Last week, the president of Dallas-based golf resort company Arcis Golf, Dirk Burghartz, emailed the members of Evans golf club, Champions Retreat, a letter giving a heads up on the club’s new ownership.
In the letter sent Oct. 7, Burghartz stated that the completion of the sale of Champions Retreat to Arcis Golf was “very soon.” The closing date turned out to be Thursday, Oct. 12. Burghartz sent a second letter, and Arcis distributed a press release, publicizing the closing, on the same day.
“With a focus on operating top-quality facilities and offering experiential, lifestyle programming, Arcis is uniquely positioned to build upon the Club’s great foundation,” said Burghartz in the letter announcing the acquisition.
While Arcis declined to disclose how long it has sought to buy the 27-hole, 365-acre property, or how and when negotiations began, it has stated via a spokesperson that it assumed operation of the facility on Oct. 13 and that its “first priority is to ensure a smooth employee transition,” echoing Burghartz’s letter.
“Your wonderful club is now an integral part of our differentiated collection of nearly 70 owned and managed clubs,” Burghartz told Champions Retreat members, touting Arcis Golf’s nationwide portfolio.
Among his examples were the Cowboys Golf Club in Dallas (mentioned with the accolade of being the “the first and only NFL-themed golf club in the world”), the Valencia Country Club in Los Angeles, and the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., which hosted the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Golf Championship.
The company also stated that Champions Retreat would continue to host the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, a privately-owned Seattle golf club managed by Arcis, hosts the Boeing Classic, a tournament on the PGA Tour.
Arcis also made sure to note that it has spent more than $100 million on its lifestyle clubs for “upgrades, amenities, training and systems,” since CEO Blake Walker founded it in 2014.
“The exceptional facility, courses, and amenities add a new dimension to our differentiated collection of private, daily fee, and resort properties. We are uniquely positioned to offer best-in-class golf and innovative programming and content that appeal to the entire family,” said Walker. “Champions Retreat directly aligns with our strategy of owning and operating preeminent properties and our unwavering commitment to grow the game of golf and transformational lifestyle experiences.”
Burghartz indicated that the company would begin seeking members’ input on potential improvements via “onsite focus group sessions” planned for later this month and early November.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
