Tradition Golf Club Magazine VIII 2016 by Private Club Marketing

Tradition Vo l . I I I 2 0 1 6

Tradition Golf Club La Quinta, CA

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T r adi tion G olf C lu b 78505 Old Avenue 52 La Quinta, CA 92253 (760) 564-8723 - Tel. (760) 564-6691 - Fax

P u bli sh er Zack Bates

B oar d

D ir ect or s

E di t or i a l C on tr i bu t or s

Arnold Palmer, Chairman Emeritus

Tom Harack, Wayne McCollum

David Della Penta, President Gary Singer, Vice President

P ho t o gr a ph y C on tr i bu tion s

Dexter Williams, Treasurer

Eric Reed, Mark Karlstrom

Steve Schleisman, Secretary Charles Mechem, Senior Advisor

P roduction & D esign

Dan Averill

Andy Crane, Ruben Magos Jr., Ildiko Ruzics

Bill Chatalas Diane Richards

C ust om P u bli sh i ng & D esign T r adi tion P roperti es S a les www.clubandresortpublishing.com Seven Upper Newport Plaza Newport Beach, California 92660

Broker CalBRE Lic. 01126489 (760) 564-3355 - Office Bill Albers

M aga zi n e M edi a K i t I nqu ir i es

Real Estate Broker

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Bill@TraditionProperties.net

R ea l E state I nqu ir i es

Amy Albers

Tradition Properties Sales (760) 564-3355

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Realtor (760) 774-8245 - Cell

Tradition Properties Sales (Broker) is independently owned and operated and is not an affiliate of Tradition Golf Club. All information provided within this publication regarding real estate for sale is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. Prices and square footages are subject to change, Purchase of real estate within Tradition Golf Club does not include the cost of membership. Membership is by invitation and is subject to an approval process through Tradition Golf Club. Tradition Magazine, its owners and partners are not liable for claims made by any advertisers, inaccuracies or intentional copyright infringements. ÂŠ Private Club Marketing, Inc. 2016 All Rights Reserved.

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LETTER FROM ARNOLD PALMER Palm Springs has been very special to me ever since I first set foot in the Coachella Valley. I found the desert setting and climate captivating when I visited the area in my first month on Tour, even though I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t qualify for its Thunderbird Invitational as a rookie. Somehow that feeling converted itself into real success in tournaments there in the decades that followed. The year before the Palm Springs (later Bob Hope) Desert Classic was established in 1960, I won the final Thunderbird, shooting 62, the lowest tournament score of my career, in the final round. Five victories in the Bob Hope came over the next 14 years. Nowhere else in the world did I have such success in golf. I had already designed several courses in Palm Springs when the opportunity came to do Tradition. When it was finished, I knew that it was something special, a crown jewel, and I knew that I wanted a home where I could spend a part of every winter in such a magnificent setting. Tradition has lived up to all my expectations. I cherish my residence and my membership. Warm Regards!

Arnold Palmer Chairman Emeritus

Newport Beach Seven Upper Newport Plaza Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel. (949) 743-5793

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CONTENTS

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THE TRADITION OF TRADITION

TRADITION MAKES WINE A FAMILY AFFAIR

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AT TRADITION

Pg. 11

Pg. 19

Pg. 26

SHORT NOT NECESSARILY EASIER

WATER CONSERVATION IN THE DESERT

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS

Pg. 29

Pg. 33

Pg. 41

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FRIENDS BEYOND

BORDERS Tradition is more than a place. Our members make the Club what it is and those friendships extend beyond its borders. Join us as we join them in their journeys.

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THE TRADITION OF

TRADITION TRADITION GOLF CLUB SITS ON A PIECE OF LAND STEEPED IN HISTORY. ITS STORIED PAST SHAPES WHO WE ARE TODAY.

