Contents - Oakmont Country Club

N AT I O N A L H I S TO R I C L A N D M A R K 1 9 0 3
Oakmont
M AY 2 0 1 5
| W W W. O A K M O N T C C . O R G
FIRST PERSON
ED STACK
S
Fitz’s Facts
Page 6
Contents
From the Clubhouse
Page 2
Bunker to Bunker
Page 4
Rules of Golf
Page 12
Links
pring is finally here at Oakmont!
Opening day was well attended with
95 members participating on April
18. The weather for opening day was the
nicest we have seen in recent memory.
We kicked off Opening Day with a
membership forum in the morning. Doug
Truter, Membership Committee Chair,
talked with those in attendance about the
membership process. In summary, if members would like to recommend a potential
member that would truly be a great addition to the Club, please contact any one of
the following Membership Committee
members: Doug Truter, Rich Alexander,
Mark Bope, Bob Cooper, Bruce
McGough, or me. We would be happy
to walk you through the process and make
it as easy as possible to sponsor a new
member.
The Budget for the coming fiscal year
was unanimously approved by the Board of
Governors at the meeting held on March
25. The budget projects a positive cash
flow from regular operations of $209K at
the end of March 2016. The Board is
committed to being as fiscally conservative
as possible while still preserving the high
standards and service levels that members
are accustomed to at Oakmont.
I have heard many positive comments
from members and their guests regarding
the food and service provided at the Club’s
Easter celebration. Close to 700 were
served over the course of a seven- hour
period. Kudos to the Clubhouse team for
doing such a great job. The Club’s Easter
celebration also marked a changing of the
guard in our Food and Beverage
Department. April 1, 2015 marked Peggy
Schaal’s last day at the Club after thirty-five
years of dedicated service to Oakmont
Country Club. Peggy, on behalf of the
Board of Governors and the entire membership we thank you for your unending
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Opening Day
The U.S. Open Championship
Trophy made an appearance
at Oakmont on Opening Day.
Members were able to get an
up-close view of the trophy.
Pictured here (left to right)
are Dan Biondi, Bernie Marcus,
Don Ziegler and Randy
Crawford.
See more on page 5.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
M AY 2 0 1 5
Oakmont
Links
From the Clubhouse
BY
PAUL MROZ
First Person
CONTINUED
The renovation of our Dining Room,
Runway, Living Room and two Sitting
areas has been completed. The response
from the Membership has been overwhelmingly positive. The combination of
views of the golf course from the
Champions Grill and bar and the natural
light that spills into that room has been
very well received. The colors and fabrics
chosen by our designer June Price have
received high praise. Members and guests
are utilizing the Oakmont Dining Room
more than when it was the formal Dining
Room which was another goal of the
committee.
Summer is right around the corner
which means that the tennis courts are
ready and the pool will be opening up very
soon. Opening Day for the pool will be
May 22. Let the countdown begin.
Parents will be receiving a flyer which
details all of the fun things that our
younger members may avail themselves of
this summer. Junior Golf Clinics led by
Matt Denesha will run from June 16
through August 14. The swim team practice and meet schedule will run from May
22 through mid-July. Our junior tennis
camps are available for all ages and will run
for five weeks from June 16 through July
23. If you did not receive a flyer in the mail
by the time that you are reading this article
please contact Jessica Lucas and she will
mail or email one to you. One more note
about the pool. The pool will be open for
lap swimming only from 7:00-10:00 a.m.
on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. On
weekends the pool will open at 10:00 a.m.
instead of the usual 11:00 a.m.
During the month of May you will
notice that almost 80% of the exterior of
the Clubhouse will be scraped, caulked and
painted. The Clubhouse is looking a bit
weathered and once the job is completed it
will look spectacular. We will be sure to
work around the Club’s busy times and
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
Jamie Schmitt
do our best to keep the crew out of everyone’s way. We appreciate everyone’s
understanding.
Jamie Schmitt has begun her new position as our Events Coordinator and she has
hit the ground running. Jamie has the
energy, creativity, and organizational skills
that will propel this facet of the Clubhouse
operation to great heights. Please call her at
extension 302 if you are planning a special
event at the Club and she will take care of
all of your planning needs.
Opening Day saw a reversal of fortune
for our golfers this year. The women drew
the short straw on Thursday as it poured
rain for almost the entire time they were on
the course. Conversely the men had what
was touted as the nicest day they have seen
in the past twenty years. Sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70’s were the order of
the day. A very nice touch to both days was
the appearance of the U.S. Open Trophy.
Members were very excited to have their
pictures taken with the hardware. Many
thanks to Charlie Howe and Carl Gurtner
for making the trophy available in our
Dining Rooms over the Opening Day
weekend for all members who were on
the property. The excitement for 2016 is
building!
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support and excellent service.
