The Arizona Biltmore Golf Resort is legendary, just like Jerry Colangelo of JDM Partners, the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club’s Phoenix-based ownership group. As the former Phoenix Suns and Diamondbacks owner, Jerry knows how to build a solid team and it is paying off in the multi-phase enhancement project at Arizona Biltmore.
JDM Partners’ Director of Golf Assets and Marketing, Cameron Kaplan has been leading the project charge for three years and teams with Rob Myers of RMPR Group for public communications. Cameron was thrilled with the Phase One completion in a new 19,500 sq. ft. golf shop building.
Designed by Douglas Fredrikson, AIA and Alexandra Lemos of Phoenix-based Douglas Fredrikson Architects, the building includes retail and office space, locker rooms for members, fitting rooms, restrooms and over 13,000 sq. ft. of underground golf cart storage.
Open the door to the golf shop and a colorful world of apparel and accessories are displayed thanks to Laura Saiki. She was formerly the product line director at Cutter and Buck and lead buyer at Pebble Beach. From kiddies’ clothes by Garb to men’s and ladies’ fashions in multiple brands, equipment and accessories galore, the shop has all your shopping covered.
Phase two will include a new clubhouse and restaurant, replacing the existing event tent and clubhouse and bringing additional on-site parking and landscape improvements. The new clubhouse and restaurant will open in 2024.
Leo Simonetta was drafted for the club’s new Director of Golf position. Simonetta will oversee the 36-hole facility’s golf operations, agronomy, merchandising, and sales and marketing. He will also play an integral role in managing current and upcoming renovations of the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club’s clubhouse and Adobe Golf Course. Leo comes from the iconic Wigwam Resort, also part of JDM Partners’ collection. Since 2010, he was involved in many renovations there. His success will no doubt carryover to the Biltmore.
Leo relieves Dick Bates who has served as the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club’s GM for 33-plus years, building relationships with members, neighbors, and guests, while hosting U.S. Presidents and numerous celebrities. Prior to getting into the golf business 40-plus years ago, Bates played professional baseball, pitching for the Washington Senators and Seattle Pilots. He moves into a new role with club’s ownership group, JDM Golf, becoming Special Projects & Procurement Manager.
Tina Toombs has been an ace in the hole at Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, improving golfers’ games with on range/course instruction. The Hall of Famer is repeatedly awarded and on the top 100 Teachers list.
Perhaps the MVP of the team is Tom Lehman, a Scottsdale resident and five-time PGA TOUR champion. The Lehman Design Group began an extensive renovation project on the 95-year-old Adobe Golf Course in April. The modernization of the course design will include water conservation technology.
Lehman said, “It’s a pleasure and exciting to work with the JDM team to refresh one of Arizona’s most iconic and historic golf properties. The renovated Adobe course will demand a much wider variety of shots, will have more length and much improved strategy. We’re using the most efficient and highest quality modern turf to dramatically improve the ability to maintain greens, fairways, and tees to the highest standards. Add on to that a wonderful landscape plan full of new trees, colorful plants and flowers and the result will be a far more visually appealing and fun Adobe course for players of all levels.”
The significant investment by JDM will bring the historic property on par with the neighboring Arizona Biltmore Resort and Wrigley Mansion.
The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club is in the shadow of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve with 36 holes on the Adobe Course and the Links Course. The Adobe’s spacious layout reminds golfers of how the game was meant to be played. The Links Course, the younger of the two Biltmore courses, has earned the respect of golfers as one of Arizona’s premier golf courses. Rolling fairways lined with pines meander through some of the most stunning homes in Phoenix. For nearly a century, the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club has been a destination for Phoenix residents, tourists, corporate leaders, celebrities, and dignitaries.
Many team players contribute to the daily operations providing standout maintenance and service at The Biltmore. The result is a winning resort course and facilities respecting the long history, but built for all times, for future generations.
When visiting the Valley of the Sun, stay at The Arizona Biltmore or any of the wonderful area resorts, hotels, VRBOs or Airbnb, and schedule a tee time at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club.
To learn more visit: www.azbiltmoregc.com
