Indian Wells Country Club 46000 Club Drive • Indian Wells • California 92210

A short drive out of Palm Springs leads to one of the region's most prestigious communities—Indian Wells. The pretty town with the unusual name was originally a Native American village with a hand-built well at its center. From this humble beginning Indian Wells has grown into California's second-wealthiest community, a miraculous transformation that owes a debt to both dates and golf. Among the settlers who arrived in the early 1900s was pioneer Caleb E. Cook, who established a series of successful date ranches. As the town prospered, the unspoiled beauty and year-round sunshine attracted the notice of influential golfers, and in 1955 construction began on Indian Wells Country Club. Among the original owners was Desi Arnaz, who invited celebrity buddies like Arnold Palmer, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope to become members. In 1960 Bob Hope made the Indian Wells Golf Course part of his famous Desert Classic, and Indian Wells was dubbed "The Fun Club." Today, the club still reflects its distinguished heritage, as well as its reputation for first-class entertaining.

You might expect a venue with such a renowned pedigree to be a bit snooty, but the exact opposite is true. The banquet staff at Indian Wells will embrace you with enthusiastic professionalism and treat you to the same exceptional service that has made the Club a favorite of four U.S. presidents. It was the club members themselves who decided to welcome outsiders for special events, expressing a particular fondness for weddings.

No wonder, since ceremonies on the lovely grounds fill observers with romantic nostalgia. Wedding guests gather on the grassy plain of the 18th hole, where the surrounding Santa Rosa foothills convey a sense of permanence and grandeur. Towering date palms and lush foliage encircle a sparkling lake, fed by fountains and a waterfall flowing over rocky outcroppings. As the couple say their vows, cattails lean into the balmy breeze and seasonal flowers provide splashes of color. A more intimate ceremony site is located at the 9th hole alongside another waterfall pond.

Afterwards, everyone adjourns to the striking clubhouse, a contemporary version of Southwest style that incorporates wood, glass and stone in an angular design. The interior artfully combines the rich palette of a desert sunset with the earth tones of dark woods and imported marble. Luxurious carpeting, abstract stone sculptures and tapestries embody both sophistication and a subtle Native American motif.

Cocktail receptions for smaller events are held in the Main Lounge, a split-level area with a crescent-shaped bar and a distinctive wooden ceiling. Relax in the comfy armchairs and watch the ducks cavorting in a pair of ponds, just beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Receptions feel right at home in the Main Dining Room, a sunken banquet space with lofty windows overlooking manicured fairways. An imposing mantel of smooth stone frames a fireplace, and ornate chandeliers with matching sconces adorn the cut-stone walls—details that impart both classic formality and convivial warmth.

Your most lavish gala will come alive in the expansive Bob and Dolores Hope Ballroom. Crystal prisms dangle from the extravagant lighting elements, and an entire wall of windows lets in the view of that gorgeous 18th hole. An adjoining veranda invites guests outside to enjoy the stunning starscape of a desert night. The staff at Indian Wells knows how to bring out the Ballroom's elegance, and they'll help you merge the best of their delicious menu and the finest vendors to create an event worthy of their sterling reputation.