Montauk Pioneer - August 29, 2008 - Yacht Club In Ship Shape

As Keith Battaglia, the good looking very tall guy, appropriately dressed in a blue and white seersucker blazer, white shirt and khaki pants, walked out onto the Yacht Club patio, I thought wow, this is the image we all will enjoy. Battaglia is the enthusiastic Director of Sales and Marketing of Island Global Yachting, IGY, Andrew Farkas' formidable company of which Farkas is founder and CEO. Keith tells me Andrew Farkas is someone who is, "Dedicated to the Montauk Yacht Club's fabled past and its legacy in the community."

It is Mr. Battaglia who is overseeing the carefully designed renovations to restore the "grande dame" and to assure she will move forward for the next century.

Keith Battaglia, born in Seattle and raised in Auburn, NY with several high-end positions to his credit has been part of a unique and rather mysterious, thread-like maze that has gone full circle. Coincidentally, or perhaps ironically, or maybe it is just in the cards, Keith has landed at the Montauk Yacht Club where JP Morgan, Jr. known as "Jack" was an original founding charter member and whose yacht, Corsair III, docked here. In fact, a model of this amazing boat is exquisitely encased and mounted on the lobby wall.

After graduating from Boston University, Keith traveled to Vail and after a brief period of relaxation he got a job at Saddle Ridge and Beaver Creek, a high-end resort managed by Benchmark. When the lodge sold he followed Benchmark to NYC where they opened a private conference training facility for JP Morgan at 23 Wall Street. It was a position where Battaglia would gain a wealth of information.

On to another operation where he was the Director of Sales in the World Trade Center building, he was disappointed when sent to Chatanooga to open another hotel in July 2001. Little did he know then that possibly, Chattanooga saved his life. He had a short stint in Minneapolis to resurrect a failing hotel and then went back to New York as Director of Sales and Marketing for the legendary Glen Cove Mansion where the community of years passed housed such distinguished residents as Jefferson, Woolworth and JP Morgan.

How uncanny, Keith thought, when Benchmark lost the Glen Cove contract, "What next?" he wondered. It only took a short time before Benchmark worked out a contract with the Montauk Yacht Club and in two shakes of a lamb's tail Keith Battaglia found himself in Montauk. With a passionate interest for years in the East End, especially when he recalled all his "summer shares" and thought perhaps each one would be "the last great summer share" he was delighted to actually move to Montauk and begin his new position at the Yacht Club where a wealth of history and tradition were undergoing a refreshed and renewed era.

Celebrating its 80th Anniversary, Battaglia, believes the Montauk Yacht Club is certainly a HAMPTON CLASSIC. The two phases of renovations, with phase one almost completed are obviously evident.

On a whirlwind tour, Keith and I viewed the model bedroom and one of the 107 elegant staterooms. Nautically appointed and with a navy and white striped motif, flat panel TV, 300 thread count sheets, it was pure luxury. "I want everyone to know how wonderful it is here and that it is open to the public," he says.

Climbing up to the pristine Marine Office, the "front desk of the Marina" as Keith calls it or rather, the "Marina's concierge" where the view is so spectacular, the polite and personable Andre from Brazil, told us the largest yacht at berth was the 142' "Cipango" - long, white and sleek.

Walking the grounds and meeting Chuck from Port Jefferson whose three piece Chuck-E Band had just finished playing, and watching Dee Jay Scott Sheehy, who has the bluest of blue eyes, set up for his audience during the new and innovative Sunday Sunset Spin, the entire atmosphere was very upbeat with the guests caught up in a world of comfort, luxury, indulgence and beauty.

Creating and launching contemporary yet classic events is just another one of Keith's fortes. Long Island Artist Wine Dinners each month have been a tremendous success. Focusing on a local well-known artist and wine such as this week's Joyce Brian and Pindar Vineyards was a delightful event. A series of oils in which Ms. Brian depicts the many misty moods of the coastal waters meshed easily with Executive Chef Jared Potter's Pacific Rim theme.

"Gotta Yachta Lobsta" at the Lighthouse Grill on Thursday evenings begins with a Lobster Salad Martini. Sunday Sunset Spins features the MYC Yachtini, the Breezes Café and the Cohi Bar and Patio Lounge offer all sorts of fancy drinks and snacks, and the music is ongoing.

With 232 boat slips, 107 guestrooms, fine dining, full service spa, fitness room, three pools, a boutique, a wedding planning room, tennis courts, expansive indoor and outdoor event space and Keith Battaglia at the helm, no wonder The Montauk Yacht Club is among the top ten resort and marina destinations in all of North America, Mexico and the Bahamas.