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CLARK GABLE, GINGER ROGERS, KATHRYN HEPBURN, ERROL FLYNN, MARLENE DIETRICH, GRETA GARBO AND RUDOLPH VALENTINO… their names carry the glamour of gilded era of Hollywood. They came to the desert for a variety of reasons; whether they sought to escape the pressures of stardom in solitude or to celebrate their freedom with friends, the old desert welcomed them with warmth and sunlight and serenity. Tradition’s Hacienda del Gato was at the heart of that old desert experience. Before La Quinta was La Quinta, the estate that became Tradition Golf Club was here. Originally homesteaded in 1902 by John Marshall, Marshall’s Cove later was named La Quinta, or “the country house” in Spanish. Immediately a well to the aquifer was sunk to provide irrigation for the property and the small house and well house were built. They remain as the oldest remaining buildings on the property today; built in 1910, the small house was later converted to a guest home/pool house to accommodate visitors. This has been restored as the Eisenhower cottage, used by members as a card room and a private dining room. In 1920, the main ranch house was built; it was designed by noted architect, Gordon Kaufmann, who later designed the La Quinta Resort. The home was laid out so that the beauty of the largest visible peak of the Santa Rosas was framed down the main garden path. Those gardens, which remain to this day, include some of the oldest cactus and other specialty plantings in the valley including three grassless fan palms which were first planted by the Southern Pacific Railroad when they first came to the valley in the late 1880s before being transplanted to Tradition. The Marshall family eventually sold their ranch to a Los Angeles oil and real estate tycoon, William Rosecrans, who was well acquainted with the Hollywood legends of the era. The Rosencrans family brought understated elegance to the estate; they had lighting fixtures made in Seville, Spain. Textiles for curtains were commissioned in Guatemala and Talavera tiles were custom-made for the entry and living room. A family pet became legend and gave name to the estate through her exploits. Mrs. Rosencrans was leaving the home and as she stepped outside the kitchen door, the family’s little

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Pictured (top to bottom): Hacienda del Gato, Historic Hacienda Cactus Gardens, Rudolph Valentino at the Hacienda

Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy

grey cat saved her from a big rattlesnake strike. In gratitude for the beloved pet, the ranch was named the “Hacienda del Gato.”

grapefruit, Dancy and Algerian tangerines, Temple and Seville oranges, and pomegranates filled the air. It remained a working ranch until 1991.

Hollywood glitterati were not the only visitors; the Hacienda’s warmth and serenity were sought by the political elite as well.

And then? The original Marshall’s Cove, the Hacienda del Gato retreat of the Rosencrans family and old Hollywood, was sought to create a championship golf experience in a socially intimate setting. The site, with its awe-inspiring natural setting, caused Arnold Palmer, Tradition Golf Club course designer and member of the Club, to say, “This land is something really wonderful. It bends and curves beautifully, set against the mountains, giving the golf course lots of drama.”

BOTH PRESIDENT EISENHOWER AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY ENJOYED EXTENDED VISITS TO THE RANCH. It was a provided them dose of serenity and privacy. That tradition of retreat continues to this day. After serving for decades years as the family’s retreat, the ranch was purchased by Kelly McBean then later by Fritz Burns. The fertile nature of the land became the primary focus. The swimming pool was constantly circulated with fresh aquifer well water; as it overflowed, it irrigated the citrus orchards which were planted below the home. The scents from Eureka and Ponderosa lemons, pink and ruby

The tradition of the Hacienda del Gato was filled with warmth and graciousness. Its gates welcomed visitors to the heart of the old desert. Those gates are preserved at Hole 3 on the golf course; they sit beside the entry drive and welcome members and guests today. Hollywood and political elite came to the desert to find their hidden sanctuary; that same tradition has shaped Tradition’s present. Many first time visitors to Tradition Golf Club and the Hacienda del Gato have said as they enter the property, “This is home.”

