The Alpiner A Lifestyle Magazine for Alpine Country Club Members March - April 2016 | Volume 2 | Issue 2
Selling, Buying, Moving? Learn the tips and tricks of buying or selling a home and how to make sure your move goes smoothly Member Events Excitement & fun is just right around the corner with our upcoming member events Social Spotlight Learn all the ways you can utilize Alpine for your next social event
Spring is Here! 2
Nic Haun General Manager nhaun@AlpineCC.com Ext. 14 Mike Morin Food & Beverage Manager mmorin@AlpineCC.com Ext. 29 Megan Kenney Food & Beverage Manager mkenney@AlpineCC.com Ext. 21 Brian Schaffer, PGA Director of Golf bschaffer@AlpineCC.com Ext. 26 Liane McDonnell Director of Sales & Marketing lmcdonnell@AlpineCC.com Ext. 23 Scott Gabrielson Golf Course Superintendent sgabrielson@AlpineCC.com 401-943-0059 Amanda Greenwood Wedding & Events Coordinator agreenwood@AlpineCC.com Ext. 13
Table of Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Back Cover
Showcase Your Specialty in The Alpiner Message from Nic Haun Message from the Board & Membership Committee Spring Real Estate Moving this Spring & Spring Home Improvement Tips Easter Sunday Event & Highlight of Events Alpine Rewards Golf Shop, Golf Course & Dining Hours Events & Delicious Dish! Social Spotlight
Culinary Team info@AlpineCC.com Ext. 12 Golf Shop 401-944-9760 Stephanie Sauro Accounts Payable/Receivable ssauro@AlpineCC.com Ext. 22 Edgar Guzman Director of Maintenance eguzman@AlpineCC.com Ext. 32
Showcase Your Specialty in
The Alpiner We hope you are enjoying all the great information and news that has been featured in our special Member contribution section. At The Alpine, we are fortunate to have members that specialize in diverse industries. This new addition to our magazine provides you the opportunity to lend your knowledge and expertise to help fellow members - all while networking and promoting your business! Please review the upcoming topics that are listed below. If you are interested in contributing an article, please contact Liane McDonnell at LMcDonnell@AlpineCC.com at your earliest convenience as space is limited.
• May & June – Outdoor Fun (Landscaping, Fitness/Hiking, Sports Conditioning, Motorcycles) • July & August – Healthy Lifestyle (Important Screenings, Sun Smart, Nutrition, Travel/Activities, Exercise) • September & October – Education for Adults (Social Media, Digital Marketing, Technology Trends) • November & December – Holiday Memories (Holiday Memories at Alpine from Members, Retail Information, Economic Outlook) We would also love to hear your thoughts and ideas for possible themes. Please let us know what you would like to have featured and we will do our best to accommodate.
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I
want to thank everyone for the warm welcome that I’ve been lucky enough to receive. I was excited to start this opportunity, and I am even more excited after getting to know many of the members over the past
month. In my short time at the Club so far, it’s obvious that the members are what make The Alpine such a special place (having a great team in place helps too)! We have an amazing Club and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I hope everyone enjoys the new format for the newsletter. The first edition of Alpine Life was a big success, and we are proud to bring back the traditional
title of ‘The Alpiner’ with the new look format! We are excited about what the upcoming season holds, and you will find several highlights in the following pages. I want to say a special thank you to those members who contributed to the last edition as well as this one. It’s exciting to see everyone get involved and, we hope it inspires others to write articles for upcoming issues! The team has been hard at work putting together the calendar for the summer, and I think there will be plenty of activities and events for everyone to enjoy. Easter Dinner is right around the corner along with the April Membership Meeting so I hope to see everyone at those events. The always popular cigar dinners are up on the website calendar along with all of the golf tournaments and demo days for the year as well, so you can begin to plan your summer accordingly! Despite some weather that challenged the power in the building for a couple of days, the year is off to a great start. Golf season appears to be right around the corner and with that will bring the opening of the pool and even more activity around the Club. Our new fitness room is nearing completion so keep an eye out for updates on that, as it will be a great amenity for everyone to take advantage of in the coming months. Lastly, as we continue to evolve our Club’s future that is built on such a deep tradition, I wanted to take the opportunity to share a personal hobby of mine that I know is enjoyed by many of the members as well. Cigars are a staple for many here, so I’d like to share one of my favorite cigar pairings. I was lucky enough to try this cigar for the first time on my honeymoon in the Dominican Republic last May. The Davidoff Special T has a light aftertaste with hints of pepper that I enjoy with two fingers of Oban 14 served neat in a rocks glass or snifter. Oban comes from the Highland region of Scotland and has a smoky undertone that pairs well with the Special T. I hope you enjoy the rest of the current issue, and I look forward to seeing you around the Club soon!
