DECEMBER 2013
WELCOME, NEW STAFF MEMBERS! WINTER PROMOTIONS ALL AROUND THE CLUB RICKY'S TIPS FOR PLAYING IN THE COLD
Please join us in welcoming two new members of the Cattail family.
GREG COLOMBO GENERAL MANAGER
ALEX JUSTINIANI DIRECTOR OF TENNIS
Wednesday, December 4 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the bar area
Cocktails availabke by signature.
light appetizers will be provided
let us know in your reservation if you’ll join us for dinner following the reception on half-price wine wednesday!
2 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
Leadership EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Tom Cole, President | gtcole1@gmail.com Dick Lombardo,Vice President | dlombardo@harkinsbuilders.com Gary Garofalo, Treasurer | ggarofalo@harkinsbuilders.com Howard Feldman, Secretary | howard.feldman@cfmktg.com Andy Wilson, Past President | andy@lighthousewlth.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tim Reid Shaun Eddy Seth Lee Steve Schrenk Mike Jack Jim Scalley Cheryl Guth Christine Callahan Scott Nicholson Scott Segrist COMMITTEES Golf - Scott Segrist ssegrist@cfmortgagecorp.com Junior Golf - Scott Allen sallene3@verizon.net Greens - Dick Lombardo dlombardo@harkinsbuilders.com Tennis - Christine Callahan christinecallahan@msn.com Membership - Andy Wilson andy@lighthousewlth.com Compensation Committee - Seth Lee jssglenwood@verizon.net
MANAGEMENT Gregory Colombo General Manager greg.colombo@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 231 Kim Kordon Controller kim.kordon@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 232 Chris Harriman Golf Course Superintendent chris@cattailcreekcc.com 410.489.9178 Lynn Slupski Membership/Marketing Director lynn@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 233 Bob Wampler, PGA Head Golf Professional bob@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 222 Nic Flickinger, PGA First Assistant Golf Professional nic.flickinger@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 223 John Foelber Fitness Director john@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 248 Alex Justiniani Director of Tennis alex@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 235 Sheila Bishoff Tennis Office Manager ext. 235 sheila@cattailcreekcc.com Tom Caswell Executive Chef tom.caswell@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 246 Justin Passero Dining Room Manager justin.passero@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 396 Jennifer Turowski Catering Manager jennifer@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 234 Rob Anderson Facility Engineer rob.anderson@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 247 Carey Ward Communications Director carey@cattailcreekcc.com ext. 241
Audit Committee - Shaun Eddy seddy@swealth.com Finance - Gary Garofalo ggarofalo@harkinsbuilders.com Facilities - Rick Pundzak rick@careysales.com House - Steve Schrenk sschrenk@eqrworld.com Swim Team - Lisa Noss lap0811@yahoo.com Fitness - Dave Borkowski dborkowski@harkinsbuilders.com
CLUB PHONE NUMBERS Main Clubhouse 410.489.4653 Golf Shop 410.489.5224 Tennis Pro Shop 410.989.3683 Green Department 410.489.9178
CCWGA - Loraine Herdrich lherdrich@aol.com CCWTA - Terri Curran tccurran@aol.com
:
SONAL COFFEE
DECEMBER SEA
créme brulée
DECEMBER 2013 � 3
happy holidays! DEPARTMENTS:
5
Clubhouse LETTER FROM GREG COLOMBO CONGRATS, JENNIFER TUROWSKI
7
Membership WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
10
Golf BUNKER TO BUNKER
HOLIDAY FUND REMINDER FROM TOM COLE, CLUB PRESIDENT As the holiday season draws near, it is time once again to say “thank you” to our staff who work so hard to make sure that we all enjoy the finest in quality and service. Whether they are the restaurant, clubhouse, golf, green, tennis or administrative employees, they work hard throughout the year to make your experience at Cattail Creek tremendous and memorable.
GOLF SHOP NEWS RULE OF THE MONTH RICKY'S TIP
16
Tennis
On your December 1st billing invoice, there will be a $50 charge to your account, providing a convenient way for you to contribute to the Holiday Fund. If you wish to contribute more, which I hope you do, email Kim at kim.kordon@cattailcreekcc.com.
