BIGHORN Magazine 2014

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HIP

ROMANTIC

EXOTIC


MAGICAL

A P R I VAT E R E S I D E N T I A L G O L F C O U R S E C O M M U N I T Y 800.551.5578

W W W. B I G H O R N G O L F. C O M

P A L M D E S E R T, C A L I F O R N I A


Features 6

522 Mesquite Hills: Sunrise to Sunset

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Living the High Life: Our Heart & Soul

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1122 Lake Vista: Sophisticated Design

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Ultimate Rewards: Mary & Howard Maron

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BIGHORN Cares: Big Hearts at BIGHORN

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The Vault at BIGHORN: Car Enthusiasts Celebrate Their Passion

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Healthy Living: Spa & Wellness Center

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Reinventing Perfection: Kate & Roger Goddu

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Industrious Leaders: Horatio Alger Award

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Skin Deep

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Supersized Fun!

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Making Connections: Jeannie & Rod Senft

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Five Minutes From Everywhere

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Tennis Champions Reign on Wikil: The Titcombs & Ackermanns

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All That Glitters

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Growth Opportunities: Todd & Karen Blue

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BIGHORN Is All We Do!

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Vantage Point: Joan & Robert Masterson

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Setting the Stage

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149 Netas Drive: Romantic Retreat

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32 80

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On the cover: Views of the valley beyond from a private residence at BIGHORN. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK DAVIDSON

PROPERTIES (800) 551-5578 | www.bighorngolf.com

Š BIGHORN PROPERTIES 2014. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Publisher: Carl Cardinalli | Editor: Theresa Maggio Production Director: Stacy Daniel, Hired Hands Graphic Design Contributing Designer: Scott Burch Design | Production Editor: Lisa Marie Hart Contributing Photographers: Scott Avra, Mark Davidson, Clark Fairfield, Fuller Edge Photography, Ethan Kaminsky, Pat Lassy, Dale Walker, and Shannon Wilsey



522 Mesquite Hil s Many of the renowned local architects of the past half century have made careers around capturing the desert’s changing light throughout the day. The best of the best find a way to allow their homeowners to experience light, shadow, sun, shade, and the colors of the sky the way nature intended. This home succeeds at capturing all of these tasks beautifully – that’s exceptionally rare for even the most talented builders to accomplish.

By Theresa Maggio Photography by Mark Davidson

Those who love to lose themselves in the profound splendor of a Palm Desert morning’s sunrise or a fiery California sunset will never have to chose between the two dramatic moments at 522 Mesquite Hills. This extraordinary 9,802 sf, 5 bedroom plus office, theatre, and wine room residence at BIGHORN Golf Club is enhanced by two perfectly situated entertainment patios in a symbolic yet functional merging of east meets west.

Easy elegance and fascinating design strike the perfect balance in creating the Zen refined experience of 522 Mesquite Hills. Masterful use of natural materials – including its rich, temple-style vaulted wood ceilings and captivating accents in stone, marble, and abalone shell – provide a relaxed environment, while sliding pocket doors open to connect these remarkable spaces with the beautiful desert surroundings on all sides.

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The 12th fairway entertainment patio features spectacular Canyons course and Santa Rosa Mountain views plus extensive outdoor living room, barbecue center, and infinity-edge pool with spa.

The inviting Desert Contemporary estate set on the Canyons fairways features wraparound views of the 11th & 12th fairway surrounded by the majestic Santa Rosa Mountain range. Dual outdoor living areas offer opportunities for sun basking year round amidst the painted landscape. The homesite’s unique location afforded the twin patio design, while pocketing glass sliding doors throughout the home create seamless access and indoor/ outdoor ambiance. From the 11th green entertainment patio, take in the sunrise over Eisenhower Peak and full morning sun. Petal-shaped lounge furniture pulls up to the custom copper firepit and a multi-level waterfall splashes softly nearby. Meanwhile, the 12th fairway patio elevates sunset entertaining to a new level. A fireplace, flat-screen television, barbecue center and multiple dining and sitting areas face the spacious infinity pool and spa with tanning ledge – all looking out to unobstructed fairway and mountain views.

natural finishes and materials, and carefully measured infusions of color and pattern, the home offers a beautiful flow and a cohesive harmony that truly sings. Rich with wood – including dramatic vaulted ceilings worthy of a chapel – the home also shines with stone, glass, and textural fabrics. As a finishing touch, interesting angles play against wide open spaces to mirror the graceful equilibrium found in nature. The expansive 11th green patio offers guests extraordinary down valley views, firepit lounge, and rock waterfall flowing into private spa.

Inside and out, the expansive home reflects the perfect balance of easy elegance and fascinating design, accented by the light but masterful hand of Blackbird Interiors professional interior design team. Its welcoming environments are Zen refined. Through the soothing use of organic shapes and forms, the calming effect of 7


Top: Mosaic glass tile surrounds the fireplace and flat-screen television on the 12th fairway entertainment patio. Bottom: Throughout the kitchen, large panes of glass create smartly placed picture windows. Panoramic mountain views and abundant natural light combine with designer touches, from the breathtaking abalone shell backsplash and the stainless steel and glass range hood to the quarter-moon island, slab countertops, and high-performance steel appliances.

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Though meticulously tailored for comfort and convenience, every amenity appears effortless in a home that focuses on memorable experiences. The chef’s kitchen beckons a feast, showcasing a quarter-moon island and exquisite abalone shell backsplash. Dual Bosch dishwashers flank the large stainless steel island sink, a fitting complement to high-performance Wolf appliances. Large windows connect the space with far-reaching views made for daydreaming. A message center, butler’s pantry and additional storage complete this unparalleled space designed for a culinary imagination.

For the main event, the artful dining room offers a spacious environment made for savoring each course. Adjacent to the circular walnut dining table and floating quartz-topped buffet is an enclosed wine room that refrigerates approximately 500 bottles. Its stately glass doors offer a peek into this beautiful showplace. After dinner, continue the conversation in the cozy courtyard retreat off the dining room. Alternatively, relax into plush reclining theater seats in the home screening room featuring rich woven acoustic walls, accented by wood detailing, and a high performance projector with surround sound.

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Guests will relish their time in a full guest wing with plenty of room for visiting loved ones. The jewel-box powder room features a shimmering bronze wall treatment, multi-layered wood vanity, and an organic petrified wood sink. Homeowners are sure to enjoy the handsome office with walnut cabinetry, pool views and leather executive chair. A 4-car garage with epoxy sealed floors

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and work bench are other facets that make this multi-dimensional estate an inspired destination to call home. To take a private tour of this home or others please call BIGHORN Properties 800-551-5578 or log onto www.bighorngolf.com.


BRI L L I A N T D E S I G N

V I S I O N A RY TALENT

EVE RY P RO J E C T I S A C E L E BR ATI O N O F O R I GI NALI TY

B L A C K B I R D

I N T E R I O R S

760.931.6500 K ATHY BLACK B I R D B O B CALL PALM DES ERT S AN DI EGO W WW.BLACK B I R DI NTER I O RS.COM


M ajor

donors help us deliver the finest

Medical treatMent in the

c oachella valley.

R.D. HUBBARD, BIGHORN CHAIRMAN:

“ Many BIGHORN members who support Eisenhower have been thrilled with how the hospital supports them when they need care. With their 24/7 Recognition Program for major contributors, if you have an emergency or need hospitalization, you dial one number and they take care of the rest – every

step of the way.”

That’s Why We Thank Them With 24/7 Recognition. Eisenhower Medical Center delivers world-class care to all patients and enjoys a reputation as the Valley’s premier health system thanks to invaluable support from our family of generous donors. That’s why Eisenhower created the unique 24/7 Major Donor Recognition, which provides assistance to those supporting the hospital. 24/7 provides major donors with around-the-clock, streamlined access to care that ensures comfort, enhanced security and confidentiality. If emergency or hospital treatment is needed, major donors are greeted by a highly skilled 24/7 nurse who acts as their personal advocate and guide through every step of care. For more information about Eisenhower’s 24/7 Recognition, please contact Michael Landes, President of the Foundation, Laura Fritz, Vice President, or Ann Ventura, Executive Director, at 760-773-1888.

EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER – COACHELLA VALLEY’S ONLY NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOSPITAL

39000 BOB HOPE DRIVE, RANCHO MIRAGE, CA 92270 ~ 760-773-1888 ~ FAX 760-773-1850 ~ EMC.ORG



Living the High Life

By Joanna Beresford Photography by Mark Davidson and Pat Lassy

Our heart and soul

The allure of BIGHORN Golf Club feels as ageless and enduring as the attraction of the Palm Springs desert region itself. Sprawling above the desert floor, among the jagged edges and lush canyons of the Santa Rosa Mountains, the community offers a serene and revitalizing retreat from the world that lies just beyond its breathtaking landscape. Yet, while the setting feels timeless, the Club offers Members and visitors a contemporary and exhilarating lifestyle, with a dynamic and progressive array of amenities.

The renowned BIGHORN Golf Club has been selected by Golf World as one of the country’s Top 100 Golf Shops and Top 25 Private Clubs for more than a dozen consecutive years. The Shop provides Members with the most advanced equipment, attire, and service available, within the cool confines of the legendary BIGHORN Clubhouse. For tennis enthusiasts, the BIGHORN tennis program offers private lessons, an annual tennis championship, and more than 150 complimentary clinics throughout the season.

The BIGHORN Distinction BIGHORN has earned an exceptional reputation as the home of two championship golf courses. Daily manicured to meticulous, tournament-ready perfection, the Mountains and Canyons courses have served as host to 12 international tournaments, and to some of the world’s greatest athletes. Legendary designers Arthur Hills and Tom Fazio designed these courses to challenge players at every level of the game – and to enhance and reflect the natural beauty of the desert terrain. In addition to enjoying the challenge of these extraordinary 18s, Members develop their knowledge and golf expertise through the presence of BIGHORN’s seven professional Instructors, including a Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor, in the Club’s high performance Golf Learning Center. With a focus on family, BIGHORN also provides for the recreation and education of children, who can pursue their passion for the game through Top-50 ranked Junior Golf instruction, games and interclub competitions.

“I Could Spend An Eternity Here…” Not far from the Clubhouse, under the blue dome of desert sky, and amidst the fragrance of exotic desert blooms, lies BIGHORN’s world-class Spa and Wellness Center. Like a sparkling revelation, the sleek, state-of-the-art facility provides nearly limitless opportunities for BIGHORN Members and their guests to luxuriate in an unprecedented experience of high design, holistic therapies, and a meaningful pursuit of health, beauty, and wellness.

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“People often ask me, `What’s new at BIGHORN?’ ” expresses Membership Director Mike Grenier. “I always want to tell them that everything is new at BIGHORN! Every day, every encounter, every new product, technique, development or discovery. Every moment is new at BIGHORN.”


BIGHORN offers a variety of dining options throughout the property. In itself, the 40,000 sf Clubhouse offers 5 different venues including Ladies’ and Men’s Locker Rooms, the Clubhouse Dining Room, The Pour House and poolside dining, perfect for parties of up to 400 guests. In addition, Members enjoy the Golf House grill, serving a full breakfast and lunch menu daily, and the prestigious Canyons Steak House for evening entertaining.

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Top: Tom Fazio's 4th hole on the Canyons course was designed with the green set 30 feet below the tee and is surrounded by water on the back and to the left side. The right side affords plenty of room for a safe approach, making a right-to-left shot ideal, particularly when the pin is placed on the left side of this hole's generously expansive green. Bottom: Arthur Hills is known for the 15th hole on the Mountains course. From a tee overlooking the entire valley, with all of BIGHORN before them, players face one of golf's most dramatic and exciting holes. This exceptionally long signature par 4 drops a precipitous 180 feet from tee to green. Players are invited to test their strength and drive for distance from the tee, though mountains to the right and left demand the shot be accurate. The second is a long iron to a green that slopes slightly left. Make sure to take a moment and soak in all the surroundings.

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Among the new features of the BIGHORN Spa and Wellness Center are the recently renovated Fitness Center, and the Medical Aesthetics program. The Center continues to offer nourishing body treatments and facials; energizing fitness classes that range from Zumba to Pilates and stretch yoga; injury specialties, post-rehab and mind/body programs; and a full-service salon. Five Star Cuisine There’s no question that life at BIGHORN is eventful. Meaning that it’s a life full of memories and marvels, a life that transforms everyday activities into moments of wonder. To begin with, the 40,000 sf Clubhouse features five dining establishments, including casual venues, like the Men’s and Ladies’ Locker Rooms; The Pour House, stylish but informal with a new extension overlooking the Mountains 9th fairway; and poolside dining for up to 400 guests. The Canyons Steak House has created a tremendous Valley-wide buzz among Members and culinary artists, offering evening entertainment, panoramic valley views, and classic cuisine. The Marketplace features soft-serve yogurt and a yummy ice cream bar and is conveniently located next to the interactive Kiddin’ Around Play Park and one of two dog parks. It's a veritable one-stop shop with a multitude of options, from a Starbucks and Internet Café, to fresh deli meals, Juicing and Smoothie bar, pizza pick-up, artisan groceries and even a dry cleaning service. Meanwhile, literally hundreds of private, Club-catered events fill Members’ calendars, in addition to 100 Club-sponsored events hosted for Members throughout the season. The Club’s interactive, Members-Only Website, Custom Phone App and Weekly Email Blasts remind Members of exciting events and activities with the simple touch of a screen or keypad.

