SUN CITY – Sun City’s Whisper Creek Golf Course was part of a recent merger and acquisition hole-in-one in the world of golf course conglomerates.
Billy Casper Golf Management was cofounded in 1989 in a partnership with three-time major championship winner Billy Casper, who died in 2015. Casper won The Masters in 1970 and the US Open in 1959 and 1966. The company changed its name to Indigo Golf Partners in November 2020. This name change came about as the result of a lawsuit between Mrs. Shirley Casper, the Trustee of the Billy Casper Trust, and Billy Casper Golf Management.
Whisper Creek Golf has been managed by Billy Casper Golf Management for more than a decade and was recently acquired by Billy Casper Golf Management.
Indigo Golf Partners is one of the largest golf course management companies in the United States. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, the company owns and operates more than 160 golf courses, country clubs and resorts in 29 states. Locally Indigo Golf Partners also manages the Cook County Forest Preserve golf courses.
The new Indigo Golf Partners employs nearly 7,000 people at facilities that range from municipal courses to high-end resorts and private clubs. Its management services include the full gamut of course operation such as staffing, food and beverage, golf instruction, tee time services and marketing.
As of January 4, 2021, Sun City’s Whisper Creek golf course is now under new ownership as Troon Golf has acquired Indigo Golf Partners.
Troon president and CEO Tim Schantz said, “This transaction supports our continued growth and reach in the industry, while bringing additional support, expertise and resources to associates as well as current and prospective clients.”
Troon, already the world’s largest golf management company, substantially increases its portfolio of facilities with the acquisition of Indigo Golf Partners. Troon now provides managed services at 630 golf courses around the world.
Whisper Creek was designed by Billy Casper and Greg H. Nash. The front nine opened in 2000 with what is now holes 10 to 18. The original back 9 opened in 2001. The nines were later swapped to the current routing so that the finishing hole would be at the Prairie Lodge and near the Golf Shop.