WELCOME, ALEX JUSTINIANI QUICK TIP TENNIS SHOP NEWS
19
Fitness 3 STEPS TO A FULFILLED RESOLUTION
MARTINI OF THE MONTH
FEATURES:
7. STAFF SPOTLIGHT: JESSICA CHAVES 14. GREEN REPORT CHRIS HARRIMAN, GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
17. RACQUET STRINGING FAQ ALEX JUSTINIANI, DIRECTOR OF TENNIS
Naughty Elf $6 Malibu Coconut Rum, Crème de Menthe, Peppermint Schnapps, Milk, Chocolate Peppermint Rim, Candy Cane Garnish
Clubhouse
I began my club career in 1989, working just about every position available at Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester, Michigan, and when I graduated from Oakland University, I accepted my first management position there. I was fortunate to learn at every opportunity from talented mentors, staff and members as my career progressed. I had always been passionate about giving members the best food, service and experience every time they visited the club, but it was really clarified for me when I spent two years at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia as the Director of Banquets. The level of service that was instilled to the management and staff on a daily basis was unparalleled to anything that I had experienced thus far. What the Ritz-Carlton excels at better than any other company is constant guest engagement with an enhanced experience. From check-in to check-out, every meal, every interaction, anticipating and exceeding guest expectations is the number one goal of the ladies and gentlemen who work there.
Welcome, Greg! Dear Members, I have had a very hectic, but exciting, first few weeks here at Cattail Creek! The Membership and staff have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome and at home. While I enjoyed my last seven years at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, NJ, I wanted a new challenge and opportunity in my career and I am confident that I have found the right home here at Cattail Creek. You have an energetic staff, and I am looking forward to working with them to build and create new club traditions that future generations of Members will be able to enjoy. I have now settled into Columbia with modest living accommodations with our two cats, Roscoe and Mayhem, until my wife, Danielle, is able to join me at the end of December when her stage management project ends. The area has quite a bit to offer and I am enjoying my 22 minute commute to the Club, about half what it used to be in New Jersey!
It is this level of service that I brought with me to Plainfield Country Club. Our goal as a management team there was to have every member and guest feel that from bag drop, to golf shop, the dining room, pool or tennis, the experience was first class. We simply defined it as the “Plainfield Experience.” My goal now is to bring that same experience of excellence to Cattail for its Members and guests. The elevation of service will not occur overnight, but with constant reinforcement and a handson approach to all areas of service, I believe it can be achieved. I have inherited a dedicated team here at Cattail and I look forward to working with them to deliver the Membership memorable service with each and every visit. I am excited to meet you and your families this coming year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or compliments. My office is located in the administration office next to our Controller, Kim Kordon. Danielle and I want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Holiday Season and what we expect to be a Happy New Year in 2014. We look forward to seeing you at the Club!
Greg Colombo, CCM General Manager
1/2 PRICE WINE NIGHT EVERY WEDNESDAY! Click here to make a reservation.
DECEMBER 2013 � 5
Dear Members, I am very excited to have recently been given the opportunity to take on the role of Cattail’s very first full-time Catering Director. I am pleased to be an official member of the Cattail Family! In this position, I am solely dedicated to planning and executing all Club events, Members’ private meetings and events, and golf outings that take place throughout the year. It is my goal to provide an efficient process for you to plan carry-out orders, meetings, and parties at the Club; as well as to assist in the success of our many annual functions. I certainly hope that with the holiday season quickly approaching, I will be able to interact with a number of you to plan catering orders, holiday luncheons, and much more. If you have never considered utilizing Cattail Creek for your on and off-site catering needs before, click here to review our online catering packet to see the many items we have to offer. Don’t forget that as your Club, we are more than happy to customize and personalize any order to your liking. I look forward to working with the Membership in my new role! Very Truly Yours,
Jennifer Turowski Catering Director
WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS! The Schaefer Family Jerome & Virginia The Vincent Family – Welcome Back! Troy, Mary, Maddy, Taylor, Blake Mr. Russ Dickens The Buhlman Family Carl & Ann The Rados Family Bill & Carol
Corporate Memberships LYNN SLUPSKI
[MEMBERSHIP MARKETING DIRECTOR]
Take a moment to check out our new digital Corporate Membership booklet by clicking the image of the cover below. This new promotional piece helps to clarify and compare our three unique mix-and-match Corporate Membership options. Designed to accommodate businesses of varying sizes that have different needs, there is sure to be an option to fit your company! The best part is, it is easy to get started. Existing Golf Members can turn their Membership into a Corporate Membership by adding even just one colleague or employee with full or limited privileges. Please email me at lynn@cattailcreekcc.com if you would like a hard copy of the booklet mailed to your office, and let’s set a time to walk through your questions and identify the most valuable Corporate Membership option for your business.
