January 2016 - The Club at Sonterra

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Council Corner
Message From the Board-
Message from the General Manager
Ron Botello, Board Chairman
Bryant Early
It’s hard to believe that another year has gone
by, it seem like just yesterday I was taking down
our holiday lights. I hope everyone had a safe
holiday season and you are ready for an exciting
and healthy 2016. The Club at Sonterra enters
the New Year with healthy membership and
new corporate and local leadership. I look forward to working
with them to provide our members with the events and superior
service that is so vital to maintaining a vibrant and successful club.
We had a successful December with heavy usage of our banquet
faculties for office parties and functions. Please consider using your
club when you have upcoming events this year.
Our golf courses are in good shape as we enter the winter season,
which by comparison to other parts of the country is tropical.
Come out and enjoy our two beautiful golf courses. Our tennis
facilities are the best in the city with events geared for every level
player. Stop after work at The Tavern on the Green, our upgraded lounge and enjoy some refreshments after a tough day.
Check your newsletter for events and clubs that might interest
you, there is something for everyone. I’m looking forward to another great year and want to wish everyone a prosperous 2016.
Happy New Year and I hope your holiday
season was filled with nothing but joy!! As
2016 takes off, I can’t help to be excited
about the future of our club. My staff and I
are eager to get the ball rolling as our number
one goal is to continue to strive to enhance
your Membership. I’ve had the pleasure of
speaking with many of you as to what you believe would help us as
we recreate excitement here at the club and I am pleased to hear
there was a clear and consistent theme. Armed with this information we will be focusing heavily on service, quality and events for
2016. And although much of our senior staff is new to Sonterra,
we are not new to understanding what it means to be part of a
private club. Newcomers like myself, Debbie Gonzaba (MRD),
Antonio Pastrana, Chef Mario, Ivy Garza (Catering Sales Manager),
and Julie Golla (Membership Director) with the help of old timers
like Donny Latham, Jeff Hunter, Michelle Dodier, Tim Roberts and
Willie Lyte we are more than confident that we can make Sonterra
“the” club again.
In the next few weeks you will receive the annual State of the Club
letter outlining 2015 challenges and successes but more importantly this year’s vision. We will need to work together if we are
to succeed. Short term and long term capital strategic planning is
critical as well as continued growth of our Membership. To help
with membership growth, in the next couple of weeks we will be
launching a series of Membership Programs. These programs will
be designed not only to bring new members into the club but also
geared toward recapturing those individuals we lost for various
reasons. Additionally, these program will have numerous referral
incentives to reward you for helping us reach our collective goals
of making Sonterra “the” club in San Antonio.
I look forward to seeing you all very soon!
Until next time,
Becky and Jerry Edler
Bryant Early
General Manager
The Ambassador Committee
Hall of Fame 2015
The Club At Sonterra established the Ambassador Committee
in 2005. The purpose of the committee is to welcome new
members to the club and to support club sponsored
activities.
The Club At Sonterra is pleased to honor the
following ambassadors for their years of service and dedication to the club and its membership.
The Club At Sonterra
(210) 496-1560 ext. 134
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Upcoming Events
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Sonterra Clubs Within a Club
The Network Group of Sonterra is open to all Sonterra members.
This club meets for Lunch from the Quick Lunch buffet and
discusses details about their business.
The next lunch meeting will be Wednesday, January 6th at 11:30am.
To sign up, call Janie Vermillion at 355-3877
Brian Babcock
408-672-9234
Terri Schultz
Broker/Owner
Schultz–Ulmer Real Estate Group
210-771-8374
Linda Banta
Owner/Dermatologist
Stone Oak Dermatology
210-494-0504
Treedy Chapa
Chapa Fuller Real Estate
Owner / Broker
210-807-8680
Therese Martinez
Pridestaff
Owner / Strategic Partner
210-807-6206
Jon Disrud
Owner/Attorney
Law Offices of Jon Disrud
210-494-6633
Janie Vermillion
Kitchen & Bath Designer
JV Designs
210-355-3877
Rolland Cole
RB4 Group
Partner
210-316-8039
David Cohn
Managing Director
Wells Fargo Advisors
210-844-6318
Stan Hester
Loan Officer
Fidelity Premier Mortgage
210-627-0272
Craig Veltri
President
Office Resource Center
210-650-5002
David Johnson
David Johnson Co.
Owner / Financial Consultant
210-492-1998
Our Christmas Dinner Dance “Puttin on the “Glitz” had a a good
turnout and was a night of great dancing and very good food thanks
to our Sonterra Chef.
Our next classes will start January 20, 2016
7:00 pm - Rumba
8:00 pm - Advanced Texas Two Step
Call Dorothy Kellogg 496-2825 or Sonterra 496-1560 to make your
reservations.
Russell Hicks and I want to thank all who took classes this year and
to wish all Sonterra members a “Happy Holiday Season”
The Book Club of Sonterra will not meet in December.
The next meeting will be
Thursday, January 14th, 7:00 p.m. in the Directors Room.
We will read and discuss
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
