2024 Board of Directors
David DeLorenzo President david.delorenzo@gmail.com 703.887.0505
John Astorino Vice President john.astorino@longandfoster.com 703.898.5148
Caitlin Clark Secretary sheaclark@comcast.net 703.967.8997
Bob Sampson Treasurer bsampson71@gmail.com 703.362.0027
Mike Cozad mcozad@advairac.com 703.926.6758
Tom Davis tdavis@gandrellc.com 703.772.5015
Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673
Dan McCarthy danm5691@gmail.com 703.999.9329
Charles Rolen rolencw@gmail.com 703.862.9370
2024 Committees
Audit
Dave Nachison dnachison@yahoo.com
Communications
Katie Kissal katiekissal@gmail.com 703.244.4583
Finance
Bob Sampson bsampson71@gmail.com 703.362.0027
Fitness
Gayle Burgoyne gayleburgoyne@aol.com 703.455.3985
Food & Beverage
John Palladino jape199@aol.com 703.901.0744
Golf
David Kelly davidnkelly@verizon.net 703.786.0980
Green
Dan Derisio dderisio@yahoo.com 703.618.1720
House
Julie Graham juliegraham10@me.com 703.650.8788
Membership
Jon Danforth danforth.jon@gmail.com 703.409.7383
Personnel
John Astorino john.astorino@longandfoster.com 703.898.5148
Racquets
Staci Goede staci.goede@gmail.com
Garrett Engeset gengeset@gmail.com
Rules
Bruce Nordstrom bnorthstream@yahoo.com 202.494.6558
Social Natalee Siveroni olahnatalee@gmail.com
Marie Denslow a93aggie@gmail.com
Strategic Planning
Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673
Swim/Pool
Mike Goede goedes@me.com 703.927.0941
Connections
GM Message
BY STEVE LAWSON, CCM | GENERAL MANAGER & COO
It’s hard to believe that fall is already upon us; this year seems to be absolutely flying by! Fall is one of the busiest seasons at the Club with a plethora of events and happenings across all departments.
October is the last month of the official golf season, bringing WGA Championships, the Club Championship, WGA-18 and WGA-9 outings, and Closing Breakfast. Fall clinics are in full swing in the Racquets department, and we are heading into contract season. The Tennis Singles Club Championship and inaugural Men’s Pickleball Member/Guest will be hosted this month as well.
From a food and beverage perspective, we are looking forward to hosting countless Club events over the coming weeks and months including a champagne tasting, wine education classes, a Rombauer Wine Dinner, and a Dueling Pianos evening. We are also excited to bring back our adults-only Halloween Mixer and Putt Putt Party as well as our beloved Family Halloween Festival. Thanksgiving To-Go orders are available again this year or we invite you to join us on Thanksgiving for a fantastic family-style meal. Something is happening around the Club every week, so mark your calendars and plan to be part of the energy and excitement at SGCC!
The Annual Meeting of the Membership will be held on Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 PM in the Ballroom. For those not able to attend in person, the meeting will also be streamed via Zoom. Per Club By-Laws, a quorum of 10% of the Members eligible to vote but no fewer than 40 voting Members is required, so please plan on joining us that evening. The results of the Board election will be announced, and both the Board and Staff will share an update on the state of Springfield over the past year and forecast the remainder of FY2025. This is your Club, so I encourage you to please come and support your Board, who have worked incredibly
hard this year. We’re really hitting our stride at the Club, and we are excited to share it with you!
From a staff perspective, the department heads are gearing up for budget season. October marks the halfway point of the fiscal year, so the team is in the process of comparing current operating expenses and incomes to budget, reforecasting for the next six months, and working with their respective committees to understand aspirational capital needs and wants to prioritize for the coming year.
Fall is one of the best times of year, so enjoy the cooler weather and the beauty of nature’s foliage. I look forward to seeing you around SGCC and sharing all the wonderful things this season and the Club have to offer.
2024 Board Election Updates & Timeline
Each year we hold an election to fill three vacancies on the Board of Directors. The 2024 Nominating Committee is pleased to put forth a slate of four candidates to fill the three upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors: David Kelly, Dave Nachison, Harrison Smith, and Tom Stribling
We encourage all Members to take the opportunity to meet the candidates. Voting Members especially should take the time to read each candidate’s biography as well.
If you are an Active golf Member interested in running for the Board of Directors, you may still do so by filing a petition. Petition candidates must be Members with voting rights, and must obtain signatures of support from forty (40) other voting Members. Forms for petition candidacy can be found on the Governance page of the website or picked up in the front office. They must be returned for verification no later than Monday, October 14, 2024. All petition candidates must also submit a biography and a photo of themselves to Emily Kauffman at emily@sgccva.org by Monday, October 14, 2024.
The Board Election will be conducted digitally by a third-party vendor, EzVote. Voting will open at 7:00 AM on October 19 and will close at 7:00 PM on October 29. All voting Members will receive instructions and personalized ballot links via email.
Members experiencing trouble casting their vote should contact Emily Kauffman at emily@sgccva.org for assistance. Additionally, those wishing to cast their ballot at the Club on the day of the Annual Meeting may do so; there will be an electronic voting station available in the lobby from 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 29 until the voting window closes at 7:00 PM.
Voting results will be visible to the Judges of Election once the voting period ends, and will be announced at the Annual Meeting. An email containing the results will be sent to the entire Membership.
Meet the Candidates
DAVID KELLY , his wife, Melissa, and their children, Paige and Will, joined Springfield Golf and Country Club in 2011. They enjoy family dinners at the Club and the friendly atmosphere the Club provides. David is the product of a strong junior golf program in New York, which was one of the motivating factors to join SGCC. His son participated in the SGCC junior golf program and played on the varsity golf team at West Springfield High School. As members, the Kellys appreciate the experiences the Club offers and the opportunity to forge friendships that have strengthened over time.
In recent years, David has taken a more active role in SGCC activities, including serving as Chairman of the Golf Committee for the last three years. “This role has given me a critical perspective on Club activities and governance,” says David. He believes that the membership is best served when they know the issues the Board is debating and vows to be a strong voice in the boardroom for transparent, quality communications: “I am seeking a seat on the Board of Directors to continue the Club’s growth in all areas, address key challenges, and ultimately enhance each member’s overall experience.”
Professionally, David is a national auto safety expert and has dedicated his career to making roads safer through behavior change and vehicle improvements. He served at the Department of Transportation where he led an agency with an $800 million budget with 500 employees. He has run a successful government relations firm with a targeted focus on transportation, regulatory and safety issues since 2009. A major part of David’s work includes organizing and leading multiple coalitions that depend on his ability to develop a successful, cohesive vision with competing priorities. Last year, he took on a new role developing the US market for an Australian-based safety technology company.
to be some of his biggest strengths as a prospective Board member: “Our Club faces several major issues the Board must tackle in the next few years spillway fixes, infrastructure improvements, and the driving range, to name a few. We have many opinions on what type of club we want to be in the future. I hope to be part of that discussion.” He goes on to add, “The Club is best served by a Board of Directors that is accessible to members who make decisions for the good of the entire membership. I pledge to be one of those Board members.”
David considers the skills he has honed in his professional life
DAVE NACHISON and his wife, Laura, joined Springfield Golf and Country Club in 2019. Laura grew up across the street from the Club and graduated from West Springfield High School. When looking for a home to raise a new family in 1998, Dave and Laura knew West Springfield was a natural fit. They spent the next twenty-six years raising two children, Brent and Megan, coaching baseball/softball on the field, cheering from the stands, and ultimately sending both children off to Penn State (WE ARE!!).
