Troon will manage the golf operations at Mauna Lani on Hawai‘i Island, where the Francis H. I’i Brown North and South Courses are the centerpieces of a 341-room oceanfront luxury resort. KemperSports has been selected to manage the Bear Creek Golf Complex in Chandler, Ariz., marking KemperSports’ first managed property in the state. The property includes the Bear Course and executive Cub Course, both designed by the Jack Nicklaus Company.

 

Troon has been selected by DiamondHead Land to manage the golf operations at Mauna Lani on Hawai‘i Island, where the Francis H. I’i Brown North and South Courses are the centerpieces of the 341-room oceanfront luxury resort.

Troon was selected to manage all aspects of the property’s golf operations, including agronomy, retail and golf-related sales and marketing, following DiamondHead Land’s recent acquisition of the resort, golf courses, spa, and fitness center.

With the addition of Mauna Lani, Troon now operates 135 golf holes in the Aloha State, including Kapalua Golf in Lahaina, Maui, King Kamehameha Golf Club in Wailuku, Maui, Kahili Golf Course in Wailuku, Maui and Princeville Makai Golf Club in Princeville, Kaua‘i.

“Troon values the history and traditions of Mauna Lani Golf, beginning with Francis I’i Brown’s vision for the property decades ago,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, partner with DiamondHead Land. “That respect, combined with their global reach and experience operating iconic golf resort properties, makes them a perfect fit to lead Mauna Lani Golf moving forward.”

The South Course, site of the Senior Skins Game from 1990 to 2000, is a Homer Flint, Raymond Cain and Robin Nelson design that opened in 1981. The course was built on the 16^th century Kaniku lava flow, snaking through stark, rugged a‘a lava.  A pair of over-the-water par 3s – the 7^th and 15^th holes – are Mauna Lani South’s signature holes and are two of the most photographed golf holes in the world.

The North Course, also a Flint, Cain and Nelson design, opened in 1988 and was built on a lava bed much older than the Kaniku flow. Overlaying the rugged brown pahoehoe lava flow, the North features rolling fairways and runs through kiawe forests. A 230-acre protected archeological district lies on the northern edge of the North Course, while feral goats roam the course, cropping the grass and providing a unique neutral hazard. The par-3 17^th is the signature hole on this course, as a series of elevated tees form a natural amphitheater with the green at the base of a lava bowl.

“Mauna Lani is an incredible golf resort property on Hawai‘i Island,” said Mike Ryan, Troon’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “It has an amazing history and features some of the most picturesque golf holes in the Aloha State. We will be deploying many of our Hawai‘i-based resources to further elevate the Mauna Lani brand and overall golf experience.”

Mauna Lani, meaning “mountain reaching heaven,” is a tropical resort oasis set upon the famed Kohala Coast on Hawai‘i Island. The property is located 23 miles north of the Kona International Airport and features the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Mauna Lani Spa, in addition to the Francis H. I‘i Brown North and South Golf Courses.

KemperSports  has been selected to manage the Bear Creek Golf Complex in Chandler, Ariz. The property includes 36 holes of golf designed by the Jack Nicklaus Design Company, a practice facility with PGA professional instruction and The Bear’s Den Bar & Grill, It will be KemperSports’ first managed property in the state.

Located 25 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, Bear Creek’s golf offering is highlighted by The Bear Course, as the championship par-72 layout can stretch to more than 6,800 yards. The Bear Course delivers an “inland links” golf experience with firm and fast playing conditions across rolling desert terrain and strategic bunkering.

The executive Cub Course provides a sporty alternative to the Bear Course’s championship layout. At just 3,500 yards and a par-59 routing, The Cub Course offers a fun alternative and a great golf course for beginning and junior golfers.

The complex also includes a robust practice facility with grassed driving range, short-game area, and two practice putting greens.

“Bear Creek has enjoyed a great reputation as one of the most popular public golf venues in the southeast Valley,” said Dan Strand, Principal, Las Corrientes, LLC. “We look forward to collaborating with KemperSports and leaning on their more than 30 years of experience in the golf industry.”

KemperSports will be tasked with implementing proven sales and marketing initiatives to engage with local golfers, to ensure that the golf courses remain a positive hub for the Easy Valley golf community. KemperSports will also introduce TrueService, the company’s proprietary customer service training program that is built to deliver unique guest interactions through genuine and friendly service.

“We are proud to be managing our first property in the highly competitive Phoenix golf market,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “We look forward to working with ownership to enhance the golf experience at Bear Creek.”