The Club at Cordillera sells to Troon

Troon adds to its Colorado portfolio

By Jim Bebbington

The golf management company Troon has purchased The Club at Cordillera, the Vail-area private club that it has managed since 2013.

Troon bought the club from Wind Rose Holdings LLC; the deal closed Dec. 10 and Troon said it intends to continue operations and retain the staff.

“The Club at Cordillera is an amazing property with a wonderful membership, many of whom we’ve had the pleasure of serving for a dozen years,” said Troon President and CEO Tim Schantz. “We’re excited about the future of The Club, its long-term sustainability and for the opportunity to continue to provide an outstanding membership experience.”

Wind Rose is a California-based investment group which bought the property in 2012 in a bankruptcy auction for $14.2 million.

The club has three 18-hole courses, one each designed by Jack Nicklaus, Hale Irwin and Tom Fazio. The club has undergone extensive renovations in recent years, with a new pool, pavilion, tennis and pickleball courts and a fitness center. The club is planning a bunker renovation this summer on the Fazio-designed Valley Course.

“This is an exciting announcement for everyone involved with The Club at Cordillera, including members, employees and community partners,” said Mike Henritze, who has served as The Club at Cordillera’s general manager since the beginning. “From the day Troon set foot on property, the company has brought stability and a pursuit of excellence to The Club. Now as sole owners, Troon’s unwavering commitment to quality and passion for service will seamlessly continue.”

Troon manages operations at 10 Colorado clubs and courses, including Valley Country Club in Denver, RainDance National and Pelican Lakes Resort and Golf near Windsor, The Ridge at Castle Pines, and The Country Club of Colorado at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs. Company officials said the purchase of another club outright was part of a strategy to add quality clubs to the portfolio when it makes sense.

“It is certainly rare for a club the quality of The Club at Cordillera to become available,” said Troon’s Chief Legal Officer Jay McGrath. “When the opportunity arose, given our relationship with ownership, the quality of the membership, and the uniqueness of The Club, we pursued it wholeheartedly. The Club at Cordillera is a perfect fit to our portfolio and we are honored to be stewards of such an exclusive club in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.  Moving forward, The Club will continue to participate in the Troon Prive Privileges program, which allows for reciprocal play opportunities for full members of other Troon Prive-managed clubs across the country, providing those members a chance to experience Cordillera and the Vail Valley.”

With the acquisition of The Club at Cordillera, Troon owns and operates six properties and provides management and hospitality services at 900 more than locations in 45 states and 35 countries. Properties owned by Troon include Troon North Golf Club in Scottdale, Arizona; Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Arizona; NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; The Clubs at St. James in South Port, North Carolina; St. Johns Golf and Country Club in St. Augustine, Florida; and The Club at Cordillera.

The purchase includes the three courses, three clubhouses and other club amenities. The purchase price was not released.

Cordillera has more than 850 members and the grounds encompass more than 7,000 acres in the Vail Valley.