Country Club Park, San Ramon (1961–1965): mid-century homes on the fairway
A mid-century vision for San Ramon living
Step into a world where back yards meet fairways and a golf cart is always parked at the ready. Welcome to Country Club Park, San Ramon’s most glamorous address of the early 1960s, where striking architecture met sun-soaked leisure in a picture-perfect setting. With 531 architecturally daring homes surrounding the San Ramon Golf Club, this wasn’t just a subdivision—it was a lifestyle, tailor-made for a Sunday drive that never really had to end.
 |
| Location of the County Club Park neighborhood in San Ramon, California. |
Volk-McLain and the architecture of Country Club Park
Built between 1961 and 1965 by Volk-McLain, Country Club Park was a dream for the mid-century set. Here, homes weren’t just structures—they were statements. Designed by Raymond Dean Conwell, each floor plan was a canvas of clean lines, open living, and California casual sophistication. What began with five models soon expanded to eleven, each with unique exterior styles that made streets feel like curated galleries of modern living.
These homes dazzled inside too: Georgia Oak floors, Philippine mahogany, and Western knotty pine cabinetry whispered luxury at every turn. It was an era of cocktail parties, wood-paneled dens, and magazine-worthy kitchens—dream homes for the golf-and-gin generation.
Model home magic: where the tour began
Volk-McLain made their model home complex into an event. Located at Metairie Place and Belle Meade Drive, visitors wandered a landscaped path behind the homes, soaking in golf course views and architectural eye candy. Each house had a proper name—The Tamarisk, The Hartford, The Manchester—and an artistic exterior to match. Even floor plans were dressed for the occasion with variations like The Kona, The Carmel, and The Devonshire adding a little flair to each lettered layout.
 |
| From an October 1961 Oakland Tribune—First to buy, first to dream. Clutching a sales brochure like it’s a winning lottery ticket, she’s already picturing drapes. He’s in a raincoat, but all in. This couple were the very first to buy in the new Country Club Park—because sometimes, history starts with a brochure and a good pair of shoes. |
 |
A few designs, like the showstopping Tamarisk, channeled a glamorous Palm Springs energy that felt lifted straight from a Slim Aarons photograph. Only four were built, making them as rare as they were radiant.
 |
| From an October 1962 Oakland Tribune ad—meet the Tamarisk—Palm Springs swagger dropped into suburbia like a martini at a Tupperware party. Totally out of place, and all the cooler for it. |
A lifestyle built around leisure and golf
Opening in June 1962, the San Ramon Country Club (now the San Ramon Golf Club) completed the neighborhood’s resort-like vision. With rolling greens outside your back door and the hum of a golf cart as your daily soundtrack, Country Club Park embodied a new kind of suburban paradise—equal parts laid-back and luxuriously designed.
Sunday drives weren’t just a weekend ritual here; they were a way of life. Whether you were carting over to a neighbor’s cocktail hour or cruising past rows of manicured yards, every day felt like a gentle glide through leisure and style.
 |
| From a September 1961 Oakland Tribune—just another Sunday on the links... or the driveway. At Country Club Park, even the golf carts feel like convertibles. For the leisure-minded elite who prefer their commutes under par. |
 |
| From a November 1961 Oakland Tribune ad—the fairway might be green, but the vibe is pure outer space. Mid-century cool meets country club living—like golfing on Mars, if Mars had air conditioning and cocktail hour. |
From golf course to walnut orchard: shaping the neighborhood
As development pushed into a former walnut orchard, the builder preserved many of the mature trees, giving the neighborhood a wooded, pastoral charm that softened its sleek lines. Even today, the ghost of that orchard lingers in the layout, with gently curved streets and shady canopies that give it the warmth of an old country lane.
 |
| From a March 1963 Oakland Tribune ad—missed the golf course lots? Don’t worry—there’s still room under the trees. The fairway may be full, but now you can plant roots in a former walnut orchard… where the shade is deep and the stories practically write themselves. |
County Club Park model homes
Step onto Metairie Place at Belle Meade Drive, and you’re stepping into the heart of Country Club Park’s charm parade. This was more than a sales complex—it was a showcase of dreams, where 12 stunning models invited visitors to imagine life as a daily getaway.
Each home was a masterpiece of mid-century flair, arranged along a winding path that overlooked the lush greens of the golf course. From cozy three-bedroom retreats to spacious four-bedroom statements, these models highlighted the thoughtful floor plans and eye-catching exteriors that made the neighborhood so special.