If you are interested in attending, please email
Sylvia Theall [email protected]
Michael Ulmer
Schultz-Ulmer RE Group
Realtor / Owner
210-771-0877
The American History Club meets every month. The next meeting is
Thursday, January 7th, 7:00pm. They will be discussing
"Kingdom of Ice”by Sides
For more information or to sign up, please email John Theall at
[email protected]
The Date Night Marathon Bridge Club welcomes other couples to participate. Our
next meeting will be Wednesday, January 27th. We meet at 6:00 for the Family
Fortune Buffet and then adjourn to the Garden Room for bridge at 7:00. The format is 16 hands of party bridge in a rotating round robin format throughout the
year. There is a one-time $20 fee. Must be verified members of Sonterra. For further information please contact Guy or Goldie LoTurco at 210-497-2363.
Sunday Brunch
Every Sunday, 11:00am-2:00pm
Adults: $28.95++ Kids ages 5-11: $11.95++
CONNECT: $19.95++ Kids Ages 5-11: $9.95
Children 4 and under are complimentary
19th Hole Sat & Sun Morning Omelet
Station
Every Sunday, 8:30am-11:00am
Adults: $9.95++ Kids ages 5-11: $5.95++
CONNECT: $6.95++ Kids Ages 5-11: $4.95
Children 4 and under are complimentary
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Upcoming Events
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Golf Corner
On the Greens - Donny
Golf News - Jeff Hunter,
Latham, Golf Course Superintendent
I hope everyone had a great Holiday
Season. With January here we will start
our tree trimming all over the golf
courses. We have so many beautiful
trees on the property that require a lot
of pruning and lifting the canopies so that golf shots can be
hit under them. Along with tree trimming we will also start
adding sand to many of the bunkers on both North and
South. This is a very labor intensive project that will take
several weeks to complete. Along with adding sand we will
also be tilling the existing sand which will soften the green
side bunkers. This allows for easier wedge shots to be
played around the greens. Our overseed is really grown in
nicely and will continue to improve in the next few months.
I also wanted to let you know some of the key things that
we were able to accomplish in 2015. All of the waterfalls
are now working daily which is a great site to see on the
North Course. Also, we replaced or repaired 3 of our 4
primary wells which deliver water to our ponds that we irrigate from. We will be doing some further research in January and February to determine if we can produce even more
water from our wells. I will report our findings in future
newsletters. I look forward to seeing everyone out on the
golf courses enjoying the cooler weather and green grass.
Director of Golf
2016!! Wow!! Can you believe that we are
15 years past the end of the world and 202k?
We are on the verge of starting another big golf
year with all kinds of activities scheduled both old
and new. The SWGA, MGA, GGG and junior
programs are all being finalized as I write this and
everyone is looking forward to a great year.
The SWGA is scheduled to begin on Wednesday January 13. The event
will be the "rust remover". Come on out knock off the "winter rest period", and enjoy some great golf. Your SWGA committee is working hard
to create a great season of events.
The MGA, men's golf association, will kick off on January 9th. New
president, Todd Fields, is forming his cabinet of henchmen, and they are
all reviewing what worked and didn't work last year so they may come up
with great events for 2016.
If you all are interested in more information on any of the groups and
organizations, please call the golf shop and we will put you in touch with
the right person. Make this year the year you really get that golf game
where it belongs.
I would like to thank everyone for a good 2015 and look forward to
2016. A lot has changed, a lot has improved, and I, we have more to
change and improve on. We as a staff aim to better your experiences
with the entire golf operation in 2016 and make Sonterra your escape,
the place you want to show off to your friends, and encourage them to
join.
MGA Elects New President
Todd Fields was elected President of the MGA for 2016. Congratulations to Todd on his election, and the best of luck to him as he assumes his new duties.
Another Great Season About To Begin
The MGA Board has been hard at work on putting the 2016 season together. Along with planning all of the tournaments for the new year,
there has been a focus on making MGA participation easier and even more enjoyable. Some of the items being looked at include:
1. Introduction of more one-day tournaments;
2. Moving specific tournament to new dates to make it easier for more members to play them;
3. Fine-tuning the tournament handicapping system to be even fairer to all;
4. Hosting new social events for MGA members and their significant others; and
5. Continuing to upgrade and improve food & beverage items and service
The 2016 tournament schedule will be announced shortly. Stay tuned for announcements of other changes as well.
Many thanks to all MGA members for their ongoing support & participation.
Golf Corner
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Sonterra Women’s
Golf Association
2015 was a wonderful year for SWGA and our members had lots to celebrate at our Christmas Luncheon this year. President,
Carol Churchill will be retuning as our president next year. She will be joined by Susie Dillree, Vice President; Melody Stramer,
