DECEMBER 2017
THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE — David Stein, President As we approach the holidays and the New Year, it is a good time to reflect and give thanks. First, a special thanks to Steve Callaway for leading Sequoyah through a year of transition. Under his leadership, I have inherited a strong foundation to build upon for the coming year. A special thanks also to Dave Cannon who served not one, but two years as President and has now completed his duty as Immediate Past President. And last but not least to Peter Scott, whose voice on the Board for three years was always heard in strong support for improving the members’ experience. Dave and Peter, you now have more time for golf and to enjoy the wonderful Club that you helped shepherd. The 2016-17 year was truly a year of transition — of change. And, hand in hand with change comes challenges. Sequoyah is fortunate to have emerged from the year with a strong leadership team, a clear vision, and a plan to make 2017 – 18 a great year. Our new general manager, Bryan Richardson, hit the ground running in August; cost effectively improving operations. Plus, he is a nice guy — get to know him, you will be impressed. Chef Javier has upgraded the food quality. If you haven’t yet tried the fixed price dining, you are missing out — wonderful meals, with a fresh, farm-to-table concept. One transition that was seamless was the retirement of Terry Grasso. Terry planned ahead and
lined up his replacement, Armando Sanchez. The Greens crew, under Armando’s leadership, has done a great job with our biggest asset, the golf course. Santos Mejia continues to lead our maintenance team. And, last but certainly not least, the return of Sally Otsuka has improved our special events and catering. Welcome back, Sally! We welcome two new Board members and a new Recording Secretary. Robin Nelson, former Recording Secretary, has now joined the Board and will chair the Membership Development Committee. Neal Fox has also joined the Board and will chair the Greens Committee. Jerry Bajada will continue on the Board and serve as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. He stepped in a few months ago when an unexpected vacancy occurred and has done an amazing job with the finances in a short
S E Q U O Y A H
time. Finally, Fred Blickle will serve as the Recording Secretary and remain active on the Water committee. Continuing their service on the Board are: Bob Wright – Chair House Committee; Steve Hart – Chair Long Range Planning and Vice President; Marc Cunningham – Golf Activities Chair; Michael Stearns – Chair Facilities Upgrade; and Don Steffen – Finance Committee and Secretary About the time this hits the press, the new golf performance center will be open. In January, the first floor of the club house will receive a face lift: new drapes, carpet, paint, furniture and much more. This will require reduced food service, but the golf course will remain open and you will still be able to get a glass of wine and a bite to eat after your round or workout, or just for fun.
C O U N T R Y
Continued on Page FOUR
C L U B
Annual Toy Drive Toys without batteries or that can be played alone are suggested Please Bring Unwrapped Toys to the Main Office All Donations are to be in by Sunday, Dec 17th Toys without batteries or that can be played alone are suggested.
Bryan Richardson – General Manager Sequoyah Country Club | 510/632-2900, ext. 114 brichardson@sequoyahcc.com
Jim Zelinski/Zelinski Public Relations (For Sequoyah Country Club) | 925/242-0918 or 415/420-6050 jimz@zelinskipublicrelations.com
OAKLAND’S HISTORIC SEQUOYAH COUNTRY CLUB ELECTS ATTORNEY DAVID STEIN AS PRESIDENT AND THREE NEW DIRECTORS OAKLAND, CALIF. (November 7, 2017) – Oakland’s historic, 104-year-old Sequoyah Country Club has elected attorney David Stein – a lifelong resident who has served on a wide range of business and civic organizations – as President and named three other new Directors. Stein succeeds Steve Callaway, who helped create many Club events and tournaments, and oversaw approval of a major Club enhancement plan that includes a new fitness center and golf training facility. The Club also elected three directors to its nine-member Board: Gerard Bajada of Piedmont, Neal Fox of Alameda, and Robin Nelson of Oakland. Stein’s ties to the Club go back to the 1970s when he was a caddy and Skyline High School student. A Club member with his wife, C.J. Hirschfield, since 2005, Stein is a partner at Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, where he co-chairs its litigation practice group. In addition, Stein serves on the boards of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Great Oakland Public Schools, as well as the Oakland Parks & Recreation Foundation Advisory Board. He is also a past President of the Oakland Rotary Club where he remains an active member. “I am honored to be elected to serve as President of Sequoyah Country Club,” said Stein. “Having been part of Oakland and the greater East Bay for over 100 years, Sequoyah has evolved with Oakland. Golf, swimming, tennis, social activities, a new fitness center and a welcoming environment are why our diverse membership love Sequoyah.” Gerard Bajada