The Springfield Story, June 2023

Springfield Golf & Country Club the SPRINGFIELD STORY

2023 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

John Palladino jape199@aol.com 703.901.0744

Charles Rolen rolencw@gmail.com 703.862.9370

2023 Committees

Audit

Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673

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

Brandon Streicher brandon.streicher@gmail.com 414.628.2362

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

Rules

Bruce Nordstrom bnorthstream@yahoo.com 202.494.6558

Social

Jen Palladino jennix4@aol.com 703.303.8779

Natalee Olah olahnatalee@gmail.com

Strategic Planning

Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673

Swim/Pool Mike Goede goedes@me.com 703.927.0941

Tennis Campbell Palmer campbell.palmer@gmail.com 703.258.2255

Board Report

BY DAVID DELORENZO | BOARD PRESIDENT

While meteorological summer rolls around later this month, here at SGCC summer started over Memorial Day weekend with the Pool opening and the Club’s annual picnic. It was great to see so many new faces roaming around the Patio and grounds. Our membership is strong and still growing. When you get to the Pool, you’ll notice that we have continued to expand our seating and lounging with more to come to accommodate our busy summer days.

June always has plenty to look forward to. Our swim team, the Sea Lions, started practices and we’ll be cheering our kids on at meets in a few weeks. If you are new to SGCC and have kids, I highly recommend getting them involved in the

swim team. Many of the great friendships that my wife and I have made over the years started at the Pool. There are great opportunities to volunteer, too, and I, myself, am typically a fixture as a Lane 6 timer at our home meets.

Warmer evenings and longer days are here which means there is a lot more time to spend with friends on the Patio, enjoying the many events and Happy Hours of the summer months. One of my personal favorites, the 3-Day Member Guest Golf Tournament, is coming up at the end of the month and promises to be another stellar event. Looking a little further ahead, make sure to mark your calendars for the July 3rd picnic and fireworks display trust me, you don’t want to miss out on our most popular event of the summer.

Whether you play racquet sports or not, I encourage you to take a look at our beautiful new outdoor tennis courts, as

our hard court renovation wrapped up in time for the season start. The Women’s B Team had the honor of christening the newly resurfaced tennis courts with some match play against another local club.

With the busy season underway and school wrapping up, we will have more people and more children around with the start of summer camps, days at the Pool, and family dinners on the Patio, so please be mindful of SGCC’s decorum and dress code policies that were outlined in my email last month. As a quick reminder, tee shirts, midriff-baring tops, cut offs, swimwear, and workout attire are not permitted in the Clubhouse or on the Patio. Please remind your guests to bring a change of clothes and take advantage of the locker rooms at the Pool and the Racquets & Fitness Center before coming up for dinner and drinks.

We also realize that summer is a great time to show off our Club to guests, so please be mindful of our guest policies. All guests must be registered/checked in. Pool guests must be registered at the Pool Desk, and all people using the tennis courts must check in with the Racquets Desk prior to beginning play. If you are interested in procuring a house

pass for visiting family and friends, please email frontdesk@ sgccva.org.

On the business side, I once again want to give a warm welcome to our new General Manager, Steve Lawson. Steve has really hit the ground running and endured his first Board Meeting as well as several Committee meetings. He is constantly roaming the grounds and meeting our members, so please take the time to say hello. We will have a welcome party for Steve soon, so be on the lookout for details. The Club’s financial health continues to be strong and with the loan on the Clubhouse now fully paid off we will continue to work on some maintenance around the property, evaluate the spillway project, and begin to plan for new capital projects, including our Driving Range.

All in all, I would say we are in a very good place. Our membership is growing and enthusiastic, our golf course is in spectacular shape, our racquets and pool facilities look amazing, and our management team is setting a great course for the future of SGCC. Now let’s get out there and enjoy our Club…..I hope to see you at the Pool, on the course, or on the Patio! 

Make a Splash!

Pool Hours

May 26 - June 18

Monday - Thursday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

June 19 - July 31*

Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday & Saturday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

*The Pool closes at 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 22 for the 3 Day Member/Guest Tournament

August 1 - September 4*

Monday - Sunday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

*The Pool closes at 6:30 PM on Monday, September 4 for the Dog Swim. The Dog Swim is 6:30-7:00 PM.

