Photo by Cody Burgess
Coachella Valley has a plethora of beautiful resorts with lovely entrances. Marrakesh Country Club’s entrance in Palm Desert, however, is a showstopper with its beautiful blooming flowers leading up to a pink gatehouse. It is located off Highway 111, the road that leads to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.
Designed with views of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, the Marrakesh Country Club is known as one of the finest examples of authentic Hollywood Regency architecture and for developing a sense of community among its residents.
This private, gated golf community is on 155 acres and has 364 single-family homes. Fourteen pools, a spa and pavilions provide places for community gatherings and celebrations. It truly is a modern-day time capsule, maintaining the distinct style Palm Springs is known and loved for.
The Design of the Marrakesh Country Club
Johnny Dawson, the conceptual designer of Marrakesh Country Club, wanted to replicate the feeling of Morocco at sunset when the sun’s rays bounce off the country’s buildings. Thus, the color pink became the guiding component of the project.
Dawson hired John Elgin Woolf, who was then known as the first postmodern architect on the West Coast. After consulting with Dawson, Woolf proceeded to design the club in the Hollywood Regency Style, famous for its glamorous and maximalist aesthetic.
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Photo by Roger Paperno
The Design of the Marrakesh Country Club Clubhouse
Dawson envisioned the clubhouse as the gathering place for the community and hired Richard Harrison of the famed modernist architectural firm Wexler & Harrison to design it.
The clubhouse was conceived to capture the light of the desert while serving as a place where residents can enjoy comradery and invite friends to social events and meals. It was completed in 1969.
The Neighborhood
This ICONIC community has drawn the attention of many influential individuals, from prominent figures to celebrities including Barclay Butera and Patrick Dragonette. The elevated pink community is the perfect haven for privacy, exclusivity and opulence.
“Marrakesh is one of the most ICONIC communities in Palm Springs,” Butera says. “Both the history and the people are amazing. The social events here are like hanging with the ‘who’s who’ of Palm Springs.”
Photo by Mark Sacro
Anne Michaelsen, successful interior designer recently completed her home in the Marrakesh County Club community. She appreciates the historical significance of the property and particularly loves its timeless appeal.
Her design gave the home a refresh while still maintaining its original character and charming allure.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have purchased a home in the historic Marrakesh Country Club neighborhood, an architectural gem designed by the renowned John Elgin Woolf,” she says. “This property represents a unique piece of history, and it’s been an inspiring journey to honor its original Hollywood Regency aesthetic. My design goal was to celebrate the elegance and glamour of this ICONIC style while thoughtfully reinterpreting it for contemporary living. By blending timeless elements with modern updates, I’ve sought to create a space that respects its storied past while feeling fresh and relevant for today.”
The marriage between historical preservation and contemporary living is common among Marrakesh residents.
Photo by Roger Paperno
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Recently Updated
With a need to refresh the clubhouse while still staying true to the building’s rich history, Tom Scheerer, an internationally known interior designer, was hired for the renovation, which was completed in 2023. The clubhouse is now two stories and 25,000 square feet.
The expansion includes a larger formal dining room and an expanded casual dining area. Residents can enjoy conversations around the fire pit while taking in the panoramic mountain vista views.
The new decor is timeless and modern with top-of-the-line upgrades. It exudes elegance and warmth.
Marrakesh Golf Course
The Marrakesh community was designed to honor the views of the mountains, and the 18-hole golf course is no exception. Golfers encounter breathtaking vistas from the greens, which are even more magnificent when the mountains are snow-capped in winter.
Ted Robinson, known as one of the premier golf course architects in the world, designed the Par 60 course, which is often rated as the finest executive 18-hole course in the country and known for its challenging greens.
Photo by Channing Benjamin
There are pitching, chipping and practice areas. If you are looking for exercise, you can walk the course, but golf carts are available. The Golf Shop has a simulator for practicing and carries golf wear for the most discriminating taste.
This is a year-round course that hosts PGA professional tournaments. The course is only available to membership holders, (resident members and non-resident members). If you are a golfer, you’ll want to play this course.
Amenities
Residents can relax in the quiet of their homes or around one of the many pools. There are also numerous amenities to indulge in if you enjoy being on teams or around people.
They include:
The Marrakesh Country Club stands out as one of the most architecturally remarkable communities in Coachella Valley. Its breathtaking views of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains and world-class golf and dining set a high standard of excellence.
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