and I (3.5) spent 6 days at the resort participating in at least 1 clinic or drill session per day. The pros were incredible. Their PBI Tennis approach to keeping it simple helped to highlight, and fix, some of the low parts in our game caused by trying to do too much. They were very good in explaining the “why” behind their tips and strategies. The facility offers hard courts, clay courts and grass courts. There were 4 opportunities most days to attend clinics or drill sessions and they also helped to coordinate match ups with other guests. Highly recommended
My wife and I had an incredible 5 night stay at the JW Marriott Desert Springs and spent the bulk of our days playing tennis at the PBI Club. I can’t say enough about the exceptional experience we had each and every day we were at the club. From the quality of the courts and facilities, to the beauty of the grounds and the outstanding instruction, this is a must visit destination for any tennis lover. Over the course of our stay my wife and I took private lessons and attended a few clinics and drill sessions as well. Each and every hour we spent with the staff on court was well organized and full of spot on analysis and instruction. After working with both Clark and Chad for a few days, we returned to Chicago incredibly energized about our instruction and full of smart pointers and new concepts to leverage to accelerate my improvement. It’s among the best instruction we’ve ever had. We’re already planning our return visit next fall. Well done JW Desert Springs and PBI!
Excellent tennis instruction and perfect small-sized group. Unusual written follow-up with insightful hints for all members of the clinic. Jim Leupold runs an excellent camp and Clark Corey with over 30 years of instruction is not to be missed.
Pro to camper ratio is phenomenal. Point and match play was adequate and time spent on the court was appropriate.
Spencer Weinberg was an amazing coach and I had an amazing time with him.
My family and I had the pleasure of staying at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort over the holidays. By far, the highlight of our vacation was the PBI Tennis Club. The entire staff, outstanding facility and grounds, not to mention plethora of daily clinics offered – are nothing short of exceptional. The instruction, in particular that of Dave Kensler who taught us to play pickleball – is truly outstanding. We are definitely going back next Christmas, if not before!
I had a great time playing Tennis at the JW Marriott. The courts were great and my instructor, Spencer Weinberg, helped me improve many parts of my game. In total, I went to three private lessons and I can say with confidence that I came out playing the best Tennis I had ever played. There were always available courts to practice on when I was not in a private lesson. I would recommend the Tennis program.
Dora is fantastic about setting up partners for doubles!
Strengths: • The staff and pros are very congenial and prepared • There are tons of courts—including clay and grass. They even have an event where you can try the various court styles • The pros remember you from previous encounters • The pros are very institutive. For instance, if a player signed up for an advanced drill, but the pros believe the others registered are significantly more skilled, then they will just have a separate pro work with that player rather than asking them to come to another session. • The pros are adaptive. If they can see a couple of players are becoming exhausted, they will smoothly change the current exercise. • They ask the players what skill they wish to improve prior to the start of a drill session. • The sheer beauty of the landscape and picturesque views are perfectly distracting and motivating. • During the busier part of the season, they will add additional clinics • If you are staying at the JW Marriott hotel, they can bill any fees directly to your room • Even if you are not staying at the JW Marriott, you are eligible to sign up for their drills and clinics, and courts. • If you are staying at the JW, all your necessities are available on the grounds from multiple restaurants and bars, various types of shopping, golfing and tennis, and even a man-made river with gondolas for commuting within the hotel Areas of Improvement • No clay-court drills or clinics • During the busy part of the season, clinics and drill sessions may be limited to players staying at the JW Marriott. • Parking. There are actually more courts than parking spaces. They are adaptive during busy times, but it can be unclear. • The JW Marriott facility is vast, so it can take up to 40 minutes to walk to the tennis grounds from your hotel room—depending upon which part of the facility the guest is housed.
