March & April 2020
S a ve t h e D a t e f o r O u r A nnu a l Ea s t e r Eg g Hu nt : A pr i l 11!
Club Contacts
In This Issue... Ladies Association
March 3: Bayou Bend Trip March 25: Happy Hour with WGA April 22: Wine & Unwind April 29: Croquet Happy Hour
Dining
New Executive Chef Announcement Creative Cocktails
Events
Club Outdoor Private Event Guide March 6: Bubbles, Boots & Bourbon March 28: Crawfish & Croquet March 29: Yappy Hour April 11: Easter Egg Hunt April 12: Easter Brunch April 18: ROCC'n the Range/ Kids Pajama Party
Sports Club
Designing Your Workout Program Aquatics and Swim Team Fresh Faces: New Fitness Staff Tennis & Lawn Sports
Golf
Making the Most of Your Practice Operation 36 Spring Semester March 28: Golf Shop Spring Demo Day April 20 - 22: Spring Aerification
Hello Fellow Members, It’s the time of year to get excited about longer days, which equates to more opportunities for leisure time at the Club with family and friends. It really is great to see so many new faces at the Club, and the enthusiasm and pride they have in being part of the Royal Oaks family. Our membership has been very welcoming, and we have received several emails and communications supporting this movement. If we are to continue moving the needle in the right direction, it’s imperative we all do our part! Though an announcement has already been made, I would like to welcome our new Executive Chef, Eva Barrios, CEC and congratulate the management team and the Executive Chef Search Committee on doing a fantastic job. It was a well-planned process, involving two evenings and two great candidates emulating the presentation of food items for banquets, everyday dining, and exclusive special events. Chef Eva will be joining us soon, and I encourage you all to make the effort to introduce yourselves. It’s very important that we allow Eva the opportunity to succeed and give her a chance to settle in as part of the Royal Oaks family. Speaking of dining, we have seen an increase in usage over the last year, especially in recent months on Thursdays and Fridays. We can’t emphasize enough the importance of making reservations so that the staff can accommodate you and your group. The management and staff want to ensure you always feel you are part of the family when dining at the Club. If we are unable to accommodate your requested time or have to keep you waiting longer than expected, it becomes a lose-lose for everyone involved. However, on a positive note, this is a good problem to have! The increased level of participation at the Club and its dining venues is fantastic. We are nearing the finish line with the final proposal of a Capital Improvement Plan to present to the membership for vote. In the next 30-45 days, we plan on finalizing the project with the Long-Range Planning Committee and following up with a presentation to all committee members that serve the Club. After taking their suggestions into consideration, we will hold a town hall meeting for a final presentation to all members. At this time, the project will go to a vote. Remember, nothing will be done without our membership’s approval. We have continued to stay on track and are fine-tuning the details of the project. Included in this project are golf course improvements like tee boxes and bunkers, a member activity center that not only has a state of the art teaching center, but also contains a new Turn location, an all-sports simulator, casual seating indoors and outdoors, fire pits, and fantastic views across holes nine and eighteen. We envision this facility to be a place all members can use in a casual environment - not just golf members. It will provide the perfect landscape for all ages to spend time with family and friends or make new friends. The final component of the plan is to complete our refund obligations to the Charter members. Please keep in mind, there has been a great amount of sacrifice from everyone involved to help put our Club in the best financial position possible. If the plan is approved and implemented successfully, we will have reduced our refund obligation from 5 million to close to 1 million. It’s critical to remember that all members will be allowed to give feedback on the project, and it must have a positive vote in order to move forward. In closing, it’s necessary to discuss the Club culture at Royal Oaks. I believe we have a great lifestyle at this Club, and it is such a privilege to be a member. It is essential to be good and decent to our fellow members and the staff; we are all here to enjoy the experience Royal Oaks provides. Things are going to happen, and that’s ok, but it’s how we handle adversity that will define us as a Club moving forward. Let's treat others with respect and leave the Club better than we found it! Sincerely, Luke Drury, Club President Royal Oaks Country Club