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TRADITION MEMBER ARTWALK

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The Tradition’s Winemakers

TRADITION MAKES WINE A

FAMILY AFFAIR A decade or so ago, all the major golf publications began running what editors came to refer to as “golf-and” features. Sensing that their more adventuresome readers wanted more than just stories about a foursome of guys playing 36 holes a day in Myrtle Beach, these features focused on places also known for other recreations. Golf and fly-fishing was, and is, a favorite. So is golf and skiing. But no combination subject appears more frequently than golf and wine, and the kinship between the too is easy to discern. Both are simple pleasures, but, at the same time, infinitely complex. Both are immune to ultimate mastery as subjects, which helps to explain their status as diversions for a lifetime, not to mention their often-fanatical following. And both make endlessly fascinating themes for far-ranging travel. You would be hard-pressed to find a place where this duality is more exuberantly and vividly exemplified than Tradition. Here, the members don’t just appreciate a good glass of wine, a number of them have made a career out of making it. And the fruits of their labor, pun intended, frequently appear on the wine lists of the club’s dining facilities. “It’s a very sophisticated group,” offers Mike Moone, who estimates that there are some 50 serious oenophiles, a fifth of the club’s membership. In the wine business for 43 years, Mike says winemaking has always been his destiny, something that first occurred to him when he assembled his own 100-bottle cellar as a sophomore in college. Examples of Mike’s handiwork are staples at Tradition’s periodic winepairing dinners (see sidebar), but his winemaking plaudits extend well beyond the club’s grounds. Three of his vintages have been named No. One worldwide. Augusta National Golf Club, site of the Masters Golf Tournament, recently purchased four cases he produced. Besides his Luna Vineyards, where the immensely popular Arnold Palmer Chardonnay is made, five years ago, at age 70, Mike planted his 1000 Vines winery on property adjacent to his home. Not surprisingly, Mike finds a kindred spirit in Tom Celani, proprietor of Celani Family Vineyards. Known especially for its cabernets and merlots, Tom also describes his passion for wine as pre-destined. His first exposure to winemaking was in helping his grandfather, Vincenzo, make table wine after emigrating from Italy in 1912. Tom subsequently learned about the business through working at his family’s beer-andwine distributorship in Detroit, where he became aware of Americans’ pivoting tastes from European vintages to those from California. Fittingly, he purchased a Tuscan-style estate in the foothills of the Vaca Mountain range, with 17 acres of grapevines and 120 olive trees.

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Best known is his Ardore Cabernet Sauvignon, but for Tom it’s about making, as opposed to marketing, his wine. “If we never bottled more than 24 barrels of Ardore a year I would be satisfied, because our commitment is always going to be to quality,” says Tom. Rhone wines are the specialty of Tablas Creek Vineyards, the products of which Tradition members Tom and Diane Richards introduced to the club after investing heavily in the winery’s operations. To say it has paid off would be understatement. Tablas Creek was named best winery in America in 2015 by The Daily Meal. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rated 15 Tablas wines at 90 points or better, led by the 2013 and 2014 Panopile vintages and the 2014 Esprit de Tablas. Don and Donna Kelleher came to winemaking via their restaurant, Brix, where customers would ask whether the vines surrounding the building supplied the grapes for the wines they served. Yes and no was the answer, as the Kellehers actually sold their grapes to other wine-makers in the area, with some of those labels on the Brix wine list. In 2004, they founded Kelleher Family Vineyard and decided to make their own Cabernet Sauvignon with the help of an accomplished wine-maker, Craig Becker. It’s been a huge hit at the restaurant, the club, and elsewhere ever since.

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LUNA VINEYARDS & MOONE THOUSAND VINES www.moone1000vines.com ....................................................................... The name of the vineyard comes from the extremely rocky slope, west to east, which is just right for one thousand vines. This hillside vineyard produces small, concentrated grapes of deep currant flavors, with hints of minerality and rich, black cherry characteristics enhanced by the lava rock. “Moone one thousand vines will always remain the wine of the vineyard, plus small amounts for blending. I only want what the vineyard does – I want it to be special.” Mike Moone

CELANI FAMILY VINEYARDS www.celaniwines.com ....................................................................... Celani Family Vineyards was founded in 2005 by owners Tom and Vicki Celani. They divide their time between Napa and their home in Michigan. Tom comes from an Italian family and used to make wine with his grandfather. His passion and enjoyment of fine wine ultimately took the “next step” in becoming a commercial venture with Celani Family Vineyards.

KINGS MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS www.kingsmountainvineyards.com ....................................................................... Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation of California, in the Skyline subregion at the heart of the peninsula, in the town of Woodside. This area is one of the coolest wine growing microclimates in California, with clay soils and hardscrabble that are ideal for growing grapes. The vineyard at Kings Mountain was planted in 1992 on a private estate that has existed in Woodside since the late 1800s.

