McCall Golf & Country Club McCall Matters Page 1 General Letter Debbie Valinsky First, I would like to thank all the members and their families that attended our annual Mother s Day Brunch. Once again, we were sold out for the day. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Shields, Chef Bill, Kathleen Verzella and their amazing staff for a job well done! Don t forget those men in your life and sign up soon for our annual Father s Day Brunch on Sunday, June 17 from 9:00 AM to noon. Please contact Bill Shields (610-734-7900) or Kathy Cullen (610-734-7901) to reserve your table. This event will sell out quickly so reserve today!! Also, I want to reach out to the membership now to let you know we are going to be placing an order for commemorative bricks once again to be placed on our patio walkway. Maybe you would like to dedicate one to a passed love one or just to place your own mark here at the Club. Our price for a commemorative brick is $100 and we have many examples out on the walkway by the gazebo. It s a great way to leave your mark at McCall. For a form to place an order, please email me at deborah.valinsky1@exeloncorp.com or call me at 610-734-7913. With June comes qualifying for the Club Championship and our Tuesday Night Golf League winding down while our Thursday Night All Stars is open to all members. This is a great way to socialize, have fun out on the course and meet new members at the Club on Thursday evenings. Our Jack & Jill Tournament on June 24 is a great time to meet other couples that enjoy playing golf together, so look for a flier coming out soon. Don t forget that our Women s Beginner League meets every Wednesday night at 5:30 PM through June 27. McCall has turned the corner with our volunteer program. This group has been amazing and the camaraderie of members that have worked together for the good of the Club and the membership is fantastic. A very special thanks to those members. If any of our new members have some free time and would like to help out on the course, feel free to contact Joe Candelore at 610-734-7916. Once again, the flowers look amazing this year out on the course and in the tennis court area. Kudos to everyone! Have a great time out on the course and have a safe and fun-filled summer!
Page 2 McCall Matters The Golf Course Joe Candelore, Director of Golf & Facilities I am not going to kid you, March, April and May we have been struggling and the weather is the reason why. I hear all the time that the weather has no effect on what we do. We struggled with cleanup from March storms and still are not fully done. We struggle with cutting the turf especially the roughs when on a good week we try to mow it twice and on a bad week we do not even get through it all once. We struggle with green speed as we miss several days in a row mowing and then it takes us several days to get them rolling again, rains come and we start all over again. We struggle with a flooding basement in the clubhouse and bunkers and overflowing creeks that look like rivers. We struggle with flooded baseball fields and trying to get them playable for the teams that use them. We have put in a whole day getting them ready only to have a thunderstorm at 5:00 PM and wash away our efforts. We struggle with riding carts and whether or not they can go out on the course because we know when we limit carts we affect at least half the membership and their ability to play and enjoy the course. But there is one great thing and that is the days go fast! Our routine the last several weeks has been mow, blow and mow again, lower the greens height, miss a couple of mows, raise the height so we do not scalp, lower the height and start over and mow again. All-in-all the team has been doing a great job keeping the course playable. We were fortunate this year to get Apolinar back who had been here for seven years before the visa program got messed up. We also have Salvador who is new to us along with Pablo, Carlos, Darrin, Drew and Tony, so if you see these guys working hard on the course, please say hi, they will appreciate it. Here is hoping for a little better weather in June. I do not want to go right to summer and into a drought, a little bit of spring would be nice but who really knows what will be coming at us. Our membership is strong with many names on a waiting list. You will probably see many new faces so introduce yourself, both new and old and make everyone feel comfortable. Respect the course and repair your own damage for the golfer behind you. Respect the golfer behind you and pull your cart over to the side towards the next tee and do not park in the middle of a fairway and then sit there entering your score while people are waiting for you to move on. It is the simple things that keep everyone moving and having a good time. So just think a little as you play, do not cut in front of people and as always thanks for being a member at McCall. Joe
Page 3 McCall Matters The Pro Shop Eric Figueroa, PGA Golf Professional June Hours of Operation Mondays: 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesdays thru Fridays: 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM Saturdays/Sundays/Holidays: 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM We are now entering the heart of the golf season. Hopefully, the weather decides to be more consistent. It will be great to get away from those rainy, cold days. Make sure to get out on the course and enjoy some outdoor time. COURSE ETIQUETTE We have had some issues on the golf course this year. We really need everyone to understand a few things while out on the course. Pace of play is a huge challenge here at the Club. A four-hour pace is our goal here at McCall. We are starting to get really busy and need everyone to move at a good pace. We ask that you allow faster groups to play through when needed. Foursomes do have precedence over all other groups. Please do your best to keep your group moving throughout your round. This will ensure that everyone can enjoy their time out on the golf course. Please be aware that it is against the rules to play more than one ball out on the golf course. Too many divots will take its toll on the course. We all like to have nice conditions to play on. Please do your part to help us out in this manner. All players looking to start on a hole other than the first hole should check with the Pro Shop first. Thank you for helping us out with these issues. DRIVING RANGE With all the activity the driving range has seen, there are a few things that should be stated. We have had some questions come up and the following items should answer those questions. 1. Drivers and fairway woods are NOT permitted to be used on the range. 2. The dress code applies to the driving range. 3. Please be considerate of others who are looking to use the range. We are tight on space and long practice sessions during busy hours should be shortened in order for all our members to enjoy the range. 4. We are working on a solution to bunker practice. Please be patient. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding the driving range.
