HomeMy WebLinkAboutShadow Mountain Golf Club 2
SH AD O W MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB – (73-800 IRONWOOD)
Located in the heart of the Coachella Valley surrounded by the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, Shadow
Mountain Golf Course was incorporated on January 24, 1958. Designed by the famed and legendary golfer, Gene
Sarazen. It was the first golf course in Palm Desert. Originally the golf club was affiliated with the adjacent
Shadow Mountain Tennis Resort; it is now privately owned and run by its equity members.
Shadow Mountain was a dream of Mon C. Walgren, the retired Governor of the State of Washington. Through
his and others efforts the dream became a reality. They founded a challenging par 70 course, one of the few in
the desert that can still be walked.
Gene Sarazen envisioned Shadow Mountain to be the design of the future. He and George Von Elm designed a
short course built to test but not overtax golfers. It has challenges for golfers of all abilities and rewards golfers
who shapes their shots and uses their head more than their driver. With over 700 mature palm trees, the
fairways are well defined and the small greens are protected by well placed glistening white sand bunkers. With
its location at the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Shadow Mounta in is well protected from the winds that
plague many desert courses.
In October 1968 the resort and golf course were split and members had a choice to belong to one or the other.
Upon separation the golf club received part of the structure to provide a clubhouse, proshop, and enough land
for a parking lot and access to Ironwood St. In the early 1960’s the Shadow Mountain Fairway Cottages were
built between the 11th and 18 th fairways. They are a great example of mid-century desert architecture. In the
early 1970’s the perimeter of the course was developed to its present look. An eclectic assortment of private
homes, cottages and apartments, giving each hole a personality not found on newer “cookie cutter”
developments.
In the late 1960’s the two nines were switched. A new irrigation system was installed and protective screens
were added around many greens and tee boxes.
In the early 1970’s the clubhouse was redecorated and a small kitchen which was called the “Pantry Kitchen”
was added to provide short orde r lunches.
In 1976 heavy rain broke a dam support at the top of Highway 74 tons of sand, rock and debris raged across the
course. It took a concerted effort of the member’s labor and dollar donations to restore the course to a playable
condition.
In 1987 the last big change to the course was completed with the purchase of the Filmer mansion that
occupied a large piece of property in the middle of the course. Purchase of this property allowed
lengthening of the 15th , 17th and 18 th holes.