club newsletter

may 2008

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The Markers Arrives in New Zealand!

The Club's newest residence is in New Zealand...one of the world's best golf and travel destinations. If you have played Scotland and Ireland...New Zealand should be next on your list. Club President, Ron Wade, just returned from a personal trip to New Zealand but while there was also able to identify and finalize a first class exchange residence at the brand new semi-private, The Kinloch Club.

Markers members can immediately request stays at this contemporary, new 4-bedroom, 4-bath masterpiece that sits comfortably overlooking the 3rd green of New Zealand's only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, The Kinloch Club. This course has been rated top new course outside North America for 2007 by Travel and Leisure Golf Magazine.

Staying at this home will be a unique experience in New Zealand. Ron Wade said, "New Zealand is perhaps one of the most amazing countries on the planet…each day I felt like I was part of a masterful oil painting scene!" There are direct flights are from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand. This destination is not as far away as you may have thought.

Next to this beautiful home, the surrounding area offers the best of what New Zealand has to offer: world class golf literally on your door step, internationally acclaimed trout fishing and outstanding hiking in the Tongariro National Park. Alternative outdoor activities include some of New Zealand's best skiing on the active volcano, Mount Ruapehu. The Wairakei International course is only a 15 minute drive and rated in the top 100 outside the US - (US Golf Digest 2005), and the mighty Cape Kidnappers (ranked 27th in the world - Golf Magazine 2005) is only 30 minutes away by helicopter. Access to a private spa treatments and an award winning chef are available on request.

The Markers welcomes New Zealand to the Club!


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The Markers Replaces Deer Valley Residence

Deer Valley, UT is a popular destination for our members and the Club is happy to announce a new and beautiful Deer Valley exchange residence. To view pictures and details, click here.


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Member Experience in Cabo San Lucas

The luxurious Cabo del Sol residence easily handled our party of 9 which included 4 couples and a teenager. During the day the guys played the amazing courses at Cabo del Sol and Palmilla while the gals swam with the dolphins, watched whales and enjoyed splendid treatment at nearby spas. The restaurants along the beach in downtown Cabo San Lucas and in the nearby resort hotels were excellent too. However the highlight for me was simple: getting up every morning at dawn and sitting on the back porch of the villa staring down at the beautiful 2nd hole at the Ocean Course with a view of the ocean to my left and hills to my right and wishing I'd never have to leave that place.

— Robert and Wendy H.

Encouraging news from SherpaReport, a destination club industry watchdog:

Realtors Announce Vacation Home Sales Drop in 2007, While Destination Club Interest Remains Strong

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just reported US vacation home sales dropped 30.6 percent in 2007. This drop is in marked contrast to the increase in fractional and destination club sales which saw an 8% growth in 2007. The average price for destination club membership is around $300,000.

Our take is that to some extent the affluent consumers who buy into luxury shared private residence clubs and destination clubs had been less affected by the current economic climate. In addition there are many affluent consumers who are still learning about the varying types of luxury shared ownership, and as they learn more they become more comfortable in buying into the clubs.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, stated that lifestyle factors and strong demographics remain positive for the vacation home market. "Investment considerations are secondary for vacation-home buyers, so there is some dormant underlying demand," he said. "A peak of population is moving through the prime years for buying recreational property."

The Markers agrees with this statement, and we think it applies to destination clubs like The Markers as much as it applies to regular vacation homes.

The Preview Membership

Interested in the benefits of membership in The Markers, but not quite ready to commit to a full membership? Try our Preview Membership -- the first of its kind in the destination club industry.

Currently, we have more than 15 families in our Preview Membership Program and we are pleased to give them the opportunity to enjoy full membership privileges for 12-months while they test-drive The Markers to see if the Club fits their lifestyle. The Preview Membership is available for a limited time and we allow only five (5) families per month to apply. For more information about the Preview Membership, click here.

www.TheMarkersClub.com