Anyone ever got the opportunity to play one of their courses? Looks super exclusive and have to know someone or be interested in buying property to get a round in. The foreplay guys played at one of their properties a few months back at Troubadour in Tennessee against country music stars.

https://discoverylandco.com/

Their recipe is good to great golf courses coupled with exceptionally service. Most have "comfort stations" every 3-4 holes - an oasis stocked with everything you could possibly want to eat or drink on a golf course. I have played 6 of them. They do not disappoint.

I've been in the golf business for nearly 30 years and apparently not that smart. When Discovery built Vaquero in Westlake/Southlake all I could think was "Who is going to join there? It isn't a vacation destination or a real 2nd home spot like most of their other properties."
I believe Vaquero has been a huge success. I think I underestimate how much money some people have.

How were you able to play them if you don't mind me asking? From what I've been told, you either have to be searching for property or have to know a high up member...

I worked at Vaquero for a few years in high school and when I was home over Christmas/summers. Lots of celebs and athletes as members/guests.

To get on you could be a member of a nice club and have ur head pro call potentially or know someone


I'll try to answer any questions

Which of the 6 did you play and what would be your ranking of those? They all seem to be in great locations so trying to figure out a potential family trip and get in some golf along the way..

I think you would have to lock in a tee time first then try to plan a family trip around that tee time

I've only played vaquero.

A few of the discovery land guys branched off and did Bluejack. I went out to bluejack while it was bring built and got to drive the course but haven't played yet. Probably need to go do that

Thanks for info. Just realized I sent it back to you when other poster said he'd played 6 of the courses...

Which of the 6 did you play and what would be your ranking of those?

I have played almost all of them..... :-)

Of course, I had a client trying to buy them all ( both residential and golf). They were in trouble back in 2009 and 2010.

They lose LOTS of money on golf. They more than make up for it with the residential sales.


T

That's the sense I got also about them losing money with golf. The comfort stations alone must be so expensive to maintain

Comfort stations are mainly
Gatorade
Soda
Water
Beer
Fruit
Chips
Candy

These courses don't get a lot of play so prob not bad to maintain comfort stations

The expensive part is maintaining customer service and course maintenance.

I worked "outside service" on the driving range. We had one rule...."if a member wants something and it's legal then we do it" we had access to BMW 7 series and BMW X5 to run errands for members or pick their kids from karate. The members can call the club and ask for a gallon of milk or ask for a trip to Hawaii to be planned for them.

I had a maybe 5 year old girl ask me for a cherry popsicle. Of course. I radio inside, they have none, I radio outside to check our freezer...they have none. I radio the restaurant...all out. As soon as we heard back from the last place that they were out...my manager immediately gets on radio...."someone drive to the grocery store and get her a cherry popsicle".....yes sir.

There is no sitting allowed and the only time we say no is to illegal requests and to accepting tips.

Drew Bledsoe had training camp with the cowboys in California and he wanted his car to be there. He asked one of the other guys that was working the range to drive his Mercedes to California....yes sir.

Pretty cool place...taught me a lot about expectations and how to deliver exceptional service. Details matter.

Wow that's insane. I've heard similar that basically anything goes when a member asks for it. Looks like they've got one in Driftwood as well. Hoping I get to play most of them some day

I thought there was a Vaquero thread...

Wasn't there some kind of fraud?

I've played Bakers Bay, Troubadour, and Gozzer. Courses are great, typical Fazio courses. Amenities are incredible.

for Texas Ag 15 / I guess I have actually played 7 or 8 (not 6) depending on if you count Spanish Oaks or not.

Gozzer Ranch
Kukio
Estancia
Iron Horse
Makena
Vaquero
Yellowstone

All are very good. Gozzer, Kukio and Estancia are exceptional.

Spanish Oaks was a DLC property too. I would put it number #4 when DLC owned the property.

Method to get on the course:

DLC executive I know
played with friend
played with friend
played with the pro who I know
DLC executive I know
played with friend
Guest of the DLC executive I know

DLC courses are worth the effort. The experience will be memorable.

Thoughts on kukio?

Kukio

Has all the Fazio eye candy that you would typically expect but unlike some Fazio creations, it is a pretty solid golf course. Some memorable par 3s. Good routing and progression through the round.
And the comfort station had GINORMOUS shrimp. Maybe I should have said great course routing because the course goes by the comfort station with shrimp TWICE

Yeah they add some cool things sometimes....I caddied a member guest once at vaquero and they had wild boar sliders

GDP - Can you message me? I have a question for you about Gozzer.