Glen Murray of the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Sarasota, Fla. rises to top as chain's top golf pro

By Tom Spousta, Contributor

SARASOTA, Fla. - Glen Murray admits he was a mediocre-at-best soccer player growing up in Brookfield, Wis., and looking to try another sport in high school, when on a whim he picked golf.

Glen Murray was honored as best worldwide in Ritz-Carlton golf.

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As a freshman, he barely made the team. As a sophomore, he dominated the junior varsity matches. He was All-Conference the next year, and as a senior, he was named All-State.

"I just wanted to find something to do," recalls Murray, director of golf operations for the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Sarasota, Fla. "I kicked soccer to the curb pretty quick after that."

Murray, the accidental golfer, had become consumed by the game, a passion that recently was honored when he was named Ritz-Carlton/Marriott International Golf Professional of the Year.

The annual award is given to the individual who consistently performs and exceeds in areas of sales and profit, leadership in personnel development, innovative program development and affinity programs.

It was akin to winning a full-field tournament. Murray's competition included nominees from Ritz-Carlton properties worldwide - 61 golf courses at 45 locations in 13 countries.

"I've been fortunate to work for an organization that believes in excellence in everything we do. We try to stay focused and stay balanced in all our areas every day," said Murray, who received the award at a presentation in October at Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota.

Glen Murray on joining Team Ritz-Carlton

Murray, who began working for Marriott International as a golf intern, vividly remembers the on-campus interview with Ritz-Carlton in his senior year at Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C. A week later, he was offered a job but was reluctant at first because he was already working for Meadowbrook Golf Group, a golf management company.

"I was getting ready to turn down the offer, but then Ritz-Carlton wanted me to go for six months in California and then six months in Phoenix," Murray said. "It was pretty special offer."

He also has been tapped to serve as a leader with numerous pre-openings and transition task force teams. The latest project he's been involved with is the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain near Tucson. Scheduled to open in January, the property features 27 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus and will host the PGA Tour's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

Murray also has been the assistant golf professional at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes, and the head golf professional at Grande Vista Resort. In 2005, he was named head golf professional at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, and in 2008, he was promoted to director of golf.

"For Glen to win this award is a testament to the success he has brought to our resort and to the company as a whole," says James E. McManemon, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. "He has quickly risen to leadership positions in our company because of his hard work, dedication and genuine care for employees and guests."

December 5, 2008