“I love touring guests on the property,” he says. “They begin with certain expectations and within minutes they’re astonished by the vigorous and friendly lifestyle, and they start imagining themselves here. When they consider that since 2009 all of the facilities are actually owned by the Club, the fact that we’ve never had an assessment, and that we operate entirely in the black with additional funds in reserves, they realize that BIGHORN isn’t just a home or a lifestyle – it’s a magnificent investment in which to buy and build.” The growing list of BIGHORN amenities also includes first-class ground and air transport, MedJet membership, expert business and concierge services, and impeccable privacy and security. "BIGHORN's vision is a Club and Community that is continually improving and renewing, responding to current lifestyle needs of today's family," affirms BIGHORN Vice President of Development, Carl Cardinalli. "The vision is realized in continually creating new amenities and renovating and improving existing amenities. It's imperative to always be relevant to today's lifestyle." As a result, BIGHORN's reputation and appeal as one of the world's premier Clubs continues to grow. Located just minutes from the desert’s dazzling array of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, BIGHORN is about more than reputation or prestige. The vital power of the Club emanates from the relaxed and enduring environment provided by a private, protected community among a myriad of spectacular amenities. To experience the unique magic of BIGHORN, please contact BIGHORN Properties at (800) 551-5578 or visit www.bighorngolf.com.

Membership Director Mike Grenier has observed the overwhelming effect that BIGHORN has on visitors and guests for quite some time.

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Sophisticated Design 1122 Lake Vista at BIGHORN Golf Club features incredible indoor/outdoor living! Relax within this 3,500 sf home with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Sophisticated design and plush furnishings make this exclusive LakeView enclave villa one to see! Entertainment patio offers a spacious outdoor living room, barbecue center, firepit lounge, spa flowing into pool and spectacular waterfall views. For more information, please visit www.bighorngolf.com/1122LakeVista or call 800-551-5578.

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Ultimate Rewards By Theresa Maggio

Photography by Scott Avra, Mark Davidson and Pat Lassy

Dr. Howard & Mary Maron have remodeled their home to suit their carefree, relaxed lifestyle expressing their personality through textures and artwork. 21


Dr. Howard and Mary Maron have lived at BIGHORN for six blissfully happy years. “And we would never leave!” adds Mary emphatically. “We’ve literally died and gone to heaven while being here at BIGHORN,” praises Howard. The couple had visited the desert from Seattle several times before they decided it was time to seriously begin searching for a place they could call their own – a friendly destination where they felt comfortable enough to settle in and stay a while. “I was at another club when Howard called me and said that I needed to be at a meeting with Jacquie Burns with BIGHORN Properties in 15 minutes,” laughs Mary. “After spending just a short time on property with Jacquie and Membership Director Mike Grenier, I knew I was home.” Talk about feeling comfortable! The Marons purchased their home that very same day and immediately joined the Club to begin enjoying the fun activities, exploring the numerous amenities and making fast friends. They quickly adapted to and embraced their new lifestyle, which they like to call “golf cart living.” Howard describes how much he loves hanging out on property and savoring simple pleasures. One of his favorites? Simply driving his golf cart with the family dogs, Sir Charles and Cohiba, to pick up dinner from The Pour House or to stop by The Marketplace, Golf House and, of course, the Dog Parks.

“Everywhere we go you hear laughter,” Mary grins. “Everyone has a great time here, and the saying ‘If you’re lucky enough to be at BIGHORN, you’re lucky enough!’ is entirely true.” It’s that lighthearted spirit that the couple shares with their neighbors here that cinched the decision to stay. Mary and Howard agree that the casual, relaxing, vacation-style vibe remains a perfect fit, whether entertaining family and friends around the pool at home or spontaneously heading out to the course, no tee times required. Not only do they enjoy all the new people they have met at BIGHORN, but the Marons also love to share their paradise with friends and colleagues from their home state of Washington. This is evidenced by many who have joined them at BIGHORN. Their home’s Canyons course views and elegantly flowing floorplan made the choice to commit all the easier for the Marons. Then again, who wouldn’t love living high above a fairway surrounded by mountains and sweeping down-valley views? Working with Marsha Young of The Interior Designer and architect Kristi Hanson, the couple felt perfectly at ease, opting to take their time on their remodel and thoughtfully consider the important components involved in combining the desert contemporary architecture with their flair for sophisticated design.

“Why would I ever need to leave campus?” Howard asks with a smile. “This is the epitome of ultimate living. We see it as our adult Disneyland, where we have tons of friends, amazing restaurants and the best staff on Earth!”

Before

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Before

The first order of business was expanding the entertainment patio to take advantage of their prestigious views. They expanded the outdoor living room on two sides then added an outdoor bar to broaden their entertainment options. With a creative splash of vision, they even elongated the pool and designed a pristine, stone waterfall that now gracefully flows right into it. The couple’s smart remodel created the perfect place from which to overlook Canyons hole #16. In the spring, the hill across from their pool fills with African wildflowers in bloom, and a majestic water feature accentuates the end of the fairway’s 16th hole. Inside the open-concept great room and gourmet kitchen, the designer balanced sultry amber and chocolate tones to create a gorgeous yet relaxed atmosphere infused with interesting forms, shapes and textures. Discovering a Tiger-Eye stone, the couple selected this one-of-a-kind material for their countertops, which mesmerizingly complements a shimmering glass mosaic backsplash. Beautiful details aside, the couple says that it’s entertaining their kids and grandkids, hearing their voices fill the air while clamoring around the bar stools for a mid-day snack for example, that brings the true element of harmonious living to these inviting spaces.

The living room’s colorful turquoise, rust and chocolate brown palette is soft and soothing. Combined with arching palms and a rich wood-beamed ceiling, the colors create a spa-like environment that blends effortlessly with the refreshing pool and fairway views beyond. Wander down the hallway to transition into the clubby home theatre where up-lit onyx stone panels with veins of blue and green complement matching onyx tables that come together as sleek natural accents amongst the high-performance theatre chairs. “Our oldest grandson just had a sleepover here,” shares Mary. “The kids and parents could not believe how lucky they were to spend the night there watching their favorite movies and enjoying bowls of popcorn!”

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Another essential addition during the remodel was an office that is now conveniently located off their master suite. Inside, views take center stage in a luxurious environment that presents endless opportunities for both creative thought and powerful productivity. It is within this office that Howard checks in on his vastly successful medical concierge business called MD2. In 1996, Dr. Maron, found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the ever-more demanding pace of traditional medicine. This pace and the patient-to-doctor ratio were not conducive to the extraordinary quality of care he wanted to give. So he asked an intriguing question: What would it mean to practice “medicine in the ideal?” His answer resulted in the first MD2 office where he had the time and resources to offer the caliber of care he had dreamed of one day providing throughout medical school. MD2 trail blazed the private doctor experience, developing an innovative way of caring for people that had never been experienced before. Two highly regarded physicians, three nurses, and a client list of just 50 families per doctor per office proved to be the perfect algorithm for success. Howard was inspired to name the company MD² to reflect the added dimension of service that is exponentially better than the sum of its parts. Simply stated, the doctor can focus on each individual proactively

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Before

and is free to fulfill many vital services such as accompanying their patients to surgical consults, providing house calls and being present in emergencies and special situations. Eight years ago, Dr. Maron committed full-time to the business and retired from practicing medicine. MD2 ’s success has led to their 9th office opening in Beverly Hills this November. It’s the newest addition to their locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Portland, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, San Francisco and Menlo Park. “It’s a tremendous gift to care for my patients as I would my own family,” reflects Dr. Maron. “This can only be accomplished by caring for fewer patients.” “Our practice was designed around this ideology: provide the convenience, accommodation, and best-of-class service you


expect from every service provider in your life. It’s what sets us apart. I never expected that just by opening my one practice an entirely new category of healthcare would be created,” explains Dr. Maron. “Our doctors have the ability to practice medicine in an ideal environment, developing close, personal relationships and collaborating with the network of MD2 specialists.” Typical primary care physicians are responsible for 2,000-4,000 patients per year and see up to 50 patients a day. “It amazes me how much money people of means are willing to pay for those who help manage their finances or handle their legal and personal affairs. Yet these same people rarely allocate special resources or make unique provisions for their family’s health. In reality, it is on matters of health that we are most exposed and deeply vulnerable.” It’s clear to see why Dr. Maron was moved to pioneer such a groundbreaking yet profoundly more intuitive approach. “As I continue to grow MD2, I remind myself how fortunate we are to have interesting and distinguished patients who want to take care of themselves and their family,” he says. “Our physicians cherish these relationships deeply.”

Dr. and Mary Maron’s heartfelt belief in building caring, vibrant connections has shaped the MD2 business for nearly two decades. Reflective of that, the couple has found a family-style community within the environment that they love so much in BIGHORN. Both their beautifully remodeled home that welcomes their children and grandchildren and their social lifestyle on campus support that the people close to them are what they cherish as their ultimate reward.

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By Lisa Marie Hart Photography by Mark Davidson and Pat Lassy

Big hearts at

BIGHORN Golf Club Charities Changes Lives & BIGHORN BAM Breaks a $1 Million Fundraising Record The beauty in the efforts of dedicated philanthropists is that their work is never done. For them, joy thrives in the ongoing results. BIGHORN Members are a vibrant example of how philanthropy can be the gift that keeps on giving when there is deep compassion and energetic effort behind it.

BIGHORN CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE:

Eisenhower Medical Center.............................. $35 million Scripps Medical Center....................................... $5 million BIGHORN Behind A Miracle Fight Against Breast Cancer..................... $4.5 million Hurricane Katrina Victims ............................... $1.5 million

Year after year, BIGHORN Golf Club Charities (BGCC) hits milestones that signify an untold impact on the future of the local community. These philanthropic breakthroughs are born from the generosity of the individuals behind this organization’s lofty yet remarkably attainable goals. When this group aspires to attain results, it is only a matter of time before they succeed and are onto their next mission!

Veterans Lake Resource Center....................... $1.3 million

Over the past year, charity took a place of unprecedented priority for BIGHORN Members, and it shows in some of the year’s highlights and achievements. Most recently, BGCC introduced a new initiative, earmarking up to $400,000 to be dispersed among Valley non-profit organizations that are in need of additional funds in order to continue helping the under-served population. Meanwhile, BIGHORN Behind a Miracle (BAM) coordinated a lively season of dynamic events, fervently raising over $1.285 million for Coachella Valley cancer patients. In the process, BAM also reached a massive $4.5 million milestone over their eight-year history! In other news, a recent BGCC donation of $100,000 will provide special counseling services for military veterans enrolled at College of the Desert, and BIGHORN Members’ substantial contributions also helped to establish the Scripps Clinic’s BIGHORN Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Center in La Jolla, California. Wow! What a community!

4-Year University & Graduate Scholarships....................175

College of the Desert.............................................$550,000 BIGHORN Cares......................................................$400,000

SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN TO DATE: Total COD, Community College & Trade School Scholarships ..................................191 English as a Second Language Scholarships....................35 Holiday Tree Donation Program ..................................1,700 (gifts to children over the past 6 years) While the numbers are impressive, the lasting effect of the organization’s work ripples its way through the community without end, to a far deeper extent than the tremendous dollar amounts could ever tell. At its heart, the BGCC is known for life-changing moments – from the chance to heal or receive specialized counseling to families keeping a roof over their head or having the opportunity to succeed through a solid educational foundation. Each single life touched and each crucial need met is thanks to a person behind it who has the desire and the resources to forever change someone’s course of history. Three cheers for BGCC!

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Boys & Girls Club of the Coachella Valley

BIGHORN Cares: New Gifts for Non-Profits Lending a hand to organizations that need it most, BIGHORN Golf Club Charities has expanded its community giving program to include a new, grassroots component: bestowing up to $400,000 annually to qualified non-profits in the Coachella Valley. BGCC developed this program to fund specific projects coming out of local non-profit organizations that demonstrate a need and are making a real difference in the quality of life for the people they serve. The focus of the program centers around non-profits that aid Valley children and shelters as well as those that provide assistance for people who require a helping hand in order to seek a better life and a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

enriching our community – from afterschool programs that need ramps to assist disabled children onto the baseball fields for practice and games, to a rescue home for boys that needs air conditioners. We heard from organizations that serve 100 turkey dinners to our armed services veterans and those that fund transportation for mentally handicapped adults to attend their therapy sessions. From requiring bedding, hygiene supplies and fans; food cards for people severely suffering from AIDS who cannot work; and hearing equipment to provide screenings for thousands of homeless and low income individuals, the stories are tremendously touching, the needs vast, and the results will prove to be miraculous! Every eligible non-profit has been researched thoroughly with all receiving site visits and interviews.

“The Coachella Valley is home to many non-profits that do truly incredible work,” shares Board Director Joe Kirby. “Our mission is to seek out the most significant projects that are going to benefit the most people and make a real difference in our community.”

