CHCC News March-April 2022 by Chapel Hill Country Club

VOLUME 100.1

MARCH 2022

CHCC THE CENTENNIAL

CONTENTS 4

LIST OF EVENTS

DINING

GOLF

14 FEATURED MARCH EVENTS 16 TENNIS 22 FAMILY FESTIVAL WITH THE EMBERS 24 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 26 EASTER AT THE CLUB 27 CLUB HISTORY 32 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS 33 THE ROARING 20’S GALA - MAY 13TH! 34 YOGA IN THE GARDEN

Welcome Please mark your calendars for special events and register early! Reservations are required for special events.

MARCH 19

MGA OPENING DAY TENNIS SHAMROCK SHUFFLE CAROLINA OYSTER ROAST & SHRIMP BOIL SHINDIG

MARCH 24

SMGA SUPPER CLUB (FOR SMGA MEMBERS &

MARCH 25

MIZUNO GOLF DEMO DAY PIZZA ON THE PORCH WITH

THE J ORDAN

SPOUSES ONLY )

LAKE SWIMMERS

MARCH 27

CHJGA MATCH

APRIL 1

CLEVELAND/SRIXON GOLF DEMO DAY

APRIL 2-3

MGA MEMBER-MEMBER

APRIL 5

LGA OPENING DAY

APRIL 6

SMGA OPENING DAY

APRIL 7

THE DIVOT PARTY-

APRIL 10

CHJGA MATCH

APRIL 13

CALLAWAY GOLF DEMO DAY

APRIL 16

EASTER EGG DASH!

APRIL 17

EASTER SUNDAY BRUNCH

APRIL 19

CHCC’S 100TH BIRTHDAY!

APRIL 22

9 & DINE GOLF FAMILY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION NIGHT

APRIL 24

HICKORY STICK GOLF CENTENNIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

APRIL 28

SMGA SUPPER CLUB (FOR SMGA MEMBERS &

APRIL 29

MIZUNO GOLF DEMO DAY

MAY 1

JUST TRYAN IT YOUTH TRIATHLON

MAY 13

ROARING 20’S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION GALA

CHCC TRADITION!

SPOUSES ONLY )

*Please remember that all special events at the Club have a 3 day cancellation policy. This means that existing reservations within 3 days of an event are responsible for the charges. If you find that you are unable to attend within the three-day window, we are happy to pack your meal for pick-up.

Dining LUNCH TUESDAY-SUNDAY: 11 DINNER TUESDAY-FRIDAY: 5

OR ON OUR MOBILE APP OR CALL

WEEKLY BUFFETS SOUP & SALAD BAR TUESDAY-FRIDAY: 11 AM - 2

FRIDAY NIGHT BUFFET 6 PM - 9 PM

(919) 967-8201 SUNDAY BRUNCH 11 AM - 2 PM

PLEASE

CALL TO ORDER TAKE - AWAY

-9

FAMILY NIGHT WEDNESDAYS - 5:30-9

MAKE RESERVATIONS ON WWW . CHAPELHILLCOUNTRYCLUB . COM

-4

It’s great to see everyone’s smiling faces again at the Club! We’re looking forward to a great spring with a classic Carolina Oyster Roast and Shrimp Boil on March 19th, numerous centennial events, Easter and especially the Roaring 20’s Centennial Celebration Gala! Be sure to make reservations and don’t miss Chapel Hill’s biggest party EVER on Friday, May 13th. The Club’s actual anniversary of incorporation is April 19th. We’ll be having a birthday party for the club that evening, so please plan to come celebrate with your fellow members. The following Friday, April 22nd, we’ll have another family Club Birthday Celebration with entertainment. Easter weekend is always a great weekend at the Club. We’re back to our big 8,000 egg Easter Egg Dash event on Saturday, April 16th. Sign up and DON’T BE LATE! Plan ahead for time for parking. If you are even a couple minutes late to the event, you will miss the fun! Easter Sunday Brunch reservations are now open and filling quickly. Every Wednesday night is still Family Night. A children’s buffet is available with favorite kid foods. CHCC Members ages 10 and younger can enjoy the buffet free of charge when parents order dinner at the Club.

Friday Nights remain a very popular night to meet with friends at the Club. Kids’ Club is available by reservation for ages 4 and older so that parents can enjoy time with friends. Kids’ Club typically fills early in the week so book early on the Events Calendar on the website or mobile app. Spring is exciting in the kitchen with a supply of locally grown fresh vegetables! We love seeing what’s available each week and creating new delicious dishes. We have a lot of talent on our team with Executive Sous Chef Ben Hollinger and Sous Chef George Lohr contributing beautiful, creative dishes with inspiration from around the world with a range of comfort food to lighter health-conscious options. Come enjoy dining indoors or out and try something new! Speaking of lighter fare, the Weekday Soup and Salad Bar is back! Come enjoy a quick lunch at the Club. Each day features a different soup and a fresh variety of salad ingredients for just $15. Also back from the COVID hiatus is our Sunday Brunch Buffet featuring classic breakfast items, a made-to-order omelette station, a selection of lunch items and desserts. Reservations are advised for Sunday Brunch. We look forward to seeing you at the Club!

