The
Philadelphia
CRIcKEt CLUB
2nd Quarter 2015
PCC fielded a record 12 men’s and ladies paddle interclub teams this season, with four men’s teams winning their divisions! More paddle coverage inside!
A Message from Club President Michael J. Vergare
The Philadelphia Cricket Club Mission Statement The Philadelphia Cricket Club is one of the finest private family-oriented full service clubs in the Philadelphia area. As the oldest country club in America, the Club has a rich sporting heritage of which we are proud and which we strive to preserve. The Cricket Club provides preeminent recreational and social experiences for its members, their families and guests by maintaining exceptional standards in its facilities, programs, services and management.
Board of Governors President: Michael Vergare, M.D. VP at FT: Thomas W. Sheridan VP at STM: Frances A. Garvey Treasurer: John White Secretary: William F. MacDonald, Jr. Diran Alexanian Mary Beth Casey Andrew Clayton George Connelly Richard Cutler, D.M.D. John J. DePaul, Sr. William M. Doran Kathy Dorff Jean Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. Susan Miller William O’Keefe Alison Rudolf Elizabeth Tyson Stephan Whitenack, M.D.
1
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
Racquets are hot at Philadelphia Cricket Club! In this issue you will read about the amazing record of wins we have accrued this year, culminating in our Paddle Tennis D1 team taking first place in the Philadelphia Championships. The Paddle Committee, led by Andy Addis, and our professional staff are to be commended for organizing a season that embraced over 200 members, some who were new to this sport. Our club was again recognized by a national publication, this time as one of the top 17 tennis clubs in the country. In June, we will host the top 300 golf professionals for the PGA Professional National Championship. This event will be featured on the Golf Channel for three days of coverage. We have much to look forward to as we approach the opening of our first class venues for spring and summer sports. Soon, you will receive a survey of the membership, which has been designed with input from our Board, committees and staff. Please take time to use this survey to share your ideas for our club. How can we be better day-today? Where shall we set our sights for the future? I look forward to seeing you on April 22, 2015 at our 161st Annual Meeting.
Have an idea? Send it to us at ideas@pcc1854.com!
A Message from General Manager Tim Muessle
Never before has effective hiring, retention and performance management been so critical in businesses and institutions. This applies to the Cricket Club, where finding, attracting and retaining the best talent is a challenge for any organization of our size. Furthermore, labor laws are becoming more and more stringent and particular. Missteps can be costly and damaging to the work environment. Just under a year ago, we decided to add a key position to our team, and hired Kevin Kleinschmidt to be our Director of Human Resources. Prior to Kevin’s arrival, HR responsibilities were shared by managers. Hiring, employee orientation, performance review and other related practices varied by department. It was evident that a professional HR Diretor was needed. In his first year at the Club, Kevin, working closely with department managers and other key staff, has instituted several programs to improve our recruiting and hiring practices, improve employee morale, create consistent employee feedback measures, and deal with the day-to-day issues that arise in an organization with several hundred employees. One of Kevin’s early projects was to implement an “Employee of the Month” program to recognize star performers. You can view our Employees of the Month on the Club website and here in the newsletter. We encourage you to congratulate these employees when you see them at the Club and commend them on a job well done. In the realm of talent management, we can never stop pushing the ball forward. It is the most important driver of good results, which equates to a great experience at the Club for our members.
Management Team Phone: 215-247-6001 General Manager/COO Tim Muessle x 120 tmuessle@philacricket.com Chief Financial Officer Linda Cozzi x 155 lcozzi@philacricket.com Director of Membership and Business Development Jacob Smith x 105 jacobsmith@philacricket.com Executive Chef Benjamin Burger x 250 bburger@philacricket.com St. Martins Club Manager Michael Chase x 125 mchase@philacricket.com St. Martins Director of Food and Beverage Rose Dieffenbach x 215 rdieffenbach@philacricket.com Flourtown Club Manager John Magliocco x 280 jmagliocco@philacricket.com Director of Golf Jim Smith x 320 jsmith@philacricket.com Director of Tennis and Paddle Greg Bowser x 405 gbowser@philacricket.com Director of Squash Julie Harris x 430 pcsquash@philacricket.com
A Message from St. Martins Club Manager Michael Chase It’s hard to believe that I joined the PCC family nearly a year ago – time flies when you’re having fun! In the past year we opened and enjoyed a fantastic first season with the Pool Pub and Pool Bar, opened the renovated and expanded East Wing, including the new Squash Pub and Fitness Center, and saw the “boom” of paddle tennis and Pavilion usage. During this time we learned many lessons about how our members use the facilities and how we can best meet your needs. One lesson is that outside of a la carte dining at the dinner hour, members primarily use our food & beverage facilities around sports and leisure activities. With that knowledge in hand, we have planned our summer hours to ensure that we allocate our resources to provide the highest quality member experience. The Squash Pub will close for the season on April 5th and will reopen for the fall Squash season. To serve our low bounce paddle and tennis players, Pavilion service will continue until the pool area opens Memorial Day weekend, and then reopen after the Pool operation shuts down in September. St. Martins Clubhouse a la carte dining will remain open for dinner service only between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Clearly, the Porch at St. Martins is one of our “special” amenities and is beloved for its atmosphere, especially during the dinner hours. The decision to open the Porch for dinner only was made after reviewing usage data with the Board – with the opening of the new Pool Pub and Pool Bar and the expanded patio at the Wissahickon Clubhouse in 2014, members demonstrated their preference for those venues during lunch. In an effort to rebalance our offerings, operate responsibly and continue to address our members’ preferences, we will provide a more expansive menu, culinary expertise and service at the Pub. Additional casual seating will be available to avoid seating issues during peak lunch hours. If you have yet to enjoy the renovated areas, I am pleased to inform you that rather than waiting for your food, our staff will deliver your Pub order right to your table. The covered Pool Bar offers full table service and is for those ages 21 & up only. The pool area is truly a great place to enjoy lunch and a summer breeze. Speaking of outdoor dining, the Porch will open for service on Mother’s Day! It looks to be a great summer ahead, and I look forward to seeing you and your family enjoying St. Martins outdoors!
