The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dove Mountain Readies For Opening
The ultimate desert resort inspires a celebration of the spirit within authentic Arizona setting

MARANA, Ariz. - June 29, 2009 - Balancing casual elegance with the natural elements of wood, fire, earth and water, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dove Mountain embodies the authentic outdoor lifestyle of the high Sonoran Desert.

Opening in late fall, this secluded 17,000 square-foot retreat embraces the enchanting habitat of the southern Arizona's Tortolita Mountains, featuring a selection of treatments that reflect its inherent peacefulness, as well as personal wellness counseling, full body therapy and anti-aging treatments.

Guests can indulge in luxury amenities and legendary Ritz-Carlton service on tranquil grounds that look up toward the same rugged peaks that inspired the ancient Hohokam tribe. Stones along the hillside served as the Hohokams' "canvas," evidenced by the petroglyphs inscribed sometime between 300 B.C. and 1500 A.D. - and still easily visible from the spa today.

"The entire resort is centered on an overall spirit of adventure, including the spa, with its distinctive treatments and therapies," said Michael R. McMahon, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Resort, Dove Mountain.

One example is a signature massage using natural oils that is ideal after rigorous activity, as well as prior to hiking or biking on the many invigorating desert trails.

Natural elements and metals will be integrated into customized spa treatments. Guests will receive a personalized blend of 100 percent organic aromatherapy oils to enhance the effectiveness of each treatment.

The use of aromatherapy oils for healing and enhancing well-being - a 10,000 year-old tradition - seems particularly well-suited to this historic desert location. On staff will be a master aromatherapist, ready to blend special oils and or customize treatments, using indigenous ingredients.

The unique destination spa is part of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, the largest and most comprehensive Ritz-Carlton project in the continental United States. Guests will enjoy the finest cuisine, prepared by world-class chefs, along with The Ritz-Carlton's unparalleled sophistication and personalized service throughout its 850 acres.

There are two couples suites at the Spa, one indoors with a fireplace and a second fireplace in an outside, private courtyard. This suite is ideal for groups who enjoy indoor/outdoor activities, going from poolside to privacy, and is attractive for bridal showers or wedding parties. The second suite is in an outdoor environment with pool access and mountain views.

The Spa has its own outdoor pool and therapy tub, exclusively for its guests. The pool is an infinity spa pool with a 10-foot tanning island in the center. For desert sun worshippers, this is nirvana as a fine sheet of water cascades from the center of the island into the pool, allowing the guests to bask in Arizona's ever-present sunshine in a state of sublime relaxation.

The pool area will also shine at nighttime, with two built-in firepits illuminating the terrace, ideal for partaking in the resort's signature lunar massages and star gazing.

The resort has 250 guest rooms and an adjacent cluster of secluded, multi-bedroom casitas - ideally suited for families and friends. Also featured are 27 holes of championship golf, designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus and home to elite competition at the Accenture Match Play Championship each spring.

The resort's invigorating playground reaches out through a majestic Saguaro forest, where the adventurous can engage the lush desert along the Tortolitas. Activities range from a casual nature walk to mounting up for an authentic, Old West cattle drive, as guests at Dove Mountain can explore 20 miles of hiking trails (clearly mapped by National Geographic), as well as marked mountain biking routes and guided Jeep tours.

The Spa's offerings include 14 private treatment rooms, two esthetic rooms, a hydrotherapy room, one Vichy shower and two oversized suites, ideal for couples and friends. A full-service salon with two hair stations and three manicure stations and four pedicure chairs with views of the mountainside are also available, as is the comprehensive fitness center. A co-ed lounge joins the two sides of the spa.

The Spa menu will offer the finest cuisine, specially prepared by world-class chefs, along with The Ritz-Carlton's unparalleled sophistication and personalized service.

Whether it's for the tranquility of the Spa, for the pleasure of the golf, or for the thrill of a new adventure, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is a destination to be remembered for a lifetime.

For reservation information, visit [url]www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain[/url].

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MARANA, Ariz. - March 28, 2009 - Jack Nicklaus today formally dedicated the Tucson area's first Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in 25 years, celebrating the centerpiece of the high Sonoran Desert's new luxury resort golf community.

"We are excited and honored to have Jack Nicklaus with us," said David Mehl of Cottonwood Properties, which owns The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain. "Our goal is to provide our members and guests with the best desert golf experience in the world. That is why we selected the best golf course designer in the world to create that golf experience. The legendary Nicklaus focus and determination to create excellence is once again evident in this project."

The original 27 holes, along with a majestic clubhouse and tour-quality practice area of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain were initially unveiled in January. Only six weeks after opening, it debuted on the international stage as host of the 2009 World Golf Championships-Accenture World Match Play Championship, where Tiger Woods made his much-anticipated return to competition.

