La Vie
May & June 2023
Club Contacts
General Questions/Club Reservations:
Concierge -
281-899-3200 | concerige@royaloakscc com
Membership:
Membership Director - Terri Kennedy
281-899-3207 | tkennedy@royaloakscc.com
Membership Assistant - Lizz Barber
281-272-6665 | lbarber@royaloakscc com
Member Statement/Accounts Receivable -
281-899-3253 | ar@royaloakscc.com
Dining:
Pick-Up/To-Go Orders -
The Bistro, 281-899-3230
The Turn, 281-899-3227
Events:
Catering & Events Director - Allyson Brown
281-899-3293 | abrown@royaloakscc.com
Sports Club:
Front Desk -
281-899-3250 | sportsclub@royaloakscc.com
Fitness Director - Pam Owens
281-899-3236 | powens@royaloakscc.com
Tennis Director - Peter Farrell
281-899-3219 | pfarrell@royaloakscc com
Golf: Golf Shop -
281-899-3270 | golfshop@royaloakscc.com
Head Golf Professional - Ryan Miller
281-899-3205 | rmiller@royaloakscc com
Director of Instruction - Derek Hooper
281-899-3217 | dhooper@royaloakscc.com
Welcome New Members
March & April
Mary Catherine & Eric Urban
Isidora & Lambros Kakissis
Cynthia & Beau McDonald
Conner Adamski
Tonya & David Callender
Mary & Micah Bedard
Daryl & Steven Zehner
Marc Young
Gabrielle & Andrew Forestier
Kim & Allen Pere
Ese & Nsima Ekere
Belinda & Anthony Mays
Jan Sparks & Michael Snodgrass
Sandra & Dong Park
A Message from the President
Well Spring has officially sprung, and we kicked it off in hoppy good style. Mother Nature tried to ruin our plans, but the Easter Bunny prevailed. Thank you to all 450 of our Members who braved the elements to come out for a hopping good time. Easter brunch finished off a fantastic weekend, and now we are on to Spring showers and May flowers. I hope you all have enjoyed watching the replanting around the pools, and this month we do the area around the pool itself along with the installation of PALM TREES Yes, our beloved Palm Grille will no longer be the "Palmless" Grille We will be bringing in a mixture of several palm varieties that are freeze resistant and reinstate our lovely tropical oasis
We have been busy picking out all of the new décor for our Clubhouse renovation coming in July, and we look forward to having a storyboard and some samples for everyone to come and see. The custom carpet, lighter and brighter wall color, new light fixtures, and artwork are really coming together. The old girl is getting a much-anticipated makeover, and it looks spectacular. The Clubhouse will be closed starting July 5th for about nine weeks while we transform the first floor of the Club During the Clubhouse shutdown, the Palm Grille will be open to help meet your dining needs
Has everyone been watching the member activity center come out of the ground? I, for one, was startled by how fast it progressed once the slab was poured. Now we'll start on all of the laborious work inside. I hope you had a chance to come and do the open house and see how gorgeous it is going to be and how spectacular the views are. As we get closer to completing the construction at year's end, we have been working on the branding of the building. We have decided to change the name and selected The Oaks. We have The Palm Grille, so it makes sense to name the building The Oaks based on the name of the Club and the fact that it is nestled behind a beautiful oak tree
The entire building will be The Oaks, but the golf portion with the teaching and fitting bays will be branded as Royal Oaks Performance Center. Soon, the rest of Houston will know where they want to join for all their lessons and Club needs away from the elements and hitting golf balls out to an actual driving range instead of a simulator. And speaking of the range, ROCC'n the Range is Friday, May 28th, so sign up and come out to listen to music and enjoy some beautiful weather while putting our range to good use I know we are all excited to enjoy the beautiful weather with a fun night on the driving range
Please make sure to mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 17th, which will be our Annual Meeting at Royal Oaks from 6:30-8 pm. We will give you an in-depth and thorough update on the Club's financial position and details on an exciting new Membership promotion we are rolling out for the Summer months. We are going to offer a 3month Preview program for new people to come and try our Club while the days are long. We want all our Members to invite their friends, family, and co-workers to enjoy this easy introduction to our fantastic way of life We all know this is a paradise getaway tucked into the hubbub of hectic Houston Now we can share the joy with others Please contact Terri Kennedy, our Membership Director, for all the details Terri can be reached at tkennedy@royaloakscc com
Well, that's it for this issue. Please look out for the next installment of Going Places with the President next month, and I look forward to seeing you all at the Annual Meeting and around the Club.
