As summer draws to a close, many of us are eagerly anticipating the crisp air and vibrant colors of autumn Though we’ll miss the long, sunny days of summer, we were able to extend the pool hours for an additional week past Labor Day. Make the most of this extra time and join us for one last summer celebration at our Labor Day cookout and pool party.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for the warm welcome you have given Jake McCartney, our new Director of Tennis who joined us mid-August We’re thrilled to see him develop and expand our tennis
and pickleball programs If you haven’t had the chance to meet Jake yet, please feel free to visit the tennis shop or drop Jake a quick email
As we welcome Jake, our new Director of Tennis, we’re also preparing for a significant change with Reid Hill, our Head Golf Pro, set to retire this October While we’re excited for Reid and the new adventures that lie ahead, we will certainly miss his presence His remarkable contributions and the positive impact he’s had on our club, our members, and our team are truly appreciated.
A special note of appreciation is due to Reid, who has dedicated the past 26 years to our club. Thank you, Reid, for your unwavering dedication and love for the club. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have you as a part of our family, and we’re grateful for everything you’ve done over the years.
As we navigate these transitions, we want to thank you all for your warm welcome to our new team members and for your continued support
See you around the clubhouse, Maya Panayotova General Manager
MEMBERSHIP
TIME FLIES
Can you believe that summer is coming to an end and fall is right around the corner? It is exciting to watch the membership grow the past few months. Thank you for continuin your family, friends, neig grow our club on referra without you Thank you
-Ashley Odom
Membership Director
NotPictured:
Sam & Kari Thomas with son Liam
Savannah Story
Patrick Butler
King with son Liam
ort with children
ne & Miles
Nick & Savannah Demuy with son Thatcher
TJ & Rachel Penny with son Dylan & Blythe Ward with children Striker & Lex-Hilton
Alison and Peter Bray
Christian Bullard with fiancé Camille Tew David & Haley Via
Never miss out on a club event, the latest McConnell Golf news or the chance to share your member experience. Stay connected to Wilson Country Club and McConnell Golf on social media and join the conversation today.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ThankyouallforthewarmwelcomeIhavereceived hereatWilsonCountryClub Ithasbeenapleasure gettingtoknowtheclub,ourmembers,andallofthe incredibleactivitieswehavelinedup.Whetheryou are a seasoned member or new to the club like myself,there’salwayssomethingfreshandengaging happeninghere.Fromourpicturesquegolfcourseto allofourdiningexperiences,I’mexcitedtohighlight thebestofwhatourclubhastoofferinthisissueof theWCCNewsletter.
members. Whether you’re looking to join a tennis match, attend one of our social gatherings or themed buffets, or simply relax and enjoy a glass of wine on the patio outside of Grover’s, there’s truly something for everyone I look forward to sharing more stories, updates, and highlights in the months to come Here’s to many memorable moments ahead at the club!
Cheers!
Evan Morris Director of Food & Beverage
Discover the perfect blend of elegance and excitement at WCC’s versatile event and meeting spaces.
Whether it's a corporate gathering or a social soirée, our customizable venues offer the ideal backdrop for unforgettable experiences. Elevate your event with our top-notch amenities and dedicated staff, ensuring seamless planning and execution every step of the way.
From intimate board meetings to grand celebrations, make your next event a resounding success at Wilson Country Club.
For more details, contact Evan, emorris@wilsoncountryclub.com
HOT OFF THE GRILL - SEPTEMBER DINING EVENTS
LABOR DAY POOL PARTY
MONDAY, SEPT. 2 | 12:00PM - 3:00PM
Join us for a sizzling Labor Day Grill Out by the pool, where we’ll be serving up delicious grilled favorites, refreshing drinks and end of Summer vibes! Bring your family to relax, unwind and soak up the sun. We’ll have live music by DJ V1RAL and games for all. See you by the grill!
TAPAS & TUNES
FRIDAY, SEPT 20 | 6:00PM - 8:30PM
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the club with our Tapas and Tunes event. Savor a variety of flavorful tapas, each crafted to delight your taste buds, while enjoying live music that sets the perfect mood for a great night out It’s the perfect way to unwind after a long work week so bring your friends and family for a wonderful night of great food, fantastic music and fun!
