DC4MS

Lifestyle: The Markers - no ordinary club

By Katharine Dyson
GPA Contributing Lifestyle Editor

Lifestyle: The Markers - no ordinary club » The Wire

The home for you and your foursome for the next few days is the Weiskopf Residence in Scottsdale, Ariz. The abode has more than 3,000 square feet of living space, four master suites, a patio, pool, barbecue pit and hot tub. Upon arriving, the gourmet kitchen is stocked with your favorite coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice and that funky cereal you love.

You have asked that dinner be prepared by a private chef after a round of golf at Troon North. Over the next few days, you will perhaps play Ocotillo or the three nines at the Phoenician.

This is called leading the good life. And no,

No, you don't own this vacation residence. Not exactly.

Rather you have purchased a membership in The Markers, a combined destination and golf club. Members have several options of luxurious residences in key golf resort areas like Southern Pines, N.C., Las Vegas, Nev., Kiawah and Daufuskie Islands in South Carolina, and St. George, Utah, in addition to access to great golf at exclusive private clubs.

And like an info commercial, there is even more, folks.

The Markers recently purchased equity in Private Club Network, giving its members access to more than 200 exclusive golf clubs in 38 states, including San Diego, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. All a Markers member has to do is reserve a tee time, show up and pay a $25 cart fee while their guests can also join them by paying the club guest fee.

Special Markers perks include invitations to members-only golf events in the United States and abroad, led by top golf professionals and personalities like Dave Marr Jr., who has invited eight Markers members to play with him at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Members get PGA Tour access passes, Golf Digest School lessons, spa services, and a number of opportunities to participate in a variety of golf-related experiences including clinics and events.

Take the Annual Markers Club Championship, for example, held at a different course each year. Typically some of the Markers Players Council will participate, joining members for golf and social activities. The Council, chaired by Champions Tour member Bruce Summerhays, includes Hall of Famer Billy Casper, sportscaster Donna Caponi, Champions Tour players Joe Inman and John Harris, and Nationwide Tour players Parker McLachlin, and Matt Weibring.

Mitch Brinton, 37, founded The Markers in 2004 along with his friend and partner, Ron Wade. The idea to marry a destination club with golf memberships came partly as a result of a lifetime love for the game. Brinton, having played golf since he was a child growing up in Colorado, says, "I grew up playing the same club course for 10 years. Always at the back of my mind was this idea that having access to a variety of courses to play on vacation would be the ideal."

When Brinton's in-laws invited him and his wife to use a lovely six-bedroom vacation home in Puerto Vallarta, the opportunity was one they couldn't turn down.

"They didn't have to twist my arm," he said. "That was my first time experiencing a destination club and we loved it. So I thought, why not take it a step further and combine the destination club concept with golf memberships in some great resort areas.

"We have been buying existing residences, usually homes with four master bedrooms and four baths."

Currently, The Markers has 10 homes in its portfolio and has sold 10 percent of its memberships toward the projected goal of 325 members and 36 national locations.

"We are looking at expanding the concept internationally," Brinton said. "What's to say there couldn't be a Markers Asia, Markers Europe?"

Indeed.

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The Nitty Gritty

Concept: Basically you are purchasing a lifetime club membership for a one-time fee of $285,000 that comes with the amenities of destination club luxury homes, access to golf courses, services of staff and special member activities.

Use: You get 56 days to use the residence per year -- 21 are covered by dues and the other nights are charged at $250 per night.

Costs: Family membership costs $285,000; dues $16,500 per year. Four partners can purchase a joint membership at $325,000; dues $18,500. Corporate memberships cost $375,000; dues $20,500. Spouses are included in the golf memberships, while guests pay the club guest fees.