July & August 2020
We Ha ve B e e n Fe e l i ng t h e RO CC S u m m e r t i m e V i bes !
Dear Fellow Members, It is hard to believe how much the world has changed since I wrote my last La Vie article. This entire experience has certainly made me truly value the basic freedoms we all enjoy, and the safe environment provided to us and our families at the Club. I feel very fortunate to have made such great friendships and have the privilege of being a Member of our Club during these uncertain times. The Club continues to take all the necessary measures to remain financially stable, and though the impact of the pandemic and economy has taken its toll, it has not been to the extent it could have been. We have taken some losses in membership directly related to the pandemic and economy that were not budgeted for in June and July. However, we did continue to have new Members join during this time which helped balance out some of these losses. Due to the pandemic, several of the scheduled private events, which is a great source of revenue for the Club, were either canceled or rescheduled to the Fall. Several of these events will be dependent on the pandemic easing in our city, which is a complete unknown as the City of Houston continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases. As the situation remains incredibly fluid, the Board and Management will continue to monitor the situation closely and make all the necessary adjustments to ensure great service to our membership while protecting the finances and health of our Club. It has been challenging to speak about Long Range Plans at the Club when the pandemic has put so much pressure on current operations. Nevertheless, a capital project plan needs to move forward and, when appropriate, a plan will be presented. We still believe a town hall forum is the best way to communicate the plan, but will adjust if safety concerns don’t allow us to meet in a large group. It is imperative for us as the owners to invest in our Club and plan to meet our financial obligation to our Charter Members. The Board and Management want to thank all our Members for their continued support of the Club, and the Royal Oaks staff for providing a safe and enjoyable experience. We understand that not all operations are at 100% and appreciate that this can be frustrating at times. The goal is to get all operations back up and running, and sometimes exercising caution can go a long way to protecting the overall well-being of the Club and its membership. We look forward to seeing everyone around the Club, and to better days ahead. Sincerely,
Luke Drury, Club President Royal Oaks Country Club
Royal Oaks Country Club
Ladies Association Hello Ladies! The Board and staff at the Club have been doing a great job of implementing phased openings so that we can enjoy the Club facilities safely. The ROCCLA board and activity chairs have been patiently waiting and planning for when we could resume our activities again. The good news is that we can hold happy hours in the Fleur de Lis room for the next few months, as well as the Royal Bookies and Board meetings, because we can all spread out in the larger room. Unfortunately, we will not be able to start up our games groups just yet. As I write this, the locker rooms are still closed, and sharing games pieces in a socially distanced and sanitized way is just not possible yet. So, no Mah Jongg, Bridge, Mexican Train, or Bunko for a little while longer. However, it is possible to play online with some of these games - check with the activity leaders for which websites they are using. ROCCLA was able to host a June Happy Hour in the Club House. Whoopee! We have waited a long time to get together with our Gal Pals again. I hope you were able to join us to enjoy some ‘Summer Sips’ and light bites. For the summer months, we have to limit the number of ladies attending happy hours. In order to ensure we stay within our number limit, we ask all members to RSVP by signing up through the Club Calendar on the website, or by contacting the Concierge. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept Walk-Ins, so please sign up in advance. ROCCLA is represented every year at the Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade. We are also planning to reschedule our ’Wine and Unwind Yoga’ event, and if it is popular, then ‘Pilates and Prosecco’ might be next... And fingers crossed for a ‘Cooking with Chef ’ event in late summer or Fall. In September, once the summer heat cools down, we will be heading outside for our ever popular Cocktails and Croquet event, which we had to cancel in April. Being outdoors is always fun, and by September the weather should be perfect. As always, we are open to suggestions for activities. It may seem like a slow start back but we hope to resume normal activities in the not too distant future. In the meantime, stay healthy, keep in touch with your friends, and keep an eye on the Club calendar for some fun happenings. Julie Gray ROCCLA President
Ladies Association Fourth of July Parade Floats
Club Contacts
May & June 2020 Steve & Terri Trickel Jonathan & Sarah Bellock Todd & Lori Edwards Steven & Jessica O'Connor Carter & Ginny Wiley Logan Moro David Imonitie Akira Kunimatsu Thomas & Josefa Holland Christopher Stegman & Tabitha Rison John & Diane Merrill Troy Sharpe Don & Jana Sweitzer Chinh Bui & Thuy Nguyen John & Vicki Gambrell Socrates & Jan Aramburu Edwin & Andrea Haynes Dr. & Mrs. Chris Cokley Xavier & Christina Ibarrola
Message From Membership Dear Members, The world is a different place, but one thing remains the same; our Members are the heart of Royal Oaks Country Club. As we cautiously approach this new normal, we want to be sure you are successful when encouraging your friends, family, and colleagues to experience this private club community with you. What better time than now to offer a safe, social, and active lifestyle that we have here at Royal Oaks. I have included some frequently asked questions below for a quick refresh. We are asking you to promote the benefits of membership to your networks. We are in this together.