Allison Zuber Royal Oaks Country Club President
Ladies Association
The Ladies Association monthly themed happy hours recognizing women who have made a difference continue to be a big hit Chef and his staff always prepare just the right food to fit the theme. Join us to keep up with your friends while meeting new friends. Thank you to our ROCCLA President, Roc'C Semmelbeck and Vice-President, Maureen Singleton, and the rest of the Board for keeping us so very active
Lunch Bunch, organized by Angie Gooch (angie.gooch@me.com) and Jan Parker (jan.parker2022@gmail.com), has already scheduled their monthly 3rd Monday of the month lunch spots: May 15th at Eunice on Buffalo Speedway; June 19th at Hopdoddy Burger Bar; July 17th at MDK Noodles followed by dessert close by; August 21st at Rosalie Italian Soul located inside C. Baldwin Hotel on Dallas; and Sixty Vines on September 18th, which will include shopping in Rice Village for those who wish to stay.
The ROCCLA ladies were lucky to be the first group to experience Chef Olivier's cooking class. Thirteen women enjoyed not just the cooking class but also a lovely luncheon to enjoy the meal they prepared under Chef's guidance.
Julie Gray has been very busy arranging more field trips as well as arranging transportation. On Monday, April 17th, a group of 20 traveled to Historic Woodland Heights for another Preservation Houston Tour, followed by lunch at Lola Diner on Yale. Be sure to check your weekly emails and the Royal Oaks Country Club app for information and sign up as plans are finalized for future field trips
On April 13th, another HCC Fashionable Lunch afforded an opportunity to tour one of the largest fashion archives around and enjoy a multi-course luncheon at HCC's culinary school Photos will appear in the next issue
The Royal Bookies book club continues to meet at 4:00 pm each month just prior to the ROCCLA Happy Hour. "Carmel Conundrum," by ROCC Member Stacy (Edick) Wilder, was the March 29th selection Stacy was kind enough to join us once again to discuss her writing journey and give insight into her cozy mystery series. The Book Woman's Daughter" by Kim Michele Richardson was discussed on April 26th;
March Happy Hour - Coco Channel
Woodland Heights Tour
"These Precious Days: Essays" by Ann Patchett is scheduled for May 31st; Kate Quinn's "The Diamond Eye" is planned for June 28th; and Barbara Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead" is the selection for August 30th. Note that there won't be a July meeting. All are welcome to join in anytime. If you've read a book you'd like to recommend to the group, please contact either Karen Shewbart (kshewbart@comcast net) or Ellie Beeckman (beeckmae@sbcglobal.net).
Kindel Burton (kindelvc@gmail) and Trisha
Maley (trishmaley@yahoo.com), our MahJongg co-chairs, are making sure the tiles are shuffling in the Ladies Locker Room on Thursday afternoons beginning at 1:00 pm. The new cards for 2023 have been received, and Thursdays are more active with the newly trained group joining in. If you'd like to learn how to play, please reach out to Kindel or Trisha for the next group lesson
Do you like to play Bridge? Tuesdays feature Casual Bridge at 10:00 am, and Advanced Bridge occurs on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday of each month Contact Nancy Richard (nancywrichard@gmail com) for Casual Bridge and Jane Williams (janerwms@yahoo.com) about Friday Bridge.
