Famous Destination Club Sports Members and Partnerships

The Rays and Phillies have just concluded the World Series. Football powerhouses are already jockeying for playoff position in the NFL. Hopes are high for everyone as basketball and hockey are getting underway. Now is a great time for sports.

Destination clubs have long catered to luxury travelers across the globe and count respected doctors and lawyers, company executives, and numerous other professionals in their ranks. While many of these individuals could walk the streets of any city without getting noticed, destination clubs have grown to include sports stars who get noticed on a daily basis. Destination clubs have not only embraced these members, but have included them in marketing efforts, created memberships specifically for them, and even brought them on staff.

Football

Football dominates the Sunday television market and several retired stars now serve as destination club spokespersons. Hall of Fame Quarterback Steve Young served as the Private Escapes spokesperson prior to the Ultimate Escapes merger. Young won three Super Bowl titles, led the league in passing six times, and posted the highest career passer rating during his time with the 49ers. Exclusive Resorts signed another three time Super Bowl winner, Ed McCaffrey, to serve as the Vice President of Sports and Entertainment just months after his retirement. McCaffrey would focus on increasing the brand awareness to athletes and entertainers. "Exclusive Resorts is the ultimate way to vacation and spend time with family and friends," McCaffrey said. "I'm looking forward to educating other athletes and entertainers about how to make the world their second home."

Warren Sapp, the recently retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders star and Super Bowl champion travels with CareFree Elite, a destination club that offers a membership specifically to off-season athletes. Following his retirement earlier this year, Sapp's retirement party was hosted at a South Beach mansion by CareFree Elite. Jamie Foxx, another CareFree Elite member and members of the Miami Heat were some of the 200 people in attendance.

Former teammates in San Diego, Donnie Edwards and Drew Brees both joined Exclusive Resorts following a partnership between the NFL Players Association and the luxury vacation club. Exclusive Resorts made a charitable donation of $25,000 on behalf of the NFLPA and make an additional contribution to a charitable organization designated by the NFLPA for every NFLPA member who joined Exclusive Resorts.

Exclusive Resorts partnership wasn't the first NFL Partnership. Prior to their merger with Quintess, Dream Catcher Retreats partnered with the New England Patriots and offered premium season ticket holders special pricing.

Baseball

First ballot Hall of Famer and the man with the second highest single season batting average since 1941, George Brett, is a member of Exclusive Resorts. Despite his many accolades, Brett may be most well known for his involvement in one of baseball's most memorable events. With his Royals trailing the Yankees 4-3 with two outs and a runner on first in the top of the ninth inning, Brett came up to the plate. Another future Hall of Famer Rich "Goose" Gossage pitched for the Yankees. Brett connected off Gossage for a home run, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead. As Brett circled the bases, Yankee manager Billy Martin approached the home plate umpire, Tim McClelland. Martin cited Rule 1.10(b) of the Major League Baseball rule book, stating that "a bat may not be covered by such a substance more than 18 inches from the tip of the handle." Brett's bat was coated in pine tar up the handle and into the barrel. McClelland measured the handle of the bat across the front of home plate, measuring 17 inches, and called Brett out. Brett jumped from the dugout and stormed out to confront McClelland. Brett's out ended the game leading commentators to say "Brett has become the first player in history to hit a game-losing home run."

American League President and former Yankees Chief Executive, Lee MacPhail, upheld a protest filed by the Royal and ordered the game to be resumed after Brett's homerun with the Royals leading 5-4 with Brett ejected for his outburst. Nearly a month later, the game resumed with the Royals Hal McRae striking out to end the top half of the ninth and Dan Quisenberry of the Royals preserving the victory in the bottom half of the inning.

Coincidently, McClelland was also umpiring the game when Brett picked up his 3,000th hit and was one of the first to congratulate him.

Prior to the Portofino bankruptcy filing, Steve Trachsel, a pitcher for various teams in both the American and National leagues was a satisfied Portofino Club member.

A former second baseman and designated hitter, Davey Johnson is a member of Ultimate Escapes and an Olympic medal winner. Johnson played 13 seasons in the Big Leagues for the Orioles, Braves, Phillies and Cubs. A four-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, Johnson became manager of the New York Mets in 1984 and brought the team a World Series Championship in 1986.

As a second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles in 1969, Johnson helped lead the team to the American League Pennant and into the World Series. Beside Johnson in the Orioles roster included some of baseball's all-time greats. Hard hitting Frank Robinson crushed 586 home runs over the course of his career. Third baseman Brooks Robinson won an astonishing 16 consecutive gold gloves. Right hander Jim Palmer won three Cy Young Awards and won 20 games in eight different seasons. All were ranked in the top 100 Greatest Baseball Players according to The Sporting News. Winning 109 games in 1969, the Orioles were heavy favorites over "The Miracle Mets."

The Mets were a lowly expansion team in 1962, composed of castoffs from other squads and raw newcomers without much upside. Casey Stengel, the Mets' first manager, said in his first press conference "It's a great honor for me to be joining the Knickerbockers." In a desperate attempt to gain more talent, the Mets traded a player to be named later to the Cleveland Indians for catcher Harry Chiti. Chiti proved so ineffective that the Mets traded him back, making him the first player in baseball history to be traded for himself. In 1969, the Mets pre-season odds of winning the pennant were 100-1.

Many baseball analysts predicted the Mets might take Game 1 of the series behind the strength of Tom Seaver's arm, but gave them little shot past that. Just the opposite occured. Seaver was defeated in game one, but the Mets went on to win the next three. In game five, leading going into the top of the ninth, the Mets' left fielder, Cleon Jones, caught a lazy fly ball off the bat of none other than Davey Johnson, the man who would go on to manage them 15 years later.