Coach’s Corner

BY BRANDEN BEETS DIRECTOR OF RACQUET SPORTS

The Racquets team is bringing new concepts, formations, and mindfulness to SGCC’s courts. Trying new things is exciting but scary; there could be bumps in the road, but learning something new keeps us from boredom and opens us to new possibilities and new passions. Playing racquet sports is not just about who strikes the ball the best. There are a lot of intangibles like decision making, shot placement, and strategy that can be learned and implemented at ANY age. Don’t be fooled by the saying “old dogs can’t learn new tricks” of course they can! Results may not come immediately, so stay focused on how you are executing your new skills rather than who is winning the match. Those “eureka” moments are coming. When you execute in a match the way you’ve been practicing it will be SO rewarding. It works, so trust the process!

May was National Tennis Month and marked the start of the French Open. There has been a nationwide increase in tennis players for the third consecutive year. Tennis participation in the United States grew by 1 million players in 2022 with more than 23.6 million playing the sport. “The increase in tennis participation for the third year in a row is not only important for the health of our sport, but also for the health and wellbeing of those who have made the game a part of their lives,” Brian Hainline, MD wrote for the USTA. Tennis can provide impactful health benefits as it gets your entire body moving. Here at SGCC we are part of the movement, and we want to bring in new players, inspire lapsed players to pick the sport back up, and energize current players to play more often.

Our Club is committed to excelling in racquet sports. This spring we purchased and installed new LED lighting on our outdoor courts and our outdoor hard court reconstruction project was completed in late May. We are thrilled to show them off to you! Whether you are new to racquet sports or have been playing for years, we encourage you to come out and play this summer. We have a full calendar of events, programs, and social play opportunities. Come see all that we have to boast about here at the SGCC Racquets facility. 

The Bobby Bowers: An SGCC Tradition

BY JOHNNY GARSTKA | COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE

Springfield Golf and Country Club is abundant with traditions, The Bobby Bowers Memorial Junior Golf Tournament being one of them. For as long as I can remember, it has been one of the biggest summer golf tournaments at SGCC. The Bobby Bowers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization with a Board made up of dedicated SGCC members including myself, Alexandra Austin, Brandon Luxenburg, Cliff Thomas, Gordon Austin, Quin Sullivan, Tres Currie, and Todd Currie. The tournament is manned by a crew of volunteers. We are always looking for marshals. If you would like to help with this year’s tournament, please reach out to Cliff Thomas at cliffanddottie@verizon.net.

Created in 1975, the tournament honors the legacy of SGCC’s first Head Golf Professional and his dedication to junior golfers. Bobby Bowers was well-known throughout the Washington, DC area. He served as Head Pro from the Club’s inception in 1960 until his untimely death due to cancer in 1974. During his tenure, he helped establish SGCC’s commitment to growing the game of golf through the development of beginner golfers.

The Bobby Bowers Memorial Junior Golf Tournament has grown into one of the East Coast’s largest and most prestigious events. The annual tournament is recognized as a major national event due to its unique format of both stroke and match play. It provides an opportunity for young golfers to test their competitive spirit in a format not often played.

Each year, up to 240 junior golfers from all over the United States, and occasionally foreign countries, begin stroke play qualifying for match play. There are five divisions: Boys 16-18, Boys 14-15, Boys 10-13, Girls 14-18, and Girls 10-13. Qualifying is a near dawn-todusk, one-day marathon round to determine the match play participants in a format that mirrors the US Junior Amateur. Many Bowers contestants have gone on to star in college and professional golf; some are head golf professionals or still in the golf industry.

Growing up at SGCC, I recall watching junior golfers compete in The Bowers and wishing my game was at the same level. They inspired me to practice and improve my golf game, and I eventually competed in the tournament several times.