Aileen Hansen not only came up with the idea of the Royal Recipe Ladies, but she's made sure the group flourishes Each month one of the ladies opens her home while the attendees prepare a monthly themed meal to share, along with recipes and stories. Maureen Singleton hosted the outstanding March gathering of the group for a Royal Tea, with the ladies dressing appropriately for the occasion. To join in on the third Thursday
of the month, sign up under the Quick Links on the Club App. Aileen Hansen (aileen913@yahoo com) can answer any specific questions
We've recently had two of our very active members move away. Both Dianne Williams and Ruthie Williams (no relation) will surely be missed.
You can keep up with our many events on the Club Calendar Watch for Friday's ROCCLA email and the Quick Links on the Club app, and follow us on Facebook. The Executive Committee and Committee Chairs have planned many ROCCLA Happy Hours and events Suggestions of activities are always welcomed to keep all our members assured of a great experience with our vibrant group. Sign up for events under the Quick Links on the Club App or call the Concierge at (281)-899-3200.
Royal Recipe Ladies - Royal Tea
Social Life
We are officially close to summer! For many, summers consist of vacations, traveling to homes in cooler states, or heading to a nearby beach or lake, but for others, it means looking to the Club for activities and adventure!
Before we get there, we do have some really special events planned in May, such as our Texas "Gyulais" Beef Dinner on May 4th This dinner is limited to the first 60 people, so be sure to sign up if you haven't yet! Chef Olivier has created a 6course dinner featuring some of the best beef Texas has to offer, and our Sommelier, Marek, has paired some delightful wines to pair with each course We also have a Wagner Family Wine Dinner planned for May 25th, which will feature some well-known wines such as Caymus and Emmolo. While this dinner will be focused more on the wine, Chef is cooking up a delicious menu to enjoy with these wines. At the end of May, we are bringing back an event from last year, our Lounge Night. This time, we will be at the Palm Grille enjoying the gorgeous patio space and hope to have equally beautiful weather. This is a later evening event, offering a chance for our adult members to enjoy appetizers and drinks in a laidback environment with music and friends!
Kicking off the summer, we have our annual Memorial Day Pool Party on Monday, May 29th This is always a favorite event of ours, complete with American classics such as burgers, hot dogs, etc., games and music with DJ Jeffrey, water slides, and of course, fun adult beverages by the pool! June brings back other favorite events, such as our Family Fun Nights and Family Bingo Nights. The Family Fun Nights are on scheduled Fridays in June and include DJ music, swimming, games, and a surprise entertainer or activity. Stay tuned for details on what surprises we have for each date!
Family Bingo Nights are on scheduled Wednesday evenings and will showcase burgers or perhaps the pizza oven one night We always have age-friendly
prizes (for both kids and adults), so this is open to any and all ages!
On Sunday, June 18th, we have our annual Father's Day Brunch in the Clubhouse, and Chef Olivier is planning a "dad-friendly" menu for families to enjoy and celebrate together! Finally, closing out the month is our 4th Annual Summer Solstice Wine Dinner This is definitely becoming a staple event every year, and we are excited for what we have planned this year!
As always, we may have some other "pop-up" events throughout the coming months, as the calendar allows, so be sure to watch for information coming from the Club. We look forward to a fun summer and hope to see you at one or several of these wonderful events!
