In 1986, Gay Davis and Marv French were shown of farmland in rural Washington County just north of North Plains. The same day they looked at the property they made an offer and by late in 1987 they had an option for the property. Then in 1989 Pumpkin Ridge Partners was formed with French, Davis, and Barney Hyde. Next, in 1991 the group secured additional financing by bringing in Shigeru Ito as a 50-50 partner. The Japanese investor from Nagoya financed the $20 million golf club.