Cattail Creek Country Club Corporate Membership Options
Corporate Membership also offers unique perks: • Corporate Memberships are Cattail’s only type of Membership that are transferrable to another colleague for a fee. • Corporate Members are the only Members who do not incur the per person set-up fee for private events and meetings. Jennifer Turowski began working as a Restaurant Manager intern at Cattail Creek in 2011. She has spent 3 summer seasons at the Club, and was then invited back for a full-time Restaurant Manager role at the Club upon her graduation from the Hospitality Business Program at the University of Delaware this past spring. Jennifer’s ‘go-get-em’ attitude and attention to detail, made her the perfect candidate for the Catering Director role. Contact Jennifer: jennifer@ cattailcreekcc.com | 410.489.4653 ext. 234 6 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
• Corporate Designees are a Membership classification unique to Corporate Memberships that allow you to grant only limited golf privileges and Restaurant access to certain colleagues, at a costeffective rate. Glance through the booklet to see if our Corporate Options might offer a good business entertaining solution for you and your company!
UPCOMING EVENTS Welcome Reception for Greg & Alex Wednesday, December 4 Family Night: Dinner with the Carolers Friday, December 6 Brunch with Santa Sunday, December 8 Dinner with Santa Tuesday, December 10 CCWGA Holiday Party & Elections Wednesday, December 11 Brunch with Santa Sunday, December 15 Club Holiday Cocktail Party Friday, December 20 Christmas Eve Dinner Tuesday, December 24 Club Closed December 25-26 New Year's at Noon Kids' Party Tuesday, December 31 New Year's Eve Dinner Tuesday, December 31
Staff Spotlight: CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA CHAVES, RESTAURANT SERVER!
BRUNCH with
SANTA SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
$4 EGG NOG & BLOODY MARYS
LIMITED AVAILABILITY!
Dear Members, As some of you may know, I graduated from Baltimore School of Massage this past summer and obtained my license this fall! While I am sad to leave my server position at Cattail and will genuinely miss seeing many of your faces each day, I am happy to be following my dream as a massage therapist. I’m delighted have been offered a position at Luna’s Day Spa located in Ellicott City right off Route 40. I have been interested in massage therapy for as long as I could remember. Growing up, I would work on my family and friends and loved making them feel relaxed. I have learned so much about the human anatomy and how beneficial massage is to the body. Massage is a wonderful self-care alternative that improves range-of-motion, joint flexibility, decreases pain or discomfort, increases blood circulation as well as stimulates the flow of lymph, which is the body’s natural defense system against toxic invaders. Massage also helps with relaxing overused muscles and reduces spasms and cramping which we sometimes see happen on the Golf Course as well as the Tennis Courts. Because you have made my time at Cattail Creek special, I want to offer 15% off any massage to the Cattail Membership. I offer a variety of types of massage services. Please don't hesitate to call in at 410.203.1865 to book your massage and request me to be your therapist. I wish you all happy and healthy holiday season, and I hope to see you soon!