Grant distribution will begin in November with the intention that BIGHORN Cares will enrich the dynamic programming required to helps thousands of people every year. Many thanks to the extreme generosity of the BIGHORN Members who passionately contribute to BIGHORN Golf Club Charities, and the stellar non-profits who make a difference in the Coachella Valley every day!

Over 120 valley non-profits applied for the BIGHORN Cares program, all with impressive programs and services that are

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“If we can’t get patients to treatment, it’s impossible to get them better. To BIGHORN BAM, from every patient, family member, and every physician, we can’t thank you enough!” ALISON MAYER SACHS Director of Community Outreach & Eisenhower Cancer Support Services

BIGHORN BAM Hits Miraculous $1 Million Milestone The miracles just keep on coming, as BIGHORN Behind a Miracle (BAM) made this a season to remember. Through their engaging fundraising events with signature style, they tallied up more than $1.285 million to save the lives of Coachella Valley cancer patients this season. From A Night of Miracles, that raised $1 million through one exciting night of dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions, to the much-anticipated Cash for Caddies Auction and Golf Tournament and the entertaining evening A Miracle on El Paseo hosting shopping, tastings from local restaurants, Santa and Olympic ice skaters all sponsored by The Shops on EL Paseo, BAM fundraised their way through another fun-filled season for their cause. Over the past 8 years, BIGHORN BAM has raised over $4.5 million for cancer patient support services, breast cancer diagnostic technologies and educational scholarships! “BIGHORN Behind a Miracle has proven to be exactly that... a true miracle,” shares BIGHORN BAM Founder Selby Dunham. “We are so proud to keep this money in the desert and benefit Eisenhower’s first-class facility as well as the genuine efforts The Pendleton Foundation exhibits with cancer patients who are truly in need of food, money for rent, or gas to drive to treatments. The generosity of the BIGHORN Members, their guests, and friends is truly extraordinary... without the enthusiasm and energy of so many volunteers and committee members, none of this would have been possible.”

This year’s $1,000,000 Eisenhower donation will support a Giotto Mammography machine, allowing patients additional comfort and ease during biopsies in the all new BIGHORN BAM Procedure Suite. In addition, BAM’s donation will support a year of round-trip transportation services for patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments who would normally rely on public transportation. Plus an extra $150,000 will go to The Pendleton Foundation to help cancer patients relieve some of the financial burdens while affording their treatments. “BIGHORN BAM has transformed breast care at Eisenhower by providing funding to maintain the latest diagnostic capabilities,” states Michael Landes, President, Eisenhower Foundation. “Every patient who comes here for breast care – 25,000 patients a year – comes in contact with technology provided by BAM, the most generous series of private fundraising events in Eisenhower history thanks to BIGHORN Golf Club Members.” “I am so excited to give back to Eisenhower,” says Selby, who is a breast cancer survivor of nine years. “After all, they gave me my life.” Selby continues to lead BAM into its 8th year of helping Valley cancer patients by giving back to the hospital and community she loves so much.

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Will Ferrell, Kevin Spacey and Cancer for College Founder Craig Pollard triple teed off at BIGHORN to raise $1 million.

Special Counseling for Veterans Enrolled at COD You’ll remember that BIGHORN Golf Club Charities supported College of the Desert (COD) in 2012 with a $450,000 donation to help fund the BIGHORN Golf Club Charities Veterans Resource Center. It's now a safe and welcoming environment for military veterans and their dependents to receive information about their VA benefits, academic and counseling support, and peer-to-peer camaraderie. In 2014, a subsequent gift of $100,000 supported COD’s Foundation’s Changing Lives Campaign. It will be used to provide special counseling services for military veterans enrolled at the College. “We are so pleased to be able to increase our support of student military veterans enrolled at College of the Desert,” says Ed Burger, Vice President of BIGHORN Golf Club and organization spokesperson. “At a time when so many of our brave young men and women are returning home, we are humbled by their service and stand ready to assist with their transition back to productive civilian life.” More than 400 current COD students are military veterans. The recent increase in veteran enrollment is likely to continue as U.S. troops return from overseas, creating a growing need for specialized services for this deserving group of students. In response, the Foundation has designated $300,000 towards special mental health counseling services for veterans to improve the quality of their educational experience and help prepare them for success in life as well as in their chosen career. BIGHORN Members generously helped cover one-third of that cost.

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BIGHORN Makes Waves at La Jolla’s Scripps Clinic Even outside the Valley, BIGHORN Members have left their mark – literally! The BIGHORN name was recently added to the outside of the building and to the stationery letterhead, and business cards of the Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Center on the Torrey Pines Campus at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California, after Members raised more than $5 million for the center. (See related story on page 57.) And There’s More Philanthropy of all shapes and sizes has always been a BIGHORN tradition, and this past season is greater proof that a legacy can be built when the caring efforts of many individuals come together as one united force. Whether it’s The Galen, Palm Springs Art Museum, The Living Desert, The McCallum Theatre, Cancer for College, or the multitude of hero-driving non-profits working with the neediest members of our community, BIGHORN Members continue to band together to help build up the surrounding community by making a real difference! “Without the help of BIGHORN Golf Club Charities, I would not have had the funds to accomplish getting my degree. Thank you so much for making my dreams come true!” AMBER WISKOW Cal State San Bernardino Nursing School Graduate



The Vault at BIGHORN By Lisa Marie Hart | Photography by Mark Davidson

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Whenever you score hot seats to a major sports or entertainment event, the excitement seems to come in three distinct waves – from getting a hold of the tickets followed by the mounting anticipation leading up to the big day, to finally savoring every moment of the spectacular show. Those who have secured their “ticket” into the sold-out The Vault at BIGHORN have set their sights on the ongoing waves of excitement – because this “show” will go on and on and on!

Designed as a first-class facility open only to BIGHORN Members and their personal cars, The Vault at BIGHORN will be an elite showcase that offers 50 automobile and 4 motorcycle premium parking spaces, in addition to personal storage lockers and an additional outdoor wash area to hand-detail the cars. Adjacent to the car display component, the sports lounge features indoor/ outdoor seating, flat screen televisions and a fully appointed bar – all set in on the Mountains side of BIGHORN‘s campus.

In this case, the “show” consists of a one-of-a-kind experience for premium car enthusiasts that is part sleek garage space, part designer sports lounge, the likes of which no other local clubs have ever seen. The “ticket” is actually one of the coveted keys to this exclusive facility, held by a limited number of Members who swiftly seized the distinguished chance to become one of the original Vault Owners.

The designated number of parking spaces inside The Vault sold out as fast as the most sought-after concert tickets – and before construction had even begun. Many Members have been counting down the days until the debut like schoolchildren waiting for summer break. Scheduled to premiere with its grand opening at the beginning of 2015, The Vault at BIGHORN is a truly inspired collaboration between R.D. Hubbard and BIGHORN Member Jay Westman.

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“BIGHORN Chairman R.D. Hubbard and I have been dreaming of this car haven for a few years, mapping out plans of how best to accomplish creating this one-of-a-kind experience,” says Westman, Chairman of The Vault at BIGHORN and chief executive of Jayman MasterBuilt. “The developers have given this lot for the betterment of the Club’s property valuation, and the finished product will give back tenfold. As a builder myself, it’s exciting to see the value in a development grow dramatically after the launch of a new amenity.”

“The Vault at BIGHORN will have this incredible sense of arrival,” Westman explains. Inside, the talented team of Blackbird interiors, architect Kristi Hanson and Spectrum Custom Design is in the midst of building a dynamic environment where car enthusiasts can appreciate a variety of vintage, exotic, extraordinary, and expensive cars all in one facility, as he tells it. “Just as the Canyons Steak House was a visionary amenity offering unparalleled views and service, The Vault design and dynamics will be iconic setting BIGHORN far ahead of any other club in the country.”

Eager Members have compared a spot inside The Vault to owning 50-yard-line tickets for the Super Bowl year after year. Yet The Vault is speculated to quickly become far more than a beautiful place to house your car. It has already gained a reputation for its inclusive tight-knit community feel, special camaraderie, and unequalled lifestyle enhancement. It serves as yet another tangible symbol of the exhilaration inherent in the BIGHORN experience.

One of the famed names behind many of our BIGHORN residences, Hanson says that from a distance, The Vault will look like a large residence, and that is purposeful. “We have spent a lot of time and care in making it a showpiece that the entire community can be proud of,” she says. “I love the idea of the bank vault doors that open to reveal the treasures inside. The look is incredibly industrial, but sophisticated and unique, giving the perfect entrance for a classic muscle car or luxurious sports car.”

Below left: BIGHORN Chairman R.D. Hubbard with investor Jim Gagan and V.P. of Development Carl Cardinalli review plans for The Vault.

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As part of the hands-on team behind The Vault’s conception, Hanson assures Members who are anxious for a first peek that The Vault at BIGHORN will have all the amenities and furnishings that they have come to expect from BIGHORN. The contemporary lounge area will be raised above the showroom floor for all of its Members for easy visability. Members are invited to relax and enjoy the down-valley views from the indoor-outdoor living room. Westman, who shares everyone’s anticipation of The Vault’s unveiling adds that, “The sophisticated lounge and outdoor living areas will have a resort feel unlike anything in our current amenities, complete with a unique entry modeled after a McLaren grill.” All handsome details aside, The Vault at BIGHORN caters to the pride of ownership and united enthusiasm of our serious car collectors. There are no formal rules on make, model, year or value. This timeless sanctuary is sure to inspire a mix of luxury liners, vintage cruisers, muscle machines, rare sports cars, and genuine track-ready race cars that spans the best eras of history on four wheels.

“I have had loads of fun building my own garage at home, and being involved in The Vault I want to exceed Member’s expectations,” Westman says. Personally he expects to enjoy switching out his cars, from his unique SLR McLaren Mercedes and 2001 BMW Z8 to his Ferrari 430. “I am an amateur car collector, so I look forward to swapping stories with fellow Vault Members, gaining more knowledge and seeing the wide variety of cars that people love,” he says. If he had to choose, he would most like to see the latest LaFerrari valued at $1.5 million on display at The Vault someday. “You have to be an avid Ferrari buyer to get on this ultra-cool list to even buy one,” Westman says. The Vault’s presence at BIGHORN is appropriate and consistent, yet at the same time highly unexpected. “BIGHORN continually strives to offer their Members top-of-the line amenities and world-class experiences,” Hanson says. “It’s an honor to be part of the design team to make these innovative additions memorable.” With views of the mountains and the valley beyond, the electronically monitored and climate-controlled garage claims a full 22,000 sf of prime BIGHORN real estate reserved for this unique amenity.

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Honoring Member’s passionate interest in notable automobiles and their commitment to providing top-shelf amenities in a breathtaking environment, BIGHORN Development has taken on the costs associated with the construction of The Vault at BIGHORN. “The Vault at BIGHORN is a really unique concept!” sums up Hanson. “What other private club would even consider building a special building for its Members to store and showcase cars?” Car love at BIGHORN stretches back to the Club’s beginnings when its first Members eased through the BIGHORN gates in some pretty sensational sets of wheels. More recently, classic cars found sweet harmony with classic rock during BIGHORN’s annual Concert on the Green last spring. Prior to the World Classic Rockers taking the stage for a rockin’, stompin’ good time, Members brought out their classic cars for a casual, colorful meet-up of shiny-as-glass roadsters that were on display for all to enjoy. The al fresco event drew retro Porsches, vintage woodys, and the original Batmobile as well as elegant Cadillacs, fun dune buggies, and an original 1901 Ford with kerosene headlights. That unforgettable evening surely whet Members’ collective appetite for a more permanent space that combines a prestigious car gallery with gathering socially.

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“Once again BIGHORN proves that it is the best Club in the United States, staying ahead of the curve and being innovative beyond everyone’s imagination,” exclaims Lorna Ball, Broker Associate for BIGHORN Properties. “I truly believe that this dynamic environment, where passionate car owners can reminisce about their favorite ride will become a generational experience – one that dad can pass on down to son and grandson and share the incredible experience of all of these makes and models all in one space.”



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Healthy Living By Lisa Marie Hart

Photography by Mark Davidson

Join the Juicing Revolution with a Green Monster consisting of kale, celery, cucumber, green apple, lemon, and ginger.

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Here’s a question: What have you done for you lately? That’s not exactly how the song goes, but it’s worth asking! The daily joys in caring for family, friends, your spouse, kids, and those beloved pets simply feel like a natural part of a well-balanced life. But the truth is, there’s someone very important missing in that mix. Taking care of ourselves often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. Make this season at BIGHORN the one in which you rebalance that ratio and spend a little quality time discovering and unveiling your optimum self, inside and out. The one-two punch for doing just that begins in the welcoming environments of the BIGHORN Spa & Wellness Center and the BIGHORN Fitness Center. Highly trained staff members take a client-based approach to realigning your personal path to wellbeing, whether you want to jump-start a targeted fitness regimen with a professional instructor and private Pilates workouts on the Reformer and Cadillac equipment or you envision a peaceful spa day complete with a skin analysis, comprehensive facial, and new product recommendations. Or, perhaps a bit of both? “Oftentimes we believe we are taking more time out for ourselves than we actually are,” says Fitness Coordinator Katie Juretich. “Sometimes when our Members realize how long it has been since they enjoyed meeting new friends in a fitness class or indulging in a leisurely day in the Spa, they are in shock!”