and his wife Lisa have been Club members since 1991. Bajada – who serves as Club Treasurer – is Vice President of the Permanente Medical Group. He is also a CPA. He served as the Club’s treasurer from 2002 and 2005, and was asked to take on that responsibility again earlier this year. Neal Fox and his wife, Karin, have been Sequoyah members since 2008. Fox, a civil engineer, has worked in the mechanical contracting industry for more than two decades, working on high-rise office buildings, hospitals and stadiums. Fox has recently chaired the Club’s Greens Committee, having served on the panel for five years. Robin Nelson has been an active member of the Sequoyah community since 2011. Nelson is a veteran of the high-tech industry, with more than 30 years of business and sales leadership experience and is currently in Strategic Accounts with Red Hat. She has served on Sequoyah’s Membership Development Committee for three years and as Recording Secretary for the Board for the past year. Sequoyah Country Club approved a New Facilities and Renovation Plan including a new, 3,500-square-foot, TechnoGym Fitness Room and Golf Performance Center. An aerobics studio and high-definition golf simulator are integrated with the Titleist Performance Institute. Three new Pickle Ball courts are also planned.
MORE ABOUT SEQUOYAH COUNTRY CLUB Founded in 1913, Sequoyah Country Club is one of the treasures of Oakland and the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The classic golf course and majestic, hacienda-style clubhouse were designed to be the talk of the town. One of the Bay Area’s best golf and social clubs, Sequoyah is enriched with a diverse membership that reflects the cities of Oakland and the East Bay. The course’s tree-lined fairways, spectacular San Francisco Bay views and challenging greens made Sequoyah a PGA tour stop in the 1930s and 1940s, attracting legends such as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Jimmy Demaret. Sequoyah hosted a PGA Tour event, The Oakland Open, for many years. Located at 4550 Heafey Road, the Club lies in one of the Bay Area’s micro-climates; outside the chilling fog bank generated by the Bay. Picturesque and beautiful, the golf course features abundant live oaks, Monterey pines and redwood trees. A challenging par 70 for men and par 72 for women, the golf course exhibits a traditional but unique routing where no two holes are alike. Frequently ranked in golf publications among the top courses in Northern California, Sequoyah Country Club also offers swimming, tennis and fine dining. The Club's members enjoy ease of access, rarely requiring tee times. Rolling hills, sloping fairways and lightning-fast greens supply a stern test of golf for players of all skill levels, while also providing beautiful vistas and a luxurious evergreen backdrop. With one of the highest slope/yardage ratios of any California course, Sequoyah is frequently cited for the golf course’s difficulty. Because only a limited number of golfing memberships are available, tee times are not required for the families that comprise the membership. To obtain a tour or more information about the Club, please call Membership Director Bob Bodman at 510/632-2900, ext. 891. Individuals interested in membership may also inquire through the Club’s web site: www.sequoyahcc.com. An extensive history including photographs of the Club and Oakland can also be viewed on the website.
2 DECEMBER 2017
NINER NEWS — Molly Natsues, Secretary As the holidays greet us, we give "Thanks" to good friends, awesome golf shots and celebrations. The Niners are a unique group of women not only coming together every Wednesday to play nine holes — maybe 14 or a full 18 — but to enjoy each other's company, celebrate birthdays and team victories. We all look forward to spreading a little cheer with our Christmas Luncheon coming up on December 13 with a fun gift exchange, Christmas carols and a toast to yet another incredible year, not to be missed! ($20 gift please). Looking back to the beginning of November, we always begin each month with a meeting led by Captain Buffy Ross. The announcement of our new Caption Elect was made and we congratulated Mary Jane Gross for stepping forward to fill those shoes. Should anyone be interested in serving on the Board, which is always a great opportunity to get involved, please contact Buffy Ross and/or 2018 incoming Captain, Joan Cannon. We also spent time reviewing Rules & Etiquette on the course along with manners for play, led by our knowledgeable Lisa Bajada, and we always learn something new!
play scoring. For each natural birdie scored, we were able to subtract one from our team’s total score. And, by wearing the fall colors of browns, gold, yellows, oranges and reds, we earned two free passes out of the sand, picking up the ball and aiming for the hole. Prizes were awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams! Turkey Shoot Results: 1st Place given to Tamrin Rice and Lisa Bajada; 2nd place to Buffy Ross and Mary Folzman; with 3rd place awarded to Susan Sprague and Elaine Buchanan. Straightest Drive went to Susan Sprague; and Closest-to-the-Pin in two strokes was won by Buffy Ross. Congratulations, ladies!
