Divot Digest
FEBRUARY 10TH, 2026 2026 TVGC MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONS: ROBIN COLE & ALEX STAMEY TONTO VERDE GOLF CLUB
in this ISSUE
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FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND TODD HALL JEFF OSTLUND
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COUPLES CLUB CHAMPION
MATCH PLAY CLUB CHAMPIONS ROBIN COLE & ALEX STAMEY ROBIN COLE & ALEX STAMEY
FOOTJOY FITTING EXPERIENCE
HOLE IN ONE UPDATE
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GROUNDS COMMITTEE
MMC COMMITTEE
FINANCE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
HANDICAP COMMITTEE
MEET OUR NEW STAFF: JOE ANDERSON
MGA
WGA
LNGA
LADY PUTTERS
FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying your season at Tonto Verde. First, on behalf of the entire TVGC membership, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every member of our outstanding staff. The effort and care they are giving is making our tournament season truly exceptional. From course preparation to hospitality, service, and tournament execution is raising the bar and creating memorable experiences for all of us. Please join me in giving them a warm thank you. The TVGC Board is pleased to announce that Kathie Sankey has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Board created by the premature passing of our beloved Brenda Knott. Kathie has agreed to serve out the remainder of Brenda's term. Kathie brings extensive golf club governance experience, having served on TVGC's Golf and Handicap Committees, Grounds Committee (under multiple chairs and superintendents), TVA Branding Committee, and multiple nominating committees. She has chaired the Hohokam tournament twice and served as WGA President 2012-2013. Prior to moving to Arizona in 2007, she served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Iowa Women's Golf Association, was a course rater, and held leadership roles at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club. We are grateful for her deep commitment to TVGC and look forward to her contributions on the Board. Please join us in welcoming her!
Within the next few weeks, we will once again be reaching out with the annual Employee Recognition Fund contribution request. This fund is one of the most meaningful ways we as members can directly show our appreciation for the team that makes TVGC so special year after year. The note that will be coming out will make it easy for each membership to contribute $85 (that’s less than 50 cents/day for those spending 6 months a year here) and provide the opportunity to increase that amount which I hope everyone strongly considers. Every dollar goes straight to our staff, and your support truly makes a difference. I’m pleased to share some exciting news from our February Board meeting. The Board approved a new dedicated pitching and wedge game area at the western side of the North practice range. Designed by our architect, Mike Gogel, it expands the range tee by 10 to 15 yards to provide more space and better flow. The design features a distribution of targets that will be slightly mounded up, topped with sand greens to allow members to dial in their distance control on 40-to-90-yard approach shots. Work will be completed by our agronomy team this summer making this a very nice and economical addition to our practice facilities.
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FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL
The architect’s rendition of the previously approved, redesigned chipping green and short game area at the South practice area is currently being displayed in the pro shop; I encourage you all to stop in and look at the exciting redesign that will also be completed this summer. Thank you all for your continued support of our club and our people. Together, we’re building something very special at TVGC.
Todd Hall, TVGC President Todd Hall
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FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND
TVGC’s Couples Club Championship was played on the Peaks Course on February 1 and it was highlighted by some stellar play in both the gross and net competitions. Congratulations to John and Nancy McEnroe, whose gross 75 earned them top honors in the difficult Chapman format! Hats off to Chris and Lynne Nelson for claiming the net title with a score of 64! st, Match Play Club Champions were crowned in the month of January. Robin Cole narrowly defeated Marsha Heitzman in their final match to claim her first Match Play Title. On the Men’s side of things, Alex Stamey overcame Steve (Bergie) Berg’s distance advantage to successfully defend his crown as Match Play Champion. Well played by all of our flight champions! Music on the course has been an increasingly common trend in the game of golf. If you’re one to enjoy some tunes while you play, please be mindful of setting your speaker volume at an appropriate level to ensure that you’re not disrupting others, hoping for a more natural outdoor experience on the course or their back patio. Additionally, when you find yourself paired with other members who you may not be familiar with don’t assume that everyone has the same taste for music during the round. It should always be a common courtesy to ask our playing partners for permission to fire up some beats rather than forgiveness.
