FORE THE LOVE OF GOLF

WITH MATT ANZALONE OF BLUESTAR RESORT & GOLF, TRILOGY’S® TRUSTED HOSPITALITY PARTNER

In 2022, BlueStar Resort & Golf welcomed a new member to the senior team, Matt Anzalone. Matt’s role is to oversee the golf operations within the Trilogy® network, but, beyond that, to ensure golf is being supported at all Trilogy communities – whether there is a course on-site or not. Now a few months in, Matt is starting to be more and more visible at the Clubs, so we wanted to spend some time learning what’s on his mind. We met in his favorite place – on the practice green at Verde River Golf & Social Club, the centerpiece of the Trilogy® at Verde RiverTM community.

MTL: You’re relatively new to the team. As the leader of the golf teams throughout Trilogy, what are you hoping to accomplish?

MA: I am hoping to encourage Members to view golf as a pathway to fun, competition, nature, and lifelong friends. We want to open up the game to new people through player development programs, and at the same time, stoke the fire within those who may have let their passion for the game wane.

MTL: How do you balance your responsibilities between communities that have golf courses versus communities with golfers but no golf course on-site?

MA: My responsibilities are different at each community, but the goal is always the same – use the game of golf as a gateway to a more enjoyable life. Where we have courses within the communities, I’ll work with the PGA Professionals to improve community outreach. And in communities where golf is nearby but not on-site, I’ll educate our teams on how to reach out and build relationships on behalf of our Members.

MTL: As basically the same game for the last two centuries, why do you think golf continues to be popular? Especially, given the fact that everything else has changed so much.

MA: Golf is a game for a lifetime, and in that respect it is distinct. There are trends we see now to evolve or update the game – Top Golf, hybrid courses, large cups, etc. – but the common appeal is in the game’s social opportunities and, candidly, its relative difficulty Eventually checkers becomes boring, so people progress to chess. The infinite permutations of golf are very much the same way. Once its hooks are set, there’s almost no getting them out!

MTL: What makes you love the game so much?

MA: It just takes one good swing, one good chip, or one good putt to keep you coming back. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be one of your own good shots to unlock that joy. Seeing others hit their first great shot – or their millionth great shot – is something I particularly enjoy as a PGA Professional (and deputized ambassador of the game).

MTL: What is your own favorite golf memory?

MA: It has to be when I got my first (and only) hole-in-one. I was coaching a local high school team, and we were playing a practice round. I made it midway through the round, and though I was personally excited, seeing the joy of the young aspiring golfers made it memorable. Golf is unique in that way. I’ll remember that shot for the rest of my life, and I bet many of those kids will, too.

MTL: I understand that Trilogy Members have an opportunity to go to Scotland in 2023 to visit and play St. Andrews – among other venues What can you tell people who are considering taking this trip?

MA: Visiting St. Andrews is a pilgrimage for those who truly love the game. If you fit this bill, do not hesitate to go. Save the money, make the dates work, whatever you have to do. So much of golf’s history is in Scotland and experiencing that is worth it all.

MTL: Do you have a favorite golf course in the Trilogy network?

MA: That’s a tough question because they all have so much character. Trilogy® at Vistancia® has stood the test of time (and it doesn't hurt that you can hang in V's Taproom for a drink and appetizer afterwards). Encanterra®’s wide-open feel makes it unique for Arizona, so it’s always a good place to play. Verde River is quite possibly Tom Lehman’s best work (plus the setting is amazing). For me, the venue matters some, but the people matter most; my favorite course is the one where I’m joined by my friends. n

Matt Anzalone is the Vice President of Golf & Club Operations for BlueStar Resort & Golf. Don't let his "corporate" title fool you, though, as his background spans 20-plus years in the golf industry, beginning on the ground level as an operator at both private and public facilities. In addition to visiting the Clubs and working alongside team members, Matt stays in touch with the local community by conducting charity and volunteer work. He’s also very involved with the PGA of America, both in his section and at the national level. In his free time, Matt enjoys playing golf, working out, and spending time with his wife, Emily, and their two sons, Ethan, 4, and Maverick, 2.