The Lakes Country Club

Quorum Article - November 1998

The Lakes Country Club is a private club located on 360 acres on Country Club Drive between Cook Street and Eldorado Drive in Palm Desert. The developer was Sunrise Company. Construction started in 1981 and was completed in 1985.

 The development comprises 902 condominium units laid out along 6 miles of streets. There are 12 basic models ranging in size from 1,345 square feet to 2,754 square feet and selling for between $175,000 and more than $600,000. Some of the models built at the Lakes for PGA West sell for more than $1,000,000.

Each home has a lake or golf course view - and in some cases both. All are within comfortable reach of one of the 48 pool and spa sets conveniently located throughout the development. The 27 hole championship golf course was designed by Ted Robinson. At its center is a 50,000 square foot club house offering pro shop and dining facilities. In addition there are fifteen championship tennis courts, eight of which are lit for night time play. A 3,800 square foot health and fitness center was added in 1997.

The Lakes is unique in the Coachella Valley in that all of the condominium property and facilities (including club house and golf course) are owned and operated through the homeowner association, The Lakes Country Club Association, Inc. is governed by a 9 member board of directors, which is assisted by a variety of committees, including Architectural, Finance, Security, Landscape, Condominium Facilities, House, Golf, Tennis and Long Range Planning.

The Lakes has a policy to maintain maximum management control and provide the highest possible level of service to members by keeping most operations in-house. This makes for a large complement of directly employed personnel, which ranges from about 160 in season to 110 off season.

Operations are delegated to a professional staff, comprised of a General Manager, Buzz Radoff, supported by eight departmental heads: Randy Ankeny, Condo Facilities Manager; Ron Wilkoff, Chief of Security; Dar Gibbons, Club House Manager; Mike Santonio, Spa Director; Allen Shapter, Tennis Director; Mike Clifford, Head Golf Pro; Mike Donohue, Golf Course Superintendent; and MaryLou Perlini, Controller.

As The Lakes Country Club matures over time and having regard to continuing new construction in the Coachella Valley, the Board of Directors is acutely aware of the necessity to maintain a leading position in the desert resort market place. This is being achieved through aggressive routine maintenance, which includes a 5 year rotation of complete repainting and a 3 year rotation of complete street slurry. In addition, Bob Altevers, of Altevers International, the original designer of the clubhouse has been commissioned to undertake a complete interior remodel to include colors, fabrics, and wall and floor coverings.

To complement this interior modernization, Lifescapes International, the original landscape architect, has been commissioned to do a feasibility study for a complete landscape renovation aimed at scaling back overgrown plant material and retain and enhance the unique integration of lakes, waterfalls, streetscapes and golf course, which are the hallmark of The Lakes Country Club.