McConnell Messenger June 2024

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BUILDING

CLUBS OF THE FUTURE

"Every day, there is an opportunity to make a difference."

PDRC General Manager & Director of Golf Recognized She Said

“Yes!”

MICHAEL ABRAHAM - GENERAL MANAGER & DIRECTOR OF GOLF, PETE DYE RIVER COURSE OF VIRGINIA TECH

Michael has been recognized by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce on their 2024 “40 under 40” list, highlighting emerging leaders and the contributions these individuals make both to their respective organizations and the local community's overall growth Congrats, Michael, and way to represent PDRC on this prestigious list!

It’s a Girl!

JACOB FUQUA - TENNIS PROFESSIONAL, HOLSTON HILLS COUNTY CLUB

LANDON BYRD - FACILITY MAINTENANCE, OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

Join us in congratulating Landon on his new bundle of joy, Eleanor "Ellie" River Byrd Eleanor was born Monday, April 8 and weighed 7lbs , 5oz

Holston Hills Country Club Tennis Professional, Jacob Fuqua, got engaged to girlfriend Lauren Williams in Charleston, SC, on March 9. Congratulations to the future Mr & Mrs Fuqua!

It’s a Boy!

HARTLAND JONES - DIRECTOR OF TENNIS & PICKLEBALL, WILSON COUNTRY CLUB

Congrats to Hartland Jones and his wife Caroline on the newest member of their family! Chase Thomas Jones was born Thursday, March 21, at 7lbs., 6oz. We wish them the best as they celebrate their bundle of joy!

30 Years of Service at Sedgefield CC

SHERRI TALLANT - DIRECTOR OF FITNESS, SEDGEFIELD CC

With a reputation as one of the top fitness professionals in the Triad, Sherri Tallant was recruited in 1994 to bring her expertise to Sedgefield when the club became one of the first in the area to offer fitness to its members. Sherri built the program from the ground up, providing personal training, classroom instruction (including a robust spin class that remains popular to this day!), massage therapy, and sound advice on an array of health and wellness topics Always placing an emphasis on continuing education, Sherri has earned certifications and specializations throughout the years that keep her at the top of her field, including ISSA Master Trainer and countless others. She is an advocate for the well-being of staff and members alike, always willing to help anyone with their fitness journey She has indeed helped me many times! It was a pleasure to work with Sherri during my time at Sedgefield and it is an honor to call her a friend.

Written by Beverly Marler

30 years of unwavering dedication and service to our beloved club

This remarkable journey is a testament to the commitment, passion, and hard work of Sherri, whose contributions have profoundly shaped our culture

Over the past three decades, Sherri has been more than just a team member She has been a mentor, a leader, and a friend to many of us Her dedication is seen in countless hours spent organizing events, mentoring new members, and always being the first to volunteer when help is needed

Through Sherri's efforts, our club has grown, thrived, and created a lasting impact on all who have had the pleasure of being a part of it Her legacy is etched in the memories of our past events, the successes we've celebrated, and the camaraderie we've built.

Sherri, your unwavering commitment and passion has inspired us all As we honor Sherri this month, we want her to know how deeply grateful we are for everything she’s done. Sherri’s journey with us has been nothing short of inspirational, and we look forward to many more years of her guidance and friendship

Written by Scott Stuart

CONGRATULATIONS

30 Years of Service at Holston Hills CC

Congrats to Holston Hills Country Club Assistant Superintendent, Lincoln Hurd, on celebrating his 30-year anniversary at the club on June 1! Lincoln is a lifelong resident of Knoxville and has worked at the club since 1994 Pictured here with Lincoln is his son, Erian, who assisted him and the agronomy team during the recent Visit Knoxville Open at Holston Hills.

Bundle of Joy

BRYSON BOYETTE

CART ATTENDANT

WILSON COUNTRY CLUB

Bryson Boyette was a medalist in the local qualifying stage for the U.S. Open in Keswick, Virginia Bryson recorded a blistering 68 to be the low qualifier which sent him to the U S Open Final Qualifying at Duke University Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina. Bryson competed in what’s called the “longest day in golf” by playing 36 holes against PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour, and LIV Golf professionals in an effort to qualify for this year’s U S Open in Pinehurst

Josh Rowell, from the Maintenance Department at Porters Neck Country Club, recently welcomed Stella Grace into the world. She was born on May 10, weighing 7lbs , 4oz of pure sweetness! Congratulations on the beautiful baby girl!

