June / 2013
On Course Don’t Miss the Annual Meeting! The Woods Hole Golf Club 2013 Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, June 23, at 2:00 p.m. in the Clubhouse. All members are welcome to attend. “We expect to have a good turnout,” said David Barry, President of the WHGC. “It’s great when everyone gets involved as we review the Club’s progress and challenges.” David will conduct the meeting, which will include presentations from several of the Committees at WHGC. A new agenda item this year will be a presentation by Michael Lawrence, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. Members will be asked to vote on a number of issues, including the election of five nominees to the Board of Governors. The five individuals have been nominated by the Nominating Committee, chaired by Richard Kelleher. Four of the nominees are current Board members whose election would be for a second term. They include Kerry Geraghty, Brian Kenney, David Newton and Julia Taylor. The fifth nominee, James Finnegan, would be new to the Board. Additionally, a discussion of dues and a vote to establish 2014 dues is on the agenda. At the time of this printing, members either have received, or will soon receive, the financial statements and annual report. Members eligible to vote will also receive a proxy. Information Meeting To Follow Following adjournment of the Annual Meeting, there will be an Information Meeting to discuss progress in the development of a (continued on page 7
From the General Manager Dear Woods Hole Members: I’ve got a lot to share with you this month! In no special order of importance, I will write about: • The new Cart Fleet that’s on it’s way • Enhancements to the Driving Range and the Halfway House between #7 and #8 • Getting the Clubhouse staff ready for the Season • All-You-Can-Eat Lobster Nights in June • The Administrative Fee • Staff Training and Season Prep New Cart Fleet On or about June 30, the Club will receive a brand new fleet of Club Car two-seaters! They will look just like the sample model that members have been experimenting with for the past month and will have the following special features: • Classic blue body with white canopy • Igloo ice and beverage cooler • Ball/club washer • Club bag protector • Information holder under canopy for personal items • Sand bottle • 48-volt system with six eight-volt batteries The Club Car product was selected because it had several design advantages over other carts. The options were carefully reviewed by staff and then presented to the Green and Golf committees. The final step was a presentation to and approval by the Board of Governors. There’s more good news—there will be no impact to the budget for the next 12 months because of the trade value we received for our old fleet! There are two Club Car design advantages worthy of mentioning: First, the eight-volt battery system is superior to the 12-volt battery system for the simple reason that it has 105 more pounds of battery lead, which translates to a faster, longer lasting and cheaper recharge. (continued on page 4)
2012‑2013 BOARD OF GOVERNORS David Barry President
Spotlight on the Senior-Seniors Make the Game Fun and Interesting
Brian Kenney Vice President & Secretary Margaret Ake Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair Robert Ament William Bearce Kerry Geraghty Building Committee Chair/Capital Projects Chair Steven Haddad Michael Jones David Newton Jonathan O’Herron, Jr. Tennis Committee Chair Judy Robertson Membership Committee Chair John Salvatore Green Committee Chair Julia Taylor House Committee Chair Paul S. Tierney, Jr. (PJ) Communications Committee Chair Hedy Whitney
When you’ve fought with Patton’s Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge, a little cool weather isn’t going to keep you off the golf course. At least, that’s the attitude of Tom Moseley, a member of the Senior-Seniors who, along with a number of other Members, plays at WHGC throughout the winter. “Anything above 45 degrees and a lack of wind is good golf,” he said. Tom’s attitude is not uncommon among the Senior-Seniors, one of WHGC’s most active groups. “If you talk to anyone, it’s one of the best groups of men that most of us have played with,” said Senior-Senior President Paul Kelleher. “There’s no grumping. It’s just a group of guys getting together and enjoying the game of golf.” This is Paul’s second year as president of the group, and he is
working to enhance the experience of the Senior-Seniors. “We all love the game of golf. We’re getting older, and being part of the group gives us a reason for getting out there.” But Paul knows they are not the fastest players on the course. “We’re not as good as we were when we were younger, or thought we were,” he jokes. Over the past year, he has worked to accommodate that. They generally play in teams of three instead of four, and they have loosened the rules so that if one player is taking time, say looking for a ball, another player can step in and play out of order. “You have to make allowances for age, so if you’re ready to play, even if the other guy is supposed to be playing, go ahead and play,” Paul said. “Our motto is, ‘Be ready, and play when ready.’”
