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Discovery Land Company Is Redefining The Private Golf Experience
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In the elite world of luxury real estate communities, one name stands above others, Discovery Land Company. This ultra-luxury real estate and golf course developer is recognized for its next-level golf courses as well as the upscale, master-planned communities built around them. In fact, the company’s many communities are home to elites like Cindy Crawford, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady. Notably, the company’s CEO, Mike Meldman, has a home in each of the 27 communities across the Caribbean, Europe and North America.
I was fortunate enough to recently play a round at Makena Golf and Beach Club here on Maui and it is really an incredible golf course and incredible experience all around. While we have many great golf courses on Maui, the course at Makena is the most immaculately kept by several degrees. It helps that it doesn't receive the amount of traffic as the other courses, but the design and condition compare with the best of the best.
The food and beverage experience is just as elite as the golf. The course features several grill and bar stations around the course with wagyu beef sliders, cocktails of the day, and a self serve sushi station. The practice facilities are world-class as pretty much everything is at this ultra-exclusive club. Discovery has done an amazing job with Makena and their model is very interesting, so I did a deeper dive on Discovery as a business. Keep reading to learn more.
About Discovery Land Company
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Mike Meldman established his real estate company in 1994 with the idea of building master-planned communities for those who crave the finer things in life. Meldman is also recognized as the co-founder of Casamigos Tequila. It is reported that at the time, Mr. Meldman was not a golfer, but he envisioned communities that provided an upscale experience without the formality of typical golf clubs.
While the company’s communities have been increasingly in demand, Meldman acknowledges a significant boost in demand during the COVID pandemic and shutdowns. Many of the clubs’ members brought their families to these communities to buffer themselves from the virus spreading rapidly around the world. During the pandemic, communities like the 850-acre Silo Ridge Field in the Hudson Valley, the Madison Club in La Quinta, California and the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky were in demand.
Changing the Dynamics of Private Golf Communities
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While golf clubs are generally associated with older residents looking to slow things down, Discovery Land Company communities are designed to give its members a more lively and social experience. More than that, they are not simply designed as luxury home communities. Instead, they foster togetherness and celebrate making memories with family members and community friends.
The Outdoor Pursuits Program available in some of the communities provides recreational opportunities that are well-suited for active adults as well as teens and older children. The activities available vary by location. By incorporating these adventure-minded recreational opportunities, the communities offer both a premium living environment and a vacation-like experience.
Makena Real Estate For Sale
Origins in Scottsdale
The company’s first community was Estancia in Scottsdale, Arizona. Meldman grew up in the area and was personally familiar with its appeal. The land around Pinnacle Peak was specifically selected because of its topography and landmark status. Tom Fazio designed this first golf course as well as 14 other golf courses for Discovery Land Company over the years. Meldman draws attention to the fact that this community is perfectly integrated with the natural landscape, and this same attention has been incorporated in the other communities. While each of the communities exemplifies the company’s dedication to providing a luxurious living experience that focuses on togetherness, each is individualized to suit the location.
Each buyer interested in purchasing a home in any of the Discovery communities is thoroughly vetted through an extensive screening process. This unique approach enables the company to consistently maintain the desirability of its communities. In addition, community staff members have been carefully selected, and great effort is made to retain top-notch talent that embraces the communities’ values.
About Makena Golf and Beach Club
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While there are several private clubs on Maui, Makena Golf and Beach Club stands in a league of its own. It has one of the best golf courses on Maui, which takes full advantage of the sweeping coastal views and the green Haleakala slopes. Unlike other private clubs on Maui, Makena celebrates local traditions and cultures to create a one-of-a-kind experience for its residents. The local Makena culture honors achieving a harmonious balance between comfortable living and nature, and this culture is displayed throughout the resort.
The 18-hole golf course takes advantage of the location's incredible views and topography to create a one-of-a-kind golfing experience. It is challenging for experienced golfers, but it is well-suited for beginners and intermediate golfers as well. There are numerous sand traps, rolling hills, challenging greens and swaying palm trees. In the distance, you can spot four islands. This golf course has top-quality amenities, such as a half-way comfort station, golf cart rentals, paved cart paths and more. The restaurant offers everything from a nacho bar to Ahi sashimi, sliders and other treats.
World Class Location and Activities
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This Discovery Land Company community delivers other exciting amenities and activities for residents to enjoy. The spa is the place to go for numerous spa and massage treatments, personal training and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The lap pool was designed by swimming legend Michael Phelps. Snorkeling, horseback riding, boating, hiking and scuba diving excursions are available as well. From restaurants and game areas to tennis courts, children's splash areas, pickleball courts and more, there are numerous exciting ways to spend time at the resort.
This golf and beach club spans 1,800 acres and offers a variety of living accommodations to suit various needs and interests. These range from condominiums and beach club cottages to acreage estates and multifamily villas. The entire community has been specifically designed with both luxury and sustainability in mind. Owners and members also enjoy easy access to one of South Maui's best beaches, Maluaka Beach.