Secretary; and Cheryl Redwine, Treasurer. The luncheon not only gives our members an opportunity to dress up in their holiday
best, but it gives them an opportunity to recognize our ACE of the Year, Margaret Lange, and our STAR of the Year, Frances Cohn
and say a special “Thank You” to everyone who worked to make the year such a success. Our InterClub Teams lead by Sue
Colburn, Marian Dyer, Rachel Wadsworth and Carol Andersen won first and second place Net this year and their trophy was
prominently displayed at the luncheon. Frances Cohn did a fantastic job organizing the luncheon and our members contributed
over $1,000 to the Children’s Shelter. Ringer Chair, Darla Hedrick, handed out the prize $$$ to our winners of low gross and low
net on the north and south courses. Jeff Hunter awarded the prize for Most Improved to Carol Andersen. Carol and Becky
Hooper have done an outstanding job as Tournament Chairs and will continue to keep us challenged next year. SWGA has
welcomed lots of new members in 2015. If you are interested in joining us, give the Pro Shop a call and sign up to play with us on
Wednesday!
Thank you,
Pat Hastings
SWGA Publicity Chair
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Jr. Golf / Fitness
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Junior Golf
Juniors Wanted!
For the 2016 Winter Golf Team Program set to begin in February.
Space will be limited, so please be sure to register your junior early.
The 12 week program will include; weekly group practices, one on one instruction,
on course play, Inter-Club competition and more.
Please stay tuned to next month’s newsletter for more details.
FITNESS
Exercise and Fitness as You Age
Exercise is the key to healthy aging
If you have an injury, disability, weight problem, or
diabetes...
Exercise can energize your mood, relieve stress, help you
manage symptoms of illness and pain, and improve your overall sense of well-being. In fact, exercise is the key to staying
strong, energetic, and healthy as you get older. And it can
even be fun, too, especially if you find like-minded people to
exercise with.
Pilates/Core
training
This class is designed to target your core. Your core
consists of your abdominals, back and hip muscles. We
work on overall balance, strength and flexibility using
slow-controlled movements. We meet twice a week on
Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:00PM in the main clubhouse. Please contact Stefanie at (210)-823-3465 if you
would like to join us.
Exercise Tips to Get Fit and Stay Fit as You Grow
Older.
As you grow older, an active lifestyle is more important
than ever. Regular exercise can help boost energy, maintain your independence, and manage symptoms of illness
or pain. Exercise can even reverse some of the symptoms of aging. And not only is exercise good for your
body, it’s also good for your mind, mood, and memory.
Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an
illness, there are plenty of ways to get more active, improve confidence, and boost your fitness.
Fit and Firm Class
Fitness Instructor Carlos Torres has created a Fit and Firm
Class designed to improve your health and fitness level. You
will lose fat, build and firm your muscles, while increasing
your strength and flexibility. Class is held every Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday at 6:45am and cost $10.00 a class.
Call Carlos at 210-380-0682 or email him at [email protected] for more information or to get signed
up. Do it today!
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Fitness News
Five myths about exercise and aging
Myth 1: There’s no point to exercising. I’m going to get old anyway.
Fact: Exercise and strength training helps you look and feel younger and stay active longer. Regular physical activity lowers your risk for a variety of conditions, including
Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, high blood pressure, and obesity. Not only can exercise help stem the decline in strength and vitality
that comes with age, it even improve it. And the mood benefits of exercise can be just as great as 70 or 80 as they were at 20 or 30.
Myth 2: Older people shouldn’t exercise. They should save their strength and rest.
Fact: Research shows that a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy for adults over 50. Inactivity often causes older adults to lose the ability to do things on their own and can lead
to more hospitalizations, doctor visits, and use of medicines for illnesses.
Myth 3: Exercise puts me at risk of falling down.
Fact: Regular exercise, by building strength and stamina, prevents loss of bone mass and improves balance, actually reducing your risk of
falling.
Myth 4: It’s too late. I’m already too old to start exercising.
Fact: You’re never too old to start exercising and improve your health! In fact, adults who take up exercise later in life often show greater physical and mental improvements than their
Myth 5: I’m disabled. I can’t exercise sitting down.
Fact: Chair-bound people face special challenges but can lift light weights, stretch, and do chair aerobics, chair yoga, and chair Tai Chi to
increase range of motion, improve muscle tone and flexibility, and promote cardiovascular health. Many swimming pools offer access to
wheelchair users
The whole-body benefits of exercise for older adults
As you age, regular exercise is more important than ever to your body and mind. It’s not just about adding years to your life, but adding life to your years.
Physical health benefits of exercise and fitness for older adults