Membership
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Club, Members were stirring and Cattail was at the hub! The buffet was stocked with gourmet picks, And Cattail Kids were anxious for a visit from Saint Nick! The children were excited for their traditional Cattail gift. and had visions of Santa’s sleigh giving them a lift! Moms in pretty dresses & Dads in sport coats, Happily enjoyed slices of Prime Rib Roast!
Tuesday, December 24 . 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Maryland Crab Soup, Corn Bread, House Salad, Caesar Salad, Dinner Rolls, Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes, Vegetable Medley, Nasi Goreng Rice, Maryland Crabcakes, BBQ Shrimp Skewers, Cheese Tortellini With Aurora Sauce, Herb Encrusted Chicken with Asian Sweet Chili Sauce, Grilled Salmon With Shellfish Reduction, Prime Rib Of Beef & Turkey with Horseradish Cream and Madiera Wine Sauce, Chicken Nuggets, Macaroni & Cheese, Mozzarella Sticks, Cheese Ravioli with Marinara, Assorted Cakes, Pies, Tarts, and Cookies
Holiday Dress - no jeans; collared shirts for men, please. $42++ Adults • $30++ Kids 13-17 • $22++ Kids 7-12 • $15++ Kids 4-6 8 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
PARTY ON AN
empty
stomach! PM - 9:00 PM 0 0 : 7 A I V I R ! T JUST ADDED
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31
˚
5:00 to 8:00 PM
A LA CARTE SPECIALS MENU AVAILABLE ONLINE CATTAIL KIDS WELCOME!
Golf
Balloon Sale! Pop a balloon for a percentage off your purchase. Promotion applies to everything in the Golf Shop, and will be offered throughout December!
It's that time of the year! Claude's famous egg nog is now available!
Remember the Mill River Program! You hear it mentioned every so often that Cattail participates in the ‘Mill River Program,’ which provides discounted pricing on merchandise sold in both our Golf Pro Shop and Tennis & Fitness Pro Shop. Have you ever really price compared our items against the same ones sold in retail and department stores? The savings are huge, and with our merchandise always priced at only 15-20% above cost, shopping at the Cattail Creek Pro Shops is a great way to get your holiday shopping done in one place, at the best prices around, while supporting your Club! Even better, both Pro Shops are offering excellent special sales the reduce our Mill River pricing even further! 10 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
BUNKER to BUNKER Happy holidays! Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we hope everyone had a safe and fulfilling holiday. While the weather gets colder, there are still great reasons to visit the club. We are fully stocked in the Golf Shop for all your shopping and gift giving needs for this holiday season. We have several brand new items for the holiday season from vendors such as: MV Sport, Peter Millar, Full Turn Direct, Bobby Jones, Martin Golf, Ashworth, Ping and TaylorMade, just to name a few. Our Golf Shop hours are now Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with extended hours the week before Christmas. I would like to thank Nic, Ricky, Tyson, Eli and Lauren for their hard work and dedication throughout the 2013 season. We are anxiously looking forward to 2014 as we have a very busy and exciting calendar in the works. We all look forward to seeing you very soon in the Shop. We wish you and yours a very safe and joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year! Everything for Golf,
Bob Wampler, PGA Head Golf Professional bob@cattailcreekcc.com
Golf
WINTER INST RUCTION PAC KAGES WITH RICKY SER RANO These options are a great way to main tain your golf game and also make for aw during the winter m esome holiday gifts! onths, Email ricky.serrano@ purchase a certificat cattailcreekcc.com e for the package of to your choice.
THE MASTERS PA CKAGE
$2,200
This package will se cure you a personal coach for the winter! Valid through March 31, 2014.
• Two one-hour less ons per week, for fo ur months • 20 minute range or on-course coachi ng each week (with • One Sam PuttLab 24 hr. notice) evaluation • Complete equipm ent evaluation & ne cessar y fittings
U.S OPEN PACKA G
E
$1,500
Valid through March
31, 2014.
• 12 one hour less ons • 20 minute range or on-course coachi ng each week (with • One Sam PuttLab 24 hr. Notice) evaluation • Complete equipm ent evaluation & ne cessar y fittings
JUNIOR PACKAG
$650
Valid through March
E
31, 2014.
