Closed PGA Skins venue to be saved by local residents

Residents of a community in California are set to buy and re-open a closed golf course that once hosted Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

The Coral Mountain Golf Club, in La Quinta, shut in September 2022 after years of bankruptcy proceedings for a previous owner.

But homeowners from the Trilogy at La Quinta Maintenance Association have pledged to support the purchase of roughly $6.17 million.

With plans to re-open in late 2024, the course will get a second life under its previous name, Trilogy at La Quinta, as it was known when it hosted the PGA Skins Game from 2003 to 2006.

Fred Couples won the event twice in that period, while fifteen-time major champion Woods was a twice runners-up.

However, the site is now in “extremely rough shape” according to Mark Reider, president of the TLQMA board of directors.

The purchase of the 229-acre course and adjoining restaurant was met with overwhelming support from the 1,238 homeowners who voted.

Approximately 88% of voters backed the move, which will also come with costs for course upgrades and other facility renovations.

“It’s just in extremely rough shape, barely looks like a golf course, and we’re looking forward to getting back into the kind of condition that it was in when the Skins game was hosted here,” said Reider.

“It’s still a very playable, enjoyable course, and (we’re) looking forward to having both people in our community being able to play here, as well as people from the surrounding areas or folks that are coming in from out of town on a golf trip.”

Legal troubles have marred the golf course in recent years, having been involved in bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings since 2020, according to public records.

Following the complicated legal situation, which included separate owners, Reider told the Desert Sun that the community decided to pursue the purchase in the spring of 2023.

He added: “We decided at that point in time that it was time to go forward and see if we could acquire all the pieces and take back control of our own destiny.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.