One of the most well-known estate golf courses in America is headed to auction: Wolf Point Ranch.
Last spring, we reported on the famous private golf ranch in South Texas going on the market. The 1,600 acre ranch south of Houston had an original asking price of $11.5 million. We've learned it is now heading to a no-reserve auction later this month:
Wolf Point has earned a cult following in the last decade from those avid golf architecture buffs who have had a chance to experience the estate and course. They laud its very Scottish playing conditions: Rippling, firm fairways on mostly tree-less corridors with very interesting greens. Tom Doak has gone as far as to call it the best course in Texas, and later hired Nuzzo and builder Don Mahaffey to assist with his ambitious Memorial Park renovation.
Having visited their ranch myself, it is quite a treat and unlike anything else I've seen in the state. It was designed to be the kind of course you could play everyday and not tire of it with a lot of teeing ground options, wide fairways and very interesting greens. Oh, the camels are an interesting touch as well.
For those high-rollers in the market for their very own golf ranch, the most notable feature beyond the course itself is the runway. It can land aircraft up to B-737s, and there is a huge hanger that was at the time of our visit keeping numerous historic and unique planes.
It's also worth noting the Houston area has experienced contraction in its golf offerings in recent years due to historic weather events and other economic hurdles. There is very little in the form of true stay-and-play destination golf in this market, which is a bit shocking given how large and golf-mad the area is. With a little retrofitting to the main 7,200-square-foot house I could envision a sort of "Winter Ballyneal" type of club or boutique resort.
When I visited with architect Mike Nuzzo at his new Grand Oaks Reserve design in November, he expressed hope that regardless of the future business (or lack of) model of the property that the new owner will preserve his debut solo work. (Listen to the full interview here.)
The auction has no reserve and bidding opens on February 24th at 5pm. Wolf Point is open daily 1-4pm and by appointment. For more, visit Concierge Auctions.
