THE
CREEK
MARCH 2020 NEWSLETTER
STAFF DIRECTORY & CLUB HOURS Joel Inman General Manager/COO jinman@laurelcreek.org
Golf Course Tuesday to Friday 9:00 a.m. - Dark
Elisha Carson Controller ecarson@laurelcreek.org
Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. - Dark
Patty Fagan Director of Membership pfagan@laurelcreek.org
Pro Shop
Erin Schafer Director of Events eschafer@laurelcreek.org Nevada Groulx Director of Communications ngroulx@laurelcreek.org John Slade Director of Golf Course Operations jslade@laurelcreek.org Matt Walbert PGA Head Golf Professional mwalbert@laurelcreek.org Peter Rosenblatt Executive Chef prosenblatt@laurelcreek.org John Geller Clubhouse Manager jgeller@laurelcreek.org Carol MacLennan Director of Tennis cmaclennan@laurelcreek.org Mike Holak Pool Manager mholak@laurelcreek.org
ON THE COVER
Chris VanDusen and his daughter Ella at the Father & Daughter Dance.
Tuesday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Terrace Room
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. *Unless booked for a private event
Pub & Bistro
Tuesday thru Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tennis
Courts are open for play (weather permitting)
Pool
Closed for the season until Memorial Day
BOARD OF
TRUSTEES Daniel Bianco President Michael Hughey Vice President Scott Duman Treasurer Sean Fox Secretary Steve Cooper Troy Hopper Michael Kassak Gene Martin Mark Muir Tony Palmer John Venne Ken Zimmer
Joel Inman
S
GE NE RAL M ANA G E R
pring is fast approaching and the team is getting ready for another incredible season. Not only do we have our staple member events like Easter, Mother’s Day and Spring Fling, we are also adding other exciting events and improvements. Some improvements you will see this year as I mentioned earlier this year, the Golf Course Master Plan work including the short game area as well as the new Cabana Pavilion. I’m doing everything I can to get the Cabana Pavilion completed prior to Father’s Day as that is when the pool is open daily. On the social side we are looking to add a Corn Hole League. We’ll send out more details once we have a firm handle on it, but initially our thought is to have the league meet weekly for a set time and then move into a championship style bracket based upon points earned during the season. This will be a great way to spend some time at the club, enjoying some competition while meeting other members of the club. “Good communication doesn’t just happen; it is the result of good design” – Stephen Few We all understand that everyone has a preferred way to communicate and finding that “sweet spot” can be challenging. This is why we rely on several different ways to get our message out. We communicate via our Eblast, this newsletter, our website, social media and in person while you are here at the club. Most everyone has a cell phone so going forward, in order to help better communicate with our members, we are launching a new text messaging service. Our hope is that this new service will help augment our other communication conduits and will allow us the opportunity to improve the way in which we reach you and keep you informed as to what is happening at the club. This service is completely optional and you have the ability to “opt out” at any time. However if we do not have your cell phone number, you can follow the directions below to sign up for this free service. We hope you sign up as soon as you can! I’m looking forward to another great season and I hope to see you at the club soon!
MEMBERSHIP
Patty Fagan D I REC TOR OF M EM BERS H I P
C
an you believe it’s March? It seems like yesterday we were toasting to 2020 and now we are three months into the New Year and just days away from spring.
2020 has had a stellar beginning with 38 new families joining since January and the momentum has not slowed down. That’s incredible! Most of the new families, 30 to be exact, came by member referral. Thank you for bringing your friends to the club and referring them to membership. Our club events and the people you share them with are truly what make LCCC special and the number of new families that have joined are a true testament that you are proud of your club. We’ve got some great events in store for you and your family this spring season. March has some fun events for kids including the Leprechaun Breakfast on Sunday, March 15th and the Character Breakfast which we are offering for two days, March 21st and 22nd. We are delighted to bring back the Mother & Daughter Tea this year so please invite your mom, grandmother, aunts and any other special lady to this lovely event on March 28th. These events along with our Bunny Brunch, Easter Brunch and Mother’s Day are open for registration so please don’t wait to the last minute to make your reservation. Thank you for your participation in all the club activities and your enthusiastic support of our club. Laurel Creek Country Club is truly a special place, and it’s because of the wonderful people that call LCCC home. Hope to see you soon!