My family and I are extremely excited to con nue my opportunity here at Chapel Hill Country Club as the Director of Golf. I look forward to transi oning into the posi on and con nuing to lead our golf instruc on programs. Since joining CHCC in 2017 I’ve been fortunate enough to develop a rela onship with many of you through academies and instruc on that has helped me develop my career as a PGA professional. Over the next 4 years you will see my pursuit of PGA Master Professional status to con nue to develop my educa on with the best the PGA has to oﬀer. I look forward to represen ng CHCC in the years come.

Golf creates a comfortable, crea ve environment that can lead to new golf buddies that last a life me. If you’re looking for a individual se ng, private instruc on is available Tuesday through Sunday at the club. Bunkers, short game, pu ng, full swing and drivers are all subjects our PGA professionals have educa on in. Individual or monthly sessions are op ons for the private instruc on player. Want to get on the course with one of our Pro’s? Playing lessons are a great op on to develop the golf I.Q. on the go. We have a lot of op ons this Spring to have some fun on the links!

Academy Classes are just around the corner as J.P. Morrison III we begin to see warmer, longer days. The group Director of Golf instruc on se ng could be a great entry for you jmorrison@chapelhill-cc.com into the development of your game. Our PGA staff uses a combina on of instruc on and golf games to understand swing basics. We are excited again to offer Academy classes for Juniors, Ladies and Men this Spring. Op ons such as our Spark program Ashley mooney Head Golf Professional helps Juniors as young as 3 understand rules, clubs amooney@chapelhill-cc.com and safety. Beginning at a recommended age of 7 we also offer our Opera on 36 Academy clinics that Clare McMahon run 12 weeks into the summer. It’s a great way to 1st Assistant Golf Pro promote prac ce by a ending class once a week. cmcmahon@chapelhill-cc.com Also, star ng in April our 8 week Ladies and Men’s clinics will resume. Developing in a group se ng

COUPLES’ GLOW GOLF SKILLS CHALLENGE MARCH 18 MGA MEMBER-MEMBER APRIL 2 & 3 ANNUAL DIVOT PARTY APRIL 7 HICKORY SHAFTED TOURNAMENT APRIL 24 SPRING AERIFICATION APRIL 25 & 26 SMGA MEMBER-GUEST MAY 13-14 MEMORIAL DAY TOURNAMENT MAY 30 THE TRADITION GENTLEMAN’S MEMBER-GUEST

JUNE

16-18

COUPLES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP JUNE 26 JULY 4TH TOURNAMENT JULY 4 SUMMER AERIFICATION JULY 5-22 COUPLES PAR 3 TOURNAMENT JULY 31 PARENT-CHILD TOURNAMENT AUGUST 7 GLOW GOLF AUGUST 12 JUNOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 21 ONE DAY MEMBER-GUEST AUGUST 26

JOIN US FOR THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION HICKORY SHAFTED TOURNAMENT! SUNDAY, APRIL 24th, 10 AM

PATRIOT GOLF DAY SEPTEMBER 5 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SEPTEMBER 9-11 CAROLINA CLASSIC SEPTEMBER 22-23 LADIES’ MEMBER GUEST GENTLEMEN’S FALL INVITATIONAL OCTOBER 13-15 PUBLIC SAFETY TOURNAMENT

NOVEMBER

POST-TURKEY DAY FAMILY TOURNAMENT NOVEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS CUP DECEMBER 2

In celebra ng the 100 year anniversary for Chapel Hill Country Club we will be hos ng a hickory sha ed tournament on April 24th at 10:00am. The golf course will be set up to a yardage similar to that of the original yardage of the course 100 years ago. As hickory sha ed clubs were used 100 years ago, we will be u lizing all hickory sha ed clubs that will be provided. Registra on is open! A lunch buﬀet with awards will follow. Family and friends are welcome to a end, but please make reserva ons.

The Tradition of the Divot Party Contributed by Dr. Royce Montgomery Since I am one of the oldest members of the Club, Joe Alden requested that I write an ar cle about the tradi on of the Divot Party. The historical aspects leading to the Divot Party began in early May of 1974. Instead of Divot Par es, we had rock par es organized in the same manner as our divot par es. Club members gathered in front of the Pro Shop which is now our maintenance shop. The front nine was not completed at that me and the back nine was played twice. A large dump truck followed the club members and the many stones found in the fairway were placed in the back of the truck. Free beer and Cokes were provided. The steak cookout at the end was a great s mulus for having large turnouts for the rock par es. We also had numerous crabgrass par es. The back nine eventually grew crabgrass which tended to migrate to the bent grass greens. Once again, the crabgrass par es were organized similarly to our divot par es. Club members carried a ball mark tool that could be used to repair ball marks and also to remove crabgrass from the bent grass greens.

The first Divot Party began with club members gathering in front of the Pro Shop. Ted, with a Miller Lite in his le hand, instructed the club members to divide with half of the volunteers going to the back nine and the other half going to the front nine. He then instructed them to fill their sand containers and spread out over the fairways. Carts carrying sand provided the sand needed to fill the divots. The refreshment cart followed the club members providing Cokes and beer. On returning to the Pro Shop, the club members were treated to a salad and steak cookout. The Divot Party was designed to accomplish two things: The first and most obvious was filling the divots with sand. The second and perhaps most important was the opportunity for club members to meet and socialize with diﬀerent people. The tradi on con nues today.