We wish you all of the best in
your retirement. Your wonderful smile will be missed
around the Clubhouse.
The Grounds Department
has performed a great deal of
work since last August’s aerification procedure. We have
continued to follow the
process recommended by Mr.
Richard Bator for returning
our greens to Oakmont standards. Shortly before we performed another aggressive
aerification in October, our
greens were returning to the
standard we have become
accustomed to. Based on Mr.
Bator’s plan, the Grounds
personnel performed drilland-fill and Graden verticut
procedures on our greens in
October. The next phase of
Mr. Bator’s plan was to
employ another aggressive
aerification this spring, which
we have completed. The
thatch/ organic matter has
been reduced by 30-40%
through these procedures.
Mr. Bator is confident our
greens will have made significant progress by early June.
While I know this is much to
ask based on the playing conditions of the last few years,
please be patient for a few
more weeks to allow the early
growing season to take place.
Hopefully, by the MemberMember Tournament, we
will be playing on Oakmont
greens which we are proud to
have our friends join us.
M AY 2 0 1 5
U.S. Open Tickets
Last month, each member should have received information regarding the chance to purchase tickets for the 2016
U.S. Open Championship. We’ve had many members
already take advantage of this advance opportunity. We
encourage you to buy your tickets early as tickets go on
sale to the general public on June 15, 2015.
Membership ticket packages must be purchased
by Friday, May 29, 2015. Please go to usga.org/
OakmontMember and enter your Oakmont member
number to purchase. If you prefer to order via mail,
please pick up an Oakmont member ticket application at
the front desk. Tickets will be sent to members in May
of 2016.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
Volunteer Opportunities
Still Available for OCC Members:
To date, 185 members have secured volunteer positions
for next year’s U.S. Open. We want to thank each of you
for your dedication and commitment to serving as ambassadors to Oakmont Country Club and the USGA!
There are still a limited number of volunteer positions
available; however we’d like to highlight the unique
opportunity to support Oakmont Country Club and the
Championship by volunteering as a hole marshal with your
fellow OCC members.
Marshals play a vital role in the success of the championship. Whether it is working directional paddles on the
tee box, spotting golf balls in the fairway, or serving as a
greenside marshal, you have the opportunity to ensure fair
play for all of the 156 professional golfers in the 2016
U.S. Open field. Traditionally, the host club is assigned to
marshal the final and always dramatic 18th hole of the
U.S. Open. In our case, the best finishing hole in golf!
If you are interested in volunteering for the 2016
U.S. Open, please visit 2016volunteers.usga.org and
complete an application at your earliest convenience. If
you choose to fill out an application online, we ask that
you indicate your affiliation with Oakmont Country Club
in the “Previous Experience” section of the application.
Additional hard copies of the volunteer application can
be picked up from the USGA offices at Oakmont. All
individuals chosen to be volunteers will be asked to
volunteer up to four shifts. Shifts will generally last five
to six hours. Should you have any questions regarding the
application, please contact the Championship Office at
[email protected].
This is your chance to enjoy, firsthand, the excitement
of the United States Open Championship. Thank you
for your interest in volunteering and your support of
Oakmont Country Club. We know you will have the
time of your life!
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M AY 2 0 1 5
Oakmont
Links
BY
May Schedule of Events
May 5*
Member-Monday (Tuesday)
May 6
WPWGA Girls Clinic
May 17
Mixed Casual Guest Day
May 22
Member Only SWAT
May 23
Demo Day
May 25
Memorial Day
BOB FORD
Weekend Morning Twosomes
If you are a golfer who enjoys playing as a twosome or prefers to
play your Club match in a twosome, please know the best time for
you to play on a weekend morning is between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00
a.m. Any twosome playing outside of this time frame will most
likely play at a 4-hour pace and be likely to be paired with another
twosome.
Kiltie Q & A
When will entries be sent?
Kiltie entries will be emailed on May 11.
If I was on the waitlist last year, am I exempt into
this year’s event?
Yes, but you still must send in an entry form.
What is the Kiltie Format in 2015?
Friday 27-holes, Saturday 18-holes
Will there be a practice round?
No. However a limited number of tee times will be reserved for
those that would like to play Thursday before the event.
Will there be a dinner on Saturday night?
No, there will only be a stag dinner Friday night.
How many teams will be in the field?
The Kiltie field will consist of 60 teams.
What is the entry fee for the Kiltie?
$950 per team.
Course Closed
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m. Tee Times
1:30 p.m. Shotgun
2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Rules Apply
* On May 5, the golf course will open to member play at approximately
5:30 p.m.
PGA Junior League Golf
Oakmont is joining the fastest growing junior golf program this
year. PGA Junior League Golf is designed to better socialize the
game for boys and girls, ages 13 and under. Featuring team vs. team
competitions in structured leagues, kids can enjoy a less stressful
scramble format as opposed to stroke-play competition.
