The Ehlert Story
Leisha Ehlert is CEO of Travis Club and Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Development at Castle Hill Partners.
She leads development and operations for active investments and oversees feasibility and due diligence for acquisition opportunities. Her work spans contract negotiation, entitlements, design development, financing, and disposition.
Before joining Castle Hill Partners, she spent seven years with Simmons Vedder Partners managing development across industrial, office, student housing, detached condo, and master-planned community projects.
She earned a BBA in Finance, cum laude, from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. At Travis Club, she is helping lead the creation of a 1,500-acre private golf and lake community on Lake Travis.
The Ehlert Journey
Early in my career, I realized that what drew me most to real estate development was the transformation itself — the journey from an idea on paper to a real place where people gather, live, and create memories. That realization has stayed with me through every chapter of my work and continues to shape how I approach every project today.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work across a wide range of product types, from industrial and office to student housing, detached condos, and master-planned communities. What I learned from that experience is that the best projects are never just about buildings or amenities. They are about creating places that feel authentic, thoughtful, and lasting.
I approach Travis Club the same way. This is an extraordinary piece of land on Lake Travis, and from the beginning it was clear that the opportunity here was much bigger than building a golf course or a neighborhood. The real opportunity is to create a community that brings together golf, lake life, trails, dining, wellness, and family experiences in a way that feels true to the Hill Country.
What excites me most is the chance to help shape something that people will not only admire, but genuinely love being part of. My goal is to help create a club experience that is memorable, welcoming, and grounded in both quality and stewardship — a place that feels special from the first visit and continues to deepen over time.
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What was the genesis for the Travis Club?
The genesis was a rare piece of land and a long-term vision to create something that truly honors it.
Travis Club grew from the idea that Lake Travis, the Hill Country, and great golf could be brought together in a private, family-oriented community that feels authentic to the setting rather than imposed on it.
The greater Austin area is going through a major lift-off with various new clubs either already opened or set to do so. There are also a number of clubs going through various upgrades. What do you attribute to this spike and how long do you see this lasting?
I think it is the result of several forces lining up at once: Austin’s continued growth, sustained interest in golf, and a much broader definition of what people now want from a club.
People are not just looking for a course; they want community, wellness, family programming, dining, and a true lifestyle component.
I believe this momentum will continue for years, although the clubs with real differentiation and the discipline to execute at a high level will be the ones standing out most over time.
How does Travis Club differentiate itself from others looking to make their mark in golf in the greater Austin area?
We are not trying to be golf-only, and we are not trying to be everything to everyone.
Travis Club is centered on a Beau Welling golf course, but what makes it distinctive is the combination of world-class golf, Lake Travis frontage, trails, marina access, outdoor adventure, dining, wellness, and a genuinely family-centric club culture — all within one very special landscape.
Travis Club is the handiwork of architect Beau Welling. What was the key factor in hiring him?
Fit.
Beau understood immediately that the land should lead the design.
He brings exceptional design credibility, but just as important, he shares our desire to create a course that is strategic, memorable, beautiful, and enjoyable to play again and again.
The total number of acres for the overall property and the golf course alone is what?
The overall property spans 1,500 acres.
The golf course is an 18-hole layout designed with an intentionally reduced footprint, using approximately 70 to 80 acres of continuous turf.
Is the club looking to stage high-profile professional tournaments at some point?
Our near-term focus is on delivering an exceptional private club experience for members and allowing the course to mature the right way. The design certainly gives us flexibility for competitive play, but hosting high-profile professional events is not the priority today.
Who is the specific person you are seeking as a member?
We are looking for members who appreciate the full experience — people who love golf, the outdoors, the water, an extraordinary culinary experience, family time, and being part of a real community.
The ideal member is someone who values camaraderie and place as much as access.
Many facilities tout the importance of customer / member service. Define the term and the approach followed to be followed at Travis Club.
To us, service means making members and their families feel known, welcomed, and cared for before they ever need to ask.
The approach at Travis Club will be warm, anticipatory, polished, and personal — high standards without stiffness, and consistency without losing the human touch.
The biggest challenges facing Travis Club – short and long term are what? And what strategic responses are you implementing to deal with both?
In the short term, the challenge is execution — delivering golf, homes, amenities, and service at the level people expect from a project like this.
Over the long term, the challenge is preserving the quality of the experience as the community grows, especially around culture, stewardship, and consistency.
Our response is disciplined phasing, strong operational leadership, thoughtful land planning, and a constant focus on protecting what makes this place special.
Best advice you ever received — what was it and who was it from?
I have absorbed the idea from Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality that truly memorable experiences come from going beyond what is expected.
That principle resonates with me because it applies directly to how we want people to feel at Travis Club.
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For more info on Travis Club click HERE
