"Promoting the History, Nostalgia and Properties that make Thunderbird Unique"
Thunderbird Country Club History
The history of the Thunderbird Country Club is a colorful and star-studded tale of sports cars, former presidents, and the flowering of the Coachella Valley desert. Formerly the site of a dude ranch, Thunderbird Country Club opened its doors on January 9, 1951, boasting the first 18-hole course in the entire Coachella Valley. Within four years the Club would play host to the prestigious Ryder Cup, as well as the likes of Perry Como and Dean Martin. California was becoming known as the new mecca for golfers.
In fact, the Thunderbird Country Club had attracted celebrities from its opening days. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope were among the first to buy properties here, and others followed soon after: Esther Williams, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz all owned beautiful homes here, as did former president Gerald Ford.
With all the buzz that Thunderbird Country Club was generating, it wasn't long before even the Ford Motor Company heard about the place. Ford decided to name its iconic Thunderbird sports car after the club, and used the Country Club logo as its insignia. This honor came as no surprise to Thunderbird regulars - the Country Club had made vehicular history three years earlier, in 1951, as the first club to use golf carts. Thunderbird Country Club has always been a place where history is made.
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"Promoting the History, Nostalgia, and Properties that make Thunderbird unique."