THE BULLETIN
A Newsletter for the Members of Wilmington Country Club - July 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
03
President's Message
05
General Manager's Message
07
Milestones
08
Food and Beverage
10
Club Calendar
12
Golf
16
Grounds
Racquets
18
20
Fitness
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE | David E. Wilks
In previous Bulletin messages, I have addressed the way in which we pay for the diverse and luxurious member experience that we all enjoy. Our Club has been managed very well over the years and we are in excellent financial health. We have an enormously valuable capital asset base and remarkably little debt. We have never charged the membership an assessment and we have no plans ever to do so. But how can that be? How can we pay for the depreciation and replacement of all those capital assets without charging assessments? For one thing, assessments are, by definition, one-time capital calls to pay for specific capital expenditures. When we have large expenditures -- such as a new indoor tennis and sports facility or a new kitchen -- we like to fund them with a combination of short-term debt and capital reserves we accumulate from new members’ stock purchases. But what about routine capital expenses -- everything from new HVAC systems to new glassware in the Pub and everything in between? Where does the money come from for those items and how do we plan for those expenditures? I mentioned in the May Bulletin that, for a very long time, that money has been buried within our quarterly dues. Let me explain that a bit further. Every year, Phil and our department heads prepare a budget for the cost to operate our Club at the level we all expect in our member experience. The Finance Committee (composed of Club members and led by our Treasurer) sets to work on that budget to ensure that it is both adequate and appropriate. The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors then examine it and ultimately approve a final budget. On top of that operations budget is an amount that will address our routine -- or obligatory -- capital expenses. Over the years, we generally budgeted to have one million dollars or so left over after operational expenses to fund depreciation every year. That combined budget figure is then divided among the membership and charged quarterly as a single line item on our bills as “Dues.” That means that the operations component and the capital component of our bills have been indistinguishable to the membership, even though all of us have always funded capital expenditures with our quarterly dues. The point wasn’t to keep capital contributions a secret; it was just a matter of simplicity. Bear in mind that while this streamlined way of doing things has simplicity in its favor, it presents a risk: if our operations budget ever falls short -- which it can do at times -- we necessarily fall short in our routine capital planning budget also. Because operations come first, that means that we need to dip into routine capital reserves to fund operations. And then we need to fund routine capital needs by dipping into new member stock purchases which we would much rather save for big new projects. So, as you can see, it does not seem wise to fund both operations and capital reserves from the same bucket.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS David E. Wilks President Adam G. Landis Vice President David D. Wilkinson Treasurer Thomas A. Beck Secretary Class of 2024 David E. Wilks Rachel W. Heinle Douglas D. Herrmann Jennifer J. Hopkins Adam G. Landis Jonathan N. Saunders Pamela S. Tikellis David D. Wilkinson James R. Selsor, Jr. Class of 2025 Thomas A. Beck Zachary L. Chipman Robert W. Friz Lisa A. Schmidt Meghan A. Adams Stephen J. Crifasi, Jr. Andrew J. Podolsky Becky Allen George “Tripp” Way, III Honorary Directors Gary W. Ferguson Melissa Riegel Advisory Directors Joseph F. Hacker, III Allen M. Terrell, Jr. John F. Porter, III
03
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | Continued
You might ask, “But that million-dollar capital budget seems arbitrary anyway. How did we come up with that number?” Good question. Twenty years ago, we commissioned an inventory of every last item in our capital asset base. Every tractor in our barns and every fork in our drawers. And every item was assigned a useful life and a cost of replacement. The report we received was both enormous and enormously useful. We were able, with that report as a guide, to estimate pretty well what our capital needs would be each year for a twenty-year period. That report served us well, but its useful life expired like everything else. Therefore, we commissioned a new inventory of our capital asset base to help us plan for the next twenty years of capital expenses. An organization called Club Benchmarking performed that work earlier this year and provided us with a new report. We can now reasonably estimate our routine -- that is, not optional -- capital needs going forward. And we learned a number of things. First and most gratifying: we are in very good shape. Second and attention-getting: we need to bring our budgeting and planning practices up to date so that we stay in very good shape. To no one’s surprise, we have a whole lot more assets now than we did twenty years ago. In 2014, we embarked on a clubhouse expansion project that radically changed the way we can use our Club. We have built a new indoor tennis and sports building. We moved our paddle courts and built the Hut. We now have a pool cafe. We have a short-game practice area and teaching facility. We have more dining, more racquets, more golf, more fitness … more everything than we had twenty years ago. And, of course, to no one’s surprise, everything costs more to maintain and replace than it did twenty years ago. So that million dollars that we hope to set aside each year after we pay for operations? It won’t be sufficient to pay for our capital needs going forward. We won’t be short by a lot, but every year we do not address this, the harder it will be to catch up. As a result, like almost every one of our peer clubs across the country, your Board of Directors plans to make a change to the way we do things. The change is not radical and