theconnection - Walnut Creek Country Club

THE CONNECTION
Issue 3 | May 2015
WALNUT CREEK COUNTRY CLUB
Inside this Issue
Management Reports
2-3
Committee Reports
3-4
Golf News
5-11
Swim & Tennis News
12-13
Member News
14-17
May Calendar
18
2015
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President:
Chris Thune
First Vice President:
Bryan Kearis
Second Vice President:
Tim R. Wheeler
Secretary:
Garrett C. Kelly
Treasurer:
Scott J. Schueller
Directors:
Mike Hycki
Matthew Jamison
Jim Kimble
Mark Petroff
25501 Johns Road
South Lyon, MI 48178
248-437-7337
walnutcreekcc.net
Come celebrate the Pool Opening,
enjoy a Car Show, Family Fun Day
and play some Golf !
The pool will be open all weekend,
Saturday - Monday, 11:00am - 8:00pm
Car Show and Family Fun Day
Sunday, May 24th • 12:00-5:00pm • At the Tennis Courts Parking Lot
Car Show
Do you have a
classic or sports car?
Then we would like to
include it in our
Car Show!*
* You must fill out the
Entry Form which is available on
the home page of the WCCC website.
Family Fun Day
• Bring the family for some fun retro games such as:
Sack Races, Tug of War,
Egg & Spoon Relay, Hoola Hoop,
Kickball and Bean Bag Toss
• Beer Tent
• Old Fashioned BBQ
Memorial Day Couples Tournament
1:30pm Shotgun
Event Format: Each team is made up of two men and two women.
Participants can make their own foursomes. Sign up at the Golf Shop.
Cost: $25 per person.
Activities at the Pool on Memorial Day
Inflatable Bouncer from 12:00-4:00pm
DJ Dan playing music from 1:00-7:00pm
Pool Games from 2:00-4:00pm
Page 2 | May 2015
Manager’s
Message
Kevin Frantz,
General Manager
kfrantz@
walnutcreekcc.net
Dear Members,
The weather is helping to move club
activity in the right direction ever so
slowly, but we also had a burst of
new members earlier than normal.
Welcome to all of the new families
that joined our family! 2015’s Membership Drive is a testament to our existing members referring new members.
We had 16 new families (10 of which
are Class A Golf members) join and
almost every family is a friend or
neighbor of a current member. If you
know of someone that is interested
in joining, kindly remember that our
Initiation Fee increases to $18,000 on
May 1st, 2015.
When it comes to dining, Chef’s new
From the
President
Chris Thune
Board President
cthune@
teksystems.com
Dear Members,
It has been a great start to the 2015
season. The Opening Party was a
well-attended event and we received
a lot of great feedback about the
food. All in all, it was a great success.
We played the first event of the
MANAGEMENT REPORTS
menu seems to be a hit. Be sure to
come out to the Club and try some of
the many new items. Although reservations are not mandatory, if you have
five or more people in your party, we
would appreciate you calling ahead
of time. This helps us to have proper
staff levels available, plus you won’t
have to wait at the door! It also
ensures a spot on the patio if you
want one. You will also see a lot of
new staff members serving you in the
dining room. Jill, Nathalie and Kristine
are working with them through a
structured training program. Please
be patient during this process as it
takes time to get acclimated to our
system and membership needs.
I would like to give a personal thank
you to our Senior Members. Every
season, the Seniors make an annual
monetary donation to purchase
something for the club. This year I
requested a digital information board
for the lobby. This will be a communication piece for events and information
pertaining to the club.
season, the Early Bird Swing, and it
was fun to meet a few of our new
members and see many familiar faces
at the event. We had a meeting prior
to the event where Jeremy Lathwell
discussed the Evans Scholarship
Par Club and the Eagles for Children
programs. These programs are great
ways for our membership to show
financial support for deserving
individuals and charities. Following
Jeremy’s comments, I had the privilege of sharing the progress that we
have made on Phase 1 of the Master
Plan’s implementation for our Clubhouse and Golf Course.
Continue to check the new website,
update your profiles (extremely important), and please read your newsletter
so you do not miss out on what is
happening around the club. There will
be plenty of communications about
the Renovation Plans in the very near
future.
I encourage you to read two articles
that are posted on the website’s home
page. The first one is about Pat Gray
and our Junior Golf Program which
appeared on the LPGA website. We
also had a featured article in Golf
Business Magazine titled “Capitalizing
on Good Fortune”. On the social media
side, we now have an active Walnut
Creek Country Club Facebook page.
Be sure to “Like” it! A special “Thank
You” to member Jeff Duneske who
helped with the task of putting this
together.
Sincerely,
The Evans Scholarship Par Club is a
great way for each of us to contribute
to the Western Golf Association Evans
Scholars Foundation. If you are not
familiar, this Foundation provides full
tuition and housing scholarships to
deserving caddies across the country.
Since the inception of our caddie
program, Walnut Creek has been
fortunate enough to send eleven of
our caddies to The University of
Michigan and Michigan State University
through this scholarship fund. If you
are interested in joining the Par Club
you can notify Jeremy or Kevin and
they will take care of things from there.
Page 3 | May 2015
MANAGEMENT & COMMITTEE REPORTS
Eagles for Children is a charitable giving program that was
originally started by Walnut Creek and three other local
clubs and has grown each year since. Each participating
member agrees to donate $2 for every eagle recorded
during play by members of Walnut Creek. At the end of
the season, the Eagles for Children committee vets recommendations from our members to determine which local
charities will receive the funds that we raise. This has been
a very successful program over the past few years and we
are hoping to continue to increase our annual contributions. If you would like to sign up to participate in Eagles
for Children simply let Jeremy or any of the golf staff
know.
I’m excited to let you know that Phase 1 of the Master
Plan is underway. Given the importance of the project,
we have aptly named it “Vision 2016: The Walnut Creek
Experience.” Vision 2016 speaks to the physical changes
that our golf course and clubhouse will undergo and more
importantly to the improvement of the overall membership experience. Throughout the next 12 months, I will be
updating you periodically with the progress being made,
impact to the clubhouse and, along the way, some sneak
Dining Committee
Julie Tolley, Chairperson
[email protected]
Greetings from the Dining Committee! I want to share
some new and exciting information about dining at WCCC.
