November & December 2019
P le n t y o f O ppo r t uni t i e s t o C e l e b r a t e W i t h u s T h i s Ho l i day S eas on!
Hello Fellow Members!!! It’s been an interesting couple of months of weather, ranging from brutal heat, torrential rains, and finally much cooler sunny skies. These typical Houston extremes are often a great burden on our staff, and I want to commend them for all the hard work they did to get our golf course and facilities back in quality condition. After the heavy rains in September, it was awesome to witness the contribution from all the different departments getting our Club ready to showcase during the men’s and women’s member guest events. Membership has seen a slight upward tick the last couple of months, and we had a solid closing to the “Discover Royal Oaks” promotion that ended mid-September. The Membership Development Committee and Membership staff were well prepared for the conclusion of this program, and immediately rolled out a new plan which Meghan Smith, Membership Director, reviews in detail in her article in this issue. The Committee is reviewing additional marketing ideas to better promote our Club in the “Greater Houston Area”. However, the real driver of selling Memberships remains with us, the Members, and we must continue actively bringing our friends, family, and colleagues to The Club for us to have real success. The Long-Range Planning Committee has recently had very productive meetings. As discussed previously, the plan will be shared in its entirety with the membership once it is in final form. In addition, there will be a town hall meeting to discuss the state of the Club and give members the opportunity to ask questions prior to sending the plan out for a vote. It’s important to remain positive and constructive during such an important time for our Club. I can assure you that the Committee and the Board is committed to a plan that’s in the best interest of the Club and its Membership. We are developing a multi-phased plan that will be fiscally responsible to our current membership and continue to keep us relevant in the future while enhancing our membership experience. Please remember that the final plan presented will require a positive vote by the membership before implementation. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Member Holiday Party at 7 pm on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Don’t forget to bring a toy to donate to Star of Hope Foundation in lieu of an event fee. Sincerely, Luke Drury, Club President Royal Oaks Country Club
Royal Oaks Country Club
Ladies Association It’s the start of that crazy busy time of year when the calendar pages keep turning, seemingly by themselves. Too many things to do, so little time. Don’t stress, your Ladies Association hasn’t added anything different this season. We keep to our regularly scheduled recurring events and those should already be on your calendar!
As usual, the “Ladies Only” Happy Hour will be in the Bistro Bar. Please join us, it’s the perfect time to catch up with your friends and meet some of our newest members. By the way, we’ve added 37 new members this year. Way to go ladies!!!
Two exceptions: since Thanksgiving and Christmas fall at the end of the month, we did move our November and December Networking Happy Hour a week early to not conflict with your holiday and family time. Mark your calendar to attend, you wouldn’t want to miss!
The Ladies Association hosts regularly scheduled monthly games and activities. To find out more about our group or to get details on our upcoming special events, check the Ladies Association page on the ROCC website. Or just ask any ROCCLA Board Member or Committee Chair.
Wednesday, November 20th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm is our Fall Fest Happy Hour.
We look forward to having you join us. Warm wishes to you and yours this Holiday season.
Wednesday, December 18th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm is our Holiday Happy Hour – wear your Holiday festive attire. Who knows, you may win a prize!
The Ladies in our Association ROCC!
JOIN US THIS MONTH FOR OUR SPECIAL
we had so much fun at our sep t emb e r happ y hour wit h Ke ndra S c ot t
Ladies Association Holiday Happy Hour Wear your favorite holiday sweater! (optional, but encouraged)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019 | 5 P.M. BISTRO LOUNGE
be sure to j oin us i n n ovember an d decemb er! RSVP ONLINE OR BY CALLING CONCIERGE AT 281.899.3290
Dear Royal Oaks Members,
Membership Director Meghan Smith msmith@royaloakscc.com
Preview Program Talking Points: • We are still offering a preview program to new members. This is a one year commitment of being a dues-paying member with the opportunity to defer the initiation payment. • If the new member decides to join in the first 60 days of the 12 month commitment, they receive a reduced initiation fee and dues - reducing credits for the following 24 months of membership. • YOU, as the referring member, will also receive the dues reducing credits for 24 months if they decide to convert in that first 60 days of their preview. • There is a reduction in the initiation if paid in full and the option to finance the initiation fee for the full amount.
