Best Coachella Valley Country Clubs for Non-Golfers: 2026 Buyer’s Guide
When people think about living in a country club community in the Coachella Valley, golf is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy the country club lifestyle.
In fact, I regularly talk with buyers where one spouse plays golf and the other doesn’t, or where neither person plays at all. For these buyers, the questions are different.
How good is the fitness center? Is there an active pickleball or tennis community? Where do members go for dinner or drinks? What is the social calendar like? Are there activities for visiting children and grandchildren? Is there a pool or spa? And is there a membership option that makes sense if golf isn’t a priority?
Those questions can be just as important as the home itself.
As a local Realtor specializing in private club and golf communities throughout the Coachella Valley, and as a private club member myself, I believe choosing the right home starts with choosing the right community and lifestyle.
For buyers considering Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta, here are seven private club communities worth exploring when golf isn’t the only reason you’re buying.
Palm Desert Country Clubs for Non-Golfers
BIGHORN Golf Club
BIGHORN is one of Palm Desert’s premier luxury communities, but there is considerably more happening behind the gates than golf.
For non-golfers, one of the biggest advantages is BIGHORN’s Club Membership. This membership provides access to the club’s social calendar and non-golf amenities without golf privileges.
Those amenities include seven dining venues, tennis and pickleball, bocce, a lap pool, and an extensive Spa & Wellness Center with fitness equipment, exercise classes, personal training, Pilates, massage, skincare, sauna and steam rooms, salon services and more.
That makes BIGHORN particularly interesting for couples where one person is focused on golf while the other is looking for fitness, wellness, dining and an active social life.
Why non-golfers should consider BIGHORN: A dedicated Club Membership, luxury amenities, extensive wellness and spa facilities, pickleball and tennis, multiple dining options and a strong social calendar.
The Lakes Country Club
The Lakes is one of the first communities I would consider for someone who likes the country club lifestyle but doesn’t necessarily care about golf.
When you own a home at The Lakes, a Residential Social Membership is included with the HOA dues. That membership provides access to the clubhouse, pools, Racquet Center and Lifestyle & Wellness Center. Golf membership is available separately for homeowners who want it.
The Lifestyle & Wellness Center includes strength and cardiovascular equipment, fitness studios, dedicated Pilates and spin studios, saunas, steam rooms, spa treatment rooms and a 25-meter lap pool.
The Lakes also has a particularly active racquet program, with tennis, pickleball and other racquet sports, along with numerous pools and spas throughout the community. Dining, live entertainment, holiday celebrations, themed dinners, clubs within the club and other activities contribute to a very social atmosphere.
Why non-golfers should consider The Lakes: Social membership tied to homeownership, excellent fitness and wellness amenities, extensive racquet sports, pools, dining and a very active social environment.
Indian Ridge Country Club
Indian Ridge is another Palm Desert community worth considering when golf isn’t the only priority.
In addition to its golf facilities, the club offers a broader country club lifestyle with fitness, racquet sports, dining, spa services and social activities.
For buyers, another advantage is the size and variety of the community. Indian Ridge offers a broad selection of homes and neighborhoods, making it possible to compare different locations, views and home styles while remaining within the same club community.
For a couple where one person enjoys golf and the other is more interested in fitness, pickleball, dining or the social side of club life, Indian Ridge can offer a good balance.
Why non-golfers should consider Indian Ridge: Fitness, pickleball and tennis, dining, spa and social activities combined with a wide selection of homes within Palm Desert.
Indian Wells Country Clubs for Non-Golfers
Toscana Country Club
Toscana is known for its two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, but there is a significant lifestyle at the club away from golf.
For buyers who don’t golf, or couples where only one spouse plays, the non-golf amenities can be an important part of the decision.
Toscana offers fitness and wellness, tennis and pickleball, bocce, swimming, spa services, dining and a busy calendar of social activities and special events.
One of the things I believe buyers sometimes underestimate is how important the social side of a club becomes once they’re actually living here. Dinner with friends, pickleball in the morning, fitness classes, holiday events and activities for visiting family can become as important to everyday life as golf.
As a member myself, I see firsthand how much of the Toscana lifestyle takes place away from the golf course.
Why non-golfers should consider Toscana: Extensive fitness and racquet amenities, spa, pool, dining, social events, family activities and a club lifestyle that extends well beyond golf.
Desert Horizons Country Club
Desert Horizons offers another compelling option in Indian Wells, particularly for buyers looking for a more intimate club environment with plenty to do beyond golf.
The club offers dining, pickleball, tennis, fitness, spa services, bocce, Pilates, social clubs and special events in addition to its golf program.
More importantly for non-golfers, Desert Horizons offers multiple membership options, including a Social Membership.
