Key Golf Managing Rio Secco Golf Club

---

When the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge participants recently arrived at Rio Secco Golf Club, they were greeted by something rarely, if ever seen, in the world of professional golf tours: A golf course groomed to the highest levels of conditioning that was not maintained by the club's own golf course maintenance staff.

Yes, one of Las Vegas' highest profile courses, home to the Butch Harmon School of Golf and host of the nationally televised Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge for three years, outsources its course maintenance.

Key Golf, based in Las Vegas, Nev., took over the maintenance at Rio Secco 10 months ago, and has put it in pristine condition in time for this annual gathering of some of the world's top tour professionals. The PGA Tour players this year were Justin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley, while the Champions Tour was represented by Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry and Nick Price and LPGA Tour by Natalie Gulbis, Cristie Kerr and Suzann Pettersen.


The Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge national telecast is scheduled to air the week of December 6 on The Golf Channel.

"On behalf of the Wendy's 3- Tour Challenge, Harrah's Entertainment, the players, Butch Harmon, (who worked so tirelessly in bringing this elite field of PGA stars together), Key Golf, the staff, and myself, a very special thanks to all," said Eric Dutt, vice president of Harrah's Golf. "It was a fun week, but let's not lose sight of the fact that the "kids" who find homes through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption are the big winners, and that's what this event is all about."

Dutt was particularly appreciative of Key Golf's contributions in preparing the course for a world class event. "Key did a tremendous job of putting our course in professional tournament condition," said Dutt. "We weren't surprised. They have done a tremendous job since we contracted with them to handle our entire course maintenance program, not only at Rio Secco, but also at Cascata and Las Vegas National. We are very pleased with the partnership."

---