The Citrus Club in La Quinta, CA

Pros

• The Citrus Club is a great private golf club, small, affordable, and well run.
• The course is loved by visitors.
• The Citrus Club's golf course is beautiful and challenging across 18 holes.
• The dining experience with serene views brings a fantastic warm feeling, and staff members Zach and Brenda inspire guests.
• The private golf club offers a great course.
• It is a really pretty place to visit.
• It is probably the best all-around course in the Coachella Valley.
• It looks beautiful.
• The experience is exceptional, with unmatched hospitality, service, food, views, and attention to detail.
• Chef Antonio is considered the valley’s best for food quality and flavor.
• Destiny is an amazing conversationalist, barista, and hard worker.
• Esmarelda runs a tight ship as the food and beverage supervisor.

Cons

• The weather was a little too hot.
• The Citrus Club is a little on the expensive side.

Review

The Citrus Club in La Quinta is best suited for serious golfers and households that want a private, club-centered lifestyle anchored by a meticulously maintained course, attentive service, and a refined social environment. This is a setting where the course is the centerpiece, but dining, wellness fixtures, and a serene clubhouse experience are cultivated to support a cohesive, membership-driven life. It appeals most to full-time residents or seasonal visitors who prize predictability in maintenance, security, and staff responsiveness, and who value quiet luxury over buzzy, all-encompassing resort-style resorts. For couples and families who measure daily quality by views, ambiance, and consistent hospitality, The Citrus Club delivers a cohesive, upscale living rhythm that aligns with a golf-forward lifestyle.

Those who should consider alternatives are not difficult to identify. Budget-conscious households or those prioritizing flexible, non-golf-focused amenities may find the dues and ongoing costs out of proportion to value if much of the social calendar or daily life centers elsewhere. Part-time residents who plan to use the golf and dining core only intermittently may wonder if the private club model truly serves their needs year-round. Non-golf spouses or partners seeking broad, non-golf programming beyond the club’s private ecosystem may prefer communities with more diversified activities and less reliance on the golf calendar. In short, the Citrus experience is outstanding for golf-centric living; it isn’t the best fit for those who want a more generalized, price-conscious, or non-golf-dominant desert lifestyle.

The principal strengths are concrete and repeatedly reinforced by members and guests. The turf and overall conditioning are consistently described as excellent, with the Pete Dye layout offering a genuine challenge through multiple tees while remaining accessible to varying skill levels. The setting delivers dramatic desert scenery, tranquil vibes, and pace of play that rarely veers into stress. The private nature of the facility adds an air of exclusivity that enhances security and predictability in service. The clubhouse and practice facilities receive frequent praise, with a remodeled clubhouse, a clean, updated fitness center, and bocce options extending the appeal beyond golf. Dining consistently earns high marks for quality, flavor, and the ability to pair a serene view with a memorable meal, underscored by staff who are seasoned, attentive, and genuinely hospitable. The combination of a superb course, premium service, and thoughtful amenities creates a cohesive experience that many members consider worth the investment.

Equally important are the intangible benefits that support daily life at The Citrus Club. The hospitality culture, where the team anticipates needs, remembers preferences, and operates with polish, renders visits, meals, and events smoother than in many rival settings. The practice facilities, generous parking or easy access, and the variety of on-site offerings (from dining to fitness to social spaces) reduce friction for members who want a low-stress, all-in-one environment. The overall atmosphere, quiet, elegant, and unpretentiously classy, invites regular engagement without the sense of transaction typical of high-volume clubs. For golf enthusiasts who value a robust social ecosystem tethered to a high-caliber course, the environment translates into meaningful, repeatable experiences that strengthen the sense of belonging.

Yet the landscape isn’t without its tradeoffs, and those tradeoffs must be weighed against the visible strengths. The price point is a frequent consideration; several reviews acknowledge that the Citrus Club sits on the higher end of the spectrum, with the implication that full-time residents or heavy users of amenities justify the cost, while casual, occasional participation may feel less compelling. The desert climate poses its own practical challenge, summer heat can curb outdoor gatherings or long rounds, though a well-designed clubhouse and indoor dining mitigate the impact for most of the year. The physical footprint, described by some as “small” relative to sprawling resort complexes, means space is precious and intimate; for households craving ample non-golf social programming or larger, more expansive common areas, it may feel limited. Navigation on the course and around the campus can take some getting used to, especially for newcomers; the staff, however, is frequently praised for helping guests acclimate.

Still, these cons do not occur in a vacuum. They are largely offset by the core advantages: a pristine course that tests and delights; a private, low-pressure environment that fosters consistent routines and dependable service; and a dining and social ecosystem that can feel like a well-curated, year-round membership club rather than a mere venue. The combination of a remodeled clubhouse, high-quality dining, and a receptive staff turns potential friction points into small, manageable bumps in the larger journey of daily life here. For families and individuals who want a golf-first, service-forward experience that rewards regular participation, the positives far outweigh the caveats, especially when considerations include the intangible value of security, predictability, and a tight-knit member community.

For decision-makers weighing this option, the practical path is clear: The Citrus Club is an excellent match for those who will leverage the golf course, the dining program, and the clubhouse as central pillars of daily life. It is a powerful fit for heavy golfers who want a private, well-run environment that treats the sport as a lifestyle and not merely a pastime. If the household’s cadence centers on cost containment, non-golf activities, or a looser social milieu, alternatives with broader inclusivity or lower dues deserve serious consideration. Prospective members should schedule a guided visit to feel the texture of the service culture, assess whether the pace and privacy align with expectations, and discuss guest access, reciprocity, and potential trial periods. In the end, for those who prize the combination of elite course conditioning, refined dining, and a discreet, upscale social scene, The Citrus Club stands out as a decisive, value-forward choice in La Quinta.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Ralphs Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.6 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Super RX Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Subway (1.3 miles)
• Rd RNNR (1.7 miles)
• Casa Mendoza (1.7 miles)
• Stuft Pizza (1.8 miles)
• Burgers & Beer (1.8 miles)
• Wendy's (1.9 miles)
• Shields Date Garden (1.9 miles)

Parks

• La Quinta Civic Center Park (1.4 miles)
• Dateland Park (5.7 miles)

Physicians

• Retina Institute of California (1.6 miles)
• Desert Dermaesthetics - Ruth E Vanderplas MD (2 miles)
• Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists (2 miles)
• Advanced Women's Healthcare (2.2 miles)
• Dr Samuel Ibrahim, MD, FACS (2.2 miles)
• Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology (2.2 miles)
• Dr Harry Lifschutz (2.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Vantage Strategic Resources (1.8 miles)
• Health Scan Imaging (2.1 miles)
• Jfk Memorial Hospital (2.8 miles)
• City of Hope (6.6 miles)

Theaters

• Century Theatre (2.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Las Palmas Community Church (2.6 miles)
• Southwest Community Church (3.8 miles)
• Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley (5 miles)