OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
TENNIS CLASSIC 2013 RECAP COURSE IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ASHLEIGH GERBER
FALL FESTIVAL S A T U R D AY, O C T O B E R 1 9 • 1 1 : 0 0 A M - 4 : 0 0 P M • F U N F O R A L L A G E S !
P U M P K I N C A R V I N G A L L D AY
BOUNCE
$19 PRE-SCOOPED $13 SCOOP YOUR OWN PRE-ORDER IN YOUR ONLINE RESERVATION
HAYRIDES BETWEEN 12 AND 2 PM
DELICIOUS EATS 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM BUFFET LUNCH
TURKEY CHILI + FIXINS’, GREEK SALAD, TERIYAKI CHICKEN BREASTS, GRILLED SALMON, PLAIN CHICK-
FUN & GAMES FROM 12 TO 2 PM
EN BREASTS, CARVED CASINO ROAST, CHEESE-
C O M P L I M E N TA R Y B U C K E T O F C A N DY
BURGER SLIDERS, SWEET POTATO SALAD, ASSORTED CHIPS, VEGGIE PASTA SALAD, GRILLED VEGETABLES, FRESH FRUIT SALAD, MACARONI+CHEESE,
KIDS’ COSTUME AND
CHICKEN TENDERS, APPLE SAUCE, CUP CAKES,
MUMMY WRAPPING
CONTESTS!
COOKIES, ICE CREAM SUNDAE BAR, ROLLS+BUTTER
TRICK · OR · TREAT
FACE PAINTING
* REGISTER ONLINE! *
PUTTING COURSE!
OCTOBERFEST BOTTLES $3
$26++ A D U L T S $18 ++ C H I L D R E N
HOT & COLD APPLE CIDER
C I D E R CO M P L I M E N TA RY · A L L OT H E R B E V E R AG E S BY S I G N AT U R E
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 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
MANAGEMENT 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 Tim Halter Head Tennis Professional tim.halter@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 CLUB PHONE NUMBERS Main Clubhouse 410.489.4653 Golf Shop 410.489.5224 Tennis Pro Shop 410.989.3683 Green Department 410.489.9178
Swim Team - Lisa Noss lap0811@yahoo.com Fitness - Dave Borkowski dborkowski@harkinsbuilders.com CCWGA - Loraine Herdrich lherdrich@aol.com CCWTA - Terri Curran tccurran@aol.com
On the cover: Bob & Johnathan Lahmann, winning Parent/Child team in this year's Tennis Classic.
OCTOBER 2013 ďż˝ 3
&
NOVEMBER
DEPARTMENTS:
5
Clubhouse LETTER FROM TOM COLE FAREWELL FROM JACK MOLINARO MARTINI OF THE MONTH
7
Membership WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! VINO ON THE PATIO WINNING WINES
9
Golf BUNKER TO BUNKER GOLF SHOP NEWS RULE OF THE MONTH
DEADLINE TO DOWNGRADE/ RESIGN
All requests to downgrade your Membership category or resign for the 2014 year must be received in writing by November 15, 2013 and will take effect on the coming January 1. Email notification directed to Lynn Slupski is sufficient – lynn@ cattailcreekcc.com. Downgrading or resigning is a big step, so be sure to take 5 minutes for a phone conversation with Lynn to understand all of your options, and how your decision affects you in the future – 410.489.4653 ext. 233.
AUDUBON CERTIFICATION UPDATE RICKY'S TIP OCTOBER & NOVEMBER EVENTS
20
Tennis WINTER COURT CLOSURE NOTICE FAREWELL, JOE MATTINGLY
23
FEATURES:
Fitness FINDING THE TIME TO STAY ACTIVE SUNRISE BOOT CAMP
7. MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ASHLEIGH GERBER [THANKS TO RENEE & MICHAEL GERBER]
10. POOL SEASON WRAP & 2014 NOTES LYNN SLUPSKI, MEMBERSHIP MARKETING DIRECTOR
16. COURSE IMPROVEMENT NEWS CHRIS HARRIMAN, GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
VOTE IN OUR NEW POLL! Let us know if you're in a band, or if you know another Member who is!
19. PURPLEPALOOZA RECAP NIC FLICKINGER, PGA FIRST ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL
21. TENNIS CLASSIC WRAP & PHOTOS
4 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
Clubhouse
A Letter From the President Hello, Fellow Cattail Members! What has happened to the time, and the summer weather? Here's hoping we’ll have many more beautiful days of Fall to enjoy the activities at Cattail before we go inside for annual holiday festivities! We had a record summer at the Club. Participation in the events, activities, camps, and teams was up consistently across the board – Tennis, Golf, Pool, and Restaurant events! On behalf of the Board of Directors and Management Team, I hope that is an indication you have enjoyed your experiences and recieved great value from your Membership. Stay tuned in – the fall is packed with a full schedule of activities for you to enjoy with your friends and fellow Members. I wanted to provide a quick update regarding the additions to our Club’s Management team. Before I dive in, I do want to say on behalf of the Board that we are truly grateful for the extra effort that the management team and staff have put into making this year a great success. As Joe Fulco and Scott Lockwood departed just before the summer season started, the rest of the management team really stepped up, and demonstrated great professionalism and commitment to the Membership. Thank you – Justin, Jennifer, Lynn, Rob, Kim, Chris, Bob, Joe M., Claude, and Chef Tom! Let me start with an update on the General Manager search process. As you may recall, we suspended our search for a GM in the spring after we learned the time to recruit a new professional GM was after the busy season (summer). During the summer, we kept the interview process moving, knowing the candidates likely wouldn’t be decisive until the late fall. We received over 60 resumes and introduction letters, and have screened roughly 14 candidates that had the experience to manage a club of our size and requirements. We have brought five back for second interviews with the entire Board. We anticipate the new screenings and follow up interviews will run into early October, with a selection decision and negotiations to take place within the month, and a start date near the first of 2014.