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Message from the Board & Membership Committee Message from the Board Time certainly flies when we’re having fun! One year ago at this time we had a demolished clubhouse and four feet of snow on the ground! Now we have an outstanding new Grille Room, a beautiful new Tyrolean Room, our new Pub Amici with its state-of-the-art Sport and Entertainment Center, and a new, soon to be completed fitness center. As you can see, the old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” is certainly appropriate in this case. The before, during construction and completed pictures speak for themselves. Some of you never knew (and I’m sure others may have forgotten) what the former Men’s and Ladies’ Grille Rooms looked like. There is no question, the Alpine Family has countless reasons to be excited about our future!
Old card room transformed into Pub Amici
Our old dining room before renovation
The new season is rapidly approaching, and we are in the process of scheduling two important events for April. One will be the Spring Shareholders’ Meeting and the other event will be a new Meet the Committees Night. The goal of the Meet the Committees Night will be to introduce all of you to your Committees and their respective Chairs. The Chairs will make a presentation regarding the function and responsibility of each Committee followed by a question and answer period, so keep your eyes open for those dates. One thing we surely don’t miss from last year is the four feet of snow we still had on the ground. Spring is here (maybe) and with a little luck we will be playing outdoor golf soon! Len Accardo Alpine Country Club Board President
Message from the Membership Committee The mild winter has brought a handful of new members to the club already, and we are getting ready for the Spring Open House coming Saturday, April 9th. Your Membership Committee will be there to represent The Alpine to prospective members and give them a tour of the Club. We are also getting ready for Complimentary Guest Day taking place on Sunday 5/1. This is a day where members can take their friends, coworkers or neighbors that have an interest in joining Alpine for a complimentary round of golf! The best way to gain new members is through referrals from current members. Please contact Liane McDonnell for information on membership. Liane McDonnell Director of Sales & Marketing and the Alpine Country Club Membership Committee
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Spring Real Estate
By Karl Martone
Hello Alpine Friends, As many of you know the Spring Real Estate market is traditionally a great time to invest in your next home, investment property or maybe even a vacation home. It is also known as a great time to sell. The current Real Estate climate, in terms of value, is what I would call “healthy”. Typically most sellers wait until spring to list their property for sale. Flowers bloom, lawns get green again and weather (hopefully) is pleasant. While this is a popular strategy it also means that inventory increases and so does the competition. The weather has been on our side so it may make sense to get the process started now. You will “beat the rush” and the competition will be slim. The probability that you will get a great price in a short period of time is positive.
Tips for Sellers • Clean up curb appeal • Thin out the house (de-junk) • Most importantly price the property correctly 4
My advice to buyers would be the same. The serious sellers are looking for the serious buyers. Interest rates are still at an all-time low, and property values are fair. Your advantage as a buyer will be that the Spring market will bring more inventory. However you will find motivated sellers are on the market all year round.
Tips for Buyers • Get pre-approved before you start shopping • Get referred to a full-time experienced buyers’ representive
• Most importanly enjoy the process In closing, whether you are selling or buying now or in the future I wish you a wonderful experience! Karl Martone, The Martone Group, 401.232.7900 or karl@martonegroup.com
Moving This Spring? Reducing Stress is Easier Than You Think Whether relocating an entire home or moving to or from a seasonal home, it can be an overwhelming and stressful experience. The best way to ensure a seamless move is to work with a knowledgeable team of moving professionals. Experienced movers understand the proper steps that should be taken in order to reduce confusion and eliminate disorganization.
The benefits of working with a moving company, as opposed to managing it on your own, include: • The logistical coordination of the entire moving process from start to finish
Be sure to research the moving company, because there are many less-than-reputable businesses that exist in the marketplace today. Here are some features to look for when choosing a professional moving company:
and others
• All movers should pass a background check • Moving teams should be fully-uniformed, punctual
• Eliminating the risk of personal injury to yourself • Lowering the chance of belongings being broken or
damaged and walls or floors being scratched or scuffed
• Lessening of your stress when packing by using moving company materials, such as reusable crates and wardrobe boxes
• Assistance with packaging, labeling, transporting and unpacking • Insurance that provides protection for your personal belongings during the move
Spring is the season when most people initiate their home/property search. Through strategic management and effective budgeting, your next move does not have to be a daunting task.
and courteous
• Check to see how long the staff members have worked for the company; you want to avoid temporary workers
• Make sure there is an experienced management team coordinating all the many aspects of a move
With proper planning and professional guidance, the move into or out of your next home can be a positive experience for all. Brian Crum, Gentry Moving & Storage, 855.436.8799 or brian@gentrymoving.com.