Please mark your schedule and plan to a end the next Divot Party on April 7th. Golfers and non-golfers alike are welcome to par cipate!

Sod par es occurrred on several occassions. Finley Golf Course oﬀered several acres of sod to the Chapel Hill Country Club during one of their redesigning periods. Sod par es were organized to lay sod on various bare fairways. Those of you who have par cipated in the annual Divot Party are aware of the contribu ons and hard work done by Ted Seagroves. His big smile, jovial a tude and a can of Miller Lite were instrumental in star ng and leading the Divot Par es. Ted enjoyed both the golf and social aspects of the Club. He served as Club President and volunteered to serve on numerous boards and commi ees. IN MEMORY OF MR. TED SEAGROVES, “CAP’N TEDDY”

LGA News Meet Ashley Mooney, our LGA Liaison Submi ed by Jeanne Dombcik Ashley Mooney joined the Chapel Hill Country Club team as a PGA Assistant Golf Professional in 2021. She came from Meadowood Golf and Tennis Club in Fort Pierce, Florida, where she worked as the Assistant Golf Professional while comple ng her PGA. Originally from Port St. Lucie, Florida, she has been playing golf compe vely since the age of 8. Ashley played college golf at Daytona State College where the team won the 2010 Na onal Championship. She graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2012 with two individual tles to her name. When not on the golf course, Ashley is a selfproclaimed nerd who enjoys reading Fantasy Fic on. She has been married to her husband Jason for 6 years out of the 14 that they have been together. They have a son, Colton, who is six months old. Be sure to stop in and introduce yourself. Ashley is excited to be involved with our ac ve LGA and is ready for you to schedule a lesson with her!

MARCH 12 MARCH 31 APRIL5 APRIL 12 APRIL 21 APRIL 26 MAY 3 MAY 10 MAY 12 MAY 24

SWING INTO SPRING WITH THE LGA THIRSTY THURSDAY/PRE SEASON WARM-UP OPENING DAY/LUNCHEON/BUSINESS MEETING ANOTHER YEAR AROUND THE SUN MAR/APR/MAY PAL @ CHCC THIRSTY THURSDAY/NEW MEMBER SOCIAL QUEEN BEE ROUND #1 QUEEN BEE ROUND #2 TIP @ CHCC BUBBLY BREAKFAST/LGA INVITES ACADEMY

COUPLES’ GLOW GOLF

AND

GLOW GOLF 12

AUGUST 12TH!

MARCH 18TH

SMGA News Submi ed by Jim Boerger In the fall of 2018, I moved with my wife, Sue, to North Carolina upon re ring. I arrived here hoping to find a great golf club while Sue had what she deemed to be a more important priority of finding a house to live in! Pa Gri on showed us around Chapel Hill Country Club and set me up with a prac ce round of golf … and I was home! (I did cancel two other country club visits upon finding CHCC)! By the way, we did find a house as well! Almost immediately, I “linked up” (pun intended) with CHCC’s Senior Men’s Golf Associa on (SMGA) and voila … nirvana! The SMGA is a group of more than 70 men within CHCC (over 50 years of age) who love the game as much as I do! We have organized play days every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with team or individual compe ons. Addi onally, the SMGA has an abundance of tournaments and special golf events during the year to sharpen our compe ve skills … a list of the 2022 events is listed below.

April 6 April 13 May 13, 14 June 22, 24 July 27 August 10, 12 September 28 October 28 November 3

But the best aspect of CHCC’s SMGA? The comradere within the SMGA membership is extraordinary and lifelong friendships abound within this welcoming group of senior men! The SMGA sponsors a monthly “supper club” where the club’s chef shows oﬀ his very best culinary skills, coordinated with awesome wine pairings! During the infrequent mes when the club is unavailable due to aera on or other events, we work with the CHCC golf shop to organize play at reciprocal clubs within the Triangle area. We also sponsor travel during the winter months to explore local golf venues - this year, we planned group play at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club (home of the 2022 Women’s US Open), Tobacco Road Golf Club, and Carolina Trace Country Club. So, if you’re a senior man looking for more in your golf life, come on out and join the Chapel Hill Country Club’s Senior Men’s Golf Associa on! I can assure you that new members are welcomed with open arms and you’ll absolutely treasure the friendships you’ll make and you’ll love the wonderful variety of golf and social events!

Opening Day Presidents Cup (Round 1) Begins SMGA Member-Guest SMGA Member-Member residents Cup (Round 2) Begins SMGA Championship Presidents Cup (Championship Round) Senior Cup Season End

Pizza on the Porch with the

Jordan Lake Swimmers Friday, March 24 MAKE DINING RESERVATIONS AND COME READY TO ENJOY CHEF’S SIGNATURE 3-DAY PIZZA DOUGH FRESHLY BAKED TO ORDER IN THE OUTDOOR PIZZA OVEN AND LIVE MUSIC BY THE JORDAN LAKE SWIMMERS. WE’LL BE COOKING UP FUN ON THE GOLF PORCH!