Page 4 McCall Matters The Pro Shop UPCOMING EVENTS in JUNE Eric Figueroa, PGA Golf Professional Senior/Super Senior Championship (Update) (June 2 & 3) We will be making a slight change to the Senior/Super Senior Championship this year. In past years, we would allow those participating in this event to tee off at any time on Saturday or Sunday. We will now move to a tee time system for these days. The tee times will be set from 8:00 AM and run until 9:00 AM. Please call the Pro Shop to sign up for a tee time. If you are interested in playing, please start planning on blocking a day off on your calendar for either Saturday or Sunday. Please contact me with any questions you may have. I hope you can fit this event into your schedule. Jack & Jill (June 24) The format for the Jack & Jill is a two-person scramble. Each team consists of one male and one female. This year s event will take place on June 24 and will be a 1:00 PM shotgun start. This is a great event to enjoy a nice day on the golf course and have some great food prepared by Chef Bill. Wednesday Night Ladies Beginner s League Ladies, are you interested in playing golf but never played before or are just starting out? If you answered yes, then this is the league for you. Come out and join other ladies who are in the same situation as you. This is a great time to enjoy some instruction and play on the course. We will key on all the fundamentals of the swing, short game, putting, and etiquette. There is NO pressure associated with this league. It is put in place for you to have fun and learn how to play this great game. This year s league will run from May 2 until June 27. Cost for the league is $10 for members and $20 for guests for each session. This price includes a half-hour group lesson prior to heading out on the course. I will be conducting the group lessons and supervising the play on the course. Please call the Pro Shop for details and to register for the league. UPCOMING EVENTS in JULY Flag Tournament This year s Flag Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, July 4. This event is a 100% handicapped individual tournament. Each participant will receive a flag with their handicap on it. Add your handicap to 55 and once you take that numbered stroke, you place your flag wherever your ball comes to rest. Those who can complete their round and still have their flag, will be considered winners for the event. We pay out as many places as possible, so be sure to place your flag on the golf course when you have hit your quota of shots. This is a very informal but fun event. Be sure to come out on July 4 to participate. All those who choose to play in the event must tee off before 12:00 noon.