Leagues and schedules will not be created until the end of April,
but juniors can now sign up to be on the team! Our league will
most likely be with Fox Chapel Golf Club, Pittsburgh Field Club
and Butler Country Club. If you would like to officially sign up,
please contact Matt Denesha at [email protected] or call the Golf Shop at (412) 828-4653. Fee: $125
Important Oakmont Junior Dates
Junior Interclub Traveling Team Qualifier – May 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Junior Golf Clinics begin June 16
Interclub Match at Baltusrol Golf Club – July 7
Interclub Match at Winged Foot Golf Club – July 8
Junior Club Championship – July 10 and 11 at 2:30 p.m.
Junior Diebold at Longue Vue Club – July 16 at 3:00 p.m.
Parent Child Championship – July 25 at 2:30 p.m.
Interclub Match at Kahkwa Club – July 30
Interclub Match at Scioto – TBD
Pro-Junior Scramble – August 14 at 3:30 p.m.
Junior Sports Banquet – August 16 at 6:00 p.m.
Demo Day
May 23 • 2-7 p.m.
We look forward to you joining us on May 23 from 2-7p.m.
for our 2015 demo day which will feature all the major club
companies including: Adams, Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist and
US Kids Golf. There are clubs to try for all ages and abilities.
If you would like to be fit from a vendor, please call the professional shop to schedule an appointment.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
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M AY 2 0 1 5
Drive, Chip and Putt Local
Qualifier Locations
June 13
Mill Creek Park Golf Course
West Golf Dr.
Boardman, OH 44512
June 19
Champion Lakes Golf Club
4743 Route 711
Bolivar, PA 15923
Opening Day
U.S. Open Championship Trophy
The U.S. Open Championship trophy is permanently housed in the USGA Museum and Arnold
Palmer Center for Golf History in Far Hills, N.J. Each U.S. Open champion receives a replica of the
trophy to keep permanently. Names of the U.S. Open winners are engraved in block type on the
lower portion of the trophy.
Pictured below with the trophy are (top, left to right) Barry Hackett, Kevin Adamek, Jim Douglass and
Dave Fuhrer.
July 2
J.C. Martin Family Golf Center
652 Shunpike Rd.
Erie, PA 16508
July 17
Grandview Golf Club
1000 Clubhouse Dr.
Braddock, PA 15104
July 22
Quicksilver Golf Club
2000 Quicksilver Rd.
Midway, PA 15060
To register for a local qualifier, go
to drivechipandputt.com today!
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
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M AY 2 0 1 5
Oakmont
Links
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
BY JOHN
Fitz’s Facts
FITZGERALD, ARCHIVE CHAIRMAN
A
B
C
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
— 6 —
M AY 2 0 1 5
The New Oakmont Country Club
In the previous 20 years of gathering information, memorabilia
and photos about OCC history,
the recent receipt of a full-page
newspaper article is definitely in
the top 10 of interest because of
its content. The paper is dated
September 3, 1905 (page 6).
It all started with our receiving an email from Curt Coulter
with this page as an attachment
but not printable. It took a
while to find the source. Shown
here are copies of some of the
photos in our inventory which
were used by the newspaper.
Unfortunately we do not have
the rest.
A
A. Reception Room,
Clubhouse interior
B. H.C. Fownes watching the
completion of the first 18
hole round of golf.
(It is obvious that this is the
9th Green, so they must
have started on #10.)
C. Oakmont Country Club,
Clubhouse Exterior
(This was also used for post
cards.)
B
C
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
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M AY 2 0 1 5
From the Grounds
The grounds department is excited to start
the 2015 season and is pleased to report
that we have already accomplished a great
deal of work.
Putting Greens
Winter: As you are aware, we took every
possible precaution this past winter and
chose to tarp all of the putting greens on
the golf course. In addition, we installed
fences to mitigate high winds on #3 and
#14 greens. Lastly, we took every opportunity throughout the winter to remove
excess water from the tarps, clear ice formations, and help facilitate ice melting at
the proper times. Upon removing the
greens tarps and inspecting the turf, we
were pleased with the overall condition of
the greens following winter. We are continuing to monitor areas on a few greens (#1,
#4, #8, #9, and #10) where different varieties of Poa annua are still exhibiting signs
of extended dormancy and winter (ice)
damage. We have seen significant improvement in these areas with additional fertility,
plugging, overnight tarping, liquid fertilizer
applications, and other related practices.
We have also identified a few specific, lowlying areas of ice damage that we are
replacing with putting green grass from our
nursery.