Director of Grounds Dan Meersman x 605 dmeersman@philacricket.com Director of Catering Megan Freeman x 210 mfreeman@philacricket.com Director of Member Services Amber Corp x 100 memberservices@philacricket.com
PhilaCricket.com |
2
Paddle Tennis A Message from Paddle Committee Chair Andy Addis Paddle is HOT at PCC! On the heels of the men’s and ladies’ interclub teams’ seasonending celebrations, it’s time to reflect back on our 2014/2015 paddle season. It truly was one for the record books! Last summer, the Paddle Committee established two main goals: increase PCC member participation and improve our competitiveness in interclub league play. I’m happy to report that we achieved both goals in grand fashion! Goal #1: Increase Member Participation Due in large part to the enthusiasm generated by our nationallyrecognized Pavilion and paddle courts, overall member court usage increased 109% year-over-year (through January 2015). Furthermore, member participation on men’s and women’s interclub teams increased 27% with the addition of two men’s AND two women’s teams, bringing the total number of PCC interclub teams to 12: six women’s, six men’s). On the social front, we had record turnout for Friday night paddle socials, with attendance up 240%! It was the best party in town! Goal #2: Improve our Competitiveness While the ladies had a solid year, the performance of the men’s teams was historic, with four of the six teams taking first place in their respective division, a feat that no other club has accomplished in the 35 year history of the MAPTA league! The key to the men’s teams’ success is primarily due to three factors: the commitment of our players, the depth of our talent, and the leadership of our team captains (Bruce Redpath, Drew Ball, Matt Vergare, Chris Gallagher, Steve Shoff and Ron Piroli). Going Forward: What’s in Store for 2015/2016? With great momentum to build on, our goal is to make the 2015/16 season the best paddle season ever at PCC, and the Paddle Committee, along with Greg Bowser and his staff, is already working on plans for next season. At the top of our list is to create programs that make it easy for members with no or limited paddle experience to get a feel for the game and hopefully get hooked like the rest of us! Which brings me to... Paddle: A Great Complement to Golf With the “inclusive” dues structure, paddle is part of all golf members’ memberships, and a key area of focus for the Paddle Committee is to attract even more Flourtown golfers to the paddle courts. Here are five reasons for golfers who haven’t played paddle yet to give it a try:
3
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
1. Seasonality. The paddle and golf seasons are perfectly complementary, i.e. when golf ends, paddle starts, and vice versa. Paddle is a great activity to help you power through the winter to the next golf season! 2. Social. Paddle, like golf, is inherently very social. As is the case with golf (for many of us anyway), paddle “tradition” encourages sharing a couple of post-match beers with your friends and interclub opponents. 3. Easy to Learn. In contrast to golf, it’s easy to become proficient at paddle, which will enable you to quickly enjoy the game. A paddle racquet is short (just 18” long) and, in essence, just an extension of your arm. 4. Be Part of a Team (Again). For those of us who like to compete (and I know there’s at least a few Cricket members in that category!), paddle provides the unique opportunity for adults to be part of a competitive team, as the paddle interclub season spans five months and includes 16 weekly matches. The team camaraderie of interclub is a very special part of paddle. 5. Lifetime Sport. Like golf, you can play paddle for many years to come. Due to the relatively small court and the strategic nature of the game, it’s not at all unusual to see “crafty” older players frustrate and even beat down younger, more talented players! Please keep an eye out for communication regarding our plans for the 2015/16 paddle season and feel free to reach out to me directly (andy.addis1@comcast.net) with any questions in the meantime! PADDLE TENNIS The paddle tennis program at PCC experienced tremendous growth this season, with the addition of two men’s interclub teams and one ladies’ interclub team as well as increased participation in instructional programs such as Get Paddle Ready, New to Paddle and Paddle Socials.
1
2 3
1. PCC members enjoying the Ladies Paddle Club Championships; 2. Participants of the 2015 PCC Ladies Paddle Member/Guest; 3. The forecast says all paddle, all the time at the Men’s D5, D6 & D8 member/guest.
1
2
Congratulations to the Winners & Finalists of this season’s paddle events: Ladies Paddle Member-Guest Winners: Linda Mutch & Kelley Gardner Finalists: Julie Kelly & Evelyn Devine
Men’s Paddle Member-Guest (D1 & D3) Winners: Larry Hyde & Scott Falatek (Photo 1) Finalists: John Talbot & Andrew Soule Men’s Paddle Member-Guest (D5, D6 & D8) Winners: John Lawton & Mike Elwell Finalists: Reed Irwin & Brent Sanders Mixed Paddle Club Championship Winners: Tom Harris & Laura Prochniak (Photo 2) Finalists: Sam Scheid & Nicole Tullo Ladies Paddle Club Championship Winners: Deb Schreffler & Leslie Lane Finalists: Lisa Guyer & Nicole Tullo Men’s Paddle Club Championship Winners: Bruce Redpath & Larry Hyde Finalists: Matt Davis & Tom Harris
PCC’s Paddle Men’s Division 1 Champions!
Men’s Interclub
Congratulations to our Men’s interclub paddle teams for capping off the most successful season in the history of PCC paddle and the MAPTA interclub league (which has been around for 35 years!). Never before has a club taken first place in FOUR divisions in a single season! PCC hosted the Division 1 MAPTA League Playoffs for the first time ever. In an outstanding night of paddle, PCC faced off against Waynesborough CC in the semifinals and Overbrook GC in the finals, winning both matches in dominant fashion to secure the D1 crown! Thank you to all of our players for committing to the season-long campaign and especially to the team captains for their tireless efforts to ensure that PCC’s six teams fielded the strongest possible lineups each week. A special congratulations to Andy Addis, Paddle Committee Chair, who played an integral role in shaping the vision of the program and establishing the leadership structure & process that produced such terrific results.
