ASGA Washington DC Chapter June 2011 Newsletter

Transcription

1 ASGA Washington DC Chapter June 2011 Newsletter Dear ASGAers -- Do you remember when ASGA-DC had over 300 members? I do! While we are still one of the largest chapters in ASGA, we have lost membership, as ASGA itself has, over the last couple of years. There are probably a number of reasons, including the economic crisis. That doesn t mean that we can t increase our membership! If you would like to help - read on! Our membership strategy is threefold: retain existing members, win back previous members, and seek out new members. There is an old saying -- the best new customer is a current customer. The same adage applies to ASGA-DC. We are currently renewing about two out of three of our memberships each month. The people we lose are often those who only played a couple of events and then never came back. How can you help? At social and golf events, make an effort to meet and greet the new (and prospective) members. To assist with that, we are introducing a new feature in the newsletter, where we will include a short bio and pictures of new members. We also need to widen our net so that we reach more potential members. You must know a single golfer or two (maybe more!) who are not currently a member of ASGA-DC. Why don t you ask them to come with you to a Happy Hour or play an ASGA event? (Did you know that non-members can play one ASGA event at the member rate?) Are you a member of another singles organization? If so, is there a newsletter or event where we could advertise ASGA-DC? There are probably some golfers in every singles organization. If you have any ideas on organizations we should be spreading our message to, just let me know. We also need to make better use of social media and the internet. We now have an ASGA-DC MeetUp group. We currently have about 100 people in our MeetUp group - almost none of whom are current members and most of whom are younger. You can help us, by joining MeetUp. (See General Information below.) Although you will still need to RSVP for golf outings separately and send your check to the coordinator, by also RSVPing on MeetUp, we can build some momentum for our events and attract new members. Together, we can increase the membership in ASGA-DC - and expand all of our golfing and singles networks. Thanks in advance for your help - and let me leave you with one final thought. If there is a suggestion that you have that would increase your satisfaction with ASGA-DC, let a Board Member know. We want you to renew your dues when yours are up! Our next Chapter Meeting is June 24 Clyde s Tower Oaks Lodge, Rockville, MD

2 Upcoming Events Please Join Us. We are here to help you maintain a balanced life style by offering a number of events. I have it on good authority that joining at least 4 ASGA events each and every month is really very good for you (of course, more is even better). So mark your calendars and come on out. Our schedule is a dynamic one, so check our web site for updates. June 2011 Scheduled Events Friday, June 3 Happy Hour Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro, Reston, VA-Westin Saturday, June 4 Golf - Whiskey Creek, Ijamsville, MD Friday, June 10 Golf and Social TopGolf, Alexandria, VA Saturday, June 11 Golf Raspberry Falls, Leesburg, VA Friday, June 24 Clyde s Restaurant at Tower Oaks, Rockville, MD * Saturday, June 25 Golf Falls Road, Potomac, MD July 2011 Scheduled Events Saturday, July 2 Musket Ridge Myersville, MD Saturday, July 3 Worthington Manor Urbana, MD (!!) Friday, July 8 Happy Hour Place to be announced Saturday, July 9 Golf Maryland National, Middletown, MD (!!) Sunday, July 17 Golf The Osprey s, Woodbridge, VA Friday, July 22 Happy Hour Place to be announced * Saturday, July 23 Golf Bull Run, Manassas, VA Saturday, July 30 Golf Renditions, Davidsonville, MD (!!) Event Coordinators Needed Invitation Issued * Club Meetings About Our Chapter Members Our New Members. Starting this month, we will be spotlighting our new members. This will help current members to identify new members at our events and make sure they are welcomed and made part of the gang. This month we have one new member. Jacqueline Diana: Jacqueline is from Florida and now lives in both Florida and Virginia. She is a part time vacation property manager and enjoys dancing, reading, hiking, biking, golf, and discussing different views on the meaning of life. Welcome Jacqueline We look forward to seeing you at our events!!