November Birthdays Although our birthday gals for November, Fran Janda, Susan Fox and Alecia Larson, were unable to be present for their celebration, we did have ONE celebrant within our midst and this was none other than Chris Yerocosta. Happy Birthday, Chris!
Turkey Shoot Tournament On November 15th, we participated in our last tournament of 2017, the Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot. Tamrin Rice, yet again, organized a fun and exceptional day of golf with team
Turkey Shoot player, Ericka Mashhoon, setting up on #6 tee box
NINER’S UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER 1 WNHGA Annual Meeting at Stonebrae CC DECEMBER 6 Niners Monthly Meeting DECEMBER 13 Niners' Holiday Party Sweeps – November 1 1st Flight 2nd Flight 3rd Flight
Terhilda Garrido Teresa Butner Erika Mashhoon
Lowest Putts: Tied between Teresa Butner and Joan Cannon
Sweeps – November 8 1st Flight Terhilda Garrido 2nd Flight Susan Sprague 3rd Flight Claudia Felson Lowest Putts: Tied between Elaine Buchanan and Susan Fox Chip-in: Susan Fox on Hole #7
Sweeps – November 22 1st Flight 2nd Flight 3rd Flight Low Putts Birdie
(none) Elaine Buchanan Susan Sprague Susan Sprague Diane Del Fante, #2
Happy Birthday, Chris Yerocosta! Mary Jane Gross (left) and Tamrin Rice (right)
Turkey Shoot winners (L to R); Tamrin Rice, Buffy Ross, Lisa Bajada, Susan Sprague and Elaine Buchanan. (Not shown): Mary Folzman
November meeting with full fall colors! (L to R): Ericka Mashhoon, Mary Jane Gross and Sue Caro
DECEMBER 2017
3
WOMEN’S GOLF — Emily Gorin, Captain Frances Whyte Classic Tournament Our course has a way of creating great golfers. If you can play Sequoyah well, you can play any course well. One woman in our history played our course (and other courses) brilliantly! From 1933 through1985, Frances Whyte won our Ladies Club Championship 21 times! If you look in our trophy case, you may not immediately figure out how fabulous she was, as she went by three differ-
Halloween Guest Day
Birthday Bash: Marianne Jackson and Agnes McKinley discovered they share the same birthday!
Last Birthday Bash of 2017
Shirl Ames at Frances Whyte Brunch
ent names (Miss F. Glover, Mrs. Charles Cary and Frances Whyte), but at every stage of her life, she was a champion. The 18-Holers and Niners played together in a special tournament to honor her legacy. The morning began with a beautiful spread of fruit and pastries, then teams made up of 18-Holers and Niners competed in a fun 9-hole scramble, followed by a delicious brunch. Many thanks to our own Shirl Ames for her part in planning this beautiful tribute. The foursome of Emily Gorin, Yoshie Masuda, Laura Marinai and Terhilda Garrido were each awarded an achingly graceful orchid plant for their team’s win.
Just when we thought she couldn’t outdo herself after our last Birthday Bash, Party Planner Extraordinaire Mary Ellen Tong threw a full-blown shock and awe event. The lovely lamb lollipops and crustacean sensation crab cakes were wowsome(!), but those were just a warm-up to the main courses of either filet mignon or prawns in pasta. It was one of those magical evenings of fabulous food and lively conversation. At one point, Barbara Barton suggested we all hold hands and name one thing we were thankful for. As we basked in the glow of our gratitude for our health, families, and each other, Napoleons were served to end the evening on a sweet note.
2017 Swan Song Tournament – Tuesday, November 21 Even the sun didn’t want to miss out on our last official golf tournament, as it warmed our bodies and souls in all its golden autumn glory. A baker’s dozen ladies competed in this point par event, and everybody that played won a prize!