The social calendar includes holiday celebrations, trivia and game nights, special-interest clubs, group activities and other opportunities for members to meet and spend time together. Desert Horizons also reports that approximately 35% of its homeowners live there year-round, helping support activity beyond the traditional desert season.
Why non-golfers should consider Desert Horizons: A Social Membership option, pickleball and tennis, fitness and wellness, dining, special-interest clubs and an active social calendar.
La Quinta Country Clubs for Non-Golfers
The Hideaway Golf Club
The Hideaway is one of La Quinta’s premier luxury private communities, and although golf is a major part of the club, there is plenty for a non-golfing spouse or family member to enjoy.
The club’s amenities include a full-service spa, fitness center, lap pool, tennis and pickleball, several dining venues and an event lawn with regularly scheduled activities. The Hideaway also extends certain clubhouse, dining, spa, fitness and pool privileges to qualifying extended family members.
The social environment is an important part of The Hideaway experience as well. Its smaller membership and emphasis on personal service help create a more intimate private-club atmosphere.
For a buyer looking at the luxury end of the La Quinta market, particularly when one spouse is an avid golfer and the other is not, The Hideaway deserves consideration for the lifestyle surrounding the golf.
Why non-golfers should consider The Hideaway: Luxury fitness and spa amenities, pool, tennis and pickleball, multiple dining options, family privileges and an intimate social environment.
Tradition Golf Club
Tradition is another La Quinta community where the lifestyle extends well beyond its Arnold Palmer golf course.
Most importantly for this article, Tradition offers a Club Membership in addition to its Golf Membership. The Club Membership includes use of the clubhouse, Fitness Center and Spa, bocce, pickleball, dining, social and recreational events, as well as access to Tradition’s nine-hole short course.
Fitness and wellness are significant parts of club life. Tradition offers fitness programming, spa services, pickleball and other recreational activities, while its broader lifestyle programming includes outdoor strength and cardio workouts, yoga, barre, Pilates, hikes and bike rides.
Dining and socializing are also central to the experience, with multiple dining environments and events designed to bring members together.
Why non-golfers should consider Tradition: A dedicated Club Membership, fitness and spa, pickleball, bocce, dining, social activities and access to the nine-hole short course for someone who may want a more casual introduction to golf.
What Should a Non-Golfer Look for in a Country Club?
If you don’t play golf, I wouldn’t start your search by asking which club has the best golf course.
I’d start by thinking about what you actually want your life in the desert to look like.
Do you see yourself playing pickleball several mornings a week? Is a great fitness center important? Do you want somewhere you can have dinner several nights a week? Would you use a spa regularly? Do you want a busy social calendar or something quieter? Will your children or grandchildren visit frequently? Do you want a club where you can easily meet people and become part of the community?
The answers to those questions can quickly change which communities make the most sense.
Membership structure matters too. Some clubs offer dedicated social, sports or club memberships without full golf privileges. At others, the membership structure works differently.
That’s something I recommend understanding before falling in love with a particular house.
What if One Spouse Golfs and the Other Doesn’t?
This is one of the most common situations I see.
In that case, you’re really shopping for two lifestyles at the same time.
The golfer may care about the courses, practice facilities, tournaments and overall golf experience. The non-golfer may care much more about pickleball, fitness, dining, social activities, spa services, pools and whether there are enough activities to make the club enjoyable on its own.
The goal isn’t simply to find a great golf club. It’s to find a community where both people are excited about living.
That’s why I encourage buyers to look beyond the house when we’re comparing communities. You can remodel a kitchen or update a bathroom. You can’t change the location, membership structure, club culture or overall lifestyle of the community.
Which Coachella Valley Country Club Is Right for You?
There isn’t one club that’s right for everyone.
Someone looking for an ultra-luxury experience may be drawn to BIGHORN, Toscana, The Hideaway or Tradition. Someone who wants a particularly active social and recreational environment may want to explore The Lakes or Indian Ridge. Desert Horizons offers another compelling Indian Wells option with a Social Membership and an intimate club environment.
More importantly, two clubs that look similar online can feel completely different once you spend time inside them.
That’s where local knowledge becomes important.
Looking for the Right Coachella Valley Country Club?
If you’re considering buying a home in a private club community in Palm Desert, Indian Wells or La Quinta, but golf isn’t your only priority, I can help you compare the communities based on how you actually want to live.
Tell me what’s important to you, whether that’s pickleball, tennis, fitness, dining, social life, family activities, location, home style, views or budget. We can narrow down the communities that fit your lifestyle first and then focus on finding the right home.
Membership categories, initiation fees, dues, availability, amenities and club policies can change. Buyers should independently verify current membership information directly with each club.