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TABLAS CREEK VINEYARDS www.tablascreek.com ....................................................................... Tablas Creek is dedicated to producing wines from the grapes traditional to France’s Rhone Valley. As in the southern Rhone, most of our wines are blended for balance and complexity. Our winemaking, including native yeast fermentation and aging in 1200-gallon French oak foudres, preserves the wines’ expression of their soil, climate, and varietal character. All wines except the Patelin de Tablas wines are produced entirely from grapes grown on our certified organic estate vineyard.

KELLEHER FAMILY VINEYARD www.kelleherwines.com ....................................................................... Our vineyard is situated along Highway 29 in the famous Oakville Appellation in the heart of the Napa Valley. We have 10 acres planted exclusively with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. We’ve named this beautiful piece of land “Brix Vineyard”, after our namesake restaurant “Brix”. In 2004 the Kelleher family, set out to produce our own estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon.

CEDAR CREEK ESTATE WINERY www.cedarcreek.bc.ca ....................................................................... Purchased in 1986, Cedar Creek released its first wines in 1987 and was one of the first 8 pioneering wineries of BC. With four generations of agricultural heritage and more than a quarter century of experience, we have pursued perfection and produced some of the valley’s best wines resulting in Cedar Creek being twice recognized as “Canada’s Winery of the Year”. Today, we look proudly towards the future to further promote our region.

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WINE DINNERS HIGHLIGHT SYNERGY OF EXECUTIVE CHEF AND MEMBER WINEMAKERS “It’s rare that a chef can experience the kind of culinary give-and-take that we have with the members here at

Tradition,” says Jose Sanchez, the club’s executive chef. “But it makes the experience more engaging and fun.”

Jose should know, having served in similar capacities at such exclusive golf clubs as Maidstone and National Golf Links,

on Long Island; Monterey Peninsula Country Club and the Preserve Golf Club, in California; and Winged Foot Golf Club in suburban New York City.

Along with Javier Solorazano, dining room manager,

Jose plans monthly wine-and-food pairing dinners, as well

as suggestions for regular installments of Sushi Wednesdays (Sauvignon Blancs) and Prime Rib night (Cabernets and Blends).

Not all of the complementary wines come from vineyards with which members are associated, but many do.

“One of my favorite pairings is Tablas Creek’s Cotes de Tablas Blanc with our Pan Seared Boat Scallops,”

Jose notes. “Many of our salads pair nicely with a Pinot

Grigio from Luna Vineyards. Miso-Glazed Sea Bass goes great with a Chardonnay from Celani Family Vineyards

and the bone-in Pork Chop works well with a blend from Kelleher. The Kings Mountain Pinot Noir will pair nicely

with our Lamb Chops or with a casual dish like Tradition’s

cheeseburger. And Cedar Creek whites go wonderfully with the Weiner Schnitzel.”

“Best of all, we’re happy to get suggestions from our

members, because these people know and appreciate wine.”

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ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

AT TRADITION WE TEND TO THINK OF THE RAPID ADVANCES RIPPLING THROUGH SOCIETY AS MOSTLY TECHNOLOGICAL ONES. BUT TRADITION’S HEALTH AND FITNESS OFFERINGS IS AN OBJECT LESSON IN CHANGE: ENHANCED FOCUS ON WELLNESS AND LIFESTYLE, TERMS THAT WEREN’T EVEN IN COMMON USAGE UNTIL ROUGHLY THE TURN OF THIS CENTURY.

There are also Pilates Reformers and luxurious private treatment rooms for restorative therapies. Notwithstanding the assortment of fitness “stuff ” at the center, though, Tradition’s world-class professional staff never forgets that wellness is about people. And in stark contrast to the dumbbells of yore, Rebecca Main, fitness and spa director, and her colleagues are an extensively trained, customer service-oriented team.

Remember when “the gym” consisted of a couple of stationery bicycles and an assortment of dumbbells (some inanimate, others with a pulse)? Tradition’s 5,400 square-foot fitness center features the most sophisticated cardio and strength-training equipment in this sense, wellness is also part of a technological revolution as well as an airy, 600-square-foot studio for yoga, Chair Stretch, Zumba, High Intensity Interval Training, Line Dance, and gentle yoga.