Top: Elisabeth Fredriccsson Center: Noel Murray Bottom: Marta Parker & Holly Cromer
Continued on Page FIVE
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Continued from Page ONE Old standby events, like the Crab Feeds, will return to join new events like Taco Tuesdays. The Board is constantly considering ways to make your Sequoyah membership a greater value — to improve your experience at the Club. As we make these transitions, your input and patience
4 DECEMBER 2017
are appreciated. We all love Sequoyah and many (or should I say most) of us have strong opinions. Please share your thoughts (but not while I am putting). You are also welcome to get more active by joining one of the committees where the key decisions are made.
I grew up on Surrey Lane and used to walk to Sequoyah to caddie on weekends. To now be selected to be President is truly an honor and something to be thankful for. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and for all that each of you do for the Club.
WOMEN'S GOLF – Continued from Page FOUR Overall Winner – Yoshie Masuda, 39 pts FIRST FLIGHT 1st place Sherry Westernoff 2nd place Laura Marinai 3rd place Jane Hong 4th place Angie Kim 5th place Sharon Valerio
38 pts 35 pts 28 pts 26 pts 21 pts
SECOND FLIGHT 1st place Barbara Barton
34 pts
2nd place 3rd place 4th place 5th place 6th place 7th place
Luisa Farquhar Cheryl Johnson Marta Parker Donna Erickson Velma Magnani Noel Murray
34 pts 32 pts 31 pts 30 pts 29 pts
Closest to the Pin #5 – Sherry Westernoff, 2-feet, 5-inches Closest to the Pin #12 – Sharon Valerio 26-feet
November Drama! Trophy Day Playoff and Partnership Eclectic Trophy Day Playoff and Partnership Eclectic are two tournaments that we play in November, but the winners are not announced until our Holiday Luncheon in December. So it’s pins and needles time for the participants in those two events. Stay tuned!
PARTNERSHIP EC
Angie Kim and Sherry Westernoff
Barbara Barton and Marta Parker
Donna Erickson and Adrienne Kohler
Ellie Ross and Luisa Farquhar
Emily Gorin and Holly Cromer
Janet Kirk and Cheryl Johnson
Noel Murray and Velma Magnani
Ruby Soo and Shirl Ames
Sharon Valerio and Tracey Perkins
DECEMBER 2017
5
SENIOR NEWS — Mike Erickson We finished a great Senior season and now you can rest until April 5th when we go to Claremont. The season looks very interesting and any man over 50 is eligible to play. If you have any questions, contact a member of the Senior Men’s Golf Association Committee. Again, a big "THANK YOU" goes to the entire committee for all their hard work in 2017. The hard-working group included Benton Gross, Jim Anderson, Bob Cooper, Bruce Cantacessi, Bruce Horton, John Colon, David Sawi, Jim Stonehouse, Ben Pope and Mike Erickson. We also appreciate the support of the entire SCC team including the Greens crew, Pro Shop staff, Kitchen, and Service Staff guided by Sally Otsuka for keeping us fat and happy. Thanks for a great effort.
#5 #12 #14 #17
The Finale was a fun-filled day and many prizes were awarded and won. The Senior of the Year is awarded by points won through participation and victories. This year, the grand difference in total points was “1.” Oh, that oneputt that Richard Kulka missed cost him dearly and the winner was Jim Anderson. Good job to both Jim and Richard.
