Club announces partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs

SARASOTA, Fla. – Feb. 3, 2006 – Legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio unveiled his latest Florida gem last week during grand opening ceremonies at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, Sarasota attended by over 300 members and guests, course representatives and local dignitaries.

"I’m ecstatic with the results of this golf course," Fazio said. "This has been a special project from the very beginning and when you see the variation in hole elevation and the placement of numerous lakes and water features, I think you can see we have created a special golf course."

Fazio was joined in the unveiling ceremony by the ownership of The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota; and Jim McManemon, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Sarasota resident and television sports personality Dick Vitale; television golf commentator Jennifer Mills who served as the emcee; Ezzat Coutry, Senior Vice President of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC; C. Robert Buford representing

In a special presentation to Boys and Girls Clubs chapters of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, it was announced that the golf course would be donated one day per year for each of the next three years in order for the charity to host a fund-raising golf tournament. In addition, a significant contribution was made by the ownership group and subsequently, matched by Fazio, who is a member of the National Board of Trustees for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the USA.

The Members Golf Club is a private 18-hole facility, available only for the use of Members of The Ritz-Carlton Members Club and guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. It is a par 72, located on 315 acres of tropical landscape. The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club has been strategically sculpted by moving nearly 1.9 million cubic yards of earth to create elevation, relief, contouring and framing for each hole in a manner that gracefully rolls among the 12 picturesque lakes and extensive landscape to form a fair and memorable test of golf.

There are six sets of tees designed to provide maximum playability without sacrificing strategy or beauty, with yardage ranging from 7,417 to 5,175. "This will be a high-end, dramatic, distinctive golf club that will be the type of course that all levels of players will enjoy," Fazio said. "It has that ‘want-to-come back’ feeling . when you can’t wait to play it again."

Amenities include The Ritz-Carlton’s innovative Caddie Concierge program and a two-level practice range, with two chipping greens and two putting greens. The clubhouse — overlooking holes 1, 10, 9 and 18 — is to open in 2007, complete with a golf shop, grill restaurant, lounge and separate, attendant-serviced men’s and women’s locker rooms.

For additional information access the website at www.rcmcsarasota.com or via phone at (941) 309-2600.

Contact:
Karen Moraghan

Hunter Public Relations — Special Events

11 West Fox Hill Road

Long Valley, NJ 07853

Tel: (908) 876-5100

Email: kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com