First, I’d like to share our charter and introduce the members of the WCCC 2015 Dining Committee. Our charter is
quite simple, to improve the member’s dining experience at
the club. It’s important to remember that “dining” includes
the East and West Grilles, the Pool, the Halfway House,
Beverage Carts and Wine Lockers. Representing the membership on the committee: Tim Doherty, Scott McAdams,
Laura Tate, Karla Thune, Julie Tolley, and Johnny Walker.
Representing the Club: Kevin Frantz, Nathalie Fregonara,
Chef Randy Smith, and Jill Viculis. Jimmy Kimble is our
Board liaison. Please feel free to reach out to any of us
with your feedback and suggestions.
Second, I’d like to take a moment to recognize Chef Randy.
peeks to the final product. You can expect the first publication to come out in Mid-May.
Scott and his staff have done a great job getting our course
in fantastic early-season condition. We are wrapping up
the renovations on the South Course and plan to keep the
course open through the renovations. That being said, if
Scott’s team is physically working on a hole, we ask that
you skip that hole and move on to the next hole. This is for
the safety of our employees and the only way we can keep
the South course open through the construction process.
We are off to a great start to the 2015 season and our
committees are all in full swing. We welcome the input of
all our members and invite you to reach out to committee
members and Kevin with your ideas and suggestions. The
Board relies heavily on the committees to drive the club in
the direction that our members would like it to go.
Take care and I will see you soon!
In April, he was awarded one of three President’s Medallions, for the Central Region, from the American Culinary
Federation. This prestigious award recognizes ACF members who exemplify culinary excellence and leadership.
The recipients have contributed their knowledge, skills,
and expertise to the advancement of the culinary profession. We’re very lucky to have Chef Randy at our club!
You can view the entire press release here: http://www.
acfchefs.org/download/media/2015/20150417a.pdf.
I’d like to close with some friendly reminders to the membership. Keeping these pointers in mind will help ensure
everyone enjoys dining at our Club:
• Whenever possible, make reservations. It helps the staff to plan appropriately.
• We have many new staff members, please be patient as they learn.
• Provide feedback, the sooner the better.
• Be respectful of other member’s dining experience.
Thank you.
Page 4 | May 2015
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Entertainment Committee
6:30 pm - Dance those Mint Juleps off with music
provided by DJ Dan.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
There are still spots open for our 2nd Annual Kentucky
Derby Party on Saturday May 2nd held in the West
Grill. Guests are welcome and encouraged. You won’t
want to be left in the gate for this! A representative from
Northville Downs will be here to assist in the festivities.
Looking forward, there are so many “must do” events in
early summer of 2015.
Kim Hycki, Chairperson
[email protected]
The festivities are as follows:
3:00 pm- Party begins with Mint Juleps and a great
selection of Bourbon tasting.
3:30-4:30pm - Enjoy the old time sounds of a Barbershop Quartet and have your picture taken with our customized Kentucky Derby Tournament of Roses banner.
4:00 pm- Enjoy a buffet of southern derby fare.
4:30pm - Don’t miss the lively and spirited Kentucky
Derby horse auction.
6:00pm - Trumpets sound for the start of the 141st
Kentucky Derby!
6:02pm - Judging of the Women’s Derby Hat contest and
the Men’s Best-Dressed contest.
Bronze Tree
Men’s Invitational Committee
Scott LaRiche, Chairperson
[email protected]
Hi Fellow Walnut Creekers,
First off, I’d like to let you know that I’m honored to be
chair of the Bronze Tree Committee. We are fortunate to
have a great team to once again ensure a fantastic event
for you and your guest. That being said, I would be remiss
if I didn’t acknowledge the wonderful work done by John
Lychos and all the past committee members. They are the
reason we have the best member / guest tournament in
the entire region!
The 28th annual Bronze Tree will take place July
9th through the 11th. To register, you will sign into the
Walnut Creek web site. Then you will click on the “Golf”
tab which will open a drop down menu. Click on “Bronze
Tree Men’s Invitational” and you will be directed to the
correct page. Then click on the “Application” tab and you
can then enter your information. Once a completed
Last year’s first WCCC Family Movie Night was a huge
success. In fact, it was so popular that we are scheduling
TWO this summer. Our first movie night will be on Friday,
June 26th, held on the driving range. We will feature an
all-time classic movie that the whole family will enjoy. It’s
a great opportunity to enjoy a summer evening out with
your Walnut Creek family. Our second family movie night
will be on Friday, August 14th. Stay tuned!
Another must do is the spectacular WCCC Fireworks
display! Mark your calendar ... they will be held on
Friday, July 3rd. More information to follow!
As always, we are open to feedback. Please don’t hesitate
to forward to the committee any suggestions, event ideas
or perhaps a charity you think we should support. Thank you!
application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation
email. This interactive application will afford us the opportunity to download your registration into a spread sheet which
will allow for greater efficiency and time management.
Of course, if you should have any issues, Dawn or the golf
staff will be happy to help you. The key here is ... sign
up as soon as possible since we will surely fill up
fast! The deadline to sign up is May 31st.
For new members and those not familiar with the process...
Entry into the tournament is based on points plus date and
time of receipt of registration. You earn 1 point for signing
up and 2 points for playing. The idea is to sign up even if
you are only doing it for the points. There is a section on
the registration form that you can mark indicating your just
signing up for points. I encourage everyone who wants to
play to sign up....the very first year I signed up I got in
and had a wonderful time. Don’t miss a chance to play just
because you thought you wouldn’t get in.
I’d like to close by saying that the one thing you can count
on for sure is that the entire staff at Walnut Creek is dedicated to making this event a fantastic experience for you
and your guest. See you out there soon!