Real Estate Development on Maui
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The Kula Villas are multifamily accommodations that are within walking distance to the spa, restaurants and resort pools. The villas each have four bedrooms, high-end finishes and private lanais. The Beach Cottages are located steps from the beach and offer four bedrooms and almost 4,700 square feet of indoor and outdoor living areas. The Beach Club Residences are close to the pool and pool bar, a restaurant, the fitness center and the spa. Each of these seven homes have bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and amazing ocean views.
The Molokini Residences are located close to the Beach Club, spa and fitness center. This area of the resort has serene landscaping with water features, and each of the 5,748-square-foot homes has four upstairs bedrooms. Maluaka Estates has 13 custom homes that are placed on oceanfront lots that are up to ¾ acres in size. The lots are close to the golf course as well as the Beach Club.
To become a member at Makena Golf and Beach Club you must first own property(land, condo, or single-family residence) in Makena that was developed by Discovery. This excludes other high-end locales like Makena Surf, Big Beach Estates, or One Paluea Bay. Memberships reportedly start around 300k and annual fees are around 30k.
Discovery Land Company’s Other Golf Clubs
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Makena Golf and Beach Club is one of three Discovery projects in Hawaii. The others being Kuki'o on the Big Island and North Shore Preserve on Kauai. These are three of more than two dozen communities located in some of the most highly desired areas on multiple continents. One of the newest additions to the company’s real estate portfolio is the Costa Terra Golf & Ocean Club, which is in the coveted Comporta region of Portugal. As the company's first community in Europe, Discovery expects to change how Europeans think about luxury living.
According to Meldman, his favorite community is Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club, which is located on Great Guana Cay in the Bahamas. He cites the island’s flat, soft beaches and incredible views as the area’s key selling points. This community spans a 20-mile stretch of beach and boasts 220 homes, a restaurant, a grocery store, a private village, a golf course, water sports activities and tennis courts. This community was unfortunately severely damaged in a 2019 hurricane, but it has been rebuilt with additional amenities. Some of the newer amenities are on-site medical care, a spa, pickleball courts and several farm-to-table restaurants.
Discovery Communities Around the US and Abroad
Discovery Land Company has several other private communities in North America, although membership at one does not get one privileges at another, they are all mutually exclusive. These include the Austin Surf Club in Austin, the Atlantic Fields in Florida, the Atlantic Beach in Florida, The Hills in the Hamptons, Naples Beach Club in Florida, Homewood Mountain & Lake Club in Lake Tahoe, The Summit Club in Las Vegas, The Hideaway in California, the Estancia and the Mirabel in Scottsdale, the Iron Horse in Montana, the Gozzer Ranch in Coeur d’Alene, the Mountaintop in North Carolina, the Vaquero in Texas and Dune Deck in New York.
Outside of the United States, the communities include El Dorado in Los Cabos, Chileno Bay in Cabo San Lucas, the Barbuda Ocean Club in Barbuda, James Island in British Columbia, Playa Grande in Dominican Republic, the Zapotal Golf & Beach Club in Costa Rica, the Taymouth Castle in Scotland and the Discovery Dunes in Dubai South,
Outdoor Pursuits Program
Several communities have an Outdoor Pursuits Program, which provides residents with location-specific outdoor activities. For example, at Silo Ridge, residents have access to hiking, clay shooting, archery and horseback riding. At Baker’s Bay, residents can enjoy kitesurfing, boating, bone fishing and snorkeling. At White Fish in Montana, fly fishing and rafting are some of the available recreational activities. Through these programs, the communities embrace health and wellness. At the same time, they encourage togetherness and celebrate the natural environment.
In all of the communities, the homes are upscale and unique, but they also blend in with the environment and accommodate the culture. These are high-end properties with premium finishes throughout. You will not find cookie-cutter homes in these communities. More than that, the communities inspire fun and togetherness, so residents can enjoy a relaxed, open vibe.
The company continues to expand, providing its prestigious customers with an increasingly diverse range of elite living and golfing environments to enjoy. Other exciting projects that Discovery is currently developing include the Troubador Golf & Field Club in Nashville, where PGA star Justin Thomas is reported to frequent, and the 800-acre Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club near Austin. This Austin community sits against 70 acres filled with winding trails and vineyards.
Learn More About Makena Golf and Beach Club Today
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While there are two other private clubs on Maui, King Kamehameha and Maui Country Club, the unique experience offered at the Makena Golf and Beach Club makes it an exclusive and highly coveted ownership experience. For those are searching for luxury real estate near the best golf courses on Maui with an upgraded service experience, Makena delivers in spades. Learn more about the resort and the real estate options currently available, give me a call today, 808-214-4799.
Get In Touch With Evan!
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Evan Harlow is an award-winning Realtor on Maui ranking in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. Evan has the expertise, experience, and work ethic to help you achieve your real estate buying and selling goals. We promise exceptional service and support from the beginning of the process through closing and beyond. See what our clients are saying on Google.
Posted by Evan Harlow R(S) 82003 on
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