Allyson Brown, Catering & Events DirectorSave the Date
Wagner Family Wine Dinner
Thursday, 5/25
Lounge Night
Friday, 5/26
Memorial Day Pool Party
Monday, 5/29
Family Fun Night
Friday, 6/2
Family Bingo Night
Wednesday, 6/7
Family Fun Night
Friday, 6/16
Father's Day Brunch
Sunday, 6/18
Family Bingo Night
Wednesday, 6/21
Summer Solstice Wine Dinner
Friday, 6/23
A Message from Chef
I've had many good experiences with you at the Club in the past two months. From Truffle Dinners to the Crawfish Cook-Off, Themed Thursday buffet dinners, cooking classes for children and adults, and let's not forget a few Wood-Fired pizza oven parties! All these events, except for the Crawfish Cook-Off, are new events and experiences we started this year I hope to make some of them a Club tradition
Tradition is a theme for May and June with our annual Mother's Day and Father's Day brunches, our ROCC'N the Range party, and the Nine, Wine & Dine golf event But it will also bring new experiences to the calendar: The Great Wine Tour presented by the Royal Oaks Wine Society and the Texas "Gyulais" Beef Dinner that will introduce you to fabulous locally raised cattle.
I have also found a local lamb producer and will taste their product before bringing them in. I really want Royal Oaks to serve the best products we can find locally. I want you to experience quality food and be proud to introduce your guests to exclusive ingredients at your Club
As always, we aim to ensure your satisfaction. Training and education take time, but as we welcome you more numerous than ever at the Bistro, we are grateful for your support of our progress
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Club!
Olivier Burgos, CEC, Executive Chef
The Wine Times
DID SOMEBODY SAY ROSÉ?
Happy springtime to everyone! I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the new year It has been a rainy spring for us here in Houston, but as they say, "April showers bring May flowers". When it isn't raining, I feel like we are getting the perfect patio weather; warm and sunny days with just the perfect light breeze to sit back and relax You may be saying, "A glass of wine would be really great in this scenario," and I couldn't agree more.
This time around, we're pouring up some rosé! Rosé happens when the skins of red grapes touch wine for only a short time Where some red wines ferment for weeks at a time on red grape skins, rosé wines are stained red for just a few hours. As you can imagine, nearly any red wine grape (from Cabernet Sauvignon to Syrah) can be used to make rosé wine. However, there are several common styles and grapes that are preferred for rosé
The maceration method is the most common type of rosé we see available and is used in regions like Provence, France, where rosé is as important as red or white wine This method is when red wine grapes macerate in the juice for a period, and afterward, the entire batch of juice is finished into a rosé wine. This produces darker-colored wine with a richer flavor. Our rosé by the glass option, Whispering Angel, is exactly this type of wine
From Chateau D'Esclan, Whispering Angel is made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino). Its pale color is pleasing to the eye and draws one in. The rewarding taste
profile is full and lush while being bone dry with a smooth finish. Highly approachable and enjoyable with a broad range of cuisine, such as charcuterie and soft cheeses, or seafood, such as salmon and shellfish.
We have a wide variety of rosé wine to try here at Royal Oaks, so the next time you are dining with us or simply want to take in the sun on the patio, make sure to find me, and we can get some delicious rosé in your glass!
Marek Lubecki, Food & Beverage ManagerThree Keys to Skill Development
There is no shortage of information available if you are looking to make a change to your golf game. Whether it be social media, magazines, or The Golf Channel, every day, you are bombarded with information on ways to drive the ball longer, hit more consistent iron shots, and curve the ball less. As golfers, you are led to believe that if you just make a particular technical change, that change will transform your ball striking to levels you had previously only dreamed about. Unfortunately, this is not the full story.
Playing better golf on the golf course is about developing skills that are transferable to the wide variety of situations you will encounter in any given round of golf. To develop these skills, a player should work through the following 3 step process.
Technical – Yes, if you want to change your inconsistent ball contact, the disastrous curve with your tee shots, and produce predictable ball flights, then you are probably going to have to make a technical change. This change could be simple or even not require a change at all, rather just a better understanding of the concepts required to hit a quality shot. But with the myriad of information available, how can you know what is the correct technical change for you? You cannot see your own golf swing, and feels are rarely accurate, even for the most established of players. You need to gain an understanding of how you are producing the contact and ball flight you do and what needs to change to produce your desired outcome.