130 Quissett Avenue P.O. Box 663, Falmouth, MA 02541 508-540-1899 Dining Reservations Membership Pro Shop & Tennis Reservations Catering Information Lounge and To-Go Orders Dial by Name Directory
Ext 1 Ext 3 Ext 4 Ext 15 Ext 2 Ext 8
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On Course - June 2013 • page 2
The Senior-Seniors, Left to right: Fran Hersey, Tom Moseley, Mel Crain, Bill Swift, Ernie Smith, Richard McElvein, Frank Brown, Bill Doyle, Merv Perry
Senior-Seniors As a result of these changes, the pace of play has improved. “The change in the pace of play has made a big difference in the speed of play, and that makes the game more interesting,” said Paul. “We have come a long way over the past year.” Keeping Senior-Seniors moving means golfers following them are not slowed down. But, as Tom says, the goal is to have fun. “The USGA (United States Golf Association) is advocating for people to have fun,” he said. “If the tees are too far back, move up, play a shorter course.” After all,
these men have already fought the major battles of their lives. Time to kick back and relax a bit. Any man age 65 and older can join the Senior-Seniors. There is no handicap requirement. The group plays every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, meeting at the Clubhouse at 9:00 a.m. for tee-off at 9:30. You must be present at 9:00 in order to be assigned to a group and be eligible for point scoring. If you would like to join the Senior-Seniors, contact Glenn Kelly at the Pro Shop or Paul at 508-548-4396, pkelsclan@aol. com;wistytom@aol.com.
Senior-Seniors In Brief Recent News Last fall we held the Senior-Seniors Annual Meeting. Changes to the Senior-Senior rules were determined and announced at the May 1 luncheon. If you were not able to attend or need more information, please contact Paul Kelleher at 508-548-4396, pkelsclan@aol.com;wistytom@aol.com.
Saying Goodbye At the Senior-Seniors Opening Luncheon May 1, the group had a moment of silence for the Senior-Seniors who had died over the past year: Bret Carlson Seth Harvey Charles Fay Heu Sherrerd Bill Kinch
Our Thanks To Dr. McElvein On behalf of the Senior-Seniors, I want to thank Dr. Richard McElvein for his service to the group. Dr. McElvein has served as our publicist both during the first year of my presidency and during John Steele’s presidency. He has devoted many hours to communicating the activities of the Senior-Seniors, keeping both the group and the broader Membership informed. He is stepping down from that post this month. We will always be grateful for everything he has done for the Senior-Seniors. Paul R. Kelleher President, Senior-Seniors
Coming Up We will have a variety of activities throughout the year. Here are a few highlights: • Thursday, June 27: Wine and cheese party, at a member’s house. Details to come. • Thursday, July 11: 9-Hole Ladies Host the Senior-Seniors for lunch at the Club. 9:00 a.m. shotgun. • TBD: Cocktail Hour and Dinner, details to come.
Save the Date! Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Dr. Richard McElvein practices his putting stroke prior to tee-off.
Play for PINK to Benefit Breast Cancer Research 18-Hole Golf, Tennis, Lunch and Silent Auction WE INVITE ALL FEMALE MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE!
On Course - June 2013 • page 3
Clubhouse Hours 2013
pril 1 through A December 31 Restaurant and Lounge: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day. Full Menu available all day, every day. Afternoon Appetizers: 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., every day.
Closing times may be extended if needed for tournaments.