IT’S FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! 14

CAROLINA OYSTER ROAST & SHRIMP BOIL SHINDIG SATURDAY, MARCH 19TH

FEATURING LIVE MUSIC BY JOE’S COUSIN AND BEERS FROM WICKED WEED

BREWING COMPANY

BLAZING FIRE ROASTED FRESH OYSTERS COCKTAIL SAUCE, MELTED BUTTER & FLIGHTS OF HOT SAUCES JUMBO SHRIMP, ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE, POTATOES CARVED SMOKED BEEF BRISKET - CREAMY HORSERADISH ASSORTED CHEFS’ SALADS COLE SLAW GREEN BEANS & HONEY GLAZED CARROTS CORN PUDDING YEAST ROLLS & BUTTER ASSORTED COBBLERS & VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM

$50 ADULTS | $30 AGES 5-12 15

WEEKLY TENNIS CLINICS

FOR

ADULTS

MONDAYS 10-11:30 11:30-1

EVERYTHING DOUBLES 2.5-3.0 USTA RATED

TUESDAYS 9-10

FUN-DAMENTALS

WEDNESDAYS 10-11:30 11:30-1

CARDIO 3.5 USTA RATED

THURSDAYS 9-10

BEGINNER CARDIO ADULTS

10-11 AM

SHOT

11:30-1

4.0 USTA RATED ADULTS

OF THE WEEK

ADULTS

FRIDAYS 9-10

10-11:30 AM

INTERMEDIATE PICKLEBALL CARDIO

Tennis Playing tennis has many physical health benefits. Tennis will strengthen your heart, muscles and can help promote bone density. On average playing a match of tennis, men will burn over 600 calories and a female player will burn over 400 calories. If physical fitness is what draws you to the sport, we offer “Cardio Tennis” it’s heart pumping and more exci ng than jogging on a treadmill. We offer several “Cardio Tennis” clinics each week. If you work a tradi onal 9 to 5 or can’t play during the day, two of these classes are offered in the evening. Tennis can help you reach your fitness goals, whether you play in one of our clinics, compete in a league or simply play tennis with some friends. In addi on to being a good overall body workout, tennis has many mental health benefits. Playing tennis regularly increases produc on of serotonin and endorphins. This helps relieve anxiety, improve mood and sleep. Tennis is great for children’s self-esteem. This is easy to see with the kids we teach at the club. We offer several group classes for children, which is a great chance for your kids to meet new friends. Junior Team Tennis registra on will begin in Spring. Tennis compe on allows for posi ve stress and the reduc on of nega ve stress. While tennis can be challenging, it promotes self-discipline, character and the ability to manage mistakes. If you are new to the club, you can schedule a free tennis lesson with me and I can help you find a match or guide you to a class of your ability level and interest. We also have several social events where you can meet new people and play in round robins. Whether you are new to the sport or have been playing for years, we would love to help you on your journey through tennis. I know that you will become more physically fit, your mood will improve, meet new friends and strengthen exis ng rela onships. There are many ways to get involved and it would be our pleasure to help you in any way we can! Max Hilkey Director of Tennis

Junior Tennis Junior Tennis Clinics Tuesdays and Thursdays Tiny Tots: 2:30-3pm Pee Wee: 3:15-4pm Future Stars: 4pm-5pm Academy Team: 5–6:30pm Consult the Pro Shop for a skill level assessment for your child to determine the appropriate clinic.

The junior tennis program is ac ve and growing quickly! Our youngest players, star ng at 2.5 years old, always look forward to playing Fruit Salad, an exci ng game that improves their listening and reac on, while working on volley. As soon as they come through the gate they ask if it’s me to play Fruit Salad. One of my favorite things about the game is how crea ve they are with what they want to be; strawberry, Olaf, pancakes, fountain, you name it and they’ve wanted that to be their name for Fruit Salad! Our “Future Stars” love to rally and see who can have the longest rally. Some of our star players have go en rallys over 100 balls in a row. I never got that many rallys when I was 7. I like to think we have the Red, Orange, and Green progression balls to thank for our young players’ quick development. They allow even our youngest players to begin to rally and play matches. With that being said, all of our juniors look forward to Junior Team tennis where they can test their skills in matches against other clubs. Allison Himes Assistant Tennis Professional TENNIS SHOP: (919) 932-2855 MAX HILKEY: (919) 260-4248 DIRECTOR OF TENNIS MHILKEY @ CHAPELHILL - CC . COM ADRIAN BALUYOT: (252) 373-1008 HEAD TENNIS PROFESSIONAL ABALUYOT @ CHAPELHILL - CC . COM

ALLISON HIMES: (317)374-9746 ASSISTANT TENNIS PROFESSIONAL AHIMES @ CHAPELHILL - CC . COM

What an amazing me to be a junior tennis player at the Chapel Hill Country Club! Our program is thriving as evidenced by the excitement and improvement among all the juniors.

Club Championship hosted just before Christmas. Carter Harris was the winner for the Tournament Tough Draw and Will Davies was the winner of the Green Dot Draw. We also hosted the Winter Break High Performance Tennis Camp, drawing much interest and par cipa on each day. The camp provided juniors the opportunity to train, work on fitness, and improve skills before compe ng in local and na onal tournaments.

In the past year we have oﬀered many opportuni es for all our juniors to par cipate in all aspects of tennis through private lessons, clinics, and camps. One of the newest, and most popular, classes oﬀered was tennis specific fitness training. Junior players had the chance to work on specific fitness rou nes designed to improve their game and excel to the next level.