3 Fellow Golfers, Message From ASGA-DC President It s been a rainy but successful start to a busy golf season. I want to take this opportunity to thank our Golf Chair, Jeannie Bixler, and her many Event Coordinators. This year has been a year of transition. For a variety of reasons, several of our key and beloved event coordinators are no longer here to spearhead their signature events. Those seasoned EC s would work directly with the course from beginning to end for a successful event. In their absence, Jeannie has had to set up at least 10 events that previously were handled by experienced event coordinators. It s a time-consuming task and one that she has done phenomenally well! And thank you to all 18 (so far) EC s, new and old, that have graciously given of their time and energy to bring you the very best golf outings! If you would like to assist, it s easy! Just go to our website, click on the Schedule tab, and select an event that needs an EC. There are lots of folks to help if you are a first time coordinator. We wouldn t have a successful club if we didn t have dedicated volunteers. Thanks again to Jeannie and her great group of EC s! See you on the course! Heidi Board Meeting Report The ASGA-DC Board met Wednesday, May 4, 2011 an item of interest: Plans are firming up for a charity golf event benefiting the National Brain Tumor Society to be held on September 17 in memory Barry Fields. General Information Mid-Week Golf Is Back For The Summer!! Here is some great news from our Golf Chair, Jeannie Bixler. Connie Reid will be organizing a few mid-week golf outings over the summer for those of you who are retired or semi-retired. If you would like to be on the Mid-Week Golf list for these events, please let her know at clr7833@gmail.com. Here is a wonderful opportunity to hit the links with your friends. A big thanks to Connie for volunteering to organize these fun outings! (Note: You will not receive a Yahoo Group notification about these events, so if you are interested be sure to get on the Mid-Week Golf e-mal list.)

4 We Are Using Social Networking. MeetUp is a social networking site that we are using to attract new members (and it is working). But, it is not just for attracting new members. It is also open to everyone who is interested in meeting other golfers and finding out about a wide-range of golfing opportunities. Joining is free and easy. Just go to and follow the prompts. Have a photo of yourself ready to post after all, who could resist any of our smiling faces?? We Need Your Help. We have been very fortunate over the years to enjoy many social and golf events thanks to members who volunteer their time as Board members and event coordinators. To maintain our level of activity, we need you!!. What does being a golf event coordinator involve? The Golf Chair arranges all up-front details with golf courses. As event coordinator, you prepare the announcement, receive checks and turn them over to the Treasurer, inform the course of the number of players, welcome the players on the day of the event, and prepare a brief recap. To help defray the expenses incurred by event coordinators, particularly those who manage the golf outings, the Board approved an increase of $1 to the event price. What does being a social event coordinator involve? You can either volunteer to host a pre-arranged event or volunteer to select a venue and made the arrangements yourself. Then you prepare the announcement, welcome the attendees on the day of the event, and prepare a brief recap. If prepayment is required (e.g., to purchase theater tickets), then you would collect the checks and turn them over to the Treasurer). What does being a Board member involve? A description of Board member duties is listed on our web site, Elections are held in November. Our most urgent need now is to have supporting committee members, especially for our event chairs. This would involve taking on some of duties of the Chair (and is a great way to prepare to become the Chair!!) How do I volunteer to help ASGA? It is so easy. Each month, we include contact information for each Chair at the end of our newsletter. Pick your interest and get in touch with the Chair. Are You Looking For Community Volunteer Opportunities? We were contacted by One Brick, a non-profit organization looking for help with their booth during the US Open at Congressional. We sent out an announcement to all members letting you know about that opportunity. In case you missed the announcement or want to more about the group, go to One Brick supports many local non-profit groups and offers volunteers many ways to give back to their communities. National and Multi-Chapter Events. When we send our monthly newsletters to ASGA-National, they add information about events they sponsor and that are

