Cone Communications Co.
The Club at the Dunes, a private club within The Dunes of Naples residential community in North Naples, has been awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Club” designation by BoardRoom magazine. This honor by the official publication of the Association of Private Club Directors recognizes the best of the best private clubs throughout the nation.
To be a “Distinguished Club” is to be one of only a few, highly select private clubs that are recognized as providing an exceptional member experience at a level attained by only the finest clubs in the country. The list of clubs is determined by a thorough vetting and awarding process conducted by BoardRoom magazine’s team of industry specialists.
“We are honored to become part of this small cluster of exceptional Club operations,” said Robert D. Podley, CCM, General Manager for The Club at the Dunes. “As a merit-based award, the ‘Distinguished Club’ award truly recognizes the Board and the team for their continued efforts in providing a premier lifestyle on Florida’s Paradise Coast.”
BoardRoom magazine’s entirely merit-based Distinguished Clubs award program uses a club-specific rating system that recognizes the club, its management and its staff for outstanding delivery of exceptional member experience. The Club at the Dunes exceeded the required criteria in the areas of nomination, survey answers, Net Promotor Score, Overall Member Experience Index and post-survey evaluation thresholds.
The Distinguished Clubs award program is a stepped process that includes:
- Committee Nomination: In order for a club to participate in the Distinguished Clubs award program, it must first be officially nominated by the Distinguished Clubs Nomination Committee, a diverse group comprised of some of the most highly regarded leaders in the private club industry.
- Site Visit: An in-person site visit is conducted to evaluate and compile the many contributing facets of each “Quality Criteria” that collectively comprise a club’s overall member experience.
- Formulaic Audit: Based on the compiled site-visit data, Distinguished Clubs personnel applies the proprietary formula to distill and quantify the club’s unique member experience quotient.
- Report: A confidential evaluation report is issued to the club’s General Manager.
- Award & Recognition: If the Distinguished Clubs’ formulaic audit verifies that the club is delivering member experience at the highest level, Distinguished Club status is awarded, along with individual department leadership recognition.
- Yearly Verification: Alternating year-to-year onsite survey visits and telephone-based interviews with club management are required to maintain award status.
The “Distinguished Club” designation adds to an impressive list of accolades The Club at the Dunes has received over the last 20-plus months. Other honors include induction into the Naples Chapter of the Chaines des Rotisseurs Society, the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world; 2021 Golden Fork Award by Golf Inc. Magazine; “Top Ranked Patio, Wellness Facilities, Culinary Operations, Racquet Facilities and Clubhouse” by Club + Resort Business; and a 2021 and 2022 CMAA Wine Society Award. The Club at the Dunes also was deemed as one of America’s Healthiest Clubs.
Located just steps from Vanderbilt Beach, The Dunes of Naples is comprised of seven high-rise towers of high-end luxury condominiums and 40 luxury coach homes. The Dunes of Naples is managed by Troon, the world’s largest golf and private club management company providing services at more than 600 locations around the globe.
In 2019, The Club at the Dunes completed a $9.2 million renovation and expansion project. The new coastal-themed amenities center features a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse with a new Royal Palm Room restaurant; SandBar indoor/outdoor bar; and a flexible club room for events. In addition, a new Tiki Bar was added as a popular poolside destination for residents of The Dunes of Naples and their guests.
As part of the renovation and expansion, the entire pool area was renovated and now includes fire pit tables and a lounge area in a new courtyard. The wellness and fitness center also were expanded, adding a group exercise room, two rooms dedicated to massages or physical therapy, a new tennis office and pro shop, and a recreational game room equipped with pool table, ping pong tables and shuffle board.
For additional information, visit www.dunesofnaples.com or call 239-593-9680.
