Is it possible to adequately capture the essence of one of the country’s premier private golf clubs in only nine seconds? Unlikely. Except perhaps in the case of BIGHORN Golf Club, where that specific amount of time represents a singular moment in a golf experience found nowhere else.
To do so, make your way to the back tee of the sixth hole on the Mountains Course, designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1991. You’ll be standing at 1,207 feet above sea level, a perfect altitude to enjoy the breathtaking panorama before you. Then place your ball on the tee and grip your driver. Hit the ball squarely, watch its majestic flight and start counting. It will take approximately nine seconds for the ball to touch earth, ideally in the middle of the impeccably manicured fairway 170 feet below. This ethereal experience lends itself to far more than a memorable setting for a single golf shot. Being in this special place near the top of a mountain creates a vibe, an ambiance, a spirit that just feels different.
Chito Velasquez knows it well. He’s been roaming the fairways and greens at BIGHORN for almost three decades as an agronomy staff member and now Director of Golf Course Management. He freely and frequently dispenses advice regarding this spot.
“I make it a point to tell our Members that if they are dealing with any issues in their life, go out to the sixth tee box on the Mountains Course,” he says. “The views are spectacular, and there seems to be some type of energy there that revitalizes your soul. Maybe that’s why I have been here for 27 years. I go up there for a few minutes, and I’m ready to go.”
BIGHORN is a special place indeed. In addition to 36 holes across two courses, the Club boasts two practice facilities, multiple putting areas, and no tee times. There’s also Director of Golf Instruction Dale Abraham, a multi-year Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, who works his magic at the state-of-the-art Learning Center. Abraham is also a Golf Digest Top Teacher in State and Trackman certified.
While pristine playing conditions, equal to those at professional tournaments, are standard at BIGHORN, the courses are unforgettable in their own singular ways. Two very different layouts present Members and guests with joyful treks through immaculately maintained desert landscapes.
The par 4 hole No. 2 on the Canyons Course designed by legendary golf course architect
Tom Fazio.
PHOTO BY Channing Benjamin, COURTESY BIGHORN GOLF CLUB
The BIGHORN Golf Shop, located in the Clubhouse, offers top brands in golf attire and gear and has been named by Golf World Business Magazine as one of the Top 25 Private and Top 100 Pro Shops in the country 16 years in a row.
PHOTO COURTESY BIGHORN GOLF CLUB
The Mountains Course is akin to a three-act play: the initial six holes ascend dramatically into the towering Santa Rosa Mountains (some players say that it’s the most challenging opening stretch of holes of any course in the Coachella Valley); the next six descend steadily from a high point at the sixth tee, presenting multiple vantage points of the Valley and surrounding mountains; the final six holes are a fitting conclusion to a memorable round where the course’s namesake serves as a perfect backdrop. The key to a low score is negotiating the frequent elevation changes, especially on the front nine.
The experience of the idyllic sixth hole is topped only by finishing at the elegant Clubhouse.
The Canyons Course was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in December 1998. The look and feel are classic Fazio: wide fairways and generous greens guarded by enormous bunkers (113 in all, aggregating to 2.7 acres of sand; in comparison, the Mountains Course has 44 bunkers). To create a sense of being one with nature, Fazio’s design called for more than eight million cubic yards of material to be moved and graded to create a golfing experience surrounded by waterfalls, creeks, giant palm trees and colorful flowers.
“There is a great variety between the Mountains and the Canyons,” says two-time Club Champion Mike Fritz, a Golf Member since 2019 who finds the best views at the sixth tee on the Mountains Course and No. 18 on the Canyons Course. “The Mountains is my favorite. Each season, we bring out-of-town guests for a visit, and it’s always fun to bring them here. The courses are all super-well maintained. Our guests are always blown away.”
Each course has its own starter to help maintain an appropriate pace of play, with a round expected to last about three hours and 20 minutes. Golf carts help achieve that goal, often coming in whimsical colors and décor, expressing the personality of each owner. Perfect pyramids of Pro V1 golf balls stand ready at both of the driving ranges. Chilled apples and oranges are available on the course to provide healthy energy. For post-round celebrations, you might choose Bullet Bob’s Margarita, a legendary concoction known for both flavor and potency.
Or you can just savor the pleasure of being fortunate to have played the golf courses at BIGHORN. For that, you will certainly need much more than nine seconds.
This story was originally published in the 2025 edition of BIGHORN magazine.
