Taylor Morrison Taps C.W. Golf Architecture to Design New Courses in Lakewood Ranch and Naples

SARASOTA, FL, April 21, 2013 (Press-News.org) After deciding to include golf courses as part of two new country club communities in Florida this year, the West Florida Division of Taylor Morrison conducted a national search for a designer who could create beautiful yet challenging fairways while preserving the natural beauty of the land. C.W. Golf Architecture will be that company to direct the development of the new courses at Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch and Esplanade Golf and Country Club of Naples. Headed by veteran designer Chris Wilczynski, the firm has been tapped to oversee the creation of two 18-hole championship courses that are slated to open for play in 2014.

"We are delighted to have Chris and his team as our partner in these exciting ventures," said Cammie Longenecker, vice president of sales and marketing for Taylor Morrison West Florida. " We are confident that the finished courses will not only be a source of great value and enjoyment for Esplanade residents, but will be stand-out facilities that attract the interest and attention of golfers across the state and country."

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Wilczynski has been in the business of golf course design for 20 years and was an award-wining partner and design associate with Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates for two decades. He has a long list of notable golf courses to his credit, including sites in California, Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Virginia, New York, Colorado, Tennessee, and Ontario. On a regional level, he was involved in the renovation of the Forest Glen Golf and Country Club in Naples, the master plan for Stoneybrook Golf Club in Sarasota, and the development of River Strand Golf Club and Stoneybrook Golf Club at Heritage Harbor in Bradenton.

"I'm honored to have been chosen for these projects," said Wilczynski. "I've seen a lot of courses in Florida, and I feel like I have a good understanding of what makes a good golf experience. Aesthetics and playability are my two priorities."

Plans for the new courses in Lakewood Ranch and Naples call for fairways to be carefully integrated into their natural surroundings. Strategically placed buffers are expected to provide a sense of privacy for both residents and golfers, while a series of water obstacles are planned to be incorporated to challenge experienced players and enhance the beauty of the course.

Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch is a gated and maintenance-free neighborhood encompassing some 600 acres and 1,250 homesites. As an active lifestyle community, it features an impressive list of recreational offerings some of which are currently open and some of which are planned to open, including two Amenity Centers, multiple pools, a tennis center, a spa and fitness center, and a full-time Lifestyle Director. Building is in keeping with environmental standards set by Lakewood Ranch as the largest green certified community in America.

A bit further to the south is Taylor Morrison's new Esplanade Golf and Country Club of Naples. Offering a relaxed, resort lifestyle, this community includes nearly 1,800 acres, over 1,000 of which are dedicated to natural preserves. When complete, the development is expected to feature approximately 1,121 single family homes and coach homes, a swim center with lap and lagoon pools, a tennis center, a distinctive greenway trail system, and various other outdoor and social amenities.

For more information about Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch, call 941-799-5496 or visit the on-site sales center located at 5235 Esplanade Blvd. To learn more about Esplanade Golf and Country Club of Naples, call 866-495-6006. Details about both communities are available online at http://www.taylormorrison.com.

About C.W. Golf Architecture
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, C.W. Golf Architecture was founded in 2010 by Chris Wilczynski, a 20-year industry veteran and member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. The firm is a full-service golf course design company that specializes in the design of new courses as well as the renovation and master planning of existing ones. Wilczynski graduated from Michigan State University in 1994 with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Over the next 20 years, he honed his skills as an associate and eventually a partner at Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates where he collaborated on design projects ranging from upscale public, private and resort courses to master-planned golf communities and course renovations. For more information, visit http://www.cwgolfarch.com

About Taylor Morrison
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Company operates in the U.S. under the Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes brands and in Canada under the Monarch brand. Taylor Morrison is a land developer and builder of single-family detached and attached homes serving a wide array of customers from first-time buyers and move-up families to luxury and active adult customers. Taylor Morrison divisions operate in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida and Texas. Darling Homes serves move-up families and luxury homebuyers in Texas. Monarch, Canada's oldest homebuilder builds homes for first-time buyers and move-up families in Toronto and Ottawa as well as high rise condominiums in Toronto.

For more information about Taylor Morrison, Darling Homes or Monarch, please visit http://www.taylormorrison.com, http://www.darlinghomes.com and http://www.monarchgroup.net.

For more information about Taylor Morrison communities in West Florida, call 866-495-6006 or visit http://www.taylormorrison.com.