The Creek News October 2023

CREEK

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

Karen Wright - Clubhouse Manager kwright@laurelcreek.org

John Geller - Service Director jgeller@laurelcreek.org

Nevada Groulx - Director of Communications ngroulx@laurelcreek.org

John Slade - Director of Golf Course Operations jslade@laurelcreek.org

Bob Hennefer, PGA - Head Golf Professional bhennefer@laurelcreek.org

Peter Rosenblatt - Executive Chef prosenblatt@laurelcreek.org

Carol MacLennan - Director of Tennis cmaclennan@laurelcreek.org

Mike Holak - Pool Manager mholak@laurelcreek.org

FRONT DESK | (856) 291-9701

PRO SHOP | (856) 291-9718

Golf Course

Tuesday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. - Sunset

Friday 8:00 a.m. - Sunset

Saturday & Sunday

8:00 a.m. - Sunset

Pro Shop

Tuesday to Friday

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday

7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Dining

Pub & Bistro:

Tuesday thru Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Blu

Friday & Saturday evenings 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Tennis

Courts are open for play

Pool & Oasis

Closed for the Season

Joel Inman

So a very wise person suggested I read a book called “The Gap and the Gain”.

The book describes two ways of thinking that measure your progress in life. Gap-thinking is focusing your thoughts on the “gap” between where you are now and where you want to be. Gain-thinking is focusing on how far you’ve come, or the “gains” you’ve made. This got me thinking about how I see, and maybe, you see the club. For some newer members you wouldn’t remember what the club looked like 10 years ago, so why don’t we take a walk down memory lane.

So back in 2012 the clubs’ amenities were not as robust as they currently are. One thing for sure was we had a phenomenal golf course. The conditions were 2nd to none…everything from the greens to the fairways and tees. We had a driving range, though most times in the summer it wasn’t in the best of condition due to overuse and a lack of a designed plan on rotating where the hitting area was. Comparing it to now, we still have the best course in the area but now we also have the best practice facility. Larger grass teeing area combined with a large putting green and our incredible short game area makes us a very attractive spot for someone who wants to improve their game and face a challenging golf course.

If you were able to see the pool back in 2012 you would hardly recognize it. There was no splash pad, no cabanas and certainly no Oasis. It was a simple pool with white strapped lounge chairs that looked like they had seen better days. The food service was practically self-serve with members having to go to a window to order their food and receive it. To say we’ve come a long way is an understatement seeing how many families use the pool complex all summer long.

Our racquet complex over the years has slowly improved to what we have now. Back in 2012 if you had wanted to get to Court 4 you would have had to walk along a dirt path riddled with tree roots and shrubs. While we still only have the 4 Har Tru courts we’ve improved the areas around

GENERAL MANAGER

the courts and also added 3 pickleball courts with a patio and seating.

The other major changes were in the clubhouse. When I first started here, the ladies locker room was on the main floor and there were no ladies’ bathrooms on the lower floor. It was old and dated and in need of a major face lift. Our family dining was downstairs with a maximum seating of 62 people and our adult dining maxed out at 42. So, if you planned on coming in for dinner you had better get there early as we didn’t take reservations. While the downstairs dining room did have “character”, it was dark with a low ceiling and no view whatsoever. Now we have a beautiful restaurant with big glass windows, a bar that can support the membership and a welcoming environment for all. There are bathrooms on both levels for both men and women and also a very active golf simulator (which of course we didn’t have before).

One of the most important changes however have nothing to do with the physical assets of the club. It has to do with the members themselves. We’ve been very fortunate in how we’ve managed to grow our member base to include the incredible people we see here each year and while I like thinking of the “gains” we’ve made, I’m also focused on the “gaps”. Even though I know we’ve made some impressive changes to the club, there is still a lot of work that still needs to be done. The incredible team we have here serving you the members is focused on upping our game to make sure we meet the needs and expectations of everyone here. I just ask that you continue to be supportive, understanding, and communicative. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Patty Fagan

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP

You’ll often hear me refer to our membership as the Laurel Creek family. Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful.

There is a particular joy that comes from seeing the children of our members grow, evolve, and ultimately follow in their family’s footsteps, becoming cherished members in their own right.

Traditionally, country clubs with roots tracing back a century or more have often boasted generations of families who have been part of their legacy for decades. Our 30-yearold club is now welcoming it’s second generation of members and over the next decade, maybe even it’s third.

Aimee King (née Wright), Erica O’Toole (née Yaszemski) and Cara Duffner (née Giordano) have shared stories with me of roaming the clubhouse as children and attending Easter egg hunts and Santa brunches with their parents. Now having families of their own, they are eager to create their own memories and uphold the traditions they cherish.

We have members like Connor Burke, Michael Kassak, Brian Kelly, Michael Katz, Ed Barlow, Connor Seifried, Matt Duman, TJ Barling, John Leskow,

David & Michele Shore, Scott & Kevin Zimmer who learned to play golf on our course as kids and many now competing in the men’s tournaments.