Winter dormancy/ice damage #10 green, 4/10/15.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
BY JOHN
ZIMMERS, GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
Many have asked how it was possible to
experience areas of winter damage when we
covered all of our greens. As previously
communicated, tarps help protect the turf
from direct cold temperature injury, desiccation, wind damage, and other forms of
winter injury. However, even though the
tarps help mitigate ice damage, they cannot
prevent it. Therefore, though we are working on a few problem areas, we feel confident that we avoided much more significant issues through our precautionary
measures.
Overall, we are pleased with the health
and progress of the greens after a very difficult winter and a relatively slow spring. We
will continue to take the necessary steps to
address any winter-related issues and provide the best possible playability.
Organic Matter: Upon reviewing testing
from last fall (Dr. Hummel - Hummel &
Co., Inc.), performing physical inspections
in the field, a site visit from consultant Mr.
Richard Bator, and a very aggressive aerification schedule, we are pleased to report
that we have made significant progress in
eliminating our organic matter issue. Also,
testing from October 2014 (prior to the
drill & fill/graden in October) confirms
that our organic matter percentages are
already in the desired range. We
look forward to reviewing test
results later this spring to lend
further scientific verification to
our programs. Lastly, the putting greens have been performing very well thus far this spring,
and we look forward to providing firm, fast conditions this
season.
Agressive Putting Green
Spring Aerification
In accordance with our organic
matter removal program, the
grounds department completed
a very aggressive spring aerification. The grounds staff worked
very long hours in far less than
ideal conditions to complete the
work in a very efficient
manner. The processes completed are as follows:
Core Aerification: We removed a
traditional 5/8" core on very
tight spacing. The tight spacing
of this aerification utilized relatively new technology allowing
us to remove approximately 50%
more organic matter than in a
conventional aerification. The
fact that we were able to remove
this much material without ripping, pulling, and damaging the
turf is a testament to our overall
turf health and root structure.
Please see the photos comparing
our new 5/8" core setup versus
the conventional setup.
Winter ice/damage #2 fairway/intermediate: plugging,
overseeding, etc.
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M AY 2 0 1 5
From the Grounds
CONTINUED
Graden: #4 green
New 5/8” tine setup: 6 tines/block
New 5/8” tine aerification: >50% more removal
Old 5/8” tine setup: 4 tines/block
Drill & Fill: This procedure is executed to continually maintain
our 112-year-old greens and
maximize positive drainage. It
consists of a ¾" diameter drill
bit that removes soil approximately 12" deep and backfills
with sand. This process helps
water infiltrate the soil faster, promoting
effective drainage through our soil, producing drier, firmer playing conditions. With
an unfavorable forecast, we 2x and 3x
tarped specific greens to prevent the soil
from freezing, allowing us to start work
early in the morning. Also, we worked late
into the night to complete all 18 greens in
two days.
Aerification: finished product (tight spacing)
Deeptine: Following the drill & fill procedure, we used a ½" solid tine to penetrate
and fracture the soil at an approximate
6-8" depth. This process creates additional
pore space for oxygen and helps relieve
compaction enhancing turf health and
drainage.
Graden/Verticut: Lastly, we performed
another graden procedure. The graden is a
verticutting procedure that is extremely
aggressive. It consists of several mini chainsaw blades that cut and remove organic
matter at a depth of approximately ½" to
1" and backfills the channels with sand.
The graden is the most aggressive tool
available to remove organic matter. This is
the third time this procedure has been performed since August 2014 (7½ months
ago).
Overall, the ultra-aggressive spring 2015
aerification displaced approximately 17.5%
organic matter on a surface area basis, and
brings our total surface area displacement
since August 2014 up to approximately
40% in seven and a half months. Although
the aforementioned data and percentages
quantify the work that has been completed,
we feel confident that it will positively
translate into a significant qualitative
improvement this season regarding speed
and firmness. We appreciate everyone’s
understanding and patience in allowing us
to complete these programs.
Healing time from our spring aerification is largely dependent upon soil temperatures and growing degree days. Also, the
countless strains of our unique perennial
Drill and fill: #9 green
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
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M AY 2 0 1 5
Oakmont
Links
From the Grounds
CONTINUED
Poa annua exhibit varying growth rates.
As communicated annually, the differing
growth rates are the prominent contributor
to the “bumpy” putting conditions we typically experience every spring. It is documented, and our experience confirms that
our greens do not produce peak playability
until mid to late May. We will do our best
to manufacture the smoothest, firmest conditions possible this spring until our soil
temperatures reach equilibrium where the
Poa can grow in a more uniform, consistent fashion.
Fairway Aerification
Completing fairway aerification in the
spring is typically difficult due to several
factors including frozen soil, frosts, soil
moisture, precipitation, lack of drying, etc.
