Golf Architect Rees Jones To Speak At Club Summit On Funding Renovations

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA, USA (May 10, 2016) – Golf course architect Rees Jones, nicknamed “The Open Doctor” for his work on numerous major championship venues, will be a key figure in a panel discussion on club renovations this summer at the Club Summit for Golf, Sports and Spa/Fitness Management. The event, organized by the Club Spa and Fitness Association, the Florida Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America and the U.S. Professional Tennis Association, is scheduled for July 31-August 3 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

Jones will be part of a panel discussion on Tuesday, August 2 from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., on the topic, “A Case Study: How To Get Club Membership To Buy Into A Multi-Million Dollar Renovation.” Joining Jones on the panel will be Brian Idle, the President of architecture and interior design services firm Peacock + Lewis; and Jason Fiscus, the general manager of Tulsa Country Club, Tulsa, Okla.

“Within the golf course design industry, having the ability to recreate from the existing design has long been just as important as building a new course from the ground up,” Jones said. “Our focus is to create design solutions that help streamline the maintenance process while preserving design integrity and improving the overall player experience. The same model has recently held true for the architectural and social aspects of private clubs as they determine how to remain vibrant and envision new areas of focus while making a concerted effort to attract new and younger members. I look forward to discussing and hearing new ideas at the Club Summit, an important step in the industry’s future.”

The golf course design firm of Rees Jones, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Montclair, N.J. The son of World Golf Hall of Fame architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Rees Jones has designed or redesigned more than 170 courses. Among his redesign work are sites for seven U.S. Opens, eight PGA Championships, five Ryder Cups, one Presidents Cup and East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga., the annual site of the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship. Jones’ venues will be featured this year when the PGA Championship is played at Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course) in Springfield, N.J., the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is played at Sahalee Country Club (North/South), Sammamish, Wash., and the Ryder Cup goes to Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn. Additionally, Jones completed work a decade ago on The Breakers hotel’s course, now called The Breakers Rees Jones Course. Recently, The Breakers asked Jones to renovate its second course, the Ocean Course, which is now in the planning stages with work set to begin next year.

Jones is one of seven people (also Robert Trent Jones Sr., Byron Nelson, Michael Hurdzan, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Pete Dye) to win the Donald Ross Award (American Society of Golf Course Architects), the Old Tom Morris Award (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) and the Don A. Rossi Award (Golf Course Builders Association of America).

World Golf Hall of Fame member Gary Player, dubbed “Mr. Fitness” for his lifelong dedication to a healthy lifestyle, will be the keynote speaker on Monday, August 1 from 9:45-11 a.m. Player, a native of South Africa, is the most successful global golfer of all time, with more than 165 professional victories worldwide. He is one of only five men to capture golf’s coveted Career Grand Slam, winning all four of golf’s majors by age 29. He also is the only professional golfer in history to win the Grand Slam on the Senior Tour. In 2015, he celebrated his 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his career Grand Slam achievement.

“Rees Jones’ dedication to the quality of private and public golf facilities and the esteemed reputation of his family make him an iconic figure in assuring that clubs can understand how to be more successful,” said Kevin Caldabaugh, the President of the CSFA and the Fitness Director at John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Fla. “The combination of Mr. Jones and Mr. Player and others participating in our Club Summit offers a fantastic opportunity for attendees to learn from their proven track records.”

“The global experience Mr. Jones has had during his distinguished career, paired with Mr. Player and our other well-versed presenters, is sure to make our conference of club industry professionals one of our greatest opportunities to network and learn how to succeed going forward,” said Jeff Hartigan, CCM, the President of FLCMAA and General Manager/COO of The Oaks Club in Sarasota, Fla.