MembershipUpdate
Membership Director Meghan Smith msmith@royaloakscc.com To Our Wonderful Members, What a great start to the year! It’s been so fun to see everyone returning from the Holidays and enjoying the sunshine. We are geared up for spring and the F&B teams are working well in advance to make sure you get events on your calendars so you don’t miss out. That brings me to club communications… are you receiving them? Do you know where to look? We are getting it out there through emails, printed flyers, and social media, but are here to help if you need any assistance. It would be a shame to miss out on what we have planned. You should be getting updates every Tuesday evening with the upcoming week’s highlights, so if you haven’t seen those, we need to get down to why! If you have a question, come directly to the source. Though some members mean well, its best to get information from department heads to insure accuracy. YOU own this club and have a stake in its success. It's amazing what the power of positivity can do to a club’s culture. I’m excited about all we have in store… I recently began Operation 36 and am excited to be learning the game of golf. I’m certainly not a natural, but with award winning pros like Derek Hooper and Robert Scott, I know they are going to get me there. I've been experencing firsthand what a great tool this program is to get spouses and children engaged. We are so lucky to have Operation 36, and it is absolutely thriving for good reason! When you stop to think about it, Royal Oaks is the best club in town to get better at your game. If you have an interest in anything from Mah Jongg to tennis, fitness to golf, we have the pros and programming to get you where you need to be. In my opinion, that is one of the greatest benefits to membership here, along with a network of warm and welcoming members. It’s a message we can be proud to share and confident in delivering. I encourage you to expand your experience at the club this spring! Try something new. Make time to attend our special events. If we haven’t personally met, please reach out. You’ll see me out on the course on Saturday mornings and I am in the office Tuesday through Saturday, so stop by! See you soon! Meghan Smith Membership Director
Communications Update January & February 2020 Jon & Susan Nelsen Alex & Hillary Kuiper Hiroshi & Miho Nishio Robin and Claire Naughton-Rumbo Julia Collins Ryaan & Francesca Ibtisam Javier Fadul & Maricela Leottau Gary & Jennifer Johnson Jamar Comeaux Jeffrey Stevens & Vera Shaw Paul Rogers Knowlton Eric & Gabriela Ebron
@ R o ya l Oa k s h t x
Communications Manager Sylvia Morgese smorgese@royaloakscc.com
Hello Members, We are getting excited for nice weather around here! There are so many opportunities to take advantage of the outdoors at the Club during Houston's brief and cherished spring season: Crawfish & Croquet, a Yappy Hour, and the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, just to name a few! Check out the flyers throughout this issue and stay tuned to the Weekly Update Eblast every Tuesday for more information. If you ever have trouble accessing the Weekly Update through the Tuesday eblast, the content can be found right on the website. Just click directly on the 'Club Happenings' tab at the top of the screen - no eblast needed! This is part of an ongoing effort to get Members utilizing the website. Keeping the website current and consistent is key to making it a resource instead of a hassle for Members! Another way to stay in the know is by following us on Facebook and Instagram. It certainly has not been hard to create content for these platforms lately, with Members and staff receiving awards from Golf Digest, Operation 36, and the STPGA. Check out our social media pages for details on these recognitions and other Club updates! Sylvia Morgese Communications Manager
Can you believe that spring is upon us already?? The weather’s been more than a little bit crazy, but that hasn’t stopped our Ladies’ Association from getting out and having fun! This is why our membership continues to grow - we love getting together, and we really know how to have a good time! We’ve hosted some fun themed events, like our health-focused Happy Hour in January, and our Valentine's Couples Bunko and Mardi Gras Happy Hour in February. We had a fantastic field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by a lovely luncheon at the Clubhouse. We’ve had our regularly scheduled activities at the Clubhouse as well, like Mah Jongg, Bridge, Mexican Train and Royal Bookies Book Club. March 3 will be the date of our next field trip! The ROCCLA ladies will travel to Bayou Bend for a guided tour. After the tour, we will explore the beautiful azalea gardens and then have lunch together at the Dunlavy.