In fact, we were unable to complete this
procedure last spring due to a variety of the
aforementioned reasons. This spring, with
conditions being far from favorable, we
were extremely aggressive in executing and
completing the work. In fact, due to scheduling conflicts, we completed 95% of the
work in-house without our normal contractor. Also, we used smaller, lighter walkbehind aerifiers, hand tools (shovels, backpack blowers, whips, push blowers, etc.),
and did a great deal of the cleanup without
our typical, large machinery in order to
effectively complete the task. This was a
monumental effort by our grounds staff
and we were able to complete the vital procedure just before heavy rain erased any
Proper
future chance of scheduling and completing the work.
Divots: The grounds department has and
will continue to make a concerted effort to
address the overabundance of divots on the
golf course. We will continue to devote
additional time and labor to filling as many
divots as possible, but ask for your help in
the following areas. Please replace your
divot whenever possible on the tees and
fairways. Also, if unable to replace your
divot on a par 3 tee, please use the divot
mix bottles provided for you. When practicing on the range tee, please adhere to
the proper divot pattern. Lastly, please
inform your caddies and guests to do this.
By working together, we can successfully
address the divot issue and provide
enhanced playability for members and
guests.
Presbyterian Road Widening Project
Although we have had minor delays
regarding third-party utility installation, we
hope to continue work in the very near
future. Upon installing new power/utilities
and disconnecting/removing the old infrastructure, we will finish grading, drainage,
fencing, landscaping, paving, etc. Once
work is resumed, we will strive to complete
all remaining tasks as soon as possible.
We apologize for any inconvenience and
appreciate your understanding.
Spring Golf Course Items
In addition to completing our aggressive
spring aerification, we are in the process of
Improper
several other tasks in preparation for the 2015 season. One
of our largest tasks every spring
is charging our irrigation system. This task is especially difficult after challenging winters.
We are currently in the process
of starting to carefully move
water through our system to
prepare for the upcoming season. In addition, we are working on opening the restrooms,
our fescue grow-in on new
mounding (#7, #11, #12, etc.),
the East Course grow-in,
asphalt repair, mulching, spring
bunker maintenance, installing
golf course accessories, etc.
Staff
Although we have experienced
significant turnover in the past
year, as is an evident trend
throughout our industry, we are
pleased to report that we have
retained several key, full-time
employees and interns from last
season. Also, we successfully
recruited and hired several new
employees and interns for the
2015 season. Our diverse group
represents several prestigious
universities across the United
States and abroad – Rutgers,
UMass, Penn State, WVU,
Rhode Island, SUNY-Delhi,
SUNY-Cobleskill, Wisconsin,
Delaware Valley, Arkansas,
Colorado State, South Dakota
State, and universities in
Canada, and the United
Kingdom. We have a very
talented team and are placing
great emphasis on career
development as we head into
another season and approach
the 2016 U.S. Open.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Range tee divot etiquette.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
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M AY 2 0 1 5
JUNE
SUNDAY
C A L E N D A R
MONDAY
O F
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Member
Monday
8
15
President’s Cup
28
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
10
16
22
23
29
30
11
WGA
Swim Team
OCC @
Hillcrest
17
Member
Monday
21
4
WGA
MemberMember
Swim Team
OCC vs.
Edgewood
9
24
SATURDAY
MemberMember
Happy Hour
4-7 p.m.
Family Friday
3
Swim Team
OCC @ PFC
Member
Monday
Father’s Day
Buffet
2
Swim Team
OCC vs.
Wilwood
Member
Monday
14
FRIDAY
WGA
1
7
2015
E V E N T S
MemberMember
5
WGA
MemberMember
Happy Hour
4-7 p.m.
Family Friday
12
Father-Son
Championship
Happy Hour
4-7 p.m.
Family Friday
6
9-Hole
Twlight
13
Father-Daughter
/Mother-Son
Championship
18
19
20
WGA
Senior Club
Championship
Swim Team
OCC vs.
Greensburg &
Youghiogheny
Member
Weekend
President’s Cup
WGA
Happy Hour
4-7 p.m.
Member
Weekend
President’s Cup
25
26
27
Member
Monday
— 11 —
M AY 2 0 1 5
Oakmont
Links
Rules of Golf
Your round at Oakmont has been delayed
by a heavy thunderstorm. When the storms
clear and the golf course reopens, your first
swing is an approach shot that misses the
2nd green and embeds in its own pitchmark in the rough. You are entitled to
relief from your embedded ball under the
Local Rule in Appendix I-B-4a (Relief for
Embedded Ball Anywhere Through the
Green). However, before you drop the ball
as nearly as possible to where it was
embedded, you fix the pitch-mark the ball
made.
Unfortunately, you are penalized two
strokes under Rule 13-2 for improving the
area in which you are
to drop. The principle in this Rule you
have violated is the
expectation that you
will play the course as
you find it. The irony
Fixing pitch mark
in this case is that if
you had dropped your ball without fixing
the pitch-mark and the ball had rolled back
into it, you would have been required to
re-drop it because your ball had “come to
rest in a position where there was interference by the condition from which relief
was sought” (i.e., interference from the
pitch-mark).