One of the coolest memories I have from The Bowers is caddying for Smylie Kaufman in 2007. Players may bring caddies, but their caddies must be tournament eligible, meaning, they must be 18 or younger as of the last day of the tournament. Smylie won the Boys 14-15 Division that year. He went on to play for LSU and turned professional after graduating in 2014. He has competed in all four major championships (Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship). In 2015, Smylie won the United Leasing Championship on the Web.com Tour and the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the PGA Tour. He now serves as an on-course reporter for NBC Golf Channel.

A more recent notable Bowers Champion is Michael Brennan, the 2017 Boys 14-15 Division winner. He won the 106th VSGA Amateur Championship in 2019 by embracing the concept that no matter how dire the situation, you always have a chance to make birdie or save par which influenced his shot selection on the final hole where he held a 1-up lead. Michael currently plays collegiate golf at Wake Forest University. Earlier this year, he won the 2023 ACC Men’s Golf Individual Championship at the Country Club of North Carolina.

SGCC’s own Melanie Walker won the 2022 Bobby Bowers Girls 14-18 Division. As a high schooler, Melanie earned multiple distinctions including: four-time member of the All-Virginia Girls Golf Team, four-time All Patriot District, four-time All Occoquan Region Team, 2021 Virginia State Girls High School Champion, and 2021 USA Today National High School Golfer of the Year. She also secured a win at the 2022 AJGA Arnold Palmer Invitational, is a two-time USGA Junior Girls Qualifier, and was a Quarterfinalist at the 2022 USGA Women’s Amateur Fourball. Melanie currently plays collegiate golf at the University of Missouri where she just finished her freshman year.

Melanie is not the only SGCC member to have secured a win at the Bowers. Current Green Committee Chairman Danny Derisio won the 1978 Boys 14-15 Division before going on to play golf for the University of Alabama. Danny has won ten SGCC Club Championships.

The Bobby Bowers Memorial Junior Golf Tournament is open to all junior amateur golfers between the ages of ten and eighteen as of the last day of the tournament. 2023 marks the tournament’s 48th year and will be held July 10-13.

Participants are placed in the age group consistent with their age as of the first day of the tournament. Previous winners are exempt from qualifying if they are competing in the age group they previously won. However, if the participant chooses to compete for the medalist spot, then the exemption is forfeited.

This year’s tournament will feature an exciting development: recognition from the American Junior Golf Association’s Performance Based Entry Recognition System. The AJGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The PBE Recognition System enables AJGA members to earn their way into AJGA tournaments based on performances at the national, regional, and state levels. The ability for finishers in the Bowers to earn Performance Stars will enable the tournament to attract a stronger field of junior golfers; the AJGA is the top junior golf tour in the world.

If you don’t have previous experience with The Bowers, I encourage you to get involved in this wonderful SGCC tradition. Even if you’re unable to volunteer as a marshal or help with running the tournament, showing up to support the dedicated junior golfers as they challenge themselves on our course will lend itself to our mission—growing the great game of golf by encouraging the next generation of players. 

Welcome to the Club!

BY SHELLY GOOREVICH MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Gela Naenifard and her wife Nasteren Ataei are originally from Iran, but have lived in the United States for most of their lives and call Alexandria home. Gela is a chiropractic physician and Nasteren manages the offices for their two pain management clinics in Maryland. They both love to travel, work out, and enjoy good food and fine wine. They are looking forward to meeting other members and taking advantage of all that SGCC has to offer!

Justin Mayers, his wife, Ashley, and son, Hudson (2), live in Alexandria. Justin grew up in Southern Florida and has been an avid golfer for most of his life. Justin works in the commercial real estate industry, specifically within the hotel asset class sector, for CWCapital. Ashley works in healthcare administration for Johns Hopkins Health Systems. When they are not working, Justin and Ashley enjoy quality food and wine, traveling, and spending time as a family with Hudson. Justin and Ashley’s families had club memberships growing up and they are excited to bring Hudson up with similar opportunities to make friends and develop lifelong skills. Justin, Ashley, and Hudson are excited to belong to a family-friendly club that offers great programming for individuals of all ages and are confident that SGCC will be a great home for them.