it will not impoverish anyone. And the change will not involve an assessment…not now, not ever. Here’s what we plan to do starting with our January 1, 2025 bills. Instead of combining operating expense and capital expense in a single “Dues” bucket, we will break them into separately budgeted items. Starting next year, you will see one line on your bill every month for “Operating Dues” that will pay for the Club’s operating expenses. Instead of including capital funding in that figure, every quarter you will see on your bill a new item called “Capital Dues.” That will be a budgeted figure based on the capital expenses we anticipate incurring. Every member will see a charge: junior members will pay a relatively nominal amount and senior members will pay a bit more. We do not yet have budget numbers for next year, of course, so we can’t give you precise amounts. But based on the 2024 budget, we expect this change to result in an overall increase for senior members of less than $150 per month; for a family consisting of a senior, an associate and two junior members, the annual increase would be less than $2,500. And please know that the amounts will be no more than is necessary to keep our Club in the condition that we expect and to maintain our facilities at the highest of standards. But they will be enough to responsibly care for what we own. No one wants to pay more for anything and that includes the Club President, who pays dues like everyone else. But no one wants to be irresponsible either. We cannot ignore that we have a Club with unique characteristics that are expensive to maintain and replace. These changes are not optional. We need to make them if we want the Club to remain at the vanguard of full-service clubs across the country. And we do want that very much. Please understand one more thing. For many years, our dues -- which have covered both operations and routine capital -- have been largely in line with those at the other clubs in our community. That fact is astonishing when one considers how manifestly different our Club is from its neighbors. They are all wonderful clubs, but none compares to the breadth of offerings and level of quality across the board that we have at Wilmington Country Club. Our capital reserve planning must be updated to recognize that fact. You will have questions and we want to answer them. I come to you with this change now, so that you are fully informed by the time January rolls around. Be on the lookout for more communications on this. And please remember to let me know what is on your mind by emailing me at dwilks.wcc@gmail.com. I promise to respond.
04
GENERAL MANAGER'S MESSAGE | Phil Iannelli
Summer Greetings! The calendar says it is July. The thermometer finally agrees and so does this month’s schedule of activities. Just take a quick glance at this month’s Bulletin and calendar of events and you will see that it is jammed packed with opportunities to use your Club. Golf and tennis events, junior activities, swim events, a lobster night, as well as the granddaddy of all get-togethers – our July 4th celebration, all occur in what I call the “heart of the season”. I feel as if I need to apologize in advance for this month’s epistle. Maybe it is because we have no major events or projects underway to distract our attention, but a lot of “little” issues are being noticed and there is a concern that they could quickly evolve into “bigger” problems. Predominately, these are member use issues where club expectations aren’t being achieved. The club’s approach to addressing these matters is that before being punitive we need to do a better job in “informing” the members of those expectations. This effort usually starts with the directive: “Phil can/should mention this in the newsletter”. Here goes . . . Parking Lot Safety: recent observations include driving too fast; Not yielding to walking traffic; Going the wrong way; Young children running free; Talking on cell phones while driving . . . surely everyone can appreciate that if this keeps up, it won’t be long before we are on the receiving end of a really bad experience. Slow down and be cautious. Unsupervised Children: It may be best to simply reference the club rule that specifically states, “No child under the age of ten may be left unattended”. Parents, please watch your children and be sensitive to their impact on others! Guest Use: Each venue (golf, racquets, fitness, and pool) has defined restrictions as to the type, number and frequency of guests that may be introduced. All members are encouraged to invite guests if they do so within those parameters. It is the hosting member’s responsibility to properly inform their guest of all rules and to always be in the company of their guests.
MANAGEMENT STAFF Christine Jordan Clubhouse Manager
Tip Tribbitt, CEC Executive Chef
Mindy Blumetti Controller
Meghan Spero, PGA Membership Development & Communications Manager
Steve Buenaga Human Resources Manager
Jonathan Urbanski Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Michael Shank, PGA Director of Golf
Liezel Huber Director of Racquets and Sports
Clark Verchick Chief Engineer
05
GENERAL MANAGER'S MESSAGE | Continued
Electronic Devices: Voice use of cell phones is not allowed anywhere on club grounds other than in your car. Text messaging, checking email, etc. from your device is permitted. Electronic Devices include more than cell phones. All must be silent. And please be cognizant that how and when you use your mobile device impacts your fellow members and their club experience. For example, taking a Zoom call (even with headphones) is inappropriate unless you are in a private room. Dress Code: Every area/venue of the club has a defined expectation of attire. Fitness is different from golf; The Grill/Tavern is different from Pub37; The Main Lobby Entrance is different from the Grill lobby, etc. Collars, hats, short/skirt length, denim, t- shirts, and shirttails are all things that are addressed in detail. All members should be familiar with these expectations.
Event Cancellation: When an event is full, even with a waiting list, last minute cancellations are difficult to replace and deny other members the opportunity to participate. No-shows are even worse.