We also have to give a huge shout-out to our juniors that are now in college and using all the skills they learned throughout their me in the program. Madeline Towning will be heading into her sophomore year playing for the Sewanee Tigers, and Ben Goldstein, also in his sophomore year, will be represen ng Duke Blue Devils with their Club Team.

Other exci ng events include the end of the year Junior

Adrian Baluyot Head Tennis Professional

The junior tennis players are not the only ones with so many amazing achievements, our coaches also We are very lucky to have some of the best junior con nue to excel. Most recently, I traveled to Boston players in the na on train and par cipate in the High- to par cipate in a Top Court training program, learning Performance Program right here at our facility. Oliver from some of the greats of the game. The week featured Narbut, Johnathan Baddour, Cody Benton, Ryan Hanes, some of the best current and re red tennis players and Samantha Benton, are all currently compe ng in the world: Mar na Navra lova, widely considered throughout the United States in the highest na onal- among the greatest tennis player of all me; Nick level tournaments that junior tennis oﬀers. They are Kyrgios, with a career high ATP singles ranking of 13 all on track to have an amazing opportunity to play in the world and most recently the Australian Open college tennis in the near future. Doubles champion; Casper Rudd, currently ranked 8 in the world; and Denis Shapovalov, with a career high Another exci ng new program is the Tournament ranking of 10 in the world. I was recently selected as Tough Program, which con nues to expand. All the a team coach for the USTA Spring Team Championship juniors par cipa ng in the program have improved that will be held in Mobile, AL in early March. This is drama cally and con nue to do so. The majority of the a Na onal Level 1 event and considered the highestplayers are currently playing at the top of their line up level team compe on in country. in high school and middle school, and are also playing in many of the local Junior USTA tournaments, and As the tennis program con nues to grow, we can’t wait seeing amazing results. This group comprises of Carter to see all the exci ng places our junior players will go, Harris, Thompson Falk, Alex Sevilla, Wesley Hanes, and taking with them the lessons they’ve learned on and Kathryne Woods. oﬀ the court.

CASPER RUDD

NICK KYRGIOS

MARTINA NAVRITALOVA

DENIS SHAPOVALOV

Pickleball Did you know that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States? According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Associa on’s (SFIA) 2022 Topline Par cipa on Report, released in Feb. 2022, Pickleball grew in 2021 to 4.8 million players in the US, an incredible two-year growth rate of 39.3%. Have you ever told your partner to stay out of the kitchen? If so, you might be a good candidate for an exci ng game of Pickleball! The kitchen is the preferred name amongst players for “The NonVolley Zone”, an area on court where balls can only be hit a er bouncing first.

Pickleball is an exci ng game for all ages and can be enjoyed by both experienced tennis players and those new to racquet sports. Since the construc on of the new courts, I’ve really had a blast teaching kids as young as 7 years old, and adults who are just now picking it up in re rement. As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, we are looking to get more members involved in pickleball leagues and events.

The Tennis Pro Shop is also your go to place for new tennis racquets, paddles, balls, shoes, hats, and sportswear. As we are all aware, it’s been challenging these past couple of years ge ng Now, with the addi on of four new pickleball items in stock, and in the sizes we requested. courts at the club, you too can join in this fun, fast But now we are seeing a gradual improvement in paced sport! If you haven’t given it a try yet, stop selec on with less out of stock items and shorter by the Tennis Pro Shop where we can provide you lead mes. We look forward to stocking the latest with demo paddles, balls and book a pickleball gear for you as soon as it becomes available. court for you. If you need help figuring out the scoring or want to learn some good shots and Jon Connolly strategies, we oﬀer lessons and clinics to match Tennis Shop Manager your skill level.

SATURDAY, SEP

CHCC’S CENTENNIAL C 2 PM - 5 PM

FAMILY FESTIVAL FUN

5 PM - 6 PM

THE O’KAYSIONS

6:30-8:45 PM THE EMBERS FEATURING

FOOD TRUCKS

CRAIG WOOLARD

BOUNCY HOUSES

PTEMBER 17 TH

L FAMILY FESTIVAL WITH

FAMILY FUN

2 BANDS

FIREWORKS 23

Member Spotlight had visions of being dual-sport members but that faded as golf soon took most of our limited leisure time. We were also told that major clubhouse renovations were in the works. So in April 2000, we became members. The clubhouse decor was dated and the food marginal but the social side was great. Lynn joined the Nifty Niners, I played in the Dogfight occasionally, club tournaments (this was preMGA) and when eligible, (55 yrs old) the SMGA. Membership was on the rise but we never had a problem getting a tee time even on the weekends. Sometimes we could drive over on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and just walk on. Friday night Lynn and I moved to Chapel Hill from Weston, CT buffets, cold or hot choices, after a late afternoon in July, 1996, just as our daughter, Kristen, was golf round were super fun and casual. You could graduating from Lehigh University and in typical, choose the cold buffet, assorted cheeses, peel “IBM - I’ve Been Moved” fashion, we had a weekend and eat shrimp, smoked salmon plus dessert for to find a house! Lucky for us, our realtor was Debi $10! Saleeby! Debi was involved in membership on the Club’s Board and gave us a tour, also showing us The major renovations to the clubhouse were the Oaks neighborhood. Being avid tennis players sidelined after a controversial two slate Board at the time, and wanting more property, she found election. However, the new Board, with finances us a new house just the other side of University seeming solid, had the old pool demolished and Lake and close to the Chapel Hill Tennis Club. She did a great job as we have been in our house for 25 years. It must also have been fate because when our son, Jerry, who lives in Raleigh, graduated from Duke in 1992, we had his graduation dinner at the old Aurora Restaurant in Carr Mill Mall, never thinking we would be down this way again! We joined the CH Tennis Club but it did not have the social side we were looking for. Then, in 1999, our neighbors, Jim and Wendy Pease, who were new CHCC members, told us that after a contentious vote on a major course renovation plus a court challenge,100 members had quit and the club was offering a special incentive to join. Sound familiar? Jim and Wendi invited us to play and we were hooked. The course was beautiful (brand new bent grass greens), the people we met were very friendly, and the tennis courts amazing! We