Exercise helps older adults maintain or lose weight.

Exercise reduces the impact of illness and chronic disease.

Exercise enhances mobility, flexibility, and balance in older adults.
Mental health benefits of exercise and fitness as you age

Exercise improves your sleep.

Exercise boosts mood and self-confidence.

Exercise is amazingly good for the brain.
Exercise and fitness as you age: Tips for getting started safely
Committing to a routine of physical activity is one of the healthiest decisions you can make. Before you get moving, though, consider
how best to be safe.

Get medical clearance from your doctor before starting an exercise program. Ask if there are any activities you should avoid.

Consider health concerns. Keep in mind how your ongoing health problems affect your workouts.

Start slow. Build up your exercise program little by little. Prevent injury and discomfort by warming up, cooling down, and keeping
water handy.

Commit to an exercise schedule for at least 3 or 4 weeks so that it becomes habit.

Stay motivated by focusing on short-term goals,
Recognize problems. Exercise should never hurt or make you feel lousy. Stop if a joint is red, swollen, or tender to touch.
For more information or to set an appointment to start your own personalized fitness program, call the fitness center today at 210-496-9346.
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Tennis News- Michelle Dodier, Director of Tennis
Happy New Year to everyone and we hope you
are well rested. We are starting off January on all
eight cylinders. USTA leagues begin January 9th
and go through December. I say this because
there are now so many different ages, levels,
mixed, tri-levels and combo tournaments being
played you could play right into December if you
wish. We are looking forward to another great
year of tennis here at Sonterra and adding a few
more team champion signs to our collection.
Yes, league play is great and very healthy here at
Sonterra, but we have a huge group out here that
don’t play in leagues and enjoy all the other
amenities that we have to offer. Know that we
will always work on keeping the balance of activities for all types of players. We know that court
space can sometimes be tight and we work very hard to make sure all our
members can get on a court at prime time. What we need from our members is to please cancel their court as early as possible so the members on
the wait list can use it. Remember, you might be on that list waiting for a
call from us about a cancelled court.
What’s in store for the New Year? Well we will have more mini clinics,
socials with tennis and socials without tennis, some inter-clubs, some out-of
-town inter-clubs, bowling and TABLE TENNIS. Oh yes, we have three
Club Champion events, Sneakers and Cleats and holiday events to sneak in
there. Creating events is the easy part—it’s finding a date to squeeze them
in that’s hard. All these events and more will be detailed via email and bulletin board. We know you are inundated with emails, but please read us
before you delete us.
The Tennis Appreciation Party was fantastic—the food, the dancing, the
desserts, the service and you were all great. Thanks for making this party
FUN. Thank you again for making our Holiday Sale Event a huge success—
WOW!! As usual you were there for us again. Christy did another great job
of ordering and between her, Laurie and the staff we hit a grand slam.
There are really a lot of fun and exciting things coming your way this year
and we can’t wait to get into the year. We appreciate you all tremendously