With a quickly emptying house, Dave and Laura recognized that their social lives no longer revolved around kids’ sports and activities, and they needed to find a place to meet new friends and stay busy. Several of the couple’s friends, including Tim and Eddy Stallings, FD and Amy Rosenberger, Brian and Jill (Foster) Roach, and Jason and Dani Kobylski, raved about their experiences at SGCC, and Dave and Laura joined the Club in search of more friends like them. The rest, as they say, is history. Springfield Golf and Country Club has more than fulfilled all of the Nachisons’ expectations and their main regret is not joining SGCC sooner as it has become their home away from home.
Having never belonged to a country club community, Dave and Laura were relieved to find how inviting SGCC is and how easy it is to meet fellow members and become involved. “When I joined the Club, I was concerned that it would be difficult to settle in amongst longtime members, but instead met people that welcomed our family and made us comfortable,” says Dave. “I never feel as though I need to go to the Club with a plan I can just hang out, get some practice in, or even just go out and play a few holes in the evening to unwind from a busy day.”
just driving past the Club and wanted to stop by.”
Dave’s intention since joining SGCC has been to become an active member in the Club, and he soon started looking for ways to get involved through committees. Dave’s first foray into SGCC committees was joining the Food and Beverage Committee. From there, he met with several past/current Board members as well as Club Management and, with their encouragement, gravitated toward the Finance and Strategic Planning Committees to better utilize his CPA, finance, and analytical backgrounds to serve SGCC. Most recently, Dave was asked to chair the Audit Committee and was honored to be selected.
Dave’s goals as a prospective Board member are to preserve the incredible culture and sense of place that is SGCC, but also find fiscally responsible ways to improve the breadth and quality of the overall experience for our members and their guests. “The Club has potential to be even greater than it is today,” says Dave. “We have a membership with ideas and high standards, we just need to harness those gifts and put them to good use.”
For Dave, it started with golf in the Tuesday Night Men’s League. Golf soon expanded to weekends with friends and an invitation to the Crane Game in which he plays frequently, although some will say that the best thing about playing with Dave is the number of strokes he brings to the team. He is also an active pickleballer, enjoys visiting the pool in the summer months, and likes attending the quarterly Steakmen dinners and cigar nights. However, according to Dave, the best part about membership is knowing that almost any night of the week, he can find old friends and meet new ones on the patio or at the bar and he never needs a better reason than “I was
Part of Dave’s reason for running for the Board of Directors involves finding a balance between preserving the Club’s history while also recognizing that history is one of continuous improvement: “Our future relies on building on the resources we have to improve the member and guest experience in all respects on the golf course, in the clubhouse, and across the facilities.” Dave goes on to add, “We have one of the most beautiful golf courses in the region; other clubs cannot replicate that, and we have the opportunity to build a higher-quality member experience around that rare asset. We need to constantly look for ways to improve the experience that will enable SGCC to retain current members and compete with other clubs for new members.”
“I have been encouraged to run for the Board for the past couple years, but believed that to be an effective Board member, I needed a better foundation in how the Club operates and the strengths and challenges we face,” says Dave. “With the additional experience of serving on three committees over the past two-plus years and more recently as Audit Chair, I am confident that I have the background to be an effective leader of the Club and its membership.”
HARRISON SMITH and his family joined Springfield Golf and Country Club in the early spring of 2019. With three small children in the house, he and his wife, Becky, wanted to make the most of their time together as a busy family and began looking at area clubs. Harrison was able to play our course as part of a VSGA event. “I was immediately impressed,” he says. “Our neighbors are members, and we ended up joining the Club at the same time as our close friends.”
It is far from unusual to find the Smith family on the golf course. Harrison enjoys competing against himself and the course as well as playing in the occasional Club tournament to test his skills. He and his wife also participate in Couples Golf and their children are members of SGCC’s PGA Jr. League teams and take part in the junior Operation 36 clinics. For Harrison, the best part about “a good walk spoiled” is the opportunity to spend time with his family and friends.
“Any event where I can spend time with my family and friends, and perhaps even meet a few new ones, is my favorite,” says Harrison. “One type of event that immediately comes to mind is the PGA Jr. League competitions for younger kids where the parents come along and everyone helps out by counting strokes, driving the kids to the next hole, raking bunkers, and the like. It’s slightly controlled chaos, but it is also one of my favorite ways to end a day—and it’s a great way to meet other families.”
The golf course holds a special place in Harrison’s heart not only because of the opportunities it provides him to spend quality time with his loved ones, but because of the way it helps him give back. For Harrison, one of the most rewarding days of the year is the charity golf tournament he has been fortunate enough to host at Springfield for the past three years—Will’s Tournament. The event is in honor of his late nephew, William Mandt Klein, who passed away shortly after birth due to complications from a genetic condition. To date, Will’s Tournament has helped raised over $120,000 for Children’s National Hospital. “It is incredibly gratifying to share a place that is special to me and my family with others, all while raising money for an incredibly deserving cause,” says Harrison. “The number of people at the Club who have participated in, donated to, or otherwise supported Will’s Tournament is incredibly humbling, and something I will cherish forever.”
It is not just the golf course that the Smiths enjoy. The family makes full use of their membership by participating in tennis clinics and playing on interclub tennis teams, attending summer camp, and taking full advantage of the fitness and pool facilities. Harrison’s children, Abigail, Mary, and Quint, are members of the swim team, and the Smiths spends a good chunk of their summer at the pool. They also enjoy Club social events like Trivia Night and family movie nights.
Harrison considers SGCC’s junior swim team, the Sea Lions, to be one of the most underrated parts of belonging to the Club: “Simply setting up and breaking down practices and meets is an impressive feat, and watching older members of the team taking a genuine interest in and supporting the younger members is fantastic. But the best part is the excitement and sheer noise level during meets when everyone is cheering not only for their teammates, but for the last person in the pool just to get to the finish line.”
The sense of camaraderie and support amongst the membership is what Harrison loves most about the Club. “Whether it’s genuine interest in your personal and professional life shown during a conversation, or a willingness to help find a lost pair of swim goggles or a putter head cover, most people will go out of their way to help each other at Springfield,” says Harrison. “It’s a wonderful thing.”
According to Harrison, the people, including the staff, are SGCC’s biggest asset. He notes that without them, the Club would quite literally not exist: “So much of what I enjoy here is the atmosphere that is generated by our friends and the level of service the staff provides.” He likes that while the Club has grown and evolved over the years, our community has been able to retain its identity. Having the opportunity to give back to that community and help shape the Club’s future is part of the reason he is running for the Board of Directors.
Harrison first got involved with SGCC’s governance structure almost three years ago when he began serving on the Finance Committee. He continues to serve on Finance and began serving on the Strategic Planning Committee a little over a year ago.
“The future of SGCC will involve several major decisions about
who we are as a Club and a community. We have plans for improvements to the golf course, deferred maintenance to club buildings, and high demand for services and amenities, all with limitations on funds and time,” says Harrison. “The services and amenities available to the membership have improved and expanded during my family’s time at the Club, and I would like to support that trend with an emphasis on what the membership wants. I would like to help ensure those decisions are transparent, benefit as many members as is reasonable and possible, and are funded in a way the membership believes is appropriate.”