CCA Server Excels in the Classroom and on the Track

Bree Moore (pictured on the left), a seasonal server at CCA and also a Senior Track & Field athlete at UNC Asheville, recently won the Big South Conference Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year Award A Health and Wellness Promotion major, Bree competes in the high jump, long jump and javelin throw events for the Bulldogs. She was also recently named the Big South Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Week after an impressive performance at the Georgia Tech Invitational Way to go, Bree!

Graduation Season

Callie Fabrie, oldest daughter of McConnell Golf CFO Tom Fabrie, graduated from Virginia Tech on May 11 with her Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Before leaving Blacksburg, she went to Pete Dye River Course and played her first round of golf, ever A big “Thank You” to Michael Abraham and his crew at PDRC for taking care of her during her visit! She was very impressed

Core Values, Collaboration & Camaraderie

CCA Hosts Staff Workshop

Country Club of Asheville hosted a staff workshop on Monday, May 20 Employees from all departments came together for a day of camaraderie, education, development, and team building

The day began with a light lunch prepared by the culinary team, followed by an icebreaker activity where they split into teams to assemble a “puzzle” of the CCA newsletter front page. General Manager Aaron James recognized staff members for significant accomplishments and updated the team on upcoming club activities, projects, and expectations for the remainder of 2024. Director of Talent Recruiting & Development Beverly Marler spoke about McConnell Golf’s core values, mission and vision statements, and the art of hospitality

The group gathered in teams again to brainstorm and share ideas on various topics designed to help achieve success and continued growth To round out the day, Corporate Director of Wellness & Activities Natalie Clemens conducted another fun team-building activity called “Cover Story,” where each group used props and recorded videos to promote an assigned area of the club Fun was had by all! They listened, they learned, they laughed, and they engaged as a team Way to go, CCA!

Footprints on the Green

Pete Dye River Course of VT - Wayne Zellers Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament

Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech recently hosted the 8th Annual Wayne Zellers Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament. A total of $13,000 was raised for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Project. All of the department heads at PDRC are on the organization’s committee along with two members

BV’s 1st Blood Drive Exceeds Goal

On April 24, Brook Valley CC hosted its first blood drive with the American Red Cross in partnership with East Carolina University’s Purple Pantry. The Purple Pantry is a program whose mission is to decrease food insecurity among the students of East Carolina University and increase access to other personal care items. The goal was to get 34 units of blood donated For every unit of blood donated, ECU’s Purple Pantry would receive a $10 donation from the American Red Cross. The BV team ended up exceeding their goal and had 35 units of blood donated and were able to raise $350 for the Purple Pantry Brook Valley looks forward to working with the Red Cross in the future, and plans to make this an annual event. Intern Alex West, and BV Event Coordinator, Kelsey Casalaspro organized and publicized the event They did a great job, and we are all proud of them. Kudos to two young staff members making a tangible difference in our community!

MCG GM RETREAT RECAP

RECENT REVIEWS

RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB

Amazing food and atmosphere!

Jennifer Small

TREYBURN COUNTRY CLUB

Well maintained, beautiful even though fairway grass was dormant. Greens were in great shape and are a wonderful challenge. The staff was very courteous and helpful

David Heilman

MCCONNELL GOLF GENERAL MANAGERS GATHER IN GREENSBORO, NC

In late April, Sedgefield Country Club buzzed with energy as our club managers gathered for the 2024 General Manager's Retreat The retreat was packed with learning, bonding, and planning for the future

With Beverly Marler spearheading the retreat, managers gained more knowledge about McConnell Golf's new Ottimate AI-powered accounts payable system Ana Brady and Beverly also shared tips and tricks on human resource best practices The group heard from McConnell Golf's COO, Christian Anastasiadis, about challenges and opportunities for the remainder of 2024 Brian Kittler, VP of Golf Operations, spoke about building a team, and the group discussed the “Fire Yourself” responses from the Annual Meeting assignment Natalie Clemens, McConnell Golf's Corporate Director of Wellness & Activities, organized a fun team-building activity that tied in with Footprints on the Green

PETE DYE RIVER COURSE OF VIRGINIA TECH

A fantastic venue! I just attended a baby shower hosted in the clubhouse and it was perfect. The chef went above and beyond with the theme and every detail was just so. Not to mention the food was delicious and the view was gorgeous

Alexandra Oberoi

PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB

Beautiful views

The GMs split into groups to build a putt-putt hole made of non-perishable items Following the activity, 434 pounds of food were donated to the Greensboro Urban Ministry Food Pantry It was an eventful and insightful retreat. We're excited for our leaders to put everything they learned into action for the rest of 2024!

OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

Kim Lavoie

Beautifully laid out golf course by Badin Lake. The fairways are in excellent condition for this time of year Greens are coming along nicely.

Craig Weeke

WILSON COUNTRY CLUB

Wilson Country Club offers a wonderful experience! Highly recommend it! Appreciate their hospitality, attention to details, delicious signature dishes, and management that genuinely cares

Yuliya P

THE COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE

Our first meal at CCA! Our bartender Maryanne made us wonderful Old Fashioneds Our server, Sky, suggested the best meal! We started with Brussels followed by pasta primavera and pork tenderloin We met the cook, Richard Had a fabulous meal!!

Louise Moore

MCCONNELL GOLF, THE MAGAZINE

MCCONNELL GOLF, THE MAGAZINE - SPRING/SUMMER 2024 ISSUE

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery of McConnell Golf! The Spring/Summer 2024 edition of McConnell Golf, The Magazine is out now, featuring our travel stories from members at various properties, collegiate partnerships, member-submitted photos, and more. Since its inception in 2008, McConnell Golf has printed over 30 editions of this publication Click the photo above to read more

If you have an interesting story to share with us, contact Faith Inman at finman@mcconnellgolf.com for a chance to be featured in our Fall/Winter edition.

WELCOME ABOARD (PROMOTIONS + ADDITIONS)

JOSH DELORME

ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB JDELORME@HOLSTONHILLS.COM

Josh comes from the Quixote Club in Sumter, South Carolina He is a graduate of the PGM Program at Coastal Carolina University and did an internship at Grandfather Golf & Country Club. While in school, Josh did stints at River Falls Plantation GC, and the Hackler Golf Course at CCU as an Assistant His main focus will be customer service inside and outside the golf shop, managing the tee sheet, keeping the golf shop and outside areas organized, on-course member services, and assisting in all aspects of the golf operation at Holston Hills

KARLISSA KERTCHAVAL

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB ACTIVITIES@HOLSTONHILLS COM

Karlissa joins the team at Holston Hills after serving as the Member Experience Coordinator at Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, Texas Originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, she loves all things sports, with the Dallas Cowboys and Golden State Warriors being her two favorite professional sports teams Karlissa also enjoys spending time with her daughter, family, and traveling

CHEF JOHN HANEK

EXECUTIVE CHEF THE WATER’S EDGE COUNTRY CLUB CHEF@WATERSEDGECOUNTRYCLUB.COM

John Hanek found his passion for the culinary arts while working at Disney World, quickly earning recognition among his colleagues Later in his career, Stock Development Company in Florida presented him with an opportunity to establish The Grandezza. John directed all starting operations to make this country club a success. In 2006, he accepted a position as Executive Chef at The Water’s Edge Country Club The move to Virginia was a welcomed change of pace and filled with genuine people. Virginia’s history and mountain folklore led him to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park. At both national parks, he worked for Delaware North Company at Peaks of Otter and Skyland Resort as an Executive Chef He fulfilled his love of hiking during his time in the parks. Most recently, John was instrumental in the startup of a local restaurant Virginia. While we are sure they are sad to see him leave, we are thrilled to have Chef John back “home” at The Water’s Edge

ALEX STOVER

ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL

OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

ASTOVER@OLDNORTHSTATECLUB COM

Alex Stover recently started at Old North State Club as an Assistant Golf Professional. A native of Charlotte, he is currently enrolled in the PGM program through PGA of America. Before starting at Old North State Club, he begin his golf career at Skybrook Golf Club located in Huntersville, North Carolina He is looking forward to getting to know everyone at Old North State Club and McConnell Golf!