Membership Director Meghan Smith msmith@royaloakscc.com
Who is Responsible for Recruiting New Members? As owners of the Club, with a stake in our future success, it is up to you to attract new members. We will provide the luxury services and award-winning professionals; you create the culture. What is “The Deal?” – Preview Program Highlights • New Members commit to 12 months of dues which defers their initiation fee for one year. • Initiation payments made in the first 60 days of their year commitment will receive dues reducing credits and a discount on the initiation fee amount. – you, as the inviting members, receive the same dues reducing credits of up to $2400! • Current Members can also upgrade through this preview program. When is the Membership Drive? The current preview program will run through November 2020, however, the “by invitation” piece of our onboarding process is continuous. Where Should I be Promoting the Membership? Everywhere! The easiest way to promote Royal Oaks Country Club is to participate in Club activities. Sharing your stories of your Club experiences is the best way to show them what they are missing out on. Tagging the Club in your Instagram or Facebook pages is a great place to start. Know someone who is interested in Golf or Tennis but still learning? We offer the Pros and programs to get them where they want to be. How Can I Help? Reach out to the Membership Office to schedule a tour and a “Day of Discovery,” for your prospective members to experience the Club based on their interests. A private country club membership like ours is an even greater benefit now than ever before. We look forward to sharing many more memories as we continue to exceed your expectations. Thank you, Meghan Smith Membership Director
Communications Update Hello Members, It has been great seeing the Club gradually come back to life over the past couple of weeks. Our team has gotten creative in finding ways to make sure you can gather and have fun while staying safe and healthy!
Communications Manager Sylvia Morgese smorgese@royaloakscc.com
Like, Follow & Share!
In our current climate, it is increasingly important to make sure you are receiving emails and notifications so you don't miss a thing. We've got dining and to-go specials changing every week, and events are announced with less notice and filling up quickly with new capacity limits. Be sure to follow ROCC on social media and check the weekly update regularly to stay in the know! I am always open to feedback about how information is being communicated to the Membership, so please let me know if you feel there are ways we can improve. I look forward to seeing your summertime posts and pictures - remember to tag @royaloakshtx and use the hashtag #ROCCTogether so we can share! Sylvia Morgese Communications Manager
w e wa n t t o hear from you! We care about our Members and want to acknowledge your successes and celebrations. Help us put the spotlight on you and your fellow Members. Email smorgese@royaloakscc.com with photos and descriptions to have them featured in a future issue! Examples include: graduations, engagements, accolades or recognitions, philanthropy, newborns, and any other big announcement. We look forward to seeing your submissions!
@ R o ya l Oa k s h t x
Social Life Dear Members,
Catering and Events Director Allyson Brown abrown@royaloakscc.com
I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. We are excited to have many of you back at the Club, and to be hosting events again! For both private events and Club-hosted events, we are taking every precaution necessary to make sure we are keeping our members, guests, and employees safe. Even though your private event may look a bit different now, we are thinking outside the box to ensure your celebration is just as exciting and memorable. You may have noticed that we have been trying new things when it comes to our Club events in an effort to keep everyone safe and with social distancing. We hope you have enjoyed these events and we will continue these throughout the year.