Harrison’s professional background has required analyzing a current situation, identifying a path forward, and communicating that decision to people who will both agree and disagree with it. He says his goal is always to come to a point where even the people who would prefer a different decision can agree that the choice made is fair, reasonable, and based on the facts available. Harrison is confident that this productive approach, his experience serving on the Finance and Strategic Planning Committees, and his family’s wide use of the Club gives him a broad perspective that will serve him well if elected to serve on the Board of Directors.
TOM STRIBLING joined Springfield Golf and Country Club in 1998. His wife, Katie, and her parents, Tom and MaryEllen Burke, joined in 1980, so his family has been part of the SGCC community for quite some time. In fact, Tom and Katie had their wedding reception in the old clubhouse it was the last event held before construction began on the clubhouse we enjoy today!
Tom and Katie’s three children, Anna, Tommy, and Elizabeth, grew up at the Club and are now young adults pursuing their degrees. Over the years, the Striblings have enjoyed playing the golf course, utilizing the fitness center, spending days by the pool, eating meals in the dining room, and attending the annual Independence Day Picnic. “My family and extended family can always use the Club as a great place to get together and have a good time,” says Tom.
Tom is an active part of our golf community. He is the Co-Captain of the B Team and plays on the A Team and in the Senior Scratch golf league as well. The Club Championship is one of his favorite SGCC events. Katie is also a golfer and is an active member of the WGA-9. Although he considers the golf course to be our biggest asset, Tom encourages everyone to make use of what he considers to be our most underrated amenity: “The Fitness Center has everything you need for a great workout.”
When asked what he loves most about the Club, Tom’s answer is an easy one: “The membership and competing in golf leagues and events. Playing on several golf teams has given me exposure to other clubs, and our membership really sets us apart.”
community by serving on the Board,” says Tom. “I was honored to serve before, and I am asking for your support to allow me to serve a second term and dedicate my time to helping improve the Club. During my prior time on the Board, two things really demonstrated the wonderful community we share at SGCC. First was during the height of uncertainty during the COVID outbreak when the SGCC community donated tens of thousands of dollars to support our staff when we were forced to shut down operations. The second was when TAB had a medical emergency and our whole community stepped up again and donated tens of thousands of dollars to support him.”
Tom sees a future where our Club continues to get better every day by improving the golf course, dining facilities, racquets sports programs, and other amenities. He is confident that his expertise in understanding daily operations, employee benefits, and long-term planning will serve him well as a Board member.
Tom previously served on the Board of Directors from January of 2020 through the end of his term in December of 2022, and has served on both the Greens and Golf Committees since 2020. He is also used to navigating complex negotiations in his professional life as the Associate Vice President of Labor Relations for Verizon with a primary responsibility of negotiating labor agreements with unionized employees throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
It is the special nature of our membership that is driving him to run for the Board again. “I want to give back to the SGCC
Golf Season WindDown
BY ALESSANDRA MAURTUA, PGA | DIRECTOR OF GOLF
As the golf season draws to a close, this is a great opportunity to reflect on and evaluate your game going into the “off season.” There is no one-size-fits-all approach to off-season training; the best thing to work on will vary from person to person.
Do you keep track of statistics or use an app that helps you break down your game to see how you stack up in putting, chipping, driving, etc.? If so, those statistics will provide a great roadmap to what is most important to work on in your game. If you aren’t tracking your stats, one of the best goals you can set for yourself next year is to find a method of evaluating your game more specifically.
While it is important to look at the areas that provide the greatest opportunity for growth, it is also important to find wins. Did you improve your driver this year or your putting? If so, what things did you do to improve? Keep working on the things that created success.
For the more casual golfer, you can reflect on simple metrics that relate to your enjoyment of the game such as how many rounds you played in the year or whether your handicap improved. You can use those benchmarks to set goals for how many rounds you want to play in the year ahead or the handicap index you would like to strive for.
Your golf professionals are a great resource in the evaluation process. Your coach can offer specific feedback and drills tailored to your game and goals. Additionally, your coach can help evaluate other areas that can improve your game like upgrading your equipment, grips, etc. to make sure your gear has grown along with your game.
While we do not recommend a big swing change for everyone, the wintertime can be the best time to undergo this if necessary since you’ll have more time on the range and less time on the course.
Lastly, the off season provides a great opportunity to partake in activities that influence your game less directly. Time spent in the fitness center to work on strength and flexibility can go a long way to gear up for the 2025 season.
This time is all about reflection to set goals for the year ahead. The Golf Department is also in a period of reflection and evaluation, and we invite you to join us on Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 PM for a Golf Season Recap. We will be looking at the highlights and challenges of the 2024 season as well as looking ahead at what’s to come!
Mix It Up
BY CHRIS HUGHES | BEVERAGE SPECIALIST
When crafting seasonal cocktails for the Club, I like to put our own twist on some traditional drinks with fresh, seasonal flavors and garnishes.
The French 75 is a classic champagne cocktail made with gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice, topped with bubbles. For the Springfield 75, we start with Empress gin which has a unique lavender hue. Making things even more fun, the color profile of this gin changes with the addition of citrus. Since the 75 has lemon juice, Empress seemed like the perfect choice.
The color of the gin inspired me to put a twist on this classic by adding lavender to the drink for a subtly complex flavor profile. We are also using a honey syrup instead of the traditional simple syrup. I wanted to use SGCC-sourced honey, but unfortunately the bees didn’t produce enough to use for this application maybe next time!
We did a taste-test with the staff, and realized we needed to make a few adjustments to perfect the cocktail. The juniper is prominent in Empress gin, and we felt like it was overpowering the entire beverage. To counter this, we added fresh blackberry juice and basil leaves. The final result was a roaring success!
The lavender, basil, and honey evoke the feeling of being in a botanical garden, while the fresh lemon and blackberry further enhance the experience by waking up the palate. The gin provides earthy notes, and the prosecco tingles the tongue with bubbles.
We think you will enjoy our spin on the French 75; get some friends together and make plans to spend an evening at the Club sipping on the Springfield 75! Cheers!
Coach’s Corner: Pace is Not Paramount
BY BRANDEN BEETS | DIRECTOR OF RACQUET SPORTS
Errors are part of the game of tennis. However, there are both negative and positive errors. Negative errors occur when players overhit, are unprepared, make questionable decisions, or find themselves out of position. In contrast, positive errors happen when players have a plan but fail to execute it effectively. The most common negative errors we observe in tennis matches stem from issues with pace and positioning.
Recently, we have been encouraging our players to have intention behind everything they do. How can we impact our opponents each time we touch the ball? If our opponents are comfortable, balanced, stationary, and have time to think, then our shot has not made an impact. There are four strategies we can use to affect our opponents: push them back, pull them in, stretch them out, or hit behind them. Our mindset should never be limited to simply hitting the ball hard to play offense or just getting it in to play defense. Let’s elevate our approach!
Our Club’s players are undergoing a transition. We are becoming more thoughtfully aggressive. Sometimes, pulling your opponent into an uncomfortable position with a short shot has the most significant impact. Other times, adding more shape to your shot by increasing its height over the net is more effective. Pushing an aggressive baseline player back or forcing them to take a difficult shot out of the air can create unease. Additionally, hitting the ball early to stretch the opponent to the side opens up space for a more effective next shot. The goal of these shots is not necessarily to win the point, but to improve your team’s position in the rally and put pressure on the opponent, thereby forcing more mistakes and setting up easier opportunities for the next shot.