• 12 45-minute less ons • 20 minute range or on-course coachi ng each week (with • One Sam PuttLab 24 hr. notice) Evaluation • Complete equipm ent evaluation & ne cessar y fittings
DECEMBER 2013 � 11
Golf
Golf Shop News LAUREN BURNS
[MERCHANDISE COORDINATOR]
Remember that one time when it was almost Christmas and you hadn’t done any of your shopping yet? Some of us seem to do that every year, but we've all surely experienced it once. If that time is now, then you are in luck! Please join us on Tuesday, December 10 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. for our Holiday Trunk Show, during “Dinner with Santa.” Additionally, if you stop by the Golf Shop on Sunday, December 15 during “Brunch with Santa,” we will be offering complimentary mimosas while you shop! The highlight of this holiday season is sure to be our month-long December “Balloon Sale.” This is a wonderful time to use any Golf Shop sweeps credit that you may have that will be expiring at the end of 2013. Let us wrap your gifts for you, free of charge, with our holiday/winter wrapping paper. With Christmas also comes the beginning of a new year, when I will have my first opportunity to attend the PGA Show in Orlando, FL. The PGA Show is where nearly every company in the golf industry comes together to showcase their latest and greatest. All of the Golf Staff will be attending the show representing Cattail Creek this year. We will be making lots of hard decisions and placing the fall orders for the Professional Shop!
Tyson’s Rule of the Month: LEAVES & OTHER LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS TYSON McFARLAND
[ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL]
This fall we have had to deal with a lot of leaves out on the course. We need to be careful to ensure that we are following the correct rules when it comes to removing these leaves and other loose impediments during our round. If the ball lies anywhere other than on the putting green, and the removal of a loose impediment causes the ball to move, then rule 18-2 applies. On the putting green, if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of the player removing a loose impediment, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the removal of the loose impediment. Otherwise, if the player causes the ball to move, he or she incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the ball lies in a hazard, the player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard.
Fairway Feats! John Jolly Hole in One on #8 with a 9-iron Steven Segrist High School State Champion! Tyson McFarland Hole in One on #4 with a Driver Always let us know of your achievements on the Course so we can give you a shout out in the next newsletter!
New Website Poll: Golf Clinic Ideas Vote in our new homepage poll to let us know you'd be interested in some new golf clinic offerings we're considering! Click here to vote. "Morning Drive" Breakfast & Clinic - This clinic would take place this winter on early weekday mornings. Breakfast will be provided and the indoor heated Learning Center will be a key element in the clinic activities. No-School Day Junior Clinic - This would take place on a day Howard County schools are closed in the spring. One-Weekend Adult Golf School - A spring season option to get you back in the "swing of things" and ready for the golf season. Pre Spring Break Tune-Up - This option would provide a club fitting, as well as a clinic element to prepare you for your golf vacation. "Big Break" Adult Winter Skills Challenge - The juniors had their fun this fall... now it's time for the adults to strut their stuff... over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the Learning Center that is! 12 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
Golf
A n n A u G al W C C y P a arty d i l o H & Elections W E D N E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 1 6:30 PM APPETIZERS & DINNER ELECTIONS TO FOLLOW
$ 1 5 + + I N C L U D E S A P P E T I Z E R S & D I N N E R S TAT I O N S ; D R I N K S B Y S I G N AT U R E CRAB & AVOCADO DIP WITH PITA CHIPS, SHRIMP COCKTAIL, VEGGIE SPRING ROLLS, HUMMUS/GOAT CHEESE/RED GRAPE FLATBREAD PIZZA, CARVED TURKEY STATION, WINTER SALAD, ASSORTED ROLLS & BUTTER, PASTA STATION WITH CRAB, SHRIMP, AND ASSORTED FIXINGS, FRUIT WITH CHOCOLATE DIP, FRUIT CREPES WITH WILD BERRY COULIS, HOLIDAY COOKIES
ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED T O AT T E N D ! S H A R E I N A F U N PA R T Y A N D TA K E PA R T I N O U R E L E C T I O N P R O C E S S ! DECEMBER 2013 � 13
Green Report CHRIS HARRIMAN
[GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT]
December is here, and growth on the Golf Course has finally slowed down significantly. It certainly has been an amazing year with regards to the weather and improvements completed on the Course. It is hard to believe the year is over already! Depending on the weather, the winter course will open sometime in the early new year. We have seen good success the past two years in using the winter course and keeping the greens exposed to the elements. Keeping the golfers off of the greens allows the plant to “harden off � and gives the greens and tees some time to rest. When the turf is allowed to adapt and sustain during extreme cold weather, it will again have the ability to do so in the extreme heat of the summer. As the turf begins its cold acclimation process, the Green Department will be allotted more and more time to get larger projects completed in preparation for the next season. Fairway and tee aeration and topdressing were completed in November, as well as a few architectural changes. Over two acres of fresh turf type tall fescue sod was laid this year, and about 5 more acres were aggressively renovated with tall fescue seed. The consistency of our rough has greatly improved over the past three years.
