Saddlebrook Resort Is Reborn As Mast Capital Begins Unveiling $92M Investment

Photos by Charmaine George

Whenever I hear a number like $92 million being thrown around, especially to completely redesign a clearly dated resort like Saddlebrook — which had been the jewel of Wesley Chapel since the early 1980s (and the only “attractor” bringing people to the S.R. 54 Exit 279 off I-75) for more than three decades — I know what I was picturing (and hoping for) in my head. Even so, I had no idea what to really expect from new owner Mast Capital. 

But, now that I have attended the “Media Preview Day” for the fully revamped Saddlebrook Resort on Nov. 20, it’s obvious that Mast is putting every penny of that $92 million into bringing resort founder Tom Dempsey’s Saddlebrook back to its old glory. Knowing Mr. Dempsey as I did, I’m a little sad he’s not still here to see it reborn. 

I’ve already been telling you about the restaurants that are both already open and coming soon — the delicious RARE 1981, which is located in the space previously occupied by The Tropics off Saddlebrook’s beautifully reimagined lobby (left photo), the also-open BREW coffee and breakfast counter, the opening soon (in early 2026) sports bar in the former Dempsey’s Too space adjacent to RARE 1981, and the hotly anticipated (at least by yours truly) revamped pool bar at the resort’s fabled Super Pool. 

When I rented a condo in the Saddlebrook community (not in the resort itself) when I first moved to Florida with my family in 1993, that pool bar served the best grilled hamburgers and hot dogs in town. It also had a nice, full-liquor tiki bar that was a great place to have a drink as my kids played in the Super Pool. Well, the pool bar is all-new and now open (photo, below right), and will have an upgraded food menu from the “good old days.” The “lagoon-style” Super Pool itself and especially, the patio around it (left photo below), also has been completely revamped, with dozens of umbrellas and a number of beautiful cabanas that will make hanging by the Super Pool a pleasure once again. 

But, for those who are wondering what’s happening with the building that previously was home to Dempsey’s Steak House, it is being completely repurposed as a clubhouse for Saddlebrook’s members that will be unveiled in 2026. 

As we’ve mentioned in multiple previous stories, the resort’s twin 18-hole, Arnold Palmer-designed Saddlebrook and Palmer golf courses have been replaced by three 9-hole courses and an on-site golf driving range and practice area, which will make getting ready to play a lot more convenient than the driving range’s old location near the resort’s S.R. 54 entrance. 

I haven’t played (and most likely won’t ever play) any of the golf holes, but District 5 Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano (who was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 20, as was District 2 Commissioner Seth Weightman) has played all 18 of the holes that are already open and he praised the golf course’s redesign during the ribbon-cutting ceremony (see top photo). 

Commissioner Mariano also participated in a pickleball clinic (he’s shown returning the ball in the photo below), which allowed Media Day participants to check out the eight gorgeous new pickleball courts for themselves. 

The Media Preview began with the aforementioned ribbon-cutting ceremony and was led by Saddlebrook’s managing director Jeff Mayers, who thanked Mast Capital for its huge investment to bring the resort back to life, before introducing Commissioner Weightman, who said “The round of applause really has to go out to Mast Capital. The names Saddlebrook Resort and Pasco County go together — they’re synonymous. Saddlebrook put Pasco on the map before it became the popular place it is today. I couldn’t be more excited to be a small part of the journey to help bring Saddlebrook back to life.” 

He then introduced Commissioner Mariano, who said, “I am so thrilled with what Mast Capital has done. I was concerned about whether or not the golf course would be long enough, but they brought in Rees Jones, who specializes in renovations, and this is now a great golf course. You can now host any type of golfers at any level and have a great tournament. And what you’ve done with the lobby…spectacular, right? The pool? Incredible. Every chair is now a great place to sit, with all those umbrellas. It’s all top quality. You’ve done a phenomenal job here. Thank you, Jordan and Mast Capital for over-delivering on your promises.” 

