Introducing The First and Only Golfer's Residence Club...The Markers Pioneers New Category

Date: July 18, 2005

The Markers Affords Exclusive Access To Legendary Golf Experiences Coupled With Equity Opportunity in 36 International Luxury Homes

Luxury residence clubs have earned a position as the travel solution of the future, enticing savvy travelers with products that deliver accessibility to luxury homes in premier locations, five-star service at the touch of a dial, and virtually effortless travel experiences. Now a hybrid has made its mark on the industry, capturing the attention of golf enthusiasts to the downright golf-obsessed. Introducing The Markers, the first and only residence club created exclusively for the golf purist, providing legendary golf experiences and equity in 36 luxury homes situated among the world’s most renowned golf destinations.

The Markers is the first concept of its kind, offering members not only an elite residence club product on par with the best the industry has to offer, but a chance to engage in once-in-a-lifetime golf experiences in some of the most prestigious and sought-after golf locations across the globe. Backed by notable golf industry veterans, The Markers offers members a chance to tee off beside their favorite PGA Tour player, charter a luxury coach to tour the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, play in a private annual club championship and enjoy preferred access to world-renowned golf destinations and courses including Pinehurst, St. Andrews and Pebble Beach. If golfers can dream it, The Markers delivers the experience in spades.

“The Markers is a club unlike any other. We recognize that to some, golf is not an amenity, it’s a lifestyle,” says Mitch Brinton, managing director and co-founder of The Markers. “Other residence clubs position golf as an amenity, much like spa access or skiing at a nearby resort. The Markers delivers a residence club product based solely on the game of golf, from our locations and home amenities, to the activities members will have the chance to experience. The Markers is the only residence club for the truly golf-devout.”

The Markers is the vision of business and marketing entrepreneurs Mitch Brinton and Ron Wade, childhood friends who have long shared a common passion for golf. Brinton and Wade created a model based on their own personal golf fantasies and summoned the support of PGA Champions Tour Professional Bruce Summerhays. The three teamed up to found The Markers, offering a premier golf experience centered on playing golf at the finest international courses and only available to 325 members.

In order to seek and evaluate the most authentic and exceptional golf experiences, The Markers appointed an Advisory Council to provide expert advice and consultation. The Advisory Council boasts esteemed golf experts such as Summerhays, award-winning golf commentator Jim Kelly, University of California at Los Angeles Head Golf Coach OD Vincent, Brigham Young University Head Golf Coach Bruce Brockbank, Jr. and Georgia Tech Head Golf Coach Bruce Heppler, as well as a variety of respected business, real estate and hospitality industry experts.

"Each individual values different aspects of the game of golf—it’s a very personal experience," says Summerhays. "The Advisory Council consists of an elite group of business- and golf-minded professionals whose expertise will help The Markers better serve its members by going above and beyond their expectations."

Golf Experiences
The Markers has created exclusive golf experiences for its members, providing the opportunity for golf fanatics to choose from a menu of programs to enhance their golf vacation options such as an invitation-only, semi-annual Golf Excursion. These four- to 10-day trips to premier golf locations such as Bandon Dunes, St. Andrews or New Zealand will include five-star resort and hotel accommodations provided by The Markers. Members will be accompanied by a PGA Tour player or golf celebrity and will be granted preferred access to the courses played. The Markers will also host a private annual Club Championship played on a different course each year. Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Jim Kelly, the event will feature PGA players or golf celebrities joining members on the links and leading golf clinics. The Markers will also launch the The M3, a luxury motor coach available for reservation to tour the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, making stops at all 21 courses as well as PGA and Champions Tour events in the area. The M3 will comfortably sleep four and will provide world-class amenities with a driver and chef available upon request. Additionally, a custom-designed instruction program from The Markers Golf Academy will be offered exclusively for members at most Markers’ destinations. The highly-respected John Jacobs School of Golf will provide a customized program to improve any aspect of a members’ game from swing mechanics to short game.

"When we created The Markers, our goal was to provide an incomparable private membership experience," says Brinton. "These experiences are crafted from our own golf fantasies and we are thrilled to be able to offer them to other golf fanatics."

Golf Residences
The legendary golf experiences are only the beginning. The Markers offers members virtually unlimited access to luxury residences in the world’s most celebrated golf destinations, beginning with Pinehurst, North Carolina; Scottsdale, Arizona; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and St. George, Utah; which are already available to members for use. Ultimately, The Markers will have 36 residences in spectacular locations such as Hilton Head, South Carolina; St. Augustine, Florida; Kauai and Maui, Hawaii; Fajardo, Puerto Rico; and Punta Mita, Mexico; just to name a few.

Each Markers residence will have an average of four-bedrooms and four-bathrooms and will average 3,500 square feet. Houses will be decorated in the spirit of their locale and will be outfitted with luxurious, five-star amenities including high-end appliances and finishes, plasma TVs, hand-selected furnishings and an SUV for use while in residence in selected locations. Residences will be worth an average of $1.5 million and The Markers will maintain a 9:1 member-to-property ratio to ensure maximum availability for members. Members will be provided with a personal concierge to see to each detail of their golf vacation such as booking the trip, stocking the refrigerator with favorite items and making any additional special arrangements such as tee times and reservations. There will also be a local host at each home to greet members upon arrival.

Each Markers residence will be situated in a private country club location, when possible, and in close proximity to a multitude of great golf courses, providing members with preferred access such as reduced greens fees and preferential tee times on a course-by-course basis. Members should not expect to leave golf behind when they enter a Markers residence, as homes will be outfitted with top-of-the-line golf amenities. In each home, The Markers will display the latest and most innovative clubs for members to demo while in residence and in select locations, video analysis, course simulators and chipping and putting greens will be provided so that members can work on their game kitchen-side, pool-side or bed-side.

Membership and Equity
The Markers will offer three levels of membership: Fairway, Partner and Corporate. Fairway membership is designed for individuals and families and has a price point of $285,000 with annual dues of $14,500. The Partner membership is designed for four friends and/or business partners to collectively share privileges of The Markers membership for an entry fee of $325,000 with annual dues of $16,500. Corporate membership carries an entry fee of $375,000 with annual dues of $18,500 and allows business entities to entertain their top executives, clients or employees. All members are guaranteed 21 planned usage days per year with no nightly fee. Fairway members will have unlimited space-available usage with a $175 nightly fee while Partner and Corporate members will enjoy 56 space available days with the same nightly fee. Membership is refundable at 90 percent of the price of membership at the time the member chooses to leave the club, subject to club rules.

Unlike many of the more traditional residence clubs, The Markers provides its members with an exclusive golf lifestyle coupled with equity ownership. Members of The Markers collectively own a total of 75 percent of the club that owns the real estate portfolio, providing a security blanket for every member. In addition, equity in the club also translates to governance, allowing members the opportunity to vote on club issues and help decide the club’s next steps such as new property locations or future golf excursion destinations.

About The Markers
Founded by business and marketing entrepreneurs Mitch Brinton and Ron Wade and PGA Champions Tour Professional Bruce Summerhays, The Markers is the first and only club created exclusively for the golf purist, providing legendary golf experiences and equity in 36 luxury homes situated among the world’s most renowned golf destinations. The Markers launched in April 2005 and offers once-in-a-lifetime golf experiences including an annual club championship, international golf excursions and a luxury motor coach for reservation. Current residences are located in Pinehurst, North Carolina; Scottsdale, Arizona; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and St. George, Utah; and the portfolio will ultimately include a wide variety of national and international locations. For more information visit The Markers’ Web site at http://www.themarkersclub.com/ or call (800) 745-0065.