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS | 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Grab your partners in wine Enjoy our regular dinner service in the upstairs Club Room with $1 off a glass of wine, 50% off bottled house wine and 20% off other bottled wine, excluding the McConnell Signature wines
Get ready for a cozy movie night at WCC! Start your evening with a delicious buffet After dinner, settle in for a fantastic movie under the stars with all your favorite concessions, including popcorn, ice cream, candy and drinks It’s the perfect way to enjoy a fun-filled night with family and friends, complete with great food and entertainment Don’t miss out on this memorable evening!
OKTOBERFEST
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 | 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Celebrate Oktoberfest at WCC with an authentic taste of Germany Indulge in classic German fare like bratwurst, pretzels and schnitzel, all paired with a selection of traditional German beers Whether you’re a beer enthusiast or just love hearty, flavorful food, this event promises to bring the spirit of Oktoberfest right to the club. Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged, so don your best Bavarian attire and join us for a night of great food, cold brews and lively fun in true Bavarian style!
WINE & DESIGN
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Enjoy a relaxed evening of creativity as you sip on a glass of wine and nibble on delicious hors d’oeuvres Whether you’re a seasoned painter or just looking for a fun night out, this event is perfect for all skill levels. Guided by a professional instructor, you’ll create your own masterpiece to take home We need at least seven participants to sign up, so gather your friends and join us for a night of art, laughter and great company!
SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET
SUNDAY, SEPT 29 | 10:30AM - 1:30PM
Join us for the delicious Sunday Brunch Buffet at WCC! Indulge in a variety of gourmet dishes, including madeto-order omelets, fresh pastries, and seasonal dishes It’s an ideal way to kick off your day, whether you’re fueling up for a round of golf or just relaxing with friends Bring your appetite and enjoy the best flavors of the season
HOT OFF THE GRILL - OCTOBER DINING EVENTS
PASTABILITIES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 | 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Join us for a delicious Pasta Night at the club, where you can savor a variety of pasta dishes made to order with your choice of sauces, topping and fresh ingredients Bring your appetite and your friends for a night of comfort food and good company Imagine the pastabilities!
SUNDAY BRUNCH
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 | 10:30AM - 1:30PM
Join us for the delicious Sunday Brunch Buffet at WCC! Indulge in a variety of gourmet dishes, including madeto-order omelets, fresh pastries, and seasonal dishes. It’s an ideal way to kick off your day, whether you’re fueling up for a round of golf or just relaxing with friends Bring your appetite and enjoy the best flavors of the season
FALL EXTRAVAGANZA
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | 11:00AM - 3:00PM
Celebrate the season at our Fall Festival, where the club transforms into a festive playground of fun and flavor! Enjoy classic fair-style food, while taking a part in a variety of activities perfect for all ages Bring your family and friends for a day of autumnal delights and seasonal cheer!
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS | 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Grab your partners in wine Enjoy our regular dinner service in the upstairs Club Room with $1 off a glass of wine, 50% off bottled house wine and 20% off other bottled wine, excluding the McConnell Signature wines
SPOOKY MOVIE NIGHT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 | BUFFET 5:30PM-7:30PM
CONCESSIONS 7:00PM-9:00PM
Feature Movie will be Casper beginning when the sun goes down Concession stand will open at 5:30 for your enjoyment to indulge in popcorn, hot dogs, candy, beverages and more View will be outside weatherpermitting so come with chairs and blankets. It’s the perfect night for kids and adult alike, so come on out for a spooktacular time!
RESERVATIONS REQUESTED FOR ALL EVENTS TO ENSURE YOUR WILSON COUNTRY CLUB STAFF CAN PREPARE. FROM DINING TO EVENTS, WE WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU’RE COMING!
HOT OFF THE GRILL
Dear Members,
As we enter Fall, it signals a few things The pool season is coming to an end with our annual Labor Day grill out at the pool on Monday, September 2nd Also, cooler weather and the holiday season are on the horizon Be sure to check out all the events coming up in September and October, from movie nights and our Tapas and Tunes to the anticipated annual Men’s Member/Guest With the holiday season just around the corner, our calendar for festive and corporate events is quickly filling up To ensure your special occasion is unforgettable, we invite you to reach out soon and secure your ideal date before it’s gone Let us help you make this season truly memorable!