Welcome The Dasgupta Family
The Atchison Family
The Gill Family
The Picard Family
OUR NEW MEMBERS TO THE LCCC FAMILY
Nicole O’Dare & Rick Crane
The Hovander Family
The Crowe Family
The Bove Family
Trivedi Family
The Moratti Family
GOLF
Matt Walbert P GA HE AD GOL F PROF ESSI O N A L
O
ver the last several weeks, I’ve had the pleasure to meet several members and gain an understanding of Laurel Creek’s golf operation. My primary objective this year is to continue to learn about the culture of Laurel Creek and enhance the overall member experience. If we haven’t already met, I look forward to seeing you soon! As the winter begins to hit the rearview mirror, we are excited to be ramping up for the season! This is the time of year that we eagerly anticipate as the new merchandise for the Spring begins to roll through the shop doors. Be sure to swing by to see some of the new styles this season! If you are an avid golfer or are looking for some corporate golf balls, be sure to take advantage of Titleist’s Loyalty Rewarded program from March 5 through April 19. With this program, you will receive 1 dozen of FREE Pro V1, Pro V1X or AVX golf balls with every 3 dozen you purchase
(that’s $60 in savings!) Be on the lookout for the link to order in the upcoming e-news. I am pleased to announce the arrival of a few new members to the Golf Staff beginning this month. Ryan Daley will be joining us from the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale as our newly appointed Player Services Manager. Ryan will play an integral role in leading our Outside Operations team and ensuring that the bar is met and raised each day. Ryan Mirenda will be joining the Professional Golf Staff as a Seasonal Assistant. Ryan completed his final internship with Baltusrol Golf Club last year and recently graduated from Penn State in December. In April, we will have Alexx Suchy join the team as another Seasonal Assistant Golf Professional. Alexx is also a recent graduate from Penn State and completed his final internship at Bidermann Golf Club last year. Alexx will be the face of the Junior Golf Operation this season. Please join me in welcoming Ryan, Ryan, and Alexx to the team!
UPCOMING MEN’S GOLF EVENTS March 28th March 29th April 8th April 11th April 19th April 16th April 23rd April 24th
President’s Cup Matches Begin Palmer Cup Matches Begin Master’s Par 3 Contest Men’s Opening Day GAP Team Match Thursday Night Men’s League Begins Spring Member-Member Party Spring Member-Member
UPCOMING AERIFICATION DATES: May 5th & May 6th
LCWGA
S
pring is just around the corner which means our golf season isn’t far off. The usual activity is taking place, Christine Blessing is begging ladies to play for the WGAP team, Chrissy Duman is gathering all the necessary information for the LCWGA booklet, Angela Rekant is collecting dues, Lynne Demmerly and Anita Albright are encouraging ladies to join our fun group, all of us are anticipating the arrival of the new merchandise in the pro shop, a few are taking winter lessons with one of the pros in the ever popular simulator and last but not least we are looking forward to our Opening Day of golf on April 15. Opening Day is a 9 hole scramble and is the perfect opportunity to check us out and of course the lunch afterward is always scrumptious! The cocktail party on the eve of Opening Day is always a lovely event and potential members are welcome! And new this year we will be hosting a Jersey Girls event on Tuesday, so mark your calendar for June 9th to play in this stableford event. Nine Hole Lady Golfers are looking forward to the start of our season. We know we will be having many returning players, but we are also hoping to welcome many new additions! Opening Day is open for all of our golfers as well as any club members who would like to try out the Wednesday events. We would love to see some of the club members use this event to learn more about our group. This year, Sue Studley will continue organizing the Nine Hole Invitationals. These are always wonderful outings and offer an opportunity to play at other clubs. This year we will be playing at Ramblewood, Medford Lakes, and the Moorestown Field Club. If you have any questions or concerns about the Nine Hole please feel free to contact Linda Angestreich or Mary Heselton! Please note that any woman with full golfing privileges may join the LCWGA. Email Lynne Demmerly, lynne.demmerly@gmail.com or Anita Albright at aalbright@comcast.net if you are interested or have questions. Registration forms are in the ladies locker room. This group is for either