Corkage Policy: Personal selections are permitted to be enjoyed with dinner in the Dining Room, Tavern, or Grill provided that the wine or a similar selection is not available from the Club’s list. The spirit of the policy is to provide an opportunity to have a truly unique or special wine from your personal cellar to complement one of Chef’s meals. Typically a cabernet from California doesn’t qualify . . . Golf Course Etiquette: Issues to be addressed include Pace of play; Bunker maintenance; replacing/filling divots and repairing ball marks; adherence to cart restrictions and directional signage; proper divot patterns on the range tee and appropriate attire. And as a continuation of Electronic Devices being silent – No music. Member Conduct: Always follow and support the spirit of the published “guiding principles of member conduct”. This boils down to ladies and gentlemen conducting themselves as ladies and gentlemen, showing courtesy in its broadest, most inclusive form . . . toward your club, your fellow members, and your staff.
Miscellaneous: Parking lots are for cars; locker rooms are for changing shoes.
Here’s a few more thoughts. First, all these rules and expectations have been established by your fellow members. Individually if one or two aren’t followed, it wouldn’t appear to be a big deal. But that is a slippery slope. These rules have been put in place because collectively they create the atmosphere, environment, and experience that you, as members, wish to enjoy when you come to your club. They define your brand and are what make you proud to be a member. If after reading this you were left wondering about details or seeking more information, please start by clicking HERE to be directed to your club handbook. Or just ask me. Part of my job is to share information.
As always, I’ll look forward to seeing you at the Club! Enjoy your summer.
06
MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS | Meghan Spero
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
Meghan Spero, PGA Membership Development & Communications Manager
Frank & Claire Yocum
Douglas Lane
Diane E. Nescio
NEWMEMBERS NOT PICTURED:
EMPLOYEE ANNIVERSARIES Matthew Lindenhofen Cook - 1 Year
Colin W. Murray, Child 10-24 Sophia R. Murray, Child 10-24 Elizabeth M. O’Flynn, Associate 25-29 Gavin Brezski, Child 10-24
Scott B. Davis, Child 25-29 Isabelle Broll, NR Child 10-24 Sophie Broll, NR Child 10-24 Nathaniel Broll, NR Child 10-24
Debbie Ellis A/R Associate - 1 Year
Wagner Rossignoli Cook - 1 Year
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES We would like to acknowledge our Senior members on their milestones:
Corey McMath Cook - 1 Year
Mrs. Abbigail Keller Wagner, 5 years Mrs. Marcy Wright, 5 years Mr. Mark J. Aitken, 10 years Mrs. Judith H. Boyle, 10 years Ms. Jill A. Cantera, 10 years Mr. Mark L. Handler, 10 years Reid M. Huber, 10 years Mr. Daniel M. Mulvena, 10 years
Mr. John H. Ratliff, 10 years Ms. Alexis Altschuler Spikes, 10 years Mr. Henry Belin duPont, IV, 15 years Dr. Daniel Leung, 15 years Mr. Lance L. Weaver, 30 years Mr. Ryan Sysko, 35 years Miss Kathryn Franklin, 40 years Mr. Keith P. Carpenter, 60 years
Eric Williams Head Golf Professional - 1 Year
Jazmin Hernandez House - 2 Years Areli Diaz Grounds - 3 Years
Nick Blackburn Beverage Manager - 10 Years Pascual Tlaseca Kitchen Utility/Prep - 12 Years Richie Neyers III Executive Sous Chef - 17 Years
IN MEMORIAM The Board of Directors, members and staff of Wilmington CountryClub extend their sincerest sympathy to the family of: Anthony N. Fusco, member for 10 years
07
AROUND THE CLUB | Christine Jordan
Happy Summer!
July 4th will be here before you know it and so will our annual celebration. Featuring bouncy houses, pony rides, face painting, live music and delicious food, there's something for everyone! Of course, the evening will culminate in a spectacular fireworks display.
Wednesday, July 17, will feature a complimentary wine tasting in Pub37. Come and try something new! If you find a new varietal you like, all wines will be available for purchase.
Christine Jordan Clubhouse Manager
Returning on Saturday, August 3, is our popular Oysterfest and Seafood Extravaganza! Featuring oysters, a carving station, salads and sides, this event is sure to delight the seafood lover (and non!). Held on the ballroom patio, Oysterfest is great opportunity to entertain guests, or meet more members!
CAFE 1901 Tues day – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. PUB 37 Tues day – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. GRILLE / TAVERN T uesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
PLEASE REGISTER FOR ALL UPCOMING EVENTS HERE.
Open for takeout at 4:30 p.m. Dinner 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sunday 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Open for takeout at 4:30 p.m. Dinner 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
DINING ROOM Friday & Saturday 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
THE HUT Closed
08
JUNE RECAP
09
CALENDAR | July
SUN MON TUE
WED THU FRI
SAT
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independence Day Celebration 6:00pm
Men’s Holiday Tournament South Course 8:30am - 1:30pm
No Clubhouse Food Service
Book Club 4:00 p.m.
