Maricopa, Ariz. (September 10, 2020) – Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz., recently welcomed Don Stansell as the club’s new executive chef. Chef Stansell will oversee menu creation, food preparation, service and catering at the club’s popular Arroyo Grille restaurant.
Stansell has 25-plus years of culinary experience having first developed his cooking skills while serving in the United States Navy from 1994 to 2002. While serving as a culinary specialist in the Navy, Stansell traveled the world expanding his food knowledge and palate at stops in Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, Hawaii and Australia. Following his time in the Navy, Stansell attended Le Cordon Bleu culinary and hospitality school in Pasadena, Calif. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu, he continued his culinary training as a saucier chef at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Okla.
Stansell’s golf and club experience includes a five-year stretch at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. where he worked under the watchful eye of Certified Master Chef J. Moosemiller. Most recently, Stansell served as the executive chef at Two Brothers Tap House and Brewery in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“I am humbled and honored to join the team at the Arroyo Grille at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club,” said Stansell. “The opportunity to work for the Ak-Chin Indian Community and Troon Golf is very exciting for both me and my family. I look forward to bringing taste-of-the-world flavors to our guests of the Arroyo Grille. I am passionate about providing casual, yet upscale country club fare with a Mediterranean and Southwestern flare.”
“After a nationwide search, Chef Don stood out as the clear choice to continue the upward trajectory that Arroyo Grille has established as the premier casual dining location in the area,” said Ak-Chin Southern Dunes General Manager Brady Wilson. “We are excited to see the fresh eyes he will bring to our menus, wine dinners and events and as with all of our veterans; we collectively thank Don for his service to our country.”
For more information on Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club or the Arroyo Grille, visit www.akchinsoutherndunes.com.
ABOUT THE AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
The Ak-Chin Indian Community is nestled into the Santa Cruz Valley of Southern Arizona. The Community lies 35 miles south of Phoenix in the northwestern part of Pinal County. Ak-Chin is an O’odham word translated to mean “mouth of the wash” or “place where the wash loses itself in the sand or ground.” Ak-Chin has an enrollment of more than 1,100 tribal members and a land base of just over 22,000 acres. The Ak-Chin Indian Community has a variety of business enterprises including Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle and Santa Cruz Commerce Center. For more information, visit www.ak-chin.nsn.us
ABOUT TROON
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is managed by Troon Golf. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf management company providing services at 435-plus locations around the globe, including managing 470-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages more than 485-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 40-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Honours Golf, OB Sports, Green Golf Partners, CADDIEMASTER, True Club Solutions, Cliff Drysdale Tennis and RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design. There are currently 67 Troon-affiliated properties featuring 87 golf courses on national and international “Top 100” rankings. Troon-affiliated properties include Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington; The Virginian and Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards in Bristol, Virginia; Kapalua Golf in Maui, Hawaii; Lofoten Links in Gimsoysand, Norway; and The Els Club Dubai in United Arab Emirates. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com, or connect with Troon on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, Troon Chronicles, Press Room, or subscribe to Troon Magazine.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com