The Holloways are a family of four with nine-year-old boy/girl twins and a Maltipoo fur baby. They have lived in Virginia for about two years and are very excited to establish roots in the area. They love to travel, go boating, try new restaurants, and play all kinds of sports. The kids, Ethan and Mira, enjoy golf, tennis, and swimming, and Duane and Shelby hope to foster their love of these sports through constructive lessons, building friendships, and having a lot of fun. The Holloways hope SGCC will be a home away from home for their family and look forward to building fond memories and lifelong friendships.

Gela Naenifard & Nasteren Ataei

Justin, Ashley, & Hudson Mayers

Duane, Shelby, Ethan, & Mira Holloway

When her dad joined SGCC in 2002, Abby English spent a lot of time at the Club with her family enjoying summers at the pool, family dinners, junior golf and tennis lessons, and so much more. She has enjoyed her time at SGCC and has loved seeing all the renovations come to life. Meeting so many wonderful members here played a part in deciding to join as a Legacy. Kevin Taylor’s family used to be members of SGCC as well, so the two are looking forward to enjoying all the things the Club has to offer together, especially golfing! They have been playing consistently for about two years and are excited to meet other members to play and socialize with.

Daniel and Caitlin Harder, while not from the DMV, started their life together here. Dan is an avid golfer and Caitlin loves to travel the world. Both love sports, wine, and their dog, Hobbes. They are excited to meet new friends at SGCC and enjoy all the Club has to offer.

Elena and Wade Goforth originally met in Dallas, TX and moved to Springfield in late 2020. Elena moved to the United States from Kyrgyzstan in 2012, has degrees in business and engineering, and has been a product manager for Capital One since 2019. Wade graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and is an engineer and product manager for Progress Rail, a locomotive manufacturer. Elena enjoys yoga, saunas, swimming, and cycling. Elena and Wade both enjoy playing tennis. They have two cats, Oscar and Cousteau, who both enjoy sleeping and being fat. As new residents of Virginia, Elena and Wade are excited about socializing and being active with their neighbors.

Do you have a friend or family member who would make a wonderful addition to our Springfield family? Reach out to Shelly Goorevich at shelly@sgccva.org. 

Abby English & Kevin Taylor

Daniel & Caitlin Harder

Elena & Wade Goforth

Notes from the Cutting Board

BY TRAVIS SIMMONS | EXECUTIVE CHEF

It’s time to break out the grill, give it a good clean up, and have some fun in the backyard! Here are a few tips for the season whether you are cooking for the family or the entire lacrosse team.

Grill Prep

When it comes to cleaning grill grates, I do not like using chemicals. Instead, try a half an onion or lemon the natural acidity will break down any left-over debris. Use a grill fork or a pair of long grill tongs and scrub away at a medium heat. Next, bring on the heat by cranking the grill all the way up ‘til it’s white hot. I like to leave the onion or lemon on the grill while cooking, it adds a nice aroma for you to enjoy as you man the grill. This cleaning method will work on both gas and charcoal grills. I know there is a long-standing debate over which is better, gas or charcoal…they both have pros and cons, so I say just enjoy grilling and being outdoors.

Seasoning

No matter if it’s burgers, steaks, chicken, or fish, try letting them rest at room temperature before placing on the grill. This allows the proteins time to relax and absorb your favorite seasoning. When using marinated meats, the same applies let them rest at room temperature before placing on the grill. There are a lot of grill seasonings and marinades to choose from at the store these days, but I’m an advocate for good old kosher salt, pepper, and Montreal steak seasoning. I do not like the other variations of Montreal seasoning (i.e., chicken, pork, or fish); the steak seasoning is the only one you need, and it can be used for all meats and vegetables.

Working the Grill

I have the most fun in the backyard when I’m cooking for a large group. I enjoy loading the grill to the brim with meats and vegetables. With that said, you must stay on your toes and have a plan. I like to imagine a grid when doing this and adjust the temperature as needed. We all have hot spots and not-sohot-spots on our grills. Use that to your advantage. The hotter spots are good for burgers and dogs. The high heat will sear and lock in the juice and flavor. The cooler spots are great for fish, chicken, and seafood. When grilling seafood, stay away from delicate light fish. I like to use a firm fish like a swordfish steak. Side note: if you’re making skewers, don’t forget to soak them first. I feel beer works best. While grilling, things might start to flare up or even get out of hand. That’s just the grill asking for a taste of beer, don’t be shy give it a good splash.

