Golf Committee 2017 The Golf Committee is (not-so-patiently) waiting for Old Man Winter to go away so we can get a start to another great golf season at WVCC. GOLF COMMITTEE NEWS: Over the past few seasons, we have taken the initiative to make some changes to the tournaments, which we are going to keep in place for 2017. In addition, we are making some more changes this year based on our observations as well as suggestions that we have received. We hope that these will help to increase participation and to make the tournaments more enjoyable for more golfers. Here are some of the changes: There has been a steady decrease in turn-out for the Memorial Day Scrambles, so for this year, we are going to replace the Memorial Day Scrambles with the Buck & Doe tournament, which would have been held this year over Labor Day Weekend. It will be a little different than in years past in that you will be able to sign up with your spouse or as any male/female team. In addition, if you have two other couples who want to play, you can sign up as your own 6-some. For those who don t have a 6- some can sign up as a single or a couple and we will do our best to get you into a group. There will also be two competitions in one as there will be prizes for the winning couple as well as for the 6-some. In order to make everything fair, this will be a handicapped event. Based on the recent popularity of the Ryder Cup Tournament, we have decided to leave it on the schedule in 2017. It will be played in its traditional September spot on the schedule. While not a tournament change, the decision has been made to suspend the Thursday Morning Ladies League for 2017. Over the past several years, participation has been very low for the league which prompted this decision. In addition to the official tournaments listed below, we are also going to try to do some monthly fun/competitive tournaments as well. These will be weekend events that will be either single day or two days, typically costing a minor entrance fee ($5 or $10). They will be some different formats and in most of them, you can participate while still playing in your regular group. These tournaments will not have any effect on normal weekend play at the Club. Check out the tournament dates page and put them on your calendar. We will send out email reminders of the deadlines to sign up but typically they are 3PM of the Sunday before the event is scheduled. Here are notes for some of the tournaments: MGA MEN S and WOMEN S FOUR BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (WVCC Local qualifiers): These are official qualifiers for WVCC and are two-person team best ball events with handicaps. The winning team for both the men and women will advance to an MGA qualifier against winners from other clubs for the chance to go on to the respective MGA Four Ball Championship This year both the Men s and Women s finals will be held on the same day at Westchester Country Club. Local qualifying dates have not yet been established by the MGA as of this mailing. More information will be sent separately, so keep on the lookout. TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: This tournament will be contested over a single weekend and will be a stroke play tournament. Two person teams will be divided into flights based on team and individual handicaps. The stroke play format is TBD. WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 1 of 10 March 22, 2017
PRESIDENT S CUP: Once again, we will have qualifying for the President s Cup. Qualifying rounds will be played in the few weeks leading up to the tournament and must be declared prior to your round and be played with two other members with all strokes counted. The top 16 net scores (using 80% handicap) will make the tournament and a random draw of the 16 qualifiers will determine the Match Play pairings. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: The same format will be the same as the last couple years. The Championship Flight for both Men and Ladies will be contested over two weekends. The first weekend will be two rounds of Stroke Play. The top [4] golfers will advance to the second weekend, which will then be played as match play. The matches will be determined by the order of finish in the two qualifying rounds. The first day of Match Play will be the semi-finals and the second day will be the Championship Match as well as the consolation match. For all other flights, the Club Championship will be contested over the second weekend and will be two rounds of stroke play. It is open to all golfers not in the Championship Flight, including anyone outside of the top [4] after the qualifying for the Championship Flight on the first weekend. The flights will be determined based on the