Next up was Mast Capital’s chief investment officer Jordan Kornberg, who said his firm’s goal was to, “honor the incredible legacy that Saddlebrook has had, while breathing new life into this place. And, we are really proud of the product that we’ve delivered. At the end of the day, it’s not about us, it’s about our employees, our members and our guests. And, the feedback we’ve gotten so far from the community, in just a few weeks, has been so positive, which we really appreciate.” 

He also thanked all of the people who helped make it happen, “especially our on-property team. We couldn’t have made this a reality without all of you.” 

We then toured a couple of the guest rooms (above photo) and all I remember saying was, “Wow, what a difference.” The dated, worn furniture and musty smells are all gone and the furnishings are modern, bright and cheery. Jannah and I now look forward to staying once again at the all-new Saddlebrook Resort. 

For reservations and more information about Saddlebrook Resort, visit Saddlebrook.com or call (813) 973-1111. 

New Driving Range The First Of Many Improvements At Saddlebrook! 

(l.-r.) Jordan Kornberg of Mast Capital, Pasco County Comm. Jack Mariano & Florida Sports Coast exec. director Adam Thomas were among those who took the first swings on the new driving range at Saddlebrook Resort on Dec. 11. (Photos by Charmaine George & Gary Nager)

Since Mast Capital purchased Saddlebrook Resort & Spa from the resort’s late founder and owner Tom Dempsey back in 2022, the Wesley Chapel community has been anxiously waiting to see what Mast was going to do to update and upgrade what was once the jewel of Wesley Chapel. 

To that end, on Dec. 11, Saddlebrook and Mast unveiled the resort’s newly relocated golf driving range with a “first drive” ceremony, a champagne toast and a great party that thunder, lightning and the possibility of heavy rain cut short. 

With Saddlebrook’s former driving range along S.R. 54 being replaced with apartments, the range was relocated to a portion of the former Palmer Course, one of two Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole courses at the resort. But, Mast decided to do away with nine of the Palmer Course’s 18 holes and the new driving range takes up about six of the other nine holes. 

When the renovations are complete, Saddlebrook will be left with 27 holes of championship golf. 


(Above, l.-r.) Saddlebrook managing director Raj Mohan, Kornberg & Mariano all spoke at the event. 

Mast Capital chief investment officer Jordan Kornberg promised that the new driving range “is just the beginning. We will be returning Saddlebrook to its former glory.” 

Among those joining Kornberg for the ceremonial first drive (complete with exploding golf balls) were the resort’s managing director Raj Mohan, District 1 Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano and Florida Sports Coast executive director Adam Thomas. 

Mohan said he was looking forward to the community seeing the changes now in motion at Saddlebrook and Mariano also expressed excitement for the future of the resort. 

Attendees were treated to a picnic-style lunch with fried chicken, beef brisket and curried pork with all the trimmings, as well as enough umbrellas for everyone in attendance, as heavy showers were a looming possibility. 

For more information about Saddlebrook Resort, visit Saddlebrook.com or call (813) 973-1111. 

Saddlebrook Celebrates Being The New HQ For The Tennis & Pickleball Registries!

PTR & PPR’s 23,000+ Professional Coaching Members In 127 Countries Now Call Saddlebrook Resort Home!

(Above, l.-r.) Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) & Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) CEO Peter Hurley, PTR Board Chair Lynne Rolley, Saddlebrook VP of International Sports Patrick Farrell, PTR Vice-Chair Martin van Daalen, Florida’s Sports Coast Marketing & Comm. Dir. Raul Nardi, PTR COO Brian Parkkonen & USTA Senior Dir. Craig Jones cut the ribbon at Saddlebrook Resort.

Why is it such a big deal that Saddlebrook Resort is now the new home of both the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR)?