Page 5 McCall Matters The Pro Shop Eric Figueroa, PGA Golf Professional VIP Pass The VIP Pass will be offered once again this year. Please do not miss out on this great opportunity. There is no deal like it ANYWHERE! Here is how it works: 1. Cost is $125 and you receive $125 in merchandise. 2. 20% discount on all apparel, accessories and guest fees for the season. 3. 10% off all equipment purchases (off retail price only). 4. 5% off a dozen golf balls. 5. $5 off cart fees. This is what you call a no brainer. No retail store will ever come close to this deal. The Pro Shop will be offering the following clothing lines: FootJoy, Greg Norman, Page & Tuttle, Antigua and Adidas. We will also carry FootJoy shoes, socks and rain wear. Titleist equipment will be well represented in the shop. McCall is now a Titleist exclusive ball account. This means we will carry only Titleist balls. We have accounts with all major brands and can special order anything you may need. Just remember that the initial $125 must be used up by the end of the year. Any balance will be forfeited come January 1, 2019. Golf Lessons Golf lessons are available by appointment. Please contact me at 610-734-7924 to schedule a lesson. Now is a great time to get your game in shape for the 2018 season. Clinics (adult and juniors) and group lessons are being created as we speak. Please keep an eye out for dates, times, and details. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding lessons, clinics, and group lessons. Lesson Rates: ½-Hour Lesson: $60.00 (3) ½-Hour Lessons: $150.00 (5) ½-Hour Lessons: $200.00 Eric
Page 6 McCall Matters Athletic Association James E. Cooper, Running Team The Running Club has been very busy as we go into the cool days of spring and the hot days of summer. Some runners participated in the Love Run, a half marathon in Philadelphia in March. April brought the always popular Special Olympics torch run led by Keith Muelheisen which is a tough hilly run from the Art Museum to Penn Charter to kick off Special Olympics. A shorter version is done in the spring. Broad Street is always popular with the PECO/Exelon runners. Over 40 runners were among the forty thousand runners who ran 10 miles from Central High School to the Navy Yard. Also in May a group of runners took part in the Corporate Run this year held in beautiful Morris Arboretum which was a hilly course with many spectacular views along the way. Some runners will hit the beach in Sea Isle for the Sea Isle Stomp 5K to stomp out cancer. Bill Swahl, an Exelon employee, is one of the event organizers. Thanks to Melanie Fratanduono for all her hard work in organizing the runs and leading the morning running group who run the trails before work at the Main Office Building in Philadelphia. Jim
Page 7 McCall Matters Women s Golf League Georgetta McCabe, President The Women s Golf Association, both 18- and 9-holers, are already four weeks in with one or two hiccups from rain. The 18-hole President s Cup was completed and this year s winner is Denise Bourassa. Congratulations, Denise! The 9-hole President s Cup competition is still in progress as of this writing. Next on the agenda is the Ladies Club Championship, sponsored by the Pro Shop, which is open to all female club members. Prizes are given for the best gross and net scores. Don t forget to save the date of August 22 for our 4 th annual Ladies Member/Guest. This year s theme will be The Philly Special! Georgetta Tennis Bambi Dudley Tennis Anyone! Lessons start June 4 at McCall! Novice welcome, with or without a racquet. Small group limited to six students. You must sign up by Friday, June 1. Feel free to email me at corporatetennis@comcast.net. Bambi Dudley Corporate Tennis Programs "taking tennis to the workplace" 610-688-4974; FAX 610-688-4974 corporatetennis@comcast.net www.corporatetennis.org Bambi
Page 8 McCall Matters Conference Center Bill Shields, Food & Beverage Director The month of May was very active in the conference center with PECO/Exelon Meetings, Graduations, Rehearsal Dinners and Birthday Parties. Mother s Day was another success this year. We had two seating s and both were sold out very quickly. We added a Carving Station to the buffet this year with two carving items and I received quite a few compliments on this. I also would like to thank the restaurant staff for all their hard work and long hours that they put in for this event. It is always the toughest day of the year and I really want you all to know all your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. I also had the pleasure of attending a couple events at other country clubs this past month and I always watch the staff at places I go to and believe me I am so fortunate to have all of you here at McCall. You are by far one of the best that I have had so THANK YOU!!!! *Tuesday Dinner Buffets* The buffet is offered twice a month on every other Tuesday and they are always well attended and it seems that the most popular menu that Chef Bill provides is the Italian Buffet so we have decided to offer the Italian Buffet once a month with a different variation of Italian dishes. The dates for this month are June 5 and June 26. Thursday Night All Stars Golf Don t forget every Thursday this event takes place and it seems to get more popular each season. If you are a new member, there is no better way to get to meet other members. It is a fun round of golf with prizes and then everyone gathers in the Member s Grille afterwards for a bite to eat and adult beverages are available as well so come out and give it a try! *Member s Grille* Grille Room Hours of Operation for the Month of June Closed Monday Tuesday thru Friday: 10:00 AM till 7::00 PM Saturdays & Sundays: 8:00 AM till 6:00 PM