“Okay, Coach, I’ve hit a shot that has positively impacted my opponent—what do I do now?” Improve your team’s court position! Transition from the backcourt to the frontcourt. If you are already in the frontcourt, continue to move closer and pressure the middle of the court. Your team’s improved court position, combined with an impactful shot, will limit your
opponents’ options and create pressure. Pressure in tennis leads to mistakes and lower-percentage shots from the other team.
“But Coach, I’m not good at the net or hitting volleys!” You aren’t good YET at the net, but we will support you on your journey to improvement. Sign up for a team practice, or we will work around your schedule to build a “3 and Me” group lesson! In-season, we focus not on perfecting the forehand or hitting thousands of balls, but on decision-making and point construction. Always remember, pace is not paramount, and all errors are not created equal.
Membership Corner
BY SHELLY GOOREVICH MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
PK and Catherine Cocolis are high school sweethearts who met and began dating at Robinson Secondary School. They recently got married in 2023. PK graduated from Roanoke College where he played baseball. He is now working in finance at the U.S. Department of State. Catherine graduated from King University where she competed in acrobatics and tumbling. She is now working as an elementary school teacher. Both PK and Catherine take on coaching roles outside of their regular jobs. He coaches baseball at Robinson, and she coaches cheerleading at Bishop Ireton. They currently live in Fairfax with their two Australian Shepherds. Together, they enjoy working out, going on walks with their dogs, going to the pool, and playing golf.
Ryan and Stephanie Garofalo, along with their children, Carter (5) and Harper (1), have been residents of Northern Virginia for over 15 years, most recently moving to West Springfield two years ago. Originally from New Jersey, they relocated south for college—Ryan attended the University of Maryland and Stephanie studied at The George Washington University. The couple met in Arlington and gradually moved outside the Beltway after marrying and starting their family. Ryan works in market access and public policy at Taiho Oncology, while Stephanie is the Head of Health Systems Operations and Implementation at Verily Life Sciences. They look forward to meeting new people and engaging in the many activities and programs at SGCC.
Stephanie Walker has lived in the DC area for 12 years and currently resides in Alexandria. She is originally from Florida and graduated from Florida State University. She has worked for AT&T’s external and legislative affairs team for more than a decade. Stephanie enjoys traveling, wine, reading, and attempting to play golf. She is looking forward to participating in Club activities and making new friends at SGCC.
Continued on page 14
Ryan, Stephanie, Carter, & Harper Garofalo
PK & Catherine Cocolis
Stephanie Walker
Rob and Laura Cranston are pleased to join SGCC and are looking forward to meeting other families and enjoying all that the Club has to offer. Rob has been in the telecommunications industry for much of his career, working at Nokia for the past 15 years and currently working in the Federal government sector. He is an avid runner and can often be found in the early morning hours running around Burke Lake. He also enjoys tennis and pickleball and spending time with his grown sons and their significant others. Laura is a pharmacist and serves as a healthcare consultant to start-up healthcare tech organizations and non-profit healthcare organizations and foundations. She enjoys teaching as an adjunct faculty member at a College of Pharmacy, and serving with organizations that include Rising Hope (a homeless ministry), the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Christ Church in Fairfax Station.
Bridge Banter
BY DON FREDERICK
The sun is setting earlier and a nip is in the air. Looking for a new way to step inside and enjoy our beautiful club? Do you play bridge? If yes, join the SGCC Friday Evening Bridge Group at one of our upcoming events.
We play relaxed, party bridge on the first and third Friday evenings of each month. Many of us gather for dinner first. If you’d like to join us, call Don Frederick at 703.425.9722. Our next scheduled evenings are October 4, October 18, and November 1.
Here are the results of our recent sessions:
SEPTEMBER 6
First: Lydia Peck and John Korfonta
Second: Betsy and Roy Carter
Third: Cindy and Don Frederick
SEPTEMBER 20
First: Robin Alapas and Kit Weyers
Second: Ellen and Charles Rolen
Third: Karen and Bob McNamara
Rob & Laura Cranston with sons Chris & Ryan
New Novel from Lyn Squire
is a Diabolical Tale of
Retribution Cast Against the Greatest Debate of Its Time
Get ready for SGCC member and award-winning author Lyn Squire’s second novel, Fatally Inferior, which will be released by Level Best Books on December 10, 2024. The second installation of the Dunston Burnett trilogy takes place in Victorian England during the uproar and tumult following Charles Darwin’s publication of his theory of evolution. Amidst the hubbub, unassuming amateur sleuth Dunston Burnett gets caught up in a series of tragic, seemingly unrelated events: an abduction from a locked-tight country house; a brutal birth in a London workhouse with the baby condemned to a death-trap orphanage; and a vile act of vengeance. The further embroiled Dunston becomes, the more one has to wonder will he ever get to the heart of this confounding mystery?
If you’re not familiar with Dunston Burnett, pick up a copy of the first book in the series, Immortalised to Death, which introduces the unlikely detective. If you’re a fan of historical mystery and deft, Agatha Chritie-esque plot-handling, you won’t want to miss out. First Place Winner in the Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards Competition, the first book in Lyn Squire’s Dunston Burnett Trilogy opens with legendary Victorian novelist Charles Dickens dead at his desk, pen in hand. Squire’s debut novel reimagines Dickens’ death and embeds an ingenious solution to his unfinished manuscript within the evolving and ultimately tragic consequences of a broader mystery surrounding the author himself.
around the tennis courts or at the Clubhouse enjoying a meal or playing bridge. The Squires cherish their membership and the lifelong friends they’ve made here at the Club. Next time you see the couple around SGCC, make sure you say hello –you might not be able to get Lyn to reveal any secrets from his upcoming novels, but you’ll certainly make a new friend and have an interesting conversation!
Do you have a personal accomplishment you’d like to celebrate with your fellow members? Reach out to Emily Kauffman at emily@sgccva.org and discover how to share your achievements with our community.
Lyn and Jenny Squire have been members of Springfield Golf and Country Club since 1980. You’re likely to find them
5 Reasons to Hit the Golf Course
BY JOHNNY GARSTKA COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Every time I step foot on our golf course, I feel incredibly grateful to be a legacy member of SGCC. Golf has played a pivotal role in my life, and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the experiences I’ve had on the course, both at SGCC and across the country.
I absolutely love to compete. I grew up playing many sports, including playing basketball, golf, and soccer at West Springfield High School. I went on to compete on the club golf team at Clemson University and have great memories from competing in both regional and national events during college. There is something different about playing when you have something on the line. Whether it is a friendly weekend match with a small wager or a big tournament, it feels good to get the blood pumping and compete. There is a big difference between stepping up to hit driver coming down the stretch of a big golf match when your heart rate is elevated versus when you’re out for a leisurely round without much at stake.
If you’re looking nurture your competitive spirit, I encourage you to enter some events at the Club and see where that takes you. Maybe it will lead to eventual appearances at state and national events. Speaking of which, a big shoutout to Alexandra Austin and Lauren Greenlief for their impressive performances at the US Women’s Mid-Am this year.
Golf is about more than just competing; it’s an opportunity to learn more about yourself and see what you’re really made of. Angela Duckworth, the author of the best-selling book Grit, defines grit as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals.” She goes on further to describe it as the following:
One way to think about grit is to consider what grit isn’t. Grit isn’t talent. Grit isn’t luck. Grit isn’t how intensely, for the moment, you want something. Instead, grit is about having what some researchers call an ‘ultimate concern’ a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost everything you do. And grit is holding steadfast to that
goal. Even when you fall down. Even when you screw up. Even when progress toward that goal is halting or slow. Talent and luck matter to success. But talent and luck are no guarantee of grit. And in the very long run, I think grit may matter as least as much, if not more.
