Dallas-based Arcis Golf has acquired The Woodlands Country Club from Invited, a fellow golf course operator also based in North Texas.
Located outside Houston and the longtime home of the PGA Tour’s Houston Open, The Woodlands is one of the state’s premier golf clubs. It is home to four clubhouses, 99 holes and five courses, three of which were designed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.
Related:Ranking the top 100 golf courses in Texas: Nos. 1-50 (2025)
Arcis and Invited are two of the largest operators in the country.
Business Briefing
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Arcis founder and CEO Blake Walker said it was an unsolicited offer from his company.
“Houston and Texas is a primary growth corridor for us. We had a significant presence there,” he said.
“The Woodlands in particular represent one of those rare opportunities in which you’ve got a collection of really high-end clubs in one of the most populated and largest residential communities in the United States. So it was really attractive for us.”
Back in 2014, Invited, then ClubCorp, purchased The Woodlands as part of a landmark deal that saw the company take over all of Atlanta-based Sequoia Golf’s assets for $265 million.
Arcis has acquired 15 clubs in the past three years, and now owns 22 in Texas. It plans to put at least $30 million worth of improvements in courses and lifestyle amenities at The Woodlands.
Walker said that after closing on a transaction, Arcis typically will have a series of focus groups to get members’ feedback.
“We fine-tune that $30 million in capital,” he said, “and then we will set detailed timelines, specifically when we’re going to make those investments.”
Walker said that Arcis sees itself as a lifestyle brand and thinks about its portfolio beyond just the golf amenities — though those are of paramount importance.
This includes the culinary experience, entertainment, health and wellness and other sports like pickleball.
As Arcis integrates The Woodlands into its portfolio and pursues enhancements, those facets will be top-of-mind. It’s part of Arcis’ long-term growth strategy that intends to offer a club experience for every potential member, from the fresh-out-of-college golf enthusiast to families incorporating Arcis’ clubs into their daily lives.
“We’re seeing members … utilize the club differently. They’re holding meetings there. They’re doing date night there,” Walker said.
“They’re entertaining for business there, their kids are utilizing the club very differently as well,” he said. “We’re doing a variety of things that appeal to a younger, more diverse sort of consumer base.”
Editor’s note: This story has been revised to reflect the correct spelling of Arcis Golf.
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