Page 5 | May 2015
From
the Tee
Jeremy Lathwell,
Golf Professional
[email protected]
April seemed to be confused on what time of the year it
was. We had one week that felt like June and the next
week that felt like January! We are hoping at some point
it will favor the June feeling! I am looking forward to a
strong May and all of the events really starting to ramp up.
Scott and his crew are once again hard at work, but at
least this year he gets to focus on improving conditions
instead of trying to manage the grass as it dies from the
winter kill. The course came through the winter great and
it shows with nice putting surfaces that all members get to
enjoy. The South course is moving along very nicely with
the contractor and Scott’s crew, and we look well on our
way to being done by Memorial Day! Thank you Scott,
Al, Aaron and Ben for doing a great job leading the maintenance crew!
Unfortunately, Hector in the maintenance department left
for a great opportunity to travel the country and do what
he loves! Before he left though, we were able to use his
expertise and create a few short videos that help explain a
couple areas on the property. These videos will be loaded
on the website soon for the membership to reference.
They show proper usage of the practice facilities and general information about commonly used rules of golf. Topics
include divot patterns for the range, proper short game
usage and how to properly fix ball marks on the greens.
Ben Bockin, our Director of Instruction, has been a busy
guy already this season and he looks forward to meeting
many more members. If you haven’t experienced what the
Academy and Ben has to offer, you should make it a point
to stop by and gather some information. If you have any
questions, please talk to one of the professionals and we
will explain all of the options. I also want to remind everyone that we have the Swing Into Spring event on Sunday, May 3rd where members can get a free swing
analysis on the driving range from 2:00-4:00pm. If
you are interested in coming, please call the Golf Shop and
GOLF NEWS
make an appointment for your 10-minute session! It will
be first come first serve for these appointments.
I want to congratulate the team of James Landsberg,
Bryan Finnerty, Russ Smaston and Pete Burt for
winning this year’s Early Bird Swing. They had a great
score of 62 in the scramble on a very chilly day! More
results will also be posted to the website under the
Tournament Corner page.
Equipment companies are at it again and there are some
great new products for 2015. I own a launch monitor and
do many fittings a week for both woods and irons but the
following fitting days offer a great opportunity for access
to the extra few items I might not have in my fitting carts.
These days are designed for members that have a good
idea of what company they like and want to be fit properly
during a company-sponsored fit day. Fit days are by
appointment and the sooner we know who is coming, the
more prepared we can be. With membership support, we
can continue to have these great days so please check
your calendar.
I have the following dates set up as fit days here at
Walnut Creek:
Tuesday, May 5th – Callaway Fit Day | 3:00-7:00pm
Tuesday, May 12th – Ping Fit Day | 3:00-7:00pm
Friday, May 15th – TaylorMade Fit Day | 1:00-7:00pm
Tuesday, May 19th – Titleist Fit Day | 3:00-7:00pm
With the success of these fitting days and my belief that
fitting is crucial to success of every golfer no matter the
handicap, I have discontinued the multivendor demo day.
Junior Golf sign-up is taking place on Saturday, May 9th
from 11:00am – 1:00pm so make sure you sign up your
kids and get them ready for the 2015 season! Even if you
can’t make that day, please get your sign-up forms in so
we can have an accurate count of juniors for the favors
that are ordered.
For all of our women golfers out there, we have a
couple of great events that are on the horizon for May and
June. There is a new event on the schedule to help kick
off the year; the Spring Fling is a new women’s ABCD
step-a-side scramble that will take place on Wednesday,
May 13th. The purpose of this event is to bring all of the
women from all three leagues together and start out the
Page 6 | May 2015
season with some fun! The Member/Member Ringer
Tournament on June 3rd and 4th this year is a replacement of the Twosome Trifecta. This event allows you to
try to improve your hole-by-hole score the second day and
try to create the lowest single score using two rounds to
achieve it. The Ringer Tournament only takes two days
to play this year and I think it will be a lot of fun so make
sure to find a partner and come out and enjoy! Thank you
to Kathy Koupal and Laurie VanDyke for putting a ton of
hard work in trying to appeal to all of the women golfers.
The sign-up is in the locker room so make sure you get
your name on the list. The Women’s Silver Classic
Invitational is coming up in June also and you should
have received the entry form in the mail. Please make sure
to return the entry form with all of the information filled
out so we can get all of your guest information when we
need it. This event had great participation the last few
seasons and we hope to continue that this year!
We will also have the Men’s Pro-Member on Friday, May
22nd supporting Team Selfridge Family Relief Fund and
The Folds of Honor Foundation. Last season we raised
$10,000 for the wonderful charity and they need us now
more than ever. There will be military personnel and
vehicles on display that day and will make for a great
environment. If you haven’t played before, you are missing out! You will have the opportunity to play with local
PGA Professionals while supporting a great charity. Please
call the Golf Shop for more information or to sign up as
soon as possible so we can plan for the right amount of
Professionals for the day. If you can’t play in the event
there are hole sponsorships available and all proceeds go
directly to the charity. These hole sponsorships are $125
and it is all tax deductible.
There has been a concentrated effort to improve our
couple’s golf opportunities at Walnut Creek. We have
always had good tournaments but we wanted to develop a
better recreational atmosphere that members could enjoy
on some Friday and Saturday nights. A small committee of Ruby Grandstaff, Rita Kroetsch and Tony Scagnetti
was formed to help with this process. With their help, we
were able to get eight dates on the calendar for Couple’s
League. This league will have different formats every
week and allow many of our new and existing members to
interact. The charge for the league will be $60 per couple
and this will include food and prizes. We feel that this
will encourage more women to play golf and encourage
GOLF NEWS
the development of some great new friendships! You will
be able to sign up one week in advance of the event and
the entry will close the Wednesday of that week. I would
encourage you to mark your calendars and join us for some
fun golf!
The Memorial Day Couples Tournament will take place
on May 25th. You can make your own foursome with two
men and two women. The format is two best balls of the
foursome and it is limited to the first 30 teams that enter.