For those that aren’t comfortable coming to the Club yet, or being in large group settings, we can assist you with your virtual events too. We can offer fun kid’s activities such as having a princess host a story time, bingo, martial arts demo/class, magic show, science experiments, and many more – all virtual! We have virtual adult activities as well, such as a wine education and tasting class, floral design class, cooking class, painting party, and several others. The virtual party entertainment is a whole new world and there are so many things available now! Call me to book your party at the Club or entertainment for your virtual event. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! Allyson Brown Catering & Events Director
f o h t r u o F l Annua e d a r a P y l u J
Clubhouse Updates We know how challenging the last few months have been, as just about every facet of our lives has been affected in some way by the Coronavirus. I have to start out by saying a most sincere THANK YOU to all of our Members from all of the service staff here at Royal Oaks! The support of the members throughout the past few months has truly meant the world to the staff here and has made coming to work each day at the Club feel like a blessing for all of us. Clubhouse Manager Bill Ceriello abrown@royaloakscc.com
From the kind words and gratitude of all those who came to pick up our various takeout meals during March and April, to the warm receptions and big smiles from members as the Club dining areas reopened, it has been such a pleasure for all of us to serve you throughout the past few months and provide a bit of light in such tough times. Although the staff are wearing masks as they serve you, be sure to know that they are all smiling underneath and are so happy to see so our Members come back to dine at the Club!
As the Club strategically opens more of our amenities throughout the upcoming weeks and months, the management team will continue to stress the importance of making reservations in all areas. New operating standards have been put in place for all dining areas in order to provide the most safe and comfortable dining experience possible for all Members. Making reservations enables the staff to best prepare your dining area to be sanitized and allows us to adjust staffing to optimal levels to accommodate Members. The process of requiring reservations for dining has greatly helped the staff to deliver the most hospitable service in the safest manner, and we look forward to continuing this trend for the foreseeable future. Whether it’s bringing the family out for Sunday afternoon brunch in the Bistro or grabbing a few cold drinks at the Palm Grille as you finish your round of golf or game of tennis, please give the Club a call to make a reservation to enable the service team do what they do best: serve you and your guests well and keep everybody safe!
Bill Ceriello Clubhouse Manager
Instructions:
Add 3 blackberries, 3 raspberries, 8 mint leaves, sugar, & half of a fresh squeezed lime into a shaker and muddle (Don’t have a muddler? Use a wooden cooking spoon). Add 2 ounces of rum and give the shaker a nice swirl to combine ingredients further. Fill a glass to the brim with ice and STRAIN mixture over ice. It is important to strain - because this cocktail requires so many fresh ingredients, it’s suggested to remove as much fruit pulp to enjoy this cocktail to full potential. Top with club soda and enjoy!
Dining News Dear Members, I hope you and your families have stayed safe during these interesting times. We have all been through a lot of changes while trying to adapt to a new normal and I’m sure you are looking forward to getting back to your “old normal” as much as I am. The culinary team is extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve you without any interruptions throughout the pandemic. Our dedication to staying strong and practicing safety, sanitation, and social distancing has been our driving force in continuing to serve you.
Executive Chef Eva Barrios, CEC ebarrios@royaloakscc.com
For the past 3 months, we have been constantly adapting and revising our offerings in order to serve you in the best way possible. One of the first things the culinary team created was family to-go packages for members to pick up or have delivered. We have been consistently adjusting the menus to provide an interesting variety of options as well as adding daily and/or weekly specials. Your continued support has been fueling our dedication and kept us going, and for that we thank you very much! I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you already, and I look forward to getting to know all of you as you come back and dine with us at the Club. I want to leave you with a recipe for the Orange Crème Brulee we have on our current menu. I love the flavor combination because it reminds me of the Dreamsicle pops I used to enjoy when I was a kid. Try it out and next time you are at the club, let me know how you liked it! Eva Barrios Executive Chef
Have You Checked Out The Bistro Summer Menu Yet? Pictured is The Classic Black Angus Burger and Pan Seared Striped Bass.
