Ripples | Spring/Summer 2021 by rcc1900

SPRING/SUMMER 2021

RIPPLES The Official Newsletter of Riverton Country Club

IN THIS ISSUE:

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

Letter from the President | 1

by Tom Kearns

www.RivertonCC.com

Welcome back to Ripples. We are hoping to get back to more “normal” communications as we go into this year. I am excited to give some high-level updates and thoughts, and confident you will find a lot of good information throughout this publication. First, my thanks to the Board for their vote of confidence by providing me the honor to be your President for another year. I would like to congratulate Ray Celona, Fred Moran, Marty Rosica, and Sean Stoneback on their election to the Board. Also, thank you to Tom Barton and Charlie Rossetti for their years of service to the Board. Last year was surely an interesting year. On one hand, I hope we never have to endure a pandemic again. On the other hand, the club had its most successful membership year in recent memory. I want to recognize the efforts by our GM Joe Mendez and his staff. Talk about starting a new position in the middle of chaos. When shutdowns began to affect the club, the team immediately started brainstorming ways to keep RCC relevant in our lives. Just a few of those items included enhanced takeout items, the very successful “pop-up” items (most sold out in last then 30 minutes), Ashley food delivery, etc. Additionally, we accomplished many things to position the club (Continue on page 2)

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for the future. We completed a full membership survey that generated our Journey to the 2025 strategic plan. Surveys provided us with the voice of our membership and market needs. You have my commitment that data from those items will drive all decisions being made by the Board. HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE YOUR CLUB NEEDS IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY.

Looking Ahead For those that attended the Annual meeting April 12, some of this may be redundant. If you were not able to attend, you can find the presentation on our website under the Member section. We have several things on which to focus during the upcoming year. Some of the more strategic items include: Planning and completion of the Ross Restoration for the golf course Creation of a Facilities Master Plan for our entire campus Present a funding approach for upcoming major capital improvements Continued monitoring of membership growth and utilization Hiring our new Executive Chef Of course, how we can better serve your club needs is always a top priority. The entire Riverton Country Club Board and staff will continue efforts to provide the best overall experience for you, your family, and guests. Again, thank you to the Board for the vote of confidence to help lead Riverton Country Club. I truly believe we are positioned for energizing growth. I am excited about the direction and am eager to get going. Please feel free to drop me a note with any ideas.

WE'RE BACK by Joe Mendez

Welcome to the return of Ripples. While it is a revival for most members, it is new to others, including me. When I accepted the offer to become GM of Riverton in November 2019, I never could have anticipated what was in store for 2020. No one could. Our team’s accomplishments make me prouder than any other success with which I had the opportunity to be a part. Beginning March 15, the entire organization was forced to look at our business model through a different lens. Without missing a beat, the team rallied and executed on initiatives like the Ashley Foods offer, a Drive-In Movie in our parking lot, to-go cocktails, and more. I am grateful and feel blessed to be a part of an amazing group of leaders here at Riverton. With this momentum, we are extremely optimistic about 2021 and beyond. With our golf membership nearing capacity, we are focusing from a high-level on improving the facilities and services for non-golf related offerings to grow our House Membership. Membership Director Donna Surrette is ready to assist you with prospective members. Please reach out if you know of someone who is interested in becoming a part of the Riverton family, donna@rivertoncc.com. 2021 is also ushering in a return of our Fireworks Extravaganza, being held Thursday, July 1. I’m told this is a popular event and we are planning to take it over the top. I look forward to seeing everyone there, so be sure to register. We will utilize our entire outdoor space and some of the golf course to ensure (Continue on page 3)

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we are well within recommended guidelines for outdoor gatherings. I am eager to divulge features of this year’s event as the date draws near. Frequent entertainment will return to the Club as well. Keep your eyes peeled for information as it is released. In addition to our weekly email blast, you can follow us on Social Media. In case you have not noticed, the elephant in the room is the large tent (no elephants) in the side lot that comfortably accommodates 250 people. In response to last year’s positive feedback regarding outdoor events, we made the decision to purchase the tent to continue offering outdoor options. Consider it another room for your special event or banquet and contact Director of Catering Alexis Ryan to reserve it, aryan@rivertoncc.com. Please be advised that dates are booking fast. I am confident I speak for most when I say we are looking forward to returning to full operations and the chance to see the Club humming along with everyone enjoying our various facilities and programs.