The Director of Tennis search is also well underway. The Tennis Search Committee has selected 12 qualified candidates from a very large pool of respondents. The Committee has begun the screening process in preparation for in-person interviews. They have brought several candidates in for 'on-court lessons/interviews' which have been quite successful and helpful in the process. The Committee also anticipates the interviews will run into early October, and a final decision will be made near the end of the month. You may have had the opportunity to run into Sheila Bishoff on a recent visit to the Tennis Courts. We are delighted to have Sheila join the Cattail Tennis Staff as Office Manager & League Coordinator to help us through the end of this season and prepare for an exciting 2014. She has extensive experience with running tennis programs, USTA, and junior instruction. We are now heads down in the planning and budgeting process for 2014. The management team has taken a first pass at their plans and budgets for next year. I think they have put together a wonderful slate of activities for all our Members to enjoy in 2014. The committee members will be working with the management team to prioritize their plans and investments during October. We will then aggregate the plans into a single budget. Look for updates and announcements as we finalize our hiring selections for GM and Director of Tennis! I look forward to seeing you soon around the Club.
Tom Cole, Member Club President
family night: creepy crawlies TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 • NON-MEMBER CHILD GUESTS FREE!
OCTOBER 2013 � 5
Dear Members, It is with great sadness that I say farewell to Cattail Creek Country Club. It was a pleasure to be in such good company and to have worked for so many wonderful Members!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 RELAXED DRESS CODE (including Cattail Room) WEAR YOUR PAJAMAS & BRING A BLANKET!
It has been my privilege to have served as your Interim General Manager for the past five months, and I am proud to have been associated with your Club. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the support of the Board of Directors. Under their leadership, the Club surely has many great years ahead of it! I also believe Cattail is blessed by the quality of the staff which serves it. They are the finest, and I have been lucky to have the opportunity to work along side them. I will take with me many fond memories and will cherish the warm friendships that I have developed here over my tenure. I wish you and your families happiness, good health, and prosperity!
GUESTS WELCOME!
5:00 PM Breakfast For Dinner Buffet 6:30 PM Storytelling by Bill Wood & S’mores 7:45 PM Movie Night in the Meeting Room; No School on Friday!
SPECIALS ON: Bloody Marys, Screwdrivers, and Mimosas for Mom & Dad
$18++ Adults
$15++ Ages 4-12
Omelet Station, Carved Casino Roast, Pumpkin Bisque, Apple Sauce, Home Fries, Sausage Links, Applewood Bacon, Cinnamon French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Assorted Rolls, Muffins, Danishes, Grilled Vegetable Tray, Caesar Salad, Tomato Caprese Salad, Cheese Tortellini with Aurora Sauce, Shrimp Creole, Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets, Assorted Cookies & Brownies
Very Truly Yours,
Jack Molinaro, CCM,CCE Interim General Manager
MARTINI OF THE MONTH Witch's Brew $6 Bacardi Rum, Blackberry Brandy, Blue Curacao, Creme de Banana, Fresh Lime Juice, Black Sugar Rim 6 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Ashleigh Gerber, Youth Ambassador American Diabetes Association
D O N ’ T WA I T U N T I L S P R I N G
JOIN THIS FALL/WINTER & YOUR DECEMBER, JANUARY, & FEBRUARY
D U E S A R E free
FALL free dues
SPECIAL*
Ashleigh Gerber, daughter of Renee & Michael Gerber, Members since 2012, is an amazing and energetic 10 year-old who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on October 29, 2010. Ashleigh is incredibly involved in the diabetes community, and we're proud to tell this story about one of our many fantastic Cattail Kids! From the day she was diagnosed, Ashleigh made it clear that she is no different from any other kid and diabetes would never stand in her way. Following diagnosis, Ashleigh’s hospital stay ended on Halloween Day and she was out trick or treating by evening. Ashleigh loves gymnastics and dance and even with diabetes, she has never skipped a beat.
Ashleigh loves cruises. She's been on 16 - 6 of them after being diagnosed. In 2011, Ashleigh led the first annual Cruise for Diabetes - an event she helped to create. When she and her family created the Cruise for Diabetes fundraiser, there were many meetings with the ADA. Ashleigh accompanied her parents to several meetings and events, and the ADA staff was quite impressed with Ashleigh's composure and the way she spoke to people about her diabetes. It was from this that they asked her to be their Youth Ambassador! Ashleigh was also fortunate enough to take part in the 2013 Call to Congress where she went to Capitol Hill and discussed how diabetes affects her life and the lives of all who live with diabetes on a daily basis. In September, Ashleigh was interviewed by WJZ!
