Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort, one of the world's premier golf destinations, announces the reopening of the famous Blue Monster Golf Course, a 2007 World Golf Championship venue, after a four-month renovation.

One of five championship golf courses at Doral, the Blue Monster underwent a series of refinements to help enhance the overall golf experience at the Florida resort, and prepare the course for the CA Championship, a World Golf Championship event that attracts the world's best golfers, March 20-25, 2007.

"As with any golf course that is considered a world-class property, the Blue Monster needs constant refreshing to ensure consistent playing conditions year-round, while continually providing a memorable experience to the tens of thousands of golfers that play the course each year," said Darrin Helfrick, general manager of golf at the Miami luxury hotel. "Equally important, many of the projects that took place during this refinement phase will enable our team to provide a stellar venue when golf's best players compete on the Blue Monster during the 2007 CA Championship.".

Highlighting the refinements to the Blue Monster was the re-grassing of all 18 greens, as well as the practice putting green, with TifEagle Bermuda grass. Additionally, the course underwent a complete landscape renovation, and a full bunker makeover. The project included a complete cart path replacement, featuring new concrete to help improve overall course management. This was highlighted by the installation of special 10-foot-wide paths, with extra reinforcements, which were added to a few strategic areas of the course to help in CA Championship tournament set-up.

"Anyone who has played the Blue Monster, including the PGA TOUR professionals who compete here annually, know that this is a course defined by character and competitiveness," Helfrick added. "As such, this refinement has enabled us to maintain the Blue Monster's identity, while at the same time enhancing the overall playing conditions, aesthetics and maneuverability of the golf course."

The 693-room Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort, is operated by Marriott Golf, Marriott International's in-house golf business management arm and the world's largest resort golf management company. Featuring five 18-hole championship courses, and commonly referred to as the Kingdom of Golf, the resort boasts the famous Blue Monster course - home to the PGA Tour for over 40 years. Situated on 650 tropical acres, the Florida spa resort is home to the exquisite Spa at Doral, a combination of classic Italian villa charm and modern and refreshing spa treatments, complemented by the Blue Lagoon aquatic recreation area, which features cascading waterfalls and a 150-foot waterslide. The Florida golf resort also features five incredible restaurants, and over 90,000-sq. ft. of meeting and event spaceFor more information, or to reserve a room, call (800) 713-6725, or visit http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIADL

1/12/2006