Naturalized area cleaning, cart path edging, rough drainage, railroad tie work, fixture refurbishment, and tree work are all part of the wintertime tasks. There are few things that always recur on the Golf Course year after year, but one of them is crazy weather. We prepare for, and battle Mother Nature all year to keep the Course in the condition you enjoy and expect! Many of our new agronomic programs are now in place, and a solid base has been created. As the years roll on, we will be able to adjust and make changes as needed, but our basic concept will remain the same, and that is to provide a healthy and consistent Golf Course. The Green Committee will be working hard this winter to come up with a solid game plan for any architectural changes to the Golf Course for 2014 and beyond. The feedback we have received from 2013 has been very valuable, and will aid in further decisions to continue making the Golf Course more enjoyable. I would like to thank my incredible staff for another great year. Their determination and skills combined with unprecedented support from the Membership makes Cattail Creek a great place to be. Happy Holidays!
Our ongoing aeration and topdressing programs have significantly increased the quality of our bentgrass turf by improving drainage and overall turf density.
Golf
RICKY'S TIP: FOR PLAYING IN THE COLD RICKY SERRANO [PGA DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION] We got a little taste of winter this past week. Here are a few tips on how to stay warm and play your best during cold weather. Tip # 1 – Cover your head and ears! 50 percent of your body heat can be lost through your head. Tip # 2 – Keeps your hands warm for feel. Wear winter gloves. Tip # 3 – Dress properly! With today’s clothing technology, you can wear fewer layers and stay warmer. Adidas, Foot-Joy and Under Armour provide the warmest and lightest gear for you to be able to make a full golf swing. Tip # 4 – Stretch and get your muscles warmed up! Pop over to the Fitness Center before you head out on the Course! Tip # 5 – Be realistic! Understand that the ball is not going to go as far or spin as much in the cold. Play a softer ball, and make sure that you take extra clubs. Tip # 6– Relish the challenge. I love playing this time of year because it makes me focus and play different types of shots. I sometimes might hit a 5 iron 140 yards when normally it is my 185 yard club, or a PW 150 yards when is usually is my 125 yard club.
Ricky sometimes uses the cart to assist with stretching. DECEMBER 2013 � 15
Tennis
Dear Members,
Welcome, Alex!
I am delighted and honored to be writing my first letter to you as your new Director of Tennis, and I am truly proud to call Cattail Creek Country Club my home! Since I joined the team in October, I've had the opportunity to meet many Members and Staff who have given me a truly amazing warm welcome. My wife Kyla, and our four children Tyler (14), Alia (7), Alex Jr. (6) and Isabella (1) are excited to become part of the Cattail Creek family, and are anxious to meet many of you. We're moving from Delaware to a home in the charming town of Mt. Airy, and are looking forward to spending our first holiday season in Maryland. With more than 10 years of experience in the tennis industry, I come to Cattail with an extensive background in programming, facility maintenance, and award-winning instruction. It is my personal goal to raise the level of quality and service, and exceed your expectations in the coming years here at Cattail. Over the past few weeks, I have been working extensively with our Management Team as well as our Tennis Staff and Tennis Committee to address any past challenges, and to conceptualize some new and exciting ideas and events for our upcoming 2014 calendar.