You are playing Oakmont’s 18th hole and
hit your tee shot to the right. After a brief
search, you find your ball out of bounds.
When you go back to the tee to play under
Ball out of bounds
Dropping ball
stroke and distance, you hit your next shot
right down the middle, but from one foot
in front of the tee markers instead of from
inside the teeing ground.
The ruling in stroke play is you have
played two strokes that count in your score
(your original drive and the second drive
from just in front of the tee-markers) you
incurred three penalty strokes and your ball
lies five. One of the penalty strokes is for
your original drive going out of bounds
(Rule 27-1b), and the other two are for
playing your second drive from a wrong
place. You were supposed to play again
from inside the teeing ground, but you
played from outside it instead (Rules
20-5a and 20-7b).
it, mark and lift it, just as Rule
12-2 (Lifting Ball for
Identification) directs. The ball
is yours! However, when you
lifted it, you altered its original
lie. When you replaced the ball,
you moved some sand back
around the ball, effectively
recreating your original lie.
Did you incur any penalties
for anything you did? No, you
did not. You followed the procedure for identifying your ball
as required by Rule 12 and the
additional procedure in Rule
20-3b(iii) (Lie of Ball to be
Placed or Replaced Altered)!
Ball embedded in sand
You hit your tee shot off the 3rd tee into
the Church Pews and you find a ball in the
bunker but you are not sure it is yours. You
announce to your match play opponent
your intention to lift and identify the ball,
gave him the opportunity to watch you do
Ball identification
Rules are an integral part of the game of golf. Some may seem to
be arcane but, nonetheless, we need to follow them. Knowing the
rules is both important and beneficial to your enjoyment of the
game. Oakmont is fortunate to have Bill Fallon as a member.
Bill is on the Executive Committee of the USGA and has officiated
at many USGA Tournaments. From time to time we will feature
Bill’s informative and entertaining presentations on the rules
of the game.
Bill Fallon
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
Recreating lie
— 12 —
M AY 2 0 1 5
From the Third Floor
by Jim Springborn
Approximately four weeks ago, a
new accounting employee joined
Oakmont. Stephen Prohaska is
now the prime accountant for
Oakmont’s Accounts Receivable
and Billing operation. Our prior
prime, Lori Hickman, while still
being a full-time Oakmont
employee, has transitioned over
to split her time between being
the prime for Bob Ford Inc.
accounting while still providing
some support to our billing.
Stephen came to us from the
Trust Department of BNY
Mellon after graduating in 2013
from Washington & Jefferson
College with a Bachelor of Arts in
Business Administration. He is
enthusiastic about joining
Oakmont and has jumped in
learning our system and operations. As our annual financial audit
is about to begin, he is already
getting involved in some of the
work required in preparation for
their visit.
On a personal level, Steve is
an avid golfer (he was on his high
school golf team) and last week,
through the kindness of a friend,
was able to spend one day at
Masters in Augusta. While he
thoroughly enjoyed being there, I
am sure he agrees with me that
there is no course like Oakmont,
and I am also certain he will find
next year’s U.S. Open to be quite
exciting.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
Golf Committee
BY
BRUCE MCGOUGH
The 2015 Golf Season is officially underway. There is so much to look forward to
and to take advantage of that you won’t
want to miss any of it.
If you are registered for any of the Club
Tournaments, be sure to have your matches scheduled in plenty of time. When
scheduling a match, you may book a time
up to four weeks in advance, so don’t wait
until the last minute to schedule. As soon
as you know you have a match to play, call
your opponent(s) and nail down the date
you will play.
Once you have decided on which set of
tees you will play from in a Club match
(certain eligibility rules apply), you must
play from those same tees in all your
matches. And should you be playing from a
different set of tees than your opponent,
you will need to adjust your handicap
accordingly. Be sure to have this figured
out before teeing off.
Playing with Oakmont’s golfing groups
is a great way to enjoy the golf course and
meet new friends. Ladies play Thursday
mornings and have a SWAT on Sunday
afternoons. Call the Golf Shop for information on how to participate.
The Weakenders play Saturday mornings. They are in their 54th year, so they
must be doing something right.
Are you retired guys looking for a game
during the week? How about the Senior
SWAT? They play on Wednesday mornings
and welcome newcomers age 55 and older.
To play with either of the above groups,
call the Golf Shop and ask to be included.
The SWAT is still going strong after
more than 100 years. Even though it’s a
scratch game, it takes only an occasional
birdie to make you a hero. Missing short
putts is something else, so be sure you have
thick skin if you’re going to play with this
bunch. Play is every Wednesday, Saturday,
Sunday and holidays…and two pretty good
parties as well. Call the Golf Shop or see
Paul in the locker room if you want to join.