Johnson recently led the 2008 Men's Baseball team to an Olympic Bronze Medal. "The highest honor of my career is being manager of the U.S. baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China," Johnson said. "And, just like the great times I've had as a member of Ultimate Escapes, I'm enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences and building rich memories with friends and family that I'll always cherish."

Jeff Conine, a two-time World Series champion and the 1995 MLB All-Star Game MVP, serves on the management team of Abundant Life Destination Club. Also on the Abundant Life Club team is Norman Amster who founded a company called Dream Week, Inc. prior to working with Abundant Life. Dream Week provided fantasy vacations to sports fans of baseball, hockey, and basketball.

Basketball

Ultimate Escapes has two elite NBA coaches in their ranks, NBA Championship coach Doc Rivers and George Karl of the Denver Nuggets. Doc Rivers was an Ultimate Resort member and George Karl was a Private Escapes member prior to the Ultimate Escapes merger.

Following the Boston Celtics' victory over the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Championship, Ultimate Escapes CEO Jim Tousignant congratulated Coach Rivers. "As a member of Ultimate Escapes since 2006, we're excited to recognize him for this outstanding achievement. Now that Doc has vanquished the Lakers, his toughest challenge will be deciding which of the 150 Ultimate Escapes destinations to take his family on vacation to relax and rejuvenate after his historic season!"

Hockey

It is only fair that the leading Canadian destination club, M Private Residences, has members from the country's favorite sport, hockey. Like many destination clubs, M Private Residences does not disclose members' names but does state that they do count both NHL and NFL players as members.

Golf

As destination clubs are most widely compared to country clubs, it isn't surprising that destination clubs and golf have a strong synergy. The Markers Club marries the idea of destination club travel with luxury golf. As a member of The Markers, each home is located near local, world class prized golf courses, often with preferred rates at the club, with your tee time reserved for you before you even leave for vacation.

As the destination club for golfers, not surprisingly The Markers Club maintains an extensive list of professional golf members and partnerships. Bruce Summerhays serves as Co-Chairman of The Markers' Club Player's Council. The Player's Council also counts Hall of Famers Billy Casper and Donna Caponi and golf professionals Joe Inman, John Harris, and Matt Weibring. Markers members also can enjoy a custom fitting at Ping's headquarters in Scottsdale and enjoy a customized instructional program created by The Markers Club and Golf Digest Schools. As a member of The Markers Club, 200 private clubs are also available to you.

One Key World, a destination club that leases the residences available to members rather than owning like most destination clubs, includes golfers Jim Furyk and Woody Austin amongst their members. Earlier this year, One Key World offered a round with Jim Furyk as a promotion to prospects who completed a form on the One Key World website. One Key World members purchase a pre-paid travel card and can travel to over 400 vetted homes around the world.
Former world number one Tom Lehman is a member of the boutique destination club Lusso Collection and broadcaster David Feherty is a member of Ultimate Escapes.

Widely believed to be the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus won 113 tournaments during his professional career. In his 163 majors, "The Golden Bear" won 18 events and finished in the top ten 73 times. His family owned firm, Nicklaus Design, has assisted in the creation of 300 spectacular courses in over 28 countries. Nearly 50 of these courses have been ranked in Top 100 lists in various golfing publications. As a partner with leading destination club Exclusive Resorts, Nicklaus and Nicklaus Design help the club explore real estate development opportunities and provide guidance on the club's golf program. In addition, Nicklaus attends member events and provides Exclusive Resorts' members golf tips and insights to Nicklaus designed courses available to members. Tennis Less than one month into retirement, Andre Agassi brought his eight major victories to Exclusive Resorts to help assist the club in developing tennis and fitness experiences in the club. Following his French Open win in 1999, Agassi danced the traditional champion's dance with the female French Open winner, Steffi Graf. They began dating after that dance. Since then they have gotten married and have two children. "I was looking for a way to create memories for me and my family and found Exclusive Resorts."
Boxing

Even the "sweet science" has a destination club affiliation. CareFree Elite sponsored Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins in his victories over both Winky Wright and Kelly Pavlik. Hopkins defeated Wright via decision in a fight last year, defending his light heavyweight title against the former undisputed junior middleweight champion. Just last month, the 43 year old Hopkins defeated the undefeated, 26 year old Kelly Pavlik in what many called a land slide. Nearly stopping Pavlik in the 12th, the fight went to the cards where Hopkins was up 119-106, 118-108, 117-109. Many boxing analysts gave every round to Hopkins. CareFree Elite was in attendance for the fight.

Cycling

Three time Tour de France winner Greg LaMond owns a home at the exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana. The Yellowstone Club soon spiraled from an exclusive gated community to the creation of Yellowstone Club World, an ultra-luxury destination club composed of Yellowstone Club owners. Tim and Edra Blixseth allegedly attempted to buy LaMond's shares of the Yellowstone Club for a fraction of their true value according to LaMond. Following a lengthy court battle, LaMond and Yellowstone Club reached a settlement earlier this year. The legal battles with LaMond coupled with Tim and Edra's divorce ultimately led to Yellowstone Club World's closure.

Elite travelers run the gamut from doctors to lawyers, retirees to young executives. The destination club world has a growing number of recognizable sports stars amongst their ranks, and why not? Much like professionals across other industries, sports stars work day in and day out and want to enjoy their vacation as much as anyone. As professional athletes, they are used to traveling to their next game or event non-stop throughout their season. As destination club members, they are also getting used to enjoying luxury vacation homes around the world for less than the cost of the down payment they put on their own home.

Famous Destination Club Sports Membes and Partnerships