“At Tradition, we’re family,” says Rebecca, a one-time collegiate softball player with a degree in physical education, health and wellness who went on to become a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. “So instead of competing for clients, like at a commercial facility, our focus is completely on creating healthy education experience and inspiring place to be.”

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“A welcoming environment not only makes for a more pleasant experience for all, it’s also more conducive to achieving member goals,” she adds, noting that even the old-world architecture of the center – as distinct from the typical modern steel-and-glass structure -- is conceived with comfort in mind.

TRADITION’S FITNESS PROGRAM EMBODIES ANOTHER CONCEPT OF COMPARATIVELY RECENT VINTAGE: THE HOLISTIC APPROACH. AND THIS WHOLE BODY WELLNESS APPROACH HAS LED TO MORE GOLF FOR TRADITION MEMBERS. Golf Fitness Instruction Certification (from the Titleist Performance Institute) helps members to gain a better

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understanding of how they can strengthen their bodies to enjoy their golf game longer. When Manual Stretch Therapy and fitness nutrition is added, whole body wellness can be increased. Apart from individual health initiatives tailored for objectives like weight loss or endurance, the notion of membership at Tradition as a way of life is reinforced by group activities. These include Turkey Trots, 5K and color runs, pickleball, and hikes; as well as educational forums with physicians, chefs and nutritionists, chiropractors, orthopedists, ultrasound screenings, B12 shots, massages, facials, and a clothing boutique with the latest workout fashions. “It’s a great way to introduce returning members to new ones” Rebecca says, “and to get and keep all our members excited about an active lifestyle and its benefits. An added bonus is that we bring most of the professional guests, like doctors, to the club, so that members do not have to leave to get what they need.”

FIRST ANNUAL WELLNESS WEEKEND As yet another vehicle to boost awareness of

lifestyle choices, Tradition held its first annual Wellness Weekend at the club in January. If

member reaction, excerpted below, is any indication, it’s destined to become, pardon the play on words, a tradition. Activities included not only the physical, educational, and culinary, but also such therapeutic pursuits as painting. Laughed Barbara:

“I dragged my husband to the painting event. He

was kicking and screaming all the way.... Sulking

about missed football ... What a surprise ... He had a ball and complimented your staff for coordinating the event. Bravo.“ Added Linda:

“I was so impressed with the Wellness Weekend at Tradition! The doctors were so informative

and interesting. The evening introduction to the

fitness center including activities was a welcoming

experience… I only hope it will be offered again! I appreciate all the effort that went into making the weekend a wonderful experience! “ Said Karen:

“I think the Wellness weekend was very beneficial. I participated in most of the classes, doc talks

and the paints sip and dine event. I’ve always

enjoyed, and benefited from, the comprehensive and changing HIIT workouts. Not only is it a relatively fast workout, we have fun at the same time that we are burning, tightening and toning our muscles.”

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SHORT NOT NECESSARILY EASIER THE TRADITION SHORT COURSE WITH A TOTAL OF 796 YARDS, PLAYING TO A PAR OF 27, FOR THE NINE HOLES PROVED TO BE PLENTY OF F UN AND A CHALLENGE ON A SUNNY SATURDAY AF TERNOON WITH LADIES CLUB CHAMPION PEGGY KIRBY AND GOLF COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN GARY SINGER.

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A friendly challenge match was accepted by Gary Singer to play Peggy in a nine-hole competition that was not decided until Peggy sank a twenty–foot birdie putt on the ninth hole, giving her a one-up win. Peggy was certainly the star of the day with five birdies in the nine holes giving the boys a putting clinic along the way.

The Short Course with its gentle elevation changes and challenging bunkers is a unique addition to the facilities at Tradition since it offers an excellent way to hone the short game and allow for individuals or team competition. It’s an ideal setting to learn the game of golf in a fun and inviting atmosphere.

The Short Course, as it is called since it has only nine holes that range from the shortest at 55 yards to the longest at 125 yards, is still a real challenge since the greens are small and well bunkered with water coming into play on holes 8 and 9. Peggy Kirby speaks of the fun she has getting her kids and grand-children out on the Short Course to “just have fun”, and they love it she says!