Due to WGA and MGA major events spanning both golf courses on the afternoons of 2/12, 2/23, and 2/25, the only option for regular play on those dates are 8 am Open Shotguns. You can register your group for any of these shotguns up to a week in advance under the “Golf Events” tab on ForeTees. Upcoming Open Shotguns: 2/15 – Peaks (8:00 am) 2/23 – Ranch (8:00 am) 2/25 – Peaks (8:00 am) Upcoming Demo/Fitting Days: Ping – Friday, February 13 (10am-3 pm) th Titleist – Thursday, February 19 (10 am-2 pm) th Callaway, Taylormade, Srixon, Cleveland & Cobra – Friday, February 27 (10 am-3 pm) th Please sign up for appointments using your ForeTees App if you are interested in a focused fitting on a launch monitor. Until next time, fairways and greens!
Jeff Ostlund, Director of Golf Jeff Ostlund
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH 10 AM - 4 PM Appointments are 20 minutes each. *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT SINCE THEY CAN ONLY HELP 1 PERSON AT A TIME. FIND THE PERFECT FOOTJOY SHOES CUSTOM SHOE FITTING EXPERIENCE
CLICK THE SHOES TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT
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H LE ONE in January in
MaryAnn Welsh Peaks 7 January 18th
Tom Dougherty Peaks 15 January 23rd
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GROUNDS COMMITTEE
Some brown patches of dormant Bermuda grass have started to show up on fairways and green surrounds, and many of our golfers are wondering about the causes, issues for playability and potential remedies. CAUSES 1.Everyone will remember the heavy rains that hit us almost simultaneously with the Fall overseed process. Despite some almost heroic recovery work by our staff, the rain moved some of the seed around and created thin spots that have been disguised until now by Bermuda that stayed green and thick because of our warmer-than-usual temperatures so far this year. 2.Bermuda grass is tough stuff. When we overseed in the Fall, we mow it short and apply desiccants that slow its growth long enough for the overseeded Rye/fescue mix to germinate and then trust that our typically cooler winter temperatures keep the Bermuda from competing with the overseed grasses. As noted above, our unusually warm winter has made the Bermuda very happy, and it was able to come back and choke out some of the overseeded grass. 3.As our nighttime temperatures have dropped over the past several weeks, the Bermuda that was able to come back after the overseed has finally
gone dormant, creating the brown spots that we see on overseeded fairways and green surrounds. PLAYABILITY Other than uneven aesthetics, there should be very little impact on playabilty. The dormant Bermuda patches may be a bit “puffy” and not quite as smooth and firm as the rest of the overseeded areas, but the differences should be isolated and relatively minor. REMEDIES Our staff quickly addressed the brown areas with our recently acquired slit- seeding equipment and ryegrass seed, but cool night temperatures mean that it will probably take at least a week for the seed to germinate. Painting the brown areas is another option, but it’s almost impossible to match any green colorants with the existing fairway grass, so we’re not going to try that route. Fortunate, the relatively small brown areas and our staff’s quick response with the slit-seeder should have things looking good again in short order.
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MEMBERSHIP, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
The Membership, Marketing, and Communication (MMC) Committee recently conducted a survey of members who joined Tonto Verde Golf Club in 2022 or later. The goal was to better understand current market trends and learn what today’s new members value most when choosing a golf club. Members were asked how they first heard about Tonto Verde, which other clubs they considered, what factors mattered most in their decision to join, ideas for future marketing efforts, and additional feedback on ways we can continue to enhance the Tonto Verde experience. To further connect with those who participated, the MMC Committee invited all survey respondents to a casual cocktail gathering at the Clubhouse. Making it a wonderful opportunity for new members to socialize, ask questions, and for the committee to dive deeper into the survey feedback in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Overall, the survey confirmed what many of us already know and value about Tonto Verde. New members consistently mentioned our two beautiful golf courses in excellent condition, easy access to the tee sheet, great opportunities to connect through leagues and Group Play, and the club’s overall financial stability as the top reasons for choosing to join. Just as
importantly, one of the defining qualities that truly sets Tonto Verde apart is our culture. New members repeatedly shared how welcoming and friendly our community feels and how easy it is to make new friends and meet neighbors. As the MMC Committee continues to develop future marketing strategies, the focus is to maintain a strong pipeline that preserves Tonto Verde’s financial strength and the culture we all cherish. The best way to sustain this welcoming community is through referrals from our current members. If you have family or friends who may be interested in joining our Golf Haven, we encourage you to share your Tonto Verde experience with them. As a membership update, Tonto Verde Golf Club currently has 515 members, with 11 members on the waitlist. If you have any questions, ideas, or recommendations, please feel free to contact me at 480-689-9697 or via email at slee@tontogolf.com. Somin Beversdorf, Membership and Marketing Director Somin Beversdorf
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FINANCIAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
The Financial Operations Committee is seeking to add two additional members. If you are interested in getting involved with the FOC. Contact Sue Molina, TVGC Treasurer, at vsue.molina@gmail.com.