SENIOR OF THE YEAR Jim Anderson
$75.00
ECLECTIC 1st Tex Phippin @ Net 51 2nd Benton Gross @ Net 52 3rd Bruce Cantacessi @ Net 55 4th Lin Boynton @ Net 55 5th Lee Leisz @ Net 56
$50.00 $40.00 $30.00 $20.00 $10.00
MOST EVENTS Bruce Cantacessi (26)
$25.00
SENIORS FINALE WINNERS
Bruce Cantacessi Eric Shand Marc Cunningham Eric Shand
$25.00 $25.00 $25.00 $25.00
CLOSEST-TO-THE-PIN (Entire Year) Larry Ginsburg $50.00 IRON FLIGHT INDIVIDUAL POINT PAR WINNERS 1st Jim Schloss $30.00 2nd Mike Erickson $25.00 3rd Bob Cooper $20.00 4th Bart Goldie $15.00 WEDGES FLIGHT INDIVIDUAL POINT PAR WINNERS 1st Lin Boynton $30.00 2nd Lee Leisz $25.00 3rd Fred Blicklie $20.00 4th Sheridan Downey $15.00
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Ben Pope MOST IMPROVED Mike Stearns with 72% Increase In Points
$25.00 $25.00
SKINS: $200/FLIGHT IRON FLIGHT Mike Patriarca – #7 & #12 Jonathon Blatteis – #15 Robert Cooper – #16 Stuart Eberstein – #18 Eric Shand – # 17 Mike Stearns – #10 Jeff Wright – #2 Jeff Klonoff – #3 Ben Pope – #6
$40.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00
WEDGES FLIGHT: $200/FLIGHT Sheridan Downey – #4 & #17 $80.00 Pritham Dhaliwal – #15 $40.00 Steve Nunn – #1 $40.00 John Gourhan – #6 $40.00 Prizes for teams are for each player. Some duplications are due to the blind draw to fill our threesomes. Each flight had $200 skins thus difference by # of winners
Winning Team Scores: 2 Flights with 2 Places IRON FLIGHT — By Brandon Huneke, PGA Professional 1st Anderson, Maximov, Shand, $20 Patriarca (Blind Draw) we can most likely bring it in for you in With the holiday season upon us, it 2nd Eberstein, Cunningham, $15.00 time for the holidays. couldn’t be easier for you to give that Gourhan, Downey special someone the gift they’ve always WEDGES FLIGHT Tournament Central wanted. It will be difficult to beat 1st Schloss, Erickson, Nunn $20.00 The President’s Cup concluded out its Sequoyah’s golf shop pricing structure Boynton 2017 tournament season. Ninety players on the latest and greatest apparel and 2nd Farquhar, Patriarca, $15.00 competed in an Individual Net to Point golf tech. If you Westernoff, Izant Par event and Net Skins. This event also do not see what TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS counted towards the annual Saturday you are looking (Individual) Tournament point standings. for, check with 1st Lin Boynton $50.00 our staff to see OVERALL LOW NET 2nd Jim Schloss $40.00 if the product Marc Gordon 41 pts $250.00 may be special GOLDEN OLDIE (Entire Field) 1ST FLIGHT ordered. Even if 1st Mike Erickson $50.00 1st Nick Lima 40 pts $175.00 it is a product 2nd Bob Cooper $40.00 2nd Marc Cunningham 40 pts 150.00 we don’t carry LOW GROSS (Entire Field) 3rd Jeff Wright 38 pts 130.00 — maybe some Jim Schloss $50.00 4th Charlie Mazzola 38 pts 110.00 thing you saw 5th Ron Rubenstein 37 pts 100.00 CLOSEST-TO-THE-PIN at Nordstrom’s Marc Gordon, 6th John Colon 37 pts 90.00 #2 Sheridan Downey $25.00 or Golf Mart — President's Cup winner
PRO SHOP NEWS
Continued on Page SEVEN
6 DECEMBER 2017
GOLF ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE — Marc Cunningham, Committee Chair It’s been a fantastic golf year at Sequoyah with your hardworking Golf Activities Committee (GAC) behind the scenes promoting increased tournament participation, improving Pro Shop operations and general camaraderie amongst all golf groups. We’re excited to announce a new tournament for 2018 and for years to come — the Ladies Open Championship scheduled for Saturday – Sunday, October 6th – 7th.
Moving into 2018, the GAC is committed to further improving the golf experience for all Sequoyah members. If you’d like to be part of the advisory body to the Board of Directors on all matters pertaining to golf activities, please join our monthly meetings, typically held the 4th Thursday of each month. Meetings usually run 60 minutes or so and directly impact golf at Sequoyah. Contact Head Pro Huneke to express your interest.