Thank you for your support and we look forward to serving you soon!
William Tew, Executive Chef
SEPTEMBER COOKIE OF THE MONTH
SWEET TEA SHORTBREAD COOKIES
BY ISAAC SPENCER, EXECUTIVE CHEF AT OLD NORTH STATE CLUB
“There’s nothing better than sitting on the front porch in the late summer months enjoying a mason jar of sweet tea and sharing a tin of shortbread cookies. Here is a cookie that combines both southern staples. During the holiday season, the culinary team includes this cookie to our cookie package so members can enjoy them with their family and friends at the lake ” - Isaac Spencer
View the recipe at https://bit.ly/sept-shortbread
OCTOBER COOKIE OF THE MONTH
CREAM CHEESE SUGAR COOKIES GLUTEN-FREE
BY JAMES PATTERSON CORPORATE EXECUTIVE CHEF
“Recent years have brought on the need for GF ideas for members to enjoy This is a recipe that I came across that fills the need Enjoy ” - James Patterson
View the recipe at https://bit ly/oct-sugar
Dear Members,
I have made the decision to retire from Wilson Country Club. I will continue in my current role as Head Golf Professional through this fall’s Member-Guest, with my official last day being Sunday, October 20
There aren’t enough words to properly express my gratitude to all of you for allowing me to be your golf professional for the last 26 years. I am so fortunate to be able to call so many of you friends You welcomed
me with open arms when I started back in 1998, and you have supported me ever since
My sincere thanks to McConnell Golf for allowing me the opportunity to be part of the transition after the sale of the club last June. It’s great to see the positive direction Wilson Country Club is taking, and I am proud to play a small role in this success I will not be a stranger, as I will continue to live in Wilson, which I call home, and you will most likely see me at the club on occasion You have an amazing team running the club, and it will continue to improve in the years to come.
I certainly can’t thank each of you individually with this letter, but I hope to be able to express my thanks to each and every one of you in person
Warmest regards, Reid Hill, PGA
Juniors, Call the Pro Shop to schedule your lesson today!
REMINDER: ALL REID HILL GOLF SHOP CREDIT MUST BE USED NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15, 2024 NO EXCEPTIONS.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
LABORDAYTOURNAMENT
SEPTEMBER 2
JUNIORCLUBCHAMPIONSHIP
SEPTEMBER 21-22
LADIES’MEMBER-MEMBER SEPTEMBER 27
PRESIDENT’S CUP TBA
WCC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
OCTOBER 5-6
WCCMEN’SMEMBER-GUEST
OCTOBER 17-19
LGAFALLFINALE
OCTOBER 31
BARTONHOMECOMINGGOLFEVENT
NOVEMBER 1
2024 WILSON CUP RECAP
Over the weekend, 38 of Wilson’s best golfers met for two days for the 31st annual Wilson Cup Wilson Country Club hosted the event on Saturday, and Wedgewood Golf Course was the Sunday host. 36 holes of 2-man match play on Saturday produced the 2 clubs with the highest point totals... WCC and Willow Springs Country Club earned the right to compete on Sunday for the elusive Wilson Cup. Although the competition was spirited, the competitors maintained a high level of decorum and sportsmanship. WCC proved to be the better team and won the Cup in convincing fashion 16 1/2 pts to 8 pts Congrats to all of our team that played extremely well!! As this was my last Wilson Cup as the WCC head professional, I would like to thank all of the players that competed!!! You made your captain very proud!! - Reid
Dr. Bill Boles, M.A. Tyson, Hearn Walston, Stan Corbett, Hewitt Poland, Clint O’Hara, Scott Dekeyzer, Dwayne Baker, David Hesmer, Kyle Norville, Seth Pattan, Matt Ellis & Coalter Paxton, IV comprised our championship winning team.
