News
January 3, 2020 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
With over 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management, Bernadette Robinson is a key addition to the Aquidneck management team.
Bernadette brings a career filled with strong leadership, professionalism and experience to this new role. She comes to us directly from a non-profit educational organization where she served as the Director of Finance and Administration.
Previously, she spent 12 years as Controller of the prestigious Old Sandwich Golf Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts where she oversaw multiple areas of clubhouse operations, as well as developing and managing their comprehensive financial and human resource systems and programs.
Bernadette's consistent track record of designing and implementing successful processes within a Club environment helped her stand out among our many applicants. In addition, her effective communication skills, positive and professional attitude, and commitment to continuously surpass expectations makes Bernadette the perfect individual to lead our growing Finance and Administration department.
Bernadette has two adult children and currently resides on Cape Cod with her husband Dan. A Massachusetts native, she enjoys any activity that gets her outdoors where she can enjoy all the natural beauty the Cape has to offer. She values giving back to her community and serves on the Board of Directors of the Cape Cod Community College Education Foundation and volunteers for Cape Kids Meals.
Please join us in welcoming Bernadette to The Aquidneck Club when she begins her role in early January.
December 26, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
After an extensive search by our selection committee with a number of interviews and tastings, The Aquidneck Club is excited to introduce our new Executive Chef Michael Nevelos.
Michael specializes in fine dining with a farm to table approach. His unique background, boasting 10 years in the prestigious kitchen of The Oyster Harbors Club, in Osterville, MA, and owning and operating his own organic apple farm, speaks to his passion for providing seasonal, high-quality dining experiences in a Club atmosphere.
Michael comes to us with over 20 years of Club culinary experience. After a decade of rising through the ranks at Oyster Harbors, Michael bought and operated an organic orchard in Connecticut, where he offered local farmhouse dining featuring ingredients grown and raised on his property or sourced from other local farmers.
Michael holds a Culinary Arts degree from Johnson and Wales and has expertise in all facets of the industry, including casual and fine dining, intimate and large-scale settings. His passion for ingredients, his high standards for menu creation and kitchen management, and his warm personality make Michael a perfect fit for The Aquidneck Club.
Michael and his partner Deb are excited to relocate back to the area in the new year.
December 9, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
We are thrilled to announce Matthew Hillier as the Head Golf Professional for The Aquidneck Club. With the rapid growth of the club and in preparation for the future, we have added this new position to work in partnership with our Director of Golf Ed Kirby in the leadership of the Golf Department.
Matt comes to us directly from New Jersey's esteemed Pine Valley Golf Club where he has held the title of First Assistant Professional since 2016, and previously as a rising talent through a number of top club's in Florida and the North East, including The Fisher Island Club and The Club at Old Cypress in Naples.
A graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University, Matt completed his degree in Professional Golf Management in 2011. As a Class A PGA professional Matt is strong leader, talented merchandiser, experienced instructor and tournament coordinator, and an accomplished player.
Matt will be responsible for the day to day management of the golf department, including personnel management, outside and golf shop operations and tournament coordination. He brings his professional expertise and unique perspective to an already thriving team. With the addition of Matthew to the team, we are confident The Aquidneck Club is on its way to creating one of the finest golf programs in the country.
Matthew and his wife Jennifer are relocating from Pennsylvania in the new year to Rhode Island and will join the golf team for the 2020 season. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Matthew and Jennifer as they join the Aquidneck family.
September 26, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
The Golf Channel had selected The Aquidneck Club as host for three broadcasts featuring PGA Touring Professional Billy Andrade and host Gary Williams.
A dedicated team of golf and media professionals brought a panoply of production equipment and worked hard to create the episodes on a beautiful "Aquidneck" day in early July. The show topics were on "Short Game", "Full Swing" and "Fairways and Greens". The three episodes aired on August 19, August 26 and September 2, 2019. The TV programs showcase the spectacular beauty of The Aquidneck Club, and the quality and design of our world-class Championship golf course.
Watch the three programs below:
August 6, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
Portsmouth, Rhode Island – On August 24th, The Aquidneck Club was fully transformed to create a party unlike any other. The seaside venue welcomed members and exclusive guests to see first-hand what Aquidneck life is like.
Outstanding food, music and a chic vibe made this the party of the season. Guests sipped on on classic cocktails, dined on a delectable raw bar and sushi, and viewed the most beautiful sunset on Rhode Islands, in our tent by the sea. There was dancing all evening to The Sultans of Swing, one of New England's most popular event bands, and an outstanding surf and turf prepared by Chef and Sommelier Jason Vieira.
And while this beautiful seaside location, the outstanding cuisine and the fantastic music would typically be enough to create a world-class party, the bonus of this evening was the presence of Giorgio Armani and Saks Fifth Avenue who co-hosted this lifestyle experience.
Giorgio Armani's team transformed the club into a fashion boutique, featuring runway models wearing the latest for the Fall / Winter season and provided an opportunity for members and guests to make purchases.