Re-capping the 2017 major tournament winners for your commendations! It was a great year for the Ebersteins as Stuart repeated as Senior Men’s Champion, captained the winning Blue Team during the Ryder Cup Tournament and then with wife, Maria, won the Couples Championship! Our Men’s club champion for the 2nd straight year was golf genius Andy Temple. Is a three-peat possible? The Men’s Member-Member was won by Sunday Igarotti teammates KJ Park and Mark Penskar while the Ladies 18-Holer champ was the indomitable Yoshie Masuda racking up her 14th trophy since 2002. Marc Gordon, and now member Bob Staples, won the 2017 Men’s Invitational. Wondering which Sequoyah golfer has improved the most in 2017? That would be Will Stephens on the men’s ledger and Board Director, Robin Nelson, for the ladies. Will’s index dropped to 9.6 from 17.4. Ms. Nelson’s index improved to 29.2 from 33.3. Way to go, Will and Robin! While their indexes haven’t decreased to reflect their love of golf, if you want to know what’s happening at Sequoyah, just ask Tom Perkins and Benton Gross. Between the two of them, they’ve posted 396 rounds of golf since the beginning of the year!
PRO SHOP NEWS
— Continued from Page FIVE
7th Mike Patriarca 8th Steve Callaway 9th Michael Stearns 10th Ces Butner 11th Al Longfield 12th Dennis Barnette 13th Dave Weber 14th Neal Fox
80.00 70.00 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00
36 pts 36 pts 36 pts 36 pts 35 pts 35 pts 35 pts 34 pts
2ND FLIGHT 1st David Hardtke 38 pts $175.00 2nd Randy Erickson 38 pts 150.00 3rd Stuart Gruendl 37 pts 130.00 4th Steve Mack 36 pts 110.00 5th Bryant Tong 36 pts 100.00 6th John McClelland 36 pts 90.00 7th Ron Connors 35 pts 80.00 8th Don Steffen 34 pts 70.00 9th Chuck Phinney 34 pts 60.00 10th Mary Folzman 34 pts 50.00 11th Scott Rourke 34 pts 40.00 12th John Gourhan 33 pts 30.00
Hot Pants: Steve Mack (sitting) watches bemusedly as President's Cup color champs (L to R): Glen Vondrick, Robin Nelson and Marc Cunningham strut their stuff. Over 90 golfers participated in this year's tournament following Sequoyah's annual meeting, a new record!
13th Subba Kapuganti 33 pts 14th Emily Gorin 32 pts
20.00 10.00
SKINS 1ST FLIGHT #6 Steve Callaway #12 Steve Callaway #11 Isaac Abid #4 Steve Smith #7 Marc Cunningham #8 Jeff Wright
Net 3 Net 2 Net 2 Net 2 Net 2 Net 2
$80.00 80.00 80.00 80.00 80.00 80.00
SKINS 2ND FLIGHT #4 Marc Gordon #15 Marc Gordon #2 Careen Carter #6 Glen Vondrick
Net 1 $125.00 Net 2 125.00 Net 1 125.00 Net 4 125.00
Thank you to all who participated in our Saturday Tournament Circuit. Please see below for the final point standings / Pro Shop credit for 2017:
1st Marc Cunningham 56 pts 2nd Richard Sutherland 52 pts 3rd John Colon 48 pts 4th Charlie Mazzola 46 pts 5th Nick Lima 43 pts 6th Bruce Del Fante 42 pts 7th Stuart Gruendl 39 pts 8th Steve Smith 39 pts 9th Fred Brasch 36 pts 10th Dan Sovocool 36 pts
$225 175 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50
Great Shots: On November 18th, Stuart Eberstein eagled #18 while playing with Mike Stearns, Marc Cunningham and Don Steffen. Pritam Dhaliwal and Scott Rourke witnessed Mike Paez hole-out his second shot on #3 for eagle while playing on November 22nd. Congrats on your eagles, gentlemen!
DECEMBER 2017
7
TENNIS NEWS — Bill Patton, Tennis Pro As we leave Thanksgiving and head into the rest of the holiday season with Christmas, Hannukah and other notable holidays, I am filled with gratitude to be able to serve such a fine group of people such as you. Thank you for the warm welcome to the Club. 2018 promises to hold many changes including new courts and facility improvements, and more social events for tennis players. I am working closely with Bryan to advise on tennis matters. Soon, we will have a court reservation system, and my proposal includes one court for first-come, first-served play when I am not teaching (which is most of the time), and another court that can be reserved up to one week in advance. We are playing around with the formula, but will allow 90-minute reservations for USTA Flex League matches or doubles, and 60-minutes for singles. All of this will be discussed officially. I want to know your thoughts on this so that we can evenly share the court time, as the amount of tennis play is more than most people can remember.
speaking and coaching tour. I will be speaking to sold-out events in the Phoenix area, and giving three presentations at the Texan High School Tennis Coaches Convention where Patrick McEnroe will also be speaking, among other stops on my tour in the Soutwest. I will check in on my emails and try to respond within 24 hours.
