ACE Group Classic in the News
The ACE Group Classic was a smashing success! Follow the link below to read about the event highlights.
In The News
Chef Chas Tatigian, 2011 ACF Chef of The Year
Please join us in congratulating Mr. Chas Tatigian, The TwinEagles Club Executive Chef,
who has received the 2011 “Chef of Year” award from The American Culinary Federation Caxambas
Chapter of Naples & Marco Island. This prestigious annual award honors the Executive Chef who
reflects the highest level of excellence in all areas of chapter life, serving their members
and their communities, demonstrating the highest standards of professionalism in their career
and in their support of The American Culinary Federation mission statement and development programs.
The American Culinary Federation Caxambas Chapter (ACFCC) of Naples & Marco Island is a non-profit organization and has a membership comprised of culinary, foodservice and hospitality professionals and students. Since 1983, the ACFCC has been dedicated to furthering the Culinary Arts through education, professional achievement, and community service throughout Southwest Florida.
Read More About Chef Chas Tatigan
News-Press.com Photo Gallery: The New Eagle Course
View photos from the Eagle Course ribbon-cutting. (January 3rd, 2012)
Golf: Ribbon-cutting provides first look at TwinEagles' new Eagle course
NAPLES — More pressure: Renovating a golf course that the LPGA Tour’s top players will be competing on, or hitting a ceremonial tee shot to open the course in 50-degree temperatures with a 40 mph wind blowing in your face?
Steve Smyers did both, and he hopes the course is received as well as his tee shot. Smyers, who was part of the 1973 NCAA championship team at the University of Florida, hit a tee shot down the right side of the fairway off No. 1 as the wind howled at the Eagle Course at TwinEagles Club on Tuesday.
LPGA event to drive millions into Naples area economy
NAPLES — The buzz has begun. It will only grow from here. Next year, the local economy will get a multimillion dollar boost from a season-ending LPGA golf tournament, which is being played in Orlando this year.
LPGA Tour event coming to Naples beginning in 2012
NAPLES – The culminating event of the 2012 LPGA Tour season, the CME Group Titleholders, will be played at TwinEagles in Naples Nov. 15 – 18, 2012, tournament officials announced today.
Next November, the Naples community, already rich in golf tradition, will host the world's best female golfers following a season-long qualifying process as they compete for a $1.5 million purse and a $500,000 first-place check.
LPGA announces new event coming to Naples
NAPLES, Fla.- A premier golf event is coming to Naples. The LPGA made the announcement Thursday morning at TwinEagles Golf Club.
The LPGA. commissioner announced they will bring their season-ending event to TwinEagles starting in 2012. They're calling it the CME. Group Titleholders event, meaning the best female golfers in the world will compete all season long to make it into this culminating event here in Naples.
2012 LPGA Tour brings CME Group Titleholders to North Naples
CME Group executive chairman Terry Duffy’s affinity for Southwest Florida goes beyond his personal preference for the area.
In the past four years, his company’s so-named global financial leadership conference in Naples has been a massive hit with clients, an exclusive gathering of premier customers for the 163-year-old, Chicago-based financial giant.
Naples only part of LPGA overhaul
CME Group executive chairman Terry Duffy's affinity for Southwest Florida goes beyond his personal preference for the area.
In the past four years, his company's so-named global financial leadership conference in Naples has been a massive hit with clients, an exclusive gathering of premier customers for the 163-year-old, Chicago-based financial giant.
Photo Gallery » LPGA tour coming to Naples in 2012
News-Press.com: LPGA Titleholders tourney on track to be held at TwinEagles in North Naples in 2012
The LPGA Tour is returning to Southwest Florida. In a big way.
More than 10 years after the area’s last LPGA event folded, Chicago-based investment firm CME Group is prepared to bring the historic, recently revived Titleholders to TwinEagles in North Naples in November 2012.
The event’s likely relocation was first reported by Golfweek magazine Thursday but has not been finalized, said Anthony Solomon, executive vice president of The Ronto Group in Naples, which owns TwinEagles.
“I’d wait for the formal announcement, but we’re close,” he said. “Everybody is really, really excited.”
The return of the LPGA Tour would give Southwest Florida events on the three leading U.S.-based tours, with TwinEagles home for two of them.
NaplesNews.com: Golf: Octagon on track to bring LPGA's Titleholders to TwinEagles in 2012
NAPLES — Octagon is close to bringing the LPGA Tour's CME Titleholders Championship to TwinEagles Club in Naples for 2012.