Team Result Captain Division 1 Division 3 Division 5 Division 6 Division 8(A) Division 8(B)
1st Place 1st Place 1st Place 1st Place 2nd Place 5th Place
Bruce Redpath Drew Ball Matt Vergare Chris Gallagher Ron Piroli Steve Shoff
Thank you to all of the juniors that participated in the 2015 Club Tournament!
The PCC Paddle Ladies Cup 4 team is all smiles!
Junior Paddle
Ladies’ Interclub
Low Bounce Adult Interclub League
Team Result Cup 1 5th Place Cup 3 4th Place Cup 4 8th Place Cup 5 4th Place Cup 6 6th Place Cup 7 11th Place
Division Winners 12 & Under Brooke Prochniak & Storrie Harris 14 & Under Kyle Smith & Liam LaBarge 15 & Up Jack Prochniak & Billy Harris We are excited to offer our second season of Spring Low Bounce Interclub Paddle for adults. Last season we fielded one ladies’ team, and we would like to add a men’s team this season. The 6-8 week season runs from late April to early June. • Ladies will play Tuesday nights at 7:00pm • Men will play Monday nights at 7:00pm • Men’s & Women’s Rainout make-ups will be Thursday nights
Our ladies’ interclub teams also had a successful season representing PCC in MAPTA league play. As previously mentioned, we added another interclub team this season, and for the first time ever, PCC fielded six ladies’ teams for interclub play. Captain(s) Nicole Tullo and Laura Prochniak Kathy Soens and Kathy Savage Alison Abernethy and Kristin Lawton Carla DiMuzio and Sarah Piroli Lisa Toll and Erin Sjoholm Alex Levin PhilaCricket.com |
4
A Message From Bar and Outlets Manager Phillip Janssen Aloha from the Pool Pub! May is right around the corner and we are expecting big waves at the pool this summer! We will again feature our popular Friday night Happy Hours with food and drink specials and live music. Also returning are our souvenir soda cups, which allow members to receive low cost refills all summer long. Opening day for the pool facilities is Saturday, May 23rd, and beginning that day, the Pub full menu will be available 11:00am – 7:00pm Saturday through Thursday, with beverages and drinks available until 8:00pm. Food service will continue until 8:00pm on Friday nights to coincide with Happy Hour and later pool hours. The Pool Bar will open for drinks and table service at 12:00pm daily and will feature drink specials, frozen drinks and low-calorie drinks. The fun will continue all summer long, so grab your bathing suit and join us at the pool, Pub and Pool Bar!
A MESSAGE FROM ST. MARTINS DINING ROOM MANAGER CELESTE REARDON With spring upon us and warmer weather near, it is almost time to reopen the St. Martins Porch for dinner service! The Porch will be closed for lunch and open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30pm – 9:00pm. We will continue to offer a two menu concept for dinner, similar to our current offerings of the Bistro and Woodward Menus. We are also excited to announce that our new temperature controlled wine cellar is up and running. This has given us an opportunity to enhance the wine list and will also allow us to serve the various wines at the correct temperature year-round. If you would like to see the upgraded wine cellar at St. Martins, don’t hesitate to ask a manager next time you visit the Club!
WISSAHICKON CLUBHOUSE UPDATE FROM FLOURTOWN CLUB MANAGER JOHN MAGLIOCCO Welcome back! The Wissahickon Clubhouse will open on Wednesday, April 1st. During the month of April, with colder days and nights, all food preparation will remain indoors, with the all-day Bistro Menu and added daily specials available. The outdoor kitchen, along with updated and expanded menus, will open on Tuesday, May 5th for the season.
Lunch – Full or Self-Serve
Dinner
Halfway Houses
While the “self-service” option will still be
Join us on Friday and Saturday nights for
Due to popular demand, we have added
available for those in a hurry, members will
Prime Rib and Baked Lobster specials!
rollers to each halfway house for a better tasting hot dog. A streamlined menu and
also have the ability to order and be served lunch from a menu at the table. Menu boards on the patio will ensure that all of our offerings are clearly visible.
5
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
We will continue our “Bring Your Own
offerings will provide members with faster
Wine” program ($10 per bottle corkage fee)
service so pace of play can be maintained.
Squash Adult Tournament Results
Stanley W. Pearson Member Guest Doubles Championships
Boast League Celebrates 6th Year By Alan Good
A special thank you to Tournament Directors Stephen Gregg & Duncan Pearson!
1
2
3
4
5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Stanley W. Pearson Sr. Flight Gilly Lane and Jacob Himmelrich - Winners Richard Repetto and Duncan Pearson - Finalists Jimmy Jones Flight Geoff Stewart and Ken Jaffe – Winner Bob Ball and Tim Dearnley - Finalists Walter Hammer Flight Alisha Halloran and Annie Madiera – Winner Stephanie Walters and Radhika Cobb - Finalists Stanley W. Pearson Jr. Flight Ralph Wellington and Tony Soslow - Winners Gus Repetto and Rob Armstrong - Finalists Tarantino Award; Mike Masland
PSRA Men’s 60+ Doubles Championship Gary Yeager with Bill Strong – Winners Mystery Doubles Championships The 2015 Mystery Doubles had a change of format this year, which produced a very successful two-day event. Players were assigned partners and positioned in one of two round robin groups – the Houston and the Woodward divisions. Participants played matches against all members of their group, with the top team of each division moved into the finals. John Madzin and John Evans won the Houston Division over Jack Kelly and George Connelly, while Fran Lane and Melana Regan beat Diran Alexanian and Janine Mazzarelli to win the Woodward Division. Another very successful event thanks to the Tournament Directors, Alan Good and Diran Alexanian.
