Barton Creek Resort & Spa
Barton Creek Palmer Lakeside Course - Frost Delay - December 27, 2011 at 9am.
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Barton Creek Resort & Spa
8212 Barton Club Drive
Austin, Texas
Two Texas politicians Ben Barnes, a former Lieutenant Governor of Texas, and John Connally, a former Texas Governor were the lead developers in 1985 to create a private country club and a resort on 4,000 acres of Texas Hill Country land on the edge of Austin, Texas. They found Community Federal Savings and Loan of St. Louis a willing lender for the real estate venture. Ground was broken in June 1985 and the grand opening for the Barton Creek Country Club was in May, 1987.
Barton Creek's first course the Fazio Foothills opened in 1986. The Tom Fazio designed course is famous for its cave, creeks, gnarled oaks, and water features.
Prior to its opening the Barnes/Connally joint venture declared bankruptcy. Community Federal Savings and Loan took ownership control of Barton Creek and retained International Conference Resorts to manage the property.
In May, 1989 Community Federal Savings and Loan sold Barton Creek Country Club to ClubCorp Resorts. Subsequently in February, 1990 Community Federal Savings and Loan Association was seized and closed by the Resolution Trust Company. The St. Louis thrift closure cost taxpayers an estimated $372 million according to the RTC. Its demise caused by imprudent real estate lending.
ClubCorp Resorts broke ground in October 1989, for a second golf course, designed by Ben Crenshaw & partner Bill Coore. The Crenshaw Cliffside opened April, 1991.
In May of 1991 the ClubCorp Resorts acquired Hidden Hills on Travis Lake, 25 miles away in Spicewood, Texas which featured an 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed course that opened in 1986. It is now known as Barton Creek Palmer Lakeside.
In 1999 Barton Creek's fourth course and Tom Fazio's second masterpiece, Fazio Canyons, opened. It is located two miles from the resort's main clubhouse and has its own pro shop and practice areas.
In 2000 ClubCorp added a 158 room tower bringing the total number of guestrooms to 303.
In November 2001 Pinehurst Company - a wholly owned subsidiary of ClubCorp named Michael Thomas, CHA, as President of Barton Creek Resort. He previously was President of Daufuskie Island Resort.
In 2006 KSL Capital Partners, LLC, purchases ClubCorp and its portfolio of clubs and resorts. KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm focusing its investments in travel and leisure businesses. The firm’s capital is derived from a combination of public state and corporate pension funds, private and university endowments, and high net worth individuals.
KSL Resorts also own Hotel Del Coronado, La Costa Resort & Spa, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, The Homestead and Vail Mountain Lodge.
In June 2010 KSL Resorts, announced the promotion of General Manager James Walsh to Vice President and General Manager of Barton Creek, managing both the private country club and the resort.
Photos and text by Dick Johnson
richardlloydjohnson@hotmail.com
212-832-0098
Barton Creek Resort & Spa
Barton Creek Palmer Lakeside Course - Frost Delay - December 27, 2011 at 9am.
---------------
Barton Creek Resort & Spa
8212 Barton Club Drive
Austin, Texas
Two Texas politicians Ben Barnes, a former Lieutenant Governor of Texas, and John Connally, a former Texas Governor were the lead developers in 1985 to create a private country club and a resort on 4,000 acres of Texas Hill Country land on the edge of Austin, Texas. They found Community Federal Savings and Loan of St. Louis a willing lender for the real estate venture. Ground was broken in June 1985 and the grand opening for the Barton Creek Country Club was in May, 1987.
Barton Creek's first course the Fazio Foothills opened in 1986. The Tom Fazio designed course is famous for its cave, creeks, gnarled oaks, and water features.
Prior to its opening the Barnes/Connally joint venture declared bankruptcy. Community Federal Savings and Loan took ownership control of Barton Creek and retained International Conference Resorts to manage the property.
In May, 1989 Community Federal Savings and Loan sold Barton Creek Country Club to ClubCorp Resorts. Subsequently in February, 1990 Community Federal Savings and Loan Association was seized and closed by the Resolution Trust Company. The St. Louis thrift closure cost taxpayers an estimated $372 million according to the RTC. Its demise caused by imprudent real estate lending.
ClubCorp Resorts broke ground in October 1989, for a second golf course, designed by Ben Crenshaw & partner Bill Coore. The Crenshaw Cliffside opened April, 1991.
In May of 1991 the ClubCorp Resorts acquired Hidden Hills on Travis Lake, 25 miles away in Spicewood, Texas which featured an 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed course that opened in 1986. It is now known as Barton Creek Palmer Lakeside.
In 1999 Barton Creek's fourth course and Tom Fazio's second masterpiece, Fazio Canyons, opened. It is located two miles from the resort's main clubhouse and has its own pro shop and practice areas.
In 2000 ClubCorp added a 158 room tower bringing the total number of guestrooms to 303.
In November 2001 Pinehurst Company - a wholly owned subsidiary of ClubCorp named Michael Thomas, CHA, as President of Barton Creek Resort. He previously was President of Daufuskie Island Resort.
In 2006 KSL Capital Partners, LLC, purchases ClubCorp and its portfolio of clubs and resorts. KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm focusing its investments in travel and leisure businesses. The firm’s capital is derived from a combination of public state and corporate pension funds, private and university endowments, and high net worth individuals.
KSL Resorts also own Hotel Del Coronado, La Costa Resort & Spa, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, The Homestead and Vail Mountain Lodge.
In June 2010 KSL Resorts, announced the promotion of General Manager James Walsh to Vice President and General Manager of Barton Creek, managing both the private country club and the resort.
Photos and text by Dick Johnson
richardlloydjohnson@hotmail.com
212-832-0098