The FOC plays a crucial role in developing the Club’s Long-Range Plan and investment strategies.
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HANDICAP COMMITTEE
Below are the posting percentages for the competitions we have reviewed so far this season. We’re pleased to see that average posting percentages for players under 80% have improved for both men and women. We sincerely thank all of you who have made the extra effort to avoid missed postings and, in doing so, have helped raise our overall posting levels.
Our goal is for all players participating in competitions and Golf Groups to maintain posting percentages of 80% or higher. If you have ideas or suggestions that could help us reach this goal together, please share them with us at handicapcommittee@tontogolf.com.
Men's Match Play
2024-2025 Average
MGA 6-6-6 MGA Eclectic
MGA 4-Mem 2025-2026 Average
# Players
120
136
88
180
131
126
100%
7.50%
13.20%
8.00%
14.40%
10.80%
11.00%
80 - 99%
77.50%
70.60%
80.70%
72.30%
75.30%
70.40%
<80%
15.00%
16.20%
11.40%
13.30%
14.00%
18.70%
WGA Mem- Mem
Women's Match Play
2025-2026 Average
2024-2025 Average
# Players
134
25
80
75
100%
18.70%
28.00%
23.30%
18.70%
80 - 99%
76.10%
72.00%
74.10%
74.10%
<80%
5.20%
0.00%
2.60%
7.20%
At the end of each day, the PCC (playing conditions calculation) takes place automatically to determine if scores made on the course were significantly higher or lower than the expected scores of the players who made them, primarily due to weather and/or course setup. THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO POST THE DAY OF PLAY! PLAYING CONDITIONS CALCULATION
If scores were abnormally low or high, a PCC adjustment between -1 and +3 will be applied in the calculation of Score Differentials™ of everyone who played that day. A negative (-) adjustment means the course played easier than expected and a positive (+) adjustment means the course played more difficult than expected. A PCC of 0 means the course played as expected, which will be the case on most days.
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NEWSLETTER JOE ANDERSON Joe Anderson is from Waukesha, Wisconsin. He played basketball growing up, but golf has now become his favorite sport after he began playing four years ago. In 2019, Joe began working at The Legend at Bristlecone Pines in Wisconsin in the summer. His friends at work encouraged him to play a few rounds, and that experience changed everything for him. Joe briefly attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater but decided to take a break from school to pursue a career in golf, with the goal of becoming a club merchandiser. MEET OUR NEW OUTSIDE SERVICE STAFF
This is Joe's first time in Arizona, and he is thrilled to escape the frozen tundra of Wisconsin. He discovered TVGC through the PGA Job Board and is excited and grateful for the opportunity. Joe looks forward to playing golf all winter while working hard. A lifelong Wisconsin sports fan, Joe loves discussing the Brewers, Bucks, and Packers, especially with the NBA season kicking off. He is eager to get to know the members, so please come by and say Hi!
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MGA
This year’s 4 Member was held on January 26 & 28. A field of 180 players was divided into 4 flights. The team from the Sarazen Flight of Joe Eibert, Gig Franklin, Rod Gray, and Jim McCalmont won the Overall Net Champions honors with a score of -32 in a scorecard playoff with the winners of the Snead Flight Gene Arndt, Jerry Hanna, Dennis Lindal, and Jay Simons. All the results are posted on the member website under Results/MGA. The fun format was enjoyed by all. th th Congratulations to Alex Stamey, who won the TVGC Match Play Championship Flight in a good, close match with the runner-up, Steve Bergie, 4 & 3. Check out all the results of the 10 Flights on the member website. Reminders: Sign up now for the MGA Member/Member event being held on February 23 25. Both days are 12:30 shotguns, and both courses will be used. There will be dinner after golf on Wednesday, February 25th, which will serve as our dinner meeting for March. See the Golf Event Registration on our website for details. If you are interested in attending the dinner meeting, sign up for Food Only by going into Lifestyle/Event Registration/MGA Food Only. Locate February 25 on the calendar and register for the meal. th rd & th
Be sure to check the updated MGA Cup point standings on the member website or with the Foretees app. Tap on “Golf Leagues” - “Results” and within the Men’s Golf Association click on the “2025-2026 MGA CUP Spreadsheet “. This year’s field is the same expanded field as last year with the top 88 players plus any tied will qualify to compete in the MGA CUP flighted finals. The purse is set at $10,000 with each participant awarded a cash prize. The games will take place on April 15 & April 22 , with our Annual Meeting and MGA subsidized dinner and awards following the final round. Even if you are not in the MGA Cup field, be sure to sign up for the Annual Meeting Dinner. th nd Be sure to post all of your scores. The Handicap Committee continues to ask the MGA Board to remind members of the importance of posting all their scores so that our handicaps are correct, fair, and current. They are being actively monitored by the Handicap Committee.
