Top Ranked Clubhouses: Nos. 31-35

For this group on the Top 61 list, the clubhouses are profiled for The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas; The Springs in Rancho Mirage, Calif.; Martis Camp Club in Truckee, Calif.; Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, N.J.; and Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, Calif.

Club + Resort Business has released its list of Top Ranked Clubhouses for 2021.

The rankings reflect the judges’ scoring of data provided on clubhouse square footage; locker room(s) data; event space and seating capacity; bar area(s) square footage; dining area(s) square footage; availability of outdoor dining; wine room/cellar; total dining and bar areas seating capacity; kitchen(s) square footage; pro shop square footage; fitness and wellness square footage; and whether a dedicated youth space is offered.

Entries also included descriptions submitted by the club and resort properties on why their clubhouses should be top ranked, and a full complement of supporting photos. The judges weighted the data and material provided to score all entries.

The entire list and details about all of the Top Ranked Clubhouses can be seen at https://clubandresortbusiness.com/club-resort-business-top-ranked-clubhouses/.

31. The University of Texas Golf Club, Austin, Texas

The 16,400 sq.-ft. clubhouse for The University of Texas Golf Club was designed to complement the existing 18-hole golf course and pavilion overlooking the Texas Hill County near Lake Travis, while offering first-class amenities to its members. The clubhouse features Austin limestone columns, stained heavy timber beams and stone paving to convey strength and solidity. The interior architecture of the clubhouse features Austin limestone walls in both natural and honed finishes, timber fir trusses with high ceilings and a magnificent two-story stone fireplace in the living room.

The Founders’ Bar and Legends’ Lounge offer intimate gathering spaces with a stone fireplace, distressed oak floor, stained wood ceiling and heavy timber ceiling beams. The expansive ‘Back Forty’ Patio wraps around the golf course side of the clubhouse, offering both covered and outdoor dining, and is flanked by an outdoor fireplace on one end and a more intimate circular fire pit adjacent to a small creek.

The original golf shop and snack bar building was remodeled into the club’s fitness facility, which is outfitted with state-of-the-art aerobic and weight training equipment. Men’s and women’s locker rooms and the 1,400-sq. ft. Pro Shop continue the Texas theme with similar finishes and materials throughout.

32. The Springs, Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The clubhouse at The Springs boasts a new design, 360-degree bar and community table. Event spaces are gorgeous and a stunning, tall ceiling in the lobby accents the entrance. A brand new and elevated culinary experience, and catering any occasion is offered to members.

The clubhouse was built in the 1970s and renovated in 2021.

Try a brand-new activity or polish your playing skills in your favorite sport — the active lifestyle at The Springs is all about choices. Fun and games don’t end on the course and the courts either. Our spectacular new clubhouse sets the scene for welcoming social events and exceptional dining experiences for every taste.

33. Martis Camp Club, Truckee, Calif.

Spectacularly located on a rock outcropping 45 feet above the 18th green, the Camp Lodge at Martis Camp affords 270-degree views of the surrounding mountains and several holes of the Tom Fazio golf course. With architectural design by Swaback Partners and interiors by Vallone Design (both of Scottsdale, Ariz.), the grand mountain aesthetic of the Camp Lodge has the feel of historic lodges of the past.

Although Martis Camp has four clubhouses (including the iconic Family Barn, Lookout Lodge at the base of Lookout Mountain and the Beach Shack on the shore of Lake Tahoe), the Camp Lodge is the crown jewel among them. Six distinct dining spaces include the Bar & Bistro, Martis Perk coffee shop and patisserie, the Bartlett Nook for private dining, and the elegant Carson and Sawtooth dining rooms, each with a different feel and view corridor of the surrounding mountains. The octagonal Cliff Room, perched at the edge of the site’s rock outcropping, features panoramic views of the area’s mountain ranges and is highlighted by a spectacular vaulted, hand-quilted ceiling.

In addition to dining, the 65,000-sq. ft. Camp Lodge includes men’s and ladies’ lounges and locker rooms, a golf shop with golf simulator, fitness center and class studio, and day spa with seven treatment rooms and retail boutique. Spacious terraces around the Camp Lodge accommodate outdoor dining and summer events, and a luxurious outdoor pool deck overlooking the 18th fairway features a three-lane saline lap pool, soaking tubs and private cabanas.

Developers and club management teams from across the country and outside the US have come to Martis Camp to see the iconic Camp Lodge, seeking inspiration for the design of their future clubhouses.

34. Echo Lake Country Club, Westfield, N.J.

Echo Lake Country Club’s newly renovated clubhouse has firmly established the club as the premier family-oriented country club in the state of New Jersey. The clubhouse has become the hub of activity for bustling a la carte dining service and “sold out” social programming for adults and families. Adding spectacular views of Manhattan from the second-floor dining room and deck has made the clubhouse a destination in the area for members and guests alike.

The clubhouse enhanced and enlarged what was already one of the best outdoor dining spaces in New Jersey, sitting immediately adjacent to the 18th green complex. It has become an amazing lunch spot to enjoy a meal and watch players approaching the 18th green. The interior has been completely updated to maintain a timeless aesthetic while capturing the transitional feel of a today’s clubhouse. An open atrium was added to the center of the main dining room to connect the space to the new second floor dining room, ensuring that the membership never feels divided. A second bar was added to the upper-level dining room and a wine wall was added to be a central design element of the building. Both locker rooms were completely updated to compliment the work done on the to the other member areas of the Clubhouse.

The distinctive exterior design of the clubhouse successfully maintained the heritage of the building while establishing a distinct architectural identity.

Echo Lake Country Club’s Clubhouse was successfully updated to maintain the history of our 100-year-old building while updating every space to optimally appeal to and serve the diverse membership of today, a fitting centerpiece for a premier family friendly country club.

35. Desert Willow Golf Resort, Palm Desert, Calif.

Rivaling the ambience of a private facility, Desert Willow Golf Resort is sought after by local, national, and international golfers as well as for special events including wedding ceremonies and receptions, banquets, private parties, business meetings, seminars, and more.

The entire golf resort experience begins with the mile-long Desert Willow Drive setting us apart with views of manicured fairways and serene desert landscapes. The experience continues as you enter the 39,000 sq. ft. clubhouse which includes the valley’s best golf shop. Upon entry, a magnificent Dale Chihuly glass sculpture makes an impressive first impression – soon to be overshadowed by the vistas you can’t escape.

The beauty of the course, featuring stunning views of Firecliff 9 and 18, framed by the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains is brought to you tableside, whether you are dining inside or attending an event at The Terrace Restaurant or outside on the climate-controlled Lakeview Terrace.