Balancing your indoor and outdoor routines keeps it interesting, and BIGHORN’s picturesque 1,200-acre campus makes that a breeze. Take it outside with a trail map or join a moonlit or guided day hike. Beginners looking for a scenic walk and moderate-level hikers who appreciate elevation and a swifter pace will each find a perfect fit in the hikes offered each season.

On the fitness front, you can complement a full schedule of powerfully transformative group classes – from yoga and spin to Zumba, BIGHORN barre and TRX – with personal training that focuses on your needs and goals. Friendly, highly qualified Certified Personal Trainers work one-on-one to design a sensibly tailored mix of conditioning, core strengthening, muscle toning and/or increased flexibility. Gearing up for your first triathlon or seeking to deepen your mind/body connection? They will meet you on your journey and be there for you every step of the way.

Ready to head out on your own adventure? From the Mountains to the Canyons, the gorgeous trails adjacent to BIGHORN are close to home and brimming with fresh air, mountain views, flora, fauna and wildlife (including those Bighorn sheep) year-round. “Even if you’re short on time, a brisk morning walk or a sunset trail run can make all the difference in your outlook and will actually leave you feeling more energized,” Katie says. Our fleet of ready-to-ride complimentary bicycles at the BIGHORN Fitness Center adds another option to build into your new routine.

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Of course, what you’re putting into your body is another critical component. Add a boost of nutritious goodness and join the many Members who have been juicing their way to looking and feeling more fabulous at The Marketplace. Colorful and packed with vitamins, the menu of custom blended smoothies and freshly squeezed juice concoctions adds a burst of nutrients and variety into a health-conscious diet. Friendly competition is another way to augment your fitness ideals. Avid golfers and tennis players appreciate both the convenience and the social community of maintaining an active lifestyle at BIGHORN. To further achieve and promote a pain-free active lifestyle, trainers can even assess your standing posture and help improve any postural or structural changes that have occurred over time. Of course, even non-athletes need to check in for a soothing massage with aromatherapy plant oils complemented by an exfoliating salt or brown sugar scrub and a body wrap ritual from time to time. You’ll leave feeling smoother with fresher looking skin. You’ll likely even feel lighter on your feet!

We also offer a new series of innovative, non-invasive medi-spa services. Dr. Doriana Cosgrove provides a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to skin care that combines high-performance technology with a caring and healing touch. Her Cutera revolutionary techniques help restore what time and genetics may have taken away. Try her pulsed light therapy or consider her Titan skin tightening technology. Also available is the TruSculpt process, a breakthrough non-invasive radio frequency and massage technology that comfortably uses the body’s natural systems to break down fat cells in treated areas over time. Take advantage of everything being offered to take care of yourself this season right here on campus. For an appointment, please call (760) 610-8412 or visit www.bighorngolf.com/ SpaWellness to download the latest brochure.

Add a rejuvenating session of reflexology to stimulate essential inner energies, promote relaxation and encourage beneficial results throughout your body. If your skin is your main concern, BIGHORN Spa has you covered there, too. Collagen treatments, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion can be customized as part of your revitalizing facial.

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Reinventing Perfection By Theresa Maggio Photography by Mark Davidson

When Kate and Roger Goddu began exploring BIGHORN five years ago, they were searching for the perfect home to complement the community Kate fondly calls, “a pinch-me kind of place.” “We are so lucky to be here surrounded by a pristine desert scape, mountains that go on forever and a multitude of activities that keep us so busy that the season passes by much too quickly,” she beams. “BIGHORN is an exceptionally unique community because of its exciting, energized Membership,” praises Roger. “Plus, the overall quality and friendliness of the BIGHORN staff in all of its venues is second to none! Because the Club is operated by a singular Chairman, R.D. Hubbard, Members aren’t involved in the regular politics or unnecessary rules that other Clubs are bogged down by, providing members with a more carefree opportunity to enjoy all that BIGHORN offers.” In the end, it was a Canyons home nestled along the 11th fairway that captured their imagination, housing great energy

and magnificent views. Together they knew that this residence was going to be absolutely perfect for them once they added their own special touches to help maximize the property’s potential. One of those key additions was finding a way to create an outdoor multi-purpose room. The original owner had kept the pool and patio pretty simple. “We wanted an expansive outdoor living room and dining area, and our design required relocating and reconstructing the pool plus incorporating an infinity-edge so that we could really enjoy the gorgeous fairway and oasis views below,” describes Roger. The couple brought their vision to life with other enhancements too, from adding a spa and a dramatic fire pit to lush new landscaping and two sunbathers’ decks. They also incorporated an area of tailored luxury with plush seating throughout the outdoor living space. As finishing touches, they relocated the barbecue center for effortless convenience and built

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Kate and Roger Goddu have created spaces that open to the views they love and special places to show their treasures.

an outdoor fireplace topped by a flat-screen TV. Their spacious new entertainment patio cleverly employs the Goddus’ home site to its greatest potential, offering a variety of options for their family to dine, play, relax, and visit together while enjoying the views. Inside their home, the pair wanted to transition the open floor plan into a refined but welcoming atmosphere that reflects a desert contemporary style. They added Old World glamour by extending the travertine flooring to encompass the entire outdoor terrace for seamless indoor/outdoor living. Carefully blending classic furnishings with California design components, the couple redefined their new home by adding personalization and customization room by room. A warmer color palate softened this tranquil residence and brought a calming levity, which balances well with the rich textural elements and pops of bold, colorful artwork the couple collected from local galleries. In the great room, the duo realized the bar needed to be redesigned for easier use, so they made it a 360˚ bar that opens to the outdoor entertainment room. “We also thought it would be a lot more comfortable if we raised the countertops to 44


The Goddu home offers an open floor plan perfect for entertaining their family and friends. Below: The guest house features a spacious living room where the grandkids can stay up late to watch movies.

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barstool height,” the couple explains, which brings the bar to one level and facilitates easy access. A complete update to the cabinetry, hardware, and fixtures made the entire area more inviting. With a few smart improvements, the Goddus restyled an active space where everyone loves to congregate and mingle.

roomy bedrooms, the designer bedding, sitting areas, private patios, full baths and closets make visiting family members instantly feel at home. A wood-grain natural stone floor easily transitions guests from room to room, providing an elegant architectural feature as well as creating a more open space overall.

As Kate and Roger’s children continue to grow their own families, the couple knew they needed more guest rooms. As with the rest of the renovation, they didn’t hesitate to enlist Kristi Hanson and RAM Development to help design and implement a plan that reimagined the current one-bedroom casita into a larger, twobedroom plus family room casita. The results are phenomenal. Not only did they utilize land that wasn’t previously being used, but they also expanded the house so smartly that, from the front, no one would guess that an addition had occurred. The front entry was improved in the process as well... now it radiates a beckoning ambiance that welcomes visitors with a Basalt rock water fountain, fresh plantings, and elegant date palms.

“It’s a pleasure to bring guests to BIGHORN,” exclaims Roger. “They always compliment the tournament-ready courses within the unique picturesque setting. Its no wonder why there are so many world-class homes all in one dynamic community. And when the family visits they are out actively participating in golf, tennis, or hiking taking in the breathtaking mountain views – there is something for everybody!”

“We’re thrilled with the new guest casita and the ways our children and grandchildren can enjoy it,” Roger says. The casita’s spacious living area features custom leather sofas, a flat-screen television, and a fully appointed morning bar hosting a convection/ microwave oven, refrigerator, coffee maker, and sink. Inside the

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The Goddus agree that they loved their Canyons course home from the moment they stepped inside. All the same, they say, reinventing the space has magnified the ways in which they appreciate their home, the land and the scenic desert surroundings beyond their wildest expectations. “When I can open almost any door of our home and walk out onto this amazing patio to take in the light off the mountains, I feel like I have the whole world in front of me,” says Kate. “We love calling this place our home, while it feels like we are living at a resort, it also feels like home to us.”


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Industrious Leaders Photography by Mark Davidson

Horatio Al ger Award

Horatio Alger, Jr.’s literary legacy lives on in five BIGHORN Members who have received the distinguished Horatio Alger Award.

Those familiar with the tales penned by renowned 19th-century author Horatio Alger, Jr. know his archetypal protagonist: a young boy from meager means whose hard work, resilience and moral character empowers him to rise high above his circumstances. Since 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans has bestowed an annual award on real-life “outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in the face of adversity.” Each also shares a strong commitment to support young people through increased opportunities for a higher education. The awards carry a deep honor as they speak to the recipients’ life-long ability to conquer obstacles with integrity, to achieve success, and fulfill their dreams – all while serving as radiant role models. Each spring in Washington, D.C., the association inducts select Americans as new members, which now total nearly 700 recipients over nearly 70 years. In 1995, the first in a line of BIGHORN Members received the distinguished Horatio Alger Award. In 2014, R.D. Hubbard became the most recent of five extraordinary BIGHORN Members to be celebrated a “Horatio Alger hero,” who incidentally also raised over $1.4 million in donations for need-based scholarships, the most any award winner has raised to date.

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Naturally, not one of these modest individuals would describe themselves as such. From humble beginnings and far-flung locations, each demonstrated tangible ambition at a young age. Many share a Midwestern upbringing or a commonality of having moved from place to place based on their family’s changing circumstances. Yet even as boys, their unshakeable work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit began to develop. They set themselves apart by accepting work no one else wanted, stepping up to help support themselves or their families, and creating vast opportunities out of thin air. Many of them admired their resourceful fathers, yet some lost them prematurely. This compelled them to become responsible young men without an in-home role model. Advice from their mothers rang loud and clear: If you want to achieve, you’ll need to find success on your own. These self-reliant boys sought upstanding mentors in the community and the business world, surrounding themselves with high-quality individuals for the journey ahead.

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Hard work never came between these men and savoring life itself. Each extracted pleasure from their professional lives, built on visionary ideas and self-made opportunities that speak to who they are at their cores. Founder Kenneth J. Beebe, with support from his friend Norman Vincent Peale, formed the non-profit Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans to inspire youth to reach their highest potential and keep the American dream alive. Since the inception of its scholarship programs in 1984, the Association has awarded almost $100 million in need-based college scholarships for families making less than $30,000 annual income. The Association and the Horatio Alger Award recipients of BIGHORN are dedicated to carrying that tradition as lifetime association members. Each of their hard-won journeys to the award is a fascinating tale and a great legend for the ages.


Mr. Dennis R. Washington Founder, The Washington Companies 1995 Horatio Alger Award Recipient Bouncing between Washington, Montana and California, living through the Great Depression, recovering from polio, and navigating his parents’ post-WWII divorce all at a young age contributed to shaping a solid young man who was sharp and self-sufficient by age 14. Through his teens, Dennis R. Washington earned money by boxing groceries, delivering newspapers, shining shoes at a railroad depot, and working as a mechanic before getting into heavy construction. Having identified a niche that offered room to grow, Washington became vice president of the largest construction company in Montana by age 26. Three years later, he went into business for himself. Before long, Washington was the largest contractor in Montana and within 10 years Washington Construction was among the largest in the United States – eventually merging with Morrison Knudsen, a publicly traded construction and engineering giant in 1996.

By then, Washington had used his keen eye for opportunity and diversification to branch into mining, dam building, railroads, and marine shipping. After the merger, Washington formed Washington Group International, acquiring components of Westinghouse and Raytheon, to mold one of the largest design/ build companies in the U.S. More than a dozen affiliated companies comprise his other private businesses, the Washington Companies, including the largest privately owned railroad in the nation as well as Canada’s largest marine transportation company. For Washington, however, the chance to help disadvantaged youth create their own opportunities is one of his life’s greatest achievements. Established in 1988, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has contributed to education, health and human services, community service, and arts and culture organizations. Especially significant, the foundation’s longstanding commitment to Young Life, an interdenominational Christian youth ministry, resulted in gifting them with the 64,000-acre Washington Family Ranch in the high desert of Central Oregon. Here, hundreds of teenagers annually benefit from a summer camp experience that includes adventure, emotional support and spiritual enrichment. “Every person will get a break at some time in their life,” says Washington. “I find great fulfillment in helping to create those breaks for others. Sometimes this simply means developing their character so they can identify those breaks when they see them-and know exactly what to do with them.”

