Betting on the future of golf – and winning

Blake Walker, Founder & CEO of Arcis Golf, shares how he built one of the largest and most innovative golf course portfolios in the country. Broadcasting from Augusta during the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the conversation explores how golf is evolving beyond the course into a full lifestyle experience.

Blake breaks down Arcis’ “four pillars” strategy—combining golf, hospitality, wellness, and programming—to attract a younger, more diverse audience. He also dives into his journey from finance to operator, lessons from failure during the financial crisis, and the importance of culture, humility, and hiring the right people.

From subscription-based golf models to social media’s impact on the game, this episode is a masterclass in rethinking a legacy industry for the modern consumer.

In This Episode

[01:03] Meet Blake Walker – Founder of Arcis Golf and industry leader

[02:00] Augusta National Women’s Amateur – Growing the game through women’s golf

[03:22] The Arcis Golf Vision – Building a national, multi-tiered golf portfolio

[06:05] A Lifestyle Company – Beyond golf: hospitality, family, and experience

[08:44] The Four Pillars Strategy – Culinary, programming, lifestyle, wellness

[09:52] Expanding the Experience – Cowboys Golf Club & Greyhawk innovations

[12:09] Hiring & Culture – Why people are everything

[13:50] Arcis Axioms – Humility, gratitude, and values-driven leadership

[18:08] Early Career Journey – KSL Capital, ClubCorp, and mentorship

[22:26] First Startup & Financial Crisis – Lessons from failure

[26:00] Taking the Leap – Leaving stability to build Arcis Golf

[32:22] Subscription Model Explained – Creating sticky customer relationships

[37:17] Social Media & Golf – YouTube creators reshaping the game

[39:00] The Future of Golf Courses – Short courses, gamification, accessibility

[43:10] Revenue Mix Evolution – Wellness, F&B, and experience-driven growth

[47:16] Scaling the Business – Bigger bets, fewer deals

[49:00] Developing Future Leaders – The Ascend program

Guest Resources

Learn more about Arcis Golf

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Our Presenting Sponsor is ⁠⁠Lynn, Pinker, Hurst & Schwegmann. ⁠⁠ To learn more visit: https://www.lynnllp.com. And thank you for your support.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Clay Cooley Automotive⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Arcis Golf⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Editing and Support by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