The Manning Bio
Managing partner at Black Desert and Reef Capital Partners, with 30 years of experience in real estate development. Specializing in full project life-cycles, from acquisition to marketing, Manning has developed nearly 180 resorts, including the 600-acre Black Desert resort in Southern Utah.
Under his leadership, Black Desert has earned numerous sustainability awards, including the Platinum Certified Signature Sanctuary Award.
A leader in both business and community, he is actively involved with organizations like the American Resort Developers Association, Southwest Symphony Orchestra, and Utah Tech University. He values family and prioritizes community impact in both his personal and professional life.
The Manning Story
When I was about 21 or 22 years old, I developed a resort in Virginia that was both golf and equestrian, my first time involved in either aspect. At the time, I was single, had no kids, and with a bunch of time on my hands – so naturally, I golfed every day.
It was a quick circumstantial hobby that became a skill for me at the time. In the years since then, my life has changed dramatically: having a wife and six children now leaves very little time to experience a golf course in the same way I once did. However, my reason for loving golf has also changed; I discovered the sport is magical in a new way when used as a tool to leverage impact.
Being able to influence young people’s lives by exposing them to golf in a direct and tangible way, positively affecting their families, creating possible paths for them to take; that’s a big part of why golf is important to me now, professionally and also personally.
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You wake up in the morning – what’s the driving passion?
Pursuing the many ways Black Desert can impact lives and make a real difference in our community – and beyond.
How did the genesis for Black Desert come about?
Coming here for the first time, in 2004, to see the land and its unmatched beauty, created an immediate vision (or quest) to create a destination resort. A place to serve as a basecamp for guests to experience all the wonders of Southern Utah.
Black Desert is the final architectural effort from the late Tom Weiskopf. What was the tipping point in selecting him and his partner Phil Smith to do the design?
The initial thinking was rooted in Tom’s experience with lava-based golf courses. I believe the final decision was realizing we would get Tom himself, not a group we would then be handed off to. That kind of personal and detailed touch is baked into the ethos of Black Desert. Bottom line is Tom is just a dang good dude.
Black Desert will join a very small fraternity of facilities in hosting a PGA and LPGA Tour event in the same calendar year. What prompted you to seek them out and how do you see those events assisting the facility’s overall visibility?
I believe we are the only stop that has both a separate PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour events annually. The PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour platforms, both seen on a worldwide stage, serve to amplify our amazing region, showcasing an unparalleled backdrop.
Reef Capital Partners is making a strong and bold move in terms of golf course development. What is the tipping point for you when moving ahead with a specific project with particular emphasis on Black Desert?
We look at golf course development that provides an elevated experience for golfers. We focus on views, world-class facilities and various best-in-class service offerings.
Customer service is routinely touted by many facilities. Define the term and the approach you follow at Black Desert?
Our approach at Black Desert is to treat every guest as if they are our only guest and ensure they have a first-class experience they’ll remember for a lifetime.
We work with our team to make sure that guests get the same elevated adventure everywhere across our resort – whether they’re checking into the hotel, playing golf or enjoying one of our dynamic restaurants.
Black Desert is the first of several courses planned for the St. George area by Reef Partners. Do you see the potential for the same fanfare there that took shape with Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits respectively?
The short answer is yes, we do.
The reception to our golf course has been very positive since we first opened last year, and we are the only course to host both a PGA TOUR and an LPGA Tour event. One of our biggest challenges at the moment is availability of tee times, because the demand is so high.
So we have discussed the possibility of building additional golf courses here as part of the Black Desert property, and we’re excited about the potential for what lies ahead in the future here on the golf front.
If you could change one thing in golf, what would it be and why?
To challenge the narrative by having fun and being more accepting. More courses with nighttime activities, music on the course, just more of a fun and cool vibe at more and more courses.
The biggest challenges facing Black Desert short and long term are what? And what strategic initiatives are you implementing to deal with each?
Short term is managing expectation of being able to play the course. Adding additional golf will help mitigate these challenges. Long term we are working with the airport to expand into more cities for easier travel to/from Black Desert.
Complete the sentence – Patrick Manning is:
A visionary that cares deeply about the community, the state, and focuses on key initiatives to bring about impact, including introducing youth to golf, as well as supporting women — in golf, sports, and life in general.
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Images courtesy of Brian Oar.
