Marrakesh Country Club lies on 155 acres west of Portola Avenue in South Palm Desert, California.

It is a gate-guarded planned development of 364 housing units, plus club house, golf course and other facilities. The developer was champion golfer Johnny Dawson, whose local projects include Seven Lakes, Eldorado and Thunderbird Country Clubs. Construction started in 1968 and continued through 1976. The land is on a lease arrangement through 2082 with an option to purchase.

Cliff Henderson, founder of Palm Desert, suggested the name Marrakesh since the terrain, snow capped mountains, citrus groves and the rosy sandstone wall were evocative of the time he spent with General Patton in Marrakesh, Morocco during World War II.

The one, two and three bedroom homes come in four models ranging in size from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. They feature 10 foot ceilings, atriums, courtyards and huge glass windows overlooking the large patios with views of the golf course, green belt, pools and mountains. The overall effect is to provide great privacy with maximum enjoyment of the surroundings.

These elegant homes were designed by John Elgin Woolf (1908-1980). Woolf and his partner Robert Koch, the famed architects, created homes for prominent film people and socialites of Southern California. Always tastefully elegant, Woolf was a master of interior organization and these homes show his genius.

The market for these homes was and still is the seasonal golfing community. Central to Marrakesh Country Club life is the Ted Robinson designed par 60 executive golf course. All of its 3,619 yards are designed to test -player skills and demand the use of every club in the bag.

Marrakesh is a full service country club. Facilities include a 20,000 square foot clubhouse, 2 lighted tennis courts, a fitness center, putting course and croquet lawn. Dining facilities are extensive and there are spectacular views of the golf course and mountains from a magnificent terrace. The Golf Members own the golf course and club facilities.

The Marrakesh homes benefit from low density construction and stand in a generous, lush and well-maintained green belt. In addition to the Club facilities, homeowners enjoy fourteen pools, spas and pavilions spaced throughout the community. They also benefit from a prime Palm Desert location in close proximity to El Paseo Boulevard's restaurants and world-famous shopping.

The current real estate market for Marrakesh homes is in the $350,000 to $700,000 range. The Palm Desert real estate community considers this to be one of the best values in the Desert for an exclusive country club lifestyle, especially in such a prime location. Not surprisingly, there is a low turnover at Marrakesh Country Club.

Homeowners association dues and social membership dues are $450 and $150 per month respectively. Golf dues are $2,100 annually.

Marrakesh homeowners are heavily involved in their community with busy schedules of sports, club activities and parties. They are also involved in local communities, with volunteers serving at the world-famous Eisenhower Medical Center, Barbara Sinatra's Children's' Center, Guide Dogs of the Desert, College of the Desert, the Living Desert, Joslyn Senior Center, Pathfinders the Desert Museum, many valley churches and lots more.

The 11 member Board of Directors of Marrakesh Country Club is assisted by professional management and a very capable staff.