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Southland Golf May, 2005
LANDMARK DECISION: Management company is
looking to expand its portfolio of courses
By Cynthia Diaz
Landmark Golf Club is one of the jewels of Landmark Golf,
co-owned by Ernie Vossler.
Think La Quinta, Rancho Mirage or Indio and among the first images
likely to come to mind is that of the lone, statuesque oak tree
that symbolizes Landmark Golf. Signifying permanence, integrity
and tradition, the oak tree is rooted deeply in the business and
golf reputations of Landmark principals Ernie Vossler, Joe Walser
Jr. and Johnny Pott all multiple winners on the PGA Tour.
The seeds they planted in 1971 brought forth the desert bloom of
resort-style residential golf communities and destination properties
such as PGA West, La Quinta Resort and Club, Mission Hills Country
Club, and Landmark Golf Club.
The trio's reach extended to the creation of Kiawah Island Resort,
Carmel Valley Ranch, Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, and Las Vegas
Paiute Resort, among others, including Mission Hills Resort in Shenzhen,
China.
When Landmark isn't designing, constructing, managing or operating
its own courses, it's working in these capacities for other course
owners. Among its newest management gigs is the Arnold Palmer-designed,
7,753-yard SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, the future site of the
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
What¹s going on: The professional experience behind Landmark Golf amounts to nearly 330 years when you add up the individual
careers of its principals and team members.
"Our passion for golf is strong because we were founded by
people who had successful careers on the PGA tour and later were
successful as PGA head golf professionals at various clubs,"
explains Mark Flowers, who joined the Landmark team last year as
director of business development after stints with major golf management
companies around the country.
Flowers' task is to spread the word on Landmark's consulting and
project management services, and ink management contracts for existing
and new courses.
His main selling point is "The Landmark Experience,"
what golfers can expect when they play a course operated and managed
by the company.
"They'll feel a genuine welcome from the staff that tells
them we're happy they've come to play one of our clubs," says
Flowers. "The fact that Landmark's principals grew up in golf
the reputation of those three men is very much respected by all
of our staff members who recognize they are working with individuals
who have had a great impact on the game."
Vice President Judy Vossler, Ernie's daughter and manager of the
Betty Ford Invitational Pro-Am, sums up the experience as "good
and friendly service with the same comfort levels as you would find
at a private golf club."
What's coming up: Landmark is looking for new dirt in which to
sink its roots and plant its Oak Tree logo. The company is best
known in the Southwest and it will likely maintain its operations
and management focus in the region.
Flowers has the ambitious goal of obtaining three to four management
contracts this year and next. Given its brand-name recognition and
expertise in operating destination golf properties, expect Landmark
to pull similar courses into its orbit.
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