Our Story
Let’s Change How We
Manage Business
Anyone who has met, played with or worked alongside Ernie Els knows how passionate he is about success.
OUR STORY
In a quest to help improve the overall business performance and elevate the success of each golf and leisure-related project he gets involved with, Ernie partnered with long-time friend and storied club industry executive Michael Leemhuis to form APEX.
Ernie and Michael have since assembled a team of the most experienced and seasoned operators and advisors in the world. Their objective: to work alongside the talented team from Ernie Els Design and provide a sophisticated, flexible and results driven approach to the investment, strategy, design and management of each Els Designed project.
Ernie Els Design enjoys unique relationships with the world’s finest developers who share the company’s ambitions, creating attractive communities and destinations that adhere to the principles of sustainable development and sound environmental practice.
Ernie Els
Co Founder
As a former world number one and Hall of Fame inductee, Els is Golf’s true international ambassador and one of the game’s leading player architects, having won over 70 professional golf tournaments to-date and having created award winning golf courses all over the world.
Michael Leemhuis
Co Founder
Leemhuis, a highly decorated and experienced operator who has successfully managed some of the largest and most recognized private clubs in America, is currently helping some of the most recognized brands in the word elevate their game.
OUR PARTNERS
Ernie Els Design is a full-service golf course design company with signature courses and renovations making an impact in emerging and established golf markets alike. EED brings award winning golf designs and a network of professionals to Els Club and APEX projects. Since its formation in 2000, the company has received global recognition and accolades that have included ‘Designer of the Year’, ‘Best New Golf Course in the World’ and a design in Golf Digest’s ‘World Top 100’ rankings. Ernie Els employs the most experienced staff – including leading architect Greg Letsche as its senior design associate – and the latest technology from its two offices in Florida and South Africa.
Strategic Advisory Partners
GGA Partners
GGA Partners acts as the exclusive source of complex strategy and financial consulting advice for APEX projects. GGA is an international consulting firm and trusted advisor to many of the world’s most successful golf courses, private clubs, resorts and residential communities. GGA began in 1992 as a specialist practice at KPMG, a major international accounting and consulting firm and has grown to serve over 3,000 clients world-wide from four global offices in Phoenix, Bluffton, Toronto and Dublin. GGA effectively combines management and operational expertise with highly capable professional strategists and business analysts.
- Augusta National
- Deloitte
- Del Webb / Pulte
- Fairmont Hotels
- Hamilton G&CC
- KPMG
- Marriott
- PwC
- Scotia Capital
- Simon-Kucher
