JULY I AUGUST 2020
GRANDE GAZETTE ________________________
GRANDE DUNES MEMBERS CLUB
YOUR CLUB MEMBERS CLUB STAFF
JULY & AUGUST HOURS OF OPERATION
Brian Vest I Director of Golf Brian.Vest@GrandeDunes.com
MEMBERS CLUBHOUSE Monday - Tuesday Wednesday - Sunday
Closed 9:00am-8:00pm
Wednesday - Sunday I 4:00pm-8:00pm Wednesday - Sunday I 4:00pm-6:00pm
GOLF SHOP, GOLF COURSE & PRACTICE FACILITY Golf Shop Golf Course Practice Range
Pamela Evans I Membership Director Pevans@GrandeDunes.com Robin Doran I Accounting Manager Robin.Doran@GrandeDunes.com
MEMBERS CLUB DINING Dinner Happy Hour
Richard Convertini I General Manager of Operations Richard.Convertini@GrandeDunes.com
Tuesday - Sunday I 9:00am– 5:00pm Currently Closed Monday I Closed Tuesday-Saturday I 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday I 9:00am-4:00pm
OCEAN CLUB DINING
Ryan Gamble I Golf Course Superintendent Ryan.Gamble@GrandeDunes.com Michael Monahan | Executive Chef Chef@GrandeDunes.com Ty Craycraft I Facilities Operations Manager Ty.Craycraft@GrandeDunes.com Vasilika Xhani I MC Member Events & Catering Vasilika.Xhani@GrandeDunes.com
Closed until further notice
Lisa Mitchell I The Ocean Club Events & Sales Manager Lisa.Mitchell@GrandeDunes.com
OCEAN CLUB POOL
Peggy Davis I Grande Dunes Lifestyle Director Peggy.Davis@GrandeDunes.com
Monday - Sunday I
9:30am to 7:00pm
TENNIS CLUB Courts Monday - Saturday Sunday
8:00am-6:00pm 10:00am-5:00pm
Gym Monday-Saturday Sunday
6:30am-6:00pm 10:00am-5:00pm
Jason Poe I Harbor Master Jason.Poe@GrandeDunes.com Virginia Hitchcock I Anchor Café Manager Virginia.Hitchcock@GrandeDunes.com Franci Kessler I Office Assistant Franci.Kessler@GrandeDunes.com
ANCHOR CAFÉ Closed until further notice
MEMBERS CLUB PHONE NUMBERS Administrative Assistant I 843.913.1344 Golf shop I 843.913.1359 Membership Sales I 843.315.0281 Catering & Events I 843.913.1357 Dining Reservations I 843.213.9204 Ocean Club Pool I 843.315.0365 Marina I 843.848.4601 Golf Course Superintendent I 843.903.3484 Member Accounting I 843.913.1356
IN THIS ISSUE Your Club...……………….…………...………....………....2 Membership...…………...……………..….….…...……..3 Dining Events..………….…..……...….....…...…...…..4 Tee It Up.................………...…………..…….…..…......5 From The Green..............…..…....….…..……….....6 From the Kitchen..……..…………...……..…...…......7 Important News....…...........…...........................8
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FROM THE CLUB & MEMBERSHIP FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF OPERATIONS He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. - Epictetus
Here we are halfway through the year and in the swing of the summer months. We hope this newsletter finds you healthy, happy, and staying safe these days. Summertime... the time of year for 4th of July parades, picnics, fireworks, summer vacations, and visits with family or friends. Yet, this year has been so different, for everyone, in every city, every state, every country... and it continues. Unfortunately, we all are aware, the coronavirus pandemic is still going on, it is far from over. Health officials continue to stress the importance of social distancing, hand washing and only going out when necessary to help slow and prevent the spread of the disease. Where do we go from here? This is the question on the minds of many these days. We want the Members Club fully open and available to you, to be able to enjoy a social setting within your Grande Dunes community. We have been working towards this goal, all the while thinking about the health and safety of our members and our staff. Dinner service is open at the Club, Wednesday through Sunday, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Please join us, we miss you and want to have you all back enjoying the surroundings and service we want to provide you. We thank you for your loyalty, patience, and support of your club. The catch phrase right now, or at least one of them, ‘we are all in this together’ is an important one. We are in this together and our nation has experienced tremendous pain and loss; maybe we are not having the exact same day to day issues; but we all need to be caring, kind, respectful of others, and have an understanding as to what is going on “behind the scenes” for everyone. I encourage you to read through this newsletter, check the Member’s website, and the weekly happenings emails we send out in order to keep you up-to-date with important information and what we are doing for you to get back to your club. As always if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to ask, I am here for you. Stay safe. I look forward to seeing all of you at the Club.