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WGA
First of all, thank you to Georgine Hoffman and Robin Cole for the fun putting event on January 13 . th
This WGA season is speeding by, but there are still events for you to participate in. Good luck to the 4 Member teams in this week’s event! Game day on 12 pm shotgun event on February 17th is followed by the LNGA Mixer on February 24 . th The Hohokam Classic kicks off on March 3. Thank you to Chair Claudia Pilot, your committee, and your volunteers! Sign up for this event ends February 15 at 5:00 pm. This is going to be a great party! rd th The next Game Day and Breakfast Meeting is on March 10 at 10 am. th
Thank you to Claudia Pilot for her golf rules presentation following the 13 putting event. The session was well attended and very informative. th
Thank you to Nance Larson and Raena Borth for the collection of donations and creation of baskets for the Verde Cares silent auction on February 14th. With purchases from the proshop and some additional items, the WGA was able to submit 2 baskets for the auction with a value of $1200.
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LNGA
The LNGA kicked off in January with a "Wicked" event, where each tee box featured witches and princesses using clubs instead of wands to precisely place their golf balls on target. Everyone had a "wickedly" good time.
After that “Wicked” event, LNGA went “Coast to Coast” with the annual Couples Night. With participants showing off their favorite state, team and/or all things related to location. The Lady Niners are now preparing for their annual East vs. West event on February 17th and the LNGA/WGA Mixer on February 24th.
LNGA Academy classes Full swing woods and drivers
Carol Noonan, LNGA Communication REMEMBER TO RECORD YOUR SCORES IN GHIN Carol Noonan February 11 or 25 at 2 or 3 PM th th Any LNGA member can sign up (on ForeTees) for these informative and helpful classes. Taking advantage of this offering is a benefit not to be missed.
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LADY PUTTERS
There will be lots of records broken in February this year with the winter Olympic games scheduled to begin and just as January 2026 seems to have been breaking records for beautiful weather, Tonto Verde Lady Putters have been breaking records of their own with attendance and scoring. Seventy ladies turned out to attend a much- anticipated putting clinic by golf club coordinator, Jacob Trimble, on Feb 4; it can’t be just a coincidence that a record number of Holes-in-One for the season was recorded in the putting competition that followed. th
themed lunch in the Cimarron dining room after the putting competition and featuring a presentation by a representative from Sunshine Acres, a unique home for 80 children ranging in age from 4 to high school grades, located in Mesa, supported by TV Lady Putters. Putting continues throughout the month, with lunch following putting every second week, so there will be no scheduled post- competition lunch on February 18, but on Feb 25th, there will be a Mexican-themed lunch following putting. There is no scheduled putting on Mar 4 due to the WGA Hohokam Classic. th Lady Putters play every Wednesday at 10:00 AM, but members should contact the Pro-shop to register on a weekly basis. If you are not already a member of TV Lady Putters, it is not too late to sign up; the putting season will go through until mid- April, or you can play with a member as a guest and pay $5.00 at the sign-up table. For more information or assistance with registration, please contact either of the TVLP Copresidents Kathryn Stredronsky - 612 968 1874 (KStedronsky@comcast.net Sue Pederson - 651 261 7825 Susan.f.pederson@gmail.com
On February 11 , Lady Putters get to ditch their blues and come in their best pink, red, or "love," outfits to our celebration of St. Valentine’s Day event " LOVE ON THE GREEN ". Sign-in begins at 10:00 AM with announcements and putting starting at 10:30 AM, followed by a 💕 Valentine th
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