Make sure you call the Golf Shop to sign up today!
Upcoming May and June dates to remember:
• Wednesday, May 13th: Spring Fling - Women’s Opening
Scramble
• Friday, May 15th: Friday Night Couples (First 28
Couples) 6:00pm Shotgun
• Friday, May 22nd: Team Selfridge Charity
Pro-Member 1:00pm Shotgun
• Monday, May 25th: Memorial Day Couples 1:00pm
Shotgun
• Saturday, May 30th: Couples League (First 48 Couples)
6:00pm Shotgun
• Wednesday, June 3rd & Thursday June 4th: Women’s
Member/Member Ringer 9:00am Shotgun
• Saturday June 6th & Sunday June 7th: Men’s Member/
Member Presidents Trophy 8:30am Shotgun
• Friday, June 12th: Couples League (First 28 Couples)
6:00pm Shotgun
Sunday, June 14th: Couples Pinehurst 1:30pm Shotgun
• Friday, June 19th: Couples League (First 28 Couples)
6:00pm Shotgun
• Wednesday June 24th & Thursday June 25th: Women’s
Silver Classic Invitational
All of these events are fantastic and promise to have large
fields so make sure to call and get your name in the mix as
soon as possible. For more information on each event make
sure to go to the www.walnutcreekcc.net to look at the calendar or under the Tournament Corner area of the website.
Megan and I have made a concerted effort to bulk up the
shop this year and I think everyone will be impressed with
the selection. We have more golf equipment than you could
possibly imagine so make sure you stop by and take a look
at the items that could improve your golf game. Men’s and
Women’s apparel is rolling in every couple of days so the
Page 7 | May 2015
Shop will look fresh all season long. The key to remember
is the more you buy the more I can bring into the Shop
and the more diverse it can become! The members do a
great job of supporting the Golf Shop and I want to make
sure everyone knows that we appreciate it and take pride
in offering you a great place to shop at great prices.
We will have our second caddie training session the
first week of May. Training takes three days and educates
the kids on the basics of being a caddie and what type of
commitment is involved. We look to build on our 2013 &
2014 success by continuing to offer our members qualified and well-rounded caddies. I encourage every member
to take a caddie at some point this season and enjoy the
stroll around the course while walking and not having to
deal with your golf bag. It is a great experience.
I look forward to seeing everyone around the Golf Shop
and on the golf course. Always remember to have a great
time playing the game we all love and always replace your
divots and repair your ball marks!
The Driving Range is one of our biggest assets
here at the Club and we all need to make sure it is
well cared for. The golf mats allow for a little turf
relief but they aren’t the complete answer to having
good conditions on the driving range. We are
extremely fortunate to almost always be able to hit
off of grass but we need to practice in a preferred
divot pattern of a straight line from front to back so
as much grass as possible can be saved for future
use by members. Parents and kids need to remember that when the range is full, all juniors must step
aside for the adult members. Juniors must also use
the far end of the driving range when they practice.
Trevor and all of the cart barn staff have the authority
to enforce all of the rules of the driving range and
we ask that if any issues arrive that they be
addressed immediately with the golf professional
staff. The Golf Committee appreciates your help
in keeping are range safe and in the best condition
possible.
May Shop Hours:
8:00am - 7:00pm, Tuesday - Friday
7:00am - 7:00pm, Saturday & Sunday
Shop Direct Line: 248.437.7470
golf news
Golf Shop
News
Megan Predmesky,
Golf Shop Manager
mpredmesky@
walnutcreekcc.net
It was nice to finally see golfers with the couple of nice
days we had in April. Hopefully with the start of May, there
are more nice days to come! The Shop is fully stocked with
apparel, equipment and accessories! On the men’s side this
month, keep an eye out for new apparel from Nike, Oakley,
Dunning and Fennec. Vineyard Vines, new brand to the
Golf Shop this season, will also be coming out this month.
At Mill River pricing, this is a deal you can’t pass up!
The new lines for women hitting the floor this month are
Annika, EP Pro, Nivo and Nike. New Dooney & Bourke and
Spartina purses recently arrived, as well as sunglasses from
both Oakley and Maui Jim. Keep in mind that if you don’t
see it in the Golf Shop, we can always special order items!
The Golf Shop also has a
couple of fun, new accessory
lines in the Shop this season.
iKen watches allow you to
design a watch to match every
outfit! Also, new to the Shop
are M-Clips money clips.
M-Clips come in various
designs and make a great gift!
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th!
Make your Mother’s Day purchase on May 9th or
10th and receive 10% off women’s apparel and
accessories. We also offer free gift-wrapping!
Finally, Junior Sign-up Day is May 9th from 11:00am1:00pm. This is a great opportunity to purchase all of your
junior apparel and shoes for the season! Make sure you
come early since junior apparel sells out fast! This year we
have junior apparel from Nike, Puma, Adidas and Garb.
Like us on Facebook (Lathwell’s Golf Shop) and follow us
on Twitter (@LathwellsGS) for the most recent updates
on what’s happening in the Golf Shop!
Page 8 | May 2015
Turf
Talk
Scott Rettmann,
Green
Superintendent
srettmann@
walnutcreekcc.net
The grounds maintenance department is back in full
swing! We still have a few returning staff members joining
our team throughout the summer months when they get
out of college, but we’re very close to full staff. I’m very
proud of how our staff has been working together this
spring and I can already tell it’s going to be a great year.
Gary and his crew from 1st Class Golf are back on the
property and continue the shaping work for the South
course renovations. Gary has completed his work on 3
South and my staff is currently laying sod and doing the
finishing details on this hole. Gary is currently working on
4 South green surround doing his shaping work and will
soon be moving to 5 South and 6 South. If weather stays
favorable, it’s likely that Gary will be done with his heavy
equipment shaping in the next two weeks.
GOLF NEWS
to cover the area in front of the cart barn. The evergreen
shrubs currently in this spot will be removed allowing for a
consistent look along the parking lot. Karl Forester grasses,
which are the grasses behind the split rail fence in the
parking lot, will also be planted around the pool fence to
replace the tall arborvitae, which often did not survive in
this location.
