The 1,688-acre Wolf Point Ranch in Port Lavaca includes a seaside links course that has been called “the St. Andrews of Texas” and has been played by fewer than 200 people since it was built in 2008. The property has been listed for $11.5 million and will now be opened to bidding. A private airport long enough to land a 737, a 2,000-sq. ft. course-side clubhouse and two “pet” camels can also be part of the package.
Al Stanger had a dream: to play golf every day of his life, according to the Robb Report. So he built his own private, world-class 18-hole course on his 1,688-acre Texas Gulf Coast ranch in Port Lavaca and did just that—he played every day, usually just himself and a buddy.
Designed by course architects Mike Nuzzo and Don Mahaffey, the links at Stanger’s Wolf Point Club have been ranked among the top 150 in the world and, with its seaside location, earned the nickname “the St. Andrews of Texas,” according to the Robb Report. But it was always private, and it’s been played by fewer than 200 people since its completion in 2008.
Now, three years after Stanger’s death at age 79 following a fall, Wolf Point Club is heading to auction, at no reserve. Concierge Auctions will open bidding on February 24, culminating in a live auction in Dubai on February 27, according to the Robb Report.
“This is a rare opportunity to own one of the most exclusive golf courses in America, with amenities that are beyond remarkable,” said Rick Doak, a broker with Republic Ranches, which previously had the property listed for $11.5 million.
Those amenities, according to the Robb Report, also include a private 5,000-ft. paved runway (long enough to land a Boeing 737), along with a 13,000-sq. ft., climate-controlled hangar. According to Doak, Stanger’s passion for golf was exceeded only by his wife Dianna’s passion for flying. “My late husband and I had a deal. He could only buy me gifts with an engine,” she said in a recent interview.
Open the hangar doors and chances are you’ll still see Dianna’s impressive collection of aircraft—including her six-seat Beechcraft Premier 1A jet, Czech Aero L-39 Albatros trainer jet and vintage 1942 Waco UPF-7 biplane. But they are not part of the sale, according to the Robb Report.
The Stangers—who built up Electro-Methods Inc., a jet-engine parts manufacturing company in Connecticut—spared no cost in the construction of the truly private airport, according to the Robb Report. The runway was built to full Texas Department of Transportation specifications, and the immaculate hangar serves up both 100LL and Jet A aviation fuel.
Well away from the runway is the ranch’s main home, a 7,200-sq. ft., ultra-modern manse that sits on an elevated plot overlooking a man-made, 12-acre lake and the golf course, according to the Robb Report. The steel-frame building, with three dramatic arched roofs, is constructed to withstand the powerful hurricanes that have been known to rattle that part of the Texas Gulf Coast (Port Lavaca is about 70 miles northwest of Corpus Christi).
Despite its size, the home has just two en suite bedrooms, with most of the spacious, open-plan living areas laid out beneath vaulted wood ceilings and exposed curved beams.
A commercial-grade kitchen marks the heart of the home with its stainless-steel, stone and wood finishes. Outside there’s a large patio and infinity pool, while beneath the house is an expansive garage with plenty of room for golf carts, according to the Robb Report.
Stanger’s favorite hangout, though, was the ranch’s course-side clubhouse, according to the Robb Report. The 2,000-sq. ft. space includes a cozy bar, card game tables and his and hers locker rooms.
“What’s really special about Wolf Point Club is its location right on Carancahua Bay. There’s over 100 acres right on the water, which makes it a perfect fishing destination,” said Doak.
One negotiation point with the upcoming sale is likely to be . . . the camels, according to the Robb Report. Dianna Stanger still owns two as pets, and they’re currently hanging out on the property.
“I’m sure they’re negotiable and could be included in a Non-Realty Items Addendum,” Doak said. “I’d hate for anyone to not ‘get over the hump’ by thinking they’re included.”
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