There is no doubt in my mind that catching the golf bug at 16 and committing myself to improving as a golfer helped me develop an improved level of grit, which has transpired into other areas of my life today at 32. If you’re looking to improve your grit, or you have children and would like to see them level up in the grit category, consider picking up the game of golf or getting back into it if you’ve taken a break this year. I know I’m incredibly grateful for the valuable lessons I’ve learned on the course.
Golf is also a great way to stay healthy and get in a bit of exercise. If you are looking for a way to increase your step count and get
your body moving, look no further than carrying your bag and walking 18 holes at SGCC! In doing so, we can log a few miles, add a few thousand steps to our step count for the day, and feel better mentally. I think we can all agree that exercise is good for the mind and body, and I never regret getting some movement in for the day.
Earlier, I touched on competition and competing at a high level on the golf course. Conversely, a low-key round can be extremely relaxing and a great way to clear the head. Being in nature, engaging in physical activity, and focusing on the game can help reduce stress and improve our mental well-being.
Along those same lines, golf is a great way to spend time with friends, family, and colleagues. It’s a relaxed setting where conversation flows easily, making it an excellent social activity
to enjoy each other’s company. I have built many relationships through golf since I started playing back in high school, and I likely would never have met many of these people had it not been for golf. You can do the same if you increase your time on the course at SGCC!
Golf has countless benefits. If you’re looking to improve your grit, crave competition, enjoy exercising while spending time outside, clear your head after a long day or week, or build stronger relationships with friends and family, don’t wait get out there and start playing!
October 2024
School’s Out Golf & Tennis Day Camp 10:00AM-3:00 PM Singles Championships
Champagne Tasting 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Wine Tasting Class 6:00 - 7:00 PM
School’s Out Golf & Pickleball Day Camp
10:00AM-3:00 PM Spookasana 6:00 PM
School’s Out Golf & Tennis Day Camp 10:00AM-3:00 PM Golf Club Championship
Adult Halloween Mixer & Putt Putt Party 7:00 PM
Halloween Festival 6:00-10:00 PM
Men’s Pickleball Member/Guest 2:00-9:00 PM
MONDAYS
WEDNESDAYS HAPPY HOUR THURSDAYS, 5:30-7:30 PM FRIDAY BUFFET, 5:00-9:00 PM BREAKFAST, SAT & SUN 8:00-10:00 AM SUNDAY BRUNCH, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Learn More About Our October Events...
PAINT & SIP 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Get Your Friends Together to Enjoy a Glass of Wine or a Cocktail While Doing a Painting Led by Anita! Includes Canvas, Paints, Easel, One Glass of Wine or Cocktail, and a Light Snack. Registration Required. $30++
SCHOOL’S OUT GOLF & TENNIS DAY CAMP
3
4
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
For Ages 6-15. Includes Half Day on Golf Course, Lunch, & Half Day on Tennis Courts. Registration Required. Learn More Online.
SCHOOL’S OUT GOLF & TENNIS DAY CAMP
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
For Ages 6-15. Includes Half Day on Golf Course, Lunch, & Half Day on Tennis Courts. Registration Required. Learn More Online.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SINGLES TENNIS
POPPIN’ BOTTLES CHAMPAGNE TASTING
5:00-8:00 PM
$25 to Taste, If You Purchase Two or More Bottles of Champagne that Evening, We Will Waive the Tasting Fee. No Registration Required, Simply Join Us in the Clubhouse.
WINE TASTING CLASS 6:00 - 7:00 PM
“Wines of the Pope” Learn About & Taste 4 Different Wines with a Rich Religious History Among Monks and Popes. Led by IMPERO Wine Rep Alex Kazak. Includes Light Fare. Registration Required, $30++. Members Only, Space is Limited.
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SCHOOL’S OUT GOLF & PICKLEBALL DAY
CAMP 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
For Ages 6-15. Includes Half Day on Golf Course, Lunch, & Half Day on Pickleball Courts. Registration Required. Learn More Online.
18 ADULT HALLOWEEN MIXER 7:00 PM
Ages 21+ Only. Includes Haunted Putt Putt Course, Creative Cocktails, Food Stations, and Music. Costumes Encouraged. Registration Required, $40++.
19 MEN’S OKTOBERFEST PICKLEBALL
MEMBER/GUEST 2:00 - 9:00 PM
Open to All Levels of Pickleball Players with Two Divisions of Play. Also Includes Cornhole and Beer Pong Competitions, Live Music, Oktoberfest-Themed Dinner, Keg Beer, House Wine, and Seltzers. Registration Required. $110++
25 FAMILY HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL
6:00 - 10:00 PM
Fun for the Whole Family! Haunted House, Outdoor Movie Theater, Hay Ride, Magic Show, Turbo Tubs, Giant Alligator Slide, Cyclone Swings, Inflatable Trick or Treat Trail, Themed Food and Beverage Stations. Registration Required, Adults and Children $30++ (4 & Under Complimentary)
26 GOLF CLOSING BREAKFAST
29
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 7:00 PM
30 SPOOKASANA 6:00 PM
Join Us in the Fitness Studio for a Spooky Yoga Session Followed by Light Refreshments. Festive Outfits and Costumes Encouraged. Registration Required. $30++
CLUBHOUSE CLOSED MONDAYS
HALF PRICE BURGER WEDNESDAYS
HAPPY HOUR THURSDAYS, 5:30-7:30 PM
FRIDAY BUFFET, 5:00-9:00 PM
BREAKFAST, SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS 8:00-10:00 AM
SUNDAY BRUNCH, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Shawn’s Cross Country Event
Golf Course Open Golf Season Recap 6:30 PM
SGCC Wellness Series: Injury Recovery & Fitness Consultations by Appointment
Wine Tasting Class 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Stocktoberfest Bourbon Bash 7:00 PM Dueling Pianos 6:30 PM
Kids’ Night Out 6:30 - 9:30 PM
SGCC Wellness Series: Stem Cell Regeneration Talk 12:00 PM
Order Deadline for Thanksgiving To Go Pickleball & Chili Dinner Benefiting Reading is Fundamental 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Turkey Trot 7:00 AM
Family Style Thanksgiving Dinner in the Grill 12:00 - 3:00 PM
Rombauer Wine Dinner 6:30 PM
Learn More About Our November Events...
Purchase a 3-Pack of Chef Lindsay’s Bourbon Truffles to Be Invited to the Bourbon Bash for a Chance to Add a Rare and Allocated Spirit to Your Collection. Purchase and Registration Required. All Sales Final. More Information Online.
SGCC WELLNESS SERIES: STEM CELL REGENERATION TALK WITH DR. SHIRINE HEGAZI 12:00 PM
WINE TASTING CLASS 6:00 - 7:00 PM
“Verona, Amarone della Valpolicella in the Making” Learn About & Taste 4 Different Wines. Led by IMPERO Wine Rep Alex Kazak. Includes Light Fare. Registration Required, $30++. Members Only, Space is Limited.
15 KIDS’ NIGHT OUT 6:30 - 9:30 PM
For Ages 6-13. Play Fun Tennis Games Led by SGCC Pros and Wind Down with a Movie in the Members Room. Popcorn and Juice Boxes Included. Registration Required. $35
18 SGCC WELLNESS SERIES: INJURY RECOVERY & FITNESS
Complimentary 30-Minute Consultation and Assessment with Physical Therapist Annie Martucci, DPT. By Appointment.
