Thunderbird Country Club

The Thunderbird Country Club is a country club in Rancho Mirage in California's Coachella Valley. Its signature 18-hole golf course has hosted the Ryder Cup and the Palm Springs Golf Classic (now known as the American Express). Opened in 1951, the country club has been a favorite of many celebrities, including Bing Crosby and Bob Hope,[1] as well as US Presidents Gerald Ford and Barack Obama.[2] First known as the Thunderbird Ranch, it was purchased by Johnny Dawson, who established Coachella Valley's first 18-hole golf course here in 1951.[3][4]

The golf cart is rumored to have been invented at Thunderbird Country Club.[5][6] By its own account, the Ford Thunderbird is named for the club.[7][8]

It’s golf course was designed by Lawrence Hughes, also responsible for the 9-hole course at the Tomahawk Lake Country Club in South Dakota.

Membership discrimination

At one point the elite Thunderbird Country Club prohibited minorities and Jewish people. Even Jewish comedian Jack Benny could not get in.[9]

In 1957, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz bought a nearby home and hoped to join, but Arnaz was denied admission because he was Cuban. In response, Arnaz bought property in nearby Indian Wells, California and opened the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, open to all.[10][11]

In 1977, Gerald Ford's purchase of property at nearby Thunderbird Heights reawakened local interest in discrimination. A Jewish community leader reported that there was no evidence of discriminatory practices in Palms Springs, but "that does not mean that Jewish people are welcome everywhere."[9]

References
  1. Our History Thunderbird Country Club website, accessed March 28, 2015
  2. Obama's visit put spotlight back on Thunderbird by Dominique Fong The Desert Sun, June 21, 2014
  3. Mallette, Leo A. (2011). Rancho Mirage. Arcadia Publishing. Page 9. ISBN 9780738575018.
  4. Niemann, Greg (2005). Palm Springs Legends: Creation of a Desert Oasis. Sunbelt Publications. Page 191. ISBN 9780932653741.
  5. Mahler, Richard (2005). Hidden Picture-Perfect Escapes Palm Springs. Ulysses Press. Page 125. ISBN 9781569754313.
  6. Mallette, Leo A. (2011). Rancho Mirage. Arcadia Publishing. Page 9. ISBN 9780738575018.
  7. Mallette, Leo A. (2011). Rancho Mirage. Arcadia Publishing. Page 9. ISBN 9780738575018.
  8. Riche, Melissa and Jim (2018). Mod Mirage: The Midcentury Architecture of Rancho Mirage. Gibbs Smith. Page 12. ISBN 9781423648765.
  9. Kotkin, Joel (17 January 1977). "Palm Springs: A Rich Haven for The Fords". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  10. Love, Lucy, written by Lucille Ball;1996 Putnam Adult; ISBN 1568652291
  11. "Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Luxury Accommodations in Indian Wells, California". Archived from the original on 2019-03-19. Retrieved 2019-03-06.

33.7542°N 116.4261°W / 33.7542; -116.4261


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