Finn MacFarlane found something stuck in his racquet, during Saturday’s lesson.
I will be away from the Club from Monday, November 27th through Sunday, December 10th to take to the road for a
Five of my books are currently in the Top 20 on Amazon in the Tennis Category — exciting times!
SEQUOYAH'S TENNIS PROGRAM Our Tennis Program is growing organically based on members' levels and needs. To find the best fit for you and compatible players, please contact Bill Patton at 510.909.3662 or tennis@sequoyahcc.com. Midweek lessons up to 5 pm, Saturday mornings & Sunday afternoons.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS — Bob Bodman, Membership Director Thank you to all of our Members who referred their friends this past year. With such vibrant support, we sent out over 100 invitations to consider membership, resulting in more than 20 new members, and many others still in the works. This is by far the healthiest way for any private club to grow. We are now approaching the end of 2017. The holidays offer an excellent opportunity to think of which friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues might find Sequoyah to be a great fit. With the opening of our new Fitness Center, and soon to open Golf Simulator, and with the upcoming remodeling of the entire first floor of the Clubhouse, the Club will have a fresh new face to present in 2018. Another reason to consider extending an invitation is the list of new membership categories we now have in place. In addition to the Proprietary membership, with its new "extended family guest privileges," we offer the following: "Family Golf" membership (a non-equity version of the Proprietary); "Individual Golf" membership, (our most popular membership with its 3-year
8 DECEMBER 2017
term and reduced dues and fees); "Young Family Golf" membership (for those under 40 years), and; "Social" membership (with our extensive new fitness, dining and family amenities, programs and activities). Lastly, your invitees can take advantage of our new 60-Day Discovery membership with "No Dues." Discovery requires only a $2,000 deposit (50% is refundable should they change their minds during the Discovery period). 2017 has been a great year for new members, and I am looking forward to even stronger growth ahead. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
AROUND THE CLUB — Bryan Richardson, General Manager Service Expectations for January Renovations As the New Year approaches, we are ramping up for a January 2nd start on the Club’s lower level renovations. With the entire downstairs closed, we wanted to give you an idea of the services you can expect for the month of January.
bers will have access to the Fitness Center, HD Golf Simulator, locker rooms and use of the upstairs lounge.
Golf Course
Normal Operation
The golf course will be open for normal operation. We will service your F&B needs out of a temporary lounge in the newlycompleted Group Exercise Room of the Fitness Center. This room will be accessed from the stairs outside the golf shop and the elevator if needed. We will set up tables and chairs, a portable bar and have an 80+ inch TV for your viewing pleasure.
Halfway Café
Tuesday – Friday (10:00 to 4:00) Saturday & Sunday (9:00 to 4:00)
A limited menu will be provided and the food will be prepared in the Halfway Café. There will be coffee in the morning, along with an honor bar providing light snacks (fruit, Cliff bars, etc.) for the early risers. Servers will be on site from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday – Thursday and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, Friday – Sunday for table service. The bar will be open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm each day with extended hours until 7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Mem-
Table Service (Lounge)
Bar Service
Tuesday – Thursday (11:00 to 2:30) Friday – Sunday (11:00 to 4:00) Tuesday – Thurs., Sunday (11:00 to 6:00) Friday and Saturday (11:00 to 7:00)
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding throughout construction. On behalf of all of us at Sequoyah Country Club we wish you and your families a Happy Holiday Season!
A fitting tribute to 67-year member, now deceased, Dr. Dan Martin, was recently installed at the first hole tee box bench. Dr. Dan always had a twinkle in his eye, a joke up his sleeve, and your best interest at heart. His spirit embodied Sequoyah's foundation as a family-friendly club where golf and social enjoyment highlight our members' experience.