21 THANKSGIVING TO GO DEADLINE
Full Cooked Thanksgiving Meal Ready to Heat and Eat. Includes Sides and Desserts. Feeds 6-8 People. Pick Up is Wednesday, November 27 Between 5:00 and 8:00 PM. Order Online on the Calendar.
22 PICKLEBALL & CHILI DINNER FUNDRAISER BENEFITING READING IS FUNDAMENTAL 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Join Us for an Impactful Evening of Pickleball and a Chili Dinner. Registration Required. More Information, Including How to Donate, Available Online.
23 ROMBAUER WINE DINNER 6:30 PM Jackets and Registration Required. $110++
Join Director of Golf Alessandra Maurtua, PGA and Golf Course Superintendent Shawn Gill to Recap the 2024 Golf Season and Look Ahead at What’s to Come. Registration Required.
6:30-8:00 PM Dinner Buffet. 8:00 PM Dueling Pianos Show Begins. $45++ Registration Fee Includes Dinner Buffet and Live Piano Show. Bar Available by Chit. Registration Required.
28 TURKEY TROT 7:00 AM
Start Your Holiday Off Right with the Annual Turkey Trot Around the Golf Course! Two Distances to Choose From. Includes Coffee and Doughnuts. Registration Required $25++
28 FAMILY STYLE THANKSGIVING DINNER IN THE GRILL
Reservations by Table Between 12:00 and 3:00 PM. Email jennifer@sgccva.org to Make Your Reservation. Menu Available Online. Clubhouse Closes at 5:00 PM. No Regular Menu Service.
Notes from the Cutting Board: Making the Grade
BY TRAVIS SIMMONS | EXECUTIVE CHEF
This month, I’m going to give you a behind-the-scenes glance at how we build menus and events for the Club. The way I approach this process is almost like a research paper.
I like to start with the season that the menu or event will be taking place. This single factor has a huge impact on what flavors we are able to bring to the table. Next, I weigh the likes and dislikes of our membership. After a few years at SGCC, I have a pretty good understanding of the membership’s palate, and some regional culinary recipes are a bit too adventurous and won’t fit into our menus or events.
The next thing I consider is the theme or occasion. This is where the research really takes off. For example, let’s say our theme is Autumn in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll start by researching some items from the region and building a base list of ingredients to work with. Upon a little research, I find that the Pacific Northwest has an abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, and wild game, and is also known for a
certain brand of coffee. This is enough information to work with to start putting the menu together.
I want the appetizers to showcase the region and give people an idea of what’s to come. For this example, I would include a small cheese board featuring Tillamook cheeses garnished with fresh figs and marionberries. To that I would add Walla Walla sweet onion tartlets topped with a touch of peaches and bacon. Walla Walla sweet onions are a truly unique culinary treat; I can tell you firsthand that they are sweet enough to eat like an apple!
In 2000, I moved to the Walla Walla Valley to re-open the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center. As a young culinarian, this was the first place I worked where we actually had local farmers show up each morning with the day’s bounty for us to choose from. When the Walla Walla onions are harvested, the whole valley smells like sour cream and chive potato chips for almost two weeks it’s pretty awesome!
Getting back to our hypothetical Autumn in the Pacific Northwest menu, after the appetizer, it’s time to come up with the salad course. I would go with roasted pears and dried cherries over a bed of chopped red romaine and pea shoots, finished with sweet apple vinaigrette. This salad would be nice with a side of herb cream cheese toast points.
Seafood is a quintessential part of the Pacific Northwest, and we can’t talk seafood without thinking about Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. You’ve probably heard about the famous fish-throwing tradition at Pike Place; it’s a popular tourist attraction, as well as a draw for sustainability-minded locals, and a prime example of the vibrant atmosphere. Turbot, halibut, and salmon are the main fish tossed through the air from vendor to customer. The image of fresh Coho salmon from the Columbia River Valley being thrown across the aisles inspires our fish course: pan-seared Coho salmon over sautéed asparagus and artichokes with a light white wine butter sauce.
For our next course, I draw inspiration from the Cascade Mountains and the wild game we might find there: chargrilled venison loin with potatoes au-gratin, garlic wilted kale, and a wild mushroom sauce come to mind. Now, if this was a wine dinner, we’d definitely return to the Walla Walla Valley for our pairing wines. When I first moved there in 2000, we had maybe fifteen vineyards, but by the time I left two-and-a-half years later, there were over forty. In my opinion, wine from the Walla Walla Valley rivals Napa, so if you ever have the chance to try some, I encourage you to do so.
No menu would be complete without a sweet treat. In my research, I noticed a lot of coffee shops in the region which provides a nice starting point. I think a build-your-own coffee bar with all the toppings you can imagine along with a slice of Space Needle tiramisu would be the perfect way to finish off the evening.
This style of menu building can be a little daunting, but so rewarding at the same time. Immersing yourself in the season and place will give you a ton of ideas for a truly memorable event. If you find yourself planning a house party and need a little help, please don’t hesitate to send me an email. I will help any way I can!
image courtesy of National Geographic
image courtesy of Eater Seattle
Springfield Retirees Lead Central Division
BY RUSTY ROESCH
With fourteen season wins so far, the Springfield Retirees have clinched first-place in our division after our third away win in a row and, as of press time, have maintained the best winning percentage league wide. We are in a race with Army Navy Country Club (Arlington) to determine the 1st and 2nd seeds going into the playoffs with only two games remaining in the regular season. Several other teams remain in the hunt for a playoff berth in October and a chance at the finals.
On August 22, we travelled to Westwood Country Club for a tough away match. The weather and course conditions were spectacular, and we prevailed 19 to 17. Only a one-point difference would have resulted in a tie. Albie Lau and Mike Cifrino delivered three points while Harry Kline/Pat Cavanagh and Rob Monick/Jordan Weinstein won two-and-a-half points each. Our home team also took two places in the sweeps: Bob Brien/Al Kuhns (1st place) with a net 60 and Rob Monick/ Jordan Weinstein (4th place) with a net 63. Best gross scores of the day went to Mike Saylor (75), Phil Goldberg (76), and Harry Kline (76). The lowest net scores of the day went to Jordan Weinstein (69), Mike Saylor (70), Bob Brien (70), and Jim Wilson (71).
Washington Golf and Country Club hosted our annual friendly match on August 28. The weather was perfect as we played an A, B, C, D two net best ball format. Their course was in great shape and worth the drive. Steve Barker and Pat Cavanagh’s foursome carried the day with a net minus 17. Chuck Carlton and Jack Mayer finished in 2nd place after a match of cards with a minus 17 as well.
On September 5, Springfield scored a huge win on the road over Fort Belvoir 21½ to 14½. Numerous three-point winners were key to our victory: Pat Cavanagh/Mark Waters, Tom Natoli/ Jesus Medrano, Steve Bartlett/Bob Brien, Mark Morganfield/ Albie Lau, and Rusty Roesch/Tony Caggiano. Sweeps winners included Tony Caggiano/Rusty Roesch (2nd place) with a net 60 and Jim Wilson/Greg Gerlach (4th place) with a net 62. Notable individual gross scores included Charles Rolen (77)
and Bruce Nordstrom (80). The lowest net score for the match was delivered by Travis Farris (66), followed closely by Charles Rolen (67), Rusty Roesch (68), Tony Caggiano (68), Mark Spooner (68), Bruce Nordstrom (68), and Greg Gerlach (69).
