Tumble Creek Golf Course in Cle Elum Washington
Rob Perry
Escalante Golf has expanded its national portfolio of premier clubs with the acquisition of Tumble Creek, a private golf community adjacent to Cle Elum, Washington’s Suncadia Resort.
Located about 90 minutes east of Seattle, the mountain enclave is home to a course regularly recognized among the best in the state. The Tom Doak-designed layout, which opened in 2005, tumbles across rolling mountain terrain through ponderosa pine forests on the eastern flank of the Wenatchee Mountains, a subrange of the Cascades.
The Fort Worth-based multi-course owner and operator now owns 27 golf properties across 18 states, with the Pacific Northwest gem being their first in the Evergreen State.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but the deal includes the club, golf course and the remaining real estate within the neighboring community, including approximately 330 homesites.
“Tumble Creek offers an exceptional combination of championship golf, outstanding amenities, beautiful residential surroundings and an engaged membership. It aligns perfectly with our strategy of owning distinctive private clubs where we can make thoughtful long-term investments,” David McDonald, president of Escalante Golf said.
McDonald said the undeveloped homesites were a key part of the investment thesis, calling them an asset with “exceptional long-term value” because of their location within an established luxury residential community. Combined with a top-ranked Tom Doak-designed golf course, a Hart Howerton-designed clubhouse and a property he said had been well maintained by Suncadia, all-in the acquisition amounted to “quite an enticing package.”
The company expects to invest millions of dollars in Tumble Creek over the coming years. Initial priorities include golf course enhancements to improve playability and maintenance without altering the fundamentals of Tom Doak’s original design, along with making updates to the club’s fitness center.
“We have inherited an incredible asset with strong brand equity and an engaged membership, and we take our role as its new stewards very seriously,” McDonald said.
Escalante’s focus today is on acquiring established, well-run clubs with engaged memberships rather than properties requiring significant repositioning. Many of the company’s recent acquisitions—including Canyata in Illinois, Hawks Ridge in Georgia and Kingsley Club in Michigan—were purchased from their original founders. The emphasis is on preserving what has already made those clubs successful while making strategic nip and tucks.
“When we get one, we aren’t looking to make wholesale changes; instead, our goal is to honor the prior ownership group’s legacy and implement a few tweaks here and there to make an already exceptional member experience even better,” McDonald said.
That approach is rooted in the company’s bullish outlook for destination golf and luxury residential communities. McDonald pointed to record participation in golf, continued growth in golf travel and greater workplace flexibility as trends supporting long-term demand for highly amenitized second-home communities, all trends the firm believes will make high-end golf properties solid investments for the foreseeable future.
Future Ambition
While McDonald insists Escalante will continue to think like a boutique operator, the company’s scale reflects broader ambitions. According to Escalante, the company’s portfolio has hosted 68 professional tour events, along with 30 LPGA Tour events, nine USGA championships and five LIV Golf events. Its website also declares a bold mission: “Legendary Places. One Common Purpose. To be the most influential golf company in the world.”
That lofty mission doesn’t mean a club’s tournament résumé is Ecalante’s north star. McDonald said member experience—not championship pedigree—remains the company’s primary consideration when evaluating acquisitions.
“We’re always going to prioritize the member experience,” he said. “Hosting professional tournaments is something we’re open to exploring if it makes sense for the individual property, but it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all proposition.”