Whether its grandparents and parents with their children or groups settling their ties (often with a beverage or two), the Short Course sees plenty of action. All members, whether golf or social, are able to get exercise and play the game.

Gary Singer remembers the first time he played the course in 2007, on hole number two he hit his tee shot about five feet from the hole and immediately heard a voice saying “nice shot” and when he looked up it was Arnold Palmer standing on his patio giving him a thumbs-up! If he had known Palmer was watching, he might not have made contact with the ball. Gary now says he never plays that hole without thinking of that one time.

If you are looking to learn to play golf, the Short Course combined with the Driving Range and Professional golf lessons are perfect for a beginner golfer to get some practice before taking on the critically acclaimed 18 hole Championship Course. Not only is it well designed, it is impeccably maintained to the standards of the full course. And just like the championship course, no tee times are needed to get on the links. So stroll over to the area with a few short irons and a putter and experience some great fun for the whole family.

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WATER CONSERVATION IN THE DESERT In the golf industry today, there are few more pressing, hot-button issues than water usage. Detractors of the game – in their view, “an elitist endeavor” indifferent to environmental concerns, – have long decried what they perceive as consumption levels disproportionate to the surface areas of golf courses. So it’s perhaps ironic that a club named Tradition would be emblematic of the most progressive approaches to optimal water conservation.

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Part of Tradition’s success in water usage is serendipitous. Part

trajectory options. It helps that most of the 10,000 rounds

maintenance technologies and agronomy. But the biggest part is in

championship course, as well as the nine-hole par 3, take place

of it is a by-product of the many amazing advances in course-

the savvy integration and continuous monitoring of these factors.

played annually on the 18-hole, Arnold Palmer-designed

during the relatively cool period from November to April.

Overseeing this effort is Ty Broadhead, a native of the Coachella

Another fallacy attributed to water conservation in California

has worked in the profession since 1987. With knowledge of

While it is true the state is generally in the throes of a

Valley. Ty has been superintendent at Tradition for 13 years and

both his own bailiwick and the overarching issues facing all golf courses and their superintendents, he affably debunks the many misconceptions about golf course water deployment.

“It is a myth,” he says, “that more watering is better. It’s not in

our best interests to overwater, because that’s what leads to the pathogens and diseases that destroy turf.”

This in turn matches Tradition members’ expectations for

playing conditions. While they prefer it “green and beautiful,” Ty notes, they also want it firm and fast, which promotes

flexibility in the shot strategies they employ, thanks to different

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involves the specific geology in which Tradition is located. prolonged drought, the enormous Coachella Aquifer, an

available source of Tradition’s water supply, has been managed

with sustainability in mind, with water replenished at rates that exceed depletion over the past decade – 20 years, as of 2021. It’s a long and somewhat complicated story, Ty laughs, but

the federal contract for imported water from the Colorado

River by the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) was first negotiated in 1918. Like 53 of the 121 courses in the

valley, Tradition primarily uses non-potable canal water for its irrigation system, with 43 others due to convert.

Tradition’s irrigation system is integral to present and future

Moreover, the layout’s 66 acres of wildflowers provide

(clocks) can be programmed from a laptop or smartphone

more wiggle room for keeping the grassy areas – just 105 acres

reductions in its water usage. Digitally programmable satellites which processes weather information obtained from local

weather stations. These stations calculate rates of evaporation and transpiration (the plant equivalent of perspiration in humans) and adjust water dispersion accordingly.

“Each fairway has its own unique characteristics. There are slopes that face to the south and others face to the north.

North facing slopes will need less water.” So Ty, or one of his staff of 42, need to continually make ad hoc adjustments.

additional opportunities for water savings. Thus, there’s a bit – as lush as desirable.

Then too, Tradition resides in the golf-mad Coachella Valley,

where there’s a golf course every 5.5 square miles. (The national average is one course per 254 square miles; in all of California, it’s one course every 192 square miles.) The economics have promoted a “scientifically based, rational, step-by-step”

partnership with CVWD, resulting in a “water budget” for each course to ensure sustainability.

