Ron Fream / Desert Falls

[Evan_Green]

I recently had the chance to play Desert Falls in Palm Desert by Ron Fream.


The most notable aspect of the course was the greens, specifically the narrow "fingers" present on many of them. Some of these "fingers" are only about 10 paces across (if that)...


My questions are
1. Are these narrow green "fingers" a typical element in Ron Fream courses? (I think Desert Falls is the first Fream course I've played)
2. What do you think about these as a design feature?
3. Has anyone else played this course - what are your thoughts about the greens here?

[Mark Kiely]

I've played Desert Falls, Carmel Mountain Ranch and Redhawk, all Fream designs. Desert Falls is the only one where I recall the fingers you mention, but extreme greens are certainly a common thread among all three courses.


I've always liked Desert Falls quite a bit. The par-3 14th really pushes the envelope as far as the "fingers" go, but I find it quite fun:
IMG_20171203_092513264 by Mark, on Flickr


You can click on the image to go to Flickr and then click on it again to see it full size. The back right finger is also elevated probably 15 feet above the other two, but the green is so gargantuan that anyone who ends up on the wrong finger deserves a difficult next shot.


Full album Desert Falls: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8X9ktP
Full album Carmel Mountain Ranch: https://flic.kr/s/aHskpCcr12

[Evan_Green]

Mark - Many thanks for your comments/photos... I enjoyed Desert Falls as well and did a double take when i first saw #14 green. Its so big and with the 3 "fingers" its hard to capture its scale/facets in a single photo.


Carmel Mountain looks interesting from the photos, I was not that familiar with it.

[Ronald Montesano]

I've Freamed once in my life, but they say that once you Fream ...


Shore Gate in New Jersey is a Fream. Tough course. Watery, I'll have to look at photos to see if there were fingers.