total number of participants. We are looking forward to a fun-filled season of golf. See you on the course! GOLF COMMITTEE Kevin Sosler, Christine Krahulik, (Co-Chairs) Katie Bisaro, Doug Stage, Cal Durland, Michael Starer, Kevin Tully, Beth Wygant, Tom Siccardi, Tammy Sampson Pro Shop News Golf Professional: Ray Milazzo will not be returning this year he and his family will be relocating to South Carolina at the end of the school year. The Club has made arrangements with Lee Ferrec, who is the teaching professional at Scenic Farms as well as in his indoor golf facility in Pine Island. Lee will be conducting junior camps this summer and will also be available for adult lessons. More information is included in this packet. Pro Shop: The Pro Shop will open as usual this spring, during the month of April with limited hours, weather permitting. In May it will open full time as it has in past years. There will be staff to process guest fees and the shop will be stocked with merchandise. New Payment Procedures: Please be advised that the Pro Shop will be accepting credit cards only this year for payment. There will likely be a procedure where a member can put a card on file under the new club software system. In the meantime, members will be using their credit cards (with chip readers) as they would at any point-of-sale. WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 2 of 10 March 22, 2017
2017 Golf Tournament Schedule Tournament Date Time Memorial Day Tournament (course closed until 1 pm) President s Cup Monday May 29 Saturday & Sunday June 3, 4, 10 & 11 8 am Shotgun Tee Times Flag Tournament Tuesday July 4 8 am Tee Times Women s 36 Hole Championship Men s and Women s Team Championship (subject to course closure) Hudson Valley Juniors (course closed until 2 pm) Saturday & Sunday July 8 & 9 Saturday & Sunday July 15 and 16 Wednesday July 19 Tentative Play on Your Own Tee Times 8 am Shotgun Women s Member/Guest Thursday July 20 8 am Shotgun Adult /Child Tournament Saturday July 29 1 pm Shotgun Junior Club Championship Club Championship (course closed until 2 pm) Member Guest Tournament (course closed until 2 pm) MGA Men s Four Ball Championship WVCC Qualifier (All players must have a WVCC MGA handicap) MGA Women s Four Ball Championship WVCC Qualifier (All players must have a WVCC MGA handicap) Mon July 31 & Weds Aug 2 Saturday & Sunday August 12, 13, 19 & 20 Monday August 28 TBD Aug/Sept TBD Aug/Sept 8 am Shotgun Tee Times 8 am Shotgun Play on Your Own Tee off no later than 11 am Play on Your Own Tee off no later than 11 am Ryder Cup Saturday 9/9 or 9/16 1 pm Shotgun Women s Interclub Tournament (course closed until 1 pm) Wednesday September 27 9 am Shotgun WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 3 of 10 March 22, 2017
February 17, 2017 Dear Members, I d like to thank the Warwick Valley Country Club, its board of directors and the membership, for once again giving me the opportunity, to serve the membership as their teaching Golf Professional. Some of the new members will not be aware, but previously, I truly enjoyed working with the membership as their Pro from 2004-2012. I especially enjoyed seeing the junior program expand. I m looking forward to engaging the youth of the club in a way that will help them develop a love for the great game of golf. Rather than teaching a standardized method, I believe, tailoring golf instruction to the student's need produces the best results. I have a passion for learning and teaching, which enables me to bring the same enthusiasm to each lesson, whether the student is a scratch golfer or a junior golf novice. By analyzing your current golf game and where you see yourself going, we can develop an instructional golf program suited to your individual desires and capabilities. In this manner, we can build on the positive aspects of your game and work to minimize the weaknesses. Your golf game really improves when you focus on bettering your worst shots instead of trying to perfect your best shots. In addition to being at Warwick Valley Country Club for playing lessons and short game help, I will continue to give full-swing power game lessons at the driving range at Scenic Farms Golf Course in Pine Island. I also provide indoor sessions, during the winter months and during inclement weather at my climate controlled, simulation studio also located in Pine Island. My rates for WVCC members will be discounted from $90/hour to $75/hour and $50/half hour to $40/half hour. I offer series packages in addition to private, semi-private, and group lessons. For addition information, please visit my website: www.leeferrec.com or feel free to contact me. Best regards, Lee Ferrec PO Box 636, Pine Island, NY 10969-0636 ph. 845.642.3332 email: lee@leeferrec.com WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 4 of 10 March 22, 2017
