Plans Progress for Championship Golf Course at Magnolia Green in Richmond, Virginia

Management Team Appointed & Golf Course Name Selected

Chesterfield, Virginia.  Magnolia Green, developer of the 18-hole championship Nicklaus Design golf course and club, announced it will partner with one of the area’s top golf course professionals. 

Design Associate Mark Meijer, and Tom Clark, Ault, Clark & Associates, review final plans for Westham Golf Club course. Construction will begin in November.

Ray Zimmerman, managing partner of Magnolia Green LLC, made the announcement, confirming Mike Bennett as the Director of Operations.  Bennett will be responsible for managing golf course construction, membership and operations.

Before joining Magnolia Green LLC, Bennett served as the Director of Operations for Williamsburg National Golf Club.  While at Williamsburg National, he served as the President of the Williamsburg Area Golf Association, an Executive Committee Member of the Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Board Member for the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce.  Bennett has been a Class “A” Member of the PGA for 14 years and recently achieved Certification from the PGA in the area of Golf Course Ownership and Leasing.  

Bennett began his career at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla., and also served at Keswick Estate, an Arnold Palmer Signature facility. He attended the University of Tampa where he played collegiate golf.

“Upon completion, this golf course will be one of the nicest in the state.  I’m excited to join such an experienced team of golf industry leaders.  Nicklaus Design and Ault, Clark & Associates are arguably the best in the business,“ said Bennett,  Director of Operations.

“My first order of business was selecting the course’s name.  As a direct tie to the area’s rich history, Westham Golf Club has been chosen.  We will break ground on the course this fall,” Bennett added. 

Construction on the golf course, which will initially be open to the public, is expected to begin this fall, with a tentative opening date scheduled for Fall 2009.

Resident and non-resident memberships are available and deposits are now being accepted to reserve a golf membership, for more information or to join the mailing list  please visit the club’s website at www.westhamgolfclub.com or e-mail Mike Bennett at mike.bennett@westhamgolfclub.com.

About Magnolia Green
Magnolia Green, located in Chesterfield County, will be the area’s largest resort-style community.  Occupying close to 2,000 acres, the neighborhood will feature single-and multi-family homes.  Luxury amenities include an 18-hole championship golf course & club, a community lifestyle center with competition-size & resort-style pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, walking trails, and parks.   To join the community’s early registration program, contact www.magnolia-green.com. 

About Nicklaus Design
Nicklaus Design is the privately owned golf course design firm led by Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus family. Nicklaus Design is a division of the Nicklaus Companies. For over 30 years, the mission of the Nicklaus Companies has been to enhance the golf experience, and to bring to the national and international consumer golf-related businesses and services that mirror the high standards established in the career and life of Jack Nicklaus. These services include golf-course design, the development of golf and real estate communities, and the marketing and licensing of golf products and services. Nicklaus Design, recognized as the world leader in golf course design, has been involved with over 320 courses open for play in 31 countries and 38 states. Close to 60 Nicklaus Design courses have been ranked in various national or international Top-100 lists.

About Ault, Clark & Associates
Ault, Clark & Associates offers complete golf course design services, “from plans to play.”  The firm has completed over 1,000 golf course projects including new facilities, additions to existing courses, and various degrees of remodeling and restoration.  Ault, Clark Designs are well-known for making maximum use of each site to create distinctive and exciting experiences for all players.

For additional information about Ault, Clark & Associates, please visit www.acagolf.com.