Don’t Forget the Vegetables

Peppers and onions are a given when grilling, but let’s look at a few others. Fresh squash or zucchini planks rubbed with olive oil, fresh herbs of your choice, and crushed garlic are an awesome addition to the grill. I’ve just started grilling eggplant in the same fashion. Grilled portabella or cremini mushrooms go a long way and add another level to the grilling bounty. My favorite must be cauliflower steaks marinated in olive oil, saffron, garlic, parsley, and crushed red chili pepper. This is a fun one and looks great when it’s finished. The color and the depth of char grill on the cauliflower will have the most die-hard meat eater wanting to give it a try. 

No Play Zones: Changes to Our Local Rules

BY BRUCE NORDSTROM | CHAIR, RULES COMMITTEE

The status of the wildflower gardens by #3, #7, and between #11 and #12 teeing locations have been changed to No Play Zones (NPZ). Because the NPZs by #3 and #7 are part of Penalty Areas (PA), defined by red and/or yellow stakes with green tops, Rule 17 applies. Relief is mandatory and comes with a one stroke penalty. Your options under Rule 17.1d are stroke-and-

distance, back-on-the-line, or lateral relief (lateral relief is an additional option only for Red Penalty Areas).

The two wildflower gardens between #11 and #12 teeing locations are NPZs part of the General Area and therefore relief is also mandatory but free (no penalty). If the location of the ball in

either of these two wildflower gardens is known, then Rule 16.1b applies and the reference point for relief is the “nearest” (not nicest) point of complete relief in the General Area not nearer the hole. If the location of the ball is not known but virtually certain to be in either of these two wildflower gardens, then, under Rule 16.1e, use the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge of the garden for the purpose of finding the nearest point of complete relief. These two gardens are defined by where the wildflower vegetation meets the mowed rough.

Remember, if your ball is not in an NPZ but close enough that the NPZ interferes with your stance or intended swing, you must find the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole, without penalty.

The USGA recommends that when marking Penalty Areas, the lines and stakes should be placed where the ground begins to break down to “ensure that players will not be forced to stand with the ball significantly above or below their feet.” Therefore, you will see that a portion of the red line left of #3 fairway has been moved up closer to the top of the slope.

The same significant slope condition exists on a portion of the right side of the Red PA on #7. Here, it was decided the best solution was to leave the line where it is but allow for Model Local Rule B-2, opposite side relief. This means if your ball last crossed the red line on the right side of the Red PA on #7, you have the option of taking relief from a point equidistant from the hole on the red line on the fairway side of that PA.

With the addition of the new lower teeing location on #3, it was decided to add a dropping zone located to the right of the White/Red teeing location.

You can find our Local Rules sheet on the Golf Home Page of our website. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to any member of our Rules Committee.

Many clubs do not have Rules Committees made up of members with Rules of Golf knowledge. SGCC was fortunate to have had Lew Blakey and Clyde Luther, two international giants in the Rules community, as members and thus started our member-driven Rules Committee. Clyde passed the Chair to Lynn Blasch in 2018. Lynn decided to step down this year. Lynn’s expertise and experience with the Rules has served SGCC extremely well and we owe him our gratitude for all his service. Thank you, Lynn. 

Turf Talk

BY SHAWN GILL | GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT

I hope everyone has been enjoying the extended spring weather as much as I have! The cool nights and dry air have done wonders to help us present tight, firm conditions. These weather conditions also make it favorable for us to apply growth regulators that have a strong effect on the high annual bluegrass populations in the fairways and greens so that the bentgrass (the desirable species) can become more dominant. Simply put, you should have stronger and better playing surfaces throughout the rest of the year. The best part of all might be that the nice weather allows me to sleep a little more soundly at night.