clubhouse to be built. We were lucky that our daughter Kristen, husband Henry and their children James, Charlie and Emma Carmouche also joined at that time. We’ve so enjoyed watching the grandchildren grow up here and sharing all the family Dinners with Santa, Easter Egg hunts and definitely rooting for the Sharks!

replaced with the lovely one we have now - paid entirely by the capital improvement fund. No assessment, no dues increase. Build it and they will come … hoards of new members, mostly young families, joined and the pool became PACKED. On weekends, it was diﬃcult to get a chair to sit on no less an umbrella! With the influx of new members, the Board again started looking to renovate the clubhouse. A relatively modest plan was presented when a smokey fire damaged the Golf and Tennis Pro Shop to the extent they had to be rebuilt. Soon after construction was completed, in the middle of the night, Chef Phil’s laptop caught fire (remember the battery fires that banned them from planes?) and the old clubhouse was destroyed! Everything was about to change! We’ll never forget getting a call in late January of 2007 from Jim Pease, President of the Club; “You’d better sit down, I am calling to tell you the Club burned down last night.” He then said we have a plan and we are having a lunch outside the Pro Shop for members to come up to talk about what we are going to do.

CHCC has always been a very welcoming and friendly club but the years we spent together as members in our tent were very special and anyone who was there has very fond memories of those years, just ask them. At the time, I was on the board of the nine hole lady golfers association called the Nifty Niners. Our greatest quest was to be the winner on Playday and be awarded a “Nifty Niner golf ball”. Life was pretty simple and fun. Also, being on the House and Finance Committees, and the Board of Directors was a busy and exciting time. Walking through the amazing new clubhouse right before it opened with our manager, Brent Burkhardt, we knew the future was bright. Our Opening Gala in June 2009 was a most exciting event with formal dress, music and dancing along with local dignitaries. Making friends and memories is what Chapel Hill Country Club has meant and that’s what we are celebrating during our historic Centennial year. Congratulations to our Club - its come a long way! Jerry & Lynn Gschwind

Within weeks a heated tent was up, a NASCAR trailer was retrofitted as a kitchen and “fancy” porta potties arrived! We were up and running. There was a popcorn machine, parties on the tennis patio and down at the pool, members even had family weddings in our tent clubhouse! There was a tremendous feeling of camaraderie - especially when a windy day made us think the tent was about to collapse. We lost very few members and even gained some with the expectations of the new, beautiful

Easter at the Club EASTER EGG DASH!

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 - 11 AM SHARP! DON’T BE LATE! SIGN UP NOW AND COME ENJOY A DASH FOR 8,000 EASTER EGGS, THE HUNT FOR THE GOLDEN EGGS, AND LUNCH AT THE CLUBHOUSE. BRING YOUR EASTER BASKETS. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.

EASTER BRUNCH SUNDAY, APRIL 17

SEATINGS EVERY HALF-HOUR- 11 AM - 2 PM RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

The Centennial Chapel Hill Country Club is celebrating it’s Centennial this year. It’s an amazing time to be a member, and we hope you are excited to be a part of the Club’s story! We are starting the second century of the Club with a full roster for Golf Membership, continuous growth and exciting plans for the future. Thanks to the Centennial Committee, we have a calendar full of events to celebrate the occassion throughout the year. Dr. Sarah Shelby, a member of the committee, has gone above and beyond to research and collect bits and pieces of the club’s history over the past year through numerous visits to the Wilson Library, the Chapel Hill Historical Society, help from Club members and searching archives online. We’ll be sharing collections of her findings in this and future editions of this newsletter. We hope that you will plan to attend all of the Centennial events and that you will enjoy learning about the history of the Club.

THE FIRST CLUBHOUSE- ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD IN CHAPEL HILL COURTESY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION, THE WILSON LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

THE CAROLINA INN’S 1924 BROCURE FEATURING THE CHCC CLUBHOUSE AND EARLIEST 2 GOLF HOLES - COURTESY OF CLIFF AND LINDA BUTLER

Recollecting the 100 Year History of Chapel Hill Country Club Chapel Hill Country Club is ge ng ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary in April. 100 years is a significant milestone for any country club but for a small club in a college town it is a phenomenal feat. For 100 years the club has been a place for family, for golf, tennis, and swimming, and for countless par es and community events.