Are the holidays really already upon us?! What a year it’s been… I hope that you all have enjoyed getting to know our new members and welcoming them into this great community. We have had 100+ new members join since the Discover Royal Oaks Preview program began in August 2018. As we transition to another program, it is imperative that you understand how it works so you can share the incentives with your friends, family & co-workers. We have decided to keep a similar structure to the original program but with a slight reduction in the incentives. After all, we can’t offer a better offer than the last one as we continue to grow. I have really enjoyed meeting all your prospective members. Please remember that I am here to assist in any way I can. I would be happy to come to your office or a social group to do a presentation! If you would like to host a prospect for golf, we can make those arrangements and give them a tour as well. Let’s get creative and do all we can to make sure your contacts see the full value of a membership at Royal Oaks Country Club. Keep an eye out for the New Member Receptions, After-Work Golf Socials, and our new Lunch & Play Outings with our Head Golf Pro kicking off in November. Let us know what else you would like to see to get the most out of your membership. We want everyone in the family enjoying the benefits! I look forward to seeing you at the club throughout the holiday season. The Food and Beverage team has so many great things in store. You don’t want to miss out! (Don't forget to brag to your friends…) Cheers to our 20th year! Meghan Smith Membership Director
T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 4
dinner to follow at the friends table : $29 PER PERSON
New Member Receptions are a great way to mingle with other new Members and meet our Ambassadors!
September & October Mark & Kindel Burton Robert & Sarah Hooper David & Tammy Brown Jordan & Elaine Novelli Edmundo & Marcela Del Valle Andrew & Melissa Coronado Eugene & Colleen Williams Dan & Mary Ann McDonald Francois & Nathalie Mangeot James Ludwick & Kyoko Yamaji
Brian & Heather Attaway Jeff Carnrite & Joselyn Tego Richard Caycedo & Xiomara Alzate David & Nicole Pyle Kimya Hicks Richard Glover & Lily Lee Judge Paul Ferguson Atul & Usha Dhingra Greg Pohtilla John Allcorn, Jr.
We've Got Your HolidaysCovered! Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Please join us for our annual Thanksgiving Day Brunch on Thursday, November 28th. Bring in your whole family, and let us do all the work! Enjoy a buffet filled with savory turkey and all the customary trimmings. It's always a great day, and we would love to see you there. Executive Chef Jae Mackenzie jmackenzie@royaloakscc.com
To Brine or Not to Brine…that is the question. Recently, I have been asked by several of our members why our turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas are so moist and delicious. So I have decided to give y’all an early Christmas gift by sharing the recipe and providing an explanation.
Brining is a liquid mixture consisting of water, salt, sugar and spices. The process is similar to marinating. It originated as a great way for early settlers to pickle and preserve their food so it wouldn’t spoil quickly. Brining your meat stops it from drying out, keeping it moist throughout the cooking process. It may add more time to preparation, but you will see that it’s totally worth it! I hope you enjoy this recipe and the process as much as I do. Happy Eats, Jae Mackenzie Executive Chef
Director of Catering & Events Allyson Brown abrown@royaloakscc.com If you haven’t yet tried our signature turkeys, you are missing out! Chef Jae and his team take great pride in serving some of the best turkey you 've ever had.
Thanksgiving To-Go Menu Valet pick up times: Wednesday, November 27th
Select one:
MENU
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cajun Deep Fried Tom Turkey
Thursday, November 28th
Herb Roasted Tom Turkey
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
or
Accompaniments: Mashed Potatoes Giblet Gravy Sweet Potatoes Cornbread Stuffing Haricot Verts and Baby Carrots Bistro House Salad with Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette Traditional Dinner Rolls
Whether you prefer Cajun deep-fried or herb-roasted, our culinary experts spend several days prepping these turkeys and then cook them to perfection. Brining them for 48 hours makes them juicy and delicious! Make reservations for Thanksgiving Brunch, or place your catering pick -up order and find out what they are all about. If you are hosting a Christmas gathering at home this year, or bringing a dish to a party, we have the perfect holiday platters for purchase. Classics such as caviar pie, roasted beef tenderloin, and shrimp cocktail are just a few of the dishes available. We have many different offerings, so call us to find out more or place an order today!
Cranberry-Orange Sauce
To Place your order: Call Lauren at 281-899-3290
orders must be placed by Saturday, November 23
Sweet Treats Bourbon Pecan Pie Pumpkin Pie Two Packages Available Package #1 - Serves 4-6 people for $150 Package #2 - Serves 8-10 people for $275 (Prices do not include sales tax) *A la Carte items available on request
Cancellations after November 25th will be charged in full.
