October 11, 2007
Marriott Golf Recognizes 2006 Golf Award Winners
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators and the world’s largest resort golf management company, recently announced the winners of the 2006 Marriott Golf Awards, which are given to properties based on performance excellence for current and previous years in various categories, including sales performance, round improvements, program development, personnel development, leadership and more.
Highlighting the awards ceremony was the announcement that Son Antem Golf Club, at Mallorca Marriott Son Antem Golf Resort & Spa, in Mallorca, Spain, was recognized as the 2006 Marriott Golf Property of the Year. Outstanding performance in golf sales, as well as consistent performance in recent years, helped secure this award for Son Antem. In addition, other criteria considered for this award include exceptional turf grass and course conditions, and the successful development of innovative programs.
Darrin Helfrick, Golf General Manager at the renowned Doral Golf Resort & Spa, in Miami, Florida, was named Golf Operations Manager of the Year. Helfrick is responsible for day-to-day management of the entire golf operation at Doral, which features five championship golf courses, six retail outlets on-site, the Jim Mclean Golf School, more than 900 members, and much more. In addition, Helfrick has played an integral role in overseeing recent renovations to the courses, including the “New Look” Greg Norman designed Great White Course, and the famed Blue Monster Course, which has hosted a PGA TOUR event for the past 45 years, and is now home to the CA World Golf Championship.
For the second consecutive year, Anthony Williams, Golf Course Superintendent at Stone Mountain Golf Club, in Stone Mountain Georgia, received the award for Golf Grounds Manager of the Year. In his continuing dedication to environmental causes, Williams has certified Stone Mountain as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and has also been recognized as the overall winner of the prestigious Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America (GCSAA)/ Golf Digest’s Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards (ELGA), which recognizes golf courses and superintendents worldwide for their commitment to environmental stewardship.
About Marriott Golf
Marriott Golf manages 63 golf courses at 47 locations in 15 countries, offering more than 1,000 holes of championship golf. Marriott has been managing golf operations since 1970, is one of the world’s premier golf operators, and is the world’s largest resort golf management organization. Marriott provides golf management and consulting services to a variety of operational environments including resort, private club, daily fee, golf school and franchises. For more information, visit www.marriottgolf.com.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2006 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE®. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Partner. In fiscal year 2006, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $12.2 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.