CLUB UPDATE A NOTE FROM ROBERT LAMBERT YOUR CLUB MANAGER
A NOTE FROM JEFF SNYDER YOUR GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
The 2021 golf season is now underway at the Water’s Edge Country Club. It has been very nice to see everyone who was away for the winter…. welcome back to Smith Mountain Lake!
Men’s and Ladies season openers went off with some excellent participation. Golf this past year through the pandemic has been good and therapeutic, and 2021 is off to a great start. There is some newfound energy throughout the club, both staff and members. We look forward to enhancing experiences day in and day out for members, friends, and families.
This is very exciting times for the Water’s Edge. I am looking forward to the completion of the Fitness Center this month with updated equipment and flooring. McConnell Golf also has plans for pro shop renovations and refurbishing the clubhouse décor over the next year. We have a full calendar of events for you and your family to enjoy. We will kick off the month of May with a tequila tasting to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Enjoy chef Mike’s delicious Mexican specials for lunch and dinner, Wednesday May 5th. Our May cocktail of the month will be Mint Julep. Come by the East Room lounge to view the running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1st and viewing for the Preakness will be on May 15th. Our Mother’s Day brunch will be held on Sunday May 9th from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. We will have limited seating so please make your reservations early. Outdoor seating available weather permitting. We will have a Patio Party on Friday, May 14th with live music. Our Memorial weekend cookout will be poolside Friday, May 28th. Memorial celebration will continue Saturday, May 29th for a poolside Chill & Grill and activities from 12noon until 2:00pm. June’s cocktail of the month is the Mojito. Enjoy this refreshing cocktail as the days get hotter. Belmont Stakes viewing will be on June 4th in the East Room Lounge. Barbeque & Beer night at the Equestrian Center with live music on June 11th from 7:00pm until 10:00pm. Friday, June 18th will have a Land and Sea Buffet. Also, every Saturday at 3:00 pm at the pool will be the Family Fun Hour, so join us each week for some crazy & fun activities. If you would like to dine at another McConnell property, call the club and we will make the reservation for you.
We are certainly busy on the course. Winter tree work is completed, with some additional limbing to be done throughout the season. Most notable would be short of green on hole 1, and right side of 16. We are looking to enhance playability, increase air, sunlight, and make the course as enjoyable as possible. Greens were aerified first week of April. Tees and roughs followed, and fairways were punched and topdressed over the winter. We are finishing up on all our cultural activities to have the turf in the best shape it can be in heading into the season. Multiple Poa applications have been done and will continue until the weather gets too hot. Moving through the season, looking for faster and firmer conditions. We updated our irrigation software. This will allow for some addition flexibility with water management. Utilizing more wetting agents. These products can help us “retain” or “push” water in our problem areas. Water management continues to be a top priority, and all the above assist in that cause. As we strive for better and better conditions; staff, members, and guests all play a role. Cart traffic, please scatter as much as possible. Divots, please replace as much of the divot as possible and step down. If needed, only sand balance of cavity with sand and drag with foot to remove “mounding”. These mounds of sand dull the mowers badly and affect the quality of cut. Ball marks, fix yours and one other please. Looking forward to a FANTASTIC ’21!!
A NOTE FROM JOHN GUTHMANN YOUR HEAD TENNIS PROFESSIONAL Spring has offically arrived, as the soft courts have been resurfaced and are ready for play! The hard courts are also all set for both regular tennis and pickleball. Join us for Mixed Doubles Round Robin play every M-W-F at 9 am. Warm ups start at 8:45 am. No partner needed, and if you forgot your racquet, we can remedy that too! Don't forget to join us on Memorial Day, May 31st for our French Open Strawberries and Creme Day. There will be Saturday Tennis clinics on May 8th, May 22nd, June 5th, and June 12th from 9 am until 10:30 am. Clinics are limited to six participants, with a minimum of two. The charge is $15. There are signup sheets in the tennis room. I am also available for private lessons or racquet restringing. You can contact me directly at 434-927-5039.
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PICKLEBALL! If you have ever played Pickle Ball you know how much FUN, it is. Even tennis players love it. Pickle Ball is the fastest growing sport in the US, and it is multi-generational as well. Intro to Pickleball & Social on Saturday, May 8th. We will have a member-charge bar, music, and provide some light hors d’oeuvres from 5:00pm until 7:00pm. Twice a week we will offer a “drop in” Round Robin play beginning May 10th, Mondays and Fridays from 9:00am until 10:30am. All levels are welcome.
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