Raft Night 6-7:30pm
Special Tennis Cardio 9:00am
Tennis & Pickleball Family Day 10:00am Fourth Celebration Games & Relays
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Men’s Holiday Tournament North Course 8:30am - 1:30pm
Women’s 18-Holer South Course 8:30 - 11:00am
Montchanin Bridge 1:00 p.m. Better Ball of Partners Back North 9:00 - 11:30am
Thursday Morning Bridge 9:30 a.m. Mixed Twilight North Course 5:15 - 8:00pm Swim League Championships @ Greenville
No Clubhouse Food Service
Women’s 18 Holers North Course 12:30 - 1:30pm
Swim Meet @ Greenville CC
Pickleball Camp 9:00am
Bocce 5:30pm
Raft Night 6-7:30pm
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Thursday Morning Bridge 9:30 a.m. Men’s One Day Member Guest
Montchanin Bridge 1:00 p.m. Best Ball of 4 Back South 9:00 - 11:30am Bocce 5:30pm
Family Golf Tournament
Junior Club Championship North Course 12:00 - 2:00pm Pickleball Play with the Pros 9:00am
No Clubhouse Food Service
Swim League Pancake Breakfast & Awards 9:00am
Women’s 18-Holer Beat the Pro South Course 8:00 - 11:00am
North Course 3:00 - 5:30pm
South Course 1:00 - 5:30pm Swim Club Championships @ WCC
Swim Sundae Funday Trivia
Raft Night 6-7:30pm
Wine Tasting 6:30pm
27
21
22
23
24
25
26
Junior Club Championship South Course 12:00 - 1:00pm
Montchanin Bridge 1:00 p.m. Best 6 of 9 Back South 9:00 - 11:30am Bocce 5:30pm
Women’s Club Championships Tee Times North Course 8:00 - 10:00am
Thursday Morning Bridge 9:30 a.m. Women’s Club Championships Tee Times South Course 8:00 - 10:00am
No Clubhouse Food Service
Men’s Club Championship South Course 11:00am - 12:30pm
Men’s Club Championship North Course 7:30am - 12:00pm
Christmas in July Pool Games
Raft Night 6-7:30pm
Lobster Night 5:30pm
31
28
29
30
Follow our socials:
Montchanin Bridge 1:00 p.m. Scramble with the Pro Back North 9-11am
Women’s 18-Holer Pick a Partner North Course 8:30 - 11:00am Pickleball Social 6:00pm
No Clubhouse Food Service
Men’s Club Championship South Course 7:30am - 12:00pm
Instagram: @wilmingtoncc1901
Facebook: WilmingtonCountryClub
@wcc1901_golf @wcc1901_agro
Bocce 5:30pm
Website: wilmingtoncc.com
@wcc1901_racquets @wcc1901_wellness @wcc1901_clubgrub
Men’s Club Championship Dinner 5:30pm
Raft Night 6-7:30pm
10
BOOK CLUB | July
July 9, 2024: The Measure by Nikki Erlick. Rosemary Crawford will lead the discussion for the July meeting.
Author Nikki Erlick’s debut novel “The Measure” is an intriguing story about fate and how it weaves together eight ordinary people who need to make extraordinary choices.
These engaging cast of characters, and some unpredictable twists and turns, provide afascinating and imaginative story. Its effectiveness is best when the story takes the reader by surprise – particularly since the key benefit of the experience is the reader’s reactions – as well as those of the lead characters – to the event. One morning, all over the world, every person 22 years of age or older, is presented with a mysterious box. On the outside of the box, in the recipients’ native language, is an inscription that reads, “The measure of your life lies within.” Some people throw the box away. Some refuse to open it but tuck it away for safe keeping. Those who open it, find a single string. Scientists and data gatherers around the world eventually determine that the varying lengths of string signify the length of each person’s life. It is their fate and cannot be controlled. However, each person can control whether he/she chooses to open the box and know their fate; and how that knowledge affects life going forward. Mortality is certain, but the amount of time we have left is different for everyone as is the courage to make it count. Erlick says her debut novel was inspired by two Greek myths. The most obvious is Pandora and her box. The other myth is that of the three Fates: Clotho, who spun the thread of human fate,Lachesis, who dispensed it and Atropos, who cut each thread to determine the length of someone’s life.
AUGUST SELECTION
August 6, 2024 The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocomb
Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is planned; but Ray has a gift and a dream – he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist and noting will stand in his way.
Phyllis Aerenson will lead the discussion for the August meeting.
Please join us on July 9, 2024, at 4:00 pm in the Women’s Lounge as we discuss The Measure
11
MESSAGE FROM GOLF | Michael Shank, PGA
S ummer is here and the golf season is in full swing. This month we have our Men’s Holiday Tournament, Club Championships for Men, Women and Juniors, Family Golf Tournament, a Mixed Twilight event and more. There is something for everyone at the Club in July. JULY GOLF EVENTS July 6 & 7: Men’s Holiday Tournament (South Course Sat. & North Course Sun.)