Allyson Brown Catering & Events Director
Wine& Beverage I am excited to announce that we will be hosting a Ramey Wine Dinner on Saturday, November 23rd, 2019. Our Sous Chef, Todd Patterson, will be showcasing his culinary expertise by creating a wonderful fourcourse dinner to pair alongside the wine selections of Ramey Wine Cellars. I personally feel that this is one of the top wineries out of Napa and Sonoma. Ramey produces a variety of wines with a level of finesse and balance rivaling the best wineries out of the two valleys.
Wine & Beverage Manager Eric Blokkum eblokkum@royaloakscc.com
Ramey Wine Cellars was founded in 1996 by David Ramey and his wife, Carla. After sixteen years making wine in Sonoma County, and firmly establishing Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill wineries in the marketplace, David crossed the Mayacamas to spend six years in the Napa Valley–first as winemaker for Dominus Estate and project manager for the construction of their new winery; then helping Leslie Rudd reshape the Girard Winery into Rudd Oakville. Stay tuned for more details on this and other dining events this holiday season. Come by The Bistro to try our fall and winter cocktails or pair your meal with one of our featured wines. Cheers! Eric Blokkum Wine & Beverage Manager
Featured Fall Cocktail:
Holiday Season at the Clubhouse Everybody knows how the hustle & bustle of the holiday season can be! Here at Royal Oaks, we want to treat you and your family to a relaxing, enjoyable time with the great events we have coming up! First up is our Harvest Dinner November 15th and 16th - in the Bistro on Friday and at the Palm Grille on Saturday. Chef and his team will be offering some warm, savory, fall-themed dishes paired with the Bistro’s featured cocktail menu. Clubhouse Manager Bill Ceriello bceriello@royaloakscc.com
While Thanksgiving Brunch is a favorite tradition for our members, don’t forget to bring your family out for Tuesday Bistro Bites and Wine Down Wednesday before celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday! The Tuesday Bistro Bites menu features two of our most popular light bite plates: The Fried Green Tomato Angus Sliders and the New Zealand Lamb Lollichops. We’re sure your family would love to try these delicious dishes!
December is always a great month around the Club, with the festive decorations and a great holiday feel when you step foot in the door. We are happy the announce the return of our Family Christmas Dinner on Saturday, December 21st to help you and your loved ones experience the holidays at the Clubhouse. Last year’s Inaugural Family Christmas Dinner was a smash hit, so we are excited to bring it back to our Members again! The menu features classic holiday dishes served family-style in a “pass the potatoes” manner. It’s like being gathered around Grandma’s dinner table, except we do all the cooking and cleaning! We can’t wait to celebrate with you and your loved ones this season. See you at the Bistro! Bill Ceriello Clubhouse Manager
Join us at Bistro Bites on Tuesday, December 11 for the release of our Holiday Cocktail Menu!
Ready for Cool Weather
Golf Course Superintendent, Cody Alexander | calexander@royaloakscc.com The fall season has finally arrived and it is a very welcome sight to us on the golf course! The turf is slowing down in preparation for the cooler months ahead, and the maintenance staff is beginning to reallocate resources away from the daily grind of routine summer mowing. The course is entering the cool season in incredible shape and more than ready for the winter ahead. We have again been preparing a list of targeted projects around the course that will both enhance the playing experience and keep the maturing nature of the golf course in check. Many of these “projects� are small in nature and will have minimal impact on your round! Part of this project list includes the continued pruning of trees around the golf course. As the trees mature, they become much denser and cause significant shade below resulting in turf loss. We will be thinning out the canopies and raising the lower branches to allow our equipment to pass underneath more easily.