I have three specific goals I would like to share with you: First, I would like to assure parents that the 2014 junior program at Cattail will be organized, structured, challenging, and well-supervised. Being a father of four, I know the importance of value in our children’s programs and I do not take our young players for granted. Second, I would like to invite all Members who are interested in beginning to learn tennis to contact me. We have an excellent beginner’s program, and the Cattail Creek Women's Tennis Association (CCWTA) does a wonderful job of getting involved and ensuring beginners start getting experience (and having fun & making new friends) right away. Finally, I will be very engaged and involved in the coming months to ensure that our men’s tennis program continues to grow, offering a dynamic schedule that allows for ease of participation and accomodation ,for everyone. If you have any comments or suggestions (or if just want to say hello), please do not hesitate to contact me directly at alex@cattailcreekcc.com. I look forward to serving you, and will continue to strive for excellence in our tennis program! I hope to see you on the Courts soon! Alex Justiniani Director of Tennis
WINTER RACQUET RE-STRINGING SPECIAL Includes racquet stringing with Gamma Moto 17, and your choice of a new grip. Regularly $46 Now $32 Purchase a package for yourself, or make it a gift and we’ll give you a beautiful certificate and gift card. Email sheila@cattailcreekcc.com.
Alex was just honored in Racquet Sports Industry Magazine as one of the Top 30 Tennis Professionals under 30 in the country. Congratulations Alex!
16 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
Tennis
Quick Tip: ON FOREHAND VOLLEYS ALEX JUSTINIANI [DIRECTOR OF TENNIS] One of the easiest fixes I can offer as a tennis instructor, is for your forehand volley. In tennis, most of your shots will begin with a shoulder turn in order to generate any power or rotation. The exception is your forehand volley; once you turn our shoulders on the forehand volley, your racquet immediately goes behind you, forcing you to either hit it late or swing at the volley... and everyone knows you shouldn’t swing at your volleys! To fix this problem, you can do one of two things; you can simply not turn your shoulders, or you can put your non-dominant arm with your palm down away from your hitting side. You can see an example of this below as Roger Federer is hitting his forehand volley. Once you can make this a habit, you will have a much firmer contact point out in front without having to swing, and you will also be more balanced hitting your volley!
GOOD QUESTIONS ALEX JUSTINIANI [DIRECTOR OF TENNIS] "How often should I string my racquet?" If you only re-string your racquet because your strings have broken, you’re missing out on a lot of performance. Strings lose their tension over time, and the more you play, the more tension is lost. A simple way to calculate a good stringing regiment would be to count the average number of times you play per week, and string your racquet that many times per year. So, if you play two times per week, then you should string your racquet twice a year. Another easy way to remind yourself is to simply change your strings with the change of every season. There are exceptions to this schedule. If you have the newer polyester (poly) stings, you'll need to restring more often. These strings don’t stretch as much as nylon or synthetic gut, and they lose their elasticity faster. As a result, your racquet will start to feel dead, and the only way to bring it back to life is with a new string job. But, these strings do have an upside—a very nice upside if you ask me... What I really like about poly strings is they don’t break very often and generally provide more power and spin than a regular synthetic string. You’ll also notice that they don’t move around in your racquet; lowering the wear and tear on your strings. If you have long, hard swings, and break strings often, this is the right choice of string for you! A word of caution - poly strings can be tough on your arm. If you suffer from tennis elbow or other arm problems, you may need to experiment with these strings. If you have difficulty with a full poly string job, you can try a hybrid string job, In a hybrid stringing job the main strings are strung with poly and the cross strings are strung with nylon/synthetic gut. Chances are you’ve paid a lot for your awesome racquet; keep it playing well with a good, new set of strings—your game will love you for it! Email me at alex@cattailcreekcc.com to get started.
