River Ranch Golf Resort: The Next Unicorn Destination in the Pacific Northwest

The unicorn, a creature once found only in fantasy and fairytales, has now galloped into the adult world. It’s been a familiar term in tech for a while, meaning a privately held startup worth over a billion dollars.

But recently, “unicorn” has also appeared in golf architecture.

David McLay Kidd used the term this week when talking about his newest project,announced Wednesday: River Ranch Golf Resort,a developing destination in southwest Washington. “When I first walked the property at River Ranch, I knew I’d found another unicorn,” he said in a statement with the announcement.

Architects rarely criticize a site they’re hired to work on, but this one really does seem special.

Located on bluffs overlooking the Snake River near Pasco, the property has everything golf course designers dream of: lots of natural movement in the land, stunning views, and sandy soil perfect for fescue grass. Ancient floods shaped the terrain, and winds sweep through the river corridor – elements McLay Kidd plans to incorporate into his course design, which is expected to open in August 2027.

this project is part of a larger boom in golf course progress, especially for luxury resorts and private clubs. It also strengthens the Scottish-born architect’s connection to the Pacific Northwest, which began over 25 years ago with Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast.That property was a unicorn itself. Many people thought developer mike Keiser’s plans for a remote resort were too unrealistic to succeed. McLay Kidd than settled in the Pacific Northwest, in Bend, ore., where he designed Tetherow. Now, he’s back working on another rare and promising site, four hours north.

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