The process is very time consuming and will likely continue to some extent for years to come, but will be well worth the effort in the long run. This winter, we will focus on improving drainage in various ways around the course. Many of the drain basins have formed a layer of silt around them altering the surrounding grade. Softening this buildup will allow golf carts and maintenance equipment to pass over them more easily. We will be inspecting the basins for functionality during this process and will repair as needed. This will be a busy winter season knocking off as many of these projects as we can before the spring mowing routine begins. I look forward to seeing you out there. Feel free to ask about our progress any time! Enjoy your round! Cody Alexander Golf Course Superintendent
How Did You Play in 2019? Director of Instruction, Derek Hooper | dhooper@royaloakscc.com The end of the 2019 season is just around the corner. As I look back on the year, I want to acknowledge all the coaches, adults, parents, and junior golfers who have become a part of our Operation 36 Community. When we launched this program a few years ago, I had no idea that it would grow to become the cornerstone of our coaching programs! To see players taking part in the weekly classes, practicing on the range and course between classes, and competing in the Saturday afternoon matches is just wonderful. There are many afternoons when I teach on the range and everyone on the tee line is a member of our Operation 36 Community. That is testament to the quality of the program, but also to the effort the entire coaching team has put in to working with our players each and every week.
Sometimes I have players ask if this program is right for them, as they feel their skills are beyond these classes. The reality is that everyone can improve their scoring by learning the skills delivered through Operation 36. We have had players with an index as low as scratch, as well as several single figure index players join us. All participants see their scoring improve due to the added attention to their short game and course management skills. With the new year just around the corner, I am sure you are reflecting on your golf experience during 2019. I hope you are looking back fondly as you remember rounds of personal best scores with good company on special golf courses. If you would like a way to continue that improvement or make a change to your current skills in a fun and inviting environment, then I hope you will consider becoming part of our Operation 36 Community in 2020! Derek Hooper Director of Instruction
2020 Winter Operation 36 Program Registration Opens December 1, 2019. Classes for Juniors, Ladies and Men begin at the end of January. Winter 2020 will mark the start of our third year of this program, and it has been extremely well supported. Over 700 players and counting! Dates, pricing, and program packages will be emailed to the membership and available on the ROCC website by the end of November.
Holiday Golf Happenings Head Golf Professional, James D. Brown | jbrown@royaloakscc.com With the 2019 Tournament Season almost complete, we want to thank all Members for their continued support and participation. Plan accordingly for another year full of fun events as we finalize dates for the 2020 Calendar. It’s hard to believe that the Holiday Season is almost here and that 2019 is quickly coming to and end. It is that time of year that we all enjoy traveling and visiting family, so remember to invite your guests out to the Club for a round of golf or to participate in some of the holiday activities. All upcoming activities at the Club can be found on the website calendar. Looking for the perfect club(s) for the golfers in the family? Come to the multi-vendor Demo Day on Saturday, November 9th from 11am – 3pm. Titleist, Ping, PXG, Callaway, Cleveland/Srixon/XXIO, and Taylor Made are all scheduled to be here! This is a great time to hit the newest equipment and place orders for that special gift to arrive in time for Christmas. Also, mark your calendar for the Golf Shop Balloon Sale on Saturday, December 7th. Come early, get the perfect gift, pop a balloon for major savings! Operation 36 is in full swing and halfway through another session. Please plan early for the 2020 Operation 36 schedule as classes fill-up quickly. Don’t let your golf game go into hibernation during the cooler months - keep your game in top shape! Contact the Instructional Staff to help you improve, find more fairways, hit more greens, and make more putts - book your lesson today! Please remember to visit the website for the upcoming events and MGA and WGA tournaments.
Fairways and Greens, James D. Brown PGA, Head Golf Professional
MGA and WGA Schedule November and December 2019
November 2nd & 3rd: MGAFleur de Lis Cup November 7th: Kick-Off Scramble November 9th: Fall Demo Day November 10th: Husband/Wife Championship November 13th: WGA RoyalTee November 15th: Lunch and Play with the Pros November 20th: WGA Turkey Shoot December 4th: WGA Holiday Luncheon December 7th: Holiday Balloon Sale December 14th: MGA Superintendants Revenge
Golf Highlights
Some of our Junior Golfers spent a day with Roger Sloan at the Houston Open
The New Tempo Lithium Cart Fleet just arrived with a 30-day trial to the new Shark Experience
Members got creative for the Caddyshack themed Nine, Wine, and Dine
The MGA-sponsored Social Scrambles and Game Nights have had a great turn out
We had great weather for the WGA Bordeaux Cup. Congratulations to our winners, The Champagne Team!
Sports Club News Fitness Director, Pam Owens | powens@royaloakscc.com
Protein Ball Recipe Satisfy your Sweet Tooth in a Healthy Way this Holiday Season! 1 Cup Peanut Butter 10 Pitted Dates 1 cup Vanilla Protein 1 Tbsp Ground Chia Seeds 1 Tbsp Ground Flax Seeds 1-3 Tbsp Honey Chop dates in a food processor until very small. Add peanut butter, protein, chia seeds and flax seeds, then honey until consistency allows for rolling into balls. Store in the fridge!