Spring Home Improvement Tips by Keith Beck Spring is upon us, and we are all into the golf mode. But some of us may be thinking, “What can I do to my home this year for improvements?” Spring improvements should be mostly aesthetic, as visual is everything! Aesthetic changes also give you the most bang for your buck. A simple thing such as painting a new color on the walls can influence the mood of an entire room! Changing flooring from carpet to hardwood can influence the flow from space to space in your home. More major improvements like renovating kitchen or bathrooms do not need to be all that major. In the kitchen, cabinets can be improved without replacing them. New technologies allow them to be refinished as long as their structure is sound. Something as easy as
painting and refinishing your cabinets can make it appear as though the whole kitchen is renovated! Backsplashes can also be painted to look like entirely different tile. Bathrooms can be remodeled in exactly the same way. If you would like to know how this process works, just ask Cuzz! Or, you could also take a look in the Alpine Dining Room. New flooring, paint and refinished woodwork created a totally new space! Enjoy improving your home this season! Keith Beck, Colorscapes LLC, 401.474.7606 or colorscapes@verizon.net
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Join Us for Easter Sunday Sunday, March 27 Reservations Available from 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm, on the half hour Adults $46 | Kids ages 4-10 $15 Easter Egg Hunt at 1:30 pm. | Family Photos, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Antipasto Station
Entrée Station
Artesian Bread Display Shrimp Cocktail Smoked Salmon
Sides
Haddock & Mussels Baked haddock topped with garlic, lemon, herbs & tomato
Fresh Spring Vegetables Oven Roasted Red Potato White Mashed Potato
Stuffed Leg of Lamb Slow Roast Prime Rib Fresh Virginia Ham
Veal Spezzatta Slow cooked, fresh peas & mushrooms
Pizza, French Fries, Chicken Fingers, Franks in A Blanket, Mac & Cheese
Pasta Station
Chicken Picatta Lemon butter, white wine & capers
Mini Pastry Display
Carving Station
Penne Marinara Tortellini Pink Vodka Cavatelli Aglio é Olio
Children’s Station
Dessert
Please RSVP to Michael Morin at 401.943.2670 x29 or mmorin@alpinecc.com.
A Highlight of Alpine Events
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Alpine
Rewards
We are excited to begin Alpine Rewards, a way members can earn points simply by utilizing the Club - a way for the Club to ‘give back’ to all of our members! Beginning this month, similar to other rewards programs, every dollar you spend on applicable purchases earns you 1 point. Once you accumulate a certain number of points, you will hit rewards status levels. Social Membership categories & Golfing Membership categories will have their own status levels with different point totals to reach. Each category is explained below: Golfing Members “Gold Status” - Accumulating 6,500 Alpine Rewards points, you will receive a 5% discount on eligible purchases for the remainder of that calendar year and the following calendar year. “Platinum Status” - Accumulating 10,000 Alpine Rewards points, you will receive a 10% discount on eligible purchases for the remainder of that calendar year and the following calendar year. Social, Dining, Taste of Alpine Members “Gold Status” - Accumulating 1,600 Alpine Rewards points, you will receive a 2.5% discount on eligible purchases for the remainder of that calendar year and the following and following calendar year. “Platinum Status” - Accumulating 3,000 Alpine Rewards points, you will receive a 5% discount on eligible purchases for the remainder of that calendar year and the following calendar year. ‘Applicable Purchases’ to earn Alpine Rewards points include, but are not limited to: guest fees, cart fees, merchandise, food and beverage, tournament entry fees, and member related special event fees. All points are equal to $1 USD. $1 spent is equal to 1 Alpine Rewards point. For every 1,250 Alpine Rewards points earned, golfing members will receive one free Guest Pass. Please feel free to contact the office anytime for questions or concerns about this exciting new program! We hope you enjoy it! 7
Golf Shop Info:
Golf Course Info:
The new season is right around the corner and hopefully everyone had great winter! This is the time of year to make sure you have everything you need for the new golf season. Titleist and Taylor Made are trying to help by offering this special: buy 3 dozen golf balls and get a dozen free with personalization!
The changeability of the weather has been on display unlike any winter I remember for a while. Unseasonably warm days, frigid weekends below zero, with an occasional blizzard thrown in. The only constant is that the snow is here only on weekends!
The Annual Cart Plan is back, and last year 22 members took advantage of the opportunity to sign up. However, over 40 members played enough rounds to make it worth their while! The 2016 Annual Cart Plan is $1,400 for individuals and $2,000 for Member + Significant Other. If you would like to know how many rounds you played last year, please call the Golf Shop and we’ll be happy to help you.
During the winter, the staff has been busy with pruning trees to open up fairways, removing deadwood and prepping landscape areas for spring activity. Did I mention we also refurbished all our maintenance equipment and course accessories? The big questions are: How did the course fair over the winter? & When are we opening? So far we look good, but winter is not over until Palm Sunday, which is just an astronomical date; we all know winter is over when it decides it is over. That being said here is a rough schedule:
To order the golf balls or to sign up for the Annual Cart Plan, please log in to the Alpine website and click the Golf Shop News section. From that page you will be able to see full details on all the deals. Also, you can email Brian Schaffer at bschaffer@alpinecc.com for more information.