Finally, because everyone has been in masks for the better part of my tenure thus far, it has been a challenge to get to know people. I am excited about the prospect of getting to know each of you and attached faces to names. I apologize in advance if I introduce myself to you as though we never met. Getting to know 500 people over a relatively short period is challenging. Adding the peculiarity of 2020 made the process almost impossible. My goal for the remainder of this year is to get to know each member. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

2020 IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR by Hannah Librizzi What a year we have had! With the governor’s restrictions lifting slightly and the warmer weather quickly approaching it has been a treat seeing many members returning to utilize the club. Adapting to restrictions, we introduced new features at the Club, including tableside ordering. Waitstaff has been instructed to read orders back for clarification. This system enables the waitstaff to immediately send your order to the bar and kitchen, improving accuracy, hastening preparation, and decreasing wait times. Any system and process change requires continual improvement. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

members and am looking forward to finally seeing it come to fruition. Registration is open on Fortees and discounts are available for early registration. Guests are welcomed and encouraged!

While Covid caused much uncertainty and forced several adjustments, one thing that did not change was member patronage. Your unwavering support for the Club and staff has been humbling and is very much appreciated. Whether you ordered take-out or participated in our outdoor events, “When you’re here, you’re home” has never been more apparent. We anticipate a better year ahead filled with fun events and memories made with families and friends.

Many members have had the opportunity to meet Tyler Zust, our new Dining Room Manger. Tyler moved here from Ohio after earning his degree from Ohio University, where he studied Restaurant, Hotel and Tourism Management. Tyler has had the opportunity to intern in numerous clubs around the country and his passion for the club industry does not go unnoticed. He is responsible for assisting with supervision of front of the house staff and overseeing the dining facilities. Tyler is excited to be a part of our RCC family and cannot wait to meet every member. The annual Fireworks Extravaganza is back this year! I have heard about this infamous event from so many Page 3

RIPPLES | Spring/Summer 2021

Angela, Owen, Molly, and Kevin Duffy

GOLF FOR A CURE by Kevin Duffy As most know, my 7-year-old daughter Molly has an ultra-rare, neurodegenerative disease called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia type 47. This disease is so rare that she was the first person in the United States given this diagnosis at the end of 2015. Shortly after we received this devastating news, we learned another little girl, Robbie from Boston, had received the same diagnosis. We immediately connected with her family and together founded the non-profit, Cure SPG47. For nearly a year, I kept Molly’s diagnosis to myself. It was part of my personal life and I kept it separate from my professional life. In November of 2016, we had the opportunity to meet Robbie’s family in person for the first time at Boston Children’s Hospital and through a series of events, our chance connection caught the eye of People Magazine and we ended up in their December 2016 issue. Shortly thereafter, our local news stations picked up the story. This was the first time that some of Riverton’s members learned of my daughter’s diagnosis. Immediately following, a large group of them came knocking at my office door asking how they could help. The most obvious thing to do was to host a golf event to raise money and awareness for our non-profit. In August of 2017, Cure SPG47 embarked on our first

ever research program, a pre-clinical gene therapy study being conducted at the University of Sheffield in England. We had just committed to paying $50,000 per quarter for the next two and half years and had no idea how we were going to fund it. Armed with little more than faith, we pushed forward knowing gene therapy was the best chance for a cure for Molly & Robbie. The timing for our first "Golf for a Cure" golf outing could not have been more perfect. We went into it hoping to raise $50,000, which would fund the first quarter of research. While some thought the event could raise $100,000, we never thought that would be possible. As it turns out, we were all wrong! With the dedication, love, and support of our small Riverton community, we raised $227,000! 2020 concluded our 4th annual event and in total, we have raised an astounding $822,000! This is an amazing feat for any organization, let alone our small, private country club teamed up with an even smaller non-profit. Riverton Country Club will once again be hosting "Golf for a Cure" September 21, and we could not be more excited! It is an event that is adored by many and one of our favorite events of the year. This year, we have the potential to surpass the $1,000,000 mark in funds (Continue on page 5)

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raised in just 5 years! What makes this year’s event even more meaningful to me is the new addition of my baby boy, Owen, who was also unfortunately diagnosed with this devastating disease. Now more than ever before, we are fighting to give our children a chance at a better life. It is my dream that one day I will be able to walk the fairways of Riverton with Molly and Owen. Your continued support of Cure SPG47 will help us push our research forward!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all of the love and support over the years!

THE 1900 FOUNDATION At the annual meeting on April 12, Board President Tom Kearns spoke about an exercise whereby the Board in conjunction with the strategic plan, member survey, and GGA Partners, defined Riverton’s core values, community engagement being among them. The members of Riverton Country Club have always been philanthropic, believing strongly in the value of community service and charitable works. Such an organic attribute provides nuance to our mantra, “When You’re Here, You’re Home.” Recent examples of the Club’s generosity include strong support of our beloved Golf Pro, Kevin Duffy, and his annual Cure SPG47 Tournament. Membership support via funds raised to date has significantly contributed towards the work for treatment and ongoing research. In 2020, RCC also donated food and plastic face shields to medical staff at Jefferson Hospital-Cherry Hill and provided lunch for 300 troops stationed at Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst, who were quarantined in advance of their overseas deployment. Because of the Club’s penchant for altruism, the Community Engagement committee investigated options for creating a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity. The purpose being to establish a vehicle through which members of RCC could make contributions supporting local charities. In an effort to launch this initiative, several members have made contributions and donated their time to establish a Foundation and seed an endowment that will grow and fuel the Foundation’s charter for years to come.

