CALIFORNIA DREAMING
Snowbirds flock to Toscana
A prized golf experience headlines the activities at Toscana Country Club, but its list of things to do and see drives well beyond the tee box.
Diverse activities have helped make the California getaway a desired landing spot for a number of Calgarians, including Wilf and Marg Gobert.
“I’m an avid golfer, and my wife (isn’t),” says Wilf. “We needed a place that combined the aspects of some recreation beside golf, but golf in particular.”
Toscana Country Club is a development by Sunrise Company in Indian Wells, which is part of California’s sunny Coachella Valley. There are 652 home sites, with prices ranging from $995,000 to $3 million.
“We have embraced it and fallen in love with it,” says Wilf. His passion for golf is satisfied by two Jack Nicklaus designed courses. The development is set to unveil an extension to its golf offering this November, says Sunrise president Phil Smith.
“We will be playing on two 18hole golf courses, up from 27 in the past,” says Smith. “It’s turned out to be beautiful. Jack Nicklaus is very pleased with it. We’re very pleased with it. It’s quite a dramatic course with elevated holes, great views of the mountains and quite a bit of water and lake views, as well.”
In terms of what the couple enjoys together, Wilf points to Spa Bella Vita and the Toscana Sports and Tennis Club. Three winters ago, the couple got into cycling.
“Cycling is wonderful aerobic, physical exercise for people as you get older,” Wilf says. “As a result of our sports club, we have been doing some amazing trips.”
This includes everything from day trips to two or three nights away in various locations around Southern California. They also have more extensive outings, including France last year and Croatia this year. “It’s adventure cycling,” Wilf adds.
Other activities at the development include technology classes, Spanish lessons, film club events, tennis tournaments, hikes and yoga retreats.
Toscana also taps the vibrant wine culture of Southern California with an elegant wine cellar gathering place. This space seats up to 20 guests and is available to be booked for birthdays, anniversaries and other special events.
“A lot of the premium gated communities and largely oriented to golf and social clubs,” Wilf says. “Toscana, for whatever reason, tends to be a lower average age. And even if not younger certainly more active retirees. It’s the active participation that has really enamoured us.”
The Goberts’ Toscana home has four bedrooms and measures 4,600 square feet. Wilf says they wanted a house that worked well for hosting the couple’s children and grandchildren, along with the benefits of a south-facing backyard.
“All the houses in Toscana are beautiful places. It’s a matter of size and price range,” he adds.
Homes at Toscana are considered semi-custom, says Smith. Standard floor plans are offered and buyers are invited to make changes from there. This includes everything from interior revisions to, sometimes significant, architectural changes, he adds.
“The homes, when complete, are more custom than standard,” says Smith.
With the new golf course come additional home sites at Toscana. “When you’re nearing the end of a community, sometimes you don’t have some of your best real estate left,” says Smith. The typical lot size at Toscana is in the 1,200 or 1,300 square foot range. However, the new release will boast lots that are half an acre (0.2 hectare) or larger, he adds.
“Here, I think we have literally the best real estate left in the community that surround those final nine holes of golf. Based on the drama of the golf course, these have exceptional views.”
Toscana continues to be a magnet for Canadian snowbirds, with 30 per cent of its buyers over the past two years flocking from north of the border, estimates Smith. Since the development broke ground, the resident count has been 15 per cent Canadian. “It’s a significant component,” Smith adds.