By Crystal Harrell
The 60th annual Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade will take place October 27, with festivities beginning at 8 a.m. and the parade kicking off at 12 p.m. This marks the third year that Shadow Mountain Gold Course will be sponsoring the event’s after party.
“We’re eager to showcase the fantastic improvements that we have made here at Shadow Mountain Golf Course and it’s always a joy to see everyone come together to celebrate this long-standing tradition, which actually originated from Shadow Mountain Golf Course back in the day,” shared Lorie Loftis of Shadow Mountain Golf Course.
Shadow Mountain Club was the vision of developer Cliff Henderson, known as the “Father of Palm Desert”. Starting with the purchase of 620 acres in 1946, the Club was originally conceived as a planned community for those wanting to enjoy the club’s planned tennis, golf, swimming, horseback riding, dinner, and dancing amenities.
The Historic Shadow Mountain Golf Club was incorporated in 1958, and by the end of the year 1960, the Club had over 270 members. Shadow Mountain’s Palm Desert golf course was designed by Grand Slam Winner, Gene Sarazen, known as “The Squire” for his dapper dress and the ever-present two-tone wing-tipped shoes. Summarizing the layout of the course, he stated: “The new modern course of this type is shorter than most but is not easier to play. It will give the golfer who uses his brain a chance against the competitor who hits with power, and I think it will be one of the sportiest and most challenging courses in the entire area”. Sarazen was the first to accomplish the Professional Grand Slam with the US Open in 1922, the PGA in 1923, the British Open in 1932, and then the Masters. At age 33 he became the first player to win all four majors. Only Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods have matched his record.
In 2010, the City of Palm Desert proclaimed Shadow Mountain Golf Club as a Historic Landmark with the distinction of being the first golf course in the City of Palm Desert. In April of 2022, the Club opened its massive 18 Hole “Let’s Flamingo” Putting Course. During the fall of 2022, a Party Pavilion was added as a place to relax with a drink before or after enjoying the available activities. The newest addition is an outside bar being built to honor Geno Biggi. The clubhouse is currently being remodeled to be a state of the art facility.
“Attendees can expect a festive experience with complementary food and some from some of our favorite local restaurants, including Sullivans’s steakhouse, Islands Cafe, Café Cruella, Stuffed Pizza, BaBaLoo Lounge, and our very own Birdy Bar. We are hosting a Best Bite Contest. Parent attendees will sample appetizers from these generous restaurants and vote for their favorite, celebrating the vibrant culinary scene here in Palm Desert. Guests will receive a token to cast their vote,” explained Loftis.
Even though the golf course itself will be closed for reseeding it’s the perfect time to show what Shadow Mountain Golf Course offers beyond golf. At this event, an open house featuring five open bars in the game room with a simulator will be hosted in the pavilion event room. The goal is to let the community know the exciting music and activities lineup for the Birdy Bar this season with hometown favorites like Doug McDonald, Paul Wergley and Art of Sax taking residency, as well as Putter’s Groups, Glow Golf, Football Game Nights, Bingo, Karaoke and Fashion Brunches. These activities offer so much more than golf to encourage social engagement open to the public.
“We’re also excited to partner with the Spirit of the Desert Foundation to feature live music and talent contest showcase beginning at 2p.m. The contest will begin at 3 p.m. Guests will receive a second token to vote for their favorite artist, helping to spotlight local talent. Both the people’s choice for the Best Bites and the talent contest will be announced at 5 p.m., making an engaging community-driven event. It truly brings the community together. It’s a time to celebrate, reconnect, and enjoy everything that makes our area special from the local restaurants showcasing their best dishes to the talented artists in the talent contest showcase. It’s an event that highlights the incredible creativity and spirit of Palm Desert. We love being part of something that fosters strong community bonds year after year,” said Loftis.
The Golf Cart Parade on El Paseo finishes between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. The after party kicks off the events between 2 p.m. and 5p.m. Shadow Mountain Golf Club will be providing a six-passenger golf cart shuttle, which will be circulating from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Guests can hop on the shiny silver cart at the back parking lots of BaBaLoo Lounge, Casuelas Cafe, the Gardens, and Shadow Mountain Golf Course.
“For the future of this event, I hope it continues to be a cherished tradition that everyone looks forward to it as a way to reconnect after the summer. I envision it as an opportunity for local restaurants to showcase exciting new menu items enticing the community to visit them throughout the year. Additionally, I want this event to become a platform for talented local artists to be discovered so that they can gain the recognition they deserve and be booked by local venues. Ultimately, my hope is that this event strengthens the bond between our community and its vibrant businesses and talents,” expressed Loftis.