March 25 will be our famous monthly Happy Hour, this time as a pool party co-hosted with the WGA! We also have a fantastic new event planned for April 22, called Wine and Unwind. Join us in the clubhouse for an hour of relaxing yoga, followed by a sunset wine flight on the terrace! Finally, don't forget to mark April 29 on your calendar for our annual Cocktails and Croquet Happy Hour event! We have many more fun activities planned for 2020, and if you have any suggestions, please contact us! We’d love to hear from you. To find out more about our many groups and activities, check out the ROCC page on the app or website. We also have information on our Facebook page (ROCC Ladies Association), the Next Door app group, or you can call the club concierge. We look forward to seeing you! The Ladies in our Association ROCC
Join us on the Last Wednesday of Every Month for Ladies Happy Hour
Royal Oaks Country Club
Ladies Association
Event Recap We had so much fun at our Trip to the Museum of Fine Arts and Couples Valentine's Bunko
Dining News After an extensive national search producing very impressive top chef candidates, we are very happy to announce Chef Eva Barrios, CEC, as our new Executive Chef. Eva comes to us from Austin Country Club, where she spent the past six years as the Executive Sous Chef.
New Executive Chef Announcement!
Eva has been mentored by multiple Master Chefs while climbing the ranks in her career. She is a current Certified Executive Chef (CEC) by American Culinary Federation (ACF), and has been a member of the ACF since 2004. Eva has won multiple medals and awards in national culinary competitions and has published notable articles for national industry publications. She has served as the Texas Chefs Association’s Certification Chair, and on Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Advisory Committee. During her tenure at Austin Country Club, Eva had a key role in staging and hosting the PGA Tour’s Dell Match Play event from 2016 to present. Chef Eva is moving to Houston and will join the team at Royal Oaks in mid-March. Please help us welcome Eva to the Royal Oaks Family when you see her around the Club.
Eva Barrios, CEC
Focus Tasting
We were honored to have Revelry Vintners Winemaker & Owner, Jared Burns, host a Focus Tasting at the Club! Jared was in town to receive the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Top Red Wine Award. Here he poses with Wine Committee Chair and Co-Chair Ed Lester and Ginny Endecott.
CREA TIVE C OC KT AI LS We are always prepared to serve up classics from behind the Bistro Bar, but have you ever been curious about the featured drink menu or rotating cocktail of the week? Using fresh ingredients and seasonal flavors, our beverage team is constantly innovating to provide a unique and exciting experience. Now on the menu, try refreshing rose water essence in the Rosa Martini, or sip on a Smokey Arroyo, made with mezcal and salted citrus.
The Cocktail of the Week is on Happy Hour every Tuesday During Bistro Bites!
M AK E IT Y O URS ELF: Here is an example of a past Cocktail of the Week that's easy to re-create at home!
TENNESSEE HONEY 1.5 oz Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey Topped with brewed chamomile lavender tea Squeeze of fresh lemon Chamomile flowers and lemon wheel garnish
Social Life Your Guide to Hosting an Outdoor Private Event at the Club! Catering and Events Director Allyson Brown abrown@royaloakscc.com With spring upon us, now is the perfect time to host your next party outdoors. Royal Oaks is blessed to have some of the best scenery in Houston and great spots to have an event while enjoying the view! The Formal Lawn overlooks the greens of #9 and #18, as well as beautiful waterfalls. It is predominantly used for wedding ceremonies, but it can service just about any type of event! It is the perfect venue to host your post-golf lunch, celebratory dinner “under the stars”, or kid’s birthday party complete with pony rides! The Event Lawn is located behind the Sports Club and has ample wide-open green space. The crepe myrtle lined sidewalks create the most beautiful backdrop! We have done many activities for young ones here, such as water slides, nerf gun wars, obstacle courses, kickball, petting zoos, mini ATV riding, fossil digging, and so much more! While we use this area mostly for kid’s parties, we can also host an evening cocktail reception or dinner in this area, which is lovely with our globe string lights hanging above your guests. The Croquet Lawn is what I call our “hidden gem.” It’s tucked away near the tennis courts, providing a great private area for your event. Several companies will host croquet or lawn bowling socials for their employees after a long day of meetings at the Club, which can include scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and refreshing cocktails! What better way to end your day?! We can setup the croquet or lawn bowling course, and provide an instructor for the group or just have it available for free play. The Palm Grille and Pool areas provide another fantastic outdoor space for your event. Not only is it perfect for pool parties, but we can host graduation or birthday celebrations here and incorporate different entertainment and activities. The open patio overlooking the golf course is also available to utilize for a stunning, intimate wine dinner. The versatility of our available spaces is what we love most about them! We have endless entertainment possibilities, as well as action food stations, bar services, setup and décor styles – you name it, we can do it! These areas give us the opportunity to think outside the box and do something new and different for you, and we can’t wait to help you plan your next event here! Allyson Brown Catering & Events Director
Formal Lawn
Think Outside the Ballroom! Bring your Corporate or Social event to one of our spacious lawn areas.