Page 9 McCall Matters Conference Center Bill Shields, Food & Beverage Director *Upcoming Events* Father s Day Brunch - Sunday, June 17 Please Note: Reservations are from 9:00 AM till 12:00 Noon Featuring Breakfast Nook Table Assorted Danish, Muffins, Yogurt Breads, Bagels Assorted Cereal Omelet Station Bacon Sausage, Home Fries, Cream Chipped Beef with Biscuits Belgium Waffles with Assorted Toppings Scrambled Eggs Assorted Mousses Assorted Juice Bar & Coffee and Tea Station Champagne & Mimosa Table Please Note: All Payments Must Be Received Prior to the Event. No refunds! *Private Golf Outings* I would like to thank the members for their cooperation for the two golf outings that were held during the month of May and for allowing us to shut down the course at certain times so that we could accommodate those two groups. *Employee Report* I would like to welcome Kathleen Verzella to our staff as the new Marketing & Events Coordinator. You may remember Kathleen when she was a waitress and bartender for us at McCall while attending college. After college she worked at Gulph Mills Country Club as their Assistant Manager and when the position opened up here at McCall I jumped on the opportunity of contacting Kathleen to see if she would be interested and she did not hesitate to say yes. She is going to be a great asset to us here at the Club so if you see her around the Club stop and say hi and welcome her aboard. If there is anything that you may want to see at the Club or have any ideas that can make us better at what we do, please do not hesitate to present them to me. I will always try my best to accommodate your wishes. Bill
Page 10 McCall Matters Marketing and Event Coordinator Kathleen Verzella With the assistance of McCall s wonderful staff and membership I am settling into my new position with ease. Every person I have had a discussion with during my first month back has welcomed me with open arms and I am so appreciative of that. I am very grateful to be working at McCall Golf & Country Club in an environment that cares so deeply about their Club, its employees, and each other. May turned out to be very eventful for us here in the clubhouse. We had a few golf outings, including the Sacred Heart Golf Outing and the St. Joseph s Prep Reunion Golf Outing, as well as several graduation parties and showers. Mother s Day was a massive success with both seating s selling out almost two weeks beforehand! Friendly reminder that Father s Day is just around the corner. To make your reservation for Father s Day, please call Bill Shields, Kathy Cullen, or myself at any time. Don t forget to make your reservation before it sells out! June is shaping up to be another busy month for us. Our banquet facility is almost booked solid; however, there are still a few dates available. If you are interested in planning an upcoming event or celebration, my door is always open! Feel free to stop in or call/email me at any time. Kathleen
Page 11 McCall Matters Culinary Corner William Bodek, Chef Summertime is just around the corner and we will be very busy this month with very few dates available. Last month s article was the proper way to clean your grill. I received a lot of questions about the difference between gas or charcoal grills. Continuing with cooking techniques, grilling is probably the best time of the year. Gas vs. Charcoal? The age-old debate over which grilling method is better involves multiple variables, from flavor to cost to convenience. While no studies prove that either is healthier, gas does burn cleaner. Charcoal grills emit more carbon monoxide, particulate matter and soot into the atmosphere, contributing to increased pollution and higher concentrations of ground-level ozone. From a taste perspective, on the other hand, many people prefer the smokier, richer taste of food cooked on a charcoal grill. I am often asked by home cooking enthusiasts how to grill like the pros do. My first response is always practice, practice, practice. Think about it, professional chefs working the grill station on any given night may cook dozens of steaks. That adds up to hundreds of steaks each week cooked to desired temperatures rare, medium rare, medium, medium well and well. I would imagine if you cooked dozens of steaks or dozens of chicken breasts or hundreds of fish filets each week, you would be an expert and be able to cook them with your eyes closed. Reality sets in and you may cook a couple of steaks once a week or twice a month so how can you be sure you will get it right. Nothing beats experience or the opportunity to cook one thing many times over and over but that does not mean you cannot improve your grilling technique. Here are tips that I think will make you a better home griller and improve your chances of putting perfectly cooked steaks on the table every time. Combine this with experience and you will be grilling like a pro..
Page 12 McCall Matters Culinary Corner William Bodek, Chef Grilled Marinated Flank Steak Ingredients 1 Beef Flank Steak (about 1-1/2 pounds) Salt & pepper Balsamic Marinade: 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard 1 clove of garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon sugar Directions 1) Combine marinade ingredients in small bowl. Place beef steak and marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turn steak to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. 2) Remove steak from marinade and discard marinade. Place steak on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 16 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 16 to 21 minutes) for medium rare (145 F) to medium (160 F) doneness, turning occasionally. 3) Season steak with salt and pepper as desired. Carve steak crosswise into thin slices. Yield 2-4 servings. Chef Bill