Tennis Schedule • F riday, June 28. Welcome Back Mixer. Tennis at 4:00 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres and beverages. An optional cookout is planned on the Pro Shop Patio at 6:00 p.m. • Friday, July 12. Tennis Mixer. Tennis at 4:00 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres and beverages. An optional cookout is planned on the Pro Shop Patio at 6:00 p.m. • Sunday, July 28. First Annual WHGC Men’s and Women’s Golf/Tennis Biathlon Championship. Nine holes of golf finishing anytime before 4:00 p.m.; followed by tennis competition at 4:00 p.m.; followed by awards, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. An optional cookout on Pro Shop patio at 6:00 p.m. • Sunday, August 4. Tennis Mixer. Tennis at 4:00 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres and beverages. An optional cookout is planned on the Pro Shop Patio at 6:00 p.m. • Saturday, August 17. WHGC Men’s and Women’s Doubles Championships.
Don’t Miss the Ev Fallon Memorial. August 13, 8:30 a.m. Shotgun August 15, 1:00 p.m. Shotgun On Course - June 2013 • page 4
Manager’s Letter (continued from page 1) And I cannot over emphasize the “cheaper” aspect of the recharge. The very high Pro Shop electricity costs last winter were due in large part to the dead and dying 12-volt batteries in the old fleet. As we all have experienced at one time or another, a dying car battery will not take a charge, and yet it will continue pulling electricity into it. That’s what probably happened last winter in the Cart Barn to the 11 carts that need new batteries. And by the way, the club was looking at a $23,000 expense to replace all the 12-volt batteries that have died over the past couple of months. Our Club Car vendor has agreed to replace all those batteries until the new fleet comes in, so we will not have that expense! The second design advantage of the Club Car is the much more intuitive and conventional braking system. While the automatic braking system has its advocates, it nevertheless requires a non-intuitive braking reflex when going downhill. If you would like to have any of the special canopy design features of the Club Car pointed out, just ask Glenn Kelly or any of the Bag Room Attendants. They will be happy to share that information with you. And speaking of the Bag Room Attendants, have you noticed how sharp they look? The standard uniform is blue shirt, Woods Hole golf hat, name badge, khaki pants, clean shoes, daily shave, and a big “Warm Welcome” behind an even bigger smile. As you may have heard, I interview every employee, including “returnees” from prior years, just to make sure everyone understands our member service standard—“Warm Welcome…Magic Moments…and Fond Farewell.” More Enhancements to the Golf Experience The “Halfway House” restroom between #7 and #8 will soon get an interior “refreshing” with a new sink vanity, new mirror, new faucet, fresh paint, and improved lighting. Our new Houseman/Housekeeper position will eventually aid the Course Maintenance crew in keeping the facility spotless. (Please let me know when it’s not.) The Driving Range will receive more tender-loving-care as well when we replace the short ball bags with sharp (and cool looking) ball pyramids. And to build those pyramids (sometimes twice or three times daily), we will have freshly washed range balls resupplied regularly throughout the day. There will also be fresh towels on the range daily. Staff Training and Season Prep For many years, the Club has depended on “word-of-mouth” advertising for new service staff. Frankly, finding quality staff was haphazard as there were never enough good applicants in the “selection pool,” and we had more open positions than people to fill those positions…never a good combination for achieving good (never mind great) service. So this year we tried something different. Two weeks of advertising in the Falmouth Enterprise has yielded a rich applicant pool, and many enthusiastic candidates have been (continued on page 5)
selected. We have a good representation of returnees, undergraduates and life-experienced people who have heard about the Club and want to play a part. There are 17 Standards in our Training Manual in which every service employee must be certified, and the most important Standard is #4, which is, “Use the Member’s Name at Least Three Times During Service.” With the large summer influx of new staff, learning and using Members’ names is critical to great club service. One way we will train to this standard is called “Pass It On,” in which the Server, once he or she discovers a member’s name, passes the member name on to another Server, Hostess, or Supervisor, who will then pass the member name on to a third employee. The goal is for staff to learn Member names, even if they are not directly serving that member. The last topic I would like to share concerns Staff