• The earliest we will look to open the greens would be
I would also like to give a CONGRATULATIONS to Dave Ruggieri for making his first Hole-In-One on a golf trip to Arizona. It was at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club on Hole #14 with a Pitching wedge from 160 yards.
• The first aerification of the greens will be the Monday and
Thanks and Great Golfing! Brian Schaffer, PGA
mid-March.
• The practice tee will stay covered until the week of the ABCD tournament.
• Golf carts can go out after the ground is firm, which will depend on how frost and weather affect the turf.
Tuesday after the ABCD. We will keep the Golf Shop and the members updated as we put definite dates on the schedule. We are all chomping at the bit just like you and are ready to go as soon as conditions allow. The Greens Staff and I appreciate your consideration and support, we look forward to seeing you this spring! Yours in golf, Scott Gabrielson, CGCS & The Greens Staff
Give your friends and family the Alpine Experience! Guests are always welcome for lunch or dinner! You can also invite guests to enjoy the fun member events at Alpine, such as Easter, Paint & Vino, Ballroom Dancing, Trivia Night and more! Keep an eye on the website calendar for details on all events.
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Dining Hours:
March Mondays: Closed Tuesdays: Closed Wednesdays: 11am – 9pm Thursdays: Closed Fridays: 11am – 9pm Saturdays: 4pm – 9pm Sundays: 11am – 5pm
April Mondays: Closed Tuesdays: 11am – 5pm Wednesdays: 11am – 9pm Thursdays: 11am – 5pm Fridays: 11am – 9pm Saturdays: 11am – 9pm Sundays: 11am – 8pm
This Season’s Exciting Member Events! March
Saturday 3/19 Sunday 3/20 Sunday 3/27
St. Joseph’s Day Zeppoles Tour of Italy/Parents’ Night Out Palm Sunday Dinner Easter Dinner
April
Wednesday 4/6 Master’s Dinner Saturday 4/9 Open House Dinner for Two/Parent’s Night Out Sunday 4/10 Chicken Dinner Wednesday 4/13 Paint & Vino Wednesday 4/27 Ballroom Dancing Saturday 4/30 Dinner for Two/Parent’s Night Out
Early May
Sunday 5/1 Sunday 5/8
Complimentary Guest Day Mother’s Day
Recipe:
Grouper and Shellfish with Bechamel 5 oz. Parchment Paper 2 lbs Grouper Fillets 2 lbs Scallops (10-20 per pound) 2 lbs Shrimp (21-25 per pound) 1 oz. Mushrooms ¼ bunch Green Onions 2 oz. Julienne Vegetables (your choice) 2 oz. White Rice Salt & Pepper to taste
For Bechamel Sauce: 1 oz. Chopped Parsley 1 oz. White Wine ¼ oz. Lemon Juice ¼ oz. Fresh Dill
Top with Bechamel mixture. Fold over parchment paper and close by continuously folding in one direction. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Pre heat oven to 350°F. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut parchment paper in heart shape and oil well. Cut Grouper Fillet into small pieces. Sautee mushrooms. Mix together white wine, lemon juice, parsley, dill, green onion, salt and pepper. Place rice and vegetables on bottom of parchment paper. Place seafood on top of rice and vegetables.
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S
pring is right around the corner! We are very excited not only for some warmer weather but for the many
fun events we have coming up here at The Alpine!
The Social Committee has been working hard to plan events to bring members together and have a great time. Whether it is joining us for the traditional Alpine Easter Dinner or sharing laughs at Trivia Night on 3/18 we hope to see you soon! If you are looking for the perfect location for a First Communion, Graduation, Birthday or Anniversary Celebration contact Amanda Greenwood, Wedding and Events Coordinator. There are a variety of room and menu options to choose from to make your special occasion even more special here at The Alpine! Amanda Greenwood Wedding & Events Coordinator
Welcome New Members! If you see any of these members around the club, please say hello and make them feel welcome! Jeffrey & Lori Fleming, Cranston RI Peter & Marissa Nastasi, Johnston RI Francesco Paola III, Smithfield RI Louis & Linda Pullano, Cranston RI Peter & Lori Ruggieri, Cranston RI Frank & Jamie Salisbury, Cumberland RI
Doug & Judy Sherman, Cranston RI Carl & Tania Tasca Jr, Foster RI Robert & Susan Twardowski, Cranston RI
Warwick Property Preservation: Michael DeFusco
Timothy Packhem Jason Charpentier Michael Caparco
Member Announcements
We have started a fun new way to share your exciting news with the entire Alpine Family! If you have a new baby, a new pet, an engagement, an award or anything else you would like to share, please email Liane McDonnell anytime!
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