July 11: Mixed Twilight Event (North Course) July 14: Family Golf Event (North Course) July 18: Men’s July Member Guest (South Course) July 20: Junior Club Championship (All Flights, North Course) July 21: Junior Club Championship (Championship Flight, South Course)
Michael Shank, PGA Director of Golf
July 23 & 25: Women’s Club Championship (North Course Tues. & South Course Thurs.) July 26, 27 & 28: Men’s Club Championship (North Course Sat., South Course Fri. & Sun.) August 1: Women’s Golf Social A few friendly reminders are noted below: On the golf course: Please park golf carts on paved paths around tees and greens. Do not park carts closer than 10 yards from tees and greens. Kindly search for balls in the rough by foot, instead of circling around the rough in carts. Keep carts in the fairway and on the path when possible. Always take divots in straight lines on the practice range. Place your ball on the back edge of your previous divot when practicing. Etiquette: Shirts should always be tucked in for gentlemen, and hats removed in the Clubhouse. Voice use of cell phones or playing music on the course is not permitted. Guest play: When bringing a guest to play, please call the Golf Shop in advance to register them. On the day of play, please arrive before your guest, and sign-in guests in the Golf Shop. MEN’S TOURNAMENT GOLF NOTES FOR JULY Men’s Club Championship registration is open. You can get more information, and sign-up Here. Men’s Match Play Round 1 matches end July 7 Mixed Two Ball Championship Round 1 matches end July 7
HOURS OF OPERATION First Tee Opening Monday: 10:00 a.m. Tuesday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 7:30 a.m.
Practice Range Hours Monday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Holidays: 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m Bag Room Hours Monday: 9:30 a.m. – Dusk Tuesday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. – Dusk Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 7:00 a.m. – Dusk Golf Shop Hours Monday: Closed Tuesday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m
Men’s Senior/Super Senior Handicap Championship Round 2 matches end July 14 Men’s Senior Club Championship Match Play Round 3 matches end July 14 Men’s President’s Cup Round 3 matches end July 21 Men’s Better Ball of Partners Round 3 matches end July 28 Men’s Match Play Round 2 matches end July 28
12
MESSAGE FROM GOLF | Continued
SUMMER JUNIOR GOLF Junior Golf Class is offered every Monday to Friday through August 23. Juniors may come to class for the day, the week, or sign-up for the entire summer. To see more, visit the Junior Golf Book Here. Advanced Academy: 10:15am - 12:15pm The Summer Advanced Golf Academy Curriculum provides juniors a roadmap to improve their game and maximize their potential by creating a positive, enjoyable & competitive atmosphere. Each Junior will be expected to lay out their short- and long-term goals using the SMART (Specific, Meaningful, Achievable, Realistic, Trackable) criteria. Click Here to Register Orange & Yellow Class: 1:00pm - 2:30pm Summer Orange & Yellow class will give Level 1-3 juniors an opportunity to keep working toward their Merit Tag by earning Operation 36 Skill Pins. Classes will focus on building the skills necessary to pass Orange, Yellow, and Green Operation 36 Skill Pins. Click Here to Register
MEN’S INVITATIONAL RECAP We were thrilled to host our 87th Annual Invitational June 13-15, as 60 member-guest teams competed over two days of play on the South Course. The Invitational is a better ball of partners match play event, with teams competing in ten flights of six teams each. Partners play a 9-hole match against each of the five other teams in their flight over the course of two days. The ten flight winners and two wild card teams then advance to a sudden-death, alternate shot playoff to determine the Overall Champion. The weekend festivities kicked off on Thursday evening with a practice round and Stag Night activities, including a pig roast, cocktails and several skills challenges. The competition began on Friday with three nine-hole matches, followed by another two nine-hole matches played today. The golf course conditions were fantastic and were ideal scoring conditions. Following the conclusion of the five 9-hole matches on Saturday, twelve playoff teams went back to the course for our playoff. In the playoff, the teams of Sheel Patel & Pinak Acharya and Trippe Wayman & Ted Shea faced off on the 18th hole of the South Course for their fourth playoff hole to decide the tournament. Both teams had putts for par on the final hole, but it was Pinak Acharya who sank a 15- footer to claim the victory!
Not sure what level your junior should be in? Click Here. Or, contact a member of the Professional Staff.
Junior Pro Tour A complimentary junior golf offering. Junior golfers with merit tags are invited to join one of the Golf Professionals for nine holes each Friday morning on the North Course at 9:00 a.m. You can sign-up for the Junior Pro Tour on our Junior Golf page Here. Junior Club Championship The Junior Club Championship Tournament is on Saturday, July 20, with the 18-Hole division also playing Sunday, July 21. Ages 7-17 are eligible. This tournament will crown our Junior Club Champions for 2024 in the 5-Hole, 9-Hole, and 18-Hole divisions. For more information, or to sign up, visit the Tournament Page Here. Family Golf Tournament The Family Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, July 14, at 3:00 p.m. This is a fun, 9-hole event offered to junior golfers ages 4-17, with their families. Each player will compete in various skill events while on-course for prizes. Players play from a tee that is best for them. Awards given in Café 1901 following play. Teams may be made up of a parent/child or grandparent/child, etc., so long as all participants are members of the Club. To sign-up visit the Tournament Page Here. MIXED TWILIGHT GOLF Join us on Thursday, July 11, at 5:15 p.m., for a 9-hole shotgun on the North Course. This is a casual and fun tournament with dinner and cocktails to follow. Sign-up as a foursome, or as a twosome and we will pair you up. Entry fee includes dinner and prizes. The event is open to all adult members, please sign-up using the link Here.