Richard Convertini, General Manager of Operations Richard.Convertini@GrandeDunes.com
A NOTE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR The world is constantly changing, some changes are good and some changes are even better. Here are three things we know about the future: First, it isn't going to be like the past. Second, it isn't going to be exactly the way we think it's going to be. Third, the rate of change will take place faster than we anticipate. Know you are custom-built for change. Created with a capacity to adjust, move and be different. Any one of us is able to change at any point in time, at any age. Nothing remains as constant as change. Even the most precious of all gems needs to be chiseled and faceted to achieve its best luster. Don't end up like concrete--all mixed together and permanently set. ~John Mason Many changes will be coming to the Members Club as we move into the fall months. Look out for specials and incentives coming up soon to share with your friends and family to help grow your club. Happy 4th of July America!! Let’s remember this July 4th, why we celebrate this festive holiday. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence. Thank you members for supporting your club during these changing times. Know that we are always here for you. Welcome New Members: Mary Ferrero & Dennis Lynch | Ben & Becky Gasque I Michael & Rhonda Bridge I Ray & Bettie Piluso
Pamela Evans, Membership Director pevans@grandedunes.com
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DINING EVENTS
PLEASE NOTE: NEW LIMITED DINING HOURS MEMBERS CLUB: WEEKLY DINING EVENTS
TAKE OUT ORDERS Wednesday - Sunday I 4:00pm - 8:00pm
HAPPY HOUR
Wednesday—Sunday I 4:00pm-6:00pm
DINNER SERVICE
Wednesday - Sunday I 4:00pm-8:00pm
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED 843-213-9204
MUST HAVE SIGNED WAVIER OF FILE MEMBER CHARGE ONLY NO CREDIT CARDS MASKS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES, EXCEPT WHILE DINING
OCEAN CLUB Pool Hours: 9:30am - 7:00 pm I 7 Days a Week
3 RESERVATION WAVES:
BEACH CHAIRS:
First come with a signed disclaimer 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Weekdays | 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM Weekends
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 1:00 – 4:00 PM, 4:30 - 7:00 PM
Food and Beverage Service Food Service Full-Service Bar
11:00 AM -6:00 PM 11:00 AM -7:00 PM
PARKING: YOU MUST HAVE YOUR 2020 DECAL DISPLAYED IN WINDOW (Towing Enforced) NO GUESTS until further notice with exception to parking and beach access.
Member Charge ONLY
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TEE IT UP GOLF NEWS We hope that each of you is staying safe and healthy during this unprecedented time. As we head into the summer, and the club beginning to open up again, we are so anxious to put this behind us. Unfortunately, it seems like we will be bearing the weight of the coronavirus for the foreseeable future. With the golf course progressing nicely, we are still here to help you book your tee times at some of our local courses. The golf staff is still working diligently to set up a tournament schedule this fall. We want to make things as “normal” as possible when the golf course reopens for play, hopefully by mid-August. As it stands right now, we will be making several modifications to the way
we conduct our events. It is hard to determine what kind of price or festivities will be involved along with the playing of a golf tournament. We feel that it is, in the best interest and well-being of the staff and members, that the first several tournaments will be strictly golf with limited, if any food and beverage will be accompanied with them. Although the golf course is closed, we do not want you to stop trying to improve. Starting in July, we will be holding supervised practice sessions. This will give you an opportunity to talk to our golf staff about how to practice better. These sessions will be on the range and free of charge. The intent is to have one of us give very limited instruction, but with a game plan on how to practice more effectively. Just going out to the driving range and hitting golf balls is not an efficient way to practice and our goal is to teach you all how to have a practice plan. A key to good practice is to only practice when you are motivated. Supervised practice will take place twice a week and will most likely be in the early part of the day in order to beat the heat. Still looking for a new summer golf attire? We will continue with our current sale until we reopen in August. All Men’s long sleeve jackets and pullovers are 50% off, Men’s golf shirts are marked down 35%, all golf shoes are 35% off, and all Ladies’ apparel is 50% off. All discounts will be taken off of the retail price. Golf Swing Faults and Fixes Flexibility and mobility are essential to hitting more consistent and powerful golf shots. Understanding that everyone has their limitations is paramount to fixing your golf swing. If you fall into the category of being a “wood chopper,” try this exercise to help increase your mobility. This movement is caused by improper rotation of the upper body causing you to swing over the top. To help fix this swing fault try out this half-kneeling rotation exercise. What you’ll need: - A folded towel or foam mat - 1 golf club Begin by kneeling on your right knee with your left foot in front of your right foot in a half-kneeling position. Place the golf club behind your back and lock it in place with your arms. Turn your chest as far as you can towards the elevated knee as you can and return back to center. Do this ten times, then switch and do it on the opposite side. Go through these exercises two or three times on each side. You will want to keep your elevated knee still and your lower body stable throughout the movement. Try to avoid some of these two common faults: bowing your hips or moving your knee. Add this exercise into your warm up or workout routine to help improve your golf swing! Want to improve more? Contact Brian or Joe to setup a lesson!