Social Play
Tennis Director, Peter Farrell | pfarrell@royaloakscc.com
Sports Club Member Spotlight:
Julie Gray
Lawn Bowling Flex League Lawn Bowling is low impact and can be competitive or social. Interested in structured play? We are introducing a Member League to run through the rest of the year! Julie Gray is our member spotlight! Julie participates in many of our Sports Club offerings. Pictured here Julie is taking the FREE FOAM ROLL CLINIC with Angie Zoboroski. Throughout the week, you will find Julie participating in Spin classes and Daizy's Friday group exercise classes. Julie is also golfs frequently and can be seen on the tennis court playing in 3 league teams. We love seeing Julie as a regular in the Sports Club!
3-4 games per month | Round Robin Format | Singles Ladder
Pickleball Social Play Mondays and Thursdays, 7 pm: Courts 6 and 7 You can check a paddle out at the Sport Club desk! If you are new to the game or could use some pointers, we run a free clinic on Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30pm. Our staff will be there to help you with strokes, rules, and many handy tips to accelerate your progress! We have paddles, balls, and know-how to help you begin your journey. To join or find out more about these and other programs, contact pfarrell@royaloakscc.com
ff O k ic K l o o h c S to k Bac
d n u o r A e Scen : b u l C e h t t n e v E Fall ! p a c e R
Fall Yappy Hour
Diner en Blanc
Family Hallowe en Bas h
Communications Update Hello Members! I have appreciated your warm welcome over the past few weeks! It has been a pleasure familiarizing myself with the culture and lifestyle here at Royal Oaks.
Communications Manager Sylvia Morgese smorgese@royaloakscc.com
@ R o ya l Oa k s h t x
If there is anything I've discovered in my short tenure, it's that there is ALWAYS something going on at the Club! As the Communications Manager, I consider it my responsibility to keep you informed and help you get the most out of your Membership. You may have noticed the weekly update has a new look. The ROCC weekly update is a blog post published on the website every Tuesday afternoon, followed by an email to all Members with a link to the post. You can also access the weekly update from the home page of the website once you are logged in. Everything you could possibly need to know is in this blog post! If you don't scroll through it, you might fail to see important Club updates or miss out on something that interests you. Additionally, I am initiating a stronger social media presence. This is something I need your help with. Our followers should be seeing ROCC through the lens of our Members! Please tag us (@RoyalOakshtx) on Instagram and Facebook, or send me photos with captions to be featured in a post. I'm so excited for all the seasonal fun coming up - you should be too! Check out the calendar and our 12 Days of ROCC for a guide to holiday events. Save the dates so you can spend the most wonderful time of the year with us! Sylvia Morgese Communications Manager
F o l l o w u s o n I n s ta g r a m a n d Facebook for featur e s, specials, update s and more!
12 Days of ROCC! Tuesday, December 3 Annual Member Holiday Party
tuesday, December 10 Bistro Bites Holiday Sips
Wednesday, December 18 Ladies Association Holiday Happy Hour
Saturday, December 7 Golf Shop Balloon Sale Saturday,
Wednesday, December 4 WGA Holiday Luncheon Friday, December 6 Griglia Di Palma
saturday, December 14 MGA Superintendant Revenge Luncheon
December 7 Breakfast with Santa
Sunday, December 15 Seasonal Sunday Specials at The Palm Grille Friday, December 20 Last Day for Spa Gift Certificate Orders
thursday, December 19 Holiday Dine Around
Saturday, December 21 Family Christmas Dinner
Annual Member
HOLIDAY PARTY Tuesday,
December 3
7:00 - 11:00 pm
FOOD SANTA LIVE
Main Clubhouse
stations appearance music
RSVP Online or call Concierge 281-899-3200 by November 30.
complimentary admission with the donation of a new unwrapped toy for Star of Hope OR $26.00 per person
Tot Stop reservations must be made separately. Please call the Sports Club, 281-899-3250.
adults/members only cocktail attire beverages member sign
THE ROARING 20’S OF 2020
NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday, December 31 | 7:30 PM | Main Clubhouse
Calendar At-A-Glance
Calendar details subject to change. Please refer to the online calendar for details and most updated version.
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
