THE RIVER REPORT
PETE DYE RIVER COURSE OF VIRGINIA TECH
YOUR CLUB
HOURS OF OPERATION
PRESTON’S RESTAURANT*
Monday I CLOSED
Tuesday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)
Wednesday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)
Thursday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)
Friday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)
Saturday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)
Sunday I 11:00am - 5:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 5:00pm)
GOLF SHOP
Monday-Thursday I 7:00am - 6:00pm
Friday-Sunday I 6:30am - 6:00pm
PRACTICE FACILITIES
Open 30 minutes prior to first tee time
Closes at dusk
CLUB NUMBERS
Main Office Golf Shop
Restaurant Special Events
CLUB CONTACTS
CLUBHOUSE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Michael Abraham | General Manager mabraham@petedyerivercourse.com
Fran Davis | Business Manager / Special Events fdavis@petedyerivercourse.com
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Anastasia Kramer I Executive Chef chef@petedyerivercourse.com
Anthony Porter I Front of House & Catering Manager foh@petedyerivercourse.com
GOLF
Michael Abraham | PGA Director of Golf mabraham@petedyerivercourse com
DJ Shively | Assistant Golf Professional dj shively@petedyerivercourse com
GROUNDS
Greg Caldwell | Golf Course Superintendent greg.caldwell@petedyerivercourse.com
THE CORNER OFFICE
Dear Members,
Happy One-Year Anniversary to me! On June 2, I celebrated my one-year mark with McConnell Golf and The Pete Dye River Course. I know this may sound cliche, but I truly love what I do and have enjoyed every day coming to The River. The members, the guests, the staff, the events, the success, and the challenges make it all worthwhile. Thank you all for your support, input, and guidance during this past year. Here‘s to many more!
Now that we’re in the ‘dog days of summer’ it’s important to make sure you are doing well in the heat Drink plenty of fluids and don’t push yourself If it’s too hot to play, then it’s too hot to play If you normally walk, there’s no shame in riding the back nine or even all eighteen Take advantage of the water coolers stationed on the golf course and the beverage cart coming around
The summer months also bring some BIG events that I’ll let DJ highlight later, but we’re very excited for this year’s MemberGuest (July 12-14) and Club Championship (August 10-11) These are two MAJOR events on the golf calendar The theme for this year’s Member-Guest is ‘The Great Gatsby’ with decor and feelings that will take you back to the Roaring 20's! For the Club Championship this year, we’ll be adding net divisions along with having Men’s, Senior Men’s, Super Senior Men’s, and Women’s divisions The night before the Club Championship kicks off, we’ll be having a ‘Champions Dinner’ where our champions from 2023 will provide us with a favorite entree that will be a special menu item the night
Finally, I hope everyone has had a chance to meet our new Front of House and Catering Manager, Anthony Porter. Anthony joined our team the last week of May and has been making some nice contributions to the restaurant thus far. Please introduce yourself to Anthony when you get a moment!
Thanks again for all the support, and we look forward to seeing you around the club soon!
Michael Abraham, PGA Master Professional General Manager / Director of Golf
The Pete Dye River Course mabraham@petedyerivercourse.com
ON THE LINKS
It’s summer! Is your game heating up? We have plenty of events to showcase how hot your game is.
The Member-Guest is July 12-14 and the Club Championship is August 10 & 11.
We continue on with our Men’s League and Hit N Giggles throughout the summer.
On August 2, we will be hosting a Titleist fitting day to showcase their brand new Drivers, Fairway Woods and Hybrids. Look for a registration link soon!
Reminder that Men's Match Play and Men's League will conclude in August. The winner of each event will be elected captain in our Ryder Cup this September.
Some outside tournaments are coming up that will effect tee times:
Monday July 8 | Roanoke Valley Senior Golf Tour -Tee times begin at 2pm Thursday, July 31 | VSGA One-Day Event - Tee times begin at 2pm
Sunday, August 4 | VSGA Junior Circuit Event - TBD
Sunday, August 25 | Hokie Birdie - Tee times begin at 3pm
DJ Shively
Assistant Golf Professional dj.shively@petedyerivercourse.com
July/August Golf Events
Men’s League
Thursdays at 5:30pm
Upcoming Dates
July 18
July 25
August 1
August 8
August 16
Each week we’ll have a unique format. Cart fee plus $5 entry fee. Points for the season-long race awarded weekly along with shop credit!