18 or 9 holers and is a fun way to meet women and play our beautiful course. We encourage registration by March 15th but members are accepted all year. UPCOMING EVENTS: WORLD HANDICAP & RULES SEMINAR: March Handicap and Rules Seminars on the 17th & 24th , respectively, starting at 5:30pm. IMPORTANT DATES April 15 - Opening Day April 21 - On the Course Rules Clinic 11:30-1:00 May 5-6 – Course closed for Aeration May 27 - President’s Cup first round starts June 3 - Secretary’s Cup first round starts June 10 & June 17 - Member-Member August 12,18, 19 – Course closed for Aeration September 19 - Club Championship (1st Round) September 20 - Club Championship (2nd Round) September 30 – Member/Guest Tournament October 21 - Closing Day SPRING SERIES CLINICS Thursday, April 2, 10 -11:30 Ballroom - Rules/Etiquette Thursday, April 9, 10 -11:30 - Range - The Full Swing Thursday, April 16, 10 -11:30, Range - The Full Swing Thursday, April 23, 10 -12 - Putting Green, Putting/ Chipping/Pitching Thursday, April 30, 10 -11:30 - Golf Course, Course Analysis/Strategy $80/pp for all sessions - Clinics are open to all lady members 30 & 3 Tuesday, May 12 Tuesday, May 19 Tuesday, June 2 Tuesday, June 9 Tuesday, June 16 Tuesday, June 23 Tuesday, June 30 Tuesday, July 7 Tuesday, July 14 Tuesday, July 28 30 & 3 is a 30 minute clinic followed by 3 holes. Inquire with pro-shop
AROUND TH
HE CLUB
Where you don’t join, you belong!
FOOD & BEVERAGE
John Geller C L U B HOU SE M ANAG E R
L
et’s talk take-out. Take-out is a dining option offered to the membership. We noticed a shift in take-out sales for 2020 and they have already exceeded 2019 sales. We know take-out works for all lifestyles, kids, no kids, busy schedule or retired. We also understand the importance of take-out. However there are times that take-out can have a negative impact on the members dining experience especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. It’s a true balance of accommodating the busy lifestyles of our members wanting to utilize take-out as their dining option for that evening and creating the memorable dining experience while dining in the clubhouse. Going forward we may continue to restrict the times we can accept take-out specifically in the evenings in order to accommodate those that are dining in. Please be patient, we aren’t saying “No” to take-out orders, we are saying, “just not at this time”, but we will accommodate you either earlier or later in the evening. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
CHEF’S CORNER
Pete Rosenblatt
EX EC UT I VE CH EF
RIGATONI BOLOGNESE Yield: 6 servings Ingredients: 1 lb. ground beef 1 qt. canned crushed tomatoes ½ cp. onion, chopped ¼ cp. carrot, chopped ¼ cp. celery, Chopped 2 tsp garlic, minced ¼ cp. olive oil ¼ cp. white wine ¾ cp. milk 2 bay leaves 2 tbsp. chopped parsley 2 tbsp. chopped basil 1 lb. rigatoni pasta 4 tbsp. grated pecorino cheese Salt and pepper to taste Method: Combine onion, celery, carrot, in a food processor and pulse until finely minced. In a large pot over medium heat sauté minced vegetables and garlic in olive oil until soft, about 10 minutes. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, use the back of a large spoon to break up the meat. Add white wine and reduce for 2 minutes, then add milk, crushed tomatoes, bay leaves and season again with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 2 hours, stir in chopped parsley and basil. Serve over rigatoni pasta and top with fresh grated pecorino cheese.