Aerification of greens will take place
May 4th - May 8th.
As always, please visit the blog www.wcccturf.blogspot.
com or follow us on twitter @wcccgrounds for up to date
information on projects and course conditions. See you on
the course!
SECONDARY ENTRY GARDEN BEDS
Bunker liner installation as well as sand will also be
starting in the next few weeks on the South course but
the exact date has not yet been determined. Our goal of
finishing all renovations on the South course by Memorial
Day is still on track at this time.
This summer all of the flower beds around the property
are being maintained by the Brickman Group and this
includes planting of annual flowers. Annuals are scheduled
to be planted on May 18th, but this can change if weather
remains cold. In addition to planting an impressive show
of annuals this year, the Board has also approved the
renovation of three high-visibility garden beds to enhance
member and guest experiences when entering the club.
The renovation plans for these beds can be seen in the
pictures in this article, and they give a good idea of how
the beds will look when the renovations are complete.
These renovations will take place in May.
In addition to garden bed enhancements, a few other high
visibility areas are being improved this spring. The split rail
fence and grasses along the parking lot will be extended
CART BARN GARDEN BEDS
Page 9 | May 2015
GOLF NEWS
Clark’s
Corner
CLUB
For Golfing Members of Walnut Creek Country Club
The intent of the program is to allow qualifying members
to celebrate this great accomplishment with their fellow
members without having any out of pocket expense. It
also rewards the member with the commemorative plaque
and a gift certificate to spend in the Golf Shop.
A qualified member (“member”) is defined by participating Regular, Senior or Jr. Intermediate class members and
their spouses. Dependents are NOT qualified members.
1) In the case of a hole-in-one by a member, each
participating golfing member account would be billed $3.00. The $3.00 per hole-in-one would only be billed on a monthly basis.
2) At the start of each season, all qualified members would be included in the hole-in-one club. If you participated in 2014 then you are automatically set-up for 2015.
A) If that member chooses NOT to participate, they can remove their name from billing at the begin-
ning of the season or after the first billing of the hole-in-one fee.
B) Once you opt out at the beginning of the season, you are out for the year.
C) If you choose to stay in the hole-in-one club after the first billing you are in for the season and can’t opt out until the start of the following year.
3) The monies that are collected from the membership will be distributed in the following way:
A) Hole-in-One plaque $150
B) Cover the entire drink bill of the member for the drinks they provide to the membership that is
present on the day of the hole-in-one. Member must be present during complimentary drinks.
C) The remaining funds get credited to the member’s account as a gift certificate in the Golf Shop.
Maximum credit of $300. All remaining monies at the end of the year will be distributed to the Caddie Program, Jr. Golf and Evans Scholarship Programs.
If you do not wish to participate in the Hole in One Club
please email Dave DeWitt at [email protected].
Trevor Clark,
Golf Services Manager
[email protected]
After the long harsh winter, it sure is nice to see people
coming out and enjoying the great facilities at Walnut
Creek Country Club. Hopefully the chilly days we are
experiencing now will make way to a great summer.
Since returning to work for the season, I have been working diligently to continue updating the Cart Barn to make it
a pleasant area for you (the membership), your guests and
the staff here at Walnut Creek.
As many would guess, the weather has slowed down the
start of the caddie season. However, as always, I’m going
to put lots of effort into the caddie program. I held the first
training session April 14th-16th. Even though that session
was small, I was able to add 10 more caddies to the roster,
all of which had strong starts to their caddie career with
4-5 loops under their belt already. I’m holding the second
training session on May 5th-7th and this session is filling
up quickly. With a fresh, eager bunch of caddies added
this year, along with the returning caddies, it should make
for another great year. With your help, your Club’s caddie
program will only become stronger.
Please congratulate my new Assistant Golf Service Manager,
Joaquin Acosta, on graduating with his bachelor degree
from Central Michigan University. Even though he has been
back for a couple weekends, his first official day with the
new title is May 11th.
As your Golf Service Manager, I am always open to new
ideas and suggestions to make your experience that much
better at Walnut Creek Country Club. My staff and I wish
everyone a happy 2015 golf season.
P.S. A convenient way to contact me is my direct line which
248-493-5109 (also my personal voicemail). You can also
contact me through email at [email protected]
Don’t forget… If you need a bag tag or want to get set up
with a bag slot, please see me.
Page 10 | May 2015
GOLF NEWS
RINGER
TOURNAMENT
Spring Fling Women’s Tournament
Women’s Member/Member Ringer Tournament
Wednesday, May 13th
Wednesday, June 3rd and Thursday, June 4th
9:00am shotgun start
8:30am Shotgun Start
Step-A-Side Scramble (ABDC Format)
All women golfers are encouraged to
participate in this fun tournament!
Sign up in the Women’s Locker Room.
The Golf Shop will arrange the foursomes.
All women are invited to join this fun event!
The Ringer Tournament is flighted, handicapped and is open
to all levels of play!
Chairpersons- Laurie Van Dyke and Kathy Koupal
The Ringer format is the use of your best score from each individual hole over two days of play. On
the second day of play you can only improve your score! Handicaps are applied by hole to create
your best net score! Both players scores are tallied and combined to create your team score. Easy
and no pressure!
Sign up in the Ladies Locker room with a partner or as a single and we will help find you a partner!
Watch for Your
Name Here
Eagle Meter
de
an
le!
Eag
Now in its fourth season, the Eagles for Children program is
a simple way for you to help disadvantaged children in the
greater Detroit-Metropolitan area. The concept is simple: Each
member pledges to donate a minimum of $2 for every eagle
scored by members and their families.
ma
Welcome back to another golf
season and another opportunity to
help children in our community. It’s
amazing how one exciting moment on the golf course can
change the life of a child forever.
Over the next
7 months,
we will list
the names
of those at
each club
who scored
an eagle and
tally our Eagle
Meter. Your
name will also
be posted at
your club.
