The Story of Sagamore

The story begins with Mark’s 17-year career in the golf course design and construction business under the tutelage of Jack Nicklaus.  In 1999 Mark left the Nicklaus organization to develop his own golf course and club in central Indiana as well as to be closer to family and friends.  Mark’s first step was to form University Golf Development with long time friends Tom and Bob, both of which have extensive success in real estate development throughout Indiana. 

In January of 2000, Tom Rush located the site of what would become the Sagamore Club on 400 acres of farmland and pasture in Noblesville, Indiana.  Mark then contacted Larry Cole, Vice President of Business Development for Troon Golf, the foremost golf course management company located in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Troon Golf saw market potential, as at the time the areas two top clubs, Crooked Stick and Meridian Hills had extensive membership waiting lists.  Troon Golf then introduced Landscapes Unlimited, the largest golf course construction company in the world.  Bill Kubly, owner of Landscapes Unlimited, was very interested in the project and in August of 2000 Landscapes Unlimited, Troon Golf and University Golf Development formed the Sagamore Club LLC to begin planning the development of the project. 

Once the golf development team was assembled, Mark contacted his friend and former Nicklaus Design client Bob Kolb, President of The Melrose Company, a golf residential developer located at Hilton Head, South Carolina.  After researching the local housing market, Melrose determined there was significant pent up demand for quality golf residential product and decided to join the project in the capacity of residential developer by forming Sagamore Development Company, LLC. 

In January of 2001, Sagamore Club LLC and Sagamore Development LLC set pre development pre sales requirements of 25 Founder Members, 125 Charter Members and 48 Lots in order to start construction.  The club held its first prospective Founder Member reception in February of 2001 and by the end of March had secured commitments from 35 Founder Members.  From these Founder Members came recommendations for Charter Memberships to the extent that by July of 2001, The Sagamore Club had 130 Charter Members.  During this same time period the Sagamore Development Company had pre-sold 77 lots.

Jack Nicklaus made his first visit to the property on July 3^rd, 2001.  More than 600 people and virtually the entire central Indiana news media attended the event.  When Jack first saw the layout and walked the course he determined that the front nine holes tended to play against the natural contour of the land resulting in too many up hill, blind golf shots.  This caused a bit of a ruckus amongst the lot owners that were pre-sold.  Mark approached Jack to reconsider switching the direction of the front nine in favor of staying with the existing plan.  At which time Jack told Mark he had two choices…to change the plans as he directed or find someone else to design the course.  Jack was correct.  The direction of the front nine was changed. 

Ground was broken on October 3^rd, 2001.  Over a hundred people attended the ceremony, which was extensively covered by the central Indiana media.  The back nine was the first to open in July of 2003 followed by the front nine a month later.  “The Walk with Jack” Ceremony to open the golf course took place on August 19, 2003.  Jack conducted a press conference, gave the members a short instructional clinic and played the first complete round at The Sagamore Club.  Members and guests totaling more than 400 people in addition to TV, Newspaper and Radio media attended the event.  In an interview following play Jack said, “These are the best greens I have ever played, anybody would die for greens this good in year 4 or 5…to have it in year one is something special.”

The Sagamore Club has truly distinguished itself among the best new private clubs in America.  In addition to recognition by Golf Digest, the golf course has enjoyed rave reviews from golf enthusiasts and golf media across the Midwest.  But even more than the tremendous golf course and fine club facilities, the membership has been perhaps the most outstanding feature of the Club.  Our membership is comprised of families from all walks of life who have a love of two things, golf and community.  Our members rave about the companionship of our club and how comfortable the club feels to new members and members’ guests.  The initial vision of The Sagamore Club was a club where everyone is welcome, and everyone should feel comfortable.  As we say here at The Sagamore Club, the course is spectacular but our membership is truly outstanding.