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Mr. Duane B. Hagadone Founder, President and CEO, The Hagadone Corporation 2004 Horatio Alger Award Recipient According to Duane Hagadone, there’s nothing wrong with being a perfectionist. His perfectionistic nature emerged as a young boy and has served him well since. As a nine-year-old growing up in 1940s’ Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Hagadone transferred his love for the outdoors into meticulously caring for his family’s yard. Neighbors soon took note that it was the nicest for miles then asked him to mow their own. Hagadone worked the local lawn circuit after school and on weekends, saving all the money he earned. Even in grade school, Hagadone favored an interest in business over his schoolwork and strove to excel at any task. He credits his work ethic to his father – an admirably moral man who gave up his dream of going to college to care for his ill sister and assist with her medical bills. While Hagadone was a boy, his father worked long hours as an ad salesman at the local newspaper, a place where Hagadone enjoyed visiting him. To see him more often, Hagadone took a paper route at age 11, then a second one,

as well as anyone else’s route when they were sick. His first foray into the newspaper business was only a glimpse of where his hard work, desire to succeed, and ability to handle any job with perfection would lead. At 16, he began operating the paper’s production equipment after school. Upon graduation and six months at the University of Idaho, he returned home, preferring to work for his father who had become publisher of Coeur d-Alene’s daily newspaper. From record sales selling subscriptions door-to-door to taking over as publisher after the tragic death of his father when Hagadone was 26, he forged ahead. By 1976, the Hagadone Newspaper Company, a division of the Scripps League, owned 17 papers. Today, the Hagadone Corporation includes divisions in newspapers, hospitality, real estate, and investments. He is also the owner of the 338-room Coeur d’Alene Resort on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene and home to the only floating green in the world. Hagadone’s friends have often heard him say, “I haven’t worked a day in my life.” He means every word. “I love what I do,” he explains. “My father died at an early age, and that taught me to live each day to its fullest.” In recognition of Hagadone’s many achievements, he has been inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame and has been awarded the Most Influential Citizen in Idaho.

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Mr. Albert T. Annexstad Chairman Emeritus, Federated Insurance Companies 2010 Horatio Alger Award Recipient Al Annexstad struck his first, smart business deal on a handshake at age 9. As a young boy in St. Peter, Minnesota who had lost his father years prior, Annexstad went to see the owner of the local hardware store about buying a bicycle for his paper route. Bill Francis, the store’s owner, sold him the bicycle for $1 each week for the next year. Both kept their word. Annexstad always had an eye on successful people, watching their practices and asking questions. He wasn’t afraid to turn down offers that didn’t help him become the man he wanted to be. When Henry Komatz, a prominent businessman, offered to pay his college tuition, he asked him for a job instead. “I appreciated his offer, but told him I would feel better if I paid my own way,” Annexstad says. “The work he gave me helped me earn enough tuition money.” His hard work and integrity shone so bright for all to see that offers kept coming. One day during his senior year of college, he was making a bank deposit for the store where he worked. When he walked out of the bank, a man tapped him on the shoulder and said he wanted to talk to him about working for Federated Insurance. “That was it,” says Annexstad. “From a friendly tap on the shoulder, the course of my life was forever changed.”

Beginning as a sales representative, Annexstad’s record sales pushed him swiftly up through the ranks of the company. He became President and CEO in 1999, and was named Chairman in 2000, launching an era of unprecedented growth for the company. The strategies and opportunities he continues to develop have seen Federated Insurance Companies mature from a regional company into a prominent national organization with a coveted position of superior financial strength. Annexstad is recognized as the executive who singularly has had the most profound impact upon the organization over its 108-year history. “I put my small town values to work in a great company and have done my best to surround myself with quality people, and I’m very proud of that,” he says. Annexstad’s boundless generosity through his youth mentorship and his philanthropic activities is born of his mother’s sound advice: Share your success with others. He and his wife, Cathy, organized an annual charitable event to advance the cause of youth mentoring and later established a family foundation to provide at-risk youth with a college education. “Education is the great equalizer,” Annexstad says. “It is the surest path to realizing the opportunities that life has to offer.” Of course, it is what an individual does with those opportunities that counts. “If you pursue life’s choices with unrelenting knowledge, energy, and a passion for doing what’s right, life will be very, very good for you and for those whom you care about.” The Annexstads’ Family Foundation partners with over 50 of the nation’s finest colleges and universities to provide scholarships to deserving young people who have overcome significant hardship. Most are the first in their families to go to college, yet remarkably, nearly 90% of Annexstad scholars graduate or are on track to earn their undergraduate degrees. The overwhelming majority leave college free from debt, and some have gone on to pursue graduate school or professional training. Additionally, the majority of Annexstad scholars who have earned their degrees are gainfully employed in a variety of fields, among them science, medicine, engineering, business and education. “Annexstad scholars are a special group of young people,” Annexstad says. “I often describe them as the brightest of the bright, neediest of the needy and the toughest of the tough. Armed with world-class educations these young people have a great potential to be extraordinary leaders and contributors to society one day.” Over 400 scholarships have been awarded with an objective of granting 1,000 scholarships within the decade.

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Mr. Greg P. Renker Co-Founder & Co-Chairman, Guthy-Renker 2012 Horatio Alger Award Recipient Many successful men have discovered the profoundly powerful writings of Napoleon Hill, yet relatively few have picked up “Think and Grow Rich” as a teenager. Greg Renker not only went on to adapt Hill’s high-achiever principles to his life but also secured the cassette rights to this iconic title as one of his first 30-minute infomercial projects with Bill Guthy and Guthy-Renker, thus bringing Hill’s words to a wider audience. In 1988 Greg invested his savings in a venture to sign on speaker and author Anthony “Tony” Robbins to participate in the infomercials, followed by Robbins’ “Personal Power” motivational cassette program, both which laid the foundation for exponential growth. Today the Guthy-Renker Corporation is one of the world’s largest direct response television companies with annual sales of $1.5 billion and distribution in 68 countries.

Renker’s passion for motivational self-help books and success strategies stem from a rather unstable youth, moving every year from age 6 to 13 (then again as a high school senior) and working odd jobs, along with his nine siblings, to make ends meet when their father was out of work. While reading books such as “The Success System That Never Fails” by W. Clement Stone. Renker began to envision himself as a salesman paid for his performance rather than by the hour. “I paid my way through school by selling advertising on billboards and bus benches. At one point, I was responsible for the ads on 3,000 bus benches.” Failure, says Renker, has served as an important learning tool along the way. On the rare occasion that a year’s worth of work resulted in an infomercial flop, Renker and Guthy refused to let it cast doubt on their vision. Success, however, never felt like work, as the basis for his company combined three elements he loves: sales, advertising, and self-help-along with hard work and focus. Renker’s own self-help wake-up call came after emergency heart bypass surgery at age 41, inspiring him to ease up on his business intensity, rethink his diet and exercise more. “Each day I strive to wake up with drive to produce in business, in family, in joy, and in recreation,” he promotes. “I have a neverending goal to improve my body, my mind, my spirit, and my values.” One thing he values most are his partners. While Guthy-Renker has amassed many awards and distinctions, Renker and his wife, Stacey, have made philanthropic impacts in healthcare, art, and land conservation. Renker serves on the board of directors and is chairman of the Eisenhower Medical Center and is a chairman emeritus of the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences. Mr. and Mrs. Renker’s financial contributions resulted in the Renker Wellness Center on the Eisenhower Campus as well as the Greg & Stacey Renker Pavilion, a 24-suite in-patient facility. “I tell my children that their partners in life will determine the joy, peace, and prosperity of their futures,” he pridefully shares.

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Mr. R.D. Hubbard Chairman and Managing Director, BIGHORN Golf Club 2014 Horatio Alger Award Recipient It may feel like a bit of a stretch now to envision R.D. Hubbard as a dishwasher, but indeed that was his first job, along with waiting tables, when his father purchased an ice house then opened a small restaurant while Hubbard was growing up. As the last of eight children in Smith Center, Kansas, Hubbard’s formative years were rife with effort to carve out a life for himself. An enduring work ethic runs in the family; Hubbard’s mother worked until she was 80 years old. At age 14, he began driving a tractor and tackling strenuous chores on a local farm. Following high school, Hubbard worked the wheat harvest from Texas to Canada then became a successful salesman with Fuller

Brushes. He married and was expecting his first child around the time when his former high school basketball coach offered him a scholarship to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, where he was the coach. To support his family while in school, Hubbard worked as a bottle washer in the chemistry department, at a refinery, at J.C. Penney, and as a taxi driver. He became a teacher and coach but soon tired of living in a trailer with a wife and two children. The family headed for Wichita in search of stronger opportunities. There Hubbard found a solid mentor in the owner of Service Auto Glass, later renamed Safelite, who eventually made him sales manager then part owner – a position that enabled Hubbard to expand the business by buying glass shops and warehouses in 26 states. Safelite became the largest windshield replacement company in the United States and was doing $100 million in volume with Hubbard as president for a decade by the time he left in 1978. Sticking to his formula for success, Hubbard bought and merged two glass companies, Fourco and ASG, to form AFG Industries, opened plants in 3 states, and bought Ford Motor Company’s glass manufacturing plants in Canada. Once the smallest glass manufacturer in the country, it became the second largest in North America and a Fortune 500 company that Hubbard took private for $1.1 billion in 1998. “The most important thing I learned about business is to hire the very best people in the industry and let them run it, rather than trying to micromanage it myself,” Hubbard says. “I also believe it is important for employees to share in the profits of their company, that way they have a vested interest in its success.” In 1996, Mr. Hubbard and partners acquired BIGHORN Development in Palm Desert, California, a place he loves and cherishes, set in a community where he and his wife love to live and to give back. Formed in 1986, The R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation has awarded more than $33 million in grants and scholarships. Through BIGHORN Golf Club, Hubbard has helped raise millions to benefit the Eisenhower Medical Center and many other charities. He is also the founder of the Hubbard Museum of the American West in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.

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Skin Deep

By Lisa Marie Hart Photography by Dale Walker

Members’ generous contributions established the BIGHORN Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Center at Scripps Clinic.

Incredible outcomes often begin with devoted individuals. In this case, R.D Hubbard, Jim Gagan and Hugh Greenway, M.D. and CEO Emeritus of the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California, were the catalyst for a remarkable turn of events. These included: the addition of BIGHORN’s name to the clinic’s dermatology building after reaching a benchmark fundraising goal, an important on-site screening event at BIGHORN, and even a fellow Member’s life being saved through early detection. During the past year, several Members required the professional services of Scripps Clinic in La Jolla for their premier skin cancer care, having learned of this valuable resource through Dr. Greenway. As a leading dermatologist concerned with early diagnosis and prevention, he feels it is important to catch skin cancers, including melanoma, early and treat them effectively and efficiently. “Scripps’ teams of specialists employ the most current technology available to treat skin conditions, sun damage, and aesthetic considerations,” shares Dr. Greenway. “Whether it is specialized care and equipment needed to save a life, or the medical excellence that helps prevent and cure diseases and injuries on a daily basis, Scripps’ goal is to always provide you with the best possible health care.” Impressed with the excellent care they received, several Members appreciatively donated to Scripps, swiftly raising $4.5 million within several months. Overwhelmed by the generosity of the BIGHORN community, Scripps subsequently offered to add the BIGHORN name to the building along with all related promotional

materials when Members reached a goal of $5 million. By the end of April 2014, Members exceeded the $5 million contribution, thus re-establishing the center as the BIGHORN Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Center. Dr. Greenway says this substantial contribution allows Scripps Clinic to advance its efforts in patient care, clinical research, and graduate medical education, specifically supporting their Fellowship Program under his direction as well as visiting Residents throughout the country. Mr. R.D. Hubbard, extremely proud of this outpouring of support for the center, believes this is proof positive that together BIGHORN Members continue to make an impact and a difference when they come together for a common aim. The magnitude of the Scripps Clinic’s work hit home during BIGHORN’s on-site Scripps Skin Cancer Screening Day in March 2014. Of the 211 Members who were screened over two days, BIGHORN Member John Pfeffer was diagnosed on Friday with a 1-inch surface melanoma on his back. By the following Tuesday, the doctors at Scripps were able to remove it successfully and completely. This easy in-and-out procedure saved his life. “Having Scripps on campus gave a new meaning to the phrase, ‘If you’re lucky enough to live at BIGHORN, you’re lucky!’” John says. Soon he was back on the golf course enjoying his favorite game and is thrilled with the treatment he received. Scripps Clinic plans to schedule additional on-site screening events at BIGHORN so Members have additional opportunities for early skin cancer detection. 57


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Supersized Fun!