OCTOBER INITIATION RATES $7,500 GOLF / $2,250 SOCIAL (NOVEMBER $7,750 / $2,375) (DECEMBER $8,000 / $2,500)
TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO
JOIN EARLIER AND
SAVE MONEY!
Ashleigh is excited to have her friends and family walk with her in the American Diabetes Association Step Out Baltimore Walk as the Youth Ambassador, on October 5, 2013.Ashleigh will always hope for a cure but in the meantime, she will have fun walking and raising money for the research!
Membership
IT'S ALMOST THAT TIME.... Click here to view the menu & pre-order your Thanksgiving Carry-Out Meal! We have selections for groups large and small. Online orders are due on Friday, November 22!
UPCOMING EVENTS Family Night: Spooky Stories - Thursday, October 17 Lobster Night - Friday, October 18 Fall Festival - Saturday, October 19 Family Night: Creepy Crawlies - Tuesday, November 5 Trivia Night - Saturday, November 9 Thanksgiving Orders Due - Friday, November 22
VINO ON THE PATIO WINNING WINES
H U S BAN D / W I FE TO U R N A M E N T CO C KTAI L PART Y $ 16++ | Su nd ay, Oc t. 2 0 | 5 : 3 0 p. m. HORS d’OE UVRES
1st Place BV Blend, Beaulieu Vineyards Beaurouge, Napa CA 2nd Place Termes, Numanthia, Toro Region Spain 3rd Place Pinot Noir, Lyric, Santa Barbara CA Thank you for voting! Winners will be added to the Wine List in the Restaurant this month!
barbeque chick en flat bread, v e g gi e spri n g rol l s, c rab bal l s, fr u i t & cheese, v e getables and dip, shri m p c ockt ai l , assort ed cooki es & bro wn i es Reg i s ter o n l i n e i f yo u a re no t p a r ti c i p ati ng i n the g o l f to u r n a m en t a n d wo u l d l i k e to at tend the c o c k ta i l p a r ty.
WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS! The McKee Family – Upgrade! Thom, Jennifer, Travis Al l Memb e r s
a re en cou raged to attend!
The Friedman Family David, Jennifer, Emma, Liam, Beckett The Goldberg Family Eric, Dahna, Justin, Marisa
8 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
FRIDAY 10.18.13
5:00 PM - 8:30 PM LOBSTER BISQUE 7 LOBSTER & CRAB SALAD 12 LOBSTER SPRING ROLLS 10 SURF-N-TURF (BROILED LOBSTER TAIL & FILET MIGNON) 50 BROILED LOBSTER TAILS (SINGLE 28, DOUBLE 52) LOBSTER & SHRIMP RISOTTO 28
BAKED POTATO, HARICOT VERTS, DRAWN BUTTER PREORDER BY 10.16 AND SAVE $5
{
{
2 LB. WHOLE LOBSTER MEAL 44
Clubhouse
2013 POOL SEASON WRAP-UP BY LYNN SLUPSKI MEMBERSHIP MARKETING DIRECTOR
It sounds cliché, but the pool season really did fly by this year! On Saturday, May 25, Cattail’s pool opened for the summer. A handful of brave souls took the plunge despite the brisk 63° air temperature and very chilly water.
I would be remiss not to acknowledge the incredible Crocs Swim Team season this year! The team again sold out with over 140 Cattail Kids participating, and team participants enjoyed a summer packed with swim instruction and social outlets. We’re not sure how, but Coach Karen, and Member Chair, Lisa Noss, again increased the organization of the team’s affairs, and delivered the smoothest season to-date!
Among many others, the summer months brought back Cattail’s favorite pool events such as the ‘School’s Out Pool Party,’ ‘Mom’s Margarita Mondays,’ and ‘Movie Night at the Pool.’ Two new events, the ‘Kids Karaoke Party’ and the ‘Ice Cream Eating Contest,’ were introduced, and an old favorite, the ‘Crab Feast at the Pool,’ returned.
This year, focus was placed on elevating Member service at the Pool Café, which will continue to be a pillar of importance next season. Other additions to the area included two new permanent foot wash/shower stations in the pool lawn and a large, fenced-in grassy area, for kids to run and play.
Many Cattail Kids were fortunate to host their summer birthday parties at the pool, and several ambitious moms even organized ‘end-of-the-year’ pool parties for their kids’ classrooms.
Ironically, the absolute busiest day of the entire summer was Thursday, September 5, when the pool was technically closed for the season. The recipe for that particular day was a perfect storm: Howard County Schools were closed
10 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, many moms had already planned to forego their regularlyscheduled commitments due to the kids being home and the weather forecast was predicted to be beautiful with a capital ‘B’! The factors leading up to the best pool day ever, were only brought to the Club’s attention with a couple of days’ notice. Rob Anderson, Facilities Engineer, worked quickly to accommodate Member requests to open the pool back up, and he was able to secure lifeguards for the day. Boy, did those lifeguards stay busy on September 5, with a record crowd! All in all, the 2013 pool season was a successful one. From the staff ’s perspectives, a major highlight of this pool season was the lack of those typically inevitable ‘accidents’ than can close the pool unexpectedly for hours, or an entire day, at a time! We’ll take those little wins whenever we can! Pool opening day 2014 will be here before we know it and we are working hard to plan a season that will be the best yet!
