Divot Digest

SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025

in this ISSUE

FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE BERG TODD HALL JEFF OSTLUND

105 RESORTERS INVITATIONAL CHAMPION TH MEMBERSHIP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE 105 RESORTERS INVITATIONAL CHAMPION

10 11 13 15 16 17 17 18

GROUNDS COMMITTEE

GOLF COMMITTEE

HANDICAP COMMITTEE

HOLE IN ONE UPDATE

MGA WGA

CONGRATS TO BARB MOXNESS TOP 11 AT THE U.S. SENIOR WOMEN ’ S OPEN LNGA TOP 11 AT THE U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN

FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL

As the cooler weather sets in up here in Minnesota, thoughts of returning to my “happy place” for the winter become more frequent. We are only 6 weeks, weather permitting, away from the opening of the Peaks; I look forward to seeing you on the fairways of Tonto Verde soon. I am thrilled to share my optimism for our community's future, bolstered by the exciting developments within the Tonto Verde Association (TVA). The TVA has recently welcomed Vito Crews as the new Executive Chef and Matt Samson as the new General Manager. These appointments signal a strong commitment to enhancing the overall experience for our community, and I am confident their leadership will elevate the quality and service we all value. One of the five themes coming from our May 2025 Golf Club member survey was “Strengthening communication and alignment between the TVA and the golf club.” I won’t bore you with the details, however, the progress in fostering a stronger rapport and relationship between the TVA and TVGC is truly encouraging. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Susan Warzecka, TVA president, for her efforts in bridging our two organizations, creating a foundation for collaboration and mutual success. Together, we are poised to make Tonto Verde an even more vibrant and cohesive place for all members.

The friendships forged at Tonto Verde extend far beyond our fairways, as illustrated by a recent text chain I was on.

The picture and story come from Sam Kim, while golfing with his family in Ireland; they had a chance encounter with Dave Crowther at the Waterville Golf Club— 3,640 miles from Tonto Verde! The huge smiles are a testament to the deep bonds our club nurtures, connecting us across continents and creating memories that last a lifetime. The miserable weather (if you’re a golfer) throughout the Midwest this summer reminded me of growing up in a small farming community in western Illinois, where the farmers would gather in the local café to have coffee; they’d complain about not getting the crops in soon enough, fields being too wet to plant, the drought setting

FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL

in, the insects infesting their fields, the cost of fertilizer, the yields not being high enough, etc., etc.,. Like farming, golf is an outdoor endeavor, and we are often at the mercy of the weather. When it cooperates, we get exceptional playing conditions and experiences, and when it doesn’t, our staff busts their tails to deliver the best possible experience they can. As the agronomy team enters the over-seed season in less than two weeks, let’s keep in mind how hard they work and how many improvements they have implemented to allow us all to enjoy the game we love.

We are so very fortunate to get to call Tonto Verde home.

Please send any question and comments to TVGCBOD@TontoGolf.com

Todd Hall, TVGC President Todd Hall

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND

October 1 is an important date for those eager to play in our November/December events. Sign-ups for all of the following will be available that morning: st WGA Opening Day, Member-Member MGA Opening Day, 6-6-6 Member- Member, Eclectic Member-Member LNGA Opening Day Couples Fall Into Fun Super Scramble, Season Long Couples Match Play Historically, some of these events have filled quickly, so don’t hesitate to register for those you are interested in. Stay tuned for an email from Golf Genius at the end of September asking you to confirm your tee selections for the upcoming season. Golf Staff Liaisons for each of our leagues this season are as follows: MGA – Blake Berry WGA – Matt McKovich LNGA – Matt Tolan & Donnielle Ostlund Couples – John Langlois Lady Putters – Jacob Trimble

While Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer for many Americans, the Holiday is meant to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the entire work force. I’d like to take a brief moment to express some gratitude for the hard-working employees we have in all departments at Tonto Verde. While working in the golf industry is a labor of love for most of us it also comes with a significant amount of sacrifice to be available on weekends and most Holidays throughout the year.