Attendees were able to preview an exclusive selection of Armani furniture, men's and women's ready-to-wear, purses, accessories, and footwear from the Fall Winter 2019 collections, ranging from elegant essentials and statement pieces to suiting as well as the famous Armani jacket.
Our women guests were treated to Giorgio Armani Beauty's Celebrity face designer Tim Quinn and his team of artists who was available for personalized beauty consultations and applications, from red carpet glamour to natural and effortless day looks.
Armani also provided a special gift for each and every attendee.
There was no better way to cap off the summer party season than with a celebration of fashion, friends and fun. For more information about the club, call us at 401-682-6000. Or email us at [email protected].
August 5, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
Portsmouth, Rhode Island – The Aquidneck Club is an important sponsor of one of Newports most exciting annual event; Audrain's Newport Concours & Motor Week that will occur on October 3 through October 6 this year. This summer, during the build-up to the event, our club will host Audrain's VIP Sponsor Golf Outing and during the week of event, we will host Audrain's Charity Golf Outing.
We will also have a presence at the event with at our booth. We invite our members, our friends and the general public interested to know more about the club to visit us during this outstanding event.
The four-day event features fine dining pop-ups, exhibitions of rare and exciting automobiles, symposiums, shopping, tennis, golf and sailing along the Newport coast. Then, once the sun goes down, experience exclusive concerts, galas and VIP parties hosted in the Gatsby-esque mansions that populate America's original luxury capital.
The four-day program concludes with a centerpiece event, the Concours d'Elegance, which will feature a world-class collection of over a billion dollars worth of rare and vintage cars. .
One of the most famous car enthusiasts in Hollywood, Jay Leno, is the chairman of this year's Audrain's Newport Concours & Motor Week 2019 and he will be joined by premier automotive expert and TV personality Donald Osbourne, who serves as the Concours d'Elegance chairman.
Audrain's Newport Concours & Motor Week 2019 will see Grammy-award winning superstar John Legend take the stage of the International Tennis Hall of Fame for a private concert. Music superstar Kenny Loggins will also be performing at the Annual Gala along with Jay Leno.
The first American car race, the Vanderbilt Cup, took place in the historic Newport area. On September 6, 1900, Willie K.Vanderbilt and some of his closest friends traveled to the nearby horse track to race their newly-imported automobiles. Little did they realize the impact the Vanderbilt Cup would have on American racing culture.
Given its rich motoring history, Newport is the premiere destination for a Concours & Motor Week. Beautiful, historic mansions and the seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean provide the most elegant of backdrops. Audrain's Newport Concours & Motor Week will be a celebration of the automobile, uniting enthusiasts from around the world.
August 4, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
Portsmouth, RI – In January of 2019, twelve entrepreneurial members of the former Carnegie Abbey Country Club came together to purchase the assets of that original club. This diverse team of visionaries believed that the club, if properly managed and improved would be one of the most valuable and highly coveted sporting paradises in all of New England.
The incredible location on the Narraganset Bay in beautiful Newport County is already hitting its stride. By the end of July, just seven short months since its founding, The Aquidneck Club had gone from 0 to 200 dues paying members. This recreational utopia, complete with championship golf, tennis, an equestrian center, gym, a European spa, pool, a marina and fine dining, truly has it all.
"The investment of a lot of time and money is really starting to pay off," said Founder and Club President Andrew Tuchler. "Updates to club infrastructure, the addition of great new programming, and the development of a members services team that is second-to-none has elevated our offering."
Some former members of the previous club stayed on the sideline for a while, waiting for the new club to sort itself out. Most realized very quickly that the new club, with its commitment to continuous improvement and its firm financial footing should not be missed.
"As a past member of the Carnegie Abbey Club, I was encouraged and hopeful that the new ownership would turn things around. After recently visiting the new Aquidneck Club for the first time you could feel the positive, uplifting atmosphere. Everyone was so relaxed from members to employees. Consequently, it was a "no brainer" to return as a member and my family is delighted!" said Ed Miccolis.
The new club has already become a valuable member of the Greater Newport County community. Partnerships and events have been orchestrated with St. Philomena School, the Portsmouth Abbey School, Providence Country Day, Portsmouth Senior High, and the Rocky Hill School to name just a few. And in the beginning of August, The Royal Order of Fun's event: "Raising the Roof" with to benefit the Potter League for Animals took place at Aquidneck. A partnership has also been forged with Audrains Automobilie Museum, and their big October event in Newport.
Prominent real estate broker, Stacie Mills, can sense the momentum: "It has been great to introduce potential buyers and future members to this new exciting phase of the Aquidneck Club. We have definitely seen the momentum build with several sales in recent months."
Founder Mike Barone spoke about memberships, "Our vision and mission since launch has always been to enrich the lives of our members through a unique offering of first-class recreational activities centered around an exceptional golf course, elegant dining and social experiences as well as unparalleled personalized services. These attributes foster a lifestyle of enduring friendships and a warm sense of community. As we continue to execute on this vision, interest in our club has grown exponentially."