The sixth year of the Boast doubles league was a smashing success. With a total of 10 teams, 50 players and several subs, the eight-week season finished up on Sunday, March 8th with our final event. The Boast league has a very unusual format as we try to determine the winner in one night. All ten teams split into two divisions, and we play a round-robin event with the teams with the most team points in each division squaring off for the finals (handicaps included). The regular season had Sam Blake’s team finishing in first place, with George Connelly and Brad Tate’s team tied for second place. The teams captained by Peter Landreth, Melana Regan, Alan Good, Buck Reitmeyer, Ian Pilling, Diran Alexanian and Scott Regan all finished close in the rest of the pack. Every team makes the playoffs, so with handicaps and lots of commentary, you never know who will ultimately become the Boast champion. The finals were determined by only a few points, with Melana Regan and Richard Cutler winning the championship game against Diran Alexanian, Mike Moeller & Cheryl “The Shooter” Springfels. Melena’s team members (also including Ralph Wellington, Shuchi Rodgers and Brian Gilbert) will get their names on the infamous Boast Trophy for 2015. Congratulations! Individual awards went to the following Boast players: Captain of the Year: Sam Blake; Rookie of the Year: Matt Paul; Boaster of the Year (played and helped out the most all season): Keith Day; Most Improved: Ian Pilling; and The Spirit Award (Mentor & Boast Leader): George Connelly. Congratulations to all the Boast players! The prestigious Deroy Sportsmanship Award, given by the US Squash Association to one boy and girl each season, was awarded to Matt Giegerich. The William T. Ketchum Junior Award for Most Improved Boy in the Under 17 Division was awarded to Jack Lentz, who moving up 76 ranking positions this season.
1
2
1. The Squash Boast doubles league in action! 2. Congratulations to Squash Boast league winners Melana Regan and Richard Cutler PhilaCricket.com |
6
Junior Tournament Results Junior Gold National Championships GU19 Morgan Steelman 3rd Classic Plate GU19 Olivia Horwitz Plate 1 Winner BU19 Matt Giegerich 3rd Place
Lawrenceville Gold GU17 Hatti Specter BU17 Jack Lentz GU17 Julia Buchholz
Lenfest Junior Bronze Tournament GU13 Ava Moseley Plate 2 Winner GU13 Evan Weiss 3rd Place BU13 Ben Stewart Finalist BU13 Tommy Scanlin Classic Plate BU15 Chase Rotelle 3rd Place GU15 Lucy Moseley 2nd Place GU15 Claire Weiss 3rd Place BU17 Jake Schwartz 2nd Place GU19 Josephine Surer Winner
Philadelphia District Championships BU13 Drew Bown 4th Place BU13 Peter Lim Con. Finalist BU15 Tommy Fournaris Winner BU15 James Mazzarelli Classic Plate Winner BU15 Christian Mazzarelli Con. Finalist GU15 Elizabeth Coyne Classic Plate Winner GU15 Margo Mancuso Plate 2 Winner GU17 Taylor Ferry Con. Winner
PSC Gold Championships GU13 Lucy Pearson Plate 2 Winner BU13 Peter Lim Plate 1 Finalist GU15 Hatti Specter Plate 2 Finalist GU17 Julia Buchholz Finalist BU17 Zane Jeka Classic Plate Winner GU19 Morgan Steelman Finalist GU19 Olivia Horwitz Con. Finalist BU19 Brian Hamilton Con. Finalist MCC Bronze Championships BU11 Jack Cook Finalist GU11 Olivia Cook Plate 2 Finalist BU11 Ramsay Killinger Con. Winner GU13 Katie Benoliel Finalist GU13 Celia Mazzarelli Con. Winner GU13 Ava Moseley Plate 2 Finalist BU13 Ryan Yeatman 3rd Place GU15 Lucy Moseley 3rd Place GU15 Claire Weiss Con. Finalist BU15 Joshua Benoliel Winner
Plate 1 Winner 3rd Place 3rd Place
Connecticut JCT Championships BU17 Alex Dworetzky Plate 1 Finalist BU19 Matt Giegerich Classic Plate Winner GU19 Morgan Steelman Con. Winner GCC Silver Championships BU11 Jack Cook Finalist BU11 Ramsay Killinger 3rd Place GU11 Helena Fournaris 4th Place BU13 Peter Lim Finalist BU13 Ryan Yeatman Con. Winner GU13 Lucy Pearson 4th Place BU15 Christian Mazzarelli Winner BU15 Chase Cook Finalist BU15 Charlie Larkin 3rd Place GU15 Abigail Duncan 3rd Place GU17 Lilly Soroko Winner BU19 Harrison Kapp Winner BU19 Tate Miller Con. Winner GU19 Jenny Bown 2nd Place GU19 Josephine Surer 6th Place
We have made our best efforts to collect all members’ tournament results. If we missed your results, please call Julie at 215-27-6001 ext. 430.
Junior Shoe Game Champions
1. Junior Advanced Shoe Game Matt Giegerich 2. Junior Intermediate Shoe Game Chase Cook
1 7
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
2
3
3. Junior Beginner Shoe Game Jack Larkin
The prestigious Deroy Sportsmanship Award, given by the US Squash Association to one boy and girl each season, was awarded to Matt Giegerich. The William T. Ketchum Junior Award for Most Improved Boy in the Under 17 Division was awarded to Jack Lentz, who moving up 76 ranking positions this season.