2020 Major Tournament Calendar September 19th & 20th October 15th – 18th November 7th & 8th
Member/Member Member/Guest Golf Tournament Club Championship **Note that events are subject to change **
SAVE THE DATE GRANDE DUNES MEMBERS CLUB
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FROM THE GREEN & MCCONNELL GOLF After a handful of delays due to rainy weather conditions the final step of the conversion process began on Tuesday, June 2nd and was complete by the end of the day on June 3rd. Hard to believe that we’d be ready for our first cut within two weeks, unfortunately we found ourselves in the midst of another wet period that delayed the process again. Our plan was to make first cut on Monday, June 15. Instead I’m writing this newsletter, as we’ve already recorded over 1” of rain. Initially the most important input is water and lots of it, this gets the process started. Fertilizer applications, light topdressings and rolling also part of the process from the beginning. Typically first cut is made between 10 and 14 days after sprigging, at a height between .180” and .200”. Ultradwarf Bermudagrasses grow laterally and need to be cut early and often to facilitate the desired lateral growth. We will attempt to get down to the desired height of cut of .125” relatively quickly, as this will help cover the greens and get ready for play. Semi-daily inputs of fertilizer will continue for the first month or so, these applications are designed to push growth throughout the process. Continuous adjustments to topdressing will continue throughout this time period as well. We will also begin to incorporate light grooming and or add brushes to the front of the greensmowers, this will allow us to stand up as much material as possible to be removed. At this point we are 50/50 on the need for a light aerification prior to opening, this will depend on the smoothness of the greens. A 1 ton roller will be rented and utilized at some point during the grow-in for the same reason. Typically the entire conversion process lasts 10 to 12 weeks, depending on weather. Our goal is to take full advantage of the course closure by making adjustments to mow patterns and contours on certain holes, we will also be focused on major cultural practices throughout the course. Limited traffic in conjunction with cultural practices such as aerification and verticutting will have both short and long term benefits for the golf course. In fact we are already seeing some recovery in our most heavily trafficked areas and better definition between cuts. Our goal is to have the best possible playing conditions not only for the short term but also moving forward. This is why improvements to greens and bunkers were so important. We realize that these closures are inconvenient and hope that you will all remain patient during the process as our goal is better playing conditions. If you have any questions about the renovation process or anything else please do not hesitate to contact me and please stay safe. Sincerely, Ryan Gamble Golf Course Superintendent, ryan.gamble@grandedunes.com
Below you will see the process of preparing, springing, and growing in the greens. Each picture is of #18 green over a three week period.
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FROM THE KITCHEN Hello Grande Dunes Members, I hope that you and your families are all safe and healthy! These are extraordinarily difficult times. As you know, we are slowly starting to open Grande Dunes kitchens. We have an abundance of caution for the safety and wellbeing of all the members and all of the employees. We are currently serving dinner Wednesday through Sunday from four o’clock to eight o’clock at the members club. We are following or exceeding all recommendations from the CDC, South Carolina Department of Health and the World Health Organization. From social distancing to all employees wearing masks while at work. I understand that not everyone is wanting to dine out in this current environment, so we are continuing to provide meals to go as well. We just started serving food and beverage at the Ocean Club pool also. I truly hope that the worst of this global pandemic is behind us, and that we can continue living our lives in the “new normal”. Please feel free to contact me for any reason. I hope to see you all soon. Your Chef, Michael Monahan chef@grandedunes.com
COOKIES OF THE MONTH
JULY Peanut Butter Chip Cookie
Janet - server at Providence Country Club
Recipe https://bit.ly/July-Cookie-2020
GRANDE DUNES MEMBERS CLUB
AUGUST Ice Box Cookies
Rhett Sorg - The Reserve at Pawley's Island
Recipe https://bit.ly/August-Cookie-2020
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Grande Dunes Members Club 1580 Terra Verde Drive Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP NEWS Membership Incentive Enjoy the benefit of 20% savings with full payment of a golfing membership initiation fee at time of join. Annual installment option also available. ** Limited time offer ** Part-Time Golf Membership Update We’ve updated this membership offering! Now available to resident and invitational members, the Part-Time Golf Membership also provides year round membership privileges to those whose primary residence is outside of Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick Counties! Single Golf Membership Opportunity We now offer a golfing membership for single members! Member-for-a-Month Program Offered exclusively to Grande Dunes Property Owners, this one-month trial membership provides residents the chance to experience membership at the dues level of their choice for one month, prior to fully joining the club.