TENNIS & FITNESS PRO SHOP DECEMBER BALLOON SALE! Pop a balloon for a percentage off your purchase. Some exclusions may apply; offered throughout December! Shop hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. DECEMBER 2013 � 17
! E N I L N UO N E M HE T W E I V
31 R E B CEM E D , . Y m A . D p S 0 E :0 TU 2 . ++ m . 3 a 2 $ 0 0 S : T L 11 U D A + 9+ 1 $ S D KI
G A M E S A N D CO N T E S TS B A LLO O N D R O P & CO U N T D OW N
Fitness
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS... ALREADY?
2013 INITIATION RATES $8,000 GOLF / $2,500 SOCIAL
JOHN FOELBER [FITNESS DIRECTOR] The New Year is just a month away, which usually means a renewed effort to work out and get healthy. All of us do it to some extent or another, for many different reasons. There are two extremes that are typical when someone acts on that newfound enthusiasm; one example is the person who intensely works toward their goals every day, week, and month with passion, while the other is the person who more casually pursues their goals without quite as much effort. One way or another, at some point, they both have established goals, usually in the form of a typical New Year's resolution. New Year’s resolutions are classically simple and lack the complexity to successfully guide your actions through the year. This year, I challenge you to dig a little deeper into your health and fitness goals by trying out this three-step approach. Establish three different goals to guide you through the entire year:
WINTER
free dues
SPECIAL*
Short-term Goal Your short-term goal should be something that you want to accomplish in the first two to four weeks. Be realistic and think of something reasonable but still challenging. It could be something as simple as increasing your energy levels, establishing a set workout routine, or losing 1-3 lbs. Mid-term Goal Your mid-term goal should be something that you want to accomplish in the first four to six months. If your planning on starting in January, your mid-term goal will fall somewhere in the spring to early summer months. This goal builds on your short-term goal and puts you on the right track to accomplish your long term goals. Establish these goals with as much detail as possible. For example, if your goal would be to lose weight, try to think of additional measurable goals such as losing inches from your waist or shaving seconds or minutes from a mile run or walk time. Long-term Goal Your long term goal is what you will have accomplished one year from now, and should include your short, and mid-term goals. This goal should encompass all accomplishments for the previous year and can be used as bench mark for the following year’s resolutions. In turn, you can use your 2013 as a benchmark for setting your 2014 goals or resolutions. What have you done over the past twelve months to increase your health, wellbeing, or fitness levels? This process of establishing goals can have many applications and is a good tool to use when you want to lose weight, get stronger, run faster, make the sports team, lower your golf handicap, have fun competing at with a higher USTA rating, decrease the affects of long term health concerns and so on. Once you establish your goals, whatever they may be, take action right away. You don’t even need to wait till January! I look forward to seeing you during your next workout in the Fitness Center!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS NOT TO WAIT!
JOIN THIS WINTER, AND YOUR DECEMBER, JANUARY, & FEBRUARY
D U E S A R E free
DON’T MISS OUT ON TONS OF WINTER SOCIAL EVENTS!
DECEMBER 2013 � 19
Tennis
4 : 0 0 P. M - 8 : 0 0 P. M C O M P L I M E N TA R Y H E AV Y H O R S D ’ O E U V R E S A D VA N C E R E S E R VAT I O N S R E Q U I R E D ALL ADULT MEMBERS WELCOME! C H I L D C A R E AVA I L A B L E B Y R E S E R VAT I O N
C AT TA I L C R E E K C O U N T R Y C L U B
HOLIDAY C OC KTAIL
PARTY F R I D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 0
DRINK SPECIALS: FREE EGG NOG, $2 SAM ADAMS WINTER ALE DRAFT, $2 DOMESTIC BOTTLES, $4 FIREFLY ICE PICK, $4 HOUSE WINE APPETIZERS: SMOKED SALMON & GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI, TUNA TARTAR ON ASIAN SPOONS, SHRIMP CASINO, BEEF WELLINGTON, CARVED PORK TENDERLOIN, BABY LAMB CHOPS WITH ROSEMARY APRICOT SAUCE, SPANAKOPITA 20 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER