R&S Golf Forms Strategic Alliance With Jefferson Landing A development group headed by Ed Rodgers, a former vice president of the highly successful Bonita Bay Group of Bonita Springs, Fla., has formed a strategic alliance with Ed and Mark Vannoy to complete the Jefferson Landing golf community in Jefferson, N.C. R&S Golf, a golf destination investment and management company, will be responsible for the undeveloped real estate, lodging, and country club assets at Jefferson Landing. Ed and Mark Vannoy, who started Jefferson Landing in 1990, will remain active in the development of the community. Jefferson Landing is a gated, 490-acre community in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its centerpiece is a Golf Digest 4.5-star-rated course designed by U.S. Open and PGA Championship winner Larry Nelson. Its eastern border is defined by the New River, the oldest river in the United States, while Mount Jefferson State Park serves as the community’s backdrop. Rodgers was vice president and general manager of Bonita Bay community and oversaw the company’s amenities division. He joined the company in 1984, prior to the creation of any golf courses or the opening of the community. Under his leadership, Bonita Bay built a 45,000-square-foot clubhouse, five championship golf courses, an 18 court tennis club, developed a 10,000 square foot fitness facility, opened and operated a 450 slip full service marina. In addition, Rodgers was responsible for all sales and marketing of residential homesites and product as well as the operation of the Community Association. The Bonita Bay community now sees in excess of 125,000 rounds of golf a year, takes in annual dues revenue of more than $20 million, and achieves an annual real estate sales volume approaching $100 million. In 1999, Bonita Bay also won the Urban Land Institute’s Award for Excellence, the development industry’s highest honor. In all, Rodgers was involved with 16 courses at eight different communities for Bonita Bay Group, including TwinEagles, which hosts the Champions Tour’s ACE Group Classic at its Jack Nicklaus designed course. Rodgers recently retired from the Bonita Bay Group to pursue his career-long dream of owning a golf community. “I’ve been looking at communities throughout the Carolinas for years, and Jefferson Landing was the first opportunity impressive enough to entice me away from Bonita Bay,” said Rodgers, now managing principal of R&S Golf LLC, and chief operating officer at Jefferson Landing. “That speaks to the level of quality that the Vannoy brothers have achieved in the last 15 years.” “Our stated goal at Bonita Bay, which I will carry over to Jefferson Landing, was to always exceed the expectations of our residents and members,” he added. “I learned a lot over the course of two decades at Bonita Bay, and I look forward to marrying that experience with what the Vannoys have created here in Jefferson.” R&S Golf will immediately take over management of Jefferson Landing’s golf and clubhouse services, lodging, and real estate brokerage, which handles the sale of new and existing homes, townhomes, and undeveloped mountain, golf and river homesites. The Vannoys will continue to live in Jefferson Landing, as will Rodgers. “Having Rodgers involved in every phase of our operations will only enhance Jefferson Landing,” said Ed Vannoy. “My brother Mark and I will continue to build townhomes in and around the golf course and will remain very much a part of a community we call home. At the same time, we look forward to turning over the reins to someone whose credentials speak for themselves.” Rodgers is a 25-year member of the Professional Golf Association of America, which named him the South Florida section’s Golf Professional of the Year in 1985. Under his leadership, the Bonita Bay Group also won Golf Digest’s Environmental Leader in Golf Award and the Council for Sustainable Florida’s Outstanding Performance recognition. He holds a marketing degree from the University of West Florida.