Mission Hills Country Club
No distractions, no interruptions, just quality family time, business networking and resort-style living—right in your backyard.
1952
Agua Caliente Tribal member Dora Joyce Weimas, whose family would hold a number of Mission Hills Country Club land allotments, begins traveling to Washington D.C. to lobby for the Equalization Bill and the 99-year Land Lease Act.
1959
Congress passes the Equalization Bill to equalize property values for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians sets aside tribal reserves and allows 99-year leases.
1965
Developer Max Genet works with Agua Caliente tribal members to establish lease agreements for the 640 acres required to build Mission Hills Country Club.
1968
Iconic golf course designer Desmond Muirhead begins building the Old Course.
1969
Heathman Construction of Palm Springs begins building the first 50 homes and original clubhouse.
1971
Mission Hills Country Club celebrates its grand opening. David Foster, Colgate Palmolive Co. president and CEO, announces a new LPGA tournament hosted by entertainer Dinah Shore at Mission Hills.
1972
Jane Blalock wins the inaugural Colgate-Dinah Shore Winners Circle tournament.
1974
Colgate Palmolive Company acquires Mission Hills. The Desert Putters Association is founded by Florence Berman.
1976
Former PGA Championship winner Johnny Revolta is named teaching professional, and former #1 in Men’s Tennis Dennis Ralston is named Director of Tennis.
1976
American Airlines Tennis Games holds first event at Mission Hills where Jimmy Connors defeats Roscoe Tanner in the finals. This event would eventually outgrow Mission Hills and is now held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
1977
Tommy Tucker joins teaching staff at Mission Hills and Martina Navratilova is club’s first resident teaching pro. American Airlines Tennis Games adds Women’s Masters to the event. The World Cup of Golf is held here and the Spanish team led by Seve Ballesteros is victorious. Greg Norman, Dave Stockton, and Jerry Pate also participate in the World Cup Event. The Men’s Member/Guest “The Fiesta” is held for the first time.
1978
Davis Cup is held at Mission Hills. US defeats Great Britain w John McEnroe leading the team. President Gerald Ford plays at Mission Hills upon moving to Rancho Mirage and would continue to do so during his time in the valley.
1979
The Arnold Palmer Signature Course opens – Arnie’s first in the desert.
1980
Mission Hills Member Donna Caponi wins the Colgate Dinah Shore (275/-13).
1981
Landmark purchases the Club. Tom Gorman becomes Tennis Director and would later captain US Davis Cups teams becoming the winningest captain in Davis Cup history.
1985
Jose Higueras joins Mission Hills tennis staff and founds the Academy of Tennis for youngsters. Barbara Stephan wins the first of her amazing ten Women’s Club Championships.
1986
Beautiful new Clubhouse opens. 34th Avenue is renamed Dinah Shore Drive. 36th Avenue is renamed Gerald Ford Drive. USTA begins sending its best young players to train at Mission Hills and Jim Courier is one of the first to train with Jose Higueras.
1989
Dinah Shore Course opens, it would later be renamed the Pete Dye Challenge Course. Amy Alcott jumps into the lake on 18 beginning one of the grandest traditions in golf – the Jump into Poppy’s Pond.
1989
Michael Chang becomes youngest winner of French Open after training at Mission Hills.
1991
Dinah Shore fulfills promise to jump in the lake with Amy Alcott if she wins.
1993
Invited purchases Mission Hills Country Club.
1994
Mission Hills mourns the loss of Member Dinah Shore.
1995
Old Course is rededicated as The Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Statue is dedicated at the Bridge on 18. LPGA Members dedicate the Wall of Champions in memory of Dinah and elect her to the LPGA Hall of Fame.
1998
Inaugural Pat Apple Tournament is launched by the Croquet Club.
2004
Mission Hills Croquet Club is honored by the United States Croquet Association as Club of the Year.
2004
Former President George H.W. Bush presents champions trophy to Grace Park.
2005
Annika Sorenstam wins her 3rd Championship.
2006
Newly expanded Sports Club at Mission Hills is opened. Davis Cup is played at Mission Hills with the US team of Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan Brothers.
2015
All Nippon Airways becomes the title sponsor of the Championship and the tournament is renamed the ANA Inspiration. Doris Ash plays in her 40th consecutive WGA Classic Member/Guest with the same guest for all 40 years.
2016
Mission Hills Country Club celebrates its 45th Anniversary. The club also celebrates 44 continuous years of hosting an LPGA Major Championship, the second longest event at the same venue next to The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.
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