Details on all our golfing opportunities
are in the Golf Book you received.
Oakmont is a great golf course…one of the
greatest ever. Don’t miss any opportunity
to take advantage of your good fortune to
be here.
A notice has been sent to sign up for the
Member/Member. Kiltie sign-up forms
will be sent in May. Both may be oversubscribed, but register anyway. If you
don’t get in this year, you will be exempt
next year.
MUST BE OVER THE AGE OF 21 | JACKETS REQUESTED
— 13 —
M AY 2 0 1 5
Oakmont
Links
Social Scene
BY
LEAH SCHULTZ
Spring has sprung, and we are all ready for
some well-deserved days of sunshine! We
had a wonderful Easter Holiday at the
Club. The Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on
March 29 was a fantastic event for the children. There was a Magic Show, Cookie
Decorating, a Petting Zoo and an Easter
Egg Hunt. It is always a risky time of year
with the unpredictable remnants of winter
still lingering in the air, yet we lucked out
and had a spectacular hunt on the grounds
near the first tee.
On Easter Sunday, we had the largest
crowd that I can remember during my 12
years at Oakmont. We served over 500
members and their families for brunch, and
almost 200 for dinner. It was a delightful
day at Oakmont with beautiful weather to
boot!
May is shaping up to be a busy month at
Oakmont Country Club! We hope to see
everyone at the Club attending in some of
our upcoming events. We will be hosting a
Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday May 2
in the Champion’s Grill beginning at 5:00
p.m. Mint Juleps, a bourbon tasting and
complimentary hors d’ouevres will complement the greatest two minutes in sports,
The Kentucky Derby.
Also in May we will have our fabulous
Mother’s Day Brunch served throughout
the Clubhouse with the stunning newly
appointed Oakmont Dining Room and
Living Room available for seating options.
Brunch commences at 11:00 a.m. and runs
until 2:00 p.m. Dinner is served from 4:30
p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The end of May brings the excitement
of the Opening Day at the Pool, which is
May 22. We will, hopefully, see you at the
Club at some point during the holiday
weekend to celebrate Memorial Day at our
picnic with us on Monday May 25.
We look forward to an exciting summer
at Oakmont, and we hope you are able to
attend our wonderful celebrations in
May.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
EasterEgg
Hunt
— 14 —
M AY 2 0 1 5
BY
LIZ SIMASEK
Smile and Be Happy!
This was the theme of the 2015 WGA Opening Day on Thursday April 16.
Unfortunately the rainy, 50-degree weather did not bring smiles to many of the
participant’s faces! Seventeen ladies braved the conditions in a nine-hole scramble
event to kick off the season. (Results below).
Fortunately things heated up from there. The WGA members gathered for cocktails and conversation in the Fownes Room following the event. This is always a nice
opportunity to catch up with friends, and sign up for special events planned for the
coming season. The annual fashion show, with the newest looks from Annie, was
next on the agenda. There were 15 models showing off the latest and greatest from
the Oakmont Golf shop. If you missed it, be sure to stop in the shop to see all the
fresh new colors and styles that are available.
Finally, President Liz (Pohl) Simasek presided over the 2015 WGA Opening
meeting. There were 50 WGA members for dinner and one very special treat…
The U.S. Open trophy! The actual U.S. Open trophy adorned the event sign up
table as a not so subtle reminder that the 2016 Open is just around the corner.
WGA members were encouraged to sign up to volunteer for the Players Shuttles
committee, which will be staffed exclusively by OCC WGA members. Please
consider joining this committee if you have not done so already.
So, even though the weather did not cooperate, the ladies left with smiles in
anticipation of a great 2015 season!
Results:
1st Place
Nicki Nigro
Anna Konrad
Jaqi Conomikes
2nd Place
Liz Simasek
Patty Gilbert
Betty Minnotte
Donna Stack
37
39
Longest Putt #14
Barb Saltrelli-6’9”
Longest Putt #18
Elissa Gittes-10’6”
Above (left to right):
Donna Stack and
Renae Salvitti
Left (left to right):
Beth Bergman and
Mitzi Hofmann
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
— 15 —
M AY 2 0 1 5
Oakmont
Links
FROM THE
BY JEFFREY SCHLAFLY,
Culinary Team
C.E.C.
Welcome back to another golf season at
Oakmont Country Club. I am sure we are
all grateful for the return of warmer weather. With the advent of spring comes the
benefits of the fruits and labors of local
farmers and butchers returning to the food
scene. We enjoy supporting our local farmers which not only supports the local economy but supplies our membership with an
incredible array of fresh products available
on our breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
Our intent is to bring a taste of what
Pennsylvania has to offer to the tables of
Oakmont Country Club.