Please see the full event leaderboard in the link below: To view the full tournament results please click Here.
Overall Champions Sheel Patel & Pinak Acharya
Eleutherian Mills Flight Steve Casey & Greg Mitchell
Granogue Flight Rick Robinson & Carmen Hunsinger
Louviers Flight Trippe Wayman & Ted Shea
Owl’s Nest Flight Bob Donato & Robert Donato, Jr.
Longwood Flight Erik Bradley & Kurt Underhill
Gibraltar Flight Rick Stover & Chris Avayou
Winterthur Flight Sean Beberman & Cabot Williams
Bellevue Flight Jim Pettit & Mike Mayew
Nemours Flight Hal Erskine & Chris Archbell
Pelleport Flight Peter Ladig & Matt Tront
13
MESSAGE FROM GOLF | Continued
WOMEN’S INVITATIONAL RECAP We had a hot, but bee-utiful, day on June 18 for our Women’s Invitational on our South Course. Our women's teams played a four person shamble, and prizes were awarded in three flights, as well as our Low Gross champions. Please see the link Here for full results from the tournament.
Bumble Bee Net Flight Winners: Judith Ventura, Kristin Mumford, Jennifer Dudley, Cynthia Koenig
Low Gross Winners: Martha Tschantz, Diane Nolan, Nicoll Keeney, Kristen Johnsen
Native Bee Net Flight Winners: Jenny Cantwell, Gretchen Adams, Jennifer Tront
Honey Bee Net Flight Net Winners: Kathy Trzaskos, Mary Ellen Gibson, Johanna Kung, Laura Ford
WOMEN’S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2021, 2022 and 2023 champion Britny Whitby will defend her title July 23 & 25 in the Women’s Club Championship. The tournament is open to all women members at Wilmington who maintain an active handicap. Junior members must submit a request to participate. 36- Hole individual Stroke Play with flights determined by handicap and number of participants. For more information or to sign-up, visit the Women’s Club Championship web portal HERE.
WOMEN’S PUTTING CHAMPIONSHIP Congratulations to Martha White, who won the Women’s 18-Holers Putting Championship! She defeated runner-up Teri Richmond in the finals. WOMEN’S GOLF SOCIAL Join us on Thursday, August 1, at 5:00 p.m., for a fun, casual and social night on the golf course. Women’s Golf Social events are a 9- hole all Par 3 Scramble on the North Course with a drink included during the event. Grab your friends and sign up together as a foursome, or sign-up on your own and the Golf Shop will pair you. Price includes prizes and a glass of wine or a cocktail. This event is open to all women members. To register visit the Women’s Golf Social event webpage Here.
14
A VISIT FROM GARY COWAN
GARY COWAN, 1971 USGA Amateur Champion Cowan went on to win the United States Amateur Championship on two occasions. In 1966, he was victorious at the Merion Golf Club after defeating Deane Beman in an 18-hole playoff. Then in 1971, he won here at Wilmington Country Club, by famously sinking his approach shot on the final hole with a nine-iron for an eagle two. Cowan remains the only player to win the U.S. Amateur twice at stroke play, and remains one of only two Canadians to win the U.S. Amateur. We were thrilled when Gary stopped by the Club this June to repay a visit to the 18th hole and to enjoy a round of golf on a beautiful summer afternoon. Great memories were shared and we hope you enjoy the video below where Gary tells of his time as a leading amateur golfer and his winning shot on #18.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW THE VIDEO
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MESSAGE FROM GROUNDS | Jon Urbanski
As we proceeded through the month of June, the grounds are showing the effects of a hot, dry month. Since May 1st, we have experienced above average temperatures, with below average humidity, and most days, with above average wind speeds. These factors with one rain event to speak of in early June, equal many days spent on applying water through a hose. We could use the irrigation system, but one look at the lower reservoir to the left of 12 North, we must be thoughtful and careful in how we apply our resources. If we do not receive a sprinkling of rain here or there, there is the real possibility of enacting restrictions such as limiting cart use to fairways only and turning off areas that are currently watered by the irrigation, such as the deep roughs of the golf courses. We shall see and let’s all hope together there is no need to decree any limitations. Because the dry conditions, we began venting areas the last week of June. This was initially to fairways and roughs, but we will see this trend extend to the putting surfaces at the beginning of July. The tine size will be no more than six millimeters and we will be determined on the day of the actual exercise. Immediately after the venting, the surfaces will be rolled and soil amendments such as gypsum and potash will be applied. The use of these amendments, such as gypsum, will aid in cell wall formation, cell division, growth, and other physiological functions. Gypsum will also remedy to the build-up of harmful sodium that occurs while reliant on solely irrigation water. Couple this with the venting process, or “air-ification,” the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide will aid in water penetration and retention. As an added bonus, every opportunity to poke a hole, albeit the size of two rice granules, will produce roots that will support healthy turf to get through the “dog days of summer.” We know due to our data collection efforts and the GS3 smart ball, holes poked on a given day will have the greens performing as if nothing was done within two days. We know from past maintenance practices such as venting, holes poked on a Monday, we are hard pressed to see any evidence by the third day. This is because of many factors such as applying the correct amount of nutrients, to the after rolling process, to the use of smooth rollers on our greens mowers. Which leads us our next topic… As we saw high temps come into play about the middle of June, we moved our greens mowers from an aggressive set-up of using machined-grooved front rollers to lightweight rollers. The major difference between the two types of rollers used in greens mowing is that a machined grooved roller will be more aggressive and allow more grass to be removed because it has less surface area supporting the weight of the mower, resulting in a lower height of cut (HOC – actual height of cut vs. bench/ technician set height of cut).
