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Tom Fazio – Biography Tom Fazio II, LLC Calling it a “once in ten lifetimes” opportunity, Tom Fazio and his firm, Tom Fazio II, LLC has been hired to design the Trump International Golf Links, Scotland. The 38-year old, who learned the business from his father Jim and uncle Tom, has walked the dramatic, dune-filled site at Balmedie Beach on Menie Estate in northeast Scotland several times and remains amazed at the opportunity the project presents. “I really couldn’t believe anything like it existed on earth,” he says of his first visit. This property has approximately 400 acres of dunes ranging from several feet to 100 feet in height. They look like they are thousands of years old. There are areas where it appears sheep have hollowed out what will be our bunkers, just like the first courses ever created,” Fazio added. “The key here is not what we’re going to do, but what we’re not going to do. On a typical course project with Mr. Trump, we move millions of cubic yards of dirt. Here I don’t anticipate moving over 50,000 yards of dirt.” Fazio indicated that only small tractors would be used and that the existing Marron grass would be removed and replanted with typical links grasses. “We just want to leave the natural terrain on this incredible property and end up with true links courses,” he said. Fazio is no stranger to building memorable golf courses with Donald Trump. He worked with his father as co-designer of Trump National Golf Club, Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, New York, which opened in 2000. At Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster New Jersey, which debuted in 2004, Fazio completed construction on time and $3 million under budget. He has recently begun work on a second course there, expected to open in spring 2008. “Mr. Trump is so phenomenally detailed that working on his courses is a whole different experience,” says Fazio. “Because of the relationship we have built over the years there is a certain comfort level we have with each other, and I think he has a comfort level knowing that I can produce a quality product.” The Scotland courses will be Donald J. Trump Signature Designs, with Tom Fazio II. As a member of one of golf design’s most famous families, Fazio has a deep understanding of quality. He began working for his father and uncle at the age of 8, picking up sticks and stones while cleaning fairways before working on drainage, irrigation, greens, tees and bunkers, construction crews and graduating to bulldozer shaping. “It was very hard work and I absolutely learned every aspect of the business from the ground up.” Fazio was studying at Mississippi State University when an opportunity to work with his father on a course design project for an Italian fashion designer came up. At age 20, he left school, lived in Italy for two years, and hasn’t looked back since. “I figured I had a couple of pretty good teachers working for my dad and my uncle,” he says. “There are great schools around for design and landscape architecture, but those two are probably better professors than any school might have been. I appreciate the expertise that my father and uncle shared with me and will always continue to value these relationships.” Fazio then worked with his father’s company on course designs in Florida, Maine, Indiana, Ohio and Spain before opening his own Florida-based golf design business called Tommy Fazio Golf, LLC in 1995. (The company name was recently changed to Tom Fazio II, LLC.) Taking great pride in being very conscientious, Fazio schedules all of his designs so he will be available throughout the construction of his golf courses. He maintains his high standard of construction by supervising the quality of the work and by always being personally available to the owner and contractor to answer any questions. Fazio develops all of his plans on AutoCAD, creates the construction specifications, develops a working budget, analyzes construction bid proposals, and supervises the work throughout the construction phase. The company has performed the role of designer, construction manager, budget manager, and owner’s representative in the past. On seven of Tommy Fazio Golf LLC’s design jobs, Fazio served as construction manager. As such, a contractor was not hired and Fazio supervised the owner’s employees in the daily tasks of building a golf course. The employees were under the direct daily orders of Fazio to complete the tasks of clearing, earthwork, shaping, drainage, greens construction, irrigation, cart path, grassing and landscaping. To insure the timely completion of construction, integrity of design and budget Fazio works closely with his wife, Gabrielle, on project tracking, equipment management, material ordering, monitoring the construction budget and labor relations. “I create quality control by personally overseeing each of my projects,” says Fazio. “I demand the utmost quality in construction by being available to monitor the work and installation of the underground components. By using this concept my previous design/build projects have not only brought the client the highest quality construction and materials, but the projects have proven to cost much less than the industry standards because the opportunity for error is minimal. Having control over the operations enables me to not only bring these projects in under budget, but on time as well.” Fazio, who only takes on a single course project each year, plans on touring the great golf courses of Scotland and Ireland in the coming months to help make Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, among the greatest links courses in the world. “I’m looking forward to not just showing up and designing a course, but to learning about true links golf, researching the great courses and really diving into the Scottish lifestyle,” says Fazio. “My wife and I intend to move there for a year and live in the local community with our daughters, 4-year old Mackenzie and 2-year old Reilly. It will be an adventure.”
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