11.7.2023 Valerie Roca
Living on a Rancho Mirage golf course is the best way to have it all. The desert setting is peacefully quiet and warm all year, city amenities are nearby, real estate trends are up, and the golf course is your home. There are a lot of great country clubs in Rancho Mirage to choose from, but which is best for you? With so many similarities between them, how can you really tell them apart?
In this article, we’ll explore top golf & country clubs in the Rancho Mirage area, what each club is known for, and how they are different – so you can find the right fit and narrow your search for the best golf homes for sale.
Let’s take a closer look at top country clubs in the Rancho Mirage area:
- Mission Hills Country Club
- Sunrise Country Club
- The Springs
- Tamarisk Country Club
- Thunderbird Country Club
- The Lakes Golf & Country Club
Mission Hills Country Club
Mission Hills offers a full-service, full-amenities country club experience in Rancho Mirage. Golf courses include the famous 18-hole Dinah Shore Course for the LPGA Tour designed by Desmond Muirhead in 1971, the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Course designed in 1978, and the 18-hole Pete Dye Course designed in 1988 – all challenging Rancho Mirage golf courses in their own right.
Mission Hills Country Club memberships offered include:
- Resident Membership
- Non-Resident Membership (Golf only)
Golf Courses
- Pete Dye Course
- Arnold Palmer Course
- Dinah Shore Course
Golf Membership fees*
- Initiation fee: $40,000
- Monthly dues: $1,550
* Current figures as of this writing; club dues and fees may vary with membership tiers or special promotions, and are subject to change.
The Springs
With nearly 50 years of prestigious Rancho Mirage history, The Springs has an 18-hole signature course by Desmond Muirhead, the same golf course architect as Mission Hills. Golf facilities offer a 30-tee range, short game practice area, and lessons with a former PGA professional. Homeowners at The Springs have a community membership included in their HOA dues, which includes access to all club and dining events as well as popular amenities such as tennis, pickleball, bocce, fitness center, and more.
Memberships at The Springs country club include:
- Golf Membership
- Community Membership
- Social Membership
Golf Membership fees*
- Initiation fee: $5,000 (resident); $9,000 (non-resident)
- Monthly dues: $500 - $1,050
Community Membership fees*
- One-time homeowner assessment: $12,500
- Monthly dues: $0 (included in HOA)
Social Membership fees*
- Initiation fee (non-resident): $4,000
- Monthly dues: $235
* Current figures as of this writing; club dues and fees may vary with membership tiers or special promotions, and are subject to change.
Sunrise Country Club
Sunrise Country Club is a smaller residential condominium community that offers a public 18-hole golf course and community membership options. Racquet sport facilities include 9 tennis courts, 10 pickleball courts, and 2 bocce courts. Special amenities include over 20 swimming pools.
Social Membership Fees (Annual): $1,155
Tennis and pickleball only
- Couples: $847
- Singles: $647
Golf Membership Fees
- Couples (Annual): $3,945
- Singles (Annual): $3,025
* Current figures as of this writing; club dues and fees may vary with membership tiers or special promotions, and are subject to change.
Tamarisk Country Club
The golf course at Tamarisk is the second oldest in the Coachella Valley. Most notably, this 18-hole Rancho Mirage golf course has hosted the Bob Hope Desert Classic tournament 18 times, and has earned the favor of multiple presidents over the years, including the likes of Truman, Kennedy, and Ford. In addition to golf, tennis and pickleball are popular offerings.
Golf and Social Memberships at the Tamarisk Country Club are non-residential.
Social Membership
- Initiation fee: $10,000
- Monthly dues: $1,020
Golf Membership
- Initiation fee: $25,000
- Monthly dues: $2,042
* Current figures as of this writing; club dues and fees may vary with membership tiers or special promotions, and are subject to change.
Thunderbird Country Club
Thunderbird Country Club established the first golf course in Rancho Mirage. Designed by Johnny Dawson, the 18-hole golf course was chosen for the Ryder Cup Matches in 1955, and gained attention with early use of the first motorized golf carts. The club is also credited with lending its name and logo to the first Ford Thunderbird car.
Golf Memberships at Thunderbird Country Club are entirely non-residential.
Golf Membership
- Initiation fee: $50,000
- Monthly dues: $2,208
* Current figures as of this writing; club dues and fees may vary with membership tiers or special promotions, and are subject to change.
The Lakes Country Club
The Lakes Country Club features a private 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole course, both designed by Ted Robinson. Located in nearby Palm Desert, it’s similar to country clubs in Rancho Mirage and a worthy consideration. Practice facilities include a driving range, chipping greens, practice bunkers, and putting greens. Like all the clubs on our list, an active calendar of events awaits those in search of a vibrant social scene.
The Lakes Country Club membership options include:
Social Membership
- Initiation fee: $8,910 (residents only)
- Monthly dues: $265
Golf Membership
- Initiation fees: $10,000
- Monthly dues (residential): $665
- Monthly dues (non-residential): $866
* Current figures as of this writing; club dues and fees may vary with membership tiers or special promotions, and are subject to change.
Learn More About Rancho Mirage Country Clubs
Celebrities and presidential figures aren’t the only visitors to be enchanted by the restorative allure of Rancho Mirage. With a stunning desert landscape, perfect climate, quiet atmosphere, timeless architecture and spectacular golf courses, there are more than enough ways for anyone to enjoy the ideal lifestyle.
For those looking to call Rancho Mirage home, country club memberships, prime golf course real estate and homes for sale in the Greater Palm Springs area await. Start your journey with The Springs’ Membership Discovery Guide – a complete resource designed to help you find your perfect life in Rancho Mirage.