By Lisa Marie Hart Photography by Mark Davidson, Pat Lassy and Dale Walker

When Mom and Dad (or Grandma and Grandpa) choose to make their home at BIGHORN, they’re not the only ones who can’t wait until move-in day. The roughly 100 kids on the BIGHORN campus are some of the community’s biggest (and littlest!) fans. From enjoying pick-up games on the sports court, biking around the scenic paths, dining in several kid-friendly restaurants and participating in an events calendar designed for every age and interest, the young set at BIGHORN finds the Club is an easy place to be active and one exciting place to grow up. Budding athletes quickly discover that BIGHORN is an ideal setting in which to hone their golf and tennis skills, filled with plenty of kids their age and/or skill level to play with. Easygoing and friendly, BIGHORN is a place where juniors effortlessly make new friends who are as multifaceted as they are. Before long they’re meeting up for a swim at the Clubhouse Pool, or on the court for a serious basketball game, heading to the BIGHORN Dog Park with their pups or grabbing their clubs to practice together on the driving range. Little ones have their own special place where they feel on top of the world at BIGHORN. The multi-level Kiddin’ Around playground and park is surrounded by soft, water-efficient Astroturf. Kids love

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the junior putting green, too. A picnic table makes it a convenient stop for an alfresco breakfast, lunch or afternoon snack, especially with its location adjacent to The Marketplace and the Dog Park. Even teens and tweens don’t seem to mind sticking close to home at BIGHORN. The Junior Golf Program is just one draw for them. Through clinics, holiday activities, special tournaments and competition they begin to master the fundamentals of the game in addition to patience, etiquette and the importance of good sportsmanship. Bill Madonna is a US Kids “Top 50 Kids Teacher in America” and has a natural gift for teaching with young golfers, from newly swinging tykes to the most advanced junior golfers who are well on their way to the pro circuit. More than all of the kid-friendly amenities, however, many juniors cite the mix of friendly, spirited competition and personal challenge combined with the support and encouragement of the BIGHORN staff and community as the reason they feel at home at BIGHORN – a place where they can learn, grow and thrive season by season. M.J. Hamrick, age 10, says, “When my friends come over we love to hang out at the bocce ball court; the game is really fun.” Sixth


grader Berkley Allison loves BIGHORN’s Dog Park, “because it’s fun to play with all the dogs, and you can always get an ice cream cone or hot chocolate at The Marketplace. It’s just a short walk from my house, so I go there with my Mom all the time.” Beyond their own expressive ways to enjoy the BIGHORN lifestyle, juniors find BIGHORN’s themed bashes to be the stuff of legends come to life. Better than a fairytale, BIGHORN’s highly anticipated seasonal events transform the campus overnight into a wonderland of activities and adventures that they regale to their friends and reminisce about all year round. Families wake to a BIGHORN blanket of white for the magical Snow Day on December 27th. Sleds and intertubes glide down four sled runs that have been piled high with 150 tons of snow as laughter fills the air. Santa flies in from the North Pole for photo opps, and an incredible breakfast buffet by BIGHORN Catering fuels everyone’s creativity for the rise-and-shine dance party.

Here’s the question for springtime: What do you get when you mix Peter Cottontail on a unicycle, an outstanding DJ, and a hula hoop contest? Our annual Easter Eggstravaganza for kids of all ages, which kicks off with 6,000 eggs that have been hidden by the Easter Bunny himself. Baskets of candy plus prizes galore are just part of the fun. Spring Break Weekend features a wide variety of family events, from the Hawaiian luau with an authentic Polynesian band, dancers and fire experts to an old-fashioned campfire night and Rockin’ Swim Party – Family Fun Day always makes a splash! Get ready to tackle the obstacle course, swim contests, and water balloon tosses before showing off those well-rehearsed dance moves! “My favorite day at BIGHORN last year was the Snow Day,” shares Berkley. “I had pancakes, sled down the hill with my friends, took a picture with Santa, and had a hot dog for lunch! It was so much fun!”

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Every day is magical at BIGHORN, whether you are an adult, teen, or toddler. Join us for our Blizzard Blast, Family Fun Days and our Easter Eggstravaganza where 6,000 eggs are hidden on property.

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One of M.J.’s best days is his annual end of school party his parents throw every year. “It’s always so fun swimming and playing ping pong with all my friends,” M.J. laughs. The good news for juniors is that every day feels like a special occasion. One peek in BIGHORN’s restaurants and they’ll spy the fun, interactive desserts including s’mores, cotton candy, and fresh-baked cookies and milk. Even adults admit that it’s fun to feel like a kid again and indulge in these sweet treats from time to time. Once kids grow up at BIGHORN, they always relish coming back with families of their own. BIGHORN homes are made for entertaining the generations with sun and shade, pool and spa, a media room, family room or home theater and quite often a barbeque overlooking the golf course. Throwing an indoor-outdoor birthday party at home or celebrating a milestone or achievement at a BIGHORN restaurant are BIGHORN traditions everyone can look forward to.

Should the juniors get stir crazy, a short drive down Highway 74 leads to The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, a girls’ shopping day along El Paseo or an all-ages performance at the McCallum Theatre, from acrobats and circus troupes to animal handlers, hit Broadway shows and live concerts from top musical acts. What has come to be nicknamed “Camp BIGHORN” by the younger residents is often called a “Disneyland for adults” among their parents. The vibrant youthfulness, vitality and energetic zest for life that flows through BIGHORN resonate with all ages. And it’s that genuine enthusiasm that fills BIGHORN with happy families who have made it the #1 Club and community in the valley. Berkley adds, “The best event ever was when I won the hula hoop contest for the first time. I had been trying since I was 5 years old. It took me 3 years, but I did it!” Keep current with the latest activities for everyone at www.bighorngolf.com/eventcalendar.

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Making Connections By Theresa Maggio Photosgraphy by Scott Avra and Mark Davidson Jeannie and Rod Senft are more than a dynamic couple; they are passionate about life and don’t want to waste a minute of it! Jeannie, a former Xerox Manager turned Olympic and World figure skating judge and Rod, a private equity investor who is a founder and managing director of Tricor Pacific Capital Inc., believe in holding high ideals and enjoying the ride along the avenue to fulfilling their dreams. They profess to have done both of those to a tee in the process of finding their desert utopia at BIGHORN. Several years ago they were introduced to BIGHORN through Member Trevor Johnstone who is one of Rod’s business partners. Rod and Trevor had been making their way out to the desert quite a bit. Rod loves the mountains, golf courses and the relaxed, fun vibe of Palm Desert. After convincing Jeannie to see BIGHORN,

the couple took the plunge and acquired their first home “loving the spacious floor plan, unique design and the down-valley and fairway views.” Their BIGHORN journey had just begun. Jeannie and Rod soon discovered BIGHORN’s incredible Membership and addictive amenities. They frequently invited friends, business partners and family to visit. “After wonderful entertaining days, the real ‘ah-ha’ moments usually occurred over dinner at the Canyons Steak House where they experienced the breathtaking views, impressive cuisine, world-renowned wine list and the top-notch staff,” describes Jeannie. By the next day, more often than not, their guests were out taking a grand tour with Membership Director Mike Grenier looking for a home of their own at BIGHORN. Jeannie laughs as she recalls, “One friend even told Mike, ‘Here, take my wallet, just take it! I’m sold!’”

The Senfts have encouraged many of their friends to join BIGHORN including: Terry & Susan Moss, Sanford & Deborah Riley, Herb & Madeleine Pinder, Fred & Heather Gallagher, Rod & Jeannie Senft, Shirley Richardson, James & Leney Richardson and David & Ingrid Graves. 65


Since their arrival, the dynamic couple has had a role in inviting 10 Members to BIGHORN. “The Senfts epitomize an invested partner,” says BIGHORN Chairman R.D. Hubbard. “We’ve developed BIGHORN’s campus to provide everything a Member would want, in a casual yet sophisticated lifestyle. We are proud that they love our community so much that they bring friends and family to enjoy the full potential we have to offer.” Nothing speaks louder for the love of a community than encouraging loved ones and old friends to become new neighbors! Inspired to share her Olympic and World figure skating stories, Jeannie authored the book “Triumph On Ice: The New World of Figure Skating” in 2011, expressing her love for ice dancing,

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singles and pairs figure skating as well as her professional insights concerning the competitive judging world within. It was the 1998 Olympics when the ice dancing event and its controversial scoring brought international attention to the sport, changing scoring forever; and Jeannie tells all in her book. Rod is just as passionate about his work at Tricor, a private equity firm specializing in middle market investments, management buyouts, and acquisitions of public and private companies. When asked what he does, he jokes and says, “I help people fund their dreams.” Rod is proud of the work Tricor does and how much fun he has in learning about the vast variety of businesses with which he works.


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Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tricor looks for companies in specialty manufacturing, business services, and value added distribution. Within specialty manufacturing, it seeks to invest in aerospace, agriculture, beverages, chemicals, consumer products, defense, food, hardware, industrial, materials, medical instruments, and packaging. For its business services investments, the firm prefers to invest in consumer services, energy, facility services, financial services, healthcare, infrastructure, oil and gas services, payments, transportation, and waste management. What does all of this mean for Rod? “We need to stay at the top of our game,” he says regarding the diverse base of knowledge required. Fortunately, he has found a rejuvenating destination in which to relax and recharge. The Senfts are very active Members at BIGHORN, enjoying the Spa & Wellness Center’s fitness classes, appointments, hiking, and golf before reaping the rewards of a Starbucks latte at The Marketplace or a delicious dinner at the Canyons Steak House. Never having been afraid to tailor their dreams as they went along, the couple has recently moved to an exciting new home overlooking the Canyons 6th hole. They call it “a little piece of Zen perfection!” The perfect, peaceful architecture by Jim McIntosh

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and sophisticated interiors and design by Gary Bradhering and Chris Harris combine in a lulling, tranquil harmony against the backdrop of a reflecting lake and the Santa Rosa Mountains. An effortless indoor/oudoor lifestyle is reflected in every room. Textures, colors, and artwork represent the serenity of nature. The Senfts new home showcases a beautiful flow transporting its owners and guests from one room to another, where custom furnishings become the artwork and hallways make a statement. Expanding the elements of relaxed living out to the outdoor living room and alongside the expansive pool with water feature, the couple can’t resist taking some time out in these spaces to enjoy the colorful flowers and the bluest skies. No wonder you’ll find them most mornings out on their point marvelling as the sun dances over the lush fairways. What better place could there be to celebrate their life together and the thrill of finding so many like-minded connections at BIGHORN? Their three children and their families including new grandson, Connor, visit the Senfts’ desert destination as often as they’re able, especially when they’re eager to escape the cold Canadian winters. When they do, they don’t waste any time jumping in to participate in every one of those addictive amenities that have helped to make BIGHORN a true desert utopia for the Senfts.



Five Minutes From Everywhere By Lisa Marie Hart

Photography by Mark Davidson and courtesy of The Living Desert A world of new adventures awaits within minutes of your BIGHORN paradise.

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Free First Fridays at The Galen are just one reason to check out the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert. These events create a passionate new arts community thanks to performance art, film screenings, a cash bar, and live music in the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden.

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Beyond the museum, world-class galleries on and off of El Paseo mingle with Palm Desert’s renowned public art displays. Take an afternoon and wander through Imago, CODA, Austin Art Projects, Melissa Morgan or Christian Hohmann art galleries. You’ll be glad you did!

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Add to your BIGHORN events calendar and attend a festive array of music, art, film, and other cultural happenings nearby. Concerts at The Gardens, Fashion Week El Paseo, Food & Wine Festival, and Coachella are faves, but the new First Weekends blend Cruise Nights, opening art receptions, live performances, and extended shopping hours all in the span of a few short days.

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An elegant evening of entertainment starts with McCallum Theatre tickets. Choose from classic Broadway shows, jazz superstars or classical performances by Desert Symphony’s professional orchestra.


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Palm Desert’s love affair with shopping makes it Coachella Valley’s capital for retail therapy. Pick up a new couture ensemble at Presage or try on spectacular jewelry at Leeds & Son or Estate Jewelry Collection. Or browse the boutiques for global treasures and unexpected home accents. Pack a picnic or pick up sandwiches and treats from The Marketplace and head for a scenic hike along the rugged Hopalong Cassidy Trail, home to well-earned desert views and moderately challenging elevation.

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Animal lovers of all ages delight in a day spent among jaguars, giraffes, meerkats, and mountain lions at The Living Desert. Don’t miss the gardens, trails, petting area, carousel, and gigantic model train, too.

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What’s wrong with a nice old-fashioned sunset drive? A romantic cruise up the view-laden twists and turns of Highway 74 leads to Vista Point, just 5 miles south. At the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest, this lookout opens to panoramas of BIGHORN and other parts of the Coachella Valley on a clear day.

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See your favorite players up close as the live sports action unfolds during the Humana Challenge golf tournament in January and the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in March.

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Get glam at the BIGHORN Salon for a chic evening out in the BIGHORN limo. Invite several couples, just the girls, or make it a “date night” for two. From live music to wine bars, be spontaneous and pop into whichever Palm Desert door intrigues you next!

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Tennis Champions Reign on Wikil By Theresa Maggio

Photography by Mark Davidson

The Titcombs & Ackermanns

Friends for over five years, Katy and Bruce Titcomb met Toni and John Ackermann on a resort tennis court in Palm Desert when Toni and John were still dating. It was their shared love of the game that led the four of them to friendly competition and future camaraderie as well as to their future purchases as BIGHORN neighbors. Yes, not only did these couples both buy in BIGHORN but they also bought next door to each other – now that’s friendship! Promising cocktails and laughter-filled evenings, as well as their reign as current Club Champions, the foursome has become inseparable. After Katy and Bruce purchased their Wikil home in January 2013, they invited Toni and John to visit. Right away, the future Ackermanns decided the Canyons Steak House was where they

wanted to get married. “The staff made us feel so welcome, worked with us, and made our wedding day so incredibly special,” praises John. “We felt like we were already Members and really wanted to be even more involved in the community, so we met with Jacquie Burns of BIGHORN Properties and started looking for homes.” As it happened, they fell in love with a Wikil home right next door to the Titcombs. “We called Katy and Bruce and asked if they thought it would be cool if we lived right next door,” Toni recalls, “and they were thrilled!” Now only one thing was left to do: enjoy all the amenities and win the tennis championships – which they did! This past season, the ladies took the doubles trophy, as did the men, and the Ackermanns took the mixed doubles and women’s singles championships proving that Champions live on Wikil. 73


Katy & Bruce Titcomb

Katy and Bruce met while they were attending the University of Pugent Sound in Washington, began dating five years later, and have been married for 28 years. Bruce’s majors in economics and math led him into the computer field, then the banking industry, followed by the education business. After teaching for 11 years, Bruce went back to school and earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership and became a school administrator until his retirement in 2008. Katy’s economics and finance degrees made her a keen businesswoman, opening her own gourmet kitchen store and cooking school called Sorel’s. She featured top-of-the-line equipment, tools, and appliances while also offering students an opportunity to expand their palate and skills. The two lifelong tennis players started dating after Katy’s store opened and within no time they were married and starting a family in Seattle. Today, they work together on their property management business, Kaybru, in Palm Desert.