Chapel Hill Country Club really began to flourish in the 1930s when a 9-hole golf course was completed. Dr. Robert Lawson, a UNC professor and coach for several of the university’s athle c teams, agreed to undertake the construc on of the golf course despite having no experience with golf course architecture. He didn’t even know how to play! With the help of Isaac Geer, the laborer who almost single handedly did the back breaking work of preparing the land, a 9-hole course was coaxed from the property’s rocky and hilly terrain.

Back in 1922, Chapel Hill was a village centered on the growing university and was anything but metropolitan. The Carolina Inn brochure from the period boasted that there were two police oﬃcers to keep the town safe! It seemed unlikely that the town would support a country club but on April 19th, Chapel Hill Country Club was incorporated.

The par 32 course was nicknamed Goat Hill, both for the diﬃcult terrain that made golfers feel like goats and the Coker goats that would roam its expanse. It would later be lauded as having some beau ful golf holes equal to any course in the country and Dr. Lawson praised for an accomplishment worthy of a skilled golf architect (OB Keller and Donald Ross, respec vely).

Wri en by Sarah Shelby, PhD also printed in Living in The Oaks and Meadowmont Magazine

While the course It began simply had always been with land rented popular with Country free of charge from Club members the Coker family. and students alike When the club (students were house opened, it allowed golf privileges was li le more than in 1927 for a mere $10 one large room per year or 50 cents with roughly hewn per round), this new walls. The members course significantly were asked to bring enhanced the club’s odd teacups and reputa on and cutlery to ou it DR. ROBERT LAWSON AND ESTELLE LAWSON PAGE a rac on. But what the kitchen. It had COURTESY OF THE CHAPEL HILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY really anchored Goat a rudimentary golf Hill and the club in course of just 3 North Carolina history holes and no real access road un l the aptly named ‘Country Club is owed to one woman, Estelle Lawson Page. The Road’ was later established. Members were mostly story told is that over dinner one night Dr. Lawson UNC faculty and ac vi es centered on socializing told Estelle to put away her tennis racquet because they were going to learn golf. They were self-taught and golf. using only 4 clubs: a brassie, a 2 iron, a 5 iron and a pu er.

Pre-Flight training school and was a popular place to entertain the servicemen with dances and potlucks. By 1957 the golf course was redesigned, this me by the soon to be famous golf architect George Cobb in coopera on with Finley and Lovings. The club house was enlarged, locker rooms were built and a bar with drink lockers was designed (members would keep their own liquor enclosed to evade the local legisla on prohibi ng the sale of hard alcohol). The first swim meet was held at the country club pool in 1959, a precursor to the popular Sharks swim team on which so many of the Chapel Hill children have par cipated.

IN THE ESTELLE LAWSON PAGE SCRAPBOOKS, 1930S-1950S, SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION, THE WILSON LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

Estelle was a natural and on October 14, 1937, she won the Woman’s Na onal Amateur Golf Championship. She had an illustrious amateur career, winning the Carolinas Amateur tournament 10 mes and the North South Tournament 7 mes. Estelle even twice represented the United States in England as part of the Davis Cup team. Back at home she was able to outplay most of the members and to accommodate Estelle the club’s 1940 rule book stated that women scoring under 50 were allowed to play a er 1PM with the men. Her notoriety gave recogni on to Chapel Hill Country Club; Estelle’s press o en men oned Goat Hill’s role in the making of North Carolina’s beloved champion. Expansion of the golf course was not the only improvement that a racted members. By 1939 the club had a swimming pool and tennis courts. During WWII it was approved for use as a firing range to accommodate the Chapel Hill Naval

Chapel Hill con nued to thrive, and the town’s popula on saw unprecedented growth between the late 1940s to 1970s, growing by over 100% in some decades. Goat Hill could not accommodate the town’s expansion and demand. The course was sold to UNC in 1972 and the club house was sold to the Church of Jesus Christ of La er-Day Saints in 1977. Parts of the old Goat Hill course can s ll be found as the current disc golf course near the outdoor educa on center. The Church of Jesus Christ of La er-Day Saints remains in the old club house, but the swimming pool was filled in and the weeds poking thru the surface are all that remains of the tennis courts. Chapel Hill Country Club relocated to its current loca on a er purchasing and renova ng the defunct Royal Oaks Golf Club. By 1979 there was a club house, an 18-hole golf course and a swimming pool. The tennis courts, 10 clay and 4 hard courts, were built and have long been recognized as some of the best in Chapel Hill.

THE SECOND CLUBHOUSE POST-FIRE COURTESY OF LYNN GSCHWIND

FROM THE CHAPEL HILL WEEKLY, JANUARY 26, 1961, PG 3B COURTESY OF THE WILSON LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

Ken Whitaker, an early Director of Tennis, recalls spending hours spreading Har Tru by hand with his wife to ensure a good playing surface. The pool underwent several improvements and became home to the CHCC Sharks in 1981. The golf course was redesigned in 1998-1999 by John La Foy, an architect famous for his work on over 100 courses, including Augusta. The club was a busy place over these years, enjoyed by members for recrea on and dining and used by Chapel Hill for weddings, fundraisers, and mee ngs.

capacity. The golf course is in the best condi on ever with ongoing improvements. Pickleball courts were recently installed for members who enjoy America’s fastest growing sport. Crea ve dining solu ons to accommodate pandemic guidelines allowed members to seamlessly enjoy the club’s culinary oﬀerings.