Clubhouse
NOTES ON PLANNING FOR TH
E 2014 SEASON:
As mentioned in the 2013 Pool Season Summar y, our busie outside of our regula st pool day of the r pool season sched season was Septem ule when we made Members requests ber 5, a date arrangements to op . en for the day in res ponse to Many Members inq uired as to why we couldn’t just keep suggested that being the pool open as lon open additional da g as the weather pe ys would be a reven amazing plan, there rmits, and ue generator for the are many behind-t Clu b. While that sounds he-scenes factors tha were to come to fru like an t mu st be considered to en ition next year, we would be able to do sure that, if that sce experience we strive nario it in a fas hion that is consist to deliver throughou ent with the Membe t the Club. rship We take your sugg estions and requests very seriously. Right find an equation tha now, we are worki t makes it possible ng hard to determi to extend the pool weekends-only, we ne if we can se as on for the 2014 se ekend & weekday ason, whether it be afternoons, or on a additional full schedule for a couple of additional weeks. Adva
nce planning is pa ramount when it comes to this type of an arr angement. We ha ve to be diligent to research those additional costs lin ked to opening and operating the Pool on an exten ded schedule, and plan responsib ly from a budgeta ry perspective. Costs that we will weigh include: 1. Committing to an extended contr act with our pool management company (lifegua rds and pool maintenance) at rates that fall ou tside of the ‘standard’ pool co ntract season. In considering this cost, we must keep in mind the very real possibility that we could ha ve a September that brings early chilly weather tha t would prohibit Member s from wanting to take ad vantage. 2. Staffing and supply costs for the pool front desk, Pool Café, laundry room att endants, and housekeepers, ke eping in mind tha t traditionally, those who fill poolrelated roles are hig h school and college students wh o are long gone from the area by Labor Day. 3. Food costs to sto ck the Pool Café in a fashion that is a bit more cond ucive to spoilage due to a likely more limited sched ule. Unfor tunately, as is standard for mo st private clubs, the pool and Po ol Café represen t an area of the Club closer to a break-even operati on rather than a revenue-generati ng one. So, rega rdless of how many Member s and guests were to attend and purchase items on those ‘extra’ days, it would not be a revenue-gen erating scenario for the Club and would not offset the additional cost. Ho wever, Club policy, as created by the Board of
Directors, prohibi ts outside food and drink from being brought into the pool, so, altho ugh the “picnicstyle” format was fun for the one da y outside the regular season, it ca n’t be a permanen t arrangement for an extended se ason. As we sift through these concerns, I ca n promise you that all departmen ts that have a ha nd in the pool and Pool Café op erations are work ing hard to come up with a plan tha t will allow us to accommodate your request for a longer season. Our main objective with any Club decision is to always deliver an amazing expe rience. If it is at all possible to provide that serv ice in an extende d season, we will find a way and yo u’ll be the fir st to know when we get those ducks in a row! Additionally, we are already beginning to work on a few other new possible value-ad ded events and services, all based on your suggestio ns and feedback. In August, we int roduced, on a tri al basis, a thirdparty, on-premise car detailing serv ice located in the paved area be hind the pool fen ce. We received many positive re marks on this ne w offering, as well as a commen t that the area mi ght better be utilized for addition al amenities for the Cattail Kids. Cattail’s leadership is currently evaluati ng whether to continue the serv ice and if there are any possible alternate location s that would not negatively impact regular Club oper ations.
The paved area behind the pool fence is being evaluated for a co uple of possible pr ojects for kids recreational or ten nis-specific added amenities for the 2014 season.
OCTOBER 2013 � 11
Golf
Golf Shop News LAUREN BURNS
Sunday, October 20
H U S BAN D / W I FE TO U R N A M E N T 2012 (two-time) Champions: Kathy Taub & Mike Occi C o c ktai l Par ty included in price (open to all Member s for $16++) followin g golf at 5:30 p.m. U n m ar ri ed co u p le s o n th e sa me m em b er sh ip ar e w el co m e to p ar ti ci p at e!
FORMAT & LOGISTICS a lter nate shot 50% of combined ha ndica p g ross a nd net winner s 1:00 p.m . shotgun
c ost ($50) inc l uded with Tournam ent C l ub
WEDGE FITTING & SHORT GAME CLINIC
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM $150 PER STUDENT All participants receive a Cleveland FTX Wedge, custom fitted. We’ll fill any loft gaps you have in your golf bag!