Registration for the Big Cup Scramble member event on Friday, October 3 is now open on ForeTees. Teams of 4 can be comprised of any combination of men and women. We’ll do our best to pair up singles and/or couples to fill out the field of up to 120 players. The luncheon following the play will feature a build-your-own Asian salad and ramen station. See the ForeTees sign up for more details. rd

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND

RANDOM BUT NOTEWORTHY Click Here to view the Golf Calendar for the 2025-2026 season. The first tee time of the day will shift back to 6:42 AM on September 15 and then to 7:00 AM on October 1. As the sun starts to come up later, we adjust to ensure the Agronomy Team has enough time to prepare the course for play. th st Shoulder Season rates take effect on Friday, September 26 which means that Guest Fees will increase to $130, running through the end of December. th,

Anytime you decide to play, even if it’s “just a few holes”, we ask that you take less than a minute to add your name(s) to the ForeTees tee sheet. The easiest way to do this is via the Club Central app, but you’re also welcome to call the golf shop or ask any employee for assistance. Maintaining accurate tee sheets and an orderly flow of play on the golf courses is helpful for both your fellow members and the staff.

Until next time, fairways and greens.

Director of Golf Jeff Ostlund

MEMBERSHIP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE

TONTO VERDE FAMILY PROGRAM At Tonto Verde Golf Club, we know that family and community are at the heart of what makes our Club so special. We are excited to introduce a wonderful new opportunity for your family to engage in the Tonto Verde experience: the Tonto Family Program! Many of our members have discovered Tonto Verde Golf Club through their family and friends. This connection is a key reason why Tonto Verde continues to foster a welcoming community while upholding the Club’s traditions. By allowing our royal members to extend opportunities to their children or grandchildren, we can preserve the Club’s legacy and create a vibrant environment by attracting younger memberships. This, in turn, will enhance the value of our current membership and serve as a powerful marketing tool for prospective members looking to invest in a family-oriented community. This program provides an opportunity for the children or grandchildren of our valued active Regular Members (with a minimum of two years of membership) to apply for their own Regular Membership at Tonto Verde Golf Club. Approved Family Applicants will pay 60% of the standard joining fee associated with their chosen membership type. 6

The Tonto Verde Family Program is limited to a select number of members each season. The Club believes that this initiative will play a vital role in preserving the traditions of Tonto Verde while cultivating a welcoming and engaging environment for all members, both current and future. Please contact our Membership and Marketing Director, Somin Beversdorf, at slee@tontogolf.com or 480-689-9697 for complete program details and application information.

We look forward to welcoming the next generation of Tonto Verde families!

GROUNDS COMMITTEE

OPEN AND SHUT! As Tonto prepares for this Fall’s overseed, here are the key closing and opening dates for each of the major facilities: Peaks course – currently closed, re- opening on October 20 (with cart restrictions) * Ranch course – open until October 6, re-opening (with cart restrictions) on October 30* South driving range – open until September 15, re-opening on October 6* Chipping green – open until September 15, re-opening on October 6*

Putting green – Open until October 6, re-opening on October 30* North driving range – Open until October 6, re-opening on October 30* All the asterisks reflect the possible movement of the noted dates in case we run into weather conditions that threaten the long-term success of the overseed. Watch for Turf Talk and ForeTees/25 updates as we get closer to the indicated dates.

GOLF COMMITTEE

PACE OF PLAY IS A LARGE COMPONENT OF AN ENJOYABLE ROUND OF GOLF Below are a couple of tips we sometimes neglect when playing. Your foursome needs to be OFF THE TEE at your given tee time. Which means you are ready to play when you arrive – make sure you have your glove, tees, balls and all the things you need to get through the round. Try to arrive at least five minutes before your scheduled time for a casual round and ten minutes before a competitive one. The earlier you arrive, the better chance you have of being ready to play. In the event you hit your ball out of bounds or think it may be lost outside of a penalty area, it is reasonable to hit a provisional ball from the spot the stroke was taken. The exceptions to hitting a provisional ball are; a) if the ball may be lost in a RED or YELLOW penalty area or; b) you wish to use Local Rule #1 as printed on the back of your scorecard. When the player reaches the spot where they think a ball may be lost outside of a penalty area, strict adherence to the 3 minutes for searching needs to be followed.