Hit N Giggle
Fridays at 5:30pm
Upcoming Dates
July 19
August 2
August 16
Couples Friday night golf! Each week, we‘ll have various scramble formats for you and your partner to Hit and Giggle!
February
April
Pete Dye River Course
2024 Golf Schedule
July
August 10 Super Bowl Golf Tournament 6 Hokie Ball 10 Master’s Par 3 Shootout 26-28 Member-Member 12-14 Men’s Member-Guest 10-11 Club Championship
September 22 Ryder Cup
November 22 Turkey Shootout
*Events may be subject to change
Thursday Night Men’s League:
May 9 July 18
May 16 July 25
June 6 August 1
June 13 August 8
June 20 August 16
June 27
Hit N’ Giggle:
May 17 August 2
May 24 August 16
June 7 September 6
June 21 September 13
July 19
All times starting at 5:30pm for weekly formats!
TURF TALK
How Drought Affects Golf Course Maintenance
Drought conditions significantly challenge golf course maintenance, affecting the health of turfgrass, aesthetics, and overall playability. Managing these impacts requires strategic planning and adaptive practices to maintain course quality during extended dry periods.
Drought primarily reduces soil moisture, essential for the growth and health of turfgrass. Golf course greens, fairways, and tees rely on consistent hydration for optimal playability.
During drought, water scarcity stresses the grass, causing wilting, discoloration, and thinning. This not only impacts the appearance of the course but also affects the ball roll and overall play experience.
Maintaining adequate irrigation becomes a top priority during drought. Courses often implement water-saving technologies such as soil moisture sensors and efficient irrigation systems to target specific areas in need. Additionally, courses may reduce watering frequency and prioritize critical areas like greens over less vital regions.
Regards,
Greg Caldwell
Superintendent
greg caldwell@petedyerivercourse com
WHAT’S COOKIN’?
CHEF ANASTASIA KRAMER
Summer is officially upon us! Live music every Friday night, delivery to the Heron’s landing pool, and ice cold beer. The kitchen is ecstatic for our member-guest featuring 1920sthemed foods and upcoming wine dinner featuring J Lohr vineyard! One of my personal favorite recipes made famous at a state fair in 1924 is the jumbo cream puff We will be featuring the Waldorf salad as one of our options during member-guest, let me know what you think!
Waldorf Salad
Ingredients:
-2 cups diced green apples
-1 tablespoon sugar
-2 teaspoons lemon juice
-1 cup diced celery
-1 cup quartered grapes
-½ cup toasted walnuts roughly chopped
-¼ cup mayonnaise
-¼ cup plain greek yogurt (my personal preference)
-½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions:
1.
Add your diced apples to a large bowl, mixing in the lemon juice and sugar until fully coated. Add the celery, grapes, and nuts and combine.
2.
In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise and greek yogurt, folding in the apple mixture. Season with salt, tasting to adjust seasoning to your liking Let chill and enjoy over lettuce or bread
Upcoming Events
Live music July 5 & 19, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 18 - Birthday Night
July 20 - Wine Tasting Featuring JBR Vineyard
July 25 - Wine Dinner
August 8 - Paint Night
August 15 - Wine Tasting
August 22 - Birthday Night
ANTHONY PORTER
I want to thank all members and guests that have introduced themselves and have made me feel welcome. I have been working on making your dining experience the best it can be with additions to the staff and small touches to enhance your experience If you haven’t had a chance, check out our new specialty cocktail list which includes mocktails to help you cool down on our outdoor patio We’ve added a special Peanut Butter Cup Martini and will soon have a S’mores Martini with a toasted marshmallow to top off your visit. As I am still getting to know my way around, please feel free to reach out withy any suggestions you may have. Thank you!
