Industry Veteran Brings 27 Years Experience in Golf Operations, Including Managing Multiple Top-Tier Courses
(COPPEROPOLIS, Calif.) – Saddle Creek Resort – the gated, 900-acre Castle & Cooke golf community in the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills – today announces Bob Higgins has been named General Manager.
A PGA member and industry veteran with more than 27 years experience, Higgins will oversee operations, budgeting and personnel for Saddle Creek Resort’s nationally-ranked, Carter Morrish-designed golf course, award-winning Copper Grille restaurant, and 17 on-course rental bungalows available to guests and members. He’ll also be responsible for developing innovative stay-play-and-dine packages and enhancing guest experiences through resort amenities and activities.
Higgins most recently served as General Manager at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore, Calif., from 2001-2009. His duties included developing and implementing an annual financial plan, ensuring all guest expectations were met and working closely with community and business leaders to promote the facility. Prior to this Higgins served as Director of Golf at both Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif., and Princeville Golf Club on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
“We are very excited to welcome Bob to Saddle Creek Resort,” says Eric Jacobsen, Vice President of Golf Properties at Castle & Cooke. “His extensive background in the industry and numerous achievements speak to his hard-work and vast knowledge of facility operations.”
Since opening in 1996, Saddle Creek has emerged and cemented itself as one of Northern California’s premier golf resorts. In addition to its highly-decorated, Carter Morrish-designed golf course, the property features a full-service, chef-driven restaurant (The Copper Grille), 17 course-side bungalows, miles of hiking trails, and a sports center with tennis courts and swimming pool.
For more information about the resort, real estate or to book golf packages, visit www.saddlecreek.com or call 800.611.7722.
About Saddle Creek Resort
Situated in the rolling foothills of the Central Sierra region just two hours from the Bay area and 1.5 hours from Sacramento, Saddle Creek Resort is located in the heart of the emerging Copper Valley. Golfers will discover stunning vistas of the towering Sierra Mountains to the east, while an ethereal collection of shimmering lakes, native trees, indigenous grasses and 100 bunkers provides a challenging, thought-provoking experience from tee to green. To create an atmosphere of tranquility and isolation, golf course architect Carter Morrish devised a routing in which no two holes run parallel to each other.
Saddle Creek’s thoughtful design, challenging-yet-fair setup and sublime conditioning have led to numerous state-wide and national accolades including:
• Fairways & Greens, “Signature 36, No. 16”
• Golf Digest, “4 1/2 Stars”
• Golf Digest, “Best New Upscale”
• GOLF Magazine, “One of America’s Most Underrated Courses”
• Golfweek, “Best Residential Golf Course”
• Golfweek, “Best You Can Play” No. 18 in California
• GOLF Magazine, “No. 12 Public Access Course in California”
• T+L Golf, “America’s Best 100 Courses for $100 or Less”
• ZAGAT Survey, “America’s Top Golf Courses”
• Sacramento Magazine, “Best Golf Holes of Northern California”
About Saddle Creek Residential
Saddle Creek’s diverse and award-winning real estate blends resort and residential atmospheres. Custom homesites start just under $200,000 and residential opportunities range (home and lot) from the $500s to more than $1 million. Builder close-outs, financial incentives and the astounding value make this the ideal time for prospective buyers to convert to year-round or seasonal ownership. Boasting views of small lakes and oak-covered hills, these picturesque homes serve as countryside retreats and make for the ideal escape for residents in the Bay Area, San Jose and Sacramento — all between 1.5 and two hours away.
Each neighborhood at Saddle Creek is carefully planned to complement and augment the golf course. Architectural design guidelines ensure each home is unique and blends with the overall residential theme. Recent real estate releases include: Quail Creek, estate and custom homesites with beautiful views of the nearby hillsides and valleys (from under $200,000); Luxury Custom Homes, offered by Castle & Cooke and other custom home builders with elevations available upon request (from the low $900,000s); and Copper Glen – The Foothill Collection of Country Homes, featuring six plans and 19 elevations (from just under $500,000) with club membership incentives.
Saddle Creek Resort is owned and operated by Castle & Cooke, Inc. that, along with its affiliated companies, has operations in over 24 states and 90 countries. The company’s diversified businesses include the development and ownership of real estate, leasing of transportation equipment, manufacture of brick and ownership of public warehouses. The company’s real estate developments include master planned communities such as Mililani Town on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, Lake Sherwood in Thousand Oaks, California, and Seven Oaks in Bakersfield, California. The company also owns two of the world’s highest-rated resorts on the 98% owned island of Lana’i in Hawaii
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
Bill Feidler
Buffalo Communications
703.615.4034
bfeidler@billycasperogolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
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