Untapped Areas for National Club Development

[Michael Chadwick]

A first-time visit to Desert Forest left me with a couple questions:


1. If Desert Forest is the first true desert golf course, why did so many subsequent developers and designs in Arizona or Palm Springs seemingly not draw any inspiration from what Desert Forest does well? Namely, finding a site where the natural topography lends itself to a course coexisting with it, rather than having the desert function more as a backdrop to a superimposed, artificial golfing landscape?


2. The current boom of new course development in America is primarily occurring in South Carolina, Florida, and Texas. There are obviously some exceptions to this, such as Rodeo Dunes, Brambles, Ladera, etc. But, are there not undeveloped sites of potential golfing merit within two hours of Sky Harbor airport? Or elsewhere in the West and Southwest? What's keeping places like New Mexico, Idaho, or Nevada off the radar (as of now) for possible destination clubs?


2a. Could Apache Stronghold be purchased from the San Carlos Apache tribe and redeveloped with lodging for a national membership?


Part of my geographic questioning is self-serving, since I'm based in Los Angeles, and Aiken takes a bit of effort to get to!


But more seriously, I'd like to hear from others about areas that could feature sites of real interest for developing more golf. I'm not interested in writing off a region or state because of the hurdles these areas might face (for water access, as an example), since I'm not actually a developer, but am more interested in hearing about lovely land where a golf course could harmonize with it, as I imagine Childress Hall will become a new example of west of the Mississippi.     

[Shane Wright]

Michael - there are seemingly endless new national clubs being built right now.  They are going up everywhere.  I haven't heard of one in Idaho yet but I'm pretty certain that means that someone there is planning one.  Untapped areas could be anywhere.


I can think of all kinds of new ones going in that I don't ever see even mentioned here.


National Clubs and their entrance fees have never been HOTTER.

[Ben Sims]

Aiken hits on a superfecta of traits. Sandy soil. Relatively inexpensive. In between several metro areas. Medium size affluent town nearby.


There’s other traits but bottom line is Aiken sort of hits on a number of factors that make it quasi-perfect for places like OB and TTF.


You could build a helluva golf course 10 miles northeast of Logan New Mexico. But if you think Holyoke or Childress is remote…

[Blake Conant]

Texas, Florida, and Tennessee already have a lot going for them besides being a no tax state, but other no tax states like Wyoming, South Dakota, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Washington (and Alaska) could be appealing to clients looking to move their money.


There are proper sand hills in Wyoming and South Dakota, albeit short golf seasons. New Hampshire would be very interesting.

[Alex_Hunter]

Believe it or not, the sand hills of Saskatchewan is a good untapped area for real golf development

[Frank Sekulic]

I have always thought the Pine Barrens area of NJ would be a great spot for development.


Halfway between two of the biggest metro area’s in America with plenty of sandy soil to build upon.


I remember reading a few years ago that the Keiser’s were supposedly looking at land there but, I guess that was only an internet rumor.

[Andrew Harvie]

Believe it or not, the sand hills of Saskatchewan is a good untapped area for real golf development

Alberta Dunes would have been quite the golf course had it gone through, though it makes Bandon Dunes look urban!

[Joe Wandro]

The sandy oak covered ridges of eastern Iowa. Also the duney areas south of Albuquerque seem attractive. My guess is that water rights would be difficult anywhere in SW.

[Ben Malach]

I think the interesting answer to this question is there are a lot of First People's reservations. That might be willing to negotiation of long term leases.


A lot of these reservations are located in areas within that 2.5-3 limit from an international airport.




It would be interesting to see more first people's golf development. From what I have seen of a lot of them that take it seriously, they end up being very successful for everyone involved.

[David Kelly]

I would imagine that the Apache tribe selling Apache Stronghold outright to someone who would make it private would be a non-starter.  They could probably sell or share the operating/management rights with someone but the same problems would still be there - remoteness, being attached to a non-desirable casino operation, etc.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

A delightful piece of land not 250 yards from my house.
Subtle rolling hills with gorgeous pines and Sandy soil, just begging for someone to build a Harry S inspired Swinley in the sand hills🤔

[Kalen Braley]

Eastern WA is begging for one.  Has some of the most interesting and unique terrain on the planet..

[David Kelly]

Turn left when leaving Prairie Dunes. While driving for the next two or three miles, look to your right, and you will see some magnificent land for a golf course or two. 

[archie_struthers]

No building in the Pine Barrens of NJ ...a bunch of restrictions and native species abound and it's over one of the great reservoirs anywhere in the country. Plus the Jersey Devil might take offense

[Luke Sutton]

Everyone is building in Texas but no one has decided to do one in North East Texas near Tyler where I grew up. The land is Pinehurst like with unlimited sand, water, rolling topography and pine trees. Plus land is dirt cheap up there.


There is a sandy site close to Keene, NH that Peter Bowman (from Hooper) has tried to get me to go out and see. It’s a sand quarry with spectacular mountain views and it’s for sale.

[Pierre_C]

Luke,
    This isn't NE Texas, but East Texas near Nacoghoches, Wild Spring Dunes. Golf resort with 36 holes, Doak course & Coore-Crenshaw course.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/wild-spring-dunes-dream-golf-texas

https://www.wildspringdunes.com/

Everyone is building in Texas but no one has decided to do one in North East Texas near Tyler where I grew up. The land is Pinehurst like with unlimited sand, water, rolling topography and pine trees. Plus land is dirt cheap up there.


There is a sandy site close to Keene, NH that Peter Bowman (from Hooper) has tried to get me to go out and see. It’s a sand quarry with spectacular mountain views and it’s for sale.

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