wages, and the message about “tips,” “service charge” and “admin fee” on the Service Chits and Monthly Statements. Without going into too much detail, the service pay system implemented last year unfortunately de-motivated the staff. Morale—and ultimately service—suffered. When I first arrived at WHGC, every senior service employee told me the employees wanted to return to a flat hourly rate, which had previously been used here for many years. Simply put, the consistency and predictability of the hourly rate pay allowed them to manage their lives and finances more consistently, and it was much less stressful. So after I shared their views with the Board of Governors, that’s what we’ve done. The result is that the staff is happier about their pay, which, by the way, is also now more competitive. The staff is also happier to work shifts that are predictably slow, when the service charge would have been very small. All of this led to a needed change in the chits and member statements, which will be: • Meal Chits language changes from “Gratuity” (15% of F&B) and “Admin Fee” (5% of F&B) to “Administrative Fee” (20% of F&B). • Member statements will have the same language as before the change last year. “The Admin Fee is used to off-set payroll costs for service staff. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 149, s. 152a., the Admin Feed is NOT paid to the service staff as a tip or gratuity.” And regarding tipping staff, the By-Laws some time ago provided for staff in the following manner…(quoted from the “Bluebook”, page 3) “Club By-Laws (Article IX, Sec. 3) prohibits tipping of employees by members. Gratitude to employees can be shown at the end of the calendar year when members are asked to contribute to a fund to be divided among all non-supervisory employees as a bonus, based on hours of service.” And finally, remember that June will feature All-You-Can-Eat Lobster Night, every Thursday…should be fun. Well, that’s enough for this month…See you soon. Michael
Sundown Swingers Hold May Event The Sundown Swingers May event was held on May 19. This popular couples tournament has been a fixed event for the past 30 years, taking place monthly from April through October. Twenty-eight couples participated in the nine holes, which was followed by cocktails and dinner at the Clubhouse. “It’s a nice social event, said Bill Bearce, who, along with his wife, Megan, has often participated. “You have a nice dinner. You watch the sun setting over Buzzards Bay, oh, and you play a little golf too,” he laughed. Megan said the format is what makes it so enjoyable. “There’s no pressure. It’s only nine holes. People of any skill level can play, and it’s very casual. Plus, it’s couples, which is fun.” Here are the results: Front Nine • First Place: The team of Fran and Shirley Hersey/Merv and Gayle Perry with a seven under par of 28. • Second Place: The team of Carl Swanson and Nina Webber/Arthur and Glenda Wolpert who carded a 32. • Third Place (On the Front Nine): The team of Bob and Kathleen Shortmann/ Dave Ahearn and Nancy Fay/Mel and Marge Crain/Jack and Brenda Walantis. Back Nine • First Place: Tie between the teams of Dave and Carolyn Corcoran/Jim and Marsha Cotter and Donn and Fluffy Winner/Mark and Polly Kisiel, with 31. • Third Place: Tie between the teams of Lou and Diane Anastasia/Mal and Judy Robertson and David and Victoria Chapman/Terry and Kelley Souza, with 33.
On Course - June 2013 • page 5
July 2013 Sunday
Monday 1
Tuesday 2
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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No 9 Holers Day Golf Independence Day
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Men’s One Day Member Guest 1 PM Shotgun
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Sundown Swingers 4 PM Shotgun
PLAY FOR PINK 18 Hole Women 8:30 AM Shotgun
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Mid Cape Ladies League 8:30 AM Shotgun start (36)
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9 Hole Ladies Host the Senior Seniors 9 AM Shotgun
Golf & Tennis Biatholon – 9 holes anytime Tennis begins at 4:00 PM followed by BBQ
Parent Child Tournament 2 PM Shotgun
Tennis Mixer & BBQ 4 PM / 6 PM
9 Hole Ladies Member Guest 9 AM Shotgun
3rd Annual Men’s Summer Classic Noon Shotgun
Senior Senior Member Guest 9:30 AM Shotgun
Sr. Club Championship Qualifying Round
Men’s Senior Junior Tournament 9 AM Shotgun
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Mixed Member Guest 1 PM Shotgun
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Saturday
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3rd Annual Men’s Summer Classic 9 AM Shotgun
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18 Hole Women Member Guest 8:30 AM Shotgun
August 2013 Sunday
Monday
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Club Championships are Match Play this year.
