Orlando, FL – Only one golf resort in the world features courses designed by Hall of Famers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson – and that’s Reunion Resort in Orlando, FL. And, next May, members of the golf industry will have the opportunity to experience this outstanding destination.
Reunion Resort has been selected to host the 23rd Annual ING Spring Conference, set for May 19-23, 2013. The non-profit International Network of Golf is the industry’s only media-based networking organization. ING is “where the media and golf industry connect.” Anyone in the golf industry and media is invited to join and attend.
Reunion Resort is located only 25 minutes southwest of the Orlando International Airport, and is part of the newly established Grand Golf Resorts of Florida – a Salamander Collection – along with 2011 ING host Innisbrook Resort near Tampa and Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast.
“Reunion Resort is a perfect site for this conference – it’s highly accessible, features designs from golf’s most legendary figures and continues a tradition of great hosts, said Matt Owen, ING member and corporate director of public relations for Salamander Hotels & Resorts.
Along with the three diverse golf courses by Palmer, Nicklaus and Watson, Reunion is also home to the ANNIKA Academy of Annika Sorenstam, and the Frankly Putting PAD of Frank Thomas.
“For the true golfer, it doesn’t get much better than Reunion Resort,” said ING Executive Director Mike Jamison. “Besides the outstanding golf, our members will be treated to some of the nicest accommodations we have seen in our 23-year history. We expect an outstanding four days at Reunion.”
ING attendees will be treated to the incredible 3-bedroom villas for their accommodations. The villas average approximately 2,200 square feet. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and TV, and shares a spacious and well-appointed living room and kitchen with the other two bedrooms. Each villa also features a balcony and flat-screen TVs.
The golf courses are as good as the names they carry:
Innovatively routed on hilly, roller coaster-like terrain, Arnold Palmer’s 6,916 yard, par 72 Signature Course boasts dramatic elevation changes – up to 50 feet in some places – creating a unique variety of risk/reward shots. That varied menu of shot-making opportunities is further ensured by six tee locations on each hole, a variety of natural preserve areas, generously wide fairways and strategically placed bunkers. Among its many accolades was being named among Golfweek’s top 100 resort courses.
Highlighted by fast, firm and wide rolling fairways, a variety of bunkering and large greens, the 7,257 yard, par 72 Tom Watson Course is as much about strategy as it is about length. This course puts a premium on a solid short game with spacious green complexes where club selection can vary from putter to lob wedge to three-wood. It was ranked No. 10 among all new resort courses by Golf Digest in 2005, and is currently No. 17 in Florida in Golfweek’s rankings of all courses in the Sunshine State.
Nicklaus’ Parkland-style layout is smooth and flowing, with long horizon lines and elevated tee boxes and greens. Designed to tempt golfers into hitting risky shots with potentially big payoffs, the course challenges the golfer to step up to the ball with a carefully organized series of shots in mind.
Reunion Resort has hosted an LPGA Tour event, and recently held the Handa Cup tournament. It features over 300 villa and home accommodations, and also includes a fitness center, boutique spa, 10 swimming pools, a water park with a Lazy River, and several restaurants and bars, including the rooftop Eleven – from which you can see the nightly fireworks from nearby Disney World.
The ING schedule is being tweaked by the ING Conference Assistance Committee, headed by Tiss Dahan of Ariat International. The committee is considering expanding the ever-popular One-On-One Appointment Show to a two-day event. The schedule will also include the Demo Lab, several educational sessions that can be customized to the various attendees, golf competitions and the popular networking sessions.
For more information, visit www.inggolf.com. For more information regarding Reunion Resort, visit www.reunionresort.com.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-328-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