12 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
[MERCHANDISE COORDINATOR]
This past month has been a whirlwind of different fabrics, colors, and styles. Bob, Nic, and I have been meeting with our current vendors and potential vendors to sort out our spring and summer orders for next year.The short summary is that we now know lots of secrets that the rest of the world won’t know until 4 months from now! Larger companies, like Nike and Adidas, actually have their own vans that have been refurbished into tiny showrooms, with both men’s and women’s clothing, respective shoe lines, and a multitude of accessories inside. We have seen several of these; and also met with other vendors at their booths, at the Mid-Atlantic Merchandise Show. At the show, many of the sales representatives carried multiple brands, so we saw a multitude of lines in a very short amount of time. The spring and summer lines look really great this year, in bright, bold colors, and pastels, too. The vendors have outdone themselves once again this year, and I find it truly amazing the amount of technology and features that can be found in just one polo shirt! Members have been giving us great feedback this year about the brands we carry in the Professional Shop. Based on past sales and your comments, we are making some changes in what will be available in the Professional Shop. Next year, we will carry Nike and Loudmouth in the Shop! Puma will be available through special orders, but it will no longer be available in the Golf Shop. We also may begin new relationships with some other vendors, either for the Shop inventory or strictly for special ordering at Mill River Discounts. Along those lines, trunk shows are a great way for us to guage your interest in new brands before we bring them into the Shop! I'm excited about our trunk show on the Lower Patio on Friday, October 4. This event is held in conjunction with the CCWGA's Happy Hour on the Range, but all Members are encouaged to stop by and see merchandise from old and new brands: Ecco Shoes, Links & Kings, Peter Millar, Lilly Pulitzer, Stella and Dot, Maui Jim, Cutter & Buck, and Annika. Let us know what you'd like to see in the Shop this year! Please continue to give us your feedback on our selection, as we are planning on having another trunk show in the spring of 2014!
Golf
BUNKER to BUNKER
UPCOMING GOLF EVENTS Play with a Pro (PM) Thursday, October 3 CCWGA Happy Hour & Trunk Show on the Lower Patio Friday, October 4
Fall is here, the kids are back in school, and with the leaves ready to change colors, our very successful 2013 tournament season is coming to a close. Thank you to all of you who have participated in our events and helped make this year a huge success. We have seen tournament participation numbers increase across the board along with significant growth and enhancement of our Women’s Golf and Junior Golf programs!
Congratulations go out to our 2013 Men’s Club Champion, Jake Leavitt, and our 2013 Women’s Club Champion, Kellie Keehn! Additionally, we are excited to have another full field for this year’s Men’s Member-Member tournament, and we still have some exciting events coming up over the next two months. The Golf Course remains in superb condition, and we encourage you all to take advantage of it before old man winter arrives.
I would like to take this time to thank our all-star team of Professionals, Nic Flickinger, Ricky Serrano, Tyson McFarland, Lauren Burns and Eli Mireles for their hard work, long hours and dedication to our Membership and our operation this year. I am very proud of all of them. I would also like to thank the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Jack Molinaro, Interim General Manager, and the Golf Committee for their commitment to moving Cattail’s golf operation in a positive direction. Lastly, I would like to thank Scott Segrist for his leadership, support, encouragement and for serving as our Golf Committee Chair this season!
As we head into the fall season and the weather begins to get cooler, the Professional Shop has changed its look. We are excited about all of this year’s fall colors and apparel selections, and we hope you all will stop by to check them out soon!
Play with a Pro (PM) Thursday, October 10 Men's Member-Member Friday & Saturday, October 11-12 Golf 101 for Women Tuesday, October 15 Play with a Pro (PM) Thursday, September 17 Men's Twilight Golf Thursday, September 17 Husband-Wife Tournament Sunday, October 20 Golf 101 for Women Tuesday, October 22
Everything for Golf,
CCWGA Mystery Golf Thursday, October 24 Bob Wampler, PGA Head Golf Professional bob@cattailcreekcc.com
irway" Women's st's "Fiesta on the Fa
d by all at this Augu
A great time was ha
CCWGA Mystery Golf Wednesday, October 9
Men's Closing Day Saturday, October 26 Golf 101 for Women Tuesday, October 29 Guest Day!
Men's Guest Day Wednesday, October 30
Congratulations to Judy Hogarty and Nancy Cole, 2013 Women's Member-Member Champs! OCTOBER 2013 � 13
Golf
Tyson’s Rule of the Month: MOVING A LOOSE IMPEDIMENT TYSON McFARLAND
[ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL]
Tiger Woods has had his struggles this year when it comes to rulings! Earlier in the year, there was a controversial drop at the Master’s, in which he incurred a two stroke penalty. Unfortunately, his penalty woes continued at this year's BMW Championship. While he moved a loose impediment, it appeared Tiger’s ball may have also moved slightly. For those who may not know, the USGA defines a loose impediment as stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like, that are not fixed or growing, solidly embedded, or adhering to the ball. In this case,Tiger was completely within the rules of moving the impediment, but the rules infraction arose when a viewer watching the event saw his ball move while he was removing the impediment and called in to notify the rules officials. After reviewing the video, Tiger believed his ball oscillated and then returned to its original position which would not be a penalty. The officials did not agree, and Tiger received a two stroke penalty.
14 � CAT TALES NEWSLETTER
Golf
TRUNK SHOW ON THE LOWER PATIO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Check out new merchandise from Ecco Shoes, Links & Kings, Peter Millar, Lilly Pulitzer, Stella and Dot, Maui Jim, Cutter & Buck, and Annika! See some new lines, and let us know if you'd like us to bring them into the Golf Professional Shop!
OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS!
Fairway Feats! Kellie Keehn, Heather Smyth, Loraine Ruttenberg & Terry Jubb 1st Net in the WDCGA Anniversary Tournament at Lakewood CC on September 11, w/ a combined 2 best net score of 120.
Stephanie Nucci Eagle on #2 w/wedge Blind Birdie on #1 w/8 iron
Jeff Martin Hole-in-one on #16 with a 5-iron Always let us know of your achievements on the Course so we can give you a shout out in the next newsletter!
OCTOBER 2013 ďż˝ 15
GREEN REPORT: COURSE IMPROVEMENT NEWS
Over the past 6 weeks, the Green Committee has gathered a significant amount of feedback from the Membership pertaining to the proposed Golf Course changes for the fall of 2014. Thirty-four responses were received online, and over 70 people attended the town hall meetings. Overall feedback has been very positive, and as a Committee, we have felt comfortable to continue to explore and pursue an execution plan. On September 5, Drew Rogers and Joel Weiman, a local golf course construction company, met on site to review our initial plan. Based on that meeting and Drew’s preliminary drawings, Joel prepared a detailed bid outline and a very rough estimate of $560,000 to complete all three projects. It is important to note that this estimate was done based on Drew's preliminary drawings. Over the next several months, we will develop a more accurate basis for estimating the cost and obtain competitive bids. GeoGolf is currently on property and is mapping the topography of the Course. Once this work is completed, Drew Rogers will have a baseline on which he will prepare the actual design drawings, process the report and begin to quantify how much soil needs to be moved, and where. This will give us a better idea of the scope and detail of each project. This topo work is projected to be completed by the end of October. In conjunction with gathering topographical information, we will be working with Fisher Collins and Carter to understand any restrictions we may have related to the septic field that underlies the proposed Short Game Area. This will also give Drew a better idea of what room he has to work with in the design of the new "SGA." As all of this information is gathered, the design concepts will be massaged. The Short Game Area will be aimed and positioned to minimize safety concerns, especially related to the location of the parking lot. Cart traffic flow will be maximized as well as the Driving Range tee surface which will also feature an un-even lie hitting area.
Steps w out to p ill be graded rovide cart ex it [P. II]
Plenty of vegetation will be added to make the area safe and aesthetically attractive. The rough on the right side of #5 will be shaped so that carts will be able to travel safely on them during wet days. The collection area to the left of #12 approach will be shaped so as not to deflect more balls down into the wetland. Financially, there are many decisions to be made. It is important to follow the previously detailed steps in order to totally grasp the scope and costs of all three projects.
Our first step will be to ask Golf Members to vote to approve a not-to-exceed assessment to fund these projects, at one of two meetings later on this month. This will be a standalone assessment for these architectural improvements to holes #5, #10, #12, and the proposed Short Game Area. The exact amount of the assessment and the timing of the payments will be communicated to Golf Members the week of October 20, and at the voting meetings. Presentations will be made on Friday evening, October 25, in conjunction with a Heavy Seas Brewery tasting, and Saturday morning, October 26, during the Men’s Closing Day breakfast. Voting ballots will be available after the presentations.
Following the vote on the not-to-exceed assessment cost, the projects will be detailed with separate costs, and depending on that information, we will determine the next steps in the process. We will continue to communicate our progress, and we thank everyone for their input thus far. This is a very exciting time for Cattail and we are looking forward to intelligently implementing these positive changes.
Golf
Cattail & Audubon:
Our New Cooperative Sanctuary Certification for Golf Courses
Practice in a linear pattern by placing each new shot directly behind your previous divot.
JOELLEN LAMPMAN [AUDUBON INTERNATIONAL] Cattail Creek Country Club has received certification in Environmental Planning from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP), an international program administered by Audubon International designed to help landowners preserve and enhance the environmental quality of their property. The plan was developed by Chris Harriman, Golf Course Superintendent, who is also recognized for his effort to plan for environmental stewardship. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses provides an advisory service to help existing golf courses develop effective conservation and wildlife enhancement programs. This worldwide effort is coordinated by Audubon International and is sponsored in part by the United States Golf Association. "The open space of a golf course is utilized not only by golfers, but is habitat for a variety of wildlife species," explained Joellen Lampman, ACSP Director for Audubon International. "We welcome Cattail Creek Country Club’s commitment to the environment and to managing the golf course with wildlife in mind." By joining and participating in the ACSP, Cattail Creek Country Club will be involved in projects that enhance habitat for wildlife and preserve natural resources for the benefit of the local community. These projects may include: maintaining nesting boxes for cavity-nesting birds such as bluebirds and swallows, utilizing integrated pest management techniques, conserving water, and maintaining food and cover for wildlife. "The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program benefits both people and wildlife," said Lampman. "It's a great way for the managers of developed properties and environmental organizations to work together to become better stewards of land and natural resources."
Leave a strip of live turf at least 3 inches wide between each line of divots. This keeps divots narrow so that lateral growth of turfgrass from both sides of the divot will lead to rapid recovery.
