(FORT WORTH, Texas) – Escalante Golf – a boutique owner and operator of luxury golf properties across 17 states – has acquired Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Georgia.
Since opening in 1999, Hawks Ridge has been regularly ranked among the country’s Top 200 Modern Courses by Golfweek and Georgia’s best courses by Golf Digest. This June, Hawks Ridge will be one of 10 U.S. courses to host final qualifying for the 126th U.S. Open Championship, marking the ninth time it has been selected for this honor.
Childhood friends Mike Nixon and Joe Jillson founded the club after searching far and wide for the best land they could find in greater Atlanta. Their quest led them to a secluded parcel about one hour north of downtown.
After an extensive nationwide process, they selected Bob Cupp as the course designer. Cupp – whose credits include Pumpkin Ridge outside of Portland, Oregon and Liberty National just west of New York City – had worked with Jack Nicklaus on Ohio’s Muirfield Village, one of the founders’ favorite courses. Presented with an ideal canvas of 550 wooded, rolling acres, Cupp created a golf course that has received acclaim for its strong shot values, thought-provoking mix of shorter and longer holes, and exceptional conditioning.
From day one, these on-course attributes have been complemented by a welcoming off-course vibe. Beyond the 18-hole course, other feature amenities at Hawks Ridge are a nine hole par-3 course, spacious clubhouse, tavern-style restaurant, state-of-the-art training center, helipad and two four-bedroom member cottages. This atmosphere of great golf and comfortable luxury has been key to attracting a club membership that includes some of Atlanta’s most prominent athletes and accomplished business people.
“We’re honored to become the next stewards of Hawks Ridge, and to continue its legacy as a club known for great golf and genuine camaraderie,” said David McDonald, President & Partner at Escalante Golf. “Mike and Joe possessed incredible vision when they successfully combined world-class golf course architecture with a laid-back club vibe. They established a standard for excellence that seamlessly aligns with our team’s mission to deliver an amazing golf experience every day to our members and their guests. The Membership at Hawks Ridge is one composed not only of higher-caliber players, but great people as well. Mike and Joe built a true players’ club, one to be enjoyed for generations to come. We’re prepared and honored to preserve that legacy.”
Golf course architect Tripp Davis has been retained to create a masterplan for the Club. In 2022, Davis completed an extensive renovation of Atlanta Athletic Club’s Riverside course and is currently putting the finishing touches on an original design, The Rose Golf Club, outside of Athens, Georgia. Davis and Escalante enjoy a close relationship, as the heralded architect has worked with the team at The International’s Oaks Course (Bolton, Mass.), BlackHorse Golf Club (Cypress, Texas) and Black Diamond Ranch (Lecanto, Fla.).
“Our team is committed to ensuring the Hawks Ridge practice facility, instruction programming, tournament schedule and culinary offerings are complementary to its exceptional on-course golf experience,” added Jeff Kindred, COO, Escalante Golf. “We are excited for the opportunity to bring this iconic club – one with such a strong culture of excellence shared by both members and staff – into its next chapter.”
About Escalante Golf Founded in 1991, Escalante Golf is a boutique owner and operator of 26 luxury golf properties across 17 states. The Fort Worth, Texas-based company has quietly assembled an impressive collection of exclusive clubs in key markets that have hosted prestigious amateur and professional golf tournaments including the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, the Charles Schwab Cup, the WGC Match Play Championship, the WinCo Foods Portland Open, the Shell Houston Open and five LIV Golf events in Portland, Boston, Tucson, Nashville and Houston.
Operating partners David McDonald, Elcio Silva, Robert Silva and David Matheson direct the Escalante team. For more information: visit www.escalantegolf.com or call (817) 386-9721.