A lesson with one of the Royal Oaks Professionals would be the best idea, but however you gain this insight, please do not leave it to guesswork.
Skills – Once you understand and have implemented the technical change, the next step is to turn this into a skill you can use in a variety of situations. The ability to produce the new motion and ball flight with the same club off an artificial range tee does not mean you have learned a new skill. You are not trying to learn it so well that you can reproduce it;
rather, you want to learn it so well that you reproduce it in any situation. This requires practice that looks more like what you will be asked to do on the course – change clubs and targets often, have clearly defined outcomes, keep score, and have consequences for those outcomes.
Strategy – You learned a new technical move in your golf swing. You have also worked on it in a variety of situations so that you can reproduce it on the golf course. The final step is to make sure your on-course strategies match the new ball flights and shot dispersions. Your old course management decisions will probably not match your new ball-striking skills. This is also the perfect opportunity to work through any lingering course management issues that, if altered, can save you several strokes per round.
It is rare that you meet players who are aware of and utilizing this process to improve their golf game, but it is the process I would suggest you use if you are serious about lowering your scores. You can walk this journey on your own, or the Royal Oaks professional staff are here to guide you. Feel free to reach out to one of the Teaching Professionals on staff, and we will be happy to discuss the best ways to help.
Derek Hooper, Director of Instruction
The World of Golf
First and foremost, I would like to thank the members of our world-class Club. The welcome I have received since my first day, a mere two months ago, has far exceeded my expectations. The decision to move my family to this great city and lead the golf operation has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I appreciate all the support.
As we have benefited from some nicer spring weather, so has the golf course With warmer weather comes optimal playing conditions and more enjoyment for the membership
As usual, our website lists all of our upcoming events for the Club, along with any upcoming MGA and WGA tournaments and socials.
We recently had Spring Maintenance on the course in April. While sometimes this can be an inconvenience, it is necessary for better conditions year-round. The next scheduled maintenance will be in July; there will not be a June maintenance performed. The dates will be July 10-27. A variety of course improvements and maintenance items will be performed Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time, and we apologize in advance for these closures and any interruptions they may cause
We look forward to seeing everyone on the course enjoying the game and the beautiful weather Don't forget to stop into our shop as well to see our latest merchandise and new deals.
Save the Date
May
Nine, Wine & Dine
5/12/23
Ping Fitting Day
5/12/23
MGA Battle Royale-Spring Member Guest
5/19/23
Mizuno Fitting Day
5/26/23
Titleist Fitting Day
5/28/23
June MGA Stroke Play Championship
6/10/23
Ryan Miller, Head Golf ProfessionalGreens Update
The roller coaster of weather we experience here during the Spring does not disappoint. As much of a gripe as it may be when you have highs approaching 90, only to be awakened the next morning with temperatures in the upper 40s, this weather is preferred over the weather experienced in late Summer. The landscape around the Club and course are in full bloom and pushing out a flush of new growth. The turf has been waking up for the last few weeks, and by the time you read this, I expect we will be fully involved with our summer mowing routines. This is a great time of year as we begin to wrap up some of the projects we have been working on during the winter and prepare for the growing season
We have just completed our first greens aerification of the year. We used a smaller aerification tine than what is normally used in the summer This smaller diameter tine aids in shortening the recovery time required to achieve a desirable playing surface after our aeration. Aeration is an important practice that provides excellent benefits to the greens' soil profile. This early aerification allows us an opportunity to relieve the surface tension of the greens and improve the water and oxygen infiltration into the greens' profile. Please go ahead and mark your calendars for our primary aerification closure of the year scheduled for July 10-27.
In the coming weeks, we will also be replacing the annual color around the Club with a more heat-tolerant selection of plants. Special attention has been taken in the last couple of years to optimize the plantings for this year. I trust you will like what you see again
As always, we on the golf course maintenance team hope you enjoy your time on the golf course and around the Club and look forward to seeing you in the coming months.
