PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | DAVID WILKS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Last month, we talked with the folks responsible for our Grounds -- all 350 acres -- and focused on our need for a new irrigation system. We have also mentioned over the last several months that, if we have to do the irrigation system, perhaps we address the shortcomings of the North Course at the same time. So, let’s talk about that and some other golf-related items. Here is the transcript of an interview recently conducted with Judge Meghan Adams, our Golf Chair, and Michael Shank, our Director of Golf. Q. We understand why we so desperately need to replace the irrigation system all across our property before it’s too late. What does that have to do with the North Course? Does it really need to be re-done? A. First of all, nothing has been decided. We don’t have final plans from our architect or bids from contractors. Above all, the Board has not approved any expenditures, any plans or anything else. We are certainly considering this in light of the irrigation replacement, but nothing is at all certain. Having said that, we perceive this as an opportunity to make improvements to the North Course that will have long-lasting positive impacts on the Club. Our architect, Andrew Green, is one of the best in the world at what he does, and we are lucky to have him taking a look at the North Course. Over the past decade, Mr. Green has been responsible for renovations of many championship venues, including Inverness Club, Oak Hill Country Club’s East Course, Congressional Country Club's Blue Course, Interlachen Country Club, Scioto Country Club, East Lake Golf Club, and Chevy Chase Club. Since we are compelled to make irrigation-related infrastructure improvements to the North Course, we are excited to see what Mr. Green can offer in terms of design improvements. From our point of view, we imagine this will be an opportunity to improve a number of items including: replacing bunkers and cart paths, minimizing forced carries over water on our family-friendly course, address overly severe greens, add better Family Tee locations for our juniors, and provide more appropriate green and gold tee yardages while adding some length to our blue tees. It may also be an opportunity to improve our practice facilities. Q. Hang on a second. We love the North Course and it’s a great alternative to the South Course for high-handicappers, juniors and other mere mortals. Is the new and improved North Course just going to be another course I can’t make a decent score on? A. We love it, too, and we would never eliminate the family-friendly alternative to the South Course. We don’t yet have final drawings from our architect, but the answer to your question is most definitely no. Andrew Green is the best in the business and he knows what we are after. We want a North Course that is fun for everyone, visually fantastic, challenging for the low-handicappers, approachable for the high-handicappers and a great place for our juniors to learn and grow to love the game of golf. There will be multiple tee boxes, so no one should feel out of a hole before even teeing off. The North Course will always make for a great round of golf for anyone and everyone, and we expect it will get friendlier for new players and high-handicappers, while providing more challenge for accomplished players. Q. Why do we have to do it now? A. For starters, the North Course has not been meaningfully updated since it was built during the Kennedy Administration. We would never take on a huge project like this just for the sake of doing it. But since the irrigation replacement is a non-negotiable necessity, it would be a huge mistake to lay out irrigation for a North Course that we know needs improvements.
David E. Wilks - President Adam G. Landis - Vice President David D. Wilkinson - Treasurer Thomas A. Beck - Secretary
CLASS OF 2025 Thomas A. Beck Robert W. Friz Lisa A. Schmidt Meghan A. Adams Stephen J. Crifasi, Jr. Andrew J. Podolsky Becky Allen George “Tripp” Way, III CLASS OF 2026 Rachel W. Heinle Douglas D. Herrmann Jennifer J. Hopkins Pamela S. Tikellis James R. Selsor Jr. David D. Wilkinson Jeffrey Ciconte Deborah J. Pittenger Honorary Directors Gary W. Ferguson Melissa Riegel Advisory Directors Joseph F. Hacker, III Allen M. Terrell, Jr. John F. Porter, III
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