RACQUETS
Carol MacLennan
W
DI RE C TOR OF TEN N I S
elcome Spring!! We’re looking for Registration is open for Junior Tennis Camp an early start on the courts this and Junior Combo Golf and Tennis Camp. year. If the weather cooperates, For more information on either of these we hope the courts will be open awesome summer camps at Laurel Creek, contact Carol at and playable by 856-840-4029 or mid-April. IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS…TRY SOME DRILLS! email cmaclennan@ laurelcreek.org Did you know Come on out for some great tips and an that LCCC has a awesome workout with Carol, Wes, Missy, Courts should be Ball Machine for Kurt, John and Bill. Reservations are required reserved in advance members’ use? It’s in advance for all drills. Reserve your spot on using the Laurel easy to use and easy the LCCC app. Creek App. Did to access by Court you know you can 3. Be sure to reserve LADIES DRILL Reserve a Tennis the ball machine Tuesday & Thursday - 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Court through in advance on the the Laurel Creek app. MIXED DRILL app? It’s simple! Wednesday - 6:30 p.m. Download the app The Ladies Spring to your smart phone. League Teams will LADIES TEAM DRILL Sign in to your LCCC be starting match Friday - 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. account and click play the week of on COURTS. You may April 20th. Laurel ADVANCED DRILL reserve courts up to Creek has two 3.5 and up - Saturday - 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. 7 days in advance. teams playing in this very competitive INTERMEDIATE DRILL Proper footwear traveling league. 2.5 to 3.5 - Saturday - 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on the courts is Captains Kelly Moye mandatory. Our harand Liz Hepp are tru courts have been always looking for players!! If you are interested in playing, reconditioned and are still in the “curing” contact Kelly at kmoye@comcast.net or Liz stage, which means they are soft and easily damaged. Running shoes or ribbed sole at lizhepp@comcast.net sneakers do not have the proper sole for A.S.K. After School Kids Tennis – For ages 8 and playing tennis. They’re bad for the court and up - Starts on May 5th and runs every Tuesday their bad for your tennis. Please be sure to wear an appropriate tennis-specific shoe. and Thursday from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. This applies to Adults as well as Junior players. Red Ball Tennis for ages 5 thru 7 is held every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
ON THE COURSE
John Slade D IR E C TO R OF G O L F C O UR S E O P ER A T I ONS
A
s January ended, so too did an era in Laurel Creek’s Golf Course Department. After almost 15 years of service to the Club, Joseph Ferman, our golf course mechanic, is retiring. Joseph’s story is an interesting one, as he and his family emigrated from Ukraine in 1992. Joseph is full of stories about his homeland, including being sent into Chernobyl to help with the cleanup. At one of his first golf course jobs in the United States, he was shown a fleet of golf carts, many of which weren’t running. There was concern that Joseph’s somewhat limited knowledge of English might be an issue in repairing the carts. However, Joseph knew enough English to respond by asking, “What language do the carts speak?” We wish Joseph happiness in his welldeserved retirement, and are grateful for his service to Laurel Creek. We know that he and his wife, Yelena, are looking forward to spending more time with their two adorable grandsons!
Thank you, Joseph!
Upcoming Events SUN 1
MON
TUES
MARCH
WED THURS
FRI
SAT
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 Leprechaun Breakfast 9:00-11:00 am
16
17
18
19
20
21
Junior Summer Camp Expo 3:00-5:00 pm
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Class A Kings 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Oliver Dagum 6:00 pm
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
World Handicap System Golf Seminar 5:30-7:30 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Chris Stevens Band 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: JB Rocks 6:00 pm
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Specials 6:00-9:00 pm
22
Character Breakfast 9:00-11:00 am
23
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
29
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
24
Rules of Golf Seminar 5:30-7:30 pm Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
30
31
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
25
26
27
Live Music in The Pub: Doug Jennings 6:00 pm Quiz Night 6:30 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Dennis Matthews 6:00 pm
Character Breakfast 9:00-11:00 am Live Music in The Pub Modern Mojo 6:00 pm
28
Mother & Daughter Tea 3:00-5:00 pm Live Music in The Pub: The Wayside Shakeup 6:00 pm
APRIL SUN
MON
TUES
WED THURS 1
5
Bunny Brunch & Egg Hunt 10:00 am 2:00 pm
2
FRI 3
Live Music in The Pub: Chris Stevens Band 6:00 pm
SAT 4
Yoga & Mimosas 9:00 am Live Music in The Pub: Modern Mojo 6:00 pm
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
Passover 6:30 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Class A Kings 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: The Wayside Shakeup 6:00 pm
Club Closes at 4:00 pm 12 Easter Brunch 10:00 am 2:00 pm
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: JB Rocks 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub Oliver Dagum 6:00 pm
Club Closes at 4:00 pm
19 Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
Annual Membership Meeting 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Doug Jennings 6:00 pm Quiz Night 6:30 pm
26
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
27
28
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
29
30
Live Music in The Pub: Dennis Matthews 6:00 pm
701 Centerton Road - Mount Laurel, NJ - 08054 - www.laurelcreek.org