Rick Caruso is moving from shopping centers and hotels into the fairways: his new private club, Miramar Lake Club, will open later this year on the former Sherwood Lake Club property near Thousand Oaks, bringing a hotel-style, membership-driven approach to golf at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The club centers on an 18-hole course by **Jack Nicklaus** and an 18,000‑square‑foot clubhouse, and Caruso says the project reflects a broader shift in how people want to use golf facilities — as places for fitness, dining and social life, not just for the occasional round.
The sale, first reported by L.A. Material, followed the death of former owner David H. Murdock. Caruso’s team moved quickly to close and immediately began a substantial renovation program that updates architecture, programming and amenities; the development borrows the “Miramar” name from Caruso’s Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito.
Caruso describes Miramar Lake Club as a hybrid of resort hospitality and private‑club service. In a recent interview before the July 4 holiday, he emphasized that the goal is to create a single destination where members can exercise, eat, play and relax in one visit — a full‑day lifestyle venue rather than a stand‑alone golf operation.
What the club will offer
- 18‑hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus (noted for its quick pace and short‑game focus)
- 18,000‑square‑foot clubhouse with dining and nightly entertainment
- Resort‑style pool and poolside grill
- Fitness and training center plus wellness amenities
- Tennis courts and a calendar of social programming
- Restaurant concept to be helmed by a chef yet to be named
Caruso said the course is already in excellent condition and that the team is investing significantly to enhance the overall member experience — everything from the pool and food service to programming and service standards.
The acquisition itself was unusually swift. Caruso recounted receiving a broker’s call one Friday while with family in Newport Beach, spending roughly 20 minutes on the phone, and then instructing his development and legal teams to expedite closing over the weekend. He cited his respect for Murdock’s work and the quality of the gated Sherwood community as deciding factors.
Membership and real‑estate links
The club will not exist in isolation. Caruso plans to integrate Miramar Lake Club into a broader ecosystem of properties: premium units in his Commons of Calabasas project will include club memberships, and members of his Montecito beach club will have access options between the two sites. Caruso framed this as part of a networked approach to amenities across his developments.
That strategy highlights a commercial shift in luxury real estate: developers are increasingly tying on‑site leisure offerings to residential product to add value and drive leasing or sales. For buyers of Caruso’s high‑end units, membership access becomes part of the lifestyle package.
On the course and the consumer trend
Caruso admitted he is not a tournament‑level player, but praised the course’s playability. The par‑3 emphasis allows rounds to be completed in a shorter time — he said his company event was finished in about two and a half hours — making golf more accessible to busy members who want a condensed, social game.
That accessibility matches a national uptick in interest for golf and short‑format rounds, particularly among players seeking social and fitness benefits alongside competition.
Local rollout and timing
Miramar Lake Club is slated to open later this year; Caruso’s team is currently renovating facilities and finalizing the food and beverage concept. He also updated on a separate project: Palisades Village is on track to reopen in mid‑August, with retail and dining tenants nearing completion and the property almost fully leased.
Why this matters now: Caruso’s move signals how hospitality and real‑estate groups are reshaping private clubs into multi‑purpose lifestyle centers, and how membership access is being bundled into luxury housing as a competitive amenity. For residents in the region, the club promises new leisure options and a fresh draw for high‑end buyers; for the golf industry, it reinforces an ongoing pivot toward experience‑driven formats.
Key takeaways
- Miramar Lake Club replaces Sherwood Lake Club and targets a broader lifestyle market, not only golfers.
- Renovations are substantial and aimed at elevating food, wellness and social programming.
- Memberships will be linked to nearby residential developments and other Caruso properties, creating a cross‑property amenity network.