Well, for one thing, the 125-year-old PTR has moved its headquarters for the first time in 40 years, from Hilton Head, South Carolina, according to PTR Board Chair Lynne Rolley, who opened the festivities at the Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting event for PTR and PPR at Saddlebrook on Sept. 24. “We made this significant move to relocate here to Saddlebrook Resort and we are just so excited,” Rolley said. “Today marks the beginning of an incredible journey for us. Saddlebrook has always been a leader in the tennis community.”

She noted that Saddlebrook has, “trained so many Grand Slam champions, including Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, John Isner, Marty Fish, Lisa Raymond, Martina Hingis, Mary Pierce, Justine Henin and about 20 more. Some of our great coaches from Saddlebrook, sitting right here, have been responsible for that success.”

Rolley also said this about Saddlebrook: “This state-of-the-art facility will become a hub for developing coaches, empowering athletes and fostering a community that’s passionate about the growth of tennis and pickleball.”

Of course, those who have been responsible for PTR and its now 23,000 members under one umbrella (including 10,000 PPR members) in 127 countries have always been passionate about tennis and, for the last six years, pickleball.

Accredited by the United State Tennis Association (USTA), PTR offers globally-recognized certifications for tennis instructors and is the largest membership organization in the world for certifying tennis coaches.

And, with pickleball, still acknowledged as the fastest-growing sport in the country, PPR, which was founded in 2018, has grown exponentially and has been a big contributor to the 20% growth of PTR’s overall membership from 19,000 in a little more than a year.

“Who knows,” Rolley said, “We may soon train a Grand Slam champion in pickleball here.”

Rolley then introduced PTR Vice-Chair Martin van Daalen and called up PTR and PPR CEO (and new Wesley Chapel resident) Peter Hurley to the microphone.

Hurley first thanked Rolley and said that her hard work also has helped Saddlebrook groom many of its long list of professional tennis champions and, “along with Martin, helped bring PTR and PPR here to Wesley Chapel.”

Saddlebrook VP Of Intl. Sports Patrick Farrell

Hurley joked that the day of the Grand Opening, “marks my seventh day on the job as CEO of PTR and PPR, although I feel as though I’ve been here for a lifetime.”

He added, “This is a monumental day for our organization. I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our passionate members and to our ‘picklers,’ who are out here enjoying the day with Sarah (Ansboury, the managing director of PPR and a five-time U.S. Open Pickleball champion), our dedicated staff and Board of Directors and the entire Saddlebrook community for the warm welcome you have given us. We look forward to engaging members, developing content, education and curriculums and events that will drive visitors to the Saddlebrook area.”

Hurley then introduced Patrick Farrell, the VP of International Sports at Saddlebrook. “Patrick has an amazing team here,” Hurley said. “He also oversees the operation of the Saddlebrook Preparatory School, one of the most prestigious golf and tennis academies in the world. Pat has held many key leadership positions at top resorts across America, but most important to me is that he’s also a great guy, a class act and a phenomenal partner.”

Farrell welcomed everyone to Saddlebrook and thanked both the ownership group of the resort (Mast Capital) and Florida’s Sports Coast (Pasco’s destination management organization), “because without them, this really couldn’t have transpired.

Their support and what they do to bring sports tourism to Pasco County is unsurpassed in this industry. The work that they do helps support the tourism business here. The impacts for not just racquet sports but the hospitality business in this area and the impacts for the community are immense.”

He also noted that, “Thanks to Florida’s Sports Coast, we have people moving into the area to be team members of PPR and PTR, plus all of their events and programming throughout the year. So, it’s extremely exciting to have them as a partner for the long term. They are helping to take Saddlebrook to new heights and restoring it to its past grandeur. Our entire staff is extremely excited to partner with PTR and PPR and look forward to a great future.”