Upcoming Programs Women’s Singles & Doubles Squash Round Robin and Dinner April 28, 6:00pm – 9:30pm Women of all levels of play, beginner through advanced, are invited to attend the Women’s End of Year Squash Singles and Doubles Round Robin and Dinner. Play will begin at 6:00pm and dinner will follow at 7:30pm. Sign up by April 23rd. Adult Sauna League Doubles May 11- June 15 This is an in-house doubles league played each week on Thursday evenings. All levels of play are welcome. Each team will consist of three or four players. The team captain will assign two for each weekly scheduled match. Sign up by May 3rd. Junior Squash Program Banquet Sunday May 3, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Junior players of all levels, from Little Squash through Graduating Seniors, are invited. Sign up by May 1st. Junior Squash Camp June 15-19 & 22-26 August 17-21 & 24-28 Intermediate 10:00am – 12:00pm Advanced 1:00pm – 3:00pm Little Squash 3:00pm – 4:00pm Super Advanced TBA
Swim A Message from Swim Team Coach Brian Hecker Calling All Swimmers! The 2015 swim season kicks off in a few short months and we want to continue to build our program and improve on last year’s excellent season! We want YOU in the water to represent PCC and have a fun-filled summer. We’ll kick off the season right with our yearly DJ night on Tuesday, June 16th immediately following our time trials. If your friends get the best of you at time trials, you’ll have one more chance to compete against them at our annual Club Championships in July. As always, the swim season will conclude with League Championships at La Salle, and The 2015 pool season is right around the corner! Here are a few reminders as we head towards the pool opening on Memorial Day Weekend. Pool Hours Sat., May 23rd – Mon., September 7th 10:00am – 8:00pm (9:00pm on Fridays) Morning Lap Swim, beginning June 1st Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 8:30am Saturday, 8:00 – 10:00am Guest Fees Weekdays: $8/person Weekends: $10/person Swim Lessons Please keep an eye out for information on individual and group swim lessons. SWIM TEAM For details and registration information on the Cricket Swim Team, please visit the club website or reach out to Brian Hecker at headcoach@philacricket.com.
whether you are competing or not, join your teammates for the Post-Championships Pizza Party back here at PCC. There will be a few other fun events along the way, such as Movie Night, our Bus Trip to an away meet, and a day at the waterpark. Make sure you come to register and order your team suit on Sunday, April 26th from 3pm – 6pm at the PCC Activity Fair. We have a great suit planned for this year and want to make sure you have yours in time for season. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at headcoach@ philacricket.com. I look forward to seeing you in the water soon!
Swim Team Meet Schedule (Home meets in bold) On home swim meet days, the pool will close at 5:00pm to the general membership and 5:45pm for lap swimmers. 6/9 8 & Under Mini Meet 6/18 vs. Germantown CC 6/23 vs. Cedarbrook CC 6/25 vs. Waynesborough CC 6/30 @ Plymouth CC 7/7 @ Philadelphia Country Club 7/16 vs. Whitemarsh Valley CC 7/21 @ Huntingdon Valley CC 7/21 @ Huntingdon Valley CC 7/28 La Salle Championship Trials 7/29 La Salle Championship Finals
Swim Team Practice Schedule (starting June 8th) Meet Days*: 8:30 – 9:30am Saturday Clinics*: 8:30 – 10:00am * All Swimmers Each week, the clinic will have a different focus and an expert outside coach will be brought in. These clinics are free of charge for swim team members! Monday – Friday 8:45 – 9:55am 10 & Under Swimmers 9:30 – 11:00am 11 & Over Swimmers 4:30 – 5:30pm Make Up Practice* *No afternoon practice on Friday
Spring Opportunities to Swim Many local clubs host spring clinics, which provide a great opportunity for Cricket team members to get back in the water before the summer season. Please see below for information on spring clinic opportunities. Penn Charter pcacswim.com
Springfield Aquatic Club springfieldaquatics.org
Wissahickon wcacswim.org
PhilaCricket.com |
8
Tennis Racquets Pro Shop
Junior Programming
Adult Programming
For all junior programming, visit the Club website or contact the Pro Shop at 215-247-6290 or racquets@philacricket.com to sign up, and please contact Ritesh Nautiyal at rnautiyal@philacricket.com with any questions.
Phone: 215-247-6290 E-mail: racquets@philacricket.com Monday 8:30am – 5:00pm Tuesday-Friday 8:30am – 6:00pm Saturday-Sunday 8:30am – 5:30pm
(April 12th – June 6th) Monday 9:30am – 1:00pm Ladies Interclub Numbered Cup Matches (Begins April 20th) 6:30pm – 8:00pm Men’s Drill and Play Tuesday 9:00am – 10:00am Men’s and Ladies Advanced Footwork Clinic 9:00am – 10:30am Ladies Cup C Interclub Practice 10:30am – 12:00pm Ladies Cup E Interclub Practice 6:30pm – 7:30pm Men’s and Ladies Evening Workout Wednesday 9:30am – 1:00pm Ladies Interclub Lettered Cup Matches (Begins April 22nd) 10:00am – 12:00pm Sr. Men’s Interclub Matches (Beginning in May) 1:30pm – 2:30pm Men’s and Ladies Technical Training 6:30pm – 8:00pm Wednesday Evening Mixer (Clay and Grass) Thursday 9:00am – 10:30am 10:30am – 12:00pm 12:00pm – 1:00pm 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Ladies Cup 7 Interclub Practice Ladies Cup 11 Interclub Practice Ladies Singles Clinic Men’s Division 1 & 3 Play
Friday 9:00am – 10:30am 9:00am – 10:00am 10:30am – 12:00pm
Ladies Cup 1 Interclub Practice Men’s and Ladies Live Ball Workout Ladies Cup 4 Interclub Practice
Saturday 8:00am – 9:00am Men’s Tennis Workout 9:00am – 10:00am Ladies Tennis Workout 9:00am – 11:00am Men’s Interclub Matches (Begins April 25th) 10:00am – 11:00am Men’s and Ladies New to Tennis
9
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
The Junior Development Program (JDP) consists of three 8-week sessions and one 6-week session and is open to juniors ages 3+. Juniors are encouraged to sign-up to learn, play and have fun! Our fourth and final session of our Junior Development Program is scheduled from April 20th - May 30th.