With plans for more programming, and more club infrastructure investments to come, the Aquidneck Club will be THE place to spend leisure time on the Rhode Island coast. For more information: Contact our Director of Membership & Marketing Laura Decker at 401-423-4239 or [email protected].
July 30, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News / by Cary Benjamin
The Golf Channel has selected The Aquidneck Club as host for three broadcasts featuring PGA Touring Professional Billy Andrade and host Gary Williams. A local favorite, Andrade was born in neighboring Bristol, Rhode Island, and was American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) alum and 1981 Rolex Junior Player of the Year. After attending Wake Forest University, where they won the NCAA Championship in 1986, Andrade turned professional in 1987 and joined the PGA tour.
A dedicated team of golf and media professionals brought a panoply of production equipment and worked hard to create the episodes on a beautiful "Aquidneck" day in early July. The show topics will on be "Short Game", "Full Swing" and "Fairways and Greens". The three episodes will air on August 19, August 26 and September 2, 2019. The TV programs showcase the spectacular beauty of The Aquidneck Club, and the quality and design of our world-class Championship golf course.
The host Gary Williams joined Golf Channel in January, 2011 as a co-host for Morning Drive, the network's daily news and lifestyle program. Williams also is a frequent host of this Golf Channel Academy, the network's one-on-one instruction show that showcases some of the game's most successful figures.
For more information about The Aquidneck Club, please contact our Director of Membership, Laura Decker at 401-423-4239.
April 28, 2019 / in Frontpage Article, News, Uncategorized / by Cary Benjamin
This article appeared in Boston Common Magazine's May issue, on page 102. Click here for the full PDF.
This spring, Portsmouth, R.I.'s famed Carnegie Abbey Club, which has played host to luminary golf fans like Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr. and Mikhail Gorbachev, reopens as The Aquidneck Club. After years of undermanagement, 12 longtime members recently raised funds to purchase the property in December to create an amenity-filled, member-owned sporting club. Since then, the team has implemented $1.5 million of aesthetic renovations, led by interior designer Alison Corio, to restore the 450-acre property to what board President Andrew Tuchler calls its "heyday, back when there was literally nothing like it."
With a focus on the top-end concierge experience, the club boasts a Donald Steel designed golf course with sweeping Narragansett Bay views, an indoor-outdoor equestrian center, tennis, an outdoor pool, a gymnasium, a European Health Spa, yoga classes, kids camp sport fishing, a gourmet restaurant and a recently upgraded 41-slip marina.
"We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful location, grounds and facilities to create a new world-class private sporting club on Narragansett Bay," says founder Bill Karol.
With proximity to Boston and Manhattan, the club offers overnight and weekend accomodations. "The essence of The Aquidneck Club is for families to gather and celebrate," says Tuchler. "We are going to bring these amenities to life." Membership from $50,000.
January 17, 2019 / in News / by Cary Benjamin
For Immediate Release:
The Aquidneck Club, Portsmouth, RI Commences Operation
January 17, 2019 – Portsmouth, RI: A new and exclusive sporting and country club was founded today on the beautiful grounds and location where the Carnegie Abbey Club (CAC) once stood. The new owners, a small group of previous members from the original club, closed the deal on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. The new club, named as The Aquidneck Club for the Island on which it sits, will be a member-owned club.
Nestled on the shores of Narragansett Bay, the new Aquidneck Club is situated on pristine and historic lands in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. It is the focal point of a beautiful luxury-living community featuring a world-class 18-hole Scottish links golf course, a 41-slip marina, an elegant club house with a dining room, bar, and spa & fitness areas. The spectacular grounds are also home to an Equestrian center with 40 stables, and indoor and outdoor riding rings and a tennis club. The golf course has been listed consistently in the top 100 private courses in the country.
Peter de Savary opened the original Carnegie Abbey Club in 2000 on 300-plus acres leased from the Benedictine monks who operate Portsmouth Abbey School.
To achieve their new vision of service excellence, the new ownership group has already committed nearly six million dollars to the new club to guarantee immediate financial stability, and to enable capital expenditures. They will be spending nearly $3 Million in the first two years to make upgrades to the clubhouse and the beautiful golf course.
"We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful location, grounds and facilities to create a new world-class private sporting club on Narragansett Bay" said Andrew Tuchler, one of the new owner / investors.
With an already well-established membership and experienced staff back in place, the club has a bright future. New members of The Aquidneck Club will enjoy everything that Carnegie Abbey had to offer and much more going forward. Membership applications are being considered now, and additional information is available at The Aquidneck Club offices. For additional information, please contact Laura Decker at 401-423-4239.
Club Contact:
Laura Decker, The Aquidneck Club
401-423-4239
[email protected]
Media Contact:
Cary Benjamin, TR Productions
617-241-5500
[email protected]
The Aquidneck Club is located at 125 Cory's Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871.