The Golf & Green Staff remind you to please follow the practices pictured above when hitting on the Range, so that our new grass will recover as quickly as possible! Thank you for your support.
The Green Department has spent the past few years working towards various Audubon Certifications for the Course. We look forward to one day achieving designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. OCTOBER 2013 ďż˝ 17
Golf
RICKY'S TIP:
SAM PuttLab
Learn to re-release with your body as well as your hands!
“READ IT • ROLL IT • HOLE IT” PROMOTION
RICKY SERRANO [PGA DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION] Most golfers don’t swing their arms and hands freely enough. There are some who use only their hands and arms, forgetting that the big muscles of the back and legs have a major role in the swing too. Here is a drill that demands you to be balanced at all times, and requires the assistance from the bigger, stronger muscles of your body.
Putting accounts for 50% of your score in any given round!
All you need is a medicine ball; hold onto it as you take your address position (#1). Throw it as far as you can towards the target in front of you. To do it successfully, you’ll find it necessary to coil your body on the “backswing” (#2), and drive off your back foot on the “downswing” (#3). Note how important it is to be balanced throughout the entire motion. After doing this drill several times, hit some balls. You will discover why it is important to use your body during the swing, and not just the hands and arms alone! Click here to schedule a lesson with Ricky online!
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1 HOUR LESSON WITH RICKY PLUS 45 MINUTE SAM PUTTLAB SESSION
JUST $125
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PURPLEPALOOZA INVITATIONAL: A great day for a great cause!
NIC FLICKINGER [PGA FIRST ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL] Since my arrival at Cattail Creek more than three years ago, I have had the good fortune of watching the growth of the CCWGA. If you need any proof of the progress of women's golf at Cattail, look no further than the 9-Hole League's Pancreatic Cancer Research tournament. The inaugural event was held last year in memory of Tuesday 9-Hole Morning League member Cathy Herold. The tournament, which started as a 9-hole round for around 40 golfers, grew this year to 90 golfers and warranted two events on both nines! 60 Members and 30 Guests participated in the step-aside scramble format, and a great time was had by all, for a great cause.
Several of the players were then treated to prizes for great rounds and drawings for various raffle items took place. No one left empty-handed, as every seat contained goodies such as a purple wrap shawl and a crafty golf ball-crowned flower pot. Needless to say, the tournament was a huge succes. Approximately $5,000 was raised for the cause! A special "thank you" is owed to event chair and Tuesday 9-Hole Morning League Director, Stephanie Nucci and her coordinating committee, as well as the entire staff at Cattail Creek for putting on such a great event! Be sure to be a part of this very special occasion next year! Thank you to all of those who helped make this a wonderful day, and a very special thanks goes out to these sponsors: Ms. Mary Kirwan, McFall & Berry Landscape Mgmt. (Cindy McFall) , Dr. Joel Goodman & Ms. Sally Lentz, Mr. Ross & Mrs. Sondra Rappaport, The Capra Family, The Herold Family, Mr. Chris Spendley and Family, Mr. TJ & Mrs. Amy Caro, Mr. Phil & Mrs. Mary Down, Mr. Howard & Mrs. Pam Feldman, Mr. Rich & Mrs. Lurdes Abruscato, Mr. Bill & Mrs. Loraine Herdrich, Mr. Brad & Mrs. Carey Carlson, Mrs. Kathy Taub, Mr. Tom & Mrs. Nancy Cole, Mr. Nick & Mrs. Stephanie Nucci
This year's event was titled "Purplepalooza" and it was a purple extravaganza every-which-way you looked! Purple clothing, flowers, ribbons, decorations, golf balls, themed music... One of the guests even arrived in a purple car! Aside from the fun format for the day, there were closest-to-the-hole and long-drive contests to challenge the participants and provide some extra excitement. Local businesses and many Members sponsored several holes on the Course, while Ricky Serrano and yours truly were out there bombing long drives to help raise additional funds for the cause. I had such a great time interacting with all of the Members and Guests! After play was completed, golfers were treated to a delicious crab cake lunch prepared by Chef Tom Caswell and his staff. The women heard a few words from a representative of the day’s charity, locallybased Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins, and learned more about pancreatic cancer research, funding, and awareness efforts. It was great to hear her speak, and I was amazed by the amount of interesting information she provided!
"APPROXIMATELY $5,000 WAS RAISED FOR THE CAUSE!"
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Tennis
PARENT CHILD TOURNAMENT
WOMEN'S MEMBER-GUEST
Champions: Mary Beth and Mitchell Furst
Champions: Debbie Merwitz & Beth Steinberg
Finalists: Stuart and Cameron Sedlack
Finalists: Charlene DellaRatta & Soo Kim
N’S TENN E M IS WO
MEMBER-MEMBER TOURNAMENT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM DRAW BY LEVELS; SIGN UP AS TWO PERSON TEAMS. ALL LEVELS WELCOME!