Sr. Club Championship Defending Champion and low 7 qualifiers advance to match play
Tennis Doubles Championship August 17th Men’s & Women’s
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Tennis Mixer BBQ 4 PM/6 PM
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Falmouth Road Race 10 AM Start
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Championship Sunday NOON
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Front Nine Greens Aerification
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Sr. Club Championship Matches Semi 1 PM
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Tom Whitney Group (16 players) 1 PM
Ev Fallon Memorial 1 PM Shotgun
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18 Hole Women Solheim Cup 8:30 AM
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Friday Sr. Club Championship Match Play 1 PM
Ev Fallon Memorial 8:30 AM Shotgun
Sundown Swingers 4 PM Shotgun
Thursday
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Junior Club Championship 2 PM Start
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Wednesday
18 Hole Women Solheim Cup 8:30 AM
Men’s One Day Member Guest 1 PM Shotgun
Men’s & Women’s Club Championship Match Play 1 PM
Back Nine Greens Aerification
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9 Hole Ladies Bring a Friend Day 9 AM Shotgun
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Club Championship Qualifying Round DC & low 15 advance
Men’s & Women’s Club Championship Match Play 8 AM
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Men Gather for Second Annual Mixer
The second annual Men’s Opening Day Mixer took place on May 18. Forty-eight men, up from 40 last year, particpated in the 18-hole event. Members Bill Bearce and Jack Connolly were Co-Hosts for the mixer, which also included cocktails and appetizers in the clubhouse. “It was a tremendous success,” said Bill. “You don’t have to be a great golfer to have a good time.” Jack echoed that sentiment. “This event is always fun. Everyone makes mistakes, but there are a lot of laughs.” At the cocktail hour later, there was a discussion about possibly holding the event more often. “We’re all busy,” said Jack. “But I think there is interest. We’re also seeing newer and younger members participating.” Here are the results: • First Place: The team of Ben Sbarra, Bob Ament, Kevin O’Brien and Paul Tierney Sr. with 124 points. • Second Place: The team of Mike Cahoon, Rich Kendall, Gene McCulloch and Jim Gaffney with 116 points. • Third Place: The team of David Nolan, Bill Coughlin, Chris Price and Donn Winner, just one point back with 115 points.
Annual Meeting (continued from page 1) long-term Master Plan for the Club. “During the past year, we have learned a great deal about the interests and preferences of our 477 members,” David said. “We also have been assisted by a number of professional consultants in identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. I hope all members will be able to attend this important meeting.” The Information Meeting will be held on June 23 from approximately 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. No votes will be taken at this time, and additional information meetings are expected to take place in the future.
On Course On the Web We now have two ways for you to view On Course online: • Go to Our Web Site: woodsholegolfclub.com to see the newsletter in color. AND • Check out the flip book version: You can now read a flip book version of On Course online at: http://issuu.com/samray/docs/oncoursejune-2013 And remember—You’ll help your club save money and reduce paper use if you sign up for e-mail-only delivery of On Course.
Jack Connolly and Bill Bearce, Co Hosts of the Men’s Mixer
Here’s how to do it: • Send an email to: office@woodsholegolfclub. com stating that you wish to opt out of the hard copy of On Course. OR • Go to the Preferences page of the WHGC website and choose “opt out of hard copy.”
George Hathaway’s tee shot during the Opening Day Mixer. He likes his drinks “On the Rocks” but didn’t know that he cared for his tee shot the same way! YIKES.
The Crowley Family gathers for golf on Mother’s Day. (Left to right) Dewey, Izzi, Joan, Ralph III and Ralph Jr.
On Course - June 2013 • page 7
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Permit No. 3 Osterville, MA, 02655
130 Quissett Avenue P.O. Box 663, Falmouth, MA 02541
The Woods Hole Golf Club, situated high on a Cape Cod hillside overlooking Buzzards Bay, is marked by rolling hills, sweeping fairways, and dramatic water views. Its champion‑ ship course is undeniably one of the finest and most challenging in New England. Visit us at: www.woodsholegolfclub.com
Website Version of On Course... You can now read a flip book version of On Course online at: http://issuu.com/samray/docs/oncourse-june-2013