A considerate player prepares in advance for the next stroke and is ready to play when it is their turn. When two players are sharing a cart, and one player is out preparing for their stroke, the other player can be walking or driving to their ball and preparing for their shot. It is a rare situation where there are two carts with three players waiting in the fairway for one player to hit their shot. It is recommended that the player make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after they are able to play without interference or distraction. The amount of time you take for your practice swings is included in the 40 seconds! Know your position on the golf course. It’s the group ahead of you that you should be paying attention to, NOT the group behind. Keeping up with the group ahead is always the GOAL Watch all golf shots in your group, even the bad ones. Watch the ball until it lands and make a mental note of where it came to rest. There is nothing worse than having four players in a group and no one has any idea where the ball is located. On the putting green, don’t wait until it is your turn to start the process of reading the green. Observe the green’s borrow, slope and distance of the putt as you are driving up to the green, walking to replace your ball’s pitch

GOLF COMMITTEE

mark, and marking your ball so you can reduce the time it takes to putt when it is your turn. Know when enough is enough. In a casual round, it’s more than okay to pick up after you’ve reached the score- posting maximum of a net double bogey. In a four-ball match, when you are chipping onto the green with your seventh stroke, and your partner is on the green in two, just pick up. Please! We all need to occasionally use our phones while on the course, and to be courteous to your fellow players, never be on the phone when it is your turn to play. Park your carts on the cart path near the back or top of the green.

When taking extra golf clubs to the green complex, try to place the extra clubs on the green in the line of your exit to the carts after completion of putting. This allows for fewer “forgotten” clubs and a smooth exit from the green. When your group has exited the putting green, drive to the next tee THEN fill out the score card. The players behind you will be amazed! When your round is completed, shake hands and leave the green complex. Move your carts AWAY from the 18 green to finish scoring and attesting your cards. th

6 8 12

HANDICAP COMMITTEE

As we head into a new season of golf at Tonto Verde, we thought our members would be interested in seeing posting percentages for reviewed competitions from the previous year. In the chart below, you will see that the Ladies' events had an appreciably higher percentage of players posting 80% or better and almost twice as many players posting 100% of their rounds as male players. Way to go, ladies! Your Handicap Committee is delighted to see that the WGA Board has also voted to require a minimum of 80% posting history for any player to win or place in WGA

Events this season. This is great progress toward ensuring all participants have a level playing field, which is what the handicap system is all about. Note that the event posting percentage reports we are using to tabulate this data only reflect rounds played at Tonto. We encourage all players entering Golf Club, MGA, and WGA competitions and those in Group play to post every round. And we hope to see even better results at the end of next season for those entering reviewed competitions.

Men's Match Play

MGA Mem- Mem

Men's Stroke Play

MGA 6- 6-6

MGA Eclectic

MGA 4- Mem

Desert Classic

MGA Cup

Average

# Players

173

150

176

177

126

100%

10% 13% 9%

9% 12% 9% 10% 16%

11%

80 - 99%

71% 68% 71% 74% 70% 66% 70% 72%

70%

<80%

19% 19% 20% 17% 18% 25% 20% 12%

19%

WGA Mem- Mem

Women's Match Play

Women's Stroke Play

WGA 4- Mem

WGA Cup

Hohokam

Average

# Players

132

152

100%

21% 11% 19% 20% 19% 23%

19%

80 - 99%

69% 82% 72% 67% 78% 77%

74%

<80%

10% 8%

9% 13% 3%

HANDICAP COMMITTEE

SUMMARY OF HANDICAP POSTING AND COMPLIANCE POLICY: 1.Scores should be posted by 11:59 pm on the day the round is played. 2.Scores should be accurate within USGA guidelines and the World Handicap System. 3.If you have a history of missing postings, the Handicap Committee may send you a reminder. If this continues over time, the Committee may enter a penalty score without notice. If you consistently fail to post scores in a timely or accurate manner, the Handicap Committee may take further action regarding your index.

