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The golf course on the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, California, is a private nine-hole course designed by Dick Wilson for Walter and Leonore Annenberg. Completed in 1965, it occupies the western portion of the 200-acre estate and was conceived so that its nine greens could support longer 18-hole play through alternate tees and routing. Sunnylands describes the resulting full configuration as par 72.
Landscape historians record the original nine-hole course at approximately 3,385 yards. Wilson used elevated greens, bunkering and water features as central design elements, integrating the course with the estate's lakes, olive trees and eucalyptus. In 2011, architects Tim Jackson and David Kahn restored the course using Wilson's original plans, historic aerial photography and research into the original construction.
The course is a 9-hole parkland golf course. It plays to par 72, 3,385 yards. Designed by Dick Wilson, the course originally opened in 1965. It is open to members and their guests. On-site facilities include Café.
Walter and Leonore Annenberg purchased approximately 200 acres in the Coachella Valley in the early 1960s for a winter estate. Alongside the A. Quincy Jones-designed residence, they commissioned golf architect Dick Wilson to create a private course.
Wilson's design was completed in 1965 and became an integral part of the Sunnylands landscape.
Wilson worked within a compact nine-green footprint while creating multiple playing angles. Sunnylands records elevated greens typically defended by bunkers or water, while eleven surviving artificial lakes form part of the wider estate landscape. Alternate tees eventually allowed the property to function as a full 18-hole, par-72 routing despite having nine greens.
Additional teeing options were introduced over time. In 2011, Tim Jackson and David Kahn completed a detailed restoration based on Wilson's original drawings, historic aerial photography, subsurface investigation and interviews with people involved in the original course. Greens, tees, fairways, bunkers and water features were restored toward their historic forms.
Sunnylands became closely associated with American political and diplomatic history. Dwight D. S.
W. Bush and Barack Obama.
The course remains part of The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands and is not a public daily-fee golf facility. Access is restricted to invited guests and selected Sunnylands activities.
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