Scottsdale, Ariz. (March 31, 2023) – Grupo Piñero and its Bahia Principe Golf Division have announced the addition of two new directors at PGA Riviera Maya, a resort property located on the Mexican Caribbean in Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, and PGA Ocean’s 4 located on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. Tory Gatrell, PGA is the new General Manager and Director of Golf Operations at PGA Riviera Maya and Ivan Merino, PGA is the new Assistant Director and Head Professional at PGA Ocean’s 4. Troon Golf, the resort and daily-fee management division of Troon, provides agronomy, operations and sales and marketing support for the two 27-hole facilities.
Besides the new additions, Grupo Piñero plans to further strengthen its golf division during 2023 with significant improvements to its facilities. At PGA Ocean’s 4, the clubhouse will be refurbished and a course renovation plan will be started. Meanwhile, work will begin on a new clubhouse at PGA Riviera Maya in Mexico. In 2023, PGA Riviera Maya will once again host two prestigious international tournaments: the Latin American Senior Championship (in which amateur players participate) and the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica Championship. The latter tournament is the last stop on the PGA TOUR Latan circuit for Latin American professional players who aspire to take a step forward in their career by qualifying for the PGA TOUR.
Gatrell, is a golf professional with a vast knowledge of customer service and a desire to promote and contribute to the growth of the sport. As a member and ambassador of the PGA of America, Gatrell is responsible for implementing these standards at the PGA Riviera Maya golf courses and delivering quality of customer service. He will also be setting the strategy and content of the Academy at PGA Riviera Maya, as he is also an expert instructor.
Merino joins Director Carlos de Linares' team as assistant director and director of the new golf academy at PGA Ocean's 4. Merino is also a member of the PGA of America and has more than 24 years of experience in golf course operations. He will with Linares in support of operations and commercial tasks, in addition to heading the project for Grupo Piñero's second golf academy.
Gatrell and Merino will be key in providing customer service excellence, improving services in terms of teaching the game, promoting it among all the residents and resort guests and, in short, expanding the community of fans of this sport.
From the beginning of their alliance, both the PGA of America and Bahia Principe Golf have worked together to contribute to the growth of golf in the world, making it a much more accessible sport and facilitating its expansion. Moreover, both organizations share the value of ensuring customer satisfaction, always seeking to provide the highest professional standards in their facilities. With these goals in mind, Grupo Piñero, through Bahia Principe Golf, has made the development of a golf academy one of the basic pillars of this division.
About PGA Riviera Maya
PGA Riviera Maya features an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed championship course that has been ranked as one of the top five golf courses in Mexico. Open since 2010, the course is carved from a limestone quarry, winding its way through the lush Mayan jungle. The par 72, 7272-yard course is dotted with natural lakes and cenotes (large sinkholes or caves). The course is home of the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica’s Bupa Championship. In addition to the championship layout, PGA Riviera Maya also includes a 9-hole par-3 course. PGA Riviera Maya is integrated into the Tulum Country Club complex, about 15 miles from the trendy tourist town of Tulum. Four Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Resort partners are located on property or within minutes of PGA Riviera Maya, including Luxury Sian Ka'an, Luxury Akumal, the Grand Tulum and the Grand Coba. For more information on PGA Riviera Maya, visit https://pgarivieramaya.com.
About PGA Ocean’s 4
PGA Ocean’s 4 opened for play in 2017 and was previously known as La Romana Golf Club. The club’s 18-hole, par-72 layout, a Jack Lund design, extends to 7,334 yards and presents golfers with four unique landscapes – tropical forest, lakes and waterfalls amid a parkland-style setting, desert with rocks and sand, and seaside as four holes run along the Caribbean Sea with coconut palms and white sand beaches. Named after the number of ocean-side holes, PGA Ocean’s 4 is available to guests staying at nearby resorts, including Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville and Bahia Principe Grand La Romana. In addition to its 18-hole course, PGA Ocean’s 4 also offers a 9-hole, par-27 short course that is ideal for children, beginners or those looking to work on their short game. For more information on PGA Ocean’s 4, visit https://www.pgaoceans4.com.
About Bahia Principe Golf
Bahia Principe Golf is one of the subdivisions that make up Grupo Piñero's Living Resorts business unit, together with Bahia Principe Residences and Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts. Specializing in the design, construction and management of golf courses, it is certified by the PGA of America, one of the most important sports organizations in the world of golf, and currently operates two clubs with 4 courses and 54 holes: PGA Riviera Maya, in Mexico; and PGA Ocean's 4, in the Dominican Republic. In addition, in line with the Group's sustainability policy, it is managed in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner, providing unique experiences for all types of players to enjoy this sport.
About Grupo Piñero
Grupo Piñero is a Spanish multinational family company founded in 1977. With a team currently comprising more than 14,000 professionals, the Group has evolved to extend its value proposal beyond the tourism sector, structuring its activity into three business units with the aim of maximizing synergies and guaranteeing consistency in the quality and innovation of its products and services. Living Resorts comprises its hotel activities, residential resorts and golf courses in Spain and the Caribbean under the Bahia Principe brand. Travel comprises the tour operating activities managed by Soltour Travel Partners, operating mainly under the Soltour brand, and the inbound activities under the Coming2 brand. Finally, the Mobility division groups together other mobility services at the destination, including its commitment to the development of sustainable mobility. Grupo Piñero’s purpose is to create exciting experiences. To make this possible, it is committed to responsible management that allows it to offer the best experience to clients and employees and to actively contribute to society as a whole, with sustainability at its core and sustainable growth and innovation as the fundamental pillars of its strategy.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 750-plus locations, including 740-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses around the globe. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf and ICON Management. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com