Golf Handicap If you wish to participate in any golf leagues or tournaments at the club, you are required to have an official USGA Handicap. To maintain your USGA Handicap for the 2017 season, or to apply for a new USGA Handicap, please sign up on the Activities Sheet / Bill included in this mailer. List the names of all members applying for a handicap. Include the date of birth for any juniors under 18 years old. If you are a new club member and already have a GHIN or IGN # from a different club, include that number also, as you may have only one handicap record. Include the necessary handicap fees in your total check amount to be returned with the activities sheet. 2017 Handicap Fees Men $26 Women $26 Juniors under 18 yrs $ 5 If you are a current member, but also have a duplicate GHIN or IGN # in addition to your WVCC GHIN #, please contact Tom Siccardi so your records can be merged. You may have only one handicap. Please remember that if you sign up for a handicap, you are required to post ALL eligible scores, after adjusting for Equitable Stroke Control (ESC); and also that all scores must be witnessed. Note: If you have an incorrect score on your handicap record, please email Tom Siccardi so the score can be corrected appropriately. Below are some websites with GOLF RULES, GOLF ETIQUETTE, and HANDICAP information. http://www.usga.org http://www.mgagolf.org http://www.ghin.com USGA website MGA website GHIN website If you have any other questions re handicaps, please contact the handicap chairperson: Tom Siccardi tomsiccardi@gmail.com WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 5 of 10 March 22, 2017
Hole-in-One Insurance At WVCC, like many other clubs, tradition and etiquette dictate that the skilled and lucky golfer that achieves a hole-in-one buys drinks at the bar for all those present that day. WVCC offers Hole-In-Insurance (HIO) to its members, which would cover the bar tab when such a feat is achieved on our course. HIO insurance for the 2017 season can be purchased for $10 by signing up on the enclosed Activity Form. This $10 will be used to cover the insured golfer s bar tab. The $10 may cover more than one hole-in-one during the 2017 season, depending upon the size of the bar tab for each event. Once the HIO insurance fund is depleted, members will be informed and asked to reup their insurance. Members that wish to purchase Hole-in-One insurance after April 4 may do so by providing $10 and a note listing the golfer s name and membership number and date of purchase in an envelope placed in the Guest Fee mail slot in the Pro Shop. We had several golfers achieve a hole-in-one in 2016, which is exciting! Please consider purchasing hole-in-one insurance for all of the golfers in your family you never know when skill and luck will prevail! Contact Steve Carroll at sscarrolls@optonline.net with any questions. Did you know? ü A Hole-in-One cannot be documented by the USGA or any local governing body without a witness ü The shot must be hit from the regulation tee during a round of 9 or 18 holes in order to count ü A hole-in-one can only happen on a par-3 hole ü The odds of making a hole-in-one, factoring in all golfers from unskilled amateurs to touring professionals are roughly 1 in 12,500. The more you play the better your chances! WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 6 of 10 March 22, 2017
Men s 2017 Tuesday Night League The Men s Leagues will start on TUESDAY, MAY 2. TUESDAYS MEN S MATCH LEAGUE 2017 All matches are to be played on Tuesdays with a starting time mutually agreed upon by both teams. Please contact your opponents ahead of time to schedule a match time. The tee is closed for men s league between 4pm and 6pm. In the case of inclement or dangerous weather the golf liaison will make a determination of playability at 3pm. The only time we will cancel is if the course is closed or there is dangerous weather present (lightning). League will play in rain so come prepared. Weekly match scorecards are to be placed in the basket to the right of the golf shop door. It will be clearly labeled scorecards. All cards are to be submitted immediately after play. If there is no scorecard present in the basket on Wednesday morning both teams forfeit. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Substitutes are encouraged if one team member is not going to be present. You may only have one substitute. If both players are unable to play the opposing team will play against par. (i.e. each player will take his course handicap, divide by 2 (for nine holes and get that many strokes versus par). All substitutes must have a current MGA Handicap through WVCC. They will play at 100% handicap. If you are registered for a handicap but it has not been computed by MGA (NH) for the start of our season, you will need to provide the liaison with your 3 most recent scores for a temporary handicap. This league is operated with the use of MGA handicap system. It is the player's responsibility to enter their own scores into the system weekly. Honesty and integrity is needed here.please be fair to all players and ENTER YOUR SCORES. SCORING AND POINTS: Each match has a total point value of 10 points. USGA and local rules apply to all matches. A) Play off the low handicap man in your group. For example: Joe=4, Tom=8, Sam=12, Doug=16, Tom gets 4 strokes, Sam gets 8 and Doug gets 12. B) ONE (1) point will be awarded each hole to the team who has the man with lowest score after taking handicap into account. A tie is one-half (1/2) of a point. C) ONE (1) point will be awarded to the team who wins the most points in the 9 hole match, or if a tie each team gets ½ point and each team total 5 points. WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 7 of 10 March 22, 2017
If only one player from the team plays (no sub available) they can win a max of 9 points (they lose a point for having a sub). There is no maximum number of strokes a player can give for nine holes. We hope to have special contests (closest to pin, etc.) most weeks. All standings, points, schedules and rosters will be posted in the proshop on the league scoreboard. Season will be split into halves: a winner, second and third place finishers for each half will be determined and receive prize money. On the final night, week 17, the first half winners will play the second half winners in a final night showdown for the champinoship! We will have some type of contest for all others on the final night. We encourage all league players to come out and support these two teams on the last night. IF THERE IS A RAIN OUT WE WILL NOT BE MAKING UP THAT MATCH, BUT WE MAY ADD A WEEK AT THE END. TUESDAY MEN S SKINS LEAGUE 2017 A Skins format league will also take place on Tuesday nights. Those in the Match League may also sign up for the Skins (paying the additional fee), or players can sign up for the Skins league alone. As with all leagues, an MGA handicap is required. Payouts will be weekly, although the first two payouts may not be available until Week 3 after the league roster is finalized and all funds have been collected. WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 8 of 10 March 22, 2017
Ladies 2017 Wednesday Night Golf League The Wednesday Night Golf League Coordinators would like to encourage and invite women 18 and over and golfers of all levels to join. The Wednesday Night Golf League will: Enable you to play golf weekly. Encourage you to make new friends. Provide you with fun and friendly competition. Help you establish and/or maintain a current Handicap. Let you compete individually and as part of a Team. Help you learn golf rules and etiquette. The League will officially start Wednesday June 7 and will end August 23, with tee times between 4 and 6 pm. Rules: You must be 18 years old to participate. Every player must establish a handicap. Please include your fee for the Handicap System when you pay your league fee. Each individual will select a partner. If you do not have a teammate we can help you find one. Prizes: Prizes will be given to individuals as well as teams. Fee: $60 (includes taxes) Please address all questions to your League Coordinators: Dawn Nazari dmpdn66@yahoo.com Tammy Sampson Tamsampson61@gmail.com WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 9 of 10 March 22, 2017
Friday Night Mixed Golf League The Friday Night Mixed League continues to be a fun way to meet people and play golf with a partner. Each league night we will have new contests and play a variety of formats including Pinehurst, alternate shot, two-person scrambles and our once a year night golf (optional). Even if you are just learning to play, you will enjoy yourself thoroughly. The cost is $65 per team ($32.50 each) and there are prizes for 1 st through 4 th in each division and weekly contests. While most play with their spouse, it is not mandatory! The only requirement is you play with someone of the opposite gender. This is a low pressure, fun league and you are placed in a division with people of similar abilities. You can even play if you don't have an official handicap. We will start this year on May 19 and play every other Friday night through the end of August. On league nights only the tee box will be closed 4-6 p.m. Sign up and join the fun! Please contact Mike Starer at 83psufan@gmail.com or 845-987-8498 for more information WVCC Golf Committee & Pro Shop 10 of 10 March 22, 2017