This time of year is also the busiest for us. On top of trying to give you the best golf course conditions possible, we’ve got flowers to plant, weeds to kill, vegetables to grow for our wonderful chef and his team to use in their creative dishes, and a number of outings where some non-members get to experience what you enjoy on a daily basis. Along with help from the rest of the team, our lead gardener, Julio Madrid, does an amazing job of constantly providing colorful flowers and ornamental plants that add to the beauty of the Club.

One aspect of this spring that has changed from previous seasons is that the course has remained closed on all nonouting Mondays. The entire Greens Department now works from 5:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on those days to make the best use of the time you have given us. Recently we have used the time to keep up with mowing practices that result in more consistent conditions for the rest of the week. We’ve been able

to mow all rough prior to Tuesday member play. By Friday it is ready for touch up mowing around fairways and greens so that the weekend warriors should have nice lies when they hit a slightly errant shot. As hotter weather begins to move in, we will use the time to aerate and water fairway areas that always seem to suffer as the soil dries and hardens. We hope that this will result in fewer cart path only times during the dog days of summer.

One of the priorities we’ve set for this year is to provide more consistent bunker conditions. We have implemented some strategies, such as extra raking after rain to help dry the sand and regular measuring of rake penetration depths so that our multiple bunker rakes create similar surfaces. We will be adding sand to deficient bunkers over the next few weeks as another tool to build consistency. Only the fairway bunker on #8 has significantly compromised drainage, and we will be stripping out all the sand and replacing it with clean sand after clearing the drains. We hope these efforts will improve everyone’s bunker play (although I think my bunker shots need more help than these changes can provide).

As I do in each article, I’d again like to throw a big shout out to your Maintenance team. Under the leadership of our Foreman, Jose Barahona, the crew works like family, helping each other and working together like no maintenance operation I have seen during my career. They take immense pride in what they do for you all! 

Retirees Corner

BY RUSTY ROESCH

The Springfield Retirees are currently tied for second in our Division with many more matches to come.

We won 25-11 over Country Club of Fairfax at home on May 4. We had four three-point winning teams: Pat Noble/Bill Schneider, Steve Barker/Greg Gerlach, George Alapas/Tony Caggiano, and Rex Simmons/Paul DiRenzo. SGCC swept the sweeps with Pablo Garvin/Don Frederick taking first place.

Unfortunately, we lost a challenging match on the road at Chantilly Country Club 21½ to 14½ on May 12. It was a near perfect day for golf with Mark Waters/Pablo Garvin scoring the only three-point win while Steve Bartlett turning in a low gross score of 77. Low nets of 72 were recorded by Mark Waters, Rob Jacobs, F.D. Rosenberger, and John Moore. Mike Saylor and Steve Soules were close behind with net 73’s. The bright spot of the day was John Moore/Walter Burkhardt taking first place in the sweeps.

Remember, it’s never too late to join the Retirees! For more information, contact Bruce Nordstrom at bnorthstream@ yahoo.com or 202.494.6558. 

Interested in Couples Golf?

• Flexible Play! Each month, there’s one Thursday night, one Friday night, & a Sunday afternoon

• Contact Co-Chairs Susan & David Wells for more information, suswel@aol.com or davidwells892@ yahoo.com

Fins to the Left! Fins to the Right!

The Wonderful World of Water Aerobics

BY MOLLY FIELD | COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE

Sunny days, longer days, so much more fun to have, so many ways to be healthy and fit. Naturally, your Activities and Fitness Desk staff have got you and your family covered.

We call it “Water Aerobics,” but you may also know it as “hydro-fit,” “aquatic exercise,” or “water fitness.” Water Aerobics exercise was first developed in the 1950s by Jack LaLanne who created at-home water workouts that increased strength without stressing the joints from impact. We’ve been in on this, offering excellent classes since the 1990s while Water Aerobics has gained popularity at the Club, nationwide, and, increasingly, on college campuses.