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Tennis is just one of many sports that keep this athletic couple active year-round. Activities include golf, playing bocce ball, an annual downhill ski trip, plus Bruce’s passion for racing sailboats and playing ice hockey. And let us not forget Katy winning the BIGHORN Bridge Championship with fellow Member Howard Neff. They don’t sit still for long! Having grown quickly attached to their new BIGHORN home, Christmas of 2013 was the first they spent outside of Washington. The couple worried that their kids, Sarah, an environmental consultant, and Blake, a geologist working for a Coachella Valley civil engineering firm, would protest, but they were elated. “Our son had already seen our new home, but Sarah had never seen it and both she and her boyfriend loved it,” Katy recalls. The Titcombs have lived in Palm Desert since 1999. In 2009, the couple purchased several rental properties, remodeled them and developed a management company called Kaybru. “We chose BIGHORN for its incredible lifestyle,” states Bruce. “It’s an added bonus that our business interests are located nearby.” While chatting with another BIGHORN Member at a cocktail party, he introduced the Titcombs to BIGHORN, sharing that it was a great community with a lot to offer them, including remarkable values and better views. The Titcombs agreed! “We decided on BIGHORN because of the great view from our home and the modern architecture, as well as all the amenities that BIGHORN has to offer,” Bruce says. The couple appreciates the distinct contrast of their contemporary BIGHORN home and their traditional three-story English Craftsman home on Lake Washington – from the differences in architecture to the gardens

and landscape. “We have never lived on a golf course before, so that is great, too,” Katy says. As a bonus, they find the indooroutdoor flow of their home ideal for entertaining. Katy loves to cook for guests while Bruce enjoys mixing up his top-secret signature cocktail, the “Sour Puss.” Since the couple has been at BIGHORN, they have been enjoying morning Starbucks runs, just steps from home, the friendly Dog Park, where their 13-year old dog Chelsea loves to spend her time as the “old sage” among the other dogs, and of course, dining at the Canyons Steak House. The couple agree that it’s important to stay involved in the community wherever they make their home. Back in Seattle, Bruce is on the Board of the University of Puget Sound and the King County Library Foundation Board, while Katy was a founding Board member and continues to serve on the Board of First Sound Bank in Seattle. At BIGHORN, they are enjoying the process of getting to know friends and neighbors. “The Members we have met have been down-to-earth, incredibly fun, and very interesting,” describes Katy. “The club features so many events that it gives you plenty of opportunities to meet people easily and feel like you belong. From the very first time we looked at BIGHORN, we said to each other that John and Toni should look here, too!” Katy adds. At the time, John and Toni were set on living in Indian Wells and were looking exclusively there. “We bought our home and slowly started our sales campaign. Needless to say, it was a success, because six months later they moved next door!” Now you’ll find the Titcombs on the tennis courts where they maintain weekly games with the Ackermanns in addition to welcoming opportunities to make new tennis friends.

Katy recently won the People’s Choice in the BIGHORN Culinary Cook-off for her legendary Mac ‘n Cheese.

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Toni owns Intemporelle Designs, a couture-level handbag and accessories company. Her offerings all feature the iconic use of rare vintage brooches and lavish fabrics to create heirloom-quality designs.

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Toni & John Ackermann

John and Toni heard rave reviews about BIGHORN, but it wasn’t until March 2013 when they said “I do!” on the Canyons Steak House lawn that they understood the BIGHORN experience, after which the community turned into their own personal Camelot. “So many impressive high achievers live here at BIGHORN, and still the culture is very genuine and friendly,” shares Toni. “We’ve found the Members to be down-to-earth and welcoming, and a tremendous amount of fun.” Toni has forged some of her closest friendships while sweating it out alongside her classmates in the Spa Aerobics Studio during TRX and Spin classes. “I’ve met so many incredible women in these classes, and that has been an especially big plus for me,” she adds.

“BIGHORN is a family,” states the couple. “From the friendly greetings of John and Dave the moment you first drive in the gate to Sandi’s warm smile at the Concierge desk, we feel more at home here than anywhere and never want to leave this amazing place.” And every night when they retire to their outdoor patio and see the twinkling lights of the city below, they ponder, “It feels like we live inside the magic of Disneyland!” Their new home has allowed them to dream new dreams and become inspired. They soon immersed themselves in the creation of a lifestyle brand company called Intemporelle Designs. Timeless by definition, this handbag and accessories company focuses on creating one-of-a-kind products that intertwine enduring elegance

with vintage glam. Toni spends long hours searching for incredible brooches, carefully hand-selecting each vintage adornment and other design materials to artfully create memorable handbag collections. She currently sells to stores at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Zense on El Paseo and online at www.intempodesigns.com. Not surprisingly, John and Toni’s enterprising company is thriving with their impressive backgrounds. Toni is a U.C. Berkeley grad who worked for the Central Bank and State Institute of Statistics in roles that included six years of writing speeches for the President of Turkey, Süleyman Demirel. Missing the States, Toni returned to accept an exciting job with Gartner Group, Inc., where she led Executive Programs for CIOs. She developed interactive programs that enabled top-level executives to become the best leaders and most effective business people while using their technology knowledge to be innovative and empowering to their employees. She developed reports presented at symposiums and podcasts to reinforce the learning that the CIOs had gone through. “I really loved the `ah ha´ moments when the CIOs we worked with would meet with their Board of Directors and feel that they belonged at that table as credible business people,” shared Toni. “Having the opportunity to take my business knowledge and apply it to my new passion of creating a couture handbag business has been really exciting. Plus, it’s amazing having a partner like John, because he has such a vast business and marketing background to draw upon.“

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At the age of 23, John left Chicago with $300 in his pocket and the vision of becoming a cop in San Diego. As luck would have it, the force required a waiting period, so John started searching the want ads. He found a commodity trader posting, applied, and got the job. John worked his way up, learning the business, and eventually became a Senior Account Trader for Lehman Brothers. He understood the importance of having leads and started his own company, Sterling Investments, running commercials on CNBC. John then hired 15 of his broker friends to join him, and all along he kept developing his leads. This eventually led him to the direct mail business and mass magazine selling business

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where a 7% response became a gold mine, which led him to create Golden State of America. Today, he still has his direct mail business as well as Endeavor Daily Marketing Consultants where his forte is repositioning companies and producing innovative responses – as well as serving as the marketing guru to his wife’s thriving business. Fortunately, the couple has plenty of play time to hang with their neighbors and friends plus play a little tennis and music to keep their minds sharp!


Specializing in Fresh Flower Arrangements, Orchids, Bromeliads, Succulents, Annual Color, Unique Pottery, Garden Fountains, Landscape Design and Gift Items.

45350 San Luis Rey | Palm Desert, California | 760.404.1949 Located with the Desert Art Collection on the corner of San Luis Rey and Larrea in Palm Desert. Just off El Paseo.


All That Glitters By Lisa Marie Hart Photography by Mark Davidson, Fuller Edge Photography, Pat Lassy and Shannon Wilsey

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Here’s a riddle: How do you throw an incredible party while staying calm, cool, collected and absolutely relaxed enough to enjoy every minute of it? BIGHORN Catering, of course! It’s no secret that the very essence of BIGHORN Catering and their talented staff revolves around making life easier for Members any day of the year that calls for a sensational celebration. Gatherings of every shape, size, and occasion are the main purpose behind BIGHORN Catering and are the sole reason they love what they do. Each unforgettable event feels genuine and one-of-a-kind because they tailor the theme, menu, and special touches to your own personal taste and unique vision.

your temporary dilemma is their delight. Rest assured knowing that with just one simple phone call you can stop planning and start breathing easy. BIGHORN Catering excels at 11th-hour preparations and delivering flawless results. Each season they enjoy surprising Members by proving to them just how effortless a fabulous party can be, then surprising their guests with all the delicious details! With more than 300 smoothly executed events produced each season, they can provide plenty of ideas and solutions for your next event, even if you have run out of them. Of course, if you want to be intensely hands-on from start to finish, feel free. This is your party, and your level of involvement is their starting point for creativity.

The catering team finds excitement in taking the reins and making your dream affairs come true through every customized detail – right down to the monogrammed napkins or custom-embroidered favors. When the host and hostess don’t have to worry about a thing except showing up – as if they were guests themselves – the team counts it as another job well done. And so will you! Even if you’re pulling an event together at the last minute,

“I love to see Members give themselves the gift of more time with family and friends,” says Catering Director Joe DeNovi. “Once they feel comfortable knowing that we have all the details under control and are managing every moment of their event behind the scenes on a professional level, they realize the party is theirs to savor and enjoy.” Beyond their endless possibilities for inspired menus, refreshing drinks, and a dazzling wonderland of sweet

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BIGHORN Catering will exceed all expectations from its sensational dĂŠcor and spectacular entertainment to fabulous fare and impeccable service. Let us take the stress out of entertaining, giving you more precious time to spend with family and friends.

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treats and desserts, BIGHORN Catering is ready to exceed your expectations by coordinating the décor and entertainment as well. BIGHORN’s relationships with premium vendors including furniture rentals, floral designers, lighting companies, musicians, and other specialists will add layers of glamorous details to the day. When it comes to lifetime landmarks, the Catering team shines. For the ultimate wedding experience, the bride’s and groom’s personalities come to life in each heartfelt detail with BIGHORN Catering at the helm. Whether they have their sights set on an over-the-top fairytale, modern elegance with a live band and after party, or a Great Gatsby-themed party with a vintage look, the biggest day of their lives is in the best of hands. Two of the top reasons Members team up with BIGHORN Catering – from backyard birthdays to formal affairs – has little to do with their ability to conjure up a mouth-watering meal. Impeccable five-star service before, during, and after the party, followed by a heaven-sent spotless clean-up, are lifesavers for anyone who longs for a stress-free get-together. Your every wish is BIGHORN Catering’s command. There’s nothing like getting together with friends and family to reignite your zest for life and realign your spirit. So if you don’t have a specific occasion coming up, why not create one? BIGHORN Catering loves to help you brainstorm for your next good excuse to entertain. From an intimate themed dinner party with an exotic menu from a far-flung locale and signature cocktails made from little-known liqueurs to a lively indoor-outdoor, all-day pool party to kick off the season or extend it just a bit longer. The standard array of popular events is only a sampling of the team’s full potential. BIGHORN Catering specializes in the extraordinary! 83


Stress-Free Thanksgiving and Holiday Parties: Make this a year of memories, not to-do lists. From all of your family’s favorite dishes to festive centerpieces and drink bars, let’s make the holidays fun again!

Storybook Weddings: The scent of flowers fills the air as guests arrive for pre-wedding appetizers and a champagne reception with a classical trio. Moving out to the lawn, the ceremony’s mountain backdrop is appropriately majestic. Photographers follow the couple through a reception party that stretches into the night with a five-course meal, dancing, photo booth, s’mores and late-night munchies.

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Business Entertaining: Send the right message with a polished private meeting for your executive team or top clients. Host golf outings, steak dinners and cigars to powerfully productive breakouts and team-building, BIGHORN Catering takes your purpose to the next level.

Celebratory Birthdays or Anniversaries: Amid the warm glow of candles on the cake, every event is more magical when the details are orchestrated by BIGHORN Catering. All-inclusive planning services can include invitations, favors, linens, flowers and more. Dinner Parties and Wine Tastings: With a world-class wine selection and professional servers, BIGHORN Catering can design a one-evening event or a series of savvy get-togethers themed by grape or regions. For more information, contact Catering Director Joe DeNovi at (760) 810-8292.


Growth Opportunities By Theresa Maggio Photography by Mark Davidson

Desert European Motorcars has long been a part of the Coachella Valley’s successful corporate landscape, but it was the August 2013 purchase by Todd Blue, Chairman and CEO of The indiGO Auto Group, which established a new level of community reach for the local luxury dealership group. Ever since, the thriving business has demonstrated its vision for local involvement by playing a more integrated role in the desert. In his first year as owner of Desert European, Blue’s indiGO Auto Group engaged car owners in the excitement of their new purchases by participating in a variety of events at BIGHORN and throughout the valley including BNP Paribas, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Modernism Week, Desert Concorso, Fashion Week El Paseo and the Palm Springs Art Museum Gala to name a few.