5 sponsored by other Chapters which are open to all ASGA members. Examples are the Memorial Day Pinehurst trip (a National event) and an event sponsored by the Jacksonville, Florida ASGA Chapter that will be held in August You can find out current information and details at On the home page, click on Multi-Chapter Events both are included in that tab. Recent Events Sunday, May 1, Golf and Clinic at Hilltop Golf, Alexandria, VA. Fifteen golfers ventured out to play a nine hole-round at Hilltop. Kathleen Robinson, one of the Club s Golf Professionals, was on hand to conduct a mini-clinic beforehand for 13 of group. After observing us hit a few balls, she provided valuable golf tips to help us improve our game. Timely indeed as we proceeded to tackle hole #3, one of Hilltop s most challenging holes. Floreyce Palmer (invited by Phyllis Ahlman) and Jeff Flak (who found us on MeetUp) joined the group as first-timers for an enjoyable afternoon. (Event Coordinator: Sandy Goshgarian) Saturday, May 7, Golf at Little Bennett, Clarksburg, MD. The weather cooperated for 20 of the Washington DC area's finest golfers to play 18 holes at Little Bennett. Everyone I talked to agreed that the course was pretty - and some muttered pretty tough under their breath. Yours truly has lost more balls only at Pleasant Valley (maybe it had something to do with staying in the fairway - ya think?). The difficulty contributed to the 5½-hour round for the last group. Despite all of the grumbling, I'd like to tackle this course again - maybe I will find some of the balls I lost this time. Closest-to-the-pin winners were Ashton Carlton (#3), Ilene Cook (#15), and Stanley Yackoski (#17) and Dan Carter won the longest putt on #18. Careful readers will notice that there were only three closest-to-thepin winners. Well that's because NO ONE even hit the green on #6. Winners didn't complain since the winnings were divvied up 4 ways instead of 5. At least, I didn't hear any complaints. Prizes were handed out and beverages were consumed (some were crying in their beers) in the club house and then we all disappeared into what was becoming twilight. (Event Coordinator: Bob Musson) Friday, May 13, Happy Hour at Clyde s at Mark Center, Alexandria, VA. We had a nice turnout at Clyde's on Friday evening. About sixteen people, including old friends and new ASGA members as well, congregated in the back bar. As always, the food specials were great! A special thanks to Karen Farrington, who arrived early to welcome our guests. (Event Coordinator: Sandy Goshgarian) Saturday, May 14, Golf at Old Hickory, Woodbridge, VA. 27 eager golfers gathered to face weather and course challenges. We started in mist, enjoyed a period of no precipitation, and then ended in mist but we finished! The course was in great shape. We had contests, but not for money. So for glory alone, the following golfers won: CTP #5 - Greg Basheda; CTP #7 - Stan Yackoski; CTP #13 - no one; CTP #17 - Betsy Pond; Longest Putt #18 - no one. Apparently we all chipped in from the off the green or we were too eager for a brew to record our

6 putts. Eight hungry souls gathered at Smokey Bones for dinner. Thanks to all who came out! Let s do it again soon. (Event Coordinator: Heidi Moos) Sunday, May 15, Golf at Blue Mash, Laytonsville, MD. There are those who enjoy playing golf so much and those who think so positively about the possible outcomes of their play (how they delude themselves) that they will join other ASGAers to play on a day pervaded by dire weather forecasts. Neither predictions of severe storms nor a forecast of possible hail will scare these dedicated golfers away. Thirteen such brave souls drove to Laytonsville, Maryland on Sunday to play at Blue Mash. The golf gods rewarded them by decorating the day with sun and gentle warm breezes. Everyone made it back to the clubhouse well before heavy rain made an appearance. Despite everyone's ambitions, the par threes proved a daunting challenge for the players. Three of the four par threes in the closest-to-the-pin contest remained naked, but the 6 th -hole par three was covered by Rona Hirschberg, who was doubly awarded for her skill. The 18th green smiled at Jack McCririe as he achieved the longest putt at seven feet. The players had an opportunity to show off their knowledge of golf during a little quiz conducted back in the clubhouse. These players are no dummies; they have stored many insignificant facts -- and a few significant ones -- about the world of golf. All the players deserve applause for showing up to test their fortitude at Blue Mash. Favorable comments were made on the condition of the course, and the course management made ASGA feel welcome. (Event Coordinator: Judith Wortman) Friday, May 20, Golf and Clinic at TopGolf, Alexandria, VA. (Rescheduled for Friday, June 10) Saturday, May 21, Golf at South Riding, South Riding, VA. It was a beautiful day at South Riding where 27 golfers played a smooth round in less than five hours. Closest to the pin winners (at $15 each) were Ann Sacco, Mark Hendrickson, and Keith Proudfoot, who claimed two. The longest putt on 18 was won by Mary Wall, another $15. Most players stayed after the round. Since it was Preakness Day, Jon Fredrickson organized two impromptu pools, the winners of which, at $7 each, were Jacquie Diana and Jan Hren. Congratulations to these winners and thanks to all for a great afternoon of golf camaraderie. (Event Coordinator: Roger Allan) Saturday, May 28, Golf at Pleasant Valley, Chantilly, VA. We had a great day for golf. The weather was not a threat like it was for part of the area the night before. We had a strong breeze for 16 ASGA members and guests. Closest to the pin prizes on the par 3's were won by Jim Johndrow, 2; Richard Lewis and Peter Smingler. 6 golfers enjoyed a good meal at the nearby Red Robin after golf. Thank you for playing Pleasant Valley. (Event Coordinator: Pat McNichol)