You
Make a Difference
in Your coMMunitY
Helping Children One Eagle at a Time
Fundraising Goals
e
Eagles for Children
100%
The
This past year our club, along with 5 other local country clubs,
was able to raise $153,875 which provided grants to 31 local
children’s charities. Over the coming months we will highlight
some of the charities and the impact that the program has made.
If you have already signed your pledge card, thank you for your
dedication to the program. If you would like to increase your
pledge amount or for more information on the program, please
contact Dan Welch at [email protected].
$332,145. =
Amount donated in the
first3yearsoftheEagles
forChildrenProgram.
Nearly 100 people gathered at Oakland Hills from all six participating clubs
in November to celebrate the 31 children’s charities that benefitted from
your great golf season. We hope that you will help us make this year even
bigger!
Check us out at www.eaglesforchildren.org
Follow us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/EaglesForChildren
percentage
of your
dollars
that will be
donated
to local
children’s
charities.
Page 11 | May 2015
GOLF NEWS
Page 12 | May 2015
Swim
Update
Kris Goodrich,
Pool Manager &
Swim Coach
kgoodrich@
walnutcreekcc.net
SWIM NEWS
Junior Sports Sign-Up
Golf • Tennis • Swim
Saturday, May 9th at the Halfway House
Three more weeks and we’ll be out at the pool! After last
week’s cold and snow, I’m sure we are all ready for the
hot, sunny, lazy days of summer.
We have some new additions to our Whitecaps coaching
staff this year. Coach Tanner just finished his first year
at Calvin College where he had a great swim season as a
freshman. He is from the Novi area and grew up swimming
and coaching. Coach Sonya is from South Lyon and is
just finishing her senior year. She also grew up swimming
and has coached the South Lyon Sea Lions. We are excited
to have them! Unfortunately, Coach Kristin and Coach
Dylan will not be returning this year. Coach Dylan was
accepted to the Coast Guard Academy and leaves in early
June. Coach Kristin is expecting her first child this month
so she will be a little too busy this summer. We wish them
both well and look forward to another great year of stroke
development and training with our new coaches in
addition to Coach Adina and myself.
We will also have some new faces in the lifeguarding and
cabana staff this summer. We’ll be spending May getting
the pool deck cleaned and ready, and the new staff trained
and prepared for Memorial Day weekend.
Don’t forget to come join the fun on Memorial Day!
We’ll have some pool games and DJ Dan with us in the
afternoon and hopefully the weather is as beautiful as it
was last Memorial Day. Wednesday, May 27th is our first
day of pre-season conditioning for the Whitecaps and
Thursday, May 28th will be our Ladies Day at the pool
from 11:00am-2:00pm.
See everyone really soon!
11:00am-1:00pm
Pool Dates/Hours:
Memorial Day Weekend
Saturday May 23rd, Sunday May 24th
and Monday May 25th
11:00am – 8:00pm
On Memorial Day,
DJ Dan will be playing music and we will have
pool games from 2:00-4:00pm
Tuesday, May 26th - Thursday, May 28th
Pool Closed
Friday, May 29th
Pool opens with regular hours for the season on
from 11:00am – 8:00pm (Closed Mondays)
Thursday, May 28th
Ladies Day from 11:00am-2:00pm
(Rain Date of Tuesday, June 2nd)
Wednesday, May 27th
Swim Team Pre-Season Conditioning
Novice Team – 5:00-5:30pm
Intermediate Team - 5:30-6:15pm
Junior & Senior Team - 6:15-7:00pm
Page 13 | May 2015
TENNIS NEWS
Tennis
Update
division will be played on the 60 foot court with the Orange
Dot Ball which bounces 50% slower and lower than a regular ball.
Jayson Torres,
Director of Tennis
Teen Beginners- This class is designed for the student
who wants to learn the sport of tennis, but is getting a late
start. We will try to keep the ratio low to make the learning
process faster. We like to have our teenagers learning with
others that are the same age! Our goal is for them to join
the team in the summer.
[email protected]
Spring Junior Tennis Starts May 12th
The tennis program is a pay as you play program. You are
only charged for what days your child attends. However, we
ask that you sign up ahead of time for what day your child
would like to attend.
During the spring, if these times do not fit into your child’s
schedule, please contact me. We will try to put together a
clinic that will fit your schedule. If your child would like to
bring a friend or two, guests are welcome during the spring
session.
New 6 and under Division & 8 and under Divison
With our continued success with the Quick Start Program
last year, our second year having “8 and under” and “6 and
under” divisions was a huge success. During our last InterClub meeting, it was voted that will have a 6 and under
division competing in matches again this year. We will have
matches throughout the season. They will now be able to
compete in the end of the year Tournament with the seven
other Country Clubs in our division. They will compete on a
36-foot court with a special red ball. Last year, there were
over 350 participants in the tournament. Our 8 and under
Tuesday
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Wednesday
Gold/Silver /Teen Stars
4:00 - 6:00 pm
5:00 - 6:00 pm
U8 and U10• 8 and under will be playing on the
60 ft court
• 10 and unders will be playing on a
full court using both green dot balls and regular balls
U6- for our 6 and unders on the
36 foot court
Thursday
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Gold/Silver/Teen Stars
Friday
4:00 - 6:00 pm
U8 and U10
If you have any questions please email Jayson.
The 2015 Inter-Club Championships will be held August 6th – 9th.
Be sure to save this date!
In 2014, Walnut Creek’s Tennis Team was the Inter-Club Champions for the third year in a row!
Page 14 | May 2015
MEMBER NEWS
Ceretto Italian Wine Dinner
Friday, May 29th • 7:00pm
Cost: $80.00pp++
The Ceretto Winery, located in Piedmont, Italy, is recognized for its extraordinary
red and white wines. The Ceretto name is synonymous with estate-grown, carefully
produced wines that express true varietal character with purity and elegance.