On September 12, we sealed first place in our division with an away win at Country Club of Fairfax, defeating them 19½ to 16½. Three-point winners included Mike Saylor/Jim Wilson, Brad Westermann/Don Bisenius, Walter Burkhardt/Ban Tran, and Tom Natoli/Mark Hite. Hank Webb/Jordan Weinstein delivered two-and-a-half points. Mike Saylor (75, net 68) turned in the lowest gross score for the day followed closely by Brad Westermann who shot a gross 76 for a net 67. Low net honors went to Mark Hite with a net 65 followed by Jim Wilson (net 68) and the team of Bruce Nordstrom and Dan Rose (net 69 each). Springfield took three of the four sweeps’ prizes: Brad Westermann/Don Bisenius (2nd place) with a net 61, Johnny Harper/Bob Brien (3rd place) with a net 61, and Bruce Nordstrom/Dan Rose (4th place) with a net 62.
Note that it is never too late to join the Retirees (just be 50+ and dreaming about retirement). To support both home and away highly competitive matches, our Retiree Team needs new players every year. For more information on joining, please contact Bruce Nordstrom at bnorthstream@yahoo.com or call 202.494.6558.
Find a Fitness Class That Fits
BY EMILY KAUFFMAN | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION
While most members are likely aware that our regularly scheduled group fitness classes are included in their membership, what seems to be a lesser-known fact is the variety of classes we have available.
Director of Fitness Reggie Edwards puts a lot of thought into his monthly class schedule, ensuring there is something for everyone from the early birds to the after-work crowd, the fitness newbies to the workout gurus, and everyone in between. We have intense workouts, fun workouts, and gentler workouts focused on deep stretching.
There is a commonly held belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit, but studies show it actually takes closer to three months. You may be tempted to put your fitness goals off until the new year, but if you get a jumpstart now, those cold and bleak winter days are less likely to discourage you from making it to the gym. Most of our classes can be adapted to meet you wherever you are on your fitness journey, so we encourage you to meet some of our instructors and give something new a try!
Meet Jeff Wessmiller
Jeff can be found in the Fitness Studio in the early mornings. He teaches the 6:00 AM Boot Camp class on Tuesdays and the 6:00 AM Box & Burn class on Wednesdays. Boot Camp has been on the class schedule for several years, but Box & Burn is a new shadow boxing class we added this past spring.
Jeff has been a certified boxing coach for about six years and a certified personal trainer for two years. He previously worked as the head trainer at TITLE Boxing over off Old Keene Mill Road. He’s been a fan of boxing since he was a child and fondly recalls begging his parents to order fights on Pay-Per-View. It remained an influence on him through young adulthood when he began sparring and participating in fight camps. While he never fought professionally, Jeff has always had a huge appreciation for the sport.
The fitness aspect of boxing has always been a draw for Jeff, and he has joined several different boxing gyms over the years. After being a member at TITLE for a while and taking the classes there, he says he started to get good at it and began looking for the next step which was getting certified as a boxing coach. He kept his certification to himself, but one day an instructor didn’t show up at TITLE and he volunteered to lead the class. “It just grew from there,” says Jeff.
Jeff Teaches Boot Camp and Box & Burn
Jeff developed a following and became known for having good energy, good classes, being welcoming to everybody, and playing all kinds of different music: “I really saw the people that came to my classes as friends, not clients. It’s such a great social setting, and that’s what I attribute my success to really enjoying it and getting to know the people coming to the class.”
What’s especially useful about boxing is you’re learning practical skills with an element of self-defense how to throw a punch and how to avoid a punch. In shadow boxing, you’re not hitting anything there are no heavy bags. In addition to avoiding damage to your knuckles and wrists, shadow boxing focuses on form, technique, and speed. Participants fully extend each punch and work with some light weights as well to increase strength.
When it comes to teaching Boot Camp, Jeff enjoys the challenge of finding different ways to work out the entire body. Whether it is circuit training, station training, using weights, or using body weight, he likes to be creative so participants don’t feel like they’re doing the same thing every time, but they’re always getting a full body workout.
For anyone who is worried that Boot Camp or Box & Burn might not be for them, Jeff encourages you to give them a try anyway: “Make the workout your own; modifications exist for a reason!” Exercises can be made easier or harder, depending on what you need. Jeff is proud to cultivate a judgment-free zone where a wide range of ages and abilities come together for a good workout and leave smiling. “The hardest thing is actually getting here at six o’clock in the morning,” says Jeff. “Once you’re here, you’ll feed off everyone’s positive energy and it’s going to affect your day in a good way.”
Meet Grace Jean
Despite the fact that she teaches one of our later classes, Grace is never lacking for energy. If you make it to the Fitness Studio for the 7:00 PM Zumba class on Wednesdays, you’ll find an instructor full of pep and good vibes ready to help you dance your stress away.
If you’re not familiar, Zumba is a dance fitness program that incorporates Latin rhythms and aerobics. There is a lot of variety of movement in the class, so you’re not just focused on arms and legs, you’re also getting a core workout, tons of cardio, and doing toning work.
Zumba’s roots can be traced to Colombia in the mid-nineties where it was created by fitness instructor Alberto Perez. The story goes that one day he forgot the music for the aerobics class he was teaching, so he decided to improvise using a tape of Latin dance music he had in his car. The class was a hit and Zumba was born.
Grace began teaching Zumba in 2016, and her journey to the program is a heartwarming one. Years ago, Grace and her mom made a pact to get healthy together, but working out in the
Rise and Shine! Our Early Morning Box & Burners Get the Worm.
Grace Teaches Zumba
gym and using the treadmill bored them to tears. In their hunt to find something fun to do together, they stumbled upon Zumba. They absolutely loved it and had a blast taking classes together, so when one of their instructors encouraged them to become certified Zumba instructors themselves, they decided to go for it. Grace and her mom both became certified, and while her mom doesn’t actually teach and mostly took the courses to support Grace, she does make it a priority to attend Grace’s classes at her other gym.
Grace grew up doing ballet, tap, and jazz, so the opportunity to celebrate her passion for dance is something she truly enjoys: “I love it, it’s such a fun fitness program. I love the incorporation of the different Latin dance moves and music; it just offers up a lot of variety that the students really enjoy.”
Grace’s classes are an hour of nonstop dancing, and she plays anywhere from twelve to eighteen songs per class. She has a few favorites that she uses every time, but otherwise she likes to mix up the playlist. There is a good balance of structure and flexibility within Zumba, so instructors can put their own stamp on a class, but the core elements remain the same: you always get salsa, meringue, and some reggaeton. Grace likes to add tropical dance and hip hop as well. “I try to throw a little bit of everything into each of my classes to keep it interesting and to move different muscles that you might not move otherwise,” says Grace.
One of the things Grace says sets Zumba apart from other dance fitness programs is the emphasis the training puts on teaching instructors how to give clear directions to their students so that participants don’t get lost during the choreography. “It’s a brain challenge,” says Grace, talking about learning and remembering the choreography for eighteen different songs. But she says not to let that stop you from giving Zumba a try: “It’s easy to come to your first class and follow along. You can modify it to fit
your body’s needs, and you don’t have to go full-out the whole time.” Grace adds that they love meeting new people in the Wednesday night class: “Come introduce yourself and try a class; it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like to move and you want to try something a little different while getting in a good cardio workout, Zumba is a great thing to try.”