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“Learning about the people who live in this community and how they have built their lives and their careers has been the single most fascinating part of my time here,” says Blue of his first year in business in the valley. “The Coachella Valley and BIGHORN hosts the most eclectic variety of business people I have ever met. Every day I get to meet someone new and learn about their history.” Meeting people is at the top of Blue’s list of why he loves Desert European’s unique model. “I’m incredibly fortunate and blessed,” he says. “We actually get to experience the joy on people’s faces when they celebrate their hard work with one of our brands.” After working for a large metals company, joining the family scrap business, and developing real estate, Blue returned to his passion full force by forming indiGO Classic Cars in 2006. Followed by the acquisition of Porsche of North Houston in 2010 and Lamborghini Houston in 2011, he purchased Desert European Motorcars in 2013. Blue’s businesses have flourished by providing authenticity and building genuine, long-term relationships with both customers and staff. “The car brands we represent are so extraordinary that we provide a team of brand experts so they can share their deep knowledge with our customers,” Blue says. “It is our job to teach our customers to understand the cars and appreciate their significant nuances as well as we do.”

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Blue, his wife Karen, and their kids Grace (age 15), Isaac (age 12), and Bella (age 10), are all involved in an incredibly meaningful Houston event called indiGO Drive4Kids, which benefits young cancer patients. He even encourages his Porsche and Lamborghini customers to participate in the police-escorted fun drive that finishes at Texas Children’s Hospital with a large delivery of toys for the kids battling the disease. Loving the desert, Blue has become involved as a Member at BIGHORN. “I’m always up early. I love that the Fitness Center is open at 5 a.m. and I value the variety of exercise classes and the fabulous trainers and instructors who lead them. The Spa facilities and therapists at BIGHORN are as good as any in the world,” shares Blue, who adds that lunch in the Men’s Locker Room is a highlight of his day because he has the opportunity to connect with “some really interesting and fun guys.” Blue confirms that his whole family feels at home at BIGHORN. “My kids really enjoyed the Snow Day event and can’t wait to come back in December for more sledding." Blue adds that he is “very excited about BIGHORN’s future and The Vault.” Coming from this car aficionado, it carries weight when he says, “It’s going to be something really spectacular. No other club in the world has one!”


Austin Art Projects Interior with works by Charles Arnoldi and Tom Wesselmann, photo: Scott Campbell Below detail: Karen LaMonte Kabuki 2013, cast glass, ed of 3 + 2 AP, 59 3/4 x 31 3/4 x 21 inches, photo: Martin Polak

KAREN LaMONTE 2 0 15 V e n ice B ie n n a le

AUSTIN ART PROJECTS

Collection Consultation & Acquisition Representing Two Solo Museum Exhibitions:

Recognized Artists Artists Advocacy

Museo del Vetro (Museum of Glass) Fondamenta Giustinian 8 30121 Murano Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo (Museum of Fabrics & Costumes) Santa Croce 1992 30135 Venezia

RING.

760.895.8658

TYPE.

info@austinartprojects.com

SURF.

www.austinartprojects.com

VISIT.

44-651 Village Court Suite 142 Palm Desert CA 92260


208 Palm Ridge

BIGHORN Is All We Do! Life at BIGHORN is surprisingly simple, and exceptionally good. The pursuit of contentment, accomplishment, and meaningful engagement with the world and the people around us flows as naturally as a mountain stream.

If you can imagine a panorama of green fairways and blue skies, rugged mountains and lush foliage; if you can imagine yourself and your loved ones at the center of an unfolding drama of glorious sunrise, days of leisure and purpose, lingering twilight, and evenings of ease and enchantment – then you can imagine the simply beautiful life at BIGHORN.

By Joanna Beresford Photography by Mark Davidson

masterpieces, who experience spectacular service excellence, and who enjoy an unparalleled way of life. Our individual homesites, custom residences, and remarkable villas are represented by arguably one of the finest teams of real estate professionals in the world: BIGHORN Properties! An unmatched resource since its inception in 1990, BIGHORN Properties is open seven days a week, all year, to serve listing clients and accommodate prospective buyers at a moment’s notice. Only BIGHORN Properties can explain BIGHORN’s rich history and present a complete picture of the BIGHORN community.

At an elevation of 1,100 feet above the Coachella Valley, BIGHORN extends like a welcoming haven among the Santa Rosa Mountains offering unique and exclusive properties with a stunning array of views overlooking the magnificent desert.

And only BIGHORN Properties can provide prospective owners and Members with immediate access to all private amenities by offering a full, firsthand glimpse of BIGHORN Members’ unique lifestyle.

Here, seizing the day means taking hold of a limited opportunity to build a lasting legacy – and becoming part of a community of homeowners who live comfortably in award-winning, architectural

Four professional sales associates enjoy enduring relationships with BIGHORN’s homeowners, averaging over 18 years of experience at BIGHORN. They are led by Carl Cardinalli, Director

878 Andreas Canyon Drive sold weeks after it was unveiled. 88


166 Tekis Court, a rare Mountains Estate lot.

of Sales, who has seen BIGHORN develop from inception to its revered status as one of the world’s exceptional communities. This “up front” team is supported by an escrow coordinator, office manager, stagers, assistants, and receptionist, as well as a dedicated, on-site marketing department. As part of BIGHORN’s 315 employees, they work collaboratively to maintain the community’s value and enhance every owner’s life experience. The fully equipped office has participated in 96% of all property sales since BIGHORN’s founding. This record is no accident; it was established through tremendous effort and focus. The team has a thorough understanding of the BIGHORN vision, detailed knowledge of every facet of its properties, and an unwavering commitment to BIGHORN’s community and Club. It is no wonder that BIGHORN Properties has successfully negotiated and closed over $2.4 billion in sales at BIGHORN. For more information on BIGHORN’s collection of spectacular custom homesites, please call BIGHORN Properties at (800) 551-5578 or visit www.bighorngolf.com/BighornProperties.

1019 Vale Crest offers views of a private waterfall feature, Canyons course 5th fairway and mountain range beyond.

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Vantage Point

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By Theresa Maggio Photography by Mark Davidson and Ethan Kaminsky


Imagine lazily waking up fully rested in an beautifully designed master suite where the sun trickles over the Eisenhower Mountain range, painting it with golds and oranges and lighting up the sky. For Joan and Robert Masterson, this easy, relaxed awakening is one of their favorite parts of each day. Last May, the couple moved into their 8,350 sf, 5 bedroom estate after master artisans Kristi Hanson, Architect, Elaine Schneider, Interior Designer, and Easton Builders created nothing less than pure magic on the oversized Tepin lot. This dynamic trio had quite an inspiring canvas to work with. The custom homesite, nestled into the mountain, overlooks Mountains 14th and 15th fairways and the twinkling city lights beyond. They knew it would be exciting to add their signature to the true masterpiece that it was set to be built upon.

Armed with Hanson’s desert contemporary plans, designer Elaine Schneider developed a lookbook incorporating their artwork, favorite furnishings, and colors and put together a comprehensive blend of architectural language to describe their future space. High quality, livable, eclectic, unique, timeless, and contextual – keeping cohesive with the natural Palm Desert surroundings. “Natural materials were sought out,” explains Schneider, “including flooring, countertops, tile work, and fabrics, with special attention paid to the architectural details. While the overall palette is intended to be natural and neutral to complement the desert landscape, visual interest and contrast were added through pops of color, texture changes, whimsical focals, and the Masterson’s eclectic art collection.”

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From the first steps leading up to this tranquil residence, there isn’t a doubt in one’s mind that this is going to be an incredibly special visit. A brick paver driveway, gorgeous landscaping, an infinity-edged waterfall, and linear architectural details invite you to push open the custom glass-front door. Step inside for the first taste of an elevated paradise that looks out to expansive views from every vantage point, cantilevered high above the Coachella Valley. Stacked stone walls, illuminated lighting, custom furnishings, and fluid indoor/outdoor designed living from every room allows

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elegantly seamless transitions. Integrating the outdoor living room and the formal living room is the step-down wet bar with gleaming green wave granite. It’s the perfect place for one of the Mastersons’ favorite pastimes: welcoming their friends over for cocktails and conversation as they watch the sun set behind the majestic mountains and the city lights fire up below. “It’s better than watching a movie,” laughs Joan. A formal dining room offers an ideal setting for fine cuisine and lively discussions alongside an impressive clear glass wine room that showcases the Masterson’s extensive collection.


In the gourmet kitchen, a symphony of innovation and creativity brings out Joan’s natural talents in preparing magnificent menus for her husband and family and leads her panache for culinary adventure to thrive. Chef’s would delight in the beautifully designed kitchen with butler’s pantry featuring state-of-the-art appliances and a vibrant red backsplash accompanies espresso wood cabinets and a gorgeous multi-waterfall view incorporating multiple "floating floral boxes" – a true work of art in their own right. An elongated, double-sided fireplace artfully unites the gourmet kitchen with the adjoining family room.

“I had the most fun selecting fabrics for the family room, from the expansive banquette seating to the comfortable chenille sofa,” shares Joan. “Elaine’s sophisticated tastes blended with ours, and we had the best time working together.” This welcoming space features a divine sectional focus in front of the fireplace and television, while an expansive morning room features banquet seating and access to the outdoor barbecue center through sliding pocket doors. “This is where the family really lives when they visit,” Joan beams. The couple loves to host their eight grandchildren, ages 1 to 21.

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Off the kitchen lies a formal office complete with stately bookshelves, handsome desk, and Robert’s favorite art, along with his beloved Tony award for “La Cage aux Folles,” just one of a number of Broadway musicals that the couple produced.

garden sanctuary. A combination of spectacular Simena chiseled stone walls, gorgeous Cippolino Grecco granite vanities, backlit mirrors and slate stone tiles come together in a subtle harmony, completing the euphoric bliss of this heaven on earth.

In the evenings, there is no more tranquil retreat for the Mastersons than their own spa-inspired master suite, where the dreamy oceanic tones bring on deep waves of peaceful sleep. Venetian-plastered accent walls complement the sumptuous bedding, a stacked stone fireplace and two comfortable sitting areas where they can enjoy the desert’s picturesque views.

Guests are lucky enough to stay in one of four suites, including a two-bedroom plus family room casita that boasts its own outdoor living room, firepit, and signature BIGHORN views.

The spa bath offers a quiet respite featuring high-performance yet luxurious amenities and pocket glass sliders leading to a

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Armed with the far-reaching visions and technical know-how of a talented team, Joan and Robert had the pleasure of creating their dream home – at a uniquely uplifted vantage point inside their dream community.



Setting The Stage Your home’s magic begins before anyone even walks in the front door. Curb appeal, in fact, has become such a powerful concept in residential design that HGTV has created several specific programs dedicated to the idea. The materials, textures, and conceptual design of an entryway gate can make friends and family feel as if they have arrived in a very special place. Gates can serve numerous functions and introduce your home’s architectural and design themes in various ways. “I love a simple, graphic design that shows off the unique architecture of the home behind it,” says Dave McFarland, owner of Environmental Source Co. Dave also emphasizes the importance of surrounding landscape in creating a unique entrance. “Selecting the right combination of majestic palms, colorful flowers, and Zen grasses and plants adds dimension and color, for example,” he explains. “You want to draw the eye to the gate, making it the main entrance of the home. Add a brick paver driveway and some refreshing water features and your home has turned into something spectacular!”

By Joanna Beresford Photography by Mark Davidson Whether you call them "portals," or "transitional spaces," suggests HGTV’s Maureen Gilmer, the front gate or entryway should be “among the first” things you consider when designing your home’s and exterior. “A gate is a functional outdoor doorway, but it can also be a bold artistic statement,” writes Gilmer. Architect Guy Dreier, who has designed some of BIGHORN’s most magnificent homes, agrees. “Designing a gate is an important element of extending the home’s architectural features and creating a sense of excitement about what you are about to reveal,” explains Dreier. “So make sure to add color, tall trees, and lighting to expand the visual imagery.” “Whatever your style is,” he adds, “make sure your gate and your artwork represent your taste as well as your home’s overall ambiance.” In other words, make your house the home you envisioned, from the first step forward.

A Guy Dreier custom-designed gate opens from the middle creating a grand statement. 96


Classic

Contemporary

Mediterranean

Modern

Desert

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Romantic Retreat

Enjoy the warmth of this 5,940 sf home offering an inviting living area with sit down wet bar, gourmet kitchen, formal dining room, 4 bedrooms and majestic southern mountain views. This CaliforniaMediterranean design makes this exclusive Mountains home one to experience! The entertainment patio features a spacious covered outdoor living room, barbecue center, fireplace lounge, multi-tiered waterfall flowing into the spa and pool nested in a private setting above the 8th fairway and running stream. For more information, please visit www.bighorngolf.com/149NetasDrive or call 800-551-5578.

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Relationship Investments. Make your very special moments unforgettable. We feature a wide variety of jewelry to show how much you care.

For private appointments, evaluations, to trade-up or sell your fine gems, please contact

BIGHORN Golf Shop Palm Desert, California (801) 971-2223



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