Event Lawn
Croquet Lawn
Palm Grille Patio
The Palm Grille: Not Just for Pool Parties! Enjoy an evening dinner with friends under the twinkle lights.
Beyond Counting Reps Fitness Director, Pam Owens | powens@royaloakscc.com
Designing Your Workout Program Consider these often forgotten but important principles of workouts that get results over time. Is there something missing in YOUR workout program? Workouts should do more than just make you sweat or wear you out! If that is your standard for judging the success of a workout, you are truly missing out on vastly important principles that get sustainable results. Here are 4 important principles to consider: 1. Does your program help you move well? Your movement quality should improve over time. We are sometimes so focused on sets and reps that we lose sight of movement quality. Building a better foundation of movement quality over time will help you walk/run better, move faster, jump higher, lift more weight, and function better in every aspect of life and sports. 2. Are you pain free? We shouldn’t be “toughing it out” through life or workouts. Exercise shouldn’t give you chronic pain, and we don’t want your “pain tolerance” to get better by working out either. We want your training to help you move without pain and to know how to move more confidently. 3. Do difficult things get easier over time? Training should be accomplishing the goal of making something difficult become easier. You should see growth in the following areas; volume of weight moved, improved mindset to a task, improved endurance, or the feeling that tasks are easier in some way. 4. Is there good variation? As in life, there should be a variety of ups and downs in your program. Examine your current program for variety in things like speed, intensity, movement, exertion, time, areas of body, sympathetic/parasympathetic work, patterns, and phases. As with anything, our bodies get efficient with the same approach and then stop changing or getting new results. But don’t confuse variety with inconsistency. Using a well-rounded phased approach over the months to provide consistency and variety within each phase will help you progress to amazing new heights over the years. I offer online options for 14 different tracts of phased workouts that hit the mark on all of these principles. These workouts are self-guided, include male and female tracts and home-based or gym-based versions, and are geared for the following populations/goals: Get Moving, Fat Loss, Muscle Gain, Advanced Body Recomposition, Intermediate Body Recomposition, Acute Lower-Limb Injury, Chronic Lower-Limb Injury, Exercise Induced Lower-Limb Injury, Acute Upper-Limb Injury, Chronic Upper-Limb Injury, Exercise-Induced Upper-Limb Injury, Acute Back Injury, Chronic Back Injury, Exercise-Induced Back Injury. Contact me to get started today! Pam Owens Fitness Director
Group Exercise Spotlight: TRX Classes Total Resistance Exercise (TRX) is a specialized form of suspension training that utilizes equipment developed by former U.S. Navy SEAL, Randy Hetrick. TRX uses body weight exercises to develop strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously. TRX is fully integrated into the training of all four branches of the US military and can be found in the locker rooms of major league baseball teams, national football league teams, UFC fighters and Olympic-level cyclists, swimmers and runners. ROCC has the privilege of hosting group suspension training. By utilizing the suspension straps and a variety of fitness equipment, you can improve your core strength, flexibility and overall fitness level with an incredible group of friends!
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!
