Helium Report recently connected with The Markers Co-Founder and Executive Director, Mitch Brinton, to learn more about his destination club’s unique offering. As Brinton is quick to point out, The Markers is a club for golfing fanatics and their families.

The Markers’ focus is on delivering world-class golfing experiences to its members, although the hospitality experience is hardly an afterthought. The ten homes in their portfolio average 3,000 square feet and include amenities found at other destination clubs – conceirge service, pre-stocked fridge – but the attractions for avid golfers are the proximity to multiple courses and the opportunity to test the latest in golf equipment.

We turned to Brinton (photo, below) for an overview of the club and some details on the member experience.

Where did the idea for The Markers originate?

I grew up on at private golf club and enjoyed all the events like the tournaments and father/son outings. But after a while I got bored playing the same 18 holes over and over. There was no variety.

In 2004, I contacted a respected, long-ago, high school buddy, Ron Wade, with the idea to make our own club based on our own golf wishes and dreams. Those wishes and dreams, I figure, aren’t much different from the average golf maniac who goes to sleep at night with visions of the world’s great courses and destinations in his head.

We brought the concept to Bruce Summerhays, the ironman of the Champions Tour, and The Markers was born.

Did this concept address something that the industry was lacking?

When we started The Markers, the destination club industry was in its infancy. We certainly noticed a better alternative for the devout golfer who didn’t want to be stuck with a single country club membership (country club industry) or a single vacation home (vacation home industry). As for the destination club industry, we saw that all the clubs provided nice homes in nice places, but not what the golfer really wanted. The combination is what makes The Markers so special.

Paint the picture of a standard getaway for a Markers member. How does the experience differ from that of other clubs?

Similar to most destination clubs, when a Markers member has a Markers experience, all is taken care of for them prior to arrival and during their stay. Tee times and other reservations are made in advance by Member Services. The fridge is stocked, and our local concierge is available to show the member around their home and give recommendations for the best courses, sites and restaurants. The concierge is at their beck and call for any unique requests as well.

Remember, Markers members love to golf. While we make sure each of our residences offer amenities for the non-golfer in the family (i.e. spas, shopping, hiking, beaches, biking, relaxing), most of our members have golf as a focus. We are different in that the member (and his/her guests) are picked up at the airport and a rental car is awaiting them in the residence garage (if desired). There’s nothing worse then spending your first hours of a vacation dealing with the rental car system at the airport or getting lost finding your home.

Four sets of demo clubs are in each residence and many members enjoy hitting the latest equipment from Ping, Taylor-made, Callaway, Titleist and others. Members play on the home course for free and we do all we can to create access to area private clubs and discounts on green fees.

Our homes are named after golf legends and themed uniquely in their honor. Most homes have a unique golf component, like an indoor putting green, patio swing tool, or a personal visit from a local professional. I n Scottsdale, for example, our members have the unique opportunity to visit the nearby PING factory and have a custom club fitting from the same team that fits the Tour Professionals. I personally had this experience and it was amazing!

The Markers appears to be cultivating more of a “community” atmosphere than other clubs, offering a member tournament and group excursions. How large a part of the club’s strategy is this and how have members responded to this approach?

It’s true. The Markers is a golf club as much as it is a destination club. We have a Players Council consisting of past and current players on Tour and we have already begun hosting events for the members and the response has been very positive. For example, David Marr III, the Golf Channel Announcer, hosted seven Markers members and prospects at his home club in Long Island and those in attendance are still raving about it.

As the Club grows, we will host an annual Club Championship and select member and guest events at PGA venues where it may not make sense to own a property, but would certainly be a sought-after destination (like Whistling Straights).

Our members are very interested in this aspect of the Club’s vision.

The Markers has a good number of golf celebrities as members. How do you assure a prospective member that his experience will be on par with celebrity members?

Actually, our membership is not made up of pro golfers, but rather normal men and women who love the game of golf and luxury travel. I would say that the average handicap of our members is about 14.

Yes, we have some high profile members, but our golf celebrities – who sit on our Players Council – are involved for one purpose: To help create golf experiences for the members. This unique interaction will, over time, be one of the coolest visions of the Club. Imagine playing Shinnecock with David Marr III, or San Diego Country Club with Billy Casper.

Tune in next week for part two of the interview. In the meantime, you can find more information about The Markers here.