Click the link below to review our Handicap Policy, instructions for accessing a Peer Review Report, and ways to avoid unintentionally missed postings.

Handicap Posting and Compliance Policy

Instructions to access a Peer Review Report On your Phone / On your Computer

Missed Postings Avoidance List

H LE ONE in

AUGUST in

Please submit your Hole-in-One photo to Somin at slee@tontogolf.com.

MGA: Letter from the MGA President

I am very excited to welcome both new and returning members to the MGA for the 2025-2026 golf season. I want to extend my appreciation for your continued support and enthusiasm for our association. This season promises to be one of the best yet, with a great lineup of events that will hold appeal for all levels of golfers. As a reminder, the following events will be available for signup on October 1 at 7AM. st See the member website for all the details. Opening Day Shotgun - November 11 MGA 6-6-6 - November 19 MGA Eclectic - December 3 and 10 In addition to the golfing events, there will be several breakfast and dinner meetings that are held in conjunction with many of the tournaments. These meetings afford you the opportunity to meet other members and enhance your membership.

Ralph Robinson, MGA President Ralph Robinson Our current MGA roster is posted on the member website. If you have any questions about the MGA or are not on the roster and want to participate in some of our MGA member events, please contact me or our membership/communication liaison at jjlynch4@cox.net. I am hopeful that this season will be a memorable one. Your participation and enthusiasm are what make our association special. I look forward to seeing everyone for the new season!

WGA

REMINDER: The signups for the following WGA events begin October 1 . st 2025 WGA Opening Day and Dinner - Tuesday, November 11 . The format is a Step Aside Scramble on the Peaks course at 12 PM shotgun start. Dinner meeting follows golf. th WGA Member-Member Tournament - November 18 & November 20 . This two-person eclectic team format is a popular event. Trophy presentations and dinner follow after the second day. th th

Looking forward to reconnecting with all our friends and to WGA events for the 2025-26 season! Viki Wilds, WGA Communication Viki Wilds

Our formal member, Barb Moxness was the oldest player in the field at the U.S. Senior Women's Open, Moxness broke her own record for oldest to make the cut at age 72. She'd previously held the record at 69, three months and 16 days, set in 2022. Twice Moxness has broken her age this week at San Diego Country Club, firing a 2-under 71 in both the first and third rounds. She shot 79 in Round 2. Moxness enters the final round in a share of ninth at 2 over, six back of a trio of players at 4 under. "Oh, my gosh, I'm so grateful," said Moxness of twice breaking her age. "I feel so blessed to be able to do that. It's fun for me."

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

LNGA

The Toasted in Tonto Event was held on August 13, 2005. Three teams of NLIH members and Clint Oster, Austin Corbett, and Jeremiah Buoni were indeed toasted with very warm temperatures. Afterwards, the participants enjoyed a fun-filled lunch at the Grill. Even though this was all for fun, there were bragging rights to be sought. The first-place team of Diane Blaha, Margie Roberts, Donna Christeberry, Tracy Drown, and Clint Oster scored a total of 29 with 6 birdies and three pars, with Tracy getting an Eagle on #3

The 2nd place team of Sheryl Coup, Christie Gorsline, Donna Ellis, Tasha Leete, and Austin Corbett scored a total of 30 with 6 Birdies and 3 Pars, with Donna Ellis having a true birdie on #7. Coming in 3rd was the team of Anne Hunt, Barbara Whittaker, Carol Noonan, Sherrie LeMoine, and Jeremiah Buoni, with a score of 33 with 4 Birdies, 4 Pars, and 1 Bogey.

Closest to the pin Member only - Hole 7: Donna Ellis Staff only - Hole 8: Austin Corbett

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Carol Noonan, LNGA Communication Carol Noonan 18 The Academy that was held on August 26th focused on putting and the lesson was very well received and appreciated. Thank you, Blake!!!!

September 10th - Guest Day September 24th 2:30 PM - Closing Day

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