On November 13th, the Board of Directors hosted the Groundskeeping Crew to a BBQ in appreciation for all their hard work on the course. This year, our course has been in amazing shape due to their dedication and hard work. Next time you see our new Superintendent, Armando Sanchez, or his staff around the course, be sure to commend them on a job well done.
DECEMBER 2017
9
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
DECEMBER 2017 3
4
Prix Fixe Menu Dining 5:30–8:00 pm
5
CLUB CLOSED
GRILL HOURS – unless otherwise stated Sun 7:00 am-2:30 pm Tu - Fri 11:00 am-2:30 pm Sat 7:00 am-11:00 am 6
7
13
14
9 Holers 8:00–10:00 am
FRIDAY 1
9 Holers 8:00–10:00 am 9/18 Ladies Play 8 – 9:00
SATURDAY 2
HOLIDAY CRAB FEED 5:30 pm
8
9
15
16
22
23
9/18 Ladies Play 8 – 9:00
10
11
Prix Fixe Menu Dining 5:30–8:00 pm
CLUB CLOSED
12
18 Holers – HOLIDAY LUNCHEON, 11:00 am
9 Holers 8:00–10:00 am
9/18 Ladies Play 8 – 9:00
17
18
Children's Christmas Party 2:00-4:00 pm Yuletide Buffet 4:30-8:00 pm
19
CLUB CLOSED
20
9 Holers, 8:00–10:00 am
21
9/18 Ladies Play 8 – 9:00
24 Christmas Eve 25 Christmas Day 26 CLUB CLOSES at 4:00 pm
CLUB CLOSED
Copy Deadline
27
9 Holers, 8:00–10:00 am
28
29
9/18 Ladies Play 8 – 9:00
30
31 NEW'S YEAR EVE DINNER
JOIN US FOR HOLIDAY CHEER!
Sunday, December 17 Children's Christmas Party 2:00 – 4:30 pm | $25 per child
HOLIDAY YULETIDE BUFFET Begins 4:30 – 8:00 pm Adult $49.95++ Children 5 & older $19.95++
Deadline for reservations – December 7th 10 DECEMBER 2017
COPY DEADLINE Please submit any articles or pictures by
TUESDAY, DEC. 26th to be published in the January 2018 Newsletter.
SUNDAY
THE GRILL WILL BE CLOSED IN JANUARY
7
MONDAY
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
1
2
Happy New Year! Club/Course Open. Call Pro Shop for Tee Times. 18-Hole Winter Ec Begins
8
Club Closed
9
3
10
CLUB CLOSED
9 Holers 18 Holers, Trophy Day 8:00–10:00 am 9:00 am shotgun
14
15
16
21
Martin Luther King's BD CLUB/COURSE OPEN
CLUB/COURSE CLOSED
17
6
9/18 Ladies Play 8–9:00 am 18 Holers Cart Buddy Match Play, starts 8:30 am
11
12
13
9/18 Ladies Play 8–9:00 am
18
19
9 Holers 8:00–10:00 am
20
9/18 Ladies Play 8–9:00 am 18-Holers Match Play, Tee times start 8:30
22
23
24
25
26
NO Prix Fixe Menu Dining
9 Holers 8:00–10:00 am
Copy Deadline
CLUB CLOSED
18 Holers, Pick Your Best Nine 9:00 am shotgun
9/18 Ladies Play 8–9:00 am
28
29
30
9 Holers 8:00–10:00 am
CLUB CLOSED
18 Holers, Guest Day 9:00 am shotgun
NO End of the Month Dining
SATURDAY
5
9 Holers 8:00–10:00 am
NO Prix Fixe Menu Dining
NO Prix Fixe Menu Dining
4
FRIDAY
27
JANUARY 2018 LIMITED FOOD & BEVERAGE SERVICE HOURS — DUE TO CLUBHOUSE RENOVATIONS HALFWAY CAFÉ Tuesday – Friday (10:00 to 4:00) Saturday & Sunday (9:00 to 4:00) TABLE SERVICE (LOUNGE) Tuesday – Thursday (11:00 to 2:30) Friday – Sunday (11:00 to 4:00) BAR SERVICE Tuesday – Thursday, Sunday (11:00 to 6:00) Friday and Saturday (11:00 to 7:00) GOLF COURSE Normal Operation
DECEMBER 2017
11