Emma King riding the Mechanical Pumpkin
STAFF DIRECTORY & CLUB HOURS Joel Inman General Manager/COO jinman@laurelcreek.org Elisha Carson Controller ecarson@laurelcreek.org Patty Fagan Director of Membership pfagan@laurelcreek.org 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 John DiMarco Head PGA Professional jdimarco@laurelcreek.org Peter Rosenblatt Executive Chef prosenblatt@laurelcreek.org
GOLF COURSE
Tuesday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. - Dark Friday 8:30 a.m. - Dark Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. - Dark
PRO SHOP
Tuesday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
DINING
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.
John Geller Clubhouse Manager jgeller@laurelcreek.org
TENNIS
Carol MacLennan Director of Tennis cmaclennan@laurelcreek.org
Closed for the season until Memorial Day
Mike Holak Pool Manager mholak@laurelcreek.org
Courts are open for play. (weather permitting)
POOL
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
FROM THE
GENERAL MANAGER JOEL INMAN
F
or the first time ever, a US cheese is named best in the world! Yup… it’s true. An organic blue cheese from Oregon is named the best in the world for the first time in history. “So Joel, what does that have to do with Laurel Creek?” Directly not much unless we plan on using their product. However , indirectly, it does speak to a philosophy that we embrace here at LCCC. Imagine if this cheese producer simply took for granted that since no US cheese producer was ever rated number 1, then it would never achieve this incredible feat. Why try to be the best? They could have simply been ok with being good. But they didn’t, and neither do we. We take the clubs mission statement seriously. “Laurel Creek Country Club is characterized by an active membership that shares a unique social experience built upon outstanding golf, a dynamic family environment and the superior services and amenities of a premier club.” We believe in doing everything we can to be the premier club in south Jersey. There are times when things don’t go exactly as planned…we take those times to learn. What caused our failure? What can we do going forward to make sure it doesn’t
happen again. Our dedicated team of professionals come in each and every day with a passion and dedication to be the best we can be. We challenge ourselves to find new and better ways in which to make your experience the best we can. We dedicate ourselves to constantly learn and to grow. This team is incredible and I’m extremely lucky to have them. However, it isn’t just about what we have right now. It’s also about what is in the future for the club. Just like that cheese manufacturer. They didn’t win the award their first try. They kept on going…never giving up. Each year we try to take some part of the club and improve upon it. This last year was “easy” in regards to improvement due to the renovation. The new restaurant space has been incredible and you, the membership, show how much you approve by being here as much as you are. But we can’t stop there. What other services and amenities are needed to keep us as the “premier” club? What differentiates us compared to other clubs in the area. As we look towards the future, I see limitless potential. It’s been an incredible journey over the past 8+ years and I’m pumped about being able to play a part in what’s next.
MEMBERSHIP
DIRECTOR
PATTY FAGAN
M
embership is at an all-time high and I can’t thank you enough for referring new families to membership. While we normally slow down this time of year with new applications, I continue to receive requests for membership information from your friends and through our website. As our club continues to bring in new members, the energy and vibrancy of the club has never been stronger. Recruiting should remain top of mind for everyone, so that we can maintain a vibrant club that will continue to deliver a great experience to the membership long into the future. We had a jump start to the fall season with October which was jam packed with events for all ages. Mind reading mentalist, Michael Gutenplan dazzled our members with his magic followed by a night of dancing. Our fall gala, the Black Carpet RIP was a great night and a special thanks goes to members, Joe Kiernan and Thom Schachtele for chairing this event from start to finish. We ended the month with our family Halloween party on the 28th with nearly 500 attendees, our biggest party ever. Each year the team looks to raise the bar and this year we included two hayrides, a mechanical pumpkin, pumpkin patch, outdoor movie and carnival games. I’m curious to see what next year will bring. As we roll into November and December, please look out for our weekly emails highlighting all the upcoming events which are online and open for registration. Ladies, you don’t want to miss our Ladies Night Out on November 21st. Bring your friends and your wallets to this shopping extravaganza and fashion show. Our Member Appreciation Night & Tree Trimming is on December 4th where we thank you, our members for another great year. Please bring an ornament to place on
our tree in the lobby. Also, we kindly remind you that this is a members’ only event. You can sign up for these events and other holiday events on our website, the mobile app or by calling the club. Finally, on a personal note, I was blessed to marry my best friend, Chad White in front of family and friends on October 5th. It was a beautiful day and I went from a mom of two boys to a family of six, adding two lovely girls to my life. My heart is full, and I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season. God bless and I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Welcome!
OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
Cynthia & Anthony Rossetti
Drew & Jenn DiMeo
The Siravo Family
The Duffy Family
The Korenkiewicz Family
The Devine Family
The Toro Family
The Pasker Family
The Tindal Family
FROM THE PRO JOHN DIMARCO
T
he fall golf days were fantastic as the weather was beautiful in September and October. The Men’s tournament season has ended with new champions crowned and other titles defended. Larry Colangelo was victorious in the President’s Cup as he defeated Robert O’Hara in the finals 4&3 for his first major title as a member. The Palmer Cup was defended by Steve Kavney and Will Jarman as they repeated a win from 2018.
The Men’s Member-Member was the showcase event of the fall tournament schedule as 108 players began the quest for the title. The event consisted of 9 flights comprised of 108 players, after flight winners and wildcard teams were determined, playoffs followed and the event was finally won by Matt Burrill and Darren Taillie. Tim Sindorf captured his 1st Senior Club Championship in the gross division while Troy Hopper and David Weisband captured their respective Senior Net titles. Beat the Pro, Closing Day, and The Pro Member rounded out the completion of the season. To celebrate our event winners for 2019 we look forward to the Champions Dinner on November 12th and one more event before winter really sets in is the Turkey Event which is played on Black Friday after Thanksgiving. I would like to Thank the Men’s Golf Committee and chairman Sean Fox for a very successful year. Also, a big Thank You goes out to our golf course Superintendent John Slade and his staff on keeping the golf course in pristine condition even under some difficult weather conditions throughout the year.
NOTES AND REMINDERS: The range will transition to Mats beginning November 15th and last until March 31st of 2020. As we transition to daylight savings time, please remember the range closes an hour before Sunset and the golf shop will now close at 5:00 p.m. Frost will now be prevalent so just be aware as that could delay your tee time so check the Golf Shop for updates. The date is set for our Holiday Blowout Sale in the Golf Shop it will be held on Friday December 13th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
LCWGA
AROUND
THE CLUB
LAUREL CREEK COUNTRY CLUB
Where you don’t join, you belong.
FOOD &
BEVERAGE
JOHN GELLER
F
all is here, Halloween is over, the clocks are changing back, Thanksgiving is around the corner, is your head spinning yet? Well, a couple things the F&B department can do to help at this crazy time. You can make a reservation for our delectable Thanksgiving Day buffet; the time slot is from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. We also have a Turkey To Go that can accommodate 1012 people, we do the cooking, you pick it up hot and fresh here at the club and its ready to serve. The Turkey To Go is very limited, for more details please call myself ext.108 or Nevada Groulx ext.101. I can’t believe it’s been a year now since we opened the new restaurant and business has been absolutely fantastic. The way the membership has been growing and the number of members utilizing the restaurant, I feel we are exceeding members expectations. The F&B management team is looking to continue this trend coupled with Chef Pete’s great food complemented by great service it’s a win win for all.
Call us in advance to make a reservation or make one on the app so we know your coming, we can have a table available before you arrive. It creates a nice flow to the dining room which in turn makes for a better dining experience for the membership. Thank you in advance for your efforts on helping us meet our objectives. I’m excited to introduce a new member to the F&B management team, Zacharias Horiates, Zach for short. Zach gained his extensive restaurant experience working for a successful muti-brand restaurant operator. He will have an immediate impact on our on boarding process for new hires along with training, scheduling and finding new and creative ways to improve our service to the membership. Zach takes pride in his work and has already fit in nicely to help the team succeed. You will see Zach working the floor, observing service while getting to know the membership. Please say hi!
CHEF’S CORNER PETE ROSENBLATT
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP Yields 8 servings
1 large butternut squash, peeled cut into large pieces 4 shallots, sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 3 sage leaves 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. butter 1 quart vegetable or chicken stock 1 cup heavy cream salt and pepper to taste Optional: crème fraiche for garnish
1. Preheat oven to 375. Season the diced butternut with 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper and evenly spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until soft. 2. In a large pot over medium low heat sauté the shallots and garlic in 2 Tbsp. butter until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add the roasted butternut, sage and stock. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. 3. Add the cream and simmer for 10 more minutes, season with salt and pepper to taste. 4. In a blender, working in batches puree the soup until smooth. 5. Serve with a dollop of crème fraiche.
AT THE
COURTS CAROL MACLENNAN
T
he tennis courts will remain open despite the chill in the air and the frost on the ground. Clinics will continue as long as weather permits. Congratulations to the 2019 Laurel Creek Champions:
Junior Triathlon Champions: Age Group 10 and under: Andrew Bradshaw, Liam Sheth, Andrew Moccia Age Group 11 and up: Harrison Card, Danny Cantwell, Hayes Card
Ross Charbonné – Men’s Singles Club Champion Pascale Salah – Women’s Singles Club Champion.