While reconstruc on began, ac vi es and dining were held under a tent in the parking lot. Golf, tennis, and swim carried on undisturbed. A larger and improved club house opened in 2009 and the Chapel Hill Country Club con nued to succeed.

As the town and country emerge from the pandemic, it’s me to celebrate Chapel Hill Country Club’s 100-year milestone. A Hickory Sha golf event has members playing with these old clubs on a course with a layout replica ng the original Goat Hill. Members can wear their whites and test their skill on wooden rackets at the 100-year tennis event. A roaring twen es gala will take place in May with Gatsbyesque fanfare and 1920s a re. The Embers headline an all-ages extravaganza and a trivia night hosted by local historian Freddie Kiger will both occur in September. Those who read this ar cle carefully may be able to win some easy trivia points. Keep an eye out for other events along the way as the club basks in 100 years of history.

Chapel Hill’s growth con nued during the COVID pandemic as North Carolina saw significant numbers reloca ng to the area from other states. Chapel Hill Country Club con nues to meet the town’s expanding needs. It boasts the highest membership in all its 100-year history; 800 families and over 1,000 children. Members enjoyed golf in unprecedented numbers during the pandemic and golf membership is at full

Looking back on these 100 years, the current Chapel Hill Country Club owes a debt of gra tude to the forbearers. To the Dr. Lawsons and members like him that gave their me and talent to making the club be er. To the Isaac Geers and employees like him who’s work allowed the club to thrive. And to the town of Chapel Hill that welcomed the club into its framework and solidified its permanence.

This halcyon era of the club was threatened in 2007 when a blazing fire destroyed the club house roof, and the building was condemned. The exact cause of the fire was hard to determine (grease? or a computer short in the kitchen?) but the loss turned into an opportunity.

You’re invited to the Club’s 100th birthday Party! Tuesday, April 19th 6 pm

100th Anniversary Family centennial celebration Friday, April 22nd family entertainment CHCC’s signature Fried Chicken

ROARING 20’S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION GALA FRIDAY, MAY 13 DRESS TO IMPRESS IN 1920’S COCKTAIL ATTIRE LIVE MUSIC BY THE BLACK & BLUE EXPERIENCE HEAVY HORS D’OEUVRES STATIONS THIS IS THE CHCC PARTY OF THE CENTURY!

Yoga In the Garden with Dr. Natalie Sariban Starting Tuesday, April 5th Tuesdays: 9:30 AM | Fridays: 7:00 AM Bring your own mat, block and strap. Sign up for each class individually by emailing Natalie: natalie.sariban@gmail.com CLASSES ARE HELD IN THE ROSEMARY ROOM GARDEN BY THE CLUBHOUSE. CHECK THE CLUB CALENDAR FOR DATES OR CONTACT NATALIE . $20 PER CLASS PAID DIRECTLY TO NATALIE - CASH, CHECK OR VENMO

KIDS’ CLUB - FRIDAY NIGHTS 5:30 - 9 PM

FOR AGES

4 AND OLDER

BY RESERVATION ONLY SIGN UP ON THE EVENTS CALENDAR . $15 INCLUDES DINNER AND SUPERVISION. BE SURE TO MAKE DINING RESERVATIONS FOR PARENTS , TOO ! 34

SUNDAY

MAY 1 8 AM YOUTH

TRIATHLON FUNDRAISER FOR ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS

JUST TRYAN IT Returns to Chapel Hill Country Club On Sunday, May 1, CHCC is proud to again be the host of the annual JUST TRYAN IT Kids Triathlon. As many of you know, this event is not only a fun and meaningful day for the kids and families that race, but it is also provides a cri cal lifeline to Triangle area families with a child diagnosed with cancer. The mission of JUST TRYAN IT (JTI) is first and foremost to provide financial relief to families with a child in cancer treatment. Because of the support of CHCC, JTI raised more than $200,000 and helped 141 families in 2021 . It is important to note that 71% of JTI families are living on a post-diagnosis income of less than $60,000 per year. The majority of the funds (54%) were used to provide stable and secure housing for families. Sixteen percent was used for uncovered medical expenses like physical therapy and the remainder was for transporta on (11%), u li es (10%) and funeral expenses (9%). As the racers are busy training and fundraising, we wanted to thank the club membership for their support of this organiza on and for sharing the beau ful property and allowing JTI to make such a meaningful impact in the lives of our racers and families as well as the families we serve. This year, our Face of the Race is a sweet li le boy named Evere who is a 3 year old who was diagnosed at age 2 in December of 2020.. Evere t’s parents both worked full me. His mom is a Medical ICU nurse who has been trea ng COVID-19 pa ents. She took unpaid leave to care for Evere during the most intensive part of his treatment. JUST TRYAN IT provided financial assistance to help cover mortgage payments while Mom was out of work.Evere and his family will join us on Race Day to provide added inspira on to our racers.

WWW.CHAPELHILLCOUNTRYCLUB.COM (919) 967-8201 103 LANCASTER DRIVE CHAPEL HILL, NC 27517

CHCC News March-April 2022

Articles inside

DINING

EASTER AT THE CLUB

TENNIS

LIST OF EVENTS