and look forward to what’s ahead.
Tennis Corner
Tennis Events/News
Winner’s Circle Adults and Juniors
Singles
Club Singles Champions- Adults
Misi Woolard – 2.5 Ladies
Luis Montes de Oca –3.0 Men
Nellie Pantanine – 3.0 Ladies
Ryan Meredith –3.5 Men
Luz Ortiz—3.5 Ladies
Steve Ison—4.0 Men
Yvette Thomas- 4.0 Ladies
Ralph Totorica –4.5 Men
Joy Meltzer—4.5 Ladies
Club Singles Champions –Junior
Mackenzie Blakey—Girl’s 10’s
Jon Totorica—Boy’s 10’s
Mathilde Bardy—Girl’s 12’s
Kyle Totorica—Boy’s 12’s
Bella Ortega—Girl’s 14’s
Nick Duarte—Boy’s 14’s
Brooke Stricker—Girl’s 16’s
Joseph Guerra—Boy’s 16’s
Austin Paddock—Boy’s 18’s
Remember, Sonterra is fun, Sonterra is competitive, Sonterra is a
club that brings people together on and off the court.
San Antonio Adult and Junior Open –
Ladies Beginners & Advanced Beginners Clinic – Begins January 4th
December 4-6
Mondays and Wednesdays 9am to 10:30am
Steve Surbaugh –Finalist 4.5 Men’s Singles
Tuesday and Thursdays at 7pm to 8:30pm
If you’ve already been attending this clinic keep it up—for those
ladies who want to join the clinic now is a great time –jump on in.
You will learn the basics to move you along where there is no turning back. Just ask the many tennis members who can’t get enough
of this wonderful sport. Mike and staff make learning this game fun
and the clothes are just out of this world. For the Monday and
Wednesday clinic call Mike at 491-9888 or email him at
[email protected]
For the Tuesday / Thursday evening clinic, email
[email protected] or call him at 491-9888.
Tennis Corner
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WINNERS CIRCLE
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Tennis Corner
February Upcoming Events
January Upcoming Events:
January 1- New Year’s Day- Tennis shop closed –courts open
January 4- Registration for Adult Club Leagues—8am
February 1Second session of after school junior program begins
February 14-
January 9 - Saturday USTA league begins
January 10- 40 plus Mixed USTA league & 4.5 Ladies begins
January 11- 18 and over Monday USTA ladies begins
January 11- 1st session of after school junior program begins
January 12- 4.5 Ladies USTA league begins
Valentine’s Day Mixer 2 to 5pm
February 26-28—
Sapta Major Zone Tournament (400 point tournament)
January 15- 2.5 Ladies USTA league begins/*9January 25- All Club leagues begin
Sonterra Advisory Board Results
Congratulations to our new Board members- Rhonda Stacy, Ann Ojeda, Paul Gutierrez and William Herridge. They will
join a very active and eager board who are ready to tackle the needs of our tennis program. The Board members names
will be posted on the bulletin board—please contact them, as well as me, for any comments, suggestions or concerns. We
again want to thank the board members who have just served their term for all their hard work at making Sonterra the
best. Thank you Hal Mallory, Roger Ojeda, Daniel Coffey and Linda Walsdorf for all your contributions throughout the
year we appreciate all your hard work.
Spring after school junior tennis program
Valentine’s Day Mixer
Sunday February 14
th
2pm to 5pm
It may be a couple’s holiday but this event is by no
means for couples only. As always, we will be voting
and publicizing the best poem of the day. We will be
giving out 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes for these
wonderful, romantic, touching, funny and even some
downright “tearjerker” poems. Sign up in pro shop.
Josh and his team have a new and exciting program to start out the
New Year. He will be
implementing the 10 and under program with the