Best ever I visit. I’ve got a game or clinic every day . Dora was great to organize tennis for each day we staid in . A tennis pro Jim was giving us great tips and drills to improve our game. The game on a grass tennis court gave us experience of fun and frustration. I wish we can stay more days. Thanks to all people to made our vacation great. Sam
I attended the camp at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in early December. It exceeded my expectations. The program was well designed to cover many topics and the instruction was tailored to help each of us advance our skills in a way that maximized our learning. The pros were excellent. They could easily identify our individual needs and made sure we had several take-aways that allowed us to continue progressing when we got home. The tennis facility is top notch and includes several hard courts as well as a few clay and grass courts. The resort is beautiful and has many amenities. I highly recommend this tennis camp and the resort.
I’ve taken lots of tennis lessons over the years. But I liked PBI’s approach best. I’m a practical person so I loved the simple analagies (e.g. hitting a backhand is like throwing a frisbee) that allowed me to relax and not feel overwhelmed. It felt liberating to stop obsessing about the perfect toss or the perfect form. Less is more. I also liked the emphasis on protection from injuries since I struggled with tennis elbow for much of this year. The instructors gave lots of individual attention, were highly skilled and thoroughly entertaining. I can’t imagine a better tennis camp experience.
A group of girlfriends and I went to Palm Dessert for a fun weekend getaway and tennis. It was so fun. The tennis instruction was top notch.
If tennis is your passion, this is the place to be! From the moment I arrived, the energy and enthusiasm of the coaches was unmatched! I felt instantly at home. The instruction was excellent, there is something for everyone in their programming, and the views are breathtaking. The hard courts were in great condition and the grass courts were stunning. I had been waiting many years for a chance to play on grass, and Jim made sure I would never forget the experience. I was even given a video of it to take home! This is a haven for tennis players (the resort is amazing too, and where else can you see flamingos on the way to the courts?) Many thanks to Jim and Clark for making this an unforgettable experience! I can’t wait to come back!
The day I was on Jim’s court was very fun and helpful. He used several drills to help us think more about our intentions on every shot. He also challenged us to do a better job of reading our opponents. The day that I was on Spencer’s court was still fun, but he had fewer tips and insights. This was probably due to less experience. Overall, it was a great weekend and I hope we can come again soon!
I am the person that scheduled our tennis trip for my USTA team and found the JW Marriott in Palm Desert. I was scheduling for 12 people, and so I wanted to ensure that we customized our tennis to the needs of our group. I began working with Jim via email 3 months prior to our trip. He was extremely responsive and efficient, and orchestrated for us the exact experience that we were looking for in Palm Desert, even down to the perfect 70 degree weather. Jim, along with Clark and Spencer, provided expert training and instruction at the drills. Our entire group was very pleased. The facility and courts available were superb. We had so much fun playing on grass, clay and hard surface. We are going to make this trip an annual event!
I enjoyed the round robin where we got to play on grass and clay. I’d wanted to try playing on those surfaces for years. Jim was very friendly and made everyone feel welcome, regardless of ability level. My only negative was the rain cut our time short, but they gave us a discount for the time lost. Loved the experience.
I came to Palm Springs to support my husband for the 4.5 WTT nationals. I thought I would get some much needed clinic time in in between his matches. We took one together, Doubles Strategy, and we both learned some points on strategy that will help us. I took three more with Jim and fortunately the clinics were only 3-5 people (season not started yet) so we had concentrated time with him. The discussion was short but specific, he listened to our wishes for what we wanted to learn and incorporated that into it. He was well spoken, very knowledgeable, and provided excellent tips how to incorporate his drills into what you could do on your own. Also extremely good tennis player. I learned quite a bit in the 4 clinics I took. If we are back here in Palm Springs, I will be back at the JW. The facility is beautiful, courts well maintained, front desk staff friendly. I really enjoyed it.