Swim Season is Back! Be on the lookout for the full 2020 Aquatics Calendar with specific dates and details! Stingrays Swim Team: Registration Opens Mid-March Meet the Swim Coach: April 30 Aquacize: Classes begin Thursday, April 2 | Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays 9:00 am in the Lap Pool
Another Exciting Season Ahead Head Golf Professional, James D. Brown | jbrown@royaloakscc.com
2020 Winter Operation 36 Program I hope you all have enjoyed this mild Houston winter as make his instruction successful. We are fortunate to Registration Opens December 2019. much as we have. The warmer temperatures have been 1,have him as part of our team and appreciate everything nice to keep our game in shape. With the spring season right around the corner, most of the new equipment has already launched and it is fantastic! Be sure to look at your calendars and schedule a club fitting soon. The Professional Staff is gearing up for a great year! We look forward to seeing everyone out in full force as the weather continues to improve. Mark your calendars for the multi-vendor Demo Day scheduled for Saturday, March 28, from 11am – 3 pm! Titleist, Ping, PXG, Callaway, Mizuno, Cleveland/ Srixon/XXIO and Taylor Made are all scheduled to be here, along with other non-club vendors offering bags, shoes, and more.
We are so proud of Derek Hooper, Director of Instruction, for winning the 2019 Southern Texas PGA Player Development Award! Since starting here at ROCC in 2016, he has grown the Player Development Program to nearly 300 players per year. He also introduced the Operation 36 Program, which has helped hold our student retention rate at around 80%! Derek prioritizes organization of player objectives, a fun learning environment, and player recognition to
Derek Hooper: STPGA 2019 Player Development Award
he has done for the Club and its Members. If you see him around, be sure to congratulate him on this accomplishment and acknowledge his dedication and hard work! Derek and Robert had another very successful Operation 36 program - be on the lookout for the spring session, it is great for all levels, from players wanting to take the game from the ground up and become comfortable with the golf operation, all the way to those wanting to take their game to the next level.
It’s time to bring those clubs and your game out of hibernation! Contact the Instructional Staff to re-grip those clubs, improve your golf game, find more fairways, hit more greens and make more putts. Please remember to visit the website for the upcoming events around the Club and upcoming MGA and WGA tournaments.
James D. Brown PGA, Head Golf Professional
Kristoffer Kuvaas (11 - 14) and ByungHo Lee (15 - 18): Texas Junior Golf Association Player of the Year Award
Preparing for Spring
Golf Course Superintendent, Cody Alexander | calexander@royaloakscc.com Once again, we have had a less than average winter. The spring has been knocking on the door for weeks, and we couldn’t be more ready for it! The lack of excessively cold temperatures this winter has allowed us to keep green fairways and relatively green roughs. Many of the more tropical ornamentals didn’t take a severe hit requiring hard cutbacks. The success of the turf throughout the winter has required us to make some adjustments to the typical spring season. We have been able to continue mowing throughout the year, and the roughs will not be receiving the hard scalp they typically get about now. This will play in favor for the conditions of the golf course for the earlier tournaments. The rough will be at a longer, fuller depth earlier in the year than in previous years. Aside from mowing adjustments, our spring will be very similar to last year. We will again be replacing all of the winter annuals in the coming months to prepare for the hot days of summer. This is an in-depth process that takes plenty of planning. I think you will like what you see again this year! With the warmer temperatures we’ve had, the greens are in a better place than last year to start receiving the cultural practices associated with spring and summer, such as fertilization, topdressing, vertical mowing and aerification. If the temperatures continue to hold out, the first topdressing and vertical mowing is right around the corner. Previously I mentioned aerification - please make a point to mark this on your calendar if you haven’t already! The first aerification of the year is planned for April 20 - April 22. This will again be the smaller tines that were used last year, and should cause minimal disruption to the putting surface for the week following. We have reviewed our notes and made adjustments to the plan to reduce this disruption as much as possible. The remainder of our winter and early spring will be spent working on various small projects around the course before the summer growing season begins. We will continue with pine straw applications, irrigation head leveling, and drainage repair, along with many other small projects. We in Golf Course Maintenance look forward to seeing you out here this spring, and are always here working to provide you with the best conditions possible. Enjoy your round! Cody Alexander Golf Course Superintendent