Country Club.” Raising funds for the SPG47 Foundation will remain a priority and as the Foundation grows, we will funnel support to other local charities, thus fulfilling the Club’s commitment to growing an enthusiastic and proud network for the greater South Jersey/Philadelphia community. The Foundation will endeavor to actively assist community needs through Club activities, outreach programs, and charitable contributions. As a branding mechanism and source of Member pride, the Foundation will generate interest and momentum for a variety of goodwill initiatives. Operating under the non-profit status of the Foundation, these initiatives, and transactions occurring as a result, will be transparent. Donations to the Foundation will be 100% tax deductible, less the value of goods received. We are looking for individuals interested in participating in Foundation events or on a Foundation committee. Offers to volunteer and questions about the Foundation can be directed to Foundation President Fred Moran at (609) 636-6622 or FMoran610@comcast.net or Joe Mendez, GM at (856) 829-5500 or jmendez@rivertoncc.com.

With support of the Board, the committee agreed to name the non-profit “The 1900 Foundation,” reflecting the Club’s rich history and including the greater Riverton area. All event marketing will identify the Foundation as “The 1900 Foundation of Riverton

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RIPPLES | Spring/Summer 2021 Putting Contest New Member Celebration May 6, 2021

When showing prospective members our grounds and facilities, I often wonder if they think I arranged in advance the staging of actors throughout the tour because our members are among the most engaging and welcoming I ever met. I cannot stress enough the positive impact these interactions have. A couple from Fishtown that joined last year told me they never once felt like strangers despite joining without knowing many members.

New Member Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

AS MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR, I GET TO HEAR THE BEST STORIES by Donna Surrette Reflecting on my two years at Riverton Country Club, I am filled with appreciation for our members. The level of member loyalty is impressive, the generational stories are endearing, and it is remarkable to see members celebrating milestone anniversaries with the Club. An overwhelming sense of pride permeates recent and longtime members, as well as staff.

One of my favorite stories is the time I was eating lunch with a group of coworkers and a senior member excitedly interrupted us to show us a photo from the 2007 Club memoir. He pointed to a corner of the picture and in an elated voice said, “I was right here. I remember when they took this photo.”

A family new to the area joined recently after touring several clubs, saying Riverton was an easy choice. “The members made us feel like part of the family,” they said. “The course is challenging, and conditions are top notch. We should have joined sooner.” I often hear sentiments like these. This has been the busiest of my 17+ years as a Club Membership Director. As of this writing, I have fielded 220 membership inquiries and welcomed 60 new members. I attribute much of our recent success to the Law of Attraction. Enthusiasm is contagious and the positive energy emitted by our members is magnetic. The volume of inquiries has been so great that our Membership Committee under Chairman Dan Giannetto has launched three sub-committees: Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement. The goal is to make positive enhancements, such as: modified policies, more effective communication, member tenure recognition, and club usage tracking. These measures will help ensure new member engagement. Again, I am grateful for the support, responsiveness, and proactiveness of our members and proud to call Riverton home.

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RIPPLES | Spring/Summer 2021 that turf management was what I wanted to do. When you began working at RCC, was it your goal to make a career of agronomy? Dan: No, it just started as a summertime job. Brandan: No. When I first started at RCC, my only goal was a steady paycheck. It took a few years for me to appreciate the benefits of working in the turf maintenance business, and it took a few more years after that to realize I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Dan

Do friends and Family seek your advice for their lawn and garden needs? Dan: Constantly, I always try and help them with my knowledge of turf. Brandan: Yes, rather frequently, but I never mind helping a friend keep their lawn looking good.

Brandan

QUITE LITERALLY HOME by Drew White No phrase describes life at Riverton Country Club better than “When you’re here, you’re home.” For Assistant Superintendents Dan and Brandan Baker, that phrase is somewhat literal. Dan and Brandan grew up in Riverton. In fact, Bryson DeChambeau’s drives are longer than the distance from the Bakers’ childhood home to RCC. Working at RCC may have started as a summer job or simply a paycheck, but it ignited a passion for and career in golf course management. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dan and Brandan and ask a few questions about how RCC has shaped them into the turf professionals they are today. What year did you first start working at Riverton CC? Dan: 2005 | Brandan: 2011

Do you do landscape on the side? Dan: I do not do landscaping on the side, but I do occasionally do some irrigation work. Brandan: Not at all. The golf course keeps me plenty busy throughout the year. What is the biggest difference in the course, besides the Ross Restoration, from your first year at RCC? Dan: Even though it was lumped in with the Ross Restoration, the irrigation system, I spent many hours digging holes and trenches repairing the old system. Brandan: The removal of many trees from key areas through the years has made for more dramatic, scenic views of the course than there used to be.