$75 per person includes TENNIS LUNCH & PRIZES! CCWTA MEMBERS RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT. 2012 CHAMPS: TERRY JUBB & LAURIE DUNCAN
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Tennis
The 2013 Tennis Classic was held September 19 through 22, and great weather made the event enjoyable for both participants and spectators. We had 150 registrants, playing 2.5 - 5.0 levels in variety of events (men’s, women’s, parent/child, and mixed). For the first time this year, we offered an “open” event, which drew competitive players to our Club for a chance to earn prize money. A total of $1600 was awarded to twelve champions and finalists! Our thanks go to Smoking Hot for providing a barbeque sampling on Friday! Saturday night's Players' Party was moved into the Main Clubhouse due to a brief shower that evening, and live entertainment was provided by “The Rollerblades,” who even had a light show as part of their repertoire! Chef offered a fabulous selection in the pasta, risotto, and Asian station, and the complimentary Creig Northrop Team beer garden was moved indoors for dinner. The Lucky Losers' Bloody Mary party was held Sunday morning, and was also a big hit. The Dietz Family won the large red maple tree that was offered in the silent auction. Our title sponsor, Town Creek Landscaping, surprised the Club by donating a large red maple that was installed behind Court 1! On Friday, we were surprised and excited to have a marketing representative from the Washington Kastles (a professional tennis team) visit Cattail to establish a relationship with our tournament and our tennis program! The tournament will be donating over $6000 to Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center in Columbia, a significant increase over last year’s donations. The Staff and Committee members would like to thank participants, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make this event a huge success! OCTOBER 2013 � 21
Tennis Tennis
PRO SHOP NEWS CELIA DAHAN [TENNIS/FITNESS PRO SHOP MANAGER] Join us this month for our "Pink Rack" 10% off sale on select pink merchandise in honor of breast cancer awareness! Look for items from Lija, Alo, EleVen, and more! We're also running a 10% off sale on all Men's tennis shoes.
Regular hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We'll be also be open this month on Thursday, October 17 during Spooky Storytelling, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and during Fall Festival on Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Lost & Found Many items were left behind after the tennis tournament. We have added these items to the Pool Lost & Found. Photos will be posted on Facebook and you may stop by the Tennis Office to reclaim your items. Any items remaining after October 31 will be donated to charity.
WINTER COURT CLOSURES Effective November 3, 2013, courts #3-7 will be closed and the ball machine will no longer be available for rental. Court #1 and #2 will remain open as long as weather permits.
League News SHEILA BISHOFF [TENNIS OFFICE MANAGER]
Cattail Tennis will finish our competitive season in October. Our top USTA Combo teams, at each level (5.5, 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5), will advance to the Howard County playoffs scheduled for Monday, October 7 at Wilde Lake Tennis Center. The InterClub and Foxy-Ladies Leagues will also end on October 31. Both of these leagues currently play on Thursday mornings.
August & September Queens of the Court: Teresa Puchalla & Cindy Haller
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Tennis
! e o J , l l e w e r a f LAST WORDS [FROM THE PRO] JOE MATTINGLY [DIRECTOR OF TENNIS] I would like to start by thanking the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and all of the Members of Cattail for a wonderful tenure here at the Club. Nine years ago, the timing was perfect for me to come on board and start a program here, and for the Membership at Cattail, to embrace and run with that foundation for continued growth. Programs such as the CCWTA, the Junior League, and the Tennis Classic, have been extremely successful through the years due to the hard work and dedication of the Membership and the team of Tennis Staff here at the Club. My wife, Diana, and I would also like to express our deepest appreciation for all of the wonderful friendships that we made throughout the past nine years — friendships that we cherish and know will last a lifetime. We both wish only the best for the future of Cattail Tennis and its Members. We look forward to seeing everyone visit us, in our new home in Amelia Island, Florida. You'll truly be missed!
FINDING THE TIME To stay active and work out! JOHN FOELBER [FITNESS DIRECTOR] What will happen with your activity level as we transition away from summer routines and get closer to the holiday season? What a great summer we've had at the Club! I hope everyone enjoyed the great weather, some good tennis and golf, time by the pool, and some time on the Club's Lower Patio. While there are still some opportunities for these outside activities, soon it will be too dark to get in that extra nine holes after work, or play as much tennis, because of lack of indoor availability. These activities do not take place in a gym, but they do help maintain an active healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, this drop in outside activity coincides with back-to-school activities and holidays, both of which can get in the way of your physical activity level and workouts. Usually by late November, whatever routine
you had at the start of the fall season is basically gone. This doesn't need to happen as long as you plan ahead! Here are a few tips to help you stay active this fall. � Re-establish personal fitness goals. If you have focus, and know why you're working out, it will be harder for you to skip a session! � Work with a trainer; get some professional help.You could try it on your own and merely hope to be consistent and successful, or you could invest in a trainer to keep you accountable and personalize workouts to help you reach your specific goals. � Get involved in a group class.Try Cattail's Boot Camp classes, which run two times a week, offered at sunrise and mid-morning times. When you are ready to get started on your fall routine, sign up for a personal training session with me on the Cattail website under the fitness tab, or register for Boot Camp using the online calendar. Remember, the Fitness Center is open 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. every day! I look forward to seeing you regularly in the Fitness Center this fall!
OCTOBER 2013 � 23
RIS N U S
6-WEEK E
BOOT
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