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 Meeting attendees at a conference center officially opening in June will have an official golf pro at their disposal. Ron Leporati has been appointed Head Golf Professional for the "Old Course" at Bedford Springs Resort, the historic, Benchmark Hospitality International property in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

The venue, which dates back to 1796 and is scheduled to reopen in Summer 2007, has underwent a $120 million renovation and expansion that reinvented the Bedford Springs Resort into a 216-guestroom Four Star-quality destination resort, conference center and of course, golf course. A centerpiece of the project was the restoration of the Bedford Springs Old Course.

The orgin of this golf course goes back to the early decades of the last century. It was originally designed by A.W.Tillinghas in 1912 then redesigned in 1923 by Donald Ross, who updated the 18-hole golf course and added a pro shop. In a what is old is new again scenario for golf enthusiasts, the restored course closely resembles the vision of its jazz-age makeover. Ross, widely considered the father of American golf architecture, re-designed the Tillinghast course and added his signature features, such as small greens, serpentine bunkers, "doughnut" bunkers and false fronts on greens.

Bedford’s new Golf Professional is expected to revitalize this golf legacy among guests and meeting attendees. "We welcome Ron to Bedford Springs Resort," said Rikki Boparai, general manager. "This property has a rich 100-year legacy of providing superb golf experiences to guests. We look forward to his leadership in continuing this tradition as the property embarks on a new century of golf and hospitality."

Previously Ron Leporati was PGA Director of Golf for the Hidden Creek Country Club of Reston, Virginia, a private club located in the Washington, DC metro area. Before this, he served as the PGA Assistant Golf Professional for Columbia Country Club of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Earlier in his career, Leporati was employed by Benchmark Hospitality at Lansdowne Resort near Leesburg, Virginia, where he served as Assistant Golf Professional. He has also worked as Golf Shop Manager for the Boonsboro Country Club of Lynchburg, Virginia.

In addition to its golf traditions, Bedford is a National Historic Landmark resort with a pedigree that includes a roster of famous such as Aaron Burr,  Daniel Webster, James K. Polk, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and James Buchanan.

Considered a classic "springs resort," because of its seven unique springs, the restored and expanded Bedford Springs Resort features most of the original buildings and architectural elements still in place, while adding six restaurants. The conference center portion includes more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space with pre-function areas to accommodate a wide variety of groups. The property will also feature a restored 1905 swimming pool and solarium and the new Springs Eternal spa complex, which will total 30,000 square feet and have a full range of treatments that incorporate the destination’s famed natural springs. There will also be a fitness area and a full service salon. In addition to the golf course, other outdoor amenities include an outdoor pool, sun decks, a snack bar, 25 miles of hiking trails, 265 miles of rural mountain biking, outdoor wedding grotto, an outdoor pavilion on Red Oak Lake, fly fishing streams, river rafting, carriage rides and the Resort Rascals children’s program.