Chef Eva has been on the front line getting to know Members and guests at recent events!
Orange Creme Brulee Ingredients (serves 4-6) 8 ounces half and half 8 ounces heavy whipping cream ½ cup of sugar 1 vanilla bean, cut in half, and scraped
(put in both vanilla bean and the vanilla scraped from it)
6 egg yolks 1 orange – juice and zest – no seeds
Procedure
• In a 1.5 qt sauce pan, add heavy cream, half & half, and vanilla bean at low heat until it slightly simmer. • In a separate bowl add the yolks and sugar and whisk until pale yellow. • When heavy cream mixture is simmering, get about 2 cups of the hot simmering milk mixture carefully, and add slowly to the egg mixture to temper the eggs (tempering eggs is simply a process of slowly warming the eggs before introducing them to your recipe so they mix smoothly). • When finished, slowly add the egg mixture into the cream while whisking. Add the orange juice and zest. • Pour crème brulee mixture into the desired ramekins. Place 4 - 6 ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan. Pour enough water into the pan to come half way up the sides of the ramekins. • Bake at 325F oven and bake until the crème brulee is set, but still trembling in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. • Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan carefully, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. At the time of serving: Dust sugar over the creme brulee. Make sure is evenly distributed. Using a torch, melt the sugar until it turns light to medium golden brown. Garnish with fresh orange slices and/or fresh berries. Enjoy!
Indoor Golf Exercises Fitness Director, Pam Owens | powens@royaloakscc.com
Create Better Separation for Downswing Despite practicing and playing frequently, you still might fall victim to the dreaded “power leak” and thus suffer from a loss of distance. Many golfers wonder where and how this power leak happens. The reasons can be varied, but a very common power leak comes from a lack of separation in the lower and upper body. When the lower and upper body move toward the target together – like a block of wood – the whipping power or sequencing needed to build speed to the clubhead is lost. The ideal sequence requires independent control or separation in the lower and upper spine. The downswing sequence begins when your pelvis turns toward the target, then tilts under for the braking of the hips, followed quickly by the torso rotating to the impact position. This precise spinal sequence is crucial to build speed from the lower body to the upper body to then carry speed through to the clubhead. If you lose the ability to control your upper and lower body separation, then you lose the ability to transfer energy and speed through to the club head. Check out the exercises in my latest video with Texas Golf Association located on the ROCC website. You might not even realize you have lost separation until you try these motions! Pam Owens Fitness Director
Check Out Pam's Video on the ROCC Website!
Once Logged in, Access This and Other Videos Through 'Programs & Resources' in the Fitness & Spa Dropdown Menu.
Member Spotlight: Tripp Lawless Tripp Lawless is a very hard working boy who continuously pushes his physical limits. During training sessions with David Arrighi, Tripp’s goal is to accomplish more than what’s asked of him. David says, “Tripp really tries hard to learn more about the exercises asking, ‘Why are we doing this?’ ‘And what is this exercise for?’ His desire to learn more from his training causes me to reflect as his trainer.” We are confident Tripp will accomplish great things in his next football season!
Small Group Training is Back! Group TRX Classes meet with trainers Angie Zoboroski and Cathy Staerker. Be sure to stop by or call the Sports Club for more information on how to participate!
Summer Youth Programs
Summer Camp Fishing
Teen Pickleball
Summertime on the Course Head Golf Professional, James D. Brown | jbrown@royaloakscc.com
2020 Winter Operation 36 Program Registration Opens December 1,It2019. has been fantastic seeing the juniors out for the I hope everyone has continued to stay safe and healthy during these unique times. As we have seen with the temperatures in June, Summer is here, and we hope you all are staying out of the heat as much as possible. There is no doubt that this has not been a typical start to the Golf Season at Royal Oaks, but we want to continue to say thank you to all the Members for their continued support and we are glad to see so many of you playing more golf!