Next up was Raul Nardi, the marketing & communications director for Florida’s Sports Coast., who said how excited the county’s tourism office was to have PTR and PPR moving to Saddlebrook. “We know this move will have a profound impact on our tourism,” Nardi said, “and Saddlebrook is renowned for its beautiful amenities and world-class tennis facilities. And, with the addition of PTR and PPR, we can expect an influx of visitors, coaches and sports enthusiasts to the region. These guests will not only fill our hotel rooms, but also dine at our restaurants, shop at our stores and visit our multiple attractions that our beautiful county has to offer.”

Nardi added that Pasco County officials also are excited about the, “economic impact that all of these visitors and different events, tournaments and championships that are coming into our county [will bring]. It’s going to create jobs, drive revenues, encourage investment in the area and we expect it to have a ripple effect and bring still more visitors to our area. We’re just thrilled to see this flourish and come to fruition.”

Then, Hurley introduced USTA senior director of coaching Craig Jones, noting that “The USTA is a vital partner to PTR and PPR. Craig is responsible for developing coaching resources, workshops and accreditation. He is a certified PTR Professional and a USTA high-performance coach.

Prior to coming to USTA, Craig spent 25 years as a club owner, a director and a junior developer working with young players from novice through international champion.”

Jones said, “We want to welcome PTR to the great tennis state of Florida.” He mentioned that the USTA’s own National Campus is located in Orlando, “So, how great is it to have these two amazing facilities within 80 miles of each other? The USTA also is looking forward to more collaboration with PTR in the future.”

Hurley, van Daalen, Rolley, Farrell, Jones & Parkkonen celebrate PTR & PPR’s new home at Saddlebrook with a champagne toast.

Hurley also thanked Brian Parkkonen, the Chief Operating Officer of PTR. “Brian has been juggling multiple responsibilities to facilitate our move from Hilton Head while also helping me get up to speed in the last seven days.”

He also mentioned that Parkkonen has more than ten years of service to PTR. “Brian has played a pivotal role in advancing education pathways and developing innovative programs, including the PTR education dashboard and advancing the PPR pickle- ball certification curriculum.”

Parkkonen then said, “You’ve heard about all of the exciting things that are going to happen with PTR and PPR’s headquarters being relocated here to the beautiful Saddlebrook Resort. We’re excited about the impact that these organizations are going to have on Saddlebrook, as well as Pasco County. The question becomes now, ‘How do we deliver this exceptional service?’ It gives me great pride and honor to introduce the staff that’s going to be driving our initiatives here at Saddlebrook. As many of you know, putting together an exceptional team is not an easy task.”

He noted that it takes time, “to identify those who have the right skill sets, that have a passion for their sports — whether that be tennis, pickleball, padel, platform tennis, etc. — that have a generational perspective, in that we have individuals from multiple generations, all with the same goal of really providing an exceptional experience for our members.”

Parkkonen also quoted former NBA coach Phil Jackson, who said, “The strength of a team are the individual members of the team. The strength of the individual members is the team. And I think that what we’ve had the opportunity to put together at PTR and PPR is truly an exceptional team.”

He added that “Not only are PTR and PPR bringing a successful business to Saddlebrook.

We’re bringing exceptional individuals who will be contributors to the community. And, I don’t think most staffs have over 125 years of experience on their team, but we do.”

Parkkonen then introduced both the team relocating to Saddlebrook “and those who will be working remotely as well — (PPR managing director) Sarah Ansboury, (VP of special events & pickle-ball) Julie Jilly, (international director) Inaki Balzoa, Michael Baumgarten and (event coordinator) Dimitri Vlassov).” The remote folks Parkkonen thanked included (PTR membership director) Helma Capp, (PTR marketing manager) Caitlyn Fries, (PTR director of education and diversity) Milena Vidos, (PTR membership coordinator Sanaz Marand, (PPR membership services) Melanie Beckler. Then, there was a champagne toast to end the festivities.

For more info about PTR,visit PTRTennis.org. For PPR, visit PPRPickleball.org. For Saddlebrook Resort info, visit Saddlebrook.com.