Ty considers himself and Tradition lucky in a couple of other

What’s more, Ty says: “The development of drought- and

compact for the magnificent championship and short courses,

additional opportunities to provide the best product for our

respects. For one thing, the golf-related site is comparatively

the practice facility, and the clubhouse and includes areas that require little water – the 30 acres of desert landscape, 17 acres

disease-resistant grasses is rapid; by staying current we find members in the most efficient manner.”

of lakes, and four acres of waste bunkers, for instance – that allow a certain amount of flexibility to squeeze every drop for irrigation.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The development of drought - and disease-resistant grasses is rapid; by staying current we find additional opportunities to provide the best product for our members in the most efficient manner.â&#x20AC;? Tr aditionG C.c om

FAMILIES AT TRADITION

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SALES & CLEANING OF AREA RUGS

HWY 111 & JEFFERSON INDIO HWY 111 & EL PASEO PALM DESSERT (760) 863-5020

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS Skjonsby Family Home If home ownership is one of the cornerstones of the American Dream, building your own home must be that dream writ large. Of course, it’s a formidable undertaking (see sidebar). But anyone in need of inspiration will find it at the Tradition residence of Hanna and Greg Skjonsby. One of the distinguishing features of Tradition is its rich history, and this, in turn, is the overriding concept for the design of the house. For starters, the Skjonsbys and project architect Bob White, of Forest Studios, made multiple visits to Hacienda del Gato. Built around the turn of the 20th century by the property’s original owners, it is the imposing stone-and-adobe structure that still represents the basis of the design vocabulary at the club.

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Still, the Skjonsby house – described by Tradition property brokers Amy and Bill Albers as “La Quinta Resort meets Coastal Modern Cool” – has tons of charming personal touches. There is, for example, the rear courtyard sculpture “Conductor” by Sergio Bustamante, which Hanna chose to mirror the symphony of stars in the dazzling night sky. It’s just one of several sculptures, a number of them found within water features, that dot the property. “We wanted to emulate the region’s traditional structures but with a contemporary twist,” Hanna says. “The overall feeling is one of tranquility, and despite plenty of local design characteristics, like reclaimed beam ceilings, smooth, whitewashed walls, and barrel-tile clay roof, the Moroccan tile

pool and bath floors convey an Andalusian, Mediterranean feel.”

MANY OF THE HOUSE’S MOST NOTABLE COMPONENTS ARE DECIDEDLY CONTEMPORARY AND LUXURIOUS. Among them are the polished concrete floors and restaurant kitchen. Visitors are always impressed by the his-and-hers master bathrooms, each with its own outdoor shower and small garden, and a central shower connecting the two. Such nods to the Skjonsby’s modern lifestyle in no way detract from the warm, welcoming ambience of the house. But its efficient circulation plan and capacity for simultaneously providing openness and privacy – all while capitalizing on the spectacular surrounding landscape – is the product of an approach to design that’s anything but casual. Tr aditionG C.c om

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Even the old saw about “location, location, location” can hardly do justice to the Skjonsby’s house, which sits adjacent to the 18th fairway of the golf course. The front façade faces the Santa Rosa range and from the back of the house, “You realize you’re in an amphitheater of mountains,” says Hanna. Bob, the architect, studied examples of traditional haciendas from various cultures in North and South America. Many of them wrap living and sleeping areas around a central courtyard, creating a “private oasis,” he says – open to the sky but also protected and secure. Another design principle divined from these traditional haciendas is a linear architectural plan that optimizes both ventilation and light from the exteriors. The model is further echoed in a “compound”-like system of egress and ingress, wherein spaces like bedrooms are accessible only from the interior courtyard.

“With the house facing north and toward the course, we decided that putting the swimming pool in the customary ‘along the fairway’ location would put the pool on the shady side of the house,” Bob notes. By moving the pool to the central courtyard, he continues, “Most of the rooms enjoy multiple exposures to light, cross-ventilation, and views, both to the mountains and the golf course. The other added benefit is the pool being in the bright sunshine through most of the day. As evening comes, the central swimming pool becomes a dramatic visual amenity in the center of the compound.” It’s the kind of environment that gets better and better. “Every time I enter the house, I always see something I hadn’t noticed before,” says Amy, from Tradition Properties. “The Skjonsby house is one of my favorite properties to show.”