This is a wonderful tennis resort and destination!! The Marriott Hotel is great but we stayed in Villas I. This property is stunning wherever you stay. The amenities are abundant and the pools are gorgeous. We found the food very good but not notable at the hotels’ restaurants. Instead we ate out at some wonderful local restaurants. As for the tennis opportunities, you will be hard pressed to find better places. There are numerous well trained staff that are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They head up wonderful clinics year round, with lessons, matching services, and a biweekly “Grand Slam” where you rotate to play other attendees on all three court surfaces. There are maybe 20 (?} hard courts, 3 or 4 clay courts, and 2 grass courts. On Saturday mornings, the professional staff puts on a “Tennis Show” which is both hysterical and self deprecating. It is truly a tennis lovers’ dream!!!
This was the best tennis lesson I’ve had in my 8 years playing tennis (mostly with instructors) on and off in NYC. Jim Leupold was a very attentive and knowledgeable instructor. He really zeroed in on the small aspects of my game and fine-tuned them to make a big difference. He easily explained new shots in a way that made sense to me. I was very quickly able to transfer the instruction to the court. I went in the summer season so the resort wasn’t as crowded as it usually is so There was never any issues getting a lesson, attending the clinics or getting a court. I would go back to the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa to play tennis at any time.
Great experience. Highly recommend it!
Excellent place to brush up on your overall tennis skills ! Jim Leupold is an outstanding Pro that makes tennis so easy to understand. Simple small adjustments that he gives you can really quickly change your game . I promise you it’s a fabulous to take clinics, or privates. Next Year I plan on returning for the tennis Camp ! I hope to return even sooner for more instruction. It really REALLY was fun and I learned so much ! If I lived in the area ….. I’d be there all the time !
There are no weaknesses. Jim and his staff and exceptional! We have vacationed at this resort at least 8 times . We started when our kids were young and have continued to go. It’s best for adults or older kids who are good tennis players. Go!! If you love tennis, you will love this place.
The JW Marriott Palm Desert tennis program is the best ever and highly recommend it!! Jim Leupold, Dave Kensler and the entire staff will help you take your game to the next level. I’ve been going there for 20 years and ALWAYS have the best time playing on their courts. Thank you Jim and Dave!!
This is hands-down the best tennis instruction I’ve ever received. Lots of individualized instruction, even within a clinic-based event. I’m not spending another dime at my local club: I’m banking it all for my next visit to Desert Springs Resort!
The JW Marriott experience is consistently amazing. We have stayed in other resort in Palm Desert and nothing compare to the feeling you have at the Marriott. The tennis facility is first rate and the teaching staff are incredible. Each year we go, we learn something new about our game and the experience just keeps getting better. You are treated like you are part of the Marriott family and the team goes out of their way to ensure that you all of your needs are met – to put it simply…they consistently exceed our service expectations. A special thanks to Jim Leupold – an amazing tennis coach!!
This is a wonderful tennis resort! The setting amongst mountains Palm trees and golf courses combined with reliably good big blue sky weather all makes this wonderful tennis facility that much better! At this resort you can play all surfaces hardcourt, clay and even grass. The Jim, Dave , Dora and the rest of the staff go out of their way to make sure their are programs and clinics to suit everyone right through the day. They work to line up games for you with other players visiting the resort and if need be from the local tennis community. The pro shop always has good shopping and good deals! Each time I go it’s like arriving back to my own club! We have kids and if their not playing tennis their is basketball, badminton and other sports for them to play while your playing your game. This resort is really well maintained and the best I’ve been to!
If you want the perfect all around tennis vacation, go to the JW Marriott in Palm Desert – or better yet – stay in the Villas onsite. The Tennis Center Pro is Jim Leupold, who is friendly, funny, and a FANTASTIC teacher. Our favorite tennis activity is the Mini-Slam event, where you get to play round robin tennis on Grass, Clay, and Hard Courts. The facilities are in excellent condition, the staff is accommodating and efficient, and the vistas are pure gold. How do we know? – we’ve been coming here for 25 years and it has become our favorite destination for both tennis and vacation time. If you can manage it, coordinate your time here to allow attending the Masters 1000 at Indian Wells -tennis’ 5th slam.