7 The Wit and Wisdom of Golf It took me 17 years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course. (Babe Ruth) Golf is a day spent in a round of strenuous idleness. (William Wordsworth) The difference in golf and government is that in golf you can t improve your lie. (George Deukmejian former Governor of California) A golfer is facing a 60-foot breaking putt. He turns to his 3 companions and makes a bet stating that he has a dollar that says I can make this putt. Everyone takes him up on the bet. The golfer misses the putt, but says You all owe me a dollar. His companions think he is crazy until he shows them a dollar bill on which he had written I can make this putt. They all paid up. (Unknown) A Little Golf History. The oldest surviving rules of golf were written in 1744 for the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, later renamed The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which played at Leith Links. Their "Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf, now preserved in the National Library of Scotland, became known as the Leith Rules and the document supports the club's claim to be the oldest golf club, though an almanac published about a century later is the first record of a rival claim that The Royal Burgess Golfing Society had been set up in The instructions in the Leith Rules formed the basis for all subsequent codes. Evidence of early golf in the United States includes an advertisement published in the Royal Gazette of New York City in 1779 and balls, and the notice of the annual general meeting for a golf club in Savannah published in the Georgia Gazette in However it was not until the late 19th century that golf started to become firmly established. There are several competing claims to be the oldest club, but what is not contested is that in 1894 delegates from the Newport Country Club, Saint Andrew's Golf Club, Yonkers, New York, The Country Club, Chicago Golf Club, and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club met in New York City to form what was to become the United States Golf Association (USGA). By 1910 there were 267 clubs and by 1932 there were over 1,100 golf clubs affiliated to the USGA. In 1922 Walter Hagen became the first native born American to win the British Open Championship, signaling the USA's dominance of the game that has yet to be seriously challenged. The expansion of the game was halted by the Great Depression and World War II, but continued in the post war years. By 1980 there were over 5,000 USGA affiliated clubs, and today the total exceeds 9,700. (Source: Excerpted from Wikipedia) Wishing you all Fairways and Greens!! Susan Smith and Suzanne McNicholas

8 Chapter Management Chairman of the Board Sharon Geyer President Heidi Moos Secretary Chris Ozyjowski Treasurer Jim Johndrow Golf Jeannie Bixler Social Irene Kratky Membership Mary Lou Kupfer Handicap Dave Sheets Webmaster Stan Yackoski Communications Susan Smith Suzanne McNicholas Useful Links Save these links and phone number for easy access to information about local and national ASGA events: ASGA-DC Chapter: ASGA-DC Chapter Events: ASGA-National: ASGA Newsletters: ASGA Chapter Rosters: ASGA Member Account Info: (My Account) ASGA-DC Handicap Service Info: We also have a hotline:

9