It warms my heart to see Frank Martin and his son, Michael or Bill O’Brien and his boys, Matt and Billy sharing a beer in the pub after a round of golf. Matt was just 4 and Billy was 6 when their dad joined LCCC. I’m delighted to share that Matt, now married to Andrea, welcomed their first child, Katherine (Kit) on August 20th and older brother, Billy just married Shannon O’Neill on September 9th. Congratulations and best wishes to the entire O’Brien family.

As we celebrate the children of our members becoming members themselves, let us also remember the importance of welcoming new faces into our community. Let’s extend our warmest greetings to those who are joining us for the first time and let them feel the same sense of inclusion and family that we all have come to treasure.

Thank you all for being part of this wonderful journey. Together we will create enduring traditions that will be cherished by generations to come.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

NEW MEMBERS

Daniel Bianco President

Michael Hughey Vice President

John Venne Treasurer

Dean Kramer Secretary

Scott Duman

Sean Fox

Kiel Gilliland

Erich Herkloz

Michael Hughey

John Higgins

Greg Markus

Chris Noyes

Alex & Tom JaquayAlexandra Buckingham & Diego Lugo

Ecco Yang & Cici WangThe Jain Family

The Novak FamilyThe Yan Family

Bob Hennefer

HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONS!

Gene Martin Overall Men’s Senior Champion

Eileen Ramasamy Overall Ladies Senior Champion (2x Champion)

Men’s Super Senior Champion Dr. Kyu Chung

Ladies Senior Net Champion Susan Odegard

September was filled with many exciting LCWGA events! Let’s start with our annual Member Guest, which was held on the 27th. After non-stop rain for days, and a risk of this much anticipated event being canceled, the skies cleared and gave us a gorgeous day that allowed our golf divas to play a fun yet competitive round, followed by a delicious awards luncheon.

Congratulations to the winners of our 2023 Member Guest-Divots & Divas:

1st Place Gross-Donna McHugh and guests (in a match of cards over Eileen Ramasamy’s team)

1st Place Net-Eileen Ramasamy and guests

2nd Place Net-Christine Blessing and guests

3rd Place Net-Eileen Burke, Chrissy Duman and guests J17

Closest to the Pin for our members was won by Lisa Caruso and Longest Drive for our members was won by Donna McHugh. Special congrats to our two foursomes of Best Dressed Divas-Linda Toogood and her crew were something we won’t soon forget (and neither will the LC staff who will be cleaning up boa feathers until Christmas) and Marisa Edmund, Sarah Silva and their guests looked gorgeous in argyle while competing in their first Member Guest. Thank you to all ladies who participated, and many thanks to Eileen Burke, Rita Gordon and Kelly Redcay for organizing a wonderful event!!

On September 20th LCCC held its first ever Solheim Cup. 32 LCWGA members participated in this event which included 3 different formats: Better Ball, Alternate Shot and a scramble. Team America (White) and Team United (Blue) both gave it their best, but in the end Team United came out on top. Congratulations to: Eileen Ramasamy, Linda Toogood, Lynne Demmerly, Rita Gordon, Anita Albright, Noelle Noyes, Ineke Daniels, Grace Chung, Marybeth Taras, Linda Angstreich, Dana Phipps, Susan Odegard, Susan Kaufman, Tinamarie LaVan, Kelly Redcay, and Jennifer Halfpenny. Your names will all appear on the first ever Solheim Cup! A huge thank you to Linda Angstreich, Lisa Caruso, Barbara Kelly, and Dana Phipps, for all their hard work on this event.

Despite one day of intense heat, and another day of downpours, some of our ladies battled it out this month in our Senior Club Championship. Congratulations to our champion, Eileen Ramasamy. Also, congrats to Susan Odegard for winning our Net Division. Great playing ladies!

On September 12th Medford Lakes hosted it’s “Fall Fairway West” 9 Hole Invitational. Dana Phipps, Maryann Stack, Rita Gordon, Julie Knowles, Joanne Seltzer, Donna Colabella and Jennifer Halfpenny dressed in their best Autumn colors and participated in this lovely event with golfers from other local clubs. Thank you to Sue Studley for arranging this fun day!

Also on September 12th, the final Jersey Girls match of the season was held at Medford Village. The sun was shining, the course was in great shape, the lunch was delicious, but in the end our team came in 8 points shy of winning the trophy this year. Not too bad considering we were short two players for one match. Jersey Girls is a fun way to play at other courses in friendly competitions that are suitable for a variety of handicaps. Please consider participating in one of these matches next season. For more information, please contact Christine Blessing.

RULES TIP OF THE MONTH

Q - Can you use a long putter when measuring your relief area?