CLUB EVENTS
Paint Night with Terri Welch Returns!
Thursday, August 8@ 6:00pm
Price is $35/person
Save the Date!
Friday, October 11 More Details to Come
MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Mike Fricker
PDRC:Howlonghaveyoubeenamember?
MIke: For one year.
PDRC:What‘syourfavoriteholeatTheRiver?
Mike: #15
PDRC:Bestroundyou‘veeverplayed?
Mike: I shot an 72 at Draper Valley
PDRC:Who‘sinyourdreamfoursome?
Mike: It would have to be Zane Lambert, Andrew Crowder, Bev Davis and Mike Burton
PDRC:What’sinthebag?
Mike: I’m a Titleist guy! My irons are T-200
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
MK Garner
PDRC:HowlonghaveyouworkedatPDRC?
MK: I started working here May of 2023. So just over one year!
PDRC:Whatareyourfuturecareergoals?
MK: Once I graduate from Radford in December I plan to work at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as an RN.
PDRC:WhatdoyouliketodoforfunawayfromPDRC?
MK: I like to go to the gym, spend time with my family, friends, and travel
PDRC:What‘ssomethinggoodthat hashappenedtoyou recently?
MK: I just completed Level 3 of Nursing School; which is said to be the most rigorous.
COOKIES OF THE MONTH
July August
Peach Cobbler Cookie by Ron Gordils, Executive Chef at Sedgefield Country Club
Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies with Apricot by the culinary team at Water’s Edge Country Club
INSTRUCTION
It’s no secret that the surrounds around the green complexes at The River Course are difficult! Undulations, tight lies, fast greens, elevated greens. What’s a golfer to do?
Well, Pete Dye wanted a golfer to tap into their creativity around the greens, so a golfer must be willing to try different shots At The River Course, you cannot get away with taking one club with you to the green when you miss You have to be accepting of what the lie and situation gives you Learning to know the correct shot to play in different situations will help you lower your score Going high with a flop shot on a downhill lie to an elevated green off a tight lie can spell disaster. Trying a bump and run with a wedge while short-sided could leave the ball at your feet if you don’t get it up the hill.
An old adage of the short game: Putt when you can, chip when you can’t putt and pitch when you can’t chip. Getting the ball on the ground and rolling faster is typically a risk-averse shot compared to sending the ball high in the air.
A couple of tips to help you navigate the surrounds at The River:
Chipping - play the ball in the back of your stance, off the heel of your trail foot. Get 70% of your weight into your lead foot. This will help the shaft lean towards the target, getting your hands in front of the ball while delofting the club you’re using. From here, make a putting stroke, keeping your lower body still and only moving your arms You can use this setup with any club in your bag, sandwedge all the way to your fairway metal! This setup will help get the ball rolling quickly and is a lot less effort than making a very long putting stroke
Pitching - play the ball in the middle of your stance with your weight 50-50 on each foot. Hands should be even with the ball. We want to think about bringing the club back, setting a slight hinge, and then turning through the shot. When you’re finished, your weight should be on your lead foot, hands above your waist, and your stomach facing your target. Remember to keep your speed up through the shot and hit through the ball, not to the ball.
Michael Abraham PGA Master Professional
Setup for Chipping
Setting the Hinge
Following Through
Setup for Pitching
Hokie Birdie
PDRC buzz
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@petedyerivercourse @mcconnellgolf @rivercourseofvt
“PURE GOLF FOR THE TRUE GOLFER” Watch now on Youtube.com/McConnellGolf
Premier play Precise designs Pure golf
What began as the historical preservation of Donald Ross’ last golf course design in Raleigh, NC, has blossomed into a portfolio of championship courses from the mountains to the coast. Our “pure golf for the true golfer” motto transcends agronomy, sport and culinary disciplines it is a principle lived every day through exceptional facilities and service. The “Pure Golf for the True Golfer” video encapsulates this principle, made in celebration of #NationalGolfDay.
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Erin Mengeu Stopping on our way to the Open
Terri Norton Welch Golf on the river with my son this morning Hope the rain holds