AVENTURA, Fla. -- Given a blank canvas and redesign budget of $30 million, world renowned golfer Raymond Floyd recently transformed The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club’s two championship18-hole golf courses into challenging, yet artful masterpieces creating an experience unrivaled by most and renewing great prominence within the golf community.

“I believe in building golf courses that are aesthetically pleasing, conform perfectly with the goals of ownership and provide a challenging and fair test to golfers of all skills and handicaps,“ said Floyd. “My standard for a truly great course is to ask myself whether it can stand the test of time. I’m convinced that these two courses will be enjoyed for many years to come.”

With the completion of the Miller and Soffer Courses, Floyd has managed to achieve the nearly impossible by changing the landscape of Florida golf. What was once a more traditional layout originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., with flat wide-open fairways and large greens now features lush tropical grounds accentuated with contoured fairways, sharp doglegs and water features strategically placed throughout the 36 holes making the courses more challenging, but in everyway a pleasure to play. As part of the redesign, over 700,000 cubic-meters of subsoil was brought in to create more pronounced elevations than is often seen in South Florida.

Although similar in features, each course has its own distinct character and set of demanding greens providing golfers who play both with entirely different experiences. The Soffer Course was designed as a par-71 with 7,047 yards, and a 74.9/149 course and slope rating. Equally as beautiful and difficult, the resort-friendly Miller course is a par-70 measuring 6,417 yards.

Further enhancing the experience, a spectacular 64-foot waterfall—the largest in the State – provides an unforgettable finish on the Soffer Course’s 18-hole Island Green, while colorful indigenous flora and tropical trees surrounding each hole serve as a natural privacy barrier so every foursome feels like they’re the only players on the course.

A famous Audubon-sanctioned bird refuge also resides at the resort and is positioned throughout the courses ensuring continuity of the program. During the renovation, a separate “Flamingo Island” was built within Lake Julius – the largest and deepest body of water at the resort named after Golf Hall of Famer and former Golf Director Julius Boros. The Island ensures resident flamingoes are able to nest and nurture their young in a natural environment.

From the golf courses vibrant hues accentuated by the paspalum grass that stays bright green year round and coquina shell cart path to the resort’s numerous offerings and incomparable service, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club has quickly evolved into one of the country’s premier golf destinations.

LPGA Stanford International Pro-AM and ADT Skills Challenge
On April 24-27, the Soffer and Miller Courses and their meticulously cared-for greens, waterfalls and fairways will be on display, when The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club hosts the 2008 Stanford International Pro-Am, an official LPGA tour event. This will be the first time in seven years since an LPGA event has been held in South Florida.

Then on November 3-4, the ADT Golf Skills Challenge, NBC’s situational golf competition featuring PGA and LPGA Tour pros and celebrity challengers, will return to The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club for the second consecutive year.

The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club recently put the final touches on its $100 million transformation. Located in the heart of Aventura (Miami,) Fla., the luxurious Mediterranean-style resort features 392 deluxe guest rooms and suites, and is renowned for its world-class golf facilities, award-winning Willow Stream Spa, stellar dining options, tennis, kids program and Ocean Club. The resort has received numerous accolades including a spot on Travel + Leisure’s coveted 2008 “World’s Best” list and the Mobil Four Star Award. For more information on The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club or for reservations, please call (800) 441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com/turnberryisle.

A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels, which includes iconic landmarks like The Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Monte Carlo and New York's The Plaza. Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a global hotel company with over 80 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.

Media Contact:
Rachel Pinzur
Director of Public Relations
(786) 279-6521
Rachel.Pinzur@Fairmont.com