Golfweek first reported the "likely" move Thursday, and Octagon senior vice president Jeff Kleiber said Saturday that talks were "moving in the right direction. ... We're not done."
"We're in discussions with Jeff and his group, and the LPGA, and we're excited," said Anthony Solomon, executive vice president of The Ronto Group, which took over TwinEagles late last year. "We're hopeful we can get it done. We're going to be really excited to have the event at TwinEagles."
The Champions Tour's ACE Group Classic is returning to TwinEagles, its home from 2002-06, next year for that event's 25th anniversary. The Franklin Templeton Shootout -- Greg Norman's unofficial PGA Tour event -- will mark its 11th year at Tiburon in Naples from Dec. 7-11.
FROM NBC-2.com, WBBH News for Florida:
ACE Group Classic moving back to TwinEagles
Tournament officials are pleased to announce The ACE Group Classic will return for its 25th year in 2012. A multi-year agreement has been made between the ACE Group, the Champions Tour, The TwinEagles Club and the tournament management group at Octagon. The 25th anniversary tournament will take place February 13 – 19, 2012 at The TwinEagles Club.
6/15/2011 - Golf: ACE Group Classic to announce extension, new course Thursday
NAPLES — The ACE Group Classic will announce an extension with its title sponsor and that it will move to TwinEagles at a press conference Thursday morning, Octagon senior vice president Jeff Kleiber confirmed to the Daily News on Wednesday.
Kleiber said more details would be announced at the press conference, which will be held at TwinEagles. Kleiber said on May 24 that final details were being worked out for an extension with the ACE Group of Companies, which has been the title sponsor since 1998.
Naples' Champions Tour golf event will celebrate its 25th year in February 2012. The tournament has been played at The Quarry, just west of TwinEagles on Immokalee Road, the past two years. The tournament has been played at nine different sites, more than any other Champions Tour event, but it will be the first time it has returned to a site where the tournament has previously been played.
The tournament was played at TwinEagles' Talon Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack II, from 2002-06, tying for its longest stint at one course with the Vineyards (1991-1995).
The tournament moved to Quail West after Bonita Bay Group, which then owned TwinEagles, decided not to renew its agreement with the event. The Ronto Group and Angelo, Gordon & Co. purchased TwinEagles from Bonita Bay Group for $11 million in September 2010.
The ACE Group Classic champions at TwinEagles were Hale Irwin (2002), Vicente Fernandez (2003), Craig Stadler (2004), who beat Tom Watson and Gary Koch in a playoff, Mark James (2005) and Loren Roberts (2006).
The past three years, the ACE Group of Companies has been operating on one-year extensions, after agreeing to three-year deals before that.
Bernhard Langer won the 2011 event back in February, and attendance once again topped 100,000 for the week, according to tournament officials. Langer finished four strokes ahead of Fred Funk.
5/29/2011: TwinEagles Inaugurates Construction
of New Course: "The Eagle"
Rough grading and design of all 18 holes is now complete. Also, all 18 greens of the new course have been graded to final specifications prior to sprigging. We are now beginning the final steps of the construction process which include sprigging, sodding, landscaping and the installation of bunker sand. The following are photos taken today of the start of the sodding process around the bunkers on hole #2.
Watch Steve Smyers on the 18th Green:
From the Press Release:
The most anxiously awaited project in the revitalization of the TwinEagles golf community is underway. The Ronto Group is making rapid strides in the construction of their completely re-designed and re-named second golf course, The Eagle. One of the few new courses under construction in the country, The Eagle was designed by Steve Smyers and design associate Patrick Andrews, the team behind several acclaimed courses, including Isleworth in Windermere. “When The Eagle Course is completed, TwinEagles will provide the finest golf experience in southwest Florida,” said Dick McPhail, General Manager, “Combined with The Talon, designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack Nicklaus II, and the Doc Suttie Golf Academy, TwinEagles will be the premier place to live – for those who live to play golf.”
Read More [PDF]...
TwinEagles Hires a Superintendent!
To: TwinEagles membership:
As you know, we have been conducting an extensive search for the new Head Grounds Superintendent for the TwinEagles Club over the past month. This is an important position for our club's team as we work to maintain our courses to championship standards going forward. As a result, I feel that it is important that we communicate our process for this search to you. We initially established a 5 point priority list of minimum criteria for prospective candidates to be considered for the position. We received nearly 100 resumes in response to our detailed posting, and spent a significant amount of time reviewing and discussing each and every individual resume based on the established criteria to identify the most qualified candidates.