A Frosty Winter Sunrise on the Golf Course
Make the Most of Your Practice Director of Instruction, Derek Hooper | dhooper@royaloakscc.com
How was your golf game in 2019? Did you enjoy playing and did your scores and index go down? What would you like to accomplish in golf in 2020? Break 90, break 80, maybe even break par? I am always so impressed with the number of members who utilize the driving range. It is wonderful to witness so many players dedicated to getting better and working on their game. Unfortunately, the majority of those on the range will not see the results they desire from all that practice for a few simple reasons: 1. No clear plan of where they are, where they want to go and how to get there – too often players have never completed a skills assessment and taken inventory of their golf game. Instead of an understanding of their current strengths as well as the skills that represent opportunities for improvement, they work on the latest tip from a golf magazine, The Golf Channel or YouTube. Working on the wrong skills will waste valuable practice time. 2. Feel is not real – what we think is happening in our golf swing is rarely what is actually happening. Feel are always influenced by our past, making it an extremely inaccurate way to assess movement during the swing. There is so much amazing technology that can give you accurate information, so why guess and mostly guess wrong? 3. Playing golf swing NOT golf skills – there is so much more to playing golf than the golf swing. The ability to putt, chip, pitch, play bunker shots, play from uneven lies, different stances, course management and manage your emotions on the course are just a few skills that will have a huge effect on how you score on the golf course. You may have awesome range golf swing but without considering the myriad of other skills there is a real possibility your goals will remain out of reach. 4. No balance between long game and short game – approximately 75% of all the shots you play in any given round of golf will be played from inside 100 yards, yet so many players invest the bulk of their practice time on shots longer than 100 yards. Hitting a golf ball long distances is fun, but it is not the only skill required to shoot lower scores. 5. Practice does not translate to the golf course – hitting shots from the same flat lie, to no specific target, with the same club is not an accurate representation of the real game of golf, yet that is how the majority of players practice. Golf is the only sport where we practice in an area different from where we play. Is it any wonder we have trouble transferring our range skills to the golf course? The best players in the world have a support team that helps them assess their game, form a plan, and then implement that plan so that they all but guarantee they are successful. You may not be able to have a large team like a Tour Player, but if you are serious about playing your best golf, then you should have your own Golf Coach to guide you through this process. Derek Hooper Director of Instruction
2019 Player Development Award
Operation 36
Spring registration now open! offering 10 weeks of classes for Juniors, LAdies & men Operation 36 is always extremely well supported, with registrations growing each semester. In 2019, we had over 300 players become a part of our OP36 community! This experience has enabled participants to learn the game, improve their skills, and play on the golf course together. To learn more about how Operation 36 works, please visit the Operation 36 tab on the Royal Oaks Website. The 2020 Spring Semester will begin at the start of April. Those wishing to register can contact Derek Hooper, Director of Instruction, at dhooper@royaloakscc.com. Derek and the Golf Shop team are happy to answer questions you have about the program.
Our Winter 2020 Semester students have been hard at work!
Couples s n o s s e L e Danc
b u l C e h t d n u o r A Scene Chinese New Year
e t a g l i a T l w o B r Supe
Sweethe
art Din ner
Calendar At-A-Glance
Calendar details subject to change. Please refer to the online calendar for details and most updated version.
Calendar At-A-Glance
EASTER BRUNCH SUNDAY, APRIL 12 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM MAIN CLUBHOUSE
Seating Times: 11:00 am 1 1 :30 am 12 :0 0 pm 12 :30 pm 1:00 pm 1 :30 pm 2:00 pm Bring the Whole Family to the Club this Easter Sunday for a Buffet-Style Brunch Sure to Impress - Guests Welcome!
RSVP: Online or Call Concierge (281.899.3200) Attire: Country Club Casual (Denim NOT Permitted) Guests Welcome | Beverages Member Sign 50% Cancellation Fee After April 10 Adults (Ages 13+): $56 Children (Ages 3 - 12): $24 Ages 2 and Under: No Charge
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