Escalante Golf acquired Canyata Golf Club in Marshall, Illinois. The club becomes Escalante’s 25th property in a portfolio that spans 17 states.
Canyata was founded in 2005 by a local businessman named Jerry Forsythe as an exclusive golf retreat. The 18-hole course covers some 7,200 yards across 400 acres of former farmland cut in half by a ravine. It features bentgrass fairways and greens, water features and sculpted bunkers. The course maintains a reputation of untouchability, purporting that a mere 5,000 rounds of golf have been played there since opening; it also consistently ranks among the top 100 American golf courses by Golf Digest.
“It’s an honor to have the trust and support of Mr. Forsythe to build on Canyata’s impressive legacy,” said David McDonald, president of Escalante Golf. “Despite its Top 100 pedigree, the club is the textbook definition of a hidden gem; there’s so much potential for us to further elevate its standing as one of the game’s premier private golf experiences.”
Escalante will use the acquisition to launch a luxury golf and travel membership called Icon Golf, which will include a national membership to Canyata—which serves as the home base for Icon Golf—as well as playing privileges at eight other properties owned by Escalante across the country. The membership also offers opportunities to participate in a variety of curated events every year, from longer golf destination trips around the world to shorter three-day stays at domestic Escalante-owned clubs and tournaments at such renowned locations as Pebble Beach.
“We’re the only luxury golf travel program combining this level of end-to-end service and attention to detail with no-fee play at a nationwide network of private clubs and resorts,” said Jeff Goodsell, president and founder of Icon Golf. “And now with our acquisition of Canyata, we’re enhancing that winning formula by adding a home club boasting a Top 100 golf course.”
To maintain the property’s vaunted reputation, play at Canyata will be limited to Icon members and their guests only, with a maximum of 40 players per day; this will allow the onsite team to cater exclusively to the limited clientele and create unique experiences for them.
Escalante has hired a new general manager, Brent Allen, and a new superintendent, Brock Burton, to oversee operations. Additionally, a clubhouse remodeling project is underway that is planned to be completed in May by the time member play begins. A long-term land plan is being developed for the entire property by Randy Hoffacker, a landscape architect from Destination Design, and golf artist Lee Wybranski will establish a new brand identity. Escalante currently has no architectural updates planned for the golf course and will instead focus on improving its agronomic profile to encourage a firm and fast playing experience.