PCC Junior Tennis Academy (Ages 9 & Up)
June 15th – August 21st (10 weeks, available weekly or daily) Includes instruction in level and age appropriate groups, fitness, video analysis and lunch (lunch only included in Full Day). Weekly Full Day: $450 Half Day: $300
Daily Full Day: $100 Half Day: $75
Half Day Options 9:00am – 12:00pm 11:15am – 12:15pm 1:00pm – 3:00pm
PCC QuickStart Tennis (Ages 4 – 8) June 15th – August 7th (8 weeks)
QuickStart I (4-6 years old) Tuesday & Thursday, 9:00am – 10:30am $60 per week or $35 per session QuickStart II (6-8 years old) Monday & Wednesday, 1:00pm – 2:30am $60 per week or $35 per session
Women’s Tennis Committee Events
Mark your calendars for these upcoming Women’s Tennis Committee Events: Thursday, April 23rd Thursday, June 11th
Season Opener Season Closer
All Ladies Welcome Interclub Players Only
Fitness Upcoming Tennis Events April Friday, April 17th at 6:00pm Tennis Social Sunday, April 26th at 1:00pm PCC Junior Tennis Play Day
May Saturday, May 2nd Men’s/Ladies & Mixed Clay Court Club Tournament Begins Friday, May 15th at 6:00pm Tennis Social Thursday, May 21st at 6:00pm Family Tennis Night Sunday, May 24th at 3:00pm Fill the Courts Challenge (Juniors Welcome) Saturday, May 30th Main Line Cup at Merion
June Monday, June 8th Adult and Junior Summer Programs Begin
Our new Fitness Center is located in the East Wing of the St. Martins Clubhouse next to the squash doubles courts and is available to all Club Members daily from 5:00am11:00pm. Professional services such as personal training, small group training and group classes are offered at the Club through Varsity Fitness.
Group Classes Yoga (Beginner and Intermediate): Mostly Vinyasa, meaning “flow” or “to move without resistance” the class incorporates interval and cross-training exercises to challenge both the aerobic and anaerobic systems of the body. These classes maintain awareness and focus on the breath while moving through a series of postures. Members are asked to please bring a mat. Kettlebells: This class will give fast results for extreme total body training. Enjoy the burn of the bells and gain flexibility and endurance through this high impact non-stop class. Boot Camp: A combination of strength, cardio, muscle endurance, flexibility, core and functional movement patterns. Designed for maximum calorie burn in the shortest amount of time. Circuit Training: Join a group and move through a series of exercises utilizing the equipment in the Fitness Center. The class will work on strength and cardio simultaneously utilizing dumbbells, machines, bands, TRX and even your own body. Pilates: A beginner circuit using light weights and simple movements. All classes are open to men and women of all ages and levels. Classes will run for 50 minutes, with a maximum of 25 participants. Advanced sign-up is requested. Members may view the complete schedule of group classes and sign up on the Club website. Please contact Susan in the Pro Shop at 215-247-6290 or racquets@philacricket.com for more information or to sign up for group classes and training sessions. Each class requires a minimum of three signups 24 hours in advance.
Friday, June 12th at 6:00pm Tennis Social & Pro-Exhibition Match Saturday, June 13th at 3:00pm Junior Interclub Kick-Off Social Thursday, June 18th at 6:00pm Family Tennis Night Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:00pm Wood Racquet Round Robin & BBQ Try out a yoga or boot camp fitness class at PCC!
PhilaCricket.com |
10
Come on out to the
Bunny Brunch
Saturday, April 4th Seatings at 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, & 1:30pm
Join us for an Easter Egg Hunt starting at 12:30pm sharp! Egg Dyeing ~ Basket Decorating ~ Moon Bounce Adults $28 ~ Children $15 children uner 2 are free
Easter Br�nch Sunday, April 5th
Please sign up eary by calling 215.247.6001 ext 100 48 Hour Cancellation Policy
in the St. Mar�ins Ballroom Seatings at 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:30pm Adults: $39 Children: $19
Children under 2 are free
Free 4x6 photo with the Easter Bunny Petting Zoo Easter Egg Hunt
Sig� up online or by calling the reception desk at 215.247.6001 Ex�. 100 11 48 Hour Cancellation Policy | Philadelphia Cricket Club
Golf Upcoming Golf Events • • • • • •
Senior Golf runs every Thursday all year. Women’s Wednesday runs every Wednesday all year. St. Martins 9-Holers play on Tuesdays & Thursdays all year. GAP Matches; Sundays April 19th, April 26th & May 3rd (W) WGAP Matches on 4/21, 4/24, 4/28, 5/1, & 5/5 (MH) Don’t forget about Guest Days – space is available.
April
April 15th April 16th April 17th April 25th
Women’s Spring Kickoff (W) St. Martins 9-Holers Opening Luncheon (SM) Spring Stag (W/MH) Demo Day (range)
May 10th May 12th May 14th May 15th May 18th – 20th May 20th May 25th
Mother’s Day Championship (MH/SM) Stag Day (W/MH) Women’s Twilight (MH) Nine & Dine (W) World Hickory Match Play Championship (SM) Ladies Play Day (MH) Ryan Memorial (W)
May
June
June 2nd – 5th Militia Hill aeration June 7th Mixed Golf (W) June 7th Junior Spring Classic (SM/MH) June 9th Stag Day (W/MH) June 13th, 14th/20th/21st Club Championships June 17th – 18th Women’s Sr. and Super-Sr. Club Championship June 25th – July 1st PGA Professional National Championship (W/MH)
Pro Shop Hours (April, May and June)
Monday Closed Tuesday – Friday 7:00am – 6:00pm Saturday – Sunday 6:30am – 6:00pm *The new member-only logo is available via special order and through the virtual golf shop.
Two groups of PCC members visited John’s Island Club in Florida for a trip to golf school. That’s what we call a good education!