The floor plan layout was further influenced by its sun orientation and proximity to the golf course and its clubhouse.

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THIS DREAM TAKES GUMPTION BUILDING YOUR OWN HOME Ever hear anyone who’s just finished building his or her

own home say, “Well, that was easier than I thought it would be”? We didn’t think so. For all that, as the Skjonsby house demonstrates, the payoff can justify the

effort. Some suggestions to those considering the task. “Prospective

builders

usually

scrutinize

several

architects’ portfolios and perceived design sensibilities, and of course these things are relevant,” says architect Bob White. “But don’t ignore your gut feeling about

the working relationship and the personal interaction with your architect and major contractors. You’ll be

spending lots of time with these people and that’s absolutely germane to the success of the project.”

Remember also the words of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: “Less is more.” Sure, Mies, the father or modern architecture, was talking about a universal design

esthetic for the 20th century, but Hanna Skjonsby can relate on a more modest scale.

“Use restraint,” she cautions. “Too much of anything is

always a bad thing. And unless you’re in the business, make sure you have a good team behind you. There will be ample opportunity for creativity as the project

progresses. Be organized, have a concept and stick to it, but you’ll sometimes need to be flexible, too.”

As in most things, a positive attitude is a huge asset, too.

“It’s not for the faint of heart, but I just happen to love the process,” Hanna says, “and my husband and I are a good team. He lets me do my thing! Well, most of the time.”

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78658 Peerless Place 4 Bed, 5 Bath | $6,495,000

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TRADITION PROPERTIES SALES

At Tradition Properties Sales, as the exclusive On-Site Real Estate Sales Office, with dedicated service within the Tradition Golf Club, we are uniquely positioned to provide unparalleled customer service. 760-564-3355 | 760-774-8787 Cell

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78691 Talking Rock Turn 4 Bed, 4.5 Bath | $5,950,000

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TRADITION PROPERTIES SALES

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78662 Talking Rock Turn 5 Bed, 6.5 Bath | $5,250,000

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TRADITION PROPERTIES SALES

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78490 Coyote Canyon 4 Bed, 4.5 Bath | $3,399,000

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52380 Del Gato Drive 4 Bed, 3.5 bath | $ 2,450,000

TRADITION PROPERTIES SALES

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78155 Masters Circle 4 Bed, 4.5 Bath | $2,398,000

TRADITION PROPERTIES SALES

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52840 Latrobe Lane 4 Bed, 4.5 Bath | $2,495,000

52865 Latrobe Lane 3 Bed, 3.5 Bath | $2,495,000

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78451 Deacon Drive W

52825 Claret Cove

4 Bed, 4.5 Bath | $2,195,000

4 Bed, 4.5 Bath | $2,498,000

52905 Claret Cove

52868 Claret Cove

4 Bed, 4.5 Bath | $2,339,000

4 Bed, 4 Bath | $2,099,000

TRADITION PROPERTIES SALES

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78246 Pinnacle Point

78611 Deacon Drive E

3 Bed, 3.5 Bath | $1,570,000

3 Bed, 3.5 Bath | $1,599,000

78142 Coral Lane 3 Bed, 3.5 Bath | $1,495,000

78511 Deacon Drive E 3 Bed, 3.5 Bath | $1,595,000

TRADITION PROPERTIES SALES

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East Palm Canyon Drive near Gene Autry Trail | 800-540-0743 Tr aditionG C.c om

A N A PA VA L L E Y ICON WITH SOMETHING NEW IN PLAY

Johnny Miller Redesigned PGA North Course

There’s a lot to savor in Napa Valley. Breathtaking views, delectable wines and a sense of relaxation unlike anywhere in the world. Now, there’s something new. Our latest improvements don’t just enhance the Napa Valley experience, they reestablish Silverado Resort and Spa as what it was always meant to be – a Napa Valley icon.

Recently renovated and refreshed guest rooms, conference center and spa.

Golfer’s Dream Package as low as $314 The Safeway Open PGA Tour Returns to Silverado October 10-16, 2016 63 |

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SilveradoResort.com | 707.257.0200