Are you curious to know more? Well, toss the grainy blackand-white images of nose plugs and bedazzled swim caps, Water

Aerobics—a great go-to for those seeking a strong workout to complement other exercise while also being simultaneously cooled. SGCC’s Water Aerobics program offers numerous benefits:

• Joie de vivre! Our program is social, friendly, and fun—a very important component of our mental health as loneliness is on the rise and is considered to be a national health concern

• Safely challenge connective tissues and joints

• Water Aerobics is suited to all ages, but the atmosphere is geared toward adults, so please be mindful and avoid bringing younger children

• There is no height requirement. Though class is usually done in chest-deep water, some students choose to be in deeper water and complete the moves “suspended” (aka floating)

• It’s scalable: we provide instructor-recommended equipment to increase and decrease the intensity of the workout

• One of the best things about Water Aerobics? You can do things in water that you can’t do on land! You can also do the workout as fast or as slow as you’d like

• We average twenty people per class, though the first few weeks tend to have smaller classes that grow in size once the weather heats up

• Your memory will be revved from saying hi and remembering all the names of your new friends, song lyrics, and the new fitness moves curated by our motivating and entertaining instructors

• Come as you are and bring your own towel—everyone shows up in a sun hat and maybe a sun-protective swim shirt, with a sense of humor and a smile

• Improved cardiovascular endurance and balance from the natural resistance of the water, which is 1,000 times heavier than air. A simple twist of an arm increases your resistance. Add the water “weights” which actually float, and you’ve increased demand

• Improved physical coordination: all your muscles are working just to keep you standing up in the water; now add the effort of walking 20 steps in both directions or adding high knee pumps for a routine. It gets busy!

The program is managed through the Fitness Desk and our instructors, who are seasonal, have been with us for several years and they mean to offer a strong and effective session this summer. Each instructor has their own unique style, and every participant has a favorite.

Maria is our coordinator and has been part of SGCC’s Water Aerobics program for twenty-three years. Maria will inspire you to keep going during class—imagine this: she’s on the pool deck in 92˚ heat and high humidity, demonstrating for you all the moves while you’re in the water staying cool. If it’s too hot, she will get in to cool down and demonstrate fundamental moves from the shallow end.

Mariane, whose vigor is only matched by her enthusiasm, wears

and inspires participants to don their most festive outfits to commemorate the 4th of July.

Erin will blow your calorie counter with her innovative and effective workouts that she demonstrates in a way that seems to somehow defy gravity.

Elite athletes know that the best way to stay conditioned is to vary workouts and include off days for the body to recover. Including Water Aerobics provides options for both higherintensity training and recovery. But you already know that, don’t you?

At SGCC, Water Aerobics is so popular that the Fitness Staff adjusts the summer class schedule to accommodate Water Aerobics enthusiasts. That’s some clout, you guys. So, all indicators point to giving Water Aerobics a try and finding yourself pleasantly surprised by all its physical and social benefits.

The summer 2023 session begins June 5. You can attend classes on a drop-in basis for $10 each, or you can purchase a package of 10, 12, or Unlimited classes (we offer about 64 classes each summer!) for $85, $95, and $115, respectively. Classes are held Monday through Friday from 11:00 to 11:55 a.m. There is no class on Independence Day or Labor Day or during thunderstorms. However, you will see our more hardcore water fitness participants even on chilly, drizzly days because nothing will stop them.

Want to join in the fun? Reach out to the Fitness Desk to purchase a package at fitness@sgccva.org. Please don’t forget to sign into class each time you attend—keeping track of attendance helps the staff gauge popularity and influences future offerings. 

Bridge Banter

It’s been a great season, but our Club’s First-and-Third Friday Evening Bridge Group is taking a summer vacation. We’ll resume playing on Friday, September 15th.

We play relaxed, party bridge on the first and third Friday evenings of the month. Many of us gather for dinner first. If you’d like to join us this fall, call Don Frederick at 703.425.9722.

Here are the results of recent sessions:

MAY 19

First: Lydia Peck & John Korfanta

Second:

Third: Ellen & Charles Rolen

JUNE 2

First: Lydia Peck & John Korfanta

Second:

Third: Mary & Bob Harter

WGA News You Can Use

BY KATHLEEN TINDAL, WGA-18 CHAIR & ERIN JONES, WGA-9 CHAIR

Did you know that you can be a member of both the WGA9 and WGA-18? Why would you join both you ask? Here are several reasons directly from our own dual members:

• “Being a dual member allows me to compete, to challenge myself, and to meet and learn from wonderful ladies.”