We have started receiving fresh lamb,
pork, Italian sausage, maple sausage, and
eggs from Mike Bozzone’s Serenity Hill
Farms in Cheswick, Pa. We are using their
fresh pork belly to make homemade
smoked bacon for salads, entrees, garnishes, and yes, even desserts. We have offered
the Greek Gyro Burger using the farm’s
fresh ground lamb on the menu with much
success and have also featured their Italian
sausage as a lunch special.
We are also pairing up with Wild
Purveyors located on Butler Street in
Lawrenceville. They are able to offer all
local produce, grass-fed beef, pork, cheeses,
fresh-foraged Pennsylvania mushrooms,
and even local trout from the Laurel Hill
Trout Farm where they handpick the fish
to each restaurant’s specification. Wild
Purveyors is run by Cavan and Tom
Patterson, two brothers from Indiana PA.
They are able to offer us foods from small
local farms that don’t have their own distribution system by picking it up and delivering it to some of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants.
The grounds team is once again planting
four herb beds in the dock area, and this
year they are planting a couple of varieties
of heirloom tomatoes that we will be featuring once they ripen. Thank you John
Zimmers and your team for your assistance.
As always, we will also be receiving the
usual local tomatoes, melons, corn, and
other fresh local produce from Frank
Difatto’s stand on Coxcomb Hill.
Local farmers are a great way to improve
the quality of our menu offerings and we
hope that you, your families and your
guests enjoy all of their offerings that we
provide to you this coming golf season.
Please Note
We are unable to cash thirdparty checks presented to us by
a member at the Front Desk or
Golf Shop. We will continue the
practice of accommodating a
member by converting to cash,
when a check is made payable to
Oakmont Country Club.
In Memoriam
Mr. S. John Irvine III,
“Buzz”
Mrs. Ralph W. Murray
(Patricia)
Mr. David O’Hanesian, Esq.
Mrs. Wilbert H. Woodings
(Virginia)
Our sympathy to their family
and friends.
Oakmont
From the Grounds
Links
CONTINUED
Tree Pruning
We are also in the process of pruning and
thinning the trees around #9 green, #1 tee,
and #10 tee. Pruning and removing the
deadwood will increase safety in the area as
a few branches were posing a hazard. In
addition, pruning will allow more sunlight
to reach #9 green, #18 green, #1 tee, and
#10 tee improving turf health.
We are very pleased with the work we
have completed thus far, excited to see
everyone on the course in the near future,
and are looking forward to a great 2015
season.
is published nine times a year for
members and employees.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
1233 Hulton Road
Oakmont, PA 15139
412-828-8000
www.oakmontcc.org
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Michael Brunner
10% Recycled PostConsumer Fiber
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
— 16 —
M AY 2 0 1 5
Let the Golf Shop
Transform Your Game for 2015
KJUS Outerwear
UnderArmour
Taken from 15 years of experience in the
Ski industry, KJUS golf outerwear, for men
and women, is designed with cutting edge
technology to keep you warm and dry.
Newly arrived, UnderArmour Golf
and Active wear. Worn by 2015
Masters Champion Jordan Spieth.
Polo Golf
The Polo Golf Spring line offers a
number of styles and colors to fill out
your wardrobe, Including this quarter
zip vest and Spring Woven.
Adidas Boost
Fresh out of the Adidas lab
comes BOOST, a golf shoe
designed to store and
release energy throughout
the golf swing. Available for
both men and women.
$149-$195
Callaway XR Fairways
Titleist Vokey Wedges
New from Callaway, the XR fairway
delivers exceptional forgiveness and
high ball speed for unparalleled
distance and control.
Titleist Vokey SM5 and
TVD wedges come in
variety of loft bounce
and finish options to
fit everyone’s short
game needs.
Taylormade RSi1 Irons
Taylormade RSiI irons feature FaceSlot
technology which increase ball spead
and forgiveness across the club face.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
M AY 2 0 1 5
Just 4 Golf Headcovers
Spice up your golf bag with new
Just 4 Golf Headcovers. Bright,
and colorful, available in drivers
fairway woods.
$19-$28
Daily Golf
Inspired by European style Daily Golf offers a number of trendy pieces
and colors for your summer golf wardrobe.
Jude Connally Summer Dresses
A Perfect choice for dinner on the porch or any summer gathering!
$140-$160
Pewter Plate
Show off your OCC pride with a
2016 US Open Pewter Plate.
$48
Tervis Tumblers
Keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks
cold with new OCC TERVIS.
$15-$25
Signs By The Sea
Looking for something to fill your den, office, or game
room? Signs By The Sea with custom painted wood
furniture and accessories for both indoor and out.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
M AY 2 0 1 5