Country Club Communities: A Buyer’s Guide

Indian Wells is one of the most consistently desirable addresses in the Coachella Valley — and for buyers interested in golf and country club living, it offers something rare: a small city where nearly every residential neighborhood is built around a private club. This guide breaks down the six primary country club communities in Indian Wells: Eldorado Country Club, The Vintage Club, Indian Wells Country Club, Desert Horizons Country Club, The Reserve, and Toscana Country Club.

The Six Communities

Eldorado Country Club

Eldorado is the most storied club in Indian Wells — and arguably in the entire desert. Founded in 1957, it has hosted U.S. Presidents, Hollywood figures, and some of the most influential families in American business. The club operates on an invitation-only membership model, and the waitlist is long. Homes here are among the most expensive in the valley, with significant architectural variety — ranging from mid-century originals to fully updated contemporary estates.

• Membership: Invitation only, and not tied to real estate ownership
• Best for: Buyers for whom exclusivity, history, and peer group matter as much as the golf

The Vintage Club

The Vintage Club opened in 1979 and quickly established itself as the desert’s premier ultra-luxury community. It features two championship courses designed by Tom Fazio, and the club experience — dining, fitness, tennis, and social programming — is considered among the best in the country.

• Membership: By sponsorship, with a thorough vetting process
• Best for: Buyers who want the highest level of club amenities and a socially active community

Indian Wells Country Club

This is the community most associated with Indian Wells’ golf heritage. Opened in 1956 and nicknamed the “Fun Club of the Desert,” it was the original home of the Bob Hope Classic for more than 40 years. It offers 36 holes across two courses — the Classic Course and the Cove Course — along with a large clubhouse, dining, tennis, and a newer wellness center.

• Membership: Offers tiered options, giving buyers some flexibility in how they engage with the club
• Best for: Buyers who want a central location (it sits close to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden), a large and well-established gated community, and a genuine golf-first culture.

Desert Horizons Country Club

Desert Horizons is generally considered the most family-friendly and price-accessible of the six clubs — which, in Indian Wells terms, still means a genuine luxury community, just with a lower relative entry point. It’s built around a Ted Robinson–designed 18-hole course. It has invested heavily in racquet sports, with a courts pavilion that includes 11 pickleball courts and 2 tennis courts alongside a refreshed clubhouse and fitness center.

• Membership: Tiered structure; social membership is separate/option with the golf membership
• Best for: Buyers who want pickleball, tennis, and wellness amenities to matter as much as golf, plus a more approachable price point.

The Reserve

The Reserve is the newest large-lot, low-density community in the group and leans into its natural setting more than any other club — roughly 700–780 acres with hiking trails and a foothills location. Golf here is on an 18-hole (sometimes described as a 21-hole) course designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, alongside a Tuscan-style clubhouse, swim complex, tennis center, and fitness facility.

• Membership: An equity homeowner membership structure tied to the community
• Best for: Buyers prioritizing seclusion, scenery, and space over density — this is the community for a quieter, more nature-integrated version of country club living

Toscana Country Club

Toscana is the youngest of the six communities, built starting in 2004, and it shows in both its architecture and its amenities. Homes here draw on Italian, Spanish, and early California design, and the club’s 90,000-square-foot Club Villa anchors a genuinely active social calendar — tournaments, wine dinners, fitness classes, and themed parties are all part of the culture. Golf is played across two Jack Nicklaus–designed courses, the South Course and the North Course, both known for being playable and enjoyable across skill levels.

• Membership: Equity membership included with home purchase
• Best for: Buyers who want a newer, more socially programmed community with strong golf, a lively club culture, and architecture that feels distinctly different from the older desert clubs

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