Our first criteria was that the successful candidate must have a minimum 4 year college degree in addition to agronomic certifications pertinent to the industry. The second requirement was that the candidate must currently be a Head Superintendent (no assistants would be considered), with a successful proven track record of full responsibility and accountability for his/her current club's course and grounds operations. Included with this requirement we looked for a respected and well educated professional with a solid background in financials, written communication and professional relationships. The candidate must have proven ability to lead staff with a positive management style and a focus on teamwork. We looked for a history of open communication, building team relationships, and actively participating in and achieving the long term goals of their current club’s vision. The third requirement was that the candidate must have achieved and demonstrated job stability with preferably no more than two positions in the past ten years. The fourth requirement was that the candidate must have experienced multi-course operations, and have demonstrated that they understand and can manage the budget, staff and equipment assets efficiently and appropriately. The fifth requirement was that the candidate must have at least five years grounds experience in southern Florida (proven success with bermudagrass turf, unique water and soil demands, as well as disease, weed and pest challenges), with a minimum of four years as the head superintendent in south Florida. As you may imagine, this criteria narrowed the search process significantly; however, we felt that meeting each was critical for the long term success of the candidate and the club.
We are pleased to inform the membership that we have completed our search and interview process, and we know you will join all of us in welcoming Mr. F. Bruce Bach who will be joining our team as Head Grounds Superintendent in mid-October. Mr. Bach not only met all of our requirements and criteria for the position, but he was overwhelmingly endorsed by the turf association professionals and industry experts who provide golf course turfgrass consulting services in our area, out of our very short list of finalists. Mr. Bach earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Richmond (VA). His post graduate work included graduating magna cum laude from Lake City Community College (FL) with Associates Degrees in Golf Course Operations and Turf Equipment Management. He is fully licensed for pesticides/chemicals, and has met the Golf Course Superintendents Association requirements for his Class A designation. He is also a 4 year veteran of the United States Coast Guard. Highlights of Mr. Bach's professional club accomplishments include his successful tenure as Assistant Superintendent at the Landings Club on Skidaway Island, GA, a premiere gated club with six championship courses. His background also includes his tenure as Grounds and Landscape Supervisor for the construction "from dirt" through the first full year of operations for the Daniel Island Club in Charleston, SC, which earned recognition as one of the top 40 golf communities in the U.S. during its debut year of operations. Most recently he has spent the last nine years, with eight years as Head Grounds Superintendent, at the Estero Country Club at the Vines in Estero, FL. He is well respected as a positive teambuilder and has an outstanding personnel retention rate over his entire tenure. Mr. Bach has been able to demonstrate and achieve consistent high quality and superb daily conditioning for all of the tees and greens complexes, fairways, roughs and peripherals. His course is well known for achieving consistent championship levels for daily play, as well as hosting multiple Florida State tournament qualifiers and the U.S. Amateur qualifier. Please welcome Bruce to our TwinEagles family.
Thank You,
Dick McPhail
General Manager
Ronto Group Names Richard J. McPhail General Manager of The TwinEagles Club
Andrea Bach & Dick McPhail
Assistant GM and GM
Richard “Dick” McPhail is well known to many in the area, having gained a local reputation for success as General Manager at both Shadow Wood Country Club and The Commons Club in Bonita Springs, Florida over the past three years, and prior to that in his tenure at Estero Country Club. Mr. McPhail resided for many years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and he managed private country clubs and city/athletic clubs for Dallas-based Club Corporation of America (CCA), the largest owner-operator of private clubs in the world. His experience in the club industry began with 10 years of service at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
McPhail is a graduate of Xavier University and he has earned his CCM designation through the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA). He is an active member of the Everglades Chapter of the Florida CMAA, where he serves as Education Chairman. He is also a popular speaker on various club industry issues and was a featured speaker at the 2009 CMAA National Student Education Conference.
McPhail has also enjoyed an exceptional amateur golf career, with a number of golf achievements, including qualifying for six U.S. Amateur Championships. In addition, he has served as a Golf Digest course rankings panel member since 1981, assisting the magazine in rating and evaluating the "Top 100" courses throughout the country.
In announcing McPhail’s appointment to the position at The TwinEagles Club, Solomon said, "Dick's background, knowledge and respect for the traditions of golf are a great fit for the original vision of TwinEagles as a golfers' country club. His reputation as a general manager, for building great member and staff relationships, and his own high standards for the private club experience will be instrumental in creating a new excitement and an outstanding reputation for The TwinEagles Club. We look forward to his leadership.”
