Marrakesh Country Club

 Quorum Article - October 2002

Marrakesh Country Club lies on 155 acres west of Portola Avenue in South Palm Desert. It is a gate guarded planned development of 364 units. The developer was champion golfer, Johnny Dawson, whose local projects include Seven Lakes, Eldorado, and Thunderbird Country Clubs. The land is on a 75-year private lease through 2042. Construction started in 1968 and continued through 1976.

Cliff Henderson, founder of Palm Desert, suggested the name Marrakesh, since the terrain, snow capped mountains, citrus groves and the rosy sandstone walls of the project were evocative of the time he had spent with Patton in Marrakesh, Morocco, during WW2.

The one, two and three bedroom homes come in four models ranging in size from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. They feature 10 ft ceilings, atriums, courtyards, and huge glass windows overlooking large patios, and views of the golf course, green belt, pools, and mountains. The overall effect is to combine great privacy with maximum enjoyment of the surroundings.

The market for these homes was and still is the seasonal golfing community. Central to Marrakesh Country Club is the Ted Robinson designed par 60 executive golf course. All of its 3,619 yards are designed to test player skills and demand the use of every club in the bag.

Marrakesh is a full service country club. Facilities include a 20,000 square foot clubhouse, 2 lighted tennis courts, fitness center, putting course, and croquet lawn. Dining facilities are extensive and there are spectacular views of golf course and mountains from a magnificent terrace. The golf members own the golf course and club facilities.

The Marrakesh homes benefit from low density construction and stand in generous, lush and well-maintained green belt. In addition to the club facilities, homeowners enjoy fourteen pools, spas, and pavilions spaced throughout the development. They also benefit from a prime South Palm Desert location in close proximity to El Paseo’s restaurants and shopping.

The current market for these homes supports a price range between $150,000 and $450,000. The real estate community considers this to be one of best values in the desert for an exclusive country club lifestyle. Not surprisingly, there is a very low turnover at Marrakesh with only three homes listed at the time of this writing.

Homeowner association dues and social membership dues are respectively $425 and $125 per month. Golf dues are $2,100 annually.

Marrakesh homeowners are heavily involved in their own community with busy schedules of sports, club activities, and parties. They are also involved in local communities, with volunteers serving at Eisenhower Medical Center, Barbara Sinatra’s Children’s Center, Guide Dogs of the Desert, College of the Desert, the Living Desert, Joslyn Senior Center, Pathfinders, the Desert Museum, and the many Valley churches.

The 11-member board of directors of Marrakesh Country Club is assisted by Dan Cooper, General Manager and Executive Vice President; Khal Butler, Clubhouse Manager;

Tom Patton, Chef; Willy Gatherum, PGA Pro; John Figgen, Course & Grounds Superintendent; and Barbara Valdivia, Assistant GM and Controller.

Marrakesh being a mature community, there is always a project underway aimed at maintaining its competitive position in the marketplace. Current efforts include a new water well, new mailboxes, new street light fixtures, and an expanded fitness center.

Says Dan Cooper, "We have a very cooperative membership and very few problems. We all just work together for the betterment of the club. And what a wonderful club it is."