Each model promised a unique blend of practicality and pizzazz. Whether you preferred the rustic charm of a Cape Cod, the sleek lines of a ranch, or the bold elegance of a Tudor, there was a perfect fit waiting for your golf cart to roll up.
So grab your sunnies and take a leisurely spin through a community where architecture and lifestyle come together in perfect harmony—where every day feels like a Sunday drive.
 |
| Site of the Country Club Park model homes. The home of the south corner of Metairie and Belle Meade is custom and not a Volk-McLain home. |
Names of Volk-Mclain homes take some getting used to. They gave elevations quaint names while the floor plans were letters. For example, the Plan R came in two elevations, The Tamarisk and The Kona.
Pricing history
1961: $20,995 +
1962: $20,995 +
1963: $21,995 - $27,695
1964: $21,995 - $27,695
1965: $21,995 - $27,695
1. The Palisades
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,422 sq. ft. After this home was retired at the end of the 1962 season, the name was re-used for a different home.
 |
| The original Palisades model today. |
If you liked the floor plan, but wanted a ranch exterior, you could get The Ranchero. It wasn't shown in the model complex.
2. The Tamarisk (Plan R)
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,550 sq. ft.
 |
| The original Tamarisk model today. |
If you liked the floor plan, but wanted a tropical modern exterior, you could get The Kona. It wasn't shown in the model complex.
 |
| Fan favorite Kona on Broadmoor Court. |
3. The Manchester
4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,726 sq. ft. A single story home with a large attic space. Arguably the most memorable residence in the neighborhood, this Tudor-style home showcases a striking front gable adorned with half-timbering. It had unique metal window coverings that created a charming diamond-paned effect, although many of these details have since disappeared over time.
 |
| The original Manchester model today (with olive tree). |
4. Design 4 (unknown name)
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,974 sq. ft.
 |
| The original Design 4 model today. |
If you liked the floor plan, but wanted a colonial exterior, you could get The Carmel. It wasn't shown in the model complex.
5. The Hartford (Plan S)
4 bedroom, 3 bathrooms, 1,790 sq. ft. A Cape Cod styling; a timeless beauty. The first 2-story tract home in San Ramon Village.
 |
| The original Hartford model today. |
If you liked the floor plan, but wanted a contemporary exterior, you could get The Imperial. It wasn't shown in the model complex.
 |
| An Imperial home (updated). |
6. The Georgian
4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,088 sq. ft. Added in 1962 and inspired by classic Georgian homes of the old world.
 |
| The original Georgian model today (renovated with porch). |
7. The Westwood
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,582 sq. ft. Added in 1962.
 |
| The original Westwood model today. |
8. The Woodside (Plan W)
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, up to 2,497 sq. ft. Added in 1962, the second floor could be finished to create a bonus room, or up to 3 more bedrooms and a bathroom.
 |
| The original Woodside model today. |
If you liked the floor plan, but wanted a touch of the English countryside, you could get The Devonshire. It wasn't shown in the model complex.
9. The Westwood
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,874 sq. ft. Added in 1963 and reused a name from the 1962 release.
 |
| The original Westwood model today. |
10. The Brentwood
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,407 sq. ft. Added in 1963.
 |
| The original Brentwood model today. |
11. The Californian (Plan W)
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, up to 2,497 sq. ft. Added in 1963, an alternate exterior design of the Plan W. It came with an unfinished second-level, or finished with 1, 2, or 3 more bedrooms and a bathroom.
 |
| The original Californian model today. |
12. The Palisades
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,763 sq. ft. Re-using an earlier name for a discontinued model, this home was added in 1963.
 |
| The original Palisades model today. |
Why Country Club Park still matters today
Volk-McLain cut short the neighborhood and sold off remaining assets in 1965, including an unfilled 19-lot parcel on Hillsboro Avenue. Decades later, San Ramon Country Club Park remains a testament to innovative design and perhaps the most unique houses in south San Ramon. The homes, with their mix of practicality and flair, continue to charm new generations.
Whether you’re drawn to the history, the design, or the natural beauty, San Ramon Country Club Park is proof that a community can be more than just a place to live—it can be a story waiting to be discovered.
Related posts: Volk-McLain's San Ramon Village | The last walnut orchard in San Ramon
Comments
Post a Comment