Discovery Land Company

Discovery Land Company is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based developer and operator of private residential communities and clubs in North America. The company has been called one of the best developers of resort communities by Robb Report Vacation Homes^[1] and Luxury Living^[2] magazines. In 2010, Discovery Land Company recorded over $600 million in sales.^[3] In 2015, the company recorded over $1 billion in sales. ^[4]

History

Discovery Land Company was founded in 1994 by Michael S. Meldman with the opening of The Estancia Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, and then the Iron Horse project in Whitefish, Montana. The company has 19 properties in Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Texas, New York, and North Carolina in the U.S., Los Cabos, Mexico and Great Guana Cay in the Bahamas.

Properties Developed

Baker’s Bay

The Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club is a private, property owners only club community perched on the northern 600 acres (2.4 km²) of Great Guana Cay in the Abaco family islands of the Bahamas, located about 190 miles off the southern coast of Florida. The community features a golf course designed by Tom Fazio as well as a private, members-only marina. Approximately seventy acres of the club's property is a designated nature preserve which is slated to be used for studying nature, exploration, and eco-recreation.^[5] The community is unique in that real estate ownership is prerequisite to being a member.^[6]

Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club

Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club is a private community located near Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez. The club features a golf course designed by Tom Fazio. ^[7]

Cordevalle Golf, Tennis and Spa Resort

CordeValle Golf Club is an invitation-only golf, social, tennis, and executive retreat for Silicon Valley business leaders and entrepreneurs. The Club’s facilities were initially developed by Lions Gate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership. Prior to the issuance of non-equity memberships in the Club, the Lions Gate Limited Partnership transferred its ownership of the Club’s property and the Club Facilities to CordeValle Golf Club, LLC. In March 2007, Cordevalle L.P., a California limited partnership, purchased certain assets from, and assumed certain liabilities of, the Initial Developer and CordeValle Golf Club, LLC, including the Club, the Club Facilities and the Club Memberships.^[8]

El Dorado Golf & Beach Club

El Dorado Golf and Beach Club is a private, gated beachfront community and golf club in Los Cabos, Mexico. The club features a golf course designed by former professional golfer Jack Nicklaus. It is a non-equity membership club limited to 395 memberships.^[9]

The Estancia Club

The Estancia Club, which opened in 1995, is located on 640 acres (2.6 km²) acres of the northern slope of Scottsdale's landmark Pinnacle Peak in the gated community of Estancia.The Tom Fazio designed 18-hole championship golf course offers 7,314 yards of golf.^[10]

Gozzer Ranch

Gozzer Ranch is a lakefront community and private club located on 700 acres (2.8 km²) acres near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.^[11]In 2015, the golf course at Gozzer Ranch was named in Golfweek Magazine's Best Residential Courses.^[12]

The community includes a private golf course designed by Tom Fazio. There are two marinas that have 175 total slips. The community has 267 estate-sized homesites, 34 golf cabins, 28 homestead cottages, and 28 condominiums.^[13]

The Hideaway

The Hideaway is a golf club and residential development in La Quinta, California.^[14]

There are two golf courses at The Hideaway, one designed by Clive Clark and one by Pete Dye.

Iron Horse

Iron Horse is a Tom Fazio championship golf course and community covering 820 acres (3.3 km²), in Whitefish, Montana.^[15]

Kuki'o

Kūkiʻo Golf and Beach Club is a private, residential equity club located adjacent to the Four Seasons Hotel on the Kona-Kohala coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. The club features two golf courses designed by Tom Fazio, one is a 10-hole course, the other is 18 holes.^[16]

In 2015, Kuki'o was named one of Hawaii's "Best Neighbor Island" resorts by World Property Journal.^[17]

The Madison Club

The Madison Club is a private golf club located adjacent to the Hideaway in La Quinta, California.^[18] The golf course was designed by Tom Fazio and was named one of the best golf communities by Links Magazine.^[19] In 2014 it was listed as one of the "Best Damn Clubs in America."^[20]

Makena

Makena is located in the southwest region of Maui and features 36 holes of golf on courses designed by Dennis Wise.^[21]

Mirabel

Mirabel is a gated golf community that opened in 2001. It covers 713 acres (2.89 km²) of Sonoran Desert terrain in North Scottsdale, at an elevation of 3,000 feet (910 m).It features a golf course designed by Tom Fazio that is a 7,147-yard, par-71 course.^[22]

Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club

Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club is a private golf and residential community consisting of 731 acres (2.96 km²) acres in the Highlands-Cashiers region of the western North Carolina mountains. The community offers 251 estate lots and 75 cabins for purchase. Mountaintop is approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Atlanta.^[23]

The golf course was designed by Tom Fazio and was named one of the best golf communities by Links Magazine.^[24]

Silo Ridge Field Club

The Silo Ridge Field Club is on 800 acres (3.2 km²) acres of land in the Hudson Valley in Amenia, New York. It's adjancent to the Wassaic train station and Middlebrook, New York.

The Summit

The Summit is nine miles from the Las Vegas Strip and is a private, luxury gated golf community located on 555 acres (2.25 km²) acres of land within Summerlin. The community will offer 269 residences and a golf course designed by Tom Fazio.^[25]

Vaquero

Vaquero is a gated community covering 525 acres (2.12 km²) in Westlake, Texas near Dallas-Fort Worth and Alliance airports. It features a part-71 golf course designed by Tom Fazio.^[26]

In 2013, Vaquero was rated by Avid Golfer as the Best Overall Private Country Club.^[27]

Yellowstone Club

The Yellowstone Club is located in Big Sky, Montana and is a 13,600 acres (55 km²) private residential community.^[28]

The price of residences start at around $4,000,000, members must pay an initial fee of $300,000 to join and $36,000 each year in dues. The community offers 15 chairlifts, three ski lodges, 2,200 acres (8.9 km²) skiable acres and an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf designed golf course.^[29]

The golf course was named one of the best golf communities by Links Magazine.^[30]

In 2008, the Discovery Land Company entered an agreement with Yellowstone Club, establishing a long-term partnership for development and management.^[31] In 2009 the Yellowstone Club was purchased and brought out of bankruptcy by investors led by CrossHarbor Capital Partners, including a 5 percent share by Discovery Land Company.^[32]

Closed Communities

Spanish Oaks Golf Club

Spanish Oaks Golf Club is a private golf club in Austin, Texas.^[33]

Foreclosure of Spanish Oaks

In 2010, Spanish Oaks and its owners (Hillwood Partners, Discovery Land Company and CCNG, Inc.) defaulted on their original loan of $34.4 million and was forced into foreclosure. As a result, the property has been closed to its members since July 15, 2010. On September 7, 2010, Spanish Oaks Golf Club was sold in foreclosure to Comerica Bank for a reported $29 million, and although the remaining members of the club have been in talks with Comerica to re-open the golf course for play, no date has been set for this to occur. To date, all facilities, including the member's clubhouse and golf course, remain closed indefinitely.^[34]

Philanthropy

The Discovery Land Company Foundation primarily supports children in shelters and in foster care. The Foundation donates to trusted charities providing the best programs and mentors to assist youth.^[35]

External links

• Discovery Land official company web site

References