McLay Kidd-designed course and massive surf park unveiled in La Quinta
- Jake Nicholas
- Mar 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Coral Mountain Desert Club has just unveiled that legendary golf course architect David McLay Kidd is designing a world-class championship course for the highly anticipated 400-acre private club community rising in La Quinta, California.
The 18-hole course will anchor the next-generation desert club alongside another landmark amenity—the largest pneumatic surf lagoon in the United States—positioning Coral Mountain as one of the most ambitious new private communities to debut in the Coachella Valley in more than two decades.
The championship golf course will serve as the centerpiece of the master-planned community being developed by Meriwether Companies, a private resort real estate development firm known for building experience-driven destinations that blend recreation, lifestyle, and design. Currently anticipated to be delivered in 2028, the course is expected to become one of the most compelling new private golf experiences to emerge in the region in more than 20 years.
David McLay Kidd is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects in modern golf course design, with a portfolio that includes celebrated destinations such as Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Gamble Sands in Washington. At Coral Mountain Desert Club, his design will shape the heart of the private club experience, integrating strategic play with sweeping desert views and the dramatic natural landscape that defines the Coachella Valley.
Alongside the championship course, Meriwether Companies has also announced a landmark second amenity for members: the largest pneumatic wave basin in the United States. Developed in partnership with Thermal Beach Club, the private surf lagoon will serve as an annex club amenity for Coral Mountain homeowners and members, located less than ten minutes from the community.
The facility will feature a 48-chamber surf lagoon capable of producing customizable wave settings that cater to surfers of all skill levels, from first-time beginners to experienced riders. The system will deliver consistent, year-round waves in the heart of the desert, introducing an entirely new recreational dimension to the Coachella Valley’s private club landscape.
“We’re excited to add the largest pneumatic wave basin in the U.S. to the next-generation vision and lifestyle at Coral Mountain, making this project one of the most unique, all-encompassing developments in North America,” said Noah Hahn, managing partner at Meriwether Companies.
Beyond golf and surfing, Coral Mountain Desert Club is being designed as a comprehensive lifestyle community centered around recreation, wellness, and social connection. Plans call for leading-edge fitness and recovery facilities, world-class racquet sports, curated member programming, and an extensive trail network that connects residents to the surrounding desert environment and nearly 20,000 acres of adjacent public land.
Located on one of the final large undeveloped parcels in the greater Palm Springs region, Coral Mountain Desert Club is poised to become the first new private club and residential community to debut in the Coachella Valley in more than two decades. The project reflects a broader shift toward experience-driven master-planned communities that combine outdoor adventure, wellness, and social living.
The wave basin partnership also builds on Meriwether Companies’ growing presence in surf-focused developments. The firm recently launched Cabo Real Surf Club in Los Cabos, Mexico, a collaboration with the Sanchez Navarro family that further positions the company at the forefront of the emerging manmade surf community category.
With a David McLay Kidd-designed championship golf course, the largest pneumatic surf lagoon in the United States, and a master plan centered on active desert living, Coral Mountain Desert Club is positioning itself as one of the most ambitious new private club communities in the American West.
Sales and additional development details for Coral Mountain Desert Club are expected to be announced in early 2026.