First Course
Spiced Marcona Almonds
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Bleu Cheese and Dried Apricots
Moscato d Asti DOCG 2014
Hosted by:
Andrea Pace
North America
Brand Manager
Second Course
Spiced Seared Sea Scallops
Citrus Cream Sauce, Watercress, Kumquats
Langhe Arneis Blange DOC 2013
Third Course
Warm Lentils, Frisee, Stilton
Morel Vinaigrette, Crispy Spring Leeks
Dolcetto d’alba 2013
Fourth Course
Duck Breast Saltimbocca
Mascarpone Polenta, Prosciutto, Sage
Barbaresco DOCG 2011
Fifth Course
Braised Boneless Lamb Shank
Spring Pea Risotto, Crispy Kale
Barolo DOCG 2011 and Barolo Brunate 2010
Dessert
Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Tart
Dark Chocolate Gelato, Berry Compote
Langhe DOC Rosso Monsordo 2011
Ceretto
Andrea studied oenology at the Instituto
Superiore Umberto in the town of Alba in
Piedmont, Italy. After his graduation he
decided to gain some practical experience
by working in different wineries across the
globe. First in Australia at McLaren Vale
then in Napa Valley, California. After two
years spent working directly in the cellars,
his interest shifted to the commerical sector.
Always focused on the wine business,
Andrea moved to New York to represent
two small wineries from Northern Italy.
In 2012 he went back to his home town,
Alba, to start working for Ceretto, one of the
most prestigious Italian wineries famous for
their high quality Barolo and Barbaresco.
Andrea is currently working for Ceretto
representing the brand in North America.
To make your reservation, go to our website and click on “Sign up to attend this event” under the ad on the home page.
A 48-hour cancellation policy applies.
Page 15 | May 2015
MEMBER NEWS
Chef’s
Tidbits
ground up by Dr. Temple Grandin for humane handling, providing beef that tastes better and is more tender.
• Superior cattle + only one plant + only one shift + only one USDA inspector = Consistency.
• State of the art processing plant focused on food safety.
• 100% raised and grazed in the USA.
• Creekstone farms grades higher than the industry
average by far.
We have started a new steak program for al carte dining at
the club this season and I am very excited about it. We are
now using a Creekstone Farms Premium Beef product
that is a verifiable Black Angus. The cattle are:
• Hand-picked for this exclusive program. Only 1 in a 100 represent the Creekstone brand.
• 100% corn fed for consistency in tenderness and flavor.
• This is the only beef plant that was designed from the Our Culinary team has produced a wonderful Gluten-Free
Menu. To see the menu, go to our website under “Dining
> Menus” or ask your server. We take a great deal of pride
with ensuring that our gluten-free items are handled with
respect. Also, if you have any other type of dietary needs,
please let your server or a manager know and we would
be happy to accommodate your needs.
Randy Smith CEC
Executive Chef
[email protected]
Targeted Surveys
Our Management Team’s goal is to continue improving services as well as giving the
best member experiences possible.
With the new website, we will be able to send very brief targeted surveys throughout
the season. This will help us get immediate input in order to give meaningful feedback
to our staff or to address a concern. First, we will focus on member dining experiences
as well as social events. We ask that you take 2-3 minutes to complete the anonymous
survey when you receive one so that we can have your valuable input.
Brunch
MOTHER’S DAY
Limited Seatings ...
Call for Availability
Sunday, May 10th • 10:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: Adults: $30.00pp++, Children 5-12: $15.00pp++, 4 and under complimentary.
Piano entertainment during brunch.
Seatings every half hour to accommodate all members. Please limit
your seating time to two hours. Parties of ten or more may be seated
at adjacent separate tables due to limited space.
For reservations, call Dawn at 248-437-7337. A 48-hour cancellation policy applies.
Dress Code: Jackets are required for men 16 and over, tie preferred, and appropriate attire for women. Appropriate attire for women
includes dresses, skirts and dress slacks with appropriate top. NO DENIM of any kind. Please advise your guest(s) of the dress code to
avoid any embarrassing situations as dress code will be enforced at the door.
Page 16 | May 2015
Welcome
New Members
The following families have applied for membership at
Walnut Creek. If you have any information concerning
these applicants please advise the Membership Committee
chairperson, Tim Belanger, at [email protected] or
General Manager, Kevin Frantz. Any comments will be held
in strict confidence.
• David and Marcella Baratta, Novi
• Steven and Patricia Barr, Novi
• Steve and Beth Karfis, South Lyon
• Craig and Nicole Lorraine, Northville
• Douglas and Elizabeth Reid, Northville
• Dr. Aaron and Dr. Danielle Ruskin, Novi
• Pamela Szmadzinski, Northville
• Gregory and Melissa Wright, South Lyon
MEMBER NEWS
May Beverage Specials
Bella Novello
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, CA
$40 per bottle $9 per glass
Pride Mountain
2012 Chardonnay
Napa Valley, CA
$40 per bottle $9 per glass
Walnut Creek Gin and Juice
Rhubarb infused simple syrup,
Bombay Sapphire Gin,
Muddled Strawberry and Grapefruit Juice
Craft Cocktail $9
AED
Defibrillators
on the
Premises
Births
Congratulations to Chef Randy, CEC, who was awarded
a President’s Medallion for the Central Region, from the
American Culinary Federation. See the Dining Committee
Article for more information.
The Club now has five defibrillators on the premises.
In case of emergency, they can be found in the:
1) Cart Barn
2) Golf Shop
3) Reception Office in the Clubhouse.
4)Pool
5) Ground Maintenance Building
Congratulations to:
• David and Leah DiPonio for the birth of their first child Julianna Elizabeth born January 15th.
• Will and Katie Johnston for the birth of their fourth son Connor, born on March 25th. He joins brothers William, Zachary and Mitchell.
• Scott and Sarah Chemello for the birth of their son Adam Scott born on April 27th weighing 7lbs 9oz. He joins sister Julia and is the second grandchild of Joe and Peggy Chemello.
• Kevin and Amy Richards for the birth of their daughter Julia Ann born on March 20th, weighing in at 8lbs 9oz. She joins big siblings Leila and Andrew.