A- A recent change to the rules of golf states that the longest club in your bag, OTHER THAN YOUR PUTTER, is considered a “club-length” when measuring for relief.

Karen Wright

CLUBHOUSE MANAGER

It’s Fall and the new Bistro, Pub and Blu menus will be introduced in the upcoming weeks. If you have not dined in Blu, it is open every Friday and Saturday evening beginning at 6:30. Looking forward to a unique dining experience, make a reservation for the Chef’s Table and enjoy a behind the scenes look at what goes on in the kitchen. You can order from the Blu menu or enjoy a Chef’s Tasting menu which includes 5 courses. We’re certain there is an option for everyone!

So much is happening at the Club!

Complimentary Gallo Wine Tasting Blu Lounge

Friday, October 20th 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Winter Wine Show Ballroom

2

Did Someone Say Cocktail? New Cocktail Menu is Here!

Laurel Creek’s Knob Creek Apple Butter Old Fashioned

Pumpkin Spice White Russian

Apple Cider Moscow Mule

Cranberry Mimosa

Warm Apple Pie

Espresso-Tini

Choco-Tini

ANTHONY GROZOZSKI SERVER

Pete Rosenblatt EXECUTIVE CHEF

BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS

8 servings

8, 8oz bone in short ribs

1 onion, large diced

2 carrots, large diced

2 celery ribs, large diced

4 clove garlic, thin sliced

4 sprigs thyme

2 bay leaf

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1qt beef stock

1 cup dry red wine

3 Tbsp. olive oil

3 Tbsp. butter, cubed

Salt and pepper

Method:

Preheat oven to 325. Heat a large Dutch oven or sauce pot over medium high heat, season the ribs well with salt and pepper. Sear the ribs in olive oil until evenly browned on all sides, about 2 minutes per side and remove from the pot. Reduce heat to medium low and add the onion, celery, carrots and garlic, sauté until soft about 7-10 minutes. Add tomato paste, bay leaf and thyme, season with salt and pepper, stir well and cook for 2 more minutes. Add 1 cup of red wine and reduce by half, add stock to the pot along with the seared ribs and bring to a gentile simmer. Cover the pot and continue to braise in a 325 degree oven for 2½ to 3 hours or until fork tender. Carefully remove the ribs from the pot and keep warm. For the sauce, strain the braising liquid and reduce it by 1/3 over medium high heat being sure to skim the fat from the surface. Whisk in cubed butter and season to taste.

Thank you, Anthony for all that you do!

Carol MacLennan

DIRECTOR OF TENNIS

OCTOBER FUN AT THE COURTS!!! We have 3 Fun Tennis events coming up in October!

King and Queen of the Court Tournament –Sunday, October 8th at 1 pm - Come find out if you and your mixed doubles partner will rule the courts at Laurel Creek! Please register as a team.

End of the Season Ladies Day – Thursday, October 12th – Round robin starts at 9:30 am followed by lunch in the clubhouse. Bring a friend for this fun tennis and pickleball event. $38.00 per person Includes Tennis, pickleball and lunch. Lunch in the clubhouse rain or shine.

Parent/Child Up and Down the River Doubles –Sunday, October 22nd at 1 pm. This competition uses Green Dot balls. Players must be able to serve and play full court double

Found on Court 1: The Ostrum family playing tennis!! So much fun seeing Emily, Griffin and Austin playing with Mom and Dad at the courts. It was a bit chaotic figuring out who was hitting what balls! Kudos to David and Lindsay for having a selection of red, orange and yellow balls for the kids to choose from.

“Ladies teams from LCCC and MVCC in the inaugural Ladies Fall Doubles League”

Laurel Creek and Medford Village Country Club started a new ladies Fall league this September, playing one match at Laurel Creek and one match at Medford Village in a round robin format where doubles teams played each other one time. What a great way to open our courts and meet new players for friendly competition followed by lunch. Hopefully next year more clubs will join the league.

Thirsty Third Thursday Tennis Happy Hour!

October Signature Drink

US Open Honey Deuce

“Family Tennis at its finest with the Ostrums”

Aaron Moultrop and Vick Bobadilla de Gene Martin and Rick Hughes to capture the Men’s Pickleball Doubles club championship.

ON THE

John Slade

DIRECTOR OF GOLF COURSE OPERATIONS

If you’re wondering what the red paint on #7 approach is for, these are markings to delineate plots for turfgrass research. With this area perennially having Take-All patch, it provides a great location for turfgrass pathologist, Steve McDonald, to conduct fungicide trials.

The various plots receive different products, at different rates and different frequencies over the next month. The efficacy of each protocol won’t be assessed until next spring, when the symptoms of TakeAll are seen--or are not.

While it might be better if we didn’t have such good Take-All Patch, we are always happy to help with any turfgrass research project. The results can provide us with additional tools and information, as well as any other golf course that is facing the same challenges.