"I think it turned out to be a terrific golf course," said Nicklaus, who led a group of about 150 invited guests on a walking tour of the Tortolita Course. "This is a combination of tournament, resort and residential golf. People are going to be able to come here and have a nice golf course, an enjoyable playing experience. I'm very pleased with it."

At The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, Nicklaus has integrated solid strategy, variety and fair shot values that harmonize with the high desert elevation of 2,300 to 3,000 feet. Large greens with significant undulation, wide fairways and carries over desert washes define each course. The bunkering varies from classic, pot-style obstacles to expansive areas that stretch close to 80 yards along the edges of the fairways. The golf courses feature Bentgrass greens, while the tees, fairways and rough are Bermuda (with perennial rye overseed), ideal for the desert climate. An additional nine holes are planned.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain also features a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse with all of the services expected from a luxury private club including tennis courts, fitness center, steward-serviced private locker rooms, and a double-ended practice facility. The clubhouse includes indoor and outdoor dining venues with spectacular views, including Cayton's, a casual but refined restaurant named for legendary Dove Mountain homesteader and cowboy poet Eugene "Cush" Cayton, serving American comfort cuisine with a Southwestern flair.

When the resort hotel and spa open this fall, the property will be an indulgent retreat that features a 17,000-square-foot spa, the finest cuisine prepared by world-class chefs, and The Ritz-Carlton's unparalleled sophistication and personalized service throughout its 850 acres. Included are a 250-room hotel and adjacent cluster of secluded, multi-bedroom casitas-ideally suited for golfing families and friends.

"We are looking forward to welcoming guests this fall," said Michael McMahon, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. "Much of the heavy work has been done, as we stay on track toward completion. It's an exciting time, as we get closer to having every piece in place for our opening."

The resort's invigorating playground reaches out through a majestic Saguaro forest, where the adventurous can engage the lush desert along the Tortolita Mountains. Activities range from a casual nature walk to mounting up for an authentic, Old West cattle drive, as guests at Dove Mountain will have 20 miles of hiking trails (clearly mapped by National Geographic), along with marked mountain biking routes and guided jeep tours. Three swimming pools and a 235-foot water slide will gently flow throughout the water complex.

While the golf courses eventually will be accessible only by resident members and resort guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, open play is available for a limited time in 2009. The fee is $225 per player through May, which includes golf, cart, access to the practice facilities and required forecaddie from the distinctive Ritz-Carlton Caddie Concierge program.

Reservations are accepted 30 days in advance through the golf shop, (520) 572-3500. Also visit [url]www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain[/url].

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MARANA, Ariz. (May 13, 2009) - Its impressive debut on the world stage now part of golf history, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain is ready to provide guests with a chance to retrace the steps of golf's elite. Golfers have a limited opportunity to see and feel the same things as the top 64 players in the world did in the Accenture World Match Play Championship on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

Through September, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, welcomes non-member guests at the 27-hole luxury resort. A round is $85 per player, with a mid-day rate of $55 (after 10 a.m.) and twilight rate of $45 (after 2 p.m.). The club also offers a nine-hole option for $55, available throughout the day. Fees include golf, cart and access to the practice facilities and clubhouse.

"I visited Dove Mountain numerous times during construction, and now to see our work come to fruition, I am very pleased. I think it's turned out spectacular. I think the golf course has got great visual excitement," Nicklaus said of a design he intended to be shared by friends and legends alike. "It does make it a lot of fun. Each year (after the tournament) golfers will have the opportunity to relate back to those players and say, 'Hey, I saw Tiger here he didn't get it up and down, and I did.' Those are the kind of things that I think make the game enjoyable."

The three distinctive nine-hole layouts offer unique challenges and distinct character, blended naturally among noble saguaros that line the surrounding Tortolita Mountain Range. While unveiling his first golf course in the Tucson area since introducing La Paloma Country Club in 1984, Nicklaus has integrated solid strategy, variety and fair shot values on the over 7,800 yard course (from the back tees) that harmonize with the high desert elevation of 2,300 to 3,000 feet.

"I'm going to promise you, in two or three years this is going to be one of the favorite golf courses on the PGA Tour," Nicklaus predicts. "These guys are going to learn it how to play it and say, 'It's a challenge, but man, I enjoy playing it.' That's going to happen."

Guests also can enjoy the new 50,000 square-foot clubhouse, with all of the services expected from a private luxury club. Dining at Cayton's, the club's signature restaurant, which is open to the public, is an ideal complement to the golfing experience. Named for legendary Dove Mountain homesteader and cowboy poet Eugene "Cush" Cayton, the restaurant proudly serves American comfort cuisine with a Southwestern flair.

Reservations are accepted 30 days in advance for golf at (520) 572-3500 and for Cayton's Restaurant at (520) 572-3530, which will always remain open to the public. Also, please visit [url]www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain[/url]

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