Jon Urbanski Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
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MESSAGE FROM GROUNDS | Continued
The smooth roller is good for times of year when environmental conditions will put the most stress on the turf because the smooth roller will use 100% of its surface to support the mower and reel, thus being less aggressive. We generally begin the season with the grooved rollers, move to heavy weight smooth rollers (to somewhat match the characteristics of the grooved roller), and when times get tough, move to light-weight solid rollers, which we did on or about the middle of June. Contractors have finished their portion of the barn wall rebuild that sits to the right of the 2nd tees of the North Course. Our staff will begin the process of blending the hillside to the rear of 7 North tees to allow a majority of the wall to be seen while also diverting water away from the barn itself.
During the early part of July, we will begin to add Har-Tru clay to the tennis courts. Mother Nature did not cooperate with the normal spring maintenance in April and we will apply a small amount of material to the surfaces.
The fruiting season will be upon us in the next several weeks for the orchard on 9 North. Upon inspection, it appears we will have a bountiful crop again and we will announce when the fruit comes into season. First up will be the peaches!
Please continue to help keep the putting surfaces smooth for all to enjoy by fixing your ball mark, plus one other. In addition, when using any of our practice areas, please utilize the straight-line method for divot recovery. We will keep a mindful eye to our ground conditions and communicate the need for any restrictions due to drought-like conditions. If you are not aware, you can get real time updates by following our Instagram page, @wcc1901_agro. It is here where we will post our activities to all events regarding the grounds of the Club. Thanks and we hope you and your families have a wonderful 4th of July, along with a great rest of the month!
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MESSAGE FROM RACQUETS | Liezel Huber
What a joyous time! Kids are enjoying Summer break and parents are hopefully getting a much-needed vacation! Hope you are spending quality time at WCC, where the facilities are world-class and the staff looks forward to seeing you! The hotter the better and it's been steamy! We are so fortunate to have indoor and outdoor racquets facilities. Outdoors is my choice, but don't get me wrong...I love the A/C, but I also love playing in the heat. It's been windy lately, which makes racquets players consider strategy versus power. So much fun! The racquets department invites you to join us indoors or outdoors! June was busy for tennis with two social-exchange matches against Greenville. Looking forward to another exchange match on July 11th at WCC. USTA Leagues are still in session and Wilmington Cup challenge matches are ongoing. Good luck to all. Our first 'home' swim-team meet of the season went very smoothly. Hard work pays off! Congrats to all the participants. Pickleball's inaugural "Battle of 52" against Greenville Country Club, was a highlight for staff and players. WCC took the trophy! Good coaching, Coach Victoria! Congrats to our very own squash champion, Jon Saunders who won the 4.0 Summer Solstice Classic and defeated WCC junior Matt Majewski. Squash Team Doubles challenge saw WCC taking second place. Good luck to all WCC juniors competing in squash tournaments this summer. Over twenty happy and healthy individuals enjoyed the inaugural Fitness Member-Guest yoga brunch. It was a beautiful day. Next yoga brunch is scheduled for Sunday, Sept 8th. Some more great news is that everyone raves about WCC's new rehabilitation partner, Novacare. Please stop by to say hi or ask any questions you may have regarding injury prevention. Summer Camp has been a blast once again. The average age has dropped, which would seem like it's more work for us, but that's the cool part. We love seeing the young ones get faster, stronger and more confident. They learn, play, share and celebrate. We enjoy their giggles and we enjoy their boundless energy. Congratulations to Judith Ventura, Constantine Moutsatsos and Matthew Heinle for winning the WCC Pickleball Open. The next pickleball social will be July 30th. A quick reminder that you want to be signed up for our US Open Day Trip on Wednesday, August 28th. I will give you a lot of insights on the biggest tennis event in the world, the players and this year we will be watching some doubles matches too. First come first serve and space is limited. We still have a handful of seats left. It's a day to remember! Bocce Socials on Wednesdays is also another nail-biter event. The weather is ideal, so feel free to join us for some outdoor fun. Don't miss our annual Parent/Child Social Racquets Events on July 4th. Family Tennis and Pickle Round-Robin is at 10:30am. No better place to cool off than the pool! The kids are enjoying hanging out with their friends and parents need to know about the poolside cafe's newest addition; Frozen Rose, Frozen Margaritas and Pina Coladas! I will see you at the pool! A big shout out to my amazing team and wonderful WCC family. Every day is a great day here. Thank you! Happy July 4th and happy Summer. See you soon!