The tail end of July and the first half of August shaped up to be extremely wet, with us receiving right at 12 inches of rain The first bout of it was when we were trying to aerify the fairways We struggled through the fairways on the front but got them done That same week, we were able to get the collars and approaches completed on all 18 as well as some other smaller areas that could easily be cleaned up right behind the aerifier Being that we completed all the tees and the par 3 approaches the week before, it put us in a pretty good position, although we had to fight to get the front side fairways cleaned up I had elected to delay the fairways on the back side until the following week, hoping that it would be drier I came in on Sunday afternoon and started and got well past the halfway point, which allowed us to get the entire nine holes done within a 24-hour period since the weather cooperated
Fast forward two weeks, and we were blessed with the presence of Tropical Storm Debby She dumped well over 4 inches of rain on us, and luckily, we missed the worst of the winds It took a full day to get the bunkers pumped out so that they could start to dry out The bulk of the men volunteered to come in on Saturday to help clean up the course The greens were mowed, the course was set up, and a whole lot of limbs were cleaned up throughout the course, as well as some blowing around the ponds, tees, and fairways where it was dry enough to do so.
It is now August 15th as of this writing, and we are a week out from that incident. The course is back in good shape, with the cleanup done and the bunkers put back together again. It has been a struggle, and the crew is a bit beat down, but we are in decent shape, and the course really does look good. I am very proud of how much effort the men have put into getting us back to and surpassing the standard. Also, we seeded the left side of fifteen green on August 14th. Hopefully, by August 21st, we will see a good bit of germination and be on the road to getting this green back in tip-top shape.
Looking forward, we are scheduled to aerify greens on August 26th and 27th. This will be the final aerification of the year on the greens. Please remember that all of the aerifications (greens, tees, and fairways) are completely necessary to keep the course in the best shape possible for you, the membership Skipping even one of the scheduled events would lead to a lesser-quality product and a shorter expected life of the greens It is not that my crew just enjoys poking holes The entire process, regardless of where, is a lot of work and not necessarily fun for anyone
I hope to see you all on the course soon!
Regards,
Craig Clemmer, Wilson Country Club Superintendent
COURTSIDE NEWS
Thank you to everyone who has given me such a warm welcome to Wilson Country Club I am excited to be returning to Wilson after a few years working in the surrounding area I look forward to meeting everyone over the coming weeks as we move into the Fall with some exciting play on our tennis and pickleball courts I have been busy my first week getting the clay courts in better shape, long with tying down the windscreens.
All courts are now playable, so I encourage everyone to make reservations on all courts whenever possible so that we can ensure our courts are in the best shape possible for you, and it will give me a better understanding of when our busy times of play are We are so excited about the coming months for our racquet sports programs and look forward to seeing you out on the courts soon!
TENNIS PRO SHOP HOURS
MONDAY | SHOP CLOSED, COURTS OPEN FOR PLAY
Please reach out to me by email with any questions you may have about our tennis and pickleball programs.
See you on the courts!
Jake McCartney Director of Tennis jmccartney@wilsoncountryclub com
TUESDAY - FRIDAY | 8:30AM - 6:00PM
SATURDAY | 8:30AM - 1:00PM
SUNDAY | SHOP CLOSED, COURTS OPEN FOR PLAY
MCCONNELL GOLF, THE MAGAZINE
Keep an eye on your mailbox in mid-October for the Fall/Winter edition of McConnell Golf, The Magazine. This issue promises to be a must-read, with highlights including a recap of the Wyndham Championship and engaging member spotlights Expect a collection of compelling stories from across our entire portfolio of clubs
OLD
STATE CLUB SOLHEIM CUP CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to Old North State Club on winning the 12th Annual McConnell Golf Solheim Cup! Entering Sunday's final round 3 points behind, they made an incredible comeback to defeat the defending champions from The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation by just 1.2 points the closest finish in the event's history This marks Old North State Club's second title, with their first win in 2016 With seven teams finishing within 4 5 points, every stroke truly mattered in this competition
MCCONNELL GOLF RYDER CUP I NOVEMBER 6-9
Sedgefield Country Club aims to defend its Ryder Cup title at this year's event, held at The Reserve Golf Club in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, from November 6th through the 9th Last year's title marked Sedgefield Country Club's first Ryder Cup victory, with The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation and the Country Club of Asheville finishing second and third, respectively