WGAP Matches and Practice Information
Matches will be played at Militia Hill at 9:00am on April 21st, April 24th, April 28th, May 1st and May 5th. Practice Schedule (players must sign up in advance; registration opens on March 1st) Wednesday, April 1st and Saturday, April 4th Short game clinic at Militia Hill short game area (10:00am – 12:00pm) Wednesday, April 8th (Range at 9:00am with play at 10:00am) Saturday, April 11th (Range at 10:00am with play at 11:30am) Saturday, April 18th (Breakfast with the Pro at 9:00am, range at 10:00am with play at 11:30am) • Players practice on the range as the professional staff ‘walk the line’ offering individualized tips, followed by supervised practice and matches. • Players who sign up will be separated into two teams captained by Director of Golf Jim Smith, Jr. and Director of Instruction John Spina, with 1-2 assistant captains (other golf professional staff) per team. • The low handicap on each team will play each other in a nine-hole match using handicap. A win in the match is worth 2 points; a half, 1 point; a loss, 0 points. Players wishing to play the full 18 holes may do so. • The entry fee is $10. The team that wins collects the pot. • Matches are considered ‘supervised practice’. The captains and assistant captains will be on the course ‘coaching’ their respective teams, providing playing and course management tips that will benefit players in WGAP matches.
PhilaCricket.com |
12
THE ATTIC
The Abandoned Train Line By R. John Burnes
The mill had its own railroad, the Upper Merion & Plymouth, which had its own bridge across the Schuylkill to service a portion of the mill on the far side.
“The mill was also connected to the Pennsy and Reading lines that paralleled the river. The Plymouth Branch was single track, and did not have passenger service. When the steel mill gradually shut down, the branch was no longer needed, and was abandoned.” The Wissahickon course of the Philadelphia Cricket The rail line impacts or influences several holes on the course, including, #2, #3, #5, Club has several unique features that could be #6, #9, #10, #11, and #12. No other feature can claim the depth and breath of the identified as signature aspects: the 18th green and old Plymouth Branch. 1st tee complex, the pushup 17th green, and of “I love how it connects #3 and #6,” said Foster, “and also re-introduces the connection course, Hell’s Half Acre of #7, among others. of #9 and #10. But what I really love is how it opens up the course and exposes the Perhaps the defining feature of the course isn’t these many topographical features throughout the layout, and accentuates the expansiveness integral parts of the golfing landscape, but rather of the property.” a man-made structure that the course was built Today, a short stub remains of the old line at Oreland, forming a wye into the Bethlehem around, the abandoned train track. Branch; there is a company there that repairs freight cars. It was common in early American golf to have R. John Burnes serves the club on the PCC Heritage Committee. If you have old scorecards, a train line near a golf course, with some lines photographs in golf, or a story to tell, please email him at rjburnes@yahoo.com or leave a actually running through them. The train provided message with the golf shop. an ease of transportation from major ports as the automobile was just coming to rise. In other cases, freight lines and adjoining properties allowed for immediate open space to be utilized as playground of the links. And although some of these rail line courses still exist today, no other course in the world is quite like Cricket’s. “Every great club has a unique feature,” said Keith Foster in a recent interview, the mastermind behind the restoration of the Wissahickon course. “What’s awesome about Cricket is that there are several: the opening and closing complex, the relationship between number 2 and 10, the relationship between 3 and 10, all wonderful gems that needed to be uncovered. But when we removed the hundreds of trees from the old rail line, the course’s special feature was truly revealed.” The old rail line was known as the Plymouth Branch of the Reading Company and its principal purpose was to provide a connection between the Reading’s Bethlehem Branch (now SEPTA’s LansdaleDoylestown line) at Oreland and the Alan Wood steel mill beside the Schuylkill at Ivy Rock. According to world-renowned Train Consultant and Historian Hank Raudenbush, from Oreland, the train ran through Flourtown, across the Cricket Club, then West of Stenton Avenue. “The train ran roughly parallel to the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Trenton Branch, now a line of Norfolk Southern, for a ways, then followed Chemical Road and Alan Wood Road down into the mill area,” said Raudenbush of LTK Engineering Services in Ambler.
13
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
Bowling
Trapshooting
LADIES BOWLING TEAM
With a number of very close results in interclub matches, the PCC Cup 1 team finished in fourth place, while Cup 2 rallied for an exciting third place finish.
Congratulations to the following 2015 intraclub winners:
Champion Roddy Jennings Runner Up Leslie MacDonald Floss Harris Trophy for Most Improved Stephanie Ravett Brita Freed Trophy for Most Pins Over Average Susan Anderson High Series First Half Marcia Jones High Series Second Half Karin Alsentzer High Game First Half Helene Luhrs High Game Second Half Sally Maginn 200 Pin Games Roddy Jennings, Helene Luhrs, Sally Maginn The season-closing luncheon and play day took place on March 11th. Look for results in the next Newsletter. Social Bowling will continue through the summer. Contact Karin Alsentzer for details at Kwalse@aol.com. 2014-2015 was a terrific season with lots of laughs and wonderful camaraderie. Please consider joining us for the 2015-2016 Bowling Season. Look for details in the 3rd Quarter PCC Bulletin.
Sean Baird and Andy Mutch enjoying a day of trapshooting at PCC!
The 2015 trapshooting season came to a close at the end of March. Weather got the best of us this year, with several meets cancelled due to icy conditions. Trapshooting and ice are not a good combination. The results of the four competitions held in 2015 and club championships are as follows:
January 4
PCC 229, Aronimink 229 Having previously won the home shoot against Aronimink by 8 birds, PCC retained the Friendship Cup, the Annual Home/ Away shoot with Aronimink. John Pym shot a 45 in the final group to solidify the win for PCC.
January 11
PCC 194, Corinthian Yacht Club 219
February 1
PCC 227, Union League Rod & Gun 217
February 8
PCC 211, Valley Forge GC 217 10:00am -8:00pm 1:00pm -4:00pm 3:00pm -6:00pm
Pool & Pub Hours DJ, Inflatables & Games BBQ Buffet on the new activity field behind the pool!