Please remember, it is that time of year for course maintenance during the these, warm/hot months to perform verticutting, aerification and other practices to the golf course. The course will be closed Tuesday, July 21st and re-open on Thursday, July 30th. The range will be closed Tuesday, July 21st and re-open at 8:00am on Friday, July 24th.
Camps in June and look forward to seeing more in July. Robert Scott and staff have planned fun filled events for all ages and abilities! If you have not signed up, please reach out to Robert and see if there are any open spots. Remember the next semester of Operation 36 is right around the corner so sign up soon. Please remember to visit the website for upcoming events around the Club and upcoming MGA and WGA tournaments - schedules are subject to change! We hope that everyone is having a wonderful Summer and please be safe if you and your family will be traveling. Fairways and Greens,
James D. Brown PGA, Head Golf Professional
Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Events! MGA
August 29: MGA Event - Format TBD September 11: Match Play Flight Qualifier September 12-13: Match Play Championship October 2-3: Fleur de Lis Cup (Member/Member) October 17-18: Stroke Play Championship October 24-25: Senior Stroke Play Championship
WGA
September 9: Kick-Off Scramble September 15-16: Stroke Play Championship October 21: Member-Member Events November 18: Turkey Shoot Decmeber 2: Holiday Luncheon
COME MEET FELLOW ROCC GOLFERS
WEDNESDAY AFTER WORK SOCIAL SCRAMBLE JUL Y 15 , 2 0 2 0 A T 6 PM M G A S P ON S O R E D This event is intended for MGA Members and those new to the Club looking to find out more about joining the MGA.
September 13: Junior Club Championship October 11: Husband/Wife Club ChampionshipTEAMS WILL BE RANDOMLY
SELECTED BY THE PRO SHOP
CART FEES AND GREEN FEES WILL BE CHARGED WHERE APPLICABLE
Seasonal Maintenance
Golf Course Superintendent, Cody Alexander | calexander@royaloakscc.com The summertime heat has arrived again this year as to be expected, although not necessarily wanted. The cooler days of May are what many would likely prefer throughout the year, so we will just have to look forward to those days next year. In the meantime, the summer heat has really created a change in our regular daily maintenance plans of the golf course. We are now mowing all turf areas on a much more regular schedule, and as you can tell from earlier in the month, our aerification practices have become much more aggressive. The high temperatures experienced in the early summer allow us to implement a much more aggressive cultural practice plan with a quicker recovery period than might be experienced earlier in the year. We completed our second aerification of the year the second week of June, and as I write this 8 days later, we are already seeing great recovery. During this time we were able to core aerate greens, tees and fairways. We also used a “de-thatching” rake on the fairways and implemented the DryJect system on the greens to inject “Profile” into the greens mix. Profile is a porous ceramic particle that has multiple benefits for the greens mix including increasing the waterand nutrient-holding capacity of the soil, increasing oxygen at the roots and reducing compaction of the soil. All of these practices are highly disruptive to the immediate playability of the course but due to favorable weather conditions (heat) the course recovers exceptionally well. It is important to note that all of these practices are necessary for the long term health of the course and should never be overlooked. Be sure to mark your calendar for our final aerification of the year. The course will be closed July 20-30. We will be doing all of same cultural practices as were completed in June with the addition of a deep core aeration of the greens and fairways. We are continually looking for ways to improve the overall landscaping around the club and the last couple of months have been no exception. The summer annuals were installed all around the club during the month of May and are really showing their beauty. In addition to annuals we are replacing plant material in beds around the course that are in need of a little refresher. Watch these areas throughout the summer as they will continue to fill out and mature. We in Golf Course Maintenance look forward to seeing you out here during the sweltering heat of summer and are always here working to provide you with the best conditions possible for your next round of golf. Cody Alexander Golf Course Superintendent
Congratulations to Tom Luby and Chris Mulgrew for winning their finals match to earn the title of the Champions of the 2020 MGA Better Ball Match Play!
e m i t r e m m Su at ROCC We've been keeping our schedule full with themed Bingo, movie nights, food and drink specials, drive-up events, and more!
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
@RoyalOaksHTX