Page 17 | May 2015
Senior Committee
Pete Acho, Chairperson
[email protected]
REMINDER TO SENIOR MEMBERS:
The annual meeting of the Senior members will be held
Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:00pm.
Thoughts from
Nathalie
Nathalie Fregonara
Clubhouse Manager
[email protected]
I can still feel the sweat beading down my face. My blood
pressure was high, my face flushed. I was running as fast
as I could, but couldn’t get away fast enough. All time
seemed to stop, and all eyes were upon me. A Marathon?
Bad dream?
No. I was trying to get out of the mall when my daughter,
(then three), was having the dreaded temper tantrum!
If you are a parent, you know the feeling. Those of us who
have lived it take pity on those poor souls we see still in
the struggle. We want to say, “This too shall pass”!
So how do we teach our children to behave like little
adults when we are in fear of the little gremlin emerging in
the middle of the dining room?
Family meals are making a comeback. Children who eat
regularly with their family are less likely to snack on
Happy
Hour
at Walnut Creek
Tuesday-Friday
2:00-5:00pm
MEMBER NEWS
In Memory
Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences are
extended to:
• Dave and Diane Wallen and their family for the loss of his father, Stuart Wallen, who passed away April 10th.
• The family of longtime member Kay Peltier who passed away April 13th.
unhealthy foods. Teens who take part in regular family
meals are less likely to smoke, drink alcohol, or use
marijuana and other drugs, and are more likely to have
healthier diets as adults, studies have shown.
Beyond health and nutrition, family meals provide a valuable opportunity to reconnect. This becomes even more
important as children get older. Eating together at WCCC
gives them opportunity to learn manners and courtesy,
to be a part of a community, and learn from the adults
around them.
A great way to help families at the table is to provide
games and toys. Jill has put together a children’s basket
to help, filled with “brain busters”, family trivia cards, and
water puzzles, among other things. Please feel free to
ask for it the next visit. Also, simple interactive games like
“I Spy” can be fun family time. Please remember to keep
children seated in the Dining Room, our servers carrying
trays cannot often see a little one coming at them.
Keeping our children safe is a number one priority. We
also must do our part to protect the children from going
beyond the patio and down to the bridge to play.
So please help us with the next generation of WCCC
members, to teach them to use their “inside voices” and
“walking feet” and keep them healthy and happy.
$5 Mixed Drinks
$2 Bottled Beer
$6 Wine by the Glass
Does not apply on days
with special events.
Page 18 | May 2015
SUNDAY
MAY 2015 CALENDAR
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
SATURDAY
2
Kentucky Derby Party
3pm
Prime Rib Specials
3
4
5
6
7
Golf Academy
Open House
2-4pm
Clubhouse and
Golf Course Closed
Women’s Instructional
League 9:00am
Men’s League
4:30/5:30pm Shotguns
Golf Fit Day at Range
3-7pm
Women’s AM 9 Hole
League
Women’s PM 9 Hole
League Opening 6pm
Shotgun
Women’s 18 Hole League Women’s Golf
Interior Design
Committee 9am
Committee 6:30pm
Junior sign ups
11:00am-1:00pm
at Halfway House
Prime Rib Specials
Dinner Service in
West Grille only
10
11
12
13
14
16
Mother’s Day Brunch
10am-4pm
(West Grille open
7:00am-8:00pm)
Clubhouse and
Golf Course Closed
Private Golf Outing
Women’s Instructional
League 9am
Men’s League 5pm/6pm
Shotguns
Golf Fit Day at Range
3-7pm
Spring Tennis Begins
Women’s Golf
Spring Fling
9:00am Shotgun
Finance Committee 7pm
Women’s 18 Hole League Couples Golf League
6pm Shotgun
Golf Fit Day at Range
1-7pm
Prime Rib Specials
17
18
19
20
21
23
Clubhouse and
Golf Course Closed
Private Golf Outing
Women’s Instructional
League 9am
Men’s League 5pm/6pm
Shotguns
Golf Fit Day at Range
3-7pm
Women’s AM 9 Hole
League
Women’s PM 9 Hole
League
House Committee 6pm
Green Committee 7pm
Women’s 18 Hole League Pro/Member Team
Board of Directors
Selfridge
5:30pm
June Newsletter
Deadline
Pool Opens
Prime Rib Specials
24
25
26
27
28
30
First Annual Car Show
and Family Fun Day
12-5pm
Memorial Day
Couples Golf Event
130 Shotgun
Clubhouse and
Golf Course Closed
Women’s AM 9 Hole
League
Women’s PM 9 Hole
League
PR Committee 6:30pm
Women’s 18 Hole League Ceretto Wine Dinner 7pm Couples Golf League
Women’s Day at the Pool
5pm Shotgun
Entertainment
Prime Rib Specials
Committee 7pm
31
Walnut Creek Country Club
25501 Johns Road
South Lyon, MI 48178
walnutcreekcc.net
Phone: 248-437-7337
Fax: 248-437-9797
Pool: 248-437-0945
Starter: 248-437-3663
Tennis: 248-437-8570
Golf Shop: 248-437-7470
Golf Shop Fax: 248-437-9206
Golf Shop Hours:
Tues-Fri: 8:00am-7:00pm
Sat/Sun/Holidays: 7:00am-7:00pm
Golf Course Hours:
Tues-Sun: opens at 7:30am
Driving Range / Short Game:
Tues/Wed/Fri: 7:30am-8:00pm
Thur: 7:30am-7:00pm
Sat: 6:30am-8:00pm
Sun: 6:30am-7:00pm
Halfway House:
10:00am-6:00pm weather permitting
8
15
22
29
9
Dining Hours:
Breakfast:
Sat & Sun: 7:00-11:30am
Lunch:
Tues-Sun: 11:00am-5:00pm
Dinner:
Tues-Sat: 5:00-9:00pm
Sun: 5:00-8:30pm
Pool Opens May 23rd
Tue-Sun: 11:00am-8:00pm