Every year I stay at the JW Marriott and I do the clinics everyday. My friend Dawn and I look forward to it every year. We go everyday.Jim and his team are the best tennis professionals any where in the USA. We learn so much in a week and we always go back home better players.They pro’s make it so fun.I wish I could take clinics every week with them. The hotel is also great you need to stay there at the peak season to get on a sign up sheet,, because quest have first chance at playing (March) is very busy because of The BNP Parribas Open. The have the clinics all year long so you can go when it’s not so busy. I can’t say enough about them they are awesome. Thanks Jim and Dave and the guys for another fabulous year. See you in March.
The best clinics and individual instruction I have experienced. Tips and pointers will stay with in my future matches. A great experience for any level player.
My husband and I came for the first time in early March 2018 for a 2-day weekend getaway during the BNP tennis tournament. We really enjoyed the clinics, the absolutely hilariously awesome “Tennis Show” (with raffle prizes!), and the pro staff were extremely attentive to our tennis needs. Since we had such a great time, we decided to visit again in less than a month! We came back at the end-March/early-April 2018 during Spring Break/Easter, brought our kids, and we stayed longer for 4 days to play more tennis, enjoy the resort, and take lessons with head pro Dave Kensler, who was amazingly wonderful in accommodating my husband and I with daily lessons during our stay. He also did a fun clinic with my kids!….I cannot wait to go back because it is such a fun tennis escape! Through my lessons I learned of many ways to help improve my game that I could quickly implement in my USTA matches as soon as I returned home. Thanks to the great staff for being helpful and accommodating. I look forward to more tennis getaways to this beautiful Tennis Oasis in the desert!!! 🙂
5-stars all the way!!!!!!!! Absolutely fantastic tennis facility. They have all three surfaces. Around 20 courts. But, best of all is the instruction staff. Truly first rate. Their instructors are second to none. They run great clinics, individual lessons and group lessons. Their staff is great at setting up matches. My wife and I have been coming to the JW every year for a “one-week” tune up of oiur games n the spring, and at the end of that week, we go back home and kick some local “backsides”. I can’t recommend this place enough.. The hotel facilities are fantastic, but for me, the clincher is the tennis.
The JW Marriott Desert Springs is one of my favorite locations for vacation and tennis. The facilities are outstanding and well appointed. The weather is always fabulous for a winter get-away. The staff at the tennis facility is outstanding. The ability to play tennis on all surfaces is not something that is offered everywhere. The tennis facility is in great condition and the variety of classes and mixers available can keep you busy all day. The JW is definitely a property that I would recommend to anyone looking for a great vacation spot as well as a fabulous tennis facility.
This is the sixth time that our advanced (4.5-5.0) group has visited the resort for a customized Tennis Camp, which is a combination of open play and drills from Jim Leopold and his staff. Jim always does a fantastic job handling our particular needs, especially during the busy activities of the first week of the BNP Paribas pro tournament. Special kudos for getting a last minute fill in player for our group during our 4 days – D1 player from Georgetown to boot. We plan on coming back in 2020!
I had 2 lessons with Jim Leupold that I thoroughly enjoyed and I learned so much! I have been dealing with a pain in my forearm and within 5 minutes, Jim knew what I was doing that was exacerbating my injury! His explanations and drills were specific to my ability and he made it lots of fun. He also showed me a way to serve that gave me more confidence on the court. I am looking forward to playing with my friends and improving my game. I can’t wait to show Jim what I can do next year!
excellent teaching from very experience coach. Great pace and also appropriate depth for learning while mixing in good dosage of laughter and social interaction.
I come here for 4 weeks every winter to escape the rain and darkness in Vancouver and to play tennis. The facility is great, over 20 courts including clay, hard and grass. Dora and her collegues at the desk book the courts and arrange games; it is a treat to meet up with the same players each year as well as meeting new players, getting the games and times that work for everybody. Very well staffed and managed by people who unfailingly want to help you enjoy the club and the experience.