Scottsdale, Ariz. – The Virginian and Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards in Bristol, Virginia is pleased to welcome Marcelo Joffe as its new general manager. As general manager, Joffe will lead all elements of The Virginian and its sister property Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards, while ensuring that team members are well-trained to execute the services offered at all club and community amenities.
Joffe, a 35-plus year veteran of the hospitality and club industries, has a reputation for “making things happen” and for being a service champion. Prior to his arrival in Bristol, Joffe most recently served as a general manager at Santa Ana Country Club in San Jose, Costa Rica. Throughout his career he has held leadership positions at several prestigious clubs in the United States and Central America, including Ben Hogan’s former home course Shady Oaks Country Club in Texas, Prestonwood Country Club and the Country Club of Landfall in North Carolina, as well as Vista Mar Golf, Beach & Marina in Panama and Parque Valle Del Sol in Costa Rica.
“We are thrilled to have found someone of the caliber of Marcelo Joffe, steeped in experience at prestigious clubs around the world, and dedicated to delivering the highest standard of service and hospitality, as our new general manager,” said Kevin Nicewonder, Managing Member of the Nicewonder Group. “We are confident that he will lead not only The Virginian, but also Nicewonder Farm and Vineyards to the highest level of success that we have envisioned for the properties.”
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Joffe is a graduate of Auburn University where he majored in business administration with a minor in management. He is a Certified Club Manager & Chief Executive by the Club Managers Association of America and was inducted into the CMAA’s Honor Society.
Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon®, oversees the golf, club, golf course agronomy, membership marketing and food & beverage operations at The Virginian and Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards.
For more information on The Virginian, visit www.thevirginian.com or call (276) 645-6950.
About The Virginian and Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards
Set in the Highlands of Virginia, between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, the clubhouse and golf course are the centerpieces of The Virginian luxury community. The Tom Fazio-designed golf course opened in 1992 and is ranked as one the state’s top golf courses by both Golf Digest and Golfweek.
The Virginian’s 44,000 square-foot clubhouse features a main dining room with a dry-stacked fieldstone fireplace at its center, a cathedral ceiling and a newly-built 750 bottle capacity walk-in wine cellar with tasting area. The clubhouse also features an award-winning golf shop, a spectacular boardroom overlooking the back nine, and spacious men’s and ladies’ locker rooms. A stone’s throw from the clubhouse is “The Round”, an open-air pavilion utilized for events and concerts. The club’s Swim, Racquet & Fitness Center is complete with a Junior Olympic-size pool, a children’s pool and four tennis courts.
Adjacent to The Virginian is its 450-acre sister property, Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards which was founded in 2013. There you will find the 10-acre, award-winning Nicewonder Vineyards; a winery; a farmers market; livestock; and Taste, Wood-Fire Kitchen, an open-air restaurant that is open to the public.
Construction is currently underway on four luxury yurts which will provide stay and play accommodations for national members as well as members of Troon Privé managed clubs. The yurts are expected to be completed this fall and are a prelude to a 28-room luxury boutique inn with a presidential suite, infinity pool, a 300-person banquet facility and Hickory, the signature restaurant from acclaimed Chef Travis Milton. Construction is underway on the inn, with a projected opening in mid-2021. Soon to follow the Inn’s opening will be a spa, fitness center and a commissary kitchen, making The Virginian and Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards a unique destination for those seeking the best in lifestyle and golf amenities.
About The Virginian Community
The Virginian has been rated as the third best private golf community in America by the Robb Report magazine, has been honored by Pinnacle Living/Mountain Homes magazine as the “Most Beautiful Planned Community” for 2006, called “one of America’s Premier Properties” by Links magazine and “one of the 50 Best Places to Live in America” by GOLF Magazine. The Virginian offers a range of custom homes, cottages, and home sites. Homes are carefully sited to preserve the character of the land and to maintain the natural landscape and panoramic golf course views.
About Troon
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.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com