Since 1967, The Ronto Group has pursued a commitment to excellence in residential, commercial, and retail projects from Toronto to the Tropics. With its U.S. headquarters in Naples, The Ronto Group has become internationally recognized for land development and high-rise construction throughout Southwest Florida.
The TwinEagles Club includes two outstanding championship golf courses with wide sweeping vistas of the natural setting of the property from every window of the spacious two story 47,000 square foot Mediterranean style clubhouse. The Talon Course was co-designed by Jack and Jack Nicklaus, Jr. and the Aerie Course is by Gary Player. TwinEagles is also very proud to host the Dr. Jim Suttie Golf Academy, and Dr. Jim Suttie is currently #15 on the prestigious Golf Digest "America's 50 Greatest Teachers" List for 2009-2010, in a field of over 30,000 eligible teachers.
TwinEagles is located on Immokalee Road in Naples, Florida, approximately 3 miles east of Collier Boulevard (SR 951). The master-planned community consists of approximately 1,115 acres, with homes and recreational amenities surrounded by more than 300 acres of open space. For more information on the TwinEagles Club call 239-352-0002.
Ronto Group Names Andrea M. Bach, CCM as Assistant General Manager at The TwinEagles Clu
Naples, Florida – The Ronto Group is pleased to announce that they have completed purchase of the TwinEagles Club, and they have named Mrs. Andrea M. Bach, CCM as Assistant General Manager, according to Mr. Anthony Solomon, Executive Vice President.Mrs. Bach is well respected in the local club community, with a reputation for success as Assistant General Manager at both Shadow Wood Country Club and The Commons Club in Bonita Springs, Florida over the past three years, and prior to that in her tenure at Estero Country Club. Mrs. Bach is originally from Anderson, South Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston, and later resided for several years in Dayton, Ohio, where she earned her Master's Degree at the University of Dayton. She began her club career at the Daniel Island Club in Charleston, SC, and has been working with TwinEagles General Manager/COO Richard J. McPhail, CCM for over ten years.
Mrs. Bach earned her CCM designation through the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), and is an active member of the Everglades Chapter of the Florida CMAA, where she has served as FLCMAA Student Development Co-Chair and Everglades Chapter Student Development Chair, and where she currently serves on the Education Committee. Mrs. Bach has also been a speaker on various club industry issues including presentations to students in the FGCU College of Professional Studies, Resort and Hospitality Management Program, and she was a featured speaker at the 2009 National CMAA National Student Education Conference, which she co-chaired.
In announcing Mrs. Bach’s appointment to the position at The TwinEagles Club, Solomon said, "Mrs. Bach's strong commitment to successful teambuilding and her well known attention to detail in club operations will help us achieve new excitement and an outstanding reputation for The TwinEagles Club. We are excited that she has joined our team.”
The TwinEagles Club is located off Immokalee Road in Naples, just 3 miles east of Collier Blvd, and convenient to everything Naples and SouthWest Florida has to offer. The club boasts two outstanding championship golf courses, and wide sweeping vistas of the property can be enjoyed from every window of the spacious two story 47,000 square foot clubhouse. The Talon is a Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II Signature Course, and the Aerie was designed by Gary Player. For more information on TwinEagles real estate and membership opportunities, please call 239-352-0002.
Scott Newhouse named director of golf at The TwinEagles Club
NAPLES, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2011) – The Ronto Group has appointed Scott Newhouse as director of golf of The TwinEagles Club.
Newhouse most recently served the past ten years at Naples National Golf Club and held the position of director of golf for the last eight years. For nearly a decade, he served as first assistant professional at Royal Wood Golf and Country Club. Early in his career, Newhouse was assistant professional at Peek’n Peak Resort & Spa in Clymer, N.Y.
He has hosted two U.S. Open qualifying events and the annual Terra Cotta Invitational, the flagship event of Naples National, growing it to one of the nation’s top ranked amateur events featuring national and international ranking points.
Newhouse received his Associate Degree in Managerial Finance and Accounting at Jamestown Community College in Jamestown, N.Y., and is active with The Immokalee Foundation, working with the students of Immokalee by using golf to teach life skills.
The TwinEagles community includes the outstanding Talon Course co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus Jr. Its natural setting and vistas can be viewed from every window of the spacious two-story 47,000-square-foot Scottish manor clubhouse. TwinEagles is the winter home of the Suttie Golf Academy with legendary instructor Dr. Jim Suttie, who is currently No.16 on the prestigious Golf Digest America’s 50 Greatest Teachers list for 2009-2010, in a field of more than 30,000 eligible teachers. Suttie’s training employs the principles of biomechanics using state-of-the-art equipment and computer video analysis to improve all facets of the game.