*Pool Pub will be open for snacks, drinks & ice cream during this time.
March 15 (Club Championship) Halfway House
Offerings
Adults: $25 Children: $15
*** NEW THIS YEAR *** The St. Martins Clubhouse will remain closed all day. All dining will be at the Pool Pub and Bar.
11:00am -5:00pm 5:00pm -9:00pm
11am -8:00pm
Lunch Dinner
High Gross: Neil Olson High Handicap: Wilson Jones Second High Gross: Richard O’Brien Second High Handicap: John Pym High Woman: Jill Kyle High Woman Handicap: Jill Willits
PhilaCricket.com |
14
Cricket In January, PCC & MCC traveled to the cricketing country of South Africa, visiting Cape Town, Gondwana Game Reserve and Kynsna along the world famous Garden Route. The two week tour allowed for seven cricket matches against some of the oldest cricket clubs in the world plus a couple of younger teams. Cape Town CC and Western Province CC have both been playing cricket for over 150 years, and were delighted to host a team from America, where they believe that cricket is extinct. Quite the contrary, cricket is alive and well in the greater Philadelphia region, and thanks to our ambassadorial endeavors we expect a team from the Cape Town Friendly Cricket Association to attend the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival in the coming years. The Gentleman of Philadelphia put on some good cricket, inspired by attending the South Africa vs. West Indies test series. The GOP team made stops in Constantia and at Stellenbosch wine farms, Table Mountain, Two Oceans Drive, Cape Point and Robin Island en route to scheduled cricket matches.
After 10 days in Cape Town, a weary team headed to Gondwana Game Reserve to enjoy a little R&R before heading further up the Garden Route to our final stop in the town of Knysna. The match with our hosts, Kynsna Village Cricketers, was a competitive one with a nail biting finish and a victorious GOP team. The goals of the tour – having fun, representing Philadelphia cricket and sharing over 150 years of cricket heritage – were all easy to accomplish, but the most rewarding goal was donating all of our cricket equipment to the Knysna Village Cricket League, which will ensure that deserving underprivileged young gentlemen will be able to pursue their cricketing ambitions with new equipment. If you have yet to experience a cricket match at the club, don’t be shy. Come out one weekend and see a true gentleman’s game played in the friendly spirit of yesteryear. Better yet, experience it first hand and come play. If you can throw and catch, you will fit right in. A scrimmage will be held on April 4th, with matches every weekend following.
Bridge 1 Bridge Results 12/16 North/South Barbara Moran and Phyllis McGusty East/West Rene McMenamin and Joan Walters 12/23 North/South Susan Feldman and Casey Von Seldeneck East/West Anne Torrey and Jill Ashmead 12/30 North/South Susie O’Neil and Anna Tyson East/West Lee Van De Velde and Eleanor Lloyd 1/6 North/South Margaret Sutor and Judith Campbell East/West Sally Maginn and Barbara Moran
15
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
The 2014-2015 Women’s Bridge League has come to a close after a long 11-match season. The four PCC teams played very well and maintained high positions in their respective leagues. The Montco matches were all well contested as well. Duplicate play was very popular, with 10-14 tables each week, despite the snowy weather! Below are the results from our Tuesday play. 1. Congratulations to Toysie Walker who is our newest “Life Master.” She has achieved this high distinction in a short four-year career. Well done Toysie, the entire bridge community salutes you! 2. Two avid newcomers, Alison Shoemaker and Susan Morse, traveled to the Bermuda Regionals this January, where they made 2 us proud by finishing first out of the 477 players in their division! 1/13 North/South Ursula Schaufler and Margaret Packer East/West Susan Anthony and Barbara Daly 1/20 North/South Sally Maginn and Barbara Moran East/West Patricia Peterson and Liz Lewis 1/27 North/South Ursula Schaufler and Margaret Packer East/West Patricia Peterson and Liz Lewis 2/3 North/South Hollis Rosenthal and Kathy Schlesinger East/West Jacqueline Prior and Sally Maginn
2/10 Swiss Teams Toysie Walker, Claire Roling, Casey Von Seldeneck and Susan Feldman 2/17 North/South Ursula Schaufler and Margaret Packer East/West Sharon Clothier and Elizabeth Gemmill 2/24 Section A North/South Barbara Moran and Sally Hargesheimer Section A East/West Sharon Clothier and Susan Morse Section B North/South Anna Tyson and Susie O’Neil Section B East/West Carol Ginty and Maryann Thomas 3/3 Julie Moat and Jacqueline Prior
WELCOME to the Philadelphia Cricket Club
New Members!
Elected January through March 2015 James & Mary Brown Joseph & Emily Chott Kevin & Katie Dougher Samuel & Kate Earle Jay & Natalie Goldberg Nikolas & Jody Greenblatt John & Cassie Guglielmo
Michael & Samantha Jordan Chip & Molly Linehan Patrick & Jacklyn Mullen Stephen & Amalia O’Sullivan Andrew & Jennifer Perry Jere Thompson Brandon & Laura Weiner
Employees of the Month Please join us in congratulating these PCC Employees of the Month! These individuals have exemplified the Club’s standards of professionalism, service and leadership. St. Martins John Nemes Parth Sharma
Maintenance Squash
Flourtown Chris Morrin Robb Moulds
Locker Room Grounds
PhilaCricket.com |
16
17
| Philadelphia Cricket Club
Join Us For MOTHER´S DAY SUNDAY, MAY 10TH Seatings at 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm & 1:30pm Brunch Buffet int eh Ballroom at St. Martins Live music Fresh flowers for mom
Sign up online or by calling 215.247.6001 ext. 100 Adults: $39 Children: $19 48 Hour cancellation Policy
PhilaCricket.com |
18
FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SAN JOSE, CA PERMIT NO. 222
Philadelphia Cricket Club 415 West Willow Grove Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19118