Gilles Gagnon
LA ROMANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | Alfy Fanjul, who with other members of his family controls a sugar and real estate empire worth billions of dollars, well remembers the first time he met Gilles Gagnon.
“It was maybe 40 years ago, when Gilles was running the golf operation at Casa de Campo, and I was negotiating to buy that property from Gulf & Western,” said the Cuba-born Fanjul. “He and I chatted, and at some point, I said, ‘I don’t know who in the world would have ever hired a left-handed hockey player from Canada to be the golf pro.’ ”
Both men chuckled at the friendly gibe. And it was not long after the Fanjuls completed the purchase of the 7,000-acre property, which included the acclaimed Teeth of the Dog golf course, that he realized just what a genius move the previous owner had made.
“Gilles is smart, extremely hardworking and never seems to get upset,” said Fanjul, whose company has owned Casa de Campo since 1984. “He also knows how to solve problems and entertain customers. What more could you ask for?”
“Peo...