designated color balls that USTA has promoted for that age group.
There will be tournaments for the 10 and under along with interclub
match play.
The older juniors will also have designated match play along with
tournament play for their ability level. Brochures are now available in
the pro shop. For more info please call Josh at 491-9888.
SAPTA MAJOR ZONE ADULT TOURNAMENT—
February 26-28
This is a great tournament held in your backyard --Sonterra-Dominion-Fair Oaks-Oaks Hills and San Antonio Country Club. It is a 400 point tournament so it
is a biggie. If you need more information about this
tournament contact the tennis shop.
SAPTA Wednesday Morning Ladies League—February
The very popular Wednesday morning league that plays
four lines of doubles is about to start. Please contact
Laurie in the pro shop for more information.
Registration for the Spring Club Leagues
January 4th is SIGN UP DAY for all club leagues. Please set your
alarm on your phone, tie a string around your finger or any other
method that will remind you to call 491-9888 to sign up. Remember
only 52 spots per league night are available.
Friday, January 8th
Join us in the Terrace Room for a dinner of
King Crab Legs, Shrimp Cocktail, Crab Cakes and more!
$34.95++ (Connect $24.95++)
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Catering News
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Member to Member Networking
Page 15
Calendar
901 Sonterra Blvd
San Antonio, TX 78258
Board of Governors
Ron Botello, Chair,
Susan Colburn, Gordon Hudson, Karen Murphy,
Bob Musel, Stan Hester, Milt King, Rita Parscale,
Vick Meredith, Dan Wadsworth, Gina Graham,
Hal Mallory, Carol Churchill,
Stephanie De La Garza, Rosalie Hallenberger
Staff at Your Service
Bryant Early………..…….……..General Manager
Julie Golla…………...……..Membership Director
Ivy Garza……...…………....Director of Catering
Jeff Hunter……………………...Director of Golf
Michelle Dodier……….……..Director of Tennis
Debbie Gonzaba…... Member Relations Director
Donny Latham.….....Golf Course Superintendent
Antonio Pastrana…….….Director of Operations
Mario Roman……..……………...Executive Chef
Lorri Reese..……………...….….Club Controller
John Voelker…....……...Director of Maintenance
Tim Roberts…………..……...Director of Fitness
Club Number
Main Line……………………....210.496.1560
Accounting………………………...210.496.1550
Catering……………………….…...210.496.1560
Course Maintenance…………...…..210.496.9593
Fitness Center……………………..210.496.9346
Golf Pro Shop……………………...210.491.9900
Kids Club…………………………..210.483.4245
Membership…………………….….210.483.4292
Tennis Pro Shop…………………...210.491.9888
Hours of Operation
Main Dining Room ~ Quick Lunch
Tuesday ~ Friday
11:00am-2:00pm
Dinner ~ Horizon Room
Monday & Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday ~ Saturday 6:00-9:00pm
Clubhouse Hours
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
11:00am-8:00pm
Wednesday ~ Saturday 11:00am-9:00pm
Sunday
11:00am-3:00pm
(Sunday Brunch)
11:00am– 2:00pm
19th Hole
Tuesday ~ Friday
7:00am-9:00pm
Saturday & Sunday
6:30am-9:00pm
Tavern on the Green
Tuesday ~ Saturday
3:00pm-11:00pm
Sunday
11:00am-6:00pm
Sports Grill
Monday ~ Thursday
8:30am-1:00pm
Monday ~ Thursday
4:00-pm-10:00pm
Friday ~ Saturday
8:00am-6:00pm
Sunday
9:00am-6:00pm
Fitness Center
Monday ~ Friday
5:00am-10:00pm
Saturday ~ Sunday
5:00am-6:00pm
Golf Pro Shop
Monday
Closed
Tuesday ~ Friday
7:30am-6:30pm
Saturday ~ Sunday
7:00am-6:30pm
Tennis Pro Shop
Monday ~ Thursday
8:30am-10:00pm
Friday ~ Saturday
8:00am-4:00pm
Sunday
9:00am-4:00pm
Accounting
Monday ~ Friday
9:00am-5:00pm