What is your favorite aspect of the Ross Restoration? Dan: The restoration of the bunkers. The removal, What is your favorite part of your workday? Dan: Early morning just as the crews are leaving the shop addition, and refurbishment of the bunkers here at Riverton has drastically changed the look and feel of the for their first jobs. Something about that time of the day course. just seems peaceful. Brandan: That we are helping to recreate Donald Ross’s Brandan: The serenity of watching the sunrise every vision of what RCC should be. It is a privilege, and a great morning while I work. learning experience, to be a part of restoring the course to What made you realize you wanted to pursue working on the designer’s intent. golf courses as a career? What is one thing you would change about the golf Dan: I started working here during the summers just as seasonal labor during high school. As the years passed, I course? realized I wanted to further my career in the turf industry. Dan: Restoring the ponds and waterways back to their original banks. Brandan: I have had several jobs in various fields in my Brandan: I would make RCC a walking only golf course. life, but none have filled me with the same sense of Wear and tear from high golf-cart traffic is one of the satisfaction and accomplishment that working on the golf course does. I left RCC for a brief time several years ago greatest struggles we face and labor to mitigate. to pursue another line of work, but I quickly realized how What is the most common question you get when you tell much I missed what I had left behind. When I returned to people you work at RCC? the club, I was positive it was where I wanted to be, and (Continue on page 8)

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Dan: How much does it cost to join? | Brandan: Do you get to golf for free? What are three things you want every golfer to know about turf? Dan: (1)Weather is unpredictable; we work with the hand we are dealt. (2)Turf management practices vary widely from one course to the next (even if they are only a couple miles away) because of different environmental factors. (3)Managing turf as a playing surface is more difficult then managing a home lawn. Brandan: (1)In summer, syringing the greens is necessary to keep the turf alive and playable. It must be done frequently, sometimes at a moment’s notice. If your round is interrupted, please be patient and allow us to keep the greens in excellent condition. (2)When it comes to grass, miracles do not happen overnight. Extended periods of unfavorable weather can lead to poorer turf conditions. Although we do the best we can, these conditions require time to recover. (3)The purple-colored probes you see us sticking into the greens’ surfaces throughout the warmer months measure the water content in the soil. They are the most modern and FROM THE KITCHEN accurate way to monitor the moisture level in the root zone of the grass, and they allow us to apply a precise amount of water exactly when and where it is needed. What is your favorite hobby? Dan: I am obsessed with Jeeps, constantly buying or fixing old ones. Some are my own, others are friend's. They always just seem to find their way onto my trailer. Brandan: I enjoy off-roading, exploring the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.

FROM THE RCC ARCHIVES

This dedication, found on page 2 of The Riverton Country Club | A Resilient Refuge chronicle, is as applicable today as it was in 2007: This book is dedicated to all the club’s members and employees over the past 107 years who, by acts small and great, have made this a place we come to for fellowship, sustenance, nourishment, laughter, and the games people play. No place could have survived this long and have gotten to the place we are today without contributions from thousands. We salute those we do not know and a couple thousand we do collectively know because they are part of today’s Riverton County Club. Thank you.

RIVERTON’S GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

The Green Goddess was created in 1923 by Phillip Roemer, head chef at New York's Palace Hotel. Roemer crafted the dressing in honor of actor George Arliss, who was staying at the hotel while staring in the Broadway play The Green Goddess. Riverton’s original recipe used green food coloring. Last summer, we gave this club favorite a make-over, ramping up the quantity of delicious fresh herbs and rendering the dye unnecessary. We scaled our recipe for home use. Yield = 3 pints+

INGREDIENTS 2 8 oz. containers sour cream 4 cups mayonnaise 1/8 cup anchovy paste or 4 anchovies, mashed into a paste 1 bunch parsley, washed and dried 1 bunch scallion, trim off ends 2 stems tarragon 1 cup buttermilk ¾ tsp. granulated garlic 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Pepper DIRECTIONS Using a hand blender or a Vitamix blender, combine parsley, scallions, and tarragon with buttermilk and anchovy paste/anchovies. All herbs should be well blended into the buttermilk to create the classic green color. Once the herbs and buttermilk are combined, add the remaining ingredients and blend until all are fully combined. Let the mixture sit for about an hour. If needed add additional salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy with a crudité or nice salad. Page 8