Private Club Industry recognizes Desert Mountain COO with prestigious award

Robert Jones, COO and General Manager of Desert Mountain, the luxury private golf and recreational community in Scottsdale, has been named the 2012 James H. Brewer Excellence in Club Management Award winner.

The annual, national award is sponsored by Club & Resort Business magazine and the McMahon Group, a private club consulting firm based in St. Louis, Mo. The Excellence in Club Management Award recognizes private club general managers, managers and chief operating officers who have exhibited outstanding skills in managing their club. The James H. Brewer Award honors managers at country/golf clubs with 600 or more full-privilege members.

“I am so proud to win this award on many different levels,” said Jones, who has been at Desert Mountain for nearly two decades. “Not only is it an honor to be selected by my peers, but the award holds special significance for my family. I am the second generation family member to have a lifelong career in the club/food and beverage industry.”

Jones was evaluated on several criteria including facility and golf improvements, dining and golf/recreational programs, employee training and incentives, innovative management programs, customer satisfaction, communications and promotions, membership development, cost controls/budgeting and more.

During his time at Desert Mountain, Jones has been credited with creating architecturally important, award-winning clubhouses and high-end, independent restaurant-style menu concepts within a club setting. One of his greatest achievements at Desert Mountain was guiding the $73.5 million purchase of the club by its members in December, 2010, the largest private, residential transaction recorded that year. It was accomplished in less than 90 days and well before the mandatory purchase date set by the developer, Crescent Real Estate Holdings, LLC, of March 1, 2011. The negotiated price was extremely favorable to the membership.

Jones is a member of the Club Managers Association of America and has a degree in Restaurant and Hotel Management from Florida International University.

Desert Mountain is considered one of the world’s premier golf meccas. Offering more award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses than any other private community in the world. It also features six architecturally-themed clubhouses, a fitness center with a world-class tennis complex, a youth activity center and hiking trails, among many other amenities. For information, visit www.desertmountain.com.