TwinEagles also features two themed botanical parks named for the plant life that gives them their character. The Palmery has more than a dozen species of palms, a hedge maze and shaded seating beneath a vine-wrapped pergola. The Fernery is enclosed by a hedge, has the sky as a ceiling and features dense green ferns, colorful bromeliads and benches surrounding a center fountain.
TwinEagles is located on Immokalee Road in Naples, approximately three miles east of Collier Boulevard (SR 951). The master-planned community consists of approximately 1,115 acres, with homes and recreational amenities surrounded by more than 300 acres of open green space. For more information on the TwinEagles Golf Club, call 239-354-1700.
Homebuyers and Realtors may request additional information or arrange an escorted tour by visiting the TwinEagles Information Center, calling 239-352-8000 or logging onto www.twineagles.com. The information center is located inside the community’s entrance on Immokalee Road seven miles east of I-75.
The Ronto Group announces Chas Tatigian as executive chef of The Club at TwinEagles
NAPLES, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2011) – The Ronto Group has named Chas Tatigian as executive chef of The Club at TwinEagles responsible for all food and beverage operations.
“Chef Tatigian exemplifies the finest qualities of his profession with outstanding creative talent and an extensive knowledge of a variety of cuisines,” said Richard McPhail, general manager of TwinEagles. “His menu design is thoughtful and varied and his food preparation and presentation are excellent. He’s extremely outgoing and will contribute tremendously to the enjoyment of the club’s members and guests.”
Tatigian began his culinary career working in his family’s restaurant in Montreal, Canada in the 1970s. He spent many years in Montreal working in several restaurants, becoming accomplished in all aspects of the culinary arts, restaurants and in the kitchen. He left Canada to join the renowned culinary team at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. During Tatigian’s tenure, he achieved special recognition for his outstanding culinary and managerial talent with two nominations as a Ritz-Carlton Five-Star Manager.
He also founded Custom Cuisine, a luxury private chef catering service for residents of the Naples Gulf Shore area. Tatigian left Naples to accept a position as the executive chef leading the culinary teams at three restaurants in Martha’s Vineyard owned by The Seafood Shanty Restaurant group in Edgartown, Mass.
Tatigian returned to Naples four years ago to accept the position of executive chef/F&B director at the Pelican Bay Foundation where he led a staff of 90 team members in five separate restaurants. He most recently was the executive chef at Rosie Spoonbill’s Restaurant at The Commons Club at The Brooks in Bonita Springs, with more than 3,000 members.
He earned an associate’s degree in business administration from John Abbott College in Montreal and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Concordia University, also in Montreal. He has received his food manager certification in both Massachusetts and Florida, and is also CERT, AED, CPR and first aid trained and certified. In addition to English, Tatigian also speaks French and conversational Spanish and Portuguese. He has been featured as guest chef on an episode of $40 a Day with Rachael Ray on the Food Network.
The TwinEagles community includes the outstanding Talon Course co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus Jr. Its natural setting and vistas can be viewed from every window of the spacious two-story 47,000-square-foot Scottish manor clubhouse. TwinEagles is the winter home of the Suttie Golf Academy with legendary instructor Dr. Jim Suttie, who is currently No.16 on the prestigious Golf Digest America’s 50 Greatest Teachers list for 2009-2010, in a field of more than 30,000 eligible teachers. Suttie’s training employs the principles of biomechanics using state-of-the-art equipment and computer video analysis to improve all facets of the game.
TwinEagles also features two themed botanical parks named for the plant life that gives them their character. The Palmery has more than a dozen species of palms, a hedge maze and shaded seating beneath a vine-wrapped pergola. The Fernery is enclosed by a hedge, has the sky as a ceiling and features dense green ferns, colorful bromeliads and benches surrounding a center fountain.
TwinEagles is located on Immokalee Road in Naples, approximately three miles east of Collier Boulevard (SR 951). The master-planned community consists of approximately 1,115 acres, with homes and recreational amenities surrounded by more than 300 acres of open green space. For more information on the TwinEagles Golf Club, call 239-354-1700.
Homebuyers and Realtors may request additional information or arrange an escorted tour by visiting the TwinEagles Information Center, calling 239-352-8000 or logging onto www.twineagles.com. The information center is located inside the community’s entrance on Immokalee Road seven miles east of I-75.
