Amenities at the River Bend Golf and Country Club

Peter Ambrose, director of Merrill Lynch's northern Virginia marketplace, is an avid golfer in his free time. When Peter Ambrose is not working at Merrill Lynch, he enjoys taking time to play at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and the River Bend Golf and Country Club.

The River Bend Golf and Country Club in Great Falls, Virginia, offers a memorable golf experience as well as access to athletic and event facilities. Its par 71 course spans 7,000 yards and features a state-of-the-art watering system to keep the grass in top shape. Golfers can also make use of the facility's well-equipped practice facility, which features an indoor hitting station and nine-hole executive course. Host to a number of events and tournaments, including the Dogwood Three-Day Member-Guest and Member-Member Championships, the club offers instruction to golfers at all levels.

Club members also have the opportunity to enjoy the facility's fitness and wellness program, which features individual training and group classes as well as a fully equipped fitness center. This program is the newest addition to the club's range of amenities, which includes a 25-meter heated swimming pool with diving area and a tennis program for all ages. Fine dining, featuring the work of a chef educated at the Four Seasons as well as available event space and catering, rounds out the River Bend experience.

A Brief History of the Ryder Cup

Peter Ambrose has spent the last eight years heading operations at Merrill Lynch in McLean, Virginia, as the director of the northern Virginia region. When he is not managing the Merrill Lynch offices and financial advisors, Peter Ambrose likes to stay active playing golf.

The Ryder Cup is a biannual golfing competition, contested between European and American golf teams, which follows a traditional match play format. Established in 1927, it ranks as one of the oldest international sporting events in American history. Originally, the Ryder Cup only involved U.S. and British teams. Between 1927 and 1935, the respective teams took turns hosting the event every four years. For the first five contests, the hosting team won, until the U.S. broke the trend in 1937.

The Ryder Cup resumed after World War II in 1947. Over the next two decades, Great Britain and Ireland managed just one victory and one draw. The extensive period of American dominance resulted in the British team expanding to include all nations in continental Europe. Since that time, America has won the Ryder Cup on seven occasions and drawn once, compared to nine wins for Europe, including seven of the last nine competitions. The U.S. leads the overall series 25 to 13, with two draws.