WELCOME ABOARD (PROMOTIONS + ADDITIONS)

ALEX WEST

ROTATIONAL INTERN MCCONNELL GOLF

Alex West recently graduated from East Carolina University with her Business Administration degree after completing her spring internship at Brook Valley Country Club. McConnell Golf is pleased to have Alex continuing her internship through the summer She will be spending time at Sedgefield, Wakefield, Porters Neck, and Raleigh, before returning to Brook Valley to finish out the summer prior to her return to ECU to obtain her master’s degree Congratulations and best wishes to Alex!

ASHLEY ODOM

MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTOR

WILSON COUNTRY CLUB

AODOM@WILSONCOUNTRYCLUB COM

Ashley comes to Wilson Country Club after working at Brook Valley Country Club for eight years After taking some time off to be with her family, she is excited to bring her McConnell Golf experience to Wilson. Ashley has two kids, Mackenzie, 20, who is in school at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, and Tucker, 15, who is a freshman in high school Her two dogs, Captain and Wrangler, keep her occupied as well. Ashley is a strong advocate for breast cancer research and participates annually in a 30-mile walk with Pledge the Pink In her free time, Ashley loves to take summer beach trips, go paddle boarding, and spend time outside by the pool. Ashley is thrilled to join the team and is looking forward to getting to know the membership With her worth ethic, passion for the club industry, and love of helping others, we are confident she will be a great asset to the team.

WELCOME ABOARD (PROMOTIONS + ADDITIONS)

JODY BARNES MAYA PANAYOTOVA

ASSISTANT CONTROLLER

MCCONNELL GOLF

JBARNES@WILSONCOUNTRYCLUB.COM

Jody has taken on a wide range of responsibilities over the years! After working at Wilson Country Club for almost 13 years as the Controller, Membership Coordinator, HR, and Office Manager, we are elated to announce Jody has been promoted to Assistant Controller at the corporate office She has been married for 25 years and has two grown children and four grandchildren. Outside of the office, you can find her spending time with her grandchildren Jody loves to travel and explore new areas, whether it’s RV camping at the beach and in the mountains, visiting other countries, or riding on her husband’s Harley Davidson to the beach.

GENERAL MANAGER

WILSON COUNTRY CLUB

MAYA@WILSONCOUNTRYCLUB.COM

Maya has been a valued team member at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro since 2008 Demonstrating her capacity for growth and leadership almost immediately, Maya advanced her career with numerous supervisory and management roles, ultimately becoming Sedgefield’s Director of Food and Beverage and most recently Assistant General Manager. Originally from Bulgaria, Maya earned her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Over the years, Maya has developed a deep appreciation for wine, finding joy in its nuances. This passion led to a concurrent role as McConnell Golf’s Director of Wine Services. With exceptional leadership skills, a keen eye for detail, a dedication to excellence, and a passion for hospitality, Maya is poised to make a positive impact as she leads the team at Wilson Country Club. Please join us in congratulating Ms Maya Panayotova and welcoming her to Wilson Country Club!

ANTHONY PORTER

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

PETE DYE RIVER COURSE OF VIRGNIA TECH APORTER@PETEDYERIVERCOURSE COM

Anthony grew up in Ohio and started in the food and beverage industry while attending Kent State University. Eight states and 13 cities later, he has relocated to the New River Valley to be near family Most recently, he held the position of general manager at the Brasserie Saison in Charlottesville, Virginia. An amateur artist in his spare time, hoping to utilize all the scenery the New River Valley and Blue Ridge area have to offer

WELCOME ABOARD (PROMOTIONS +

DREW BROADSTREET

TENNIS PROFESSIONAL PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB

DBROADSTREET@PORTERSNECKCOUNTRYCLUB COM

Drew, a native of Greensboro, graduated from Northern Guilford High School and was rated as a 4-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network. At UNCW, he continued his racquetball career, participating in 10 doubles matches, the NCAA regional club, and the 2023 CAA Championship team Drew brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the team at Porters Neck Country Club, and looks forward to getting to know the membership

MICHAEL MONAHAN

EXECUTIVE CHEF COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE CHEF@CCOFASHEVILLE COM

g from Boston, Massachusetts, Chef Michael Monahan moved to gh in 1996 to continue his career in the culinary field His talents ly propelled him through the ranks, culminating in an executive position with McConnell Golf at The Cardinal by Pete Dye in Over the years, he has brought his culinary expertise to several properties, including Sedgefield Country Club, Old North State and Grande Dunes Club, with notable stints at Raleigh Country and The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation

021, Chef Monahan expanded his culinary passion into ulture, founding Single Season Farming, which focuses on ng and selling microgreens and freeze-dried fruits and ables, underscoring his commitment to fresh, locally sourced dients Chef Monahan is thrilled to join the team at Country Club heville, where he looks forward to bringing his innovative and y inspired cuisine to the club’s esteemed members. His love for ountains and the vibrant culinary scene of Asheville makes this citing next chapter in his career

WELCOME ABOARD (PROMOTIONS +

THE WATER’S EDGE CC WELCOMES NEW SERVERS TO THEIR TEAM

Avery Bradner - Avery is a rising junior at Franklin County High School and plans to go to Averett University to become a teacher She is very excited to work at The Water’s Edge Country Club.

Alba Pratt - Alba was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Franklin County, Virginia. She is a senior at Southern Virginia University studying English and Elementary Education

Kearston King - Kearston is a graduate from Gretna High School; this is her first job. She has five siblings and three dogs.

Kay Inman - Kay is originally from Florida, having moved to Virginia five years ago. She has a little girl and two stepchildren who mean the world to her, and she will be getting married in October

GARY HUSMANN LINE COOK

CHRIS LAWRIE LINE COOK THE WATER’S EDGE COUNTRY CLUB

Chris grew up in Franklin County and has a degree in landscape architecture from Virginia Tech He continues to work as a landscape architect while working at The Water's Edge.

WELCOME ABOARD (PROMOTIONS +

VIRGINIA HITCHCOCK

FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE VHITCHCOCK@CCOFASHEVILLE.COM

Virginia started her McConnell Golf career in 2013 at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and has been with Raleigh Country Club for the past year. She is most excited about meeting the CCA membership and starting the McConnell Golf Wine Society in Asheville She looks forward to adding a craft cocktail program and overall elevating the members’ food and beverage experience every day. In her free time, Virginia enjoys hiking with her dogs, photography, and dining at new restaurants She is always looking for new food and beverage ideas and inspiration

ADAM SCHMIDT, PGA

ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB ASCHMIDT@PROVIDENCECC COM

BREAKER BAR AND GRILLE MANAGER

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION MKRUSE@CCWAKEFIELDPLANTATION COM

We are excited to announce that Mary Kruse has been promoted to The Breaker Bar & Grille Manager. Mary has been a valuable member of our team since 2021. Please join us in congratulating Mary as she takes on this new role

Adam’s golf career started at Arrowhead Golf Club in Naples, Florida, in 2012 He then took his career north to New Jersey, where he worked at Knob Hill Golf Club and Hidden Creek. His passion for teaching further ignited at Providence Country Club, where he spent four years instructing everyone from kids swinging their first clubs to lifetime players. Adam believes he can help anyone learn how to golf, and if all else fails, he promises you’ll have fun doing it. Please join us in wishing him a warm welcome back home!

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

MCCONNELL GOLF BSCHULTZ@MCCONNELLGOLF.COM

Bob (pictured on the left) joins the McConnell Golf Accounts Payable team after previously working at Raleigh Golf Association in both the golf shop and outside operations areas A retired state of North Carolina employee, Bob is a graduate of East Carolina University and was Raleigh Golf Association's Employee of the Year in 2023.

MARY KRUSE

BOB SCHULTZ

WELCOME ABOARD (PROMOTIONS + ADDITIONS)

MARK WHITTINGTON PERSONAL TRAINER THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION MWHITTINGTON@CCWAKEFIELDPLANTATION COM

ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL HSWEENEY@SEDGEFIELDCC ORG

Hank is originally from Overland Park, Kansas and a proud graduate of the University of Kansas. He is a huge Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas City Chiefs fan He also enjoys Manchester City FC soccer and McLaren Formula 1 racing In his free time, Hank enjoys collecting vinyl records. Hank is currently working towards becoming a Class A PGA Professional Sedgefield is excited to have him as part of the team and Hank is looking forward to serving the membership. Please welcome Hank next time you are at the club!

g g, , marketing. Wakefield is excited to have Jacob in this this newly created position

HANK SWEENEY

HR & TALENT ACQUISITION UPDATES

VISIT KNOXVILLE OPEN PHOTOS

VISIT KNOXVILLE OPEN PHOTOS

UNC HEALTH CHAMPIONSHIP

UNC HEALTH CHAMPIONSHIP