Cody Alexander, Golf Course Superintendent
Membership Growth Starts from Within
Despite advances in technology, word of mouth still belongs at the top of the list of effective golf membership promo ideas Members recruiting their friends, family, neighbors, and business associates is how clubs gain the best members. Relationships between Club members are crucial.
This form of membership recruitment brings former golfers back to the game Outdoor social activities were at a premium when the pandemic first hit, and clubs reaped the rewards of new members flocking to their Clubs. We saw individuals rediscovering the game after giving it up Royal Oaks still finds this trend and is re-engaging members who have left in recent years. Perhaps they weren't playing enough to justify their membership costs, but now that there is more demand to play the game, they want to get more involved.
The Young Professional Memberships have been the top-selling membership at Royal Oaks and other clubs over the past year. It is important for a club to think about ways to lower the average age of their membership. With an eye towards the future, attracting younger members can boost a club's potential for sustainability for future success. Royal Oaks has seen this increase, and this increase is mostly due to our Young Professionals bringing in their friends and business associates
Equity Golf - $2,500
Equity Executive - $1,500
Young Professional (35-39) - $2,500
Young Professional (30-34) - $2,000
Young Professional (21-29) - $1,500
Equity Sports - $750
*These referring member credits do not apply to preview memberships and are credited upon the preview member joining the Club These new credits increased effective 1/1/2023.
For more information about membership and referring a friend, please contact Terri Kennedy at tkennedy@royaloakscc com or (281) 899-3207
If you should have a prospective member that you would like to refer, Royal Oaks will reward you for your efforts once they join the Club. Referring Member Spending Credits to the Sponsoring Member are as follows:
Terri Kennedy, Membership Director
The Sports Club: Exercise Your Way
Club Member Testimony
"I wanted to reach out and express my appreciation for your golf mobility class I'm less than three months into my participation and your instruction has already resulted in noticeable joint improvements. The grit I previously experienced in my neck has decreased substantially The sharp pains in my right shoulder, with certain movements, has almost disappeared. Also, the pain in my right hip, while still present, has decreased. I look forward to continued improvements in mobility, balance, and joint pain reduction. Thank you, Pam"
-Donald Sweitzer
Member Donald Sweitzer gets great results in Golf Mobility Club.
Upcoming Tennis Events
Peter Farrell, Tennis Director
Communication Corner
I'd like to thank all our members for the warm welcome I received during my first month at Royal Oaks Country Club. I have enjoyed meeting you all and look forward to developing relationships with each of you. My favorite part of communications is capturing the joy people have here at our Club and sharing it with others You will often see me walking around our Club with the camera or drone, trying to capture videos and images for our website and social media pages. If you ever see me walking around and want your picture taken, please feel free to ask! Nothing makes me happier than taking photos of our Members with their family and friends In the next few pages, you will find some of my favorite photos I have taken over the past month. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do! Be sure to follow us on social media at @RoyalOaksHTX to stay updated with everything happening at our Club!
Isabela Ortiz, Digital Marketing & Communications Manager
Cupcake Decorating with Chef
March 14, 2023
Crawfish Cook-Off
March 25, 2023
Easter Egg Hunt
April 8, 2023
Easter Brunch
April 9, 2023
Mission Statement
Royal Oaks Country Club provides an environment of enjoyment to all Members and their families by offering exceptional golf, fitness, recreational sports, social and dining experiences
Vision Statement
To be recognized as the private club of choice for Houston families by offering a convenient and relaxed lifestyle with superior amenities and facilities.
Values
Members
Members are our most important asset
Membership is a privilege through a thoughtful selection process
Amenities
First class golf and recreational sports experience
Remarkable social experiences promoted by Members
Employees
Attract staff who are high performers and outstanding in their field
Uphold fiscal responsibility through effective Club governance
Community
Promote fellowship in a welcoming social environment
Adhere to the Golden Rule...treat others as you want to be treated