Liezel Huber Director of Racquets and Sports
Clinic and Class Schedules
ADULT RACQUETS Click Here
PICKLEBALL Click Here
SQUASH Click Here
JUNIORS Click Here
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RACQUETS | Continued
TENNIS EVENTS 7/4 – Fourth of July Tennis Cardio and Family Tennis Play 7/6 – 12 – Delaware State Tournament
PICKLEBALL Congratulations to all members that played the 3.5+ Women’s, Men’s and Mixed Doubles tournament this past weekend.
SQUASH Doubles Team Challenge was won by Team Vicmead. Team WCC was a close second. Racquet Club of Philadelphia was 3rd and Berwyn Squash and Fitness finished 4th.
Congratulations to all our players that help WCC win the battle of 52 against Greenville. Let’s go Team.
What’s New This Summer? 4.0+ Night Mixer Every Tuesday, at 6pm Junior Social Pickleball – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm.
We still have the evening interclub league every Monday at 6pm, please email vgiannaccini@wilmingtoncc.com if you are interested.
Please sign up on Foretees for all programming.
PADDLE Tips for Transitioning from Tennis to Platform Tennis Have fun and enjoy the process. Keep your backswings compact on your strokes.
Force yourself to hit as many backhand volleys as possible at first. Get comfortable playing on the deuce and ad sides of the court. Accept that it isn’t and never will be tennis, only a more fun version. Off season is the best time to improve your skills and get ready for the season, therefore, we will be hosting Summer Paddle Camps on July 21st and 28th:
Ladies Camp from 9 -10:30am Men’s Camp 10:30 - 12:00pm
Please sign up on Foretees. If you are looking for private or group lessons email Eleon@wilmingtoncc.com
BOCCE Bocce Social is every Wednesday 5:30-7:0pm
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FITNESS
PERSONAL TRAINING Our personal trainers are educated in providing a fitness routine geared toward your goals. Whether you are an athlete looking for off season training, someone looking to lose weight or gain muscle, or someone looking for help to get active again, stop by the fitness center to talk about personal training packages. For more information call ext. 2113. Michelle Kasker - Specializes in Strength and Conditioning, Mobility, Rehab/Prehab, and Nutrition Counseling for all ages and Fitness Levels. Mary Harrison- Specializes in training an individual’s whole body to create a space capable of aging gracefully. Her training objectives are strength, balance, flexibility and joint health all while having fun! Beth Sheehy- Beth is a personal trainer and yoga instructor. She specializes in strength and flexibility with active older adults. Allison Gayle- Allison is a stretching and flexibility coach, and offers PNF assisted stretching (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) to increase and restore flexibility. In addition, she is a NASM certified personal trainer, specializing in strength and conditioning, balance, posture, and performance. Tina Malatesta- Tina has 20+ years of experience as a personal trainer and loves working with a variety of athletes and ages. Her philosophy is health and fitness is a lifestyle change and she loves helping clients make healthy changes. NUTRITION COACHING Michelle has over ten years experience working as a Nutrition Coach. She is a certified Nutrition Coach through both NASM and Precision Nutrition. For more information, or to get started with Michelle, please call Ext 2113.
AQUAFIT Join Mary at the pool every Tuesday and Thursday from 7am-8am in June, July, and August. This low-impact class is performed in the outdoor pool and is designed to improve joint stability, coordination, heart health, and strength. The class will incorporate cardio and strength, using water dumbbells and flotation devices. GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES If you are looking at Early, Mid-Morning, or Evening Group Exercise Classes check out Mindbody Online for our current schedule. We offer a variety of hiit and strength classes including: Golf Fitness, Senior Fit, 30/30, and Tri Fit! *All classes with less than three people reserved three hours prior to class start will be cancelled. WALKING CLUB The weather is getting much nicer during our Monday walks! Join Wellness Director, Michelle Kasker, for a brisk walk around the golf course. Be social with your friends while you exercise every Monday. Meet in the Fitness Center at 10:55am every Monday if you’d like to join! We leave promptly at 11am! MASSAGE THERAPY Natalia Morales and Jocelyn Staker are both available for sports and therapeutic massages at Wilmington Country Club. Call ext. 2113 or email Mkasker@wilmingtoncc.com for more information. JULY YOGA CLASSES Join Beth every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30PM - 1:30PM for Hot Vinyasa. This class is a heated flow of postures connected with breath. This style cleanses and warms the body allowing a deeper stretch and more flexibility. This is a total body workout.
GROUP EXERCISE | July
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