Lifestyle Visionary Michael Meldman

By: Franҫoise Rhodes

In the early days of country club living, it was all about the golf. For the golfer in the family this was a dream come true. However that wasn’t always the case for the non-golfing family members, they desired a community offering a lifestyle for the entire family, and so did Michal Meldman the founder of Discovery Land Company, the original creator of exclusive luxury lifestyle communities that embrace family first and the incredible outdoors second.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona, the unwavering foundations that shaped Meldman’s life from childhood to success are family and the outdoors. After graduating California’s Stanford University in 1982, Meldman began his residential real estate career in the Bay Area of Northern California. However it wasn’t until 1994 that he launched Discovery Land Company with his first development, The Estancia Club, in his home town of Scottsdale.

Now, with over 35 private luxury communities under the Discovery Land Company flagship, where did this concept derive from? “Family,” states Meldman who is married to Christy Nichols, whom he met at Stanford, and together has three sons, Hunter, Will and Max. “My driving passion will always be family. I strive daily to create an environment for my family that fosters connections, memories, and most importantly – fun. This was my primary motivation with Discovery too; our communities are a place for families to come together to spend their days doing whatever they want and having a blast together while doing it.”

“I’m an outdoorsman at heart,” shares Meldman. “ I love skiing, fishing, hiking, and spending time in nature with my family. I also enjoy playing paddle and pickleball with friends. Our Outdoor Pursuits program originated from my sons and I spending time in Montana, where they learned to tie their own fishing flies, wakeboard, go white water rafting, ski, venturing into the wilderness with a backpack, and camp out. It brought my family so much joy that we made those types of outdoor experiences a core aspect of every Discovery Club, embracing the local activities and culture is essential to what we do.”

A key component of Discovery Land Company’s success is the outdoors and the locations of each community. From Montana to Hawaii, Costa Rica to New York, California to Scotland, Meldman’s eye for the native beauty of each property is a testament of his love for the outdoors. “Every project evolves and is custom-designed to the environment and culture of the area we’re in. We are incredibly thoughtful in our design to ensure that each project feels like a natural part of its surroundings,“ explains Meldman.

Community members are encouraged to experience Mother Nature with the help of the onsite Outdoor Pursuits program, their own personal adventure concierge that tailors the itinerary to the member’s requests. Whether it is archery, zip lining, biking, surfing, horseback riding, or unique adventures based on what the areas offer, Outdoor Pursuits plans it all, members just show up and enjoy the experience.

Considering that all of Meldman’s projects feature spectacular world class and fun golf courses, golf isn’t the first thing he mentions. With a smile Meldman explains, “I developed a passion for golf later in life, in fact I didn’t actually begin playing golf until after I started Discovery. During the first 15 years of my career, I didn’t golf at all: it was just a means that helped sell real estate. I think my initial detachment from traditional golf helped shape the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere that has become a hallmark of golf at Discovery, which is focused around creating social, family-friendly communities rather than adhering to traditional, golf-centric developments.“

“My sons had a large role with the more relaxed concept “ says Meldman, “I wanted to teach my kids how to golf when they were young, but it was a struggle getting them to wear collared shirts. Instead of fighting with them I finally decided to change the traditional ‘rules’ of golf and make it fun. I let them wear t-shirts or bathing suits, and we would blast rock and roll on the driving range.”

You’ll find Meldman out on the course at all of his properties, especially with family and friends. One of the few traditions in opening a new course is Meldman having the course record, “I have to have the course record for every course I open even though it only lasts for one putt, because as soon as the next guy putts out, he usually beats me,” Meldman says with a laugh. Favorite golf equipment, “I love my LA Golf Shafts and my Sun Mountain golf bags.”

With the continued success of Discovery Land Company as the unrivaled leader in luxury real
Estate with over $15 billion in sales and with properties in over ten countries and expanding their portfolio to the world’s most attractive destinations across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, Meldman does find time for new endeavors such as Casamigos Tequila. “Casamigos was created from our desire to enjoy the best tequila,” recalls Meldman. “At the time, there wasn’t a truly great, affordable tequila on the market, so George (Clooney), Rande (Gerber), and I set out to create the smoothest, best-tasting tequila, one that didn’t need salt or lime. It wasn’t just about creating a product but crafting an experience people would enjoy sipping and sharing with friends, which is why Casamigos resonated with so many.” Resonate it did, in 2017 Casamigos Tequila was sold to Diageo for $1 billion.

Today Meldman continues to actively invest in leading lifestyle brands with a focus on golf, apparel, and wellness consumer goods. However with very little fanfare and an immense sense of pride in 2007 Meldman also established the Discovery Land Company Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed more than $17.6 million to numerous local community organizations focused on families, education, and community engagement.

When asked how he would describe Discovery Land Company at a social event Meldman becomes thoughtful and replies, ”The idea is that arriving at a Discovery Land Company property should feel like coming home to a place you know and love while enjoying world-class service. You never have to worry about a thing, and never have to bring anything, everything is there. All you have to do is simply show-up and have a good time!”

With a home at almost every community, Meldman is easy to spot out and about on any given day. “I spend significant time throughout the year at many of our properties because I’m deeply involved in the development and ongoing evolution of each club,” says Meldman. “Being onsite allows me to ensure that every community we create maintains its unique character and meets the high standards that our members expect. And for me, it’s all about being part of the community, engaging with residents and staff, and continuously refining the experience to make sure it aligns with the vision of Discovery.”

A vision of combining family, the outdoors and luxury has come full circle for Meldman’s Discovery Land Company and with this success, the future of luxury living is thriving.