Desert Island Country Club Opens to Public with Championship Golf, New Restaurants
RANCHO MIRAGE – Desert Island Country Club, the insider’s choice for championship golf and unique social experiences for decades, has opened its formerly private links to the public and introduced several newly renovated and reimagined dining destinations, open all summer long.
Located in the renowned Playground of the Presidents, directly adjacent to historic Sunnylands on Frank Sinatra Drive, the 1971-vintage property boasts an immaculate 6,715-yard golf course designed by legendary architect Desmond Muirhead. While playing, guests enjoy the authentic club experience with such amenities as chilled towels, umbrellaed carts, insulated water bottles, and beverage service.
After a day on the links, guests can retreat to the Clubhouse, home to three dining areas, a grand ballroom, a veranda bar and terrace with sweeping views of the surrounding desert, lake and mountains. Each venue has its own ingredients-driven menu while the kitchen regularly hosts guest chefs, mixologists, and seasonal pop-up menus, all overseen by Executive Chef Jon Butler.
Desert Island recently introduced its latest dining destination The Penney, inspired by prolific local artist and Desert Island resident Frederick Doyle Penney. This is where Chef Butler — who has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens from Copenhagen to L.A., and most recently at Mr. Lyons in Palm Springs — uses the finest locally sourced ingredients, including shrimp aguachile, roasted octopus, hanger steak and lamb paccheri.
The Penney itself is not one but four environments: public, private, outdoors and in. Guests can settle in at the sunken Horseshoe Bar, offering a plethora of spirits that are among the finest selection in the Coachella Valley. Friends gather on the Terrace to drink in the scenery, while others convene for a private occasion in the Founder’s Room, drawn closed by its signature red velvet curtains.
Afterwards (or perhaps pre-game), guests assemble in The Parlor music lounge/game room, equipped with its own bar, grand piano, table games, and 1967 Brunswick pool table. Guests can settle in with a craft cocktail or let the games begin with chess, backgammon, cribbage, Rummikub or Yahtzee.
“This is club life redefined,” Desert Island Miguel Nelson said in a prepared statement. “We want to take full advantage of the property’s unique heritage while introducing it to a new generation with all the modern amenities. We believe the public will be pleasantly surprised at what they discover right here in their own backyard.”
From a day on the golf course to an evening at the Clubhouse, Desert Island Country Club seems to have something for everyone to enjoy. You may book your tee time or make your dining reservations today by clicking here.