Congratulations to the 2019 Laurel Creek Women’s Spring League team captained by Kelly Moye. They won their cup and their challenge match against Moorestown Field Club moving them up to cup 6.
Men’s Doubles: Vick Bobadilla and Scott Blessing Women’s Doubles: Emily Steinfort and Chris Zajac Women’s B Doubles: Marianne Sims-Kellogg and Angelica Dau Mixed Doubles: Emily and Race Steinfort Mixed B Doubles: Candace and Ross Charbonné Junior Club Champions: Junior Club Champion - Aidan Nemiroff Green Ball Club Champion – Molly Paige Steinfort Orange Ball Club Champion – Jack Forstein Red Ball Club Champion – Ahmed Bayoumy
Denise Giannone Danai Hanrahan Sue Williams Chris Zajac Greta Beatty Tracey Buckley Kelly Moye Colette McHugh Pat Austin Lisa Dadino Jill Loftus
ON THE COURSE JOHN SLADE
O
ne of the prettier ornamental grasses on the golf course is Fountain Grass. These plants look beautiful when in seed, with the dew glistening off them in the early morning. However, in many areas, they have become more of a weed, than a desirable plant, and have taken over areas. We made another loop through the naturalized areas this fall with two selective herbicides to control Fountain Grass. There’s a saying that the best tool for weed control is a mower. Most every plant has a limit as to how low it can be mowed and survive. One of the challenges with Fountain Grass is that it can handle a wide variety of heights. You can see in the picture to the right that Fountain Grass can persist even when cut as low as our primary rough, with a couple of plants next to a sprinkler.
The vast majority of the herbicide use on the golf course is in the naturalized areas. These include selective herbicides for broad leaf weeds, sedges, undesirable grasses, etc. While we only mow these areas a couple of times each year, referring to them as “low maintenance” is just not right.
You can stay up to date with all of John Slade’s Turf Care updates at: www.laurelcreeksuper.blogspot.com
November 2019 Sun
Mon
Join us for Brunch every Saturday & Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Join us for Date Night & Kid’s Club every Saturday from 6:00-9:00 pm
3
4
5
6
11
12
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00 pm
10
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00 pm
17
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00 pm
Wed
Thu
18
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
19
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
26
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
Sat
2
7
8
9
13
14
15
16
20
21
22
23
27
28
29
30
Live Music in The Pub: Chris Stevens Band 6:00 pm
Wine Show 6:30 p.m.
Inside The Ropes 6:00 pm
25
Fri
1
Champions Dinner 6:30 pm
Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00 pm
24
Tue
Home for the Holidays with Live Music 6:00 pm
Ladies’ Night Out 5:00 pm (Terrace & Lounge closed for this event)
Thanksgiving Buffet & Thanksgiving To Go 1:00-4:00 pm Clubhouse Closes at 4:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Class A Kings 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Dennis Matthews 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Doug Jennings 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Modern Mojo 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Michaela McClain 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Dennis Matthews 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Ryan Shubert 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Wayside Shakeup 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: TBA 6:00 pm
December 2019 Sun
1
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
Mon
2
Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00 pm
8
Santa Brunch 9:00-1:00 pm
9
Club Closes at 4:00 pm
15
Santa Brunch 9:00-1:00 pm
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm
3
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
10
Parent/Child Cookie Bake 6:00 pm
16
17
Parent/Child Cookie Bake 6:00 pm
Kids Eat Free 5:00-8:00 pm Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00 pm
4
Member Appreciation & Tree Trimming Party 6:00 pm
11
Thu
5
12
Fri
6
Live Music in The Pub: Chris Stevens Band 6:00 pm
Sat
7
Parent/Child Cookie Bake 11:00 am
Live Music in The Pub: Michaela McClain 6:00 pm
13
14
Ugly Sweater Party 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Ryan Shubert 6:00 pm
Pro Shop Blow Out Sale 5:00-8:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Class A Kings 6:00 pm
Parent/Child Cookie Bake 11:00 am
18
19
20
21
25
26
27
28
Join us for Brunch every Saturday & Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Join us for Date Night & Kid’s Club every Saturday from 6:00-9:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: TBA 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Dennis Matthews 6:00 pm
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
23
24
30
31
Club & Course Closed
Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00 pm
29
Wed
Twenty Dollar Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm
Club Closes at 4:00 pm
22
Tue
New Year’s Eve Family Party 5:30 pm New Year’s Eve Prix Fixe Dinner 6:00 pm
Club & Course Closed
Live Music in The Pub: Wayside Shakeup 6:00 pm
Live Music in The Pub: Doug Jennings 6:00 pm
701 Centerton Road - Mount Laurel, NJ - 08054 - www.laurelcreek.org