Meet the Team Behind The Club at Iron Lake in Ocala

At IronCrest, the club is not an amenity added to a residential development. It is the heart of the community.
Every decision—from service standards to golf operations, dining, membership, and programming—is designed to create the kind of environment that encourages members to return week after week.

Leading that effort is General Manager Stephen McLean. His role extends well beyond daily operations. He establishes the culture members experience each time they arrive, creating an atmosphere that feels polished without becoming formal, welcoming without losing the exclusivity expected of a private club. For existing members, that consistency reinforces why they belong. For future residents, it provides confidence that IronCrest is growing around an authentic club experience rather than simply a collection of amenities.

The Club at Iron Lake’s private 18-hole championship course winds through dramatic spring-fed limestone quarries, where exposed rock walls, elevation changes, and reflective water features create a landscape unlike traditional Florida golf. Recognized by Golf Digest as one of America’s Best New Courses, the par-72 layout stretches more than 7,000 yards while offering multiple tee configurations that make the course equally enjoyable for accomplished players and everyday member play.

The golf experience is led by Director of Golf Chelsea Addy, alongside assistant professionals Candon Ehler and Tyler Bourne. Their work extends well beyond managing tee times. Instruction, member events, tournaments, leagues, and daily interaction all contribute to the friendships and traditions that define private club life. The golf shop often becomes the starting point for conversations that continue over lunch, dinner, or another round the following week.

Golf is not simply one of IronCrest’s amenities. It is one of the primary ways community is built. For golf-driven home buyers, this is one of the clearest expressions of the community’s identity. The course is not simply an amenity near the homes. It is a central part of how IronCrest lives.

Creating camaraderie through competition Drae Centonze, Head of Racquets Programs, connects members to each other through lessons, clinics, matches, and tournaments. With both USTA and Daily Teams playing tennis, and pickleball teams gathering regularly for clinics, team play, and tournaments, club members have ample opportunity to meet new friends, learn new skills, and discover the thrill of racquets competition.

The experience naturally continues inside the clubhouse. Perched above Iron Lake, the 37,000-square-foot clubhouse serves as the community’s gathering place, where members transition seamlessly from morning coffee to post-round cocktails, family dinners, celebrations, and evenings with friends overlooking the lake.

Executive Chef Hugo Marroguin leads a culinary program that gives members another reason to return throughout the week.

Under Hugo’s leadership, dining has become one of the reasons members visit the club even when golf isn’t on the schedule. Like every successful private club, many of the most memorable moments happen around the table. Dining becomes far more than a complement to golf. It creates occasions of its own, encouraging members to enjoy the club whether or not a tee time is part of the day.

Long before someone purchases a home at IronCrest, many begin by becoming members of The Club at Iron Lake. The membership team lead by Myles Rubenfeld and Maria Isaza often serves as the first personal introduction to the community, helping prospective members understand not only what the club offers, but whether its culture aligns with the lifestyle they are seeking.

Those conversations are helping shape the membership community today. Each new member contributes to the environment future homeowners will ultimately join, creating a club defined not simply by amenities, but by active participation and lasting relationships.

IronCrest was founded by Liz Phillips, whose deep ties to Ocala’s renowned equestrian community helped shape the character and hospitality that define the club today. Together with Craig Phillips and Oculus R Golf Partners, the vision has always extended beyond developing homes. The objective has been to build a genuine private club community where relationships, recreation, and shared experiences become part of everyday life.

That vision continues through Altamira Development Company, which is guiding the long-term planning and evolution of IronCrest while building upon an active club culture that already exists.

Luxury communities are often measured by architecture, amenities, or location. Private clubs are remembered for something else entirely: the people who create the experience. At The Club at Iron Lake, that experience is already underway, giving future IronCrest homeowners the rare opportunity to discover not just the place they’ll live, but the community they’ll join. For prospective members and future homeowners alike, that may be IronCrest’s greatest distinction.