• “Opportunities to deepen my current friendships with inspiring women.”

• “Opportunities for a flexible schedule.”

• “Opportunities to “give back” by volunteering in leadership and helping ladies who are new to golf.”

• “Opportunities to improve my golf skills and knowledge of the rules.”

• “Quality time and experiences shared with other lady golfers who are kind-hearted, talented, and fun.”

• “I love the social aspect and the chance to meet more women who enjoy golf.”

• “It’s a great way to get outside, meet new people, and (hopefully) improve my game in a low stress environment.”

• “To welcome new members and make them feel comfortable with an 18-hole player.”

• “As an 80-year-old, it makes most of these young 9-hole women realize that if an 80-year-old can play golf with the 18-holers, surely they can play golf at their age with the 18-holers.”

• “Playing both groups made me feel more comfortable joining ARFAX.”

• “9-hole days fit my schedule better and frees up the rest of the day to do other things.”

• “18-hole play helps me focus, gives me more opportunities to play different shots and offers opportunities to play with competitive golfers.”

• “Robin’s Nine & Dine games on Wednesday afternoons are super fun!”

We hope these testimonials give you plenty of reasons to join one or both ladies groups. 

Swim team, tennis matches, long afternoons on the golf course...these are all wonderful, but they can leave you feeling cranky and hungry. Protein bars are a convenient, portable way to curb hunger and tide you over until you have the chance to sit down for a real meal. Of course you can buy your favorite brands at the store, but you can make them at home too!

Not all protein bars are created equal. Here are two recipes one from the blog “Eat Yourself Skinny” that is more healthconscious and another that’s not quite as healthy, but is definitely tasty!

“Nice” Bar

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp coconut oil, melted and cooled (or any oil would work for this)

• ½ cup unsalted roasted almonds, whole

• ½ cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts, whole

• ½ cup roasted walnuts, chopped

• ⅓ cup puffed rice

• 1 Tbsp flaxseed meal

• ¼ cup brown rice syrup

• 2 Tbsp honey

• ½ tsp vanilla

• ½ tsp sea salt

• ½ cup dark chocolate chips

How To:

1. Line an 8-inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving a couple of inches overhanging on each side.

2. Drizzle melted coconut oil in a large bowl, making sure to coat the bowl completely so it’s greasy. Mix together the nuts, puffed rice, and flaxseed meal in the bowl. Set aside.

3. In a small saucepan, combine brown rice syrup, honey, vanilla, and sea salt and bring to a boil. Once the mixture starts boiling, continually whisk for 3 to 4 minutes, until mixture has thickened and is nice and sticky.

4. Pour syrup mixture immediately over nut mixture and stir to combine. Transfer into the lined pan and spread out evenly, making sure there are no gaps.

5. Allow mixture to cool for about 30 minutes. Using the overhanging foil, take the block of nuts out of the

pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into 10 even bars and allow to cool completely.

6. To make the chocolate drizzle, place the dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until the chocolate is melted.

7. Spoon the chocolate drizzle over the cooled bars and let sit at room temperature until the chocolate has set.

8. Store bars in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze to save for later.

Kruitkrokant

Ingredients:

• 6 oz sugar

• 2 ½ oz butter

• 1 oz honey

• 10 oz sliced almonds

• 1 oz pistachio flour

• 3 ½ oz chopped cashews or walnuts

• 3 oz banana butter

• Melted dark chocolate chips, as needed for dipping

How To:

1. In a wide-bottom pot, melt sugar gradually in stages without over agitating.

2. Cook until golden brown.

3. Remove from heat, add butter, and stir.

4. Add honey and stir.

5. Mix in all nuts.

6. Add banana butter.

7. Divide into greased cupcake pan or silicone pan.

8. Once cooled, pop out and dip half of each bar in melted chocolate or drizzle over top. 