Meet Sabrina McGrath
Sabrina teaches Pilates and Pilates-Barre at SGCC: there is a Monday evening class at 7:00 PM, a Thursday morning class at 9:00 AM, and a virtual class for more advanced students on Saturdays at 9:00 AM. She has been teaching Pilates for over fifteen years and is certified in Pure Barre as well. She also teaches in the Kinesiology Department at George Mason University where she lectures on Pilates, including the anatomy aspect of the workout regimen.
Sabrina points out that her Pilates-Barre classes at the Club focus more on the postural and strength training aspects rather
Dancing the Night Away at Zumba
Sabrina Teaches Pilates and Pilates/Barre
than the cardio and choreographic style that can be found at other Barre classes. Her classes center around improving balance, strengthening and lifting the legs, and doing arm, ab, and spinal articulation work on the mat.
Pilates is described as a core-strengthening workout regimen that increases flexibility. Most people that come to Pilates realize that it is not really about flexibility in the arms and legs, but flexibility in the spine. Many people are in a stagnant, sedentary position throughout their day and they stiffen up. Since the class focuses on the core, essentially the thighs through the chest, and increasing mobility in the spine, Pilates practitioners will see improved posture, better movement, improved balance, and enhanced body awareness. “Your abdominal muscles are your posture muscles; strengthening them automatically improves your posture,” says Sabrina. “Mindful movements come out of a better awareness of which muscle groups should be working to properly facilitate a movement. All of these things come together to create better balance.”
The three Cs of Pilates are concentration, control, and centerline: “We’re asking the brain to destress and just focus on its movement, not everything else it does in a day. We’re asking to center the body around the spine. We’re asking you to control your movements, really focus on what muscle groups are supposed to be used for that movement. Life gets in the way and has messed up that movement, and now you’re feeling the pain from that imbalance.”
Pilates has significant benefits for athletes; it teaches them greater awareness of their bodies and how they function, and leads to more control over the specific movements they need for their sport. It also helps recenter them. For instance, a right-handed pitcher is going to be weaker on the left side of their back. A more flexible spine leads to an improved twisting range of motion that is beneficial for a wide variety of sports, including golf. Working on building up balance and strength on both sides of the body also helps prevent injury.
When asked what her favorite thing about being a Pilates instructor is, Sabrina says, “I’m teaching the body its original movements. We are going back to the foundation to correct improper posture and whatever tightness that has caused an imbalance in the centerline of the body.”
Pilates is well-equipped to modify exercises to accommodate injuries and other health concerns because it reduces every movement to its most basic elements. The portion of the movement you are working on may be very different from what the person next to you is working on. The good news is that everyone is focused on themselves and their own bodies; in
fact, Pilates students don’t even turn their heads to track the instructor because doing so pulls the body out of alignment. Each participant is supposed to be focused on their body and nothing else so they can destress their brain and deepen their connection and awareness of their own body’s movements.
This may all sound a little daunting, but Sabrina is quick to point out that everyone can benefit from Pilates. “Know that you’ll be a beginner and that’s okay,” says Sabrina. “Do the best you can at that moment in time. Put in the time and the practice and you WILL get there.” She encourages everyone to give it at least ten tries, adapting a famous Joseph Pilates quote: “Ten times and you will feel different, twenty times and other people will notice a difference, thirty times and you will have a whole new body.”
Improving Spinal Articulation at Pilates
Turf Talk
BY SHAWN GILL | GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
A very wet #15 in late September
As the old saying goes, “be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” All summer long we were praying for rain, and now we are waiting for the giant spigot in the sky to be turned off so that you can enjoy some fall golf before the cold of winter sets in. Luckily, there was a reprieve from the wet weather during the 2-Day Member/Guest weekend and although things were quite soft, the warm sunshine made for some great golfing weather.
Looking around, it is hard to remember just how dry the course had gotten in July. Everything is green and lush now, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t working hard to improve things. The wet weather has made it difficult, but we are performing extensive seeding of many rough areas, including around the clubhouse and tennis facilities. This will continue throughout October and into November as weather and completion of other maintenance activities allow.
Rough will always be “rough,” but we are working toward creating consistency in the playing conditions. The biggest challenge to this is the ever-present bermudagrass. Without a complete course refurbishment project (and, even then, not permanently), it is not possible to eradicate the bermudagrass. In the fairways, it can be managed to play very similarly to the bentgrass during much of the golf season. Inter-seeding with bentgrass in the fall aids in providing good off-season conditions as well as “hurting” the bermudagrass which delays its breaking dormancy in the spring. The rough is another story. In areas with a high concentration, the playing conditions can be brutal during the summer when it is flourishing and very poor during the cooler months when the turf goes dormant and turns
stringy and thin. Therefore, we will be inter-seeding heavily with tall fescue seed in the areas where balls commonly end up so that the course will play well throughout the year.
Although the stress of dealing with heat, drought, and torrential rains lets up this time of year, it remains a very busy time for your Greens department. Along with the seeding operations, this is the time when we apply fertilizer to the tees, fairways, and roughs. We begin working on course improvement projects such as reestablishing bunker edges and adding sand where needed. Course trees must be inspected prior to leaf drop and those that are dead or in severe decline will be marked for removal. We do these things with the hope that we can make SGCC a little bit better each year and with the ultimate goal of making us the envy of every area club.
At the same time, we are maintaining daily playing conditions for our members and preparing for the truest test of golfing skills and ability to handle pressure, the Club Championship. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate so that we can groom the course to present challenging conditions that will see the true “cream of the crop” rise to the top. After that, get ready for my Cross-Country Challenge “Part 2” with what I think you’ll find to be a very fun and interesting routing through this great property.
I now present a very familiar face: Jose Nunez has been a member of the SGCC Greens crew since 2002 and has been working in golf course maintenance since 1990 when he began working on courses in Florida not long after coming to the United States from El Salvador with his parents and nine
siblings. He is the “go to” guy when we are under pressure to get something done ASAP. It is a thing of beauty to watch him mow greens, pretty much his favorite assignment. It’s like watching a skilled athlete as they move at incredible speed but with such fluidity that they seem to be in slow motion. From the gentleness with which he lowers the cutting unit onto the greens surface to the smoothness of his speedy turns and impeccably straight lines, he is a near-perfect example of efficiency. At every golf facility I have worked, I have been the first to arrive each morning, but I gave up on that idea shortly after coming here and getting to know Jose’s schedule. By the time I get here he has already prepared his equipment for the morning’s work as well as performed house cleaning in our shop, for which we are all very thankful. He takes great pride in what he does and regularly points out areas of concern to me as well as possibilities for improvement. When he is not making your course better, you can probably find Jose watching his favorite soccer team, Real Madrid. Jose grew up playing fútbol at a high level in his home country, now he enjoys needling the crew members that are Barcelona fans. I have had many members let me know how friendly Jose is and recently he was recognized by Club management after he was spotted helping one of our elderly members negotiate their walk from the parking lot into the clubhouse. That’s the kind of person he is kind and helpful! He has tried, in vain, to help me learn some Spanish and greets me daily each day with a friendly “¡buenos días!” and “¿cómo estás?” I hope you all get a chance to have your day brightened by his big, friendly smile.
Until next month, may your drives be long, straight, and not end up “plugged” in the fairway!
Tall fescue seedlings in the rough
Jose Nunez
