Oasis Country Club

Quorum Article - June 2003

The Oasis Country Club is a gated community with a hybrid combination of 659 PUDs and condos located on 153 acres of fee land in Palm Desert. Located on Hovley Lane East, between El Dorado and Oasis Club Drive, it is easily accessible to shopping and restaurants in Palm Desert, as well as La Quinta and Bermuda Dunes.

The original developer was Covington Technologies, who began building in 1983. Covington fell on hard times and in 1992 California Community Builders took over with 462 units completed. In 1994 the Homeowners Association filed a construction defect lawsuit and all construction stopped. Then in 1996, the remaining land was sold to Canaan Construction who in 1999, completed the final phase of 197 homes.

The unit mix is comprised of two-story and single story units in duplex or fourplex buildings, as well as stand alone single family residences. For maintenance and assessment purposes, all units are treated as condos. There are 20 models ranging in size from 775 to 1787 square feet. Current prices range from $135,000 B $359,000. Since January The Oasis market has been very active with over 29 units sold to date. A high number of homeowners are full time with about 50 percent being full time residents.

The homes are arranged in and around an 18-hole executive golf course and enjoy expansive fairway, lake, and mountain views. The golf course is said to be the best executive course in the Desert and features 22 lakes with a par of 60. Facilities include on-site Real Estate and Administration Offices, a 22,000 square feet clubhouse, including two restaurants and a lounge, and an additional 5,000 square feet of outdoor patio seating area. There are three tennis courts, a fitness facility, putting green, an 18-hole putting course, practice range, practice bunker, and eighteen pool and spa sets.

One of the most important features of The Oasis Country Club is that the homeowners own the golf course, clubhouse, and the common areas. A 5-member Board of Directors governs The Oasis Country Club and the members lives are made easier by having only one contact point for any issue. A very active group of committees helps the Board in its decision-making, and the homeowners are very interested in the direction the Association takes. Says Board Member Gladys Richardson, "It is a pleasure to work with our cooperative and supportive homeowners" This, plus reasonable Association dues and golf membership fees, make a home purchase here a most attractive proposition.

The Board recognizes that The Oasis is a maturing community and is proactively dealing with a variety of issues. A systematic maintenance program reviews every element of the project on an annual basis, ranging from landscaping management to unit and property maintenance issues. Through this program, issues are identified and are factored into the annual budget and reserve study to properly fund for future maintenance needs.

High energy costs remain a hot topic. Two years ago a modified heating program was put into place using a rotational system to heat selective pools. Currently, all spas and the main pool at the clubhouse are heated annually, while all other pools are heated on an alternating basis of odd and even numbers. Energy efficient lighting, including timers or motion sensors have been installed in key locations. The Oasis is also involved with Southern California Edison's lock-out program, whereas during the summer months, the golf course irrigation well pump cannot run between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

This year's special project is to build three additional homes on lots the HOA owns. Additionally, the reconstruction program to repair construction defects continues with work slated for the unit roofs, golf course lakes, and the clubhouse.

Association vendors include Sunshine Landscape, Economy Pools & Spas, Bucking Water Roofing, and Boyd & Associates for Security. Management is in-house and on-site with Judy Grum as General Manager and Eve Weber as Property Manager.

It seems that people are attracted to The Oasis because of its location, good management, low dues structures, and most of all, the friendliness and family atmosphere among the people living there. Says Eve Weber, "The Oasis Country Club is such an enjoyable place to work. Our employees, vendors and homeowners make sure that everyday is a different adventure. The general consensus is that The Oasis is a wonderful place to live, work, and play."