Golf Awards For The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

MARANA, Ariz. – Jan. 11, 2010 – On the eve of its first anniversary, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain is honored to have received significant awards that position it among the most desirable golf destinations in the United States.

The whirlwind year started with The Ritz-Carlton opening its Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course on Jan. 17, 2009, followed only six weeks later by the World Golf Championships-Accenture World Match Play Championship. That was merely the debut of the 27-hole facility, which went on to earn rankings on the following:
• GOLF magazine “Best New Public Courses (2009)
• Golfweek magazine “Best New Courses” (2009)
• Golfweek magazine “Best Resort Golf Courses” (2010)
• LINKS magazine “Best For Resort Lifestyle” (2009)
• Golf. Inc. magazine “First Place, Clubhouse Competition, Private Clubs (2009)
Also, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain became only the second golf course in the Tucson region to be designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. It is one of only 11 courses in Arizona to receive the honor and among the 794 courses now listed by Audubon International.

“These have been exciting and important achievements for The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain,” said Allan Federer, General Manager of the resort. “Each award and ranking is the result of a substantial amount of hard work and concentration. I want to thank the entire golf staff for their efforts and congratulate them on these honors.”

The most recent honor was as a result of Golf Inc. magazine’s annual clubhouse competition. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain won first place for Private Clubs and will be formally recognized at the Golf Inc. Spring Conference.

Moreover, this all developed while The Ritz-Carlton was in the process of completing its new resort hotel and spa, which opened for guests Dec. 18, 2009.

The centerpiece of the resort is The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, where Nicklaus has integrated solid strategy, variety and fair shot values that harmonize with the high desert elevation of 2,300 to 3,000 feet. Large greens with significant undulation, wide fairways and carries over desert washes define each course. The bunkering varies from classic, pot-style obstacles to expansive areas that stretch close to 80 yards along the edges of the fairways. The golf courses feature Bentgrass greens, while the tees, fairways and rough are Bermuda (with perennial rye overseed), ideal for the desert climate.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain also features a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse with all of the services expected from a luxury private club including tennis courts, fitness center, steward-serviced private locker rooms, and a double-ended practice facility. The clubhouse includes indoor and outdoor dining venues with spectacular views, including Cayton’s, a casual but refined restaurant named for legendary Dove Mountain homesteader and cowboy poet Eugene “Cush” Cayton, serving American comfort cuisine with a Southwestern flair.

While the golf courses eventually will be accessible only by resident members and resort guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, it will be available to the public on a limited basis in 2010. Reservations are accepted 30 days in advance through the golf shop, (520) 572-3500. Also visit www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
Nestled in the high Sonoran Desert is an invigorating playground where the adventurous can explore the lush desert along the Tortolitas Mountains and majestic Saguaro forest. The 850 acre property features a 250 room hotel, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, destination spa and luxury homes at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. The resort also features adventure programming, world class hiking, and is home to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships each spring in its striking canyon setting. This is a place where adventure and a gracious spirit of hospitality come to life. For reservation information, please call 1-800-241-3333 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 72 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe with future openings including Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates; Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona; and Lake Tahoe, California. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information, or reservations, please contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com.