From the President, Craig Druskins July 15, 2014 Inside this issue: Manager s Report 2 Upcoming Events Treasurer s Notes Dear Members: With the 4th of July celebrations over, it is time to relax and enjoy the rest of the summer. The dining room is going strong, the golf course is in great shape, and all the volunteers are in place. It is time for you as a member to take advantage of your membership and use the club. Take advantage of the Happy Hour and enjoy your favorite cocktail. Come and enjoy the Friday Night Fish Fry. Take advantage of the great Members Nights. The more you use the club the more advantageous your membership becomes. We still need every member to try to recruit new members to come and enjoy the club. If someone moves into your neighborhood, invite them to lunch, dinner or a Members Night. The future of the club depends on increasing the number of members. As I stated before, the priorities for 2014 are: maintain and grow our membership, provide a high quality golf course, deliver a quality dining experience and continuously communicate to the membership. I feel we are doing well on all of these goals. So have fun!! Pro Shop 3 Tournament & Golf Greens and Grounds Marketing Mah Jongg Tournament 4 5 Social Committee 6 Cards and Mah Jongg 7 House Committee Report Ron Berg The board approved several projects at its last meeting which the house committee hopes to complete in the next few weeks. On July 17 th a group of volunteers will be staining the decks surrounding the clubhouse. The same color combination will be used, beige primarily and black to highlight the steps. Anyone wishing to join us would be most welcome at 9:00 a.m. Remember the pictures taken of the course last summer? Well, several have been chosen to decorate the wall in our dining room. They will be a variety of sizes and in canvas print. They should brighten everyone s dining experience. Kim Wilkins is working on repairs to the folding wall outside the board room. He has been authorized to purchase new hardware and to install it when he s ready. The wall panels are heavy so he could use a hand or two. The committee has been asked to come up with a plan to improve the ambiance of the bar area. Early ideas center on a possible theme for the Greenside Grill. If you have any suggestions contact Ron Berg by phone or e-mail. Sound remains a problem in both the dining room and sunroom. The committee will begin to tackle that problem at its next meeting.
From Our Manager, Pam Phipps I hope everyone enjoyed Independence Day with your family and friends. The club was very busy over the Fourth or July, and I saw a lot of our members playing golf with their children and grandchildren. It was great to see all the young golfers on the course! In spite of the slow start to the year the club's finances for 2014 are in line with budget. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this continues. Thanks to Pat and his crew, the golf course is in great shape. New yellow tee were added that measure approximately 4400 yards. These new tees are perfect for anyone wanting to have fun, but are ideal for senior men, senior women, juniors and new golfers. The tees have not been rated, but GAM has promised that someone will be here soon! Until then, if you play the yellow tees keep your scores and post them after it is rated. JP is doing a great job with golf operations. Merchandise sales are up from last year. Just a reminder, we are always happy to special order. If you do not see the right size, or if you are interested in a product we do not have, just let the staff know, and we will try to get it for you. The restaurant has had several private functions booked this year. Many of you may not be aware, but we are happy to cater functions at your home. We offer a wide variety of menu items. We are also happy to pick you up at the green docks if you want to come to the restaurant by boat. Just call me in advance so that I can arrange to have you picked up. Finally, we want everyone to enjoy the club. Please let me know what I can do to make your time at the club a memorable experience. Upcoming Events July 23rd Ladies Invitational 9 AM Shotgun July 30th Members Night Scramble 3:30 Shotgun August 8th Board Meeting 8 AM August 13th Boyne couples on the Ross August 17th Annual Meeting August 17th Women s Resource Center Tournament 4 PM Shotgun New E-Mail Addresses for IRGC! indianrivergolfclub@outlook.com office@indianrivergolfclub.com Our new members are: Jerry and Cecelia Schmitt Bob and Cynthia Redman Mark and Margie Eustis Mike and Mary Durkin Jim and Gina Burke Dennis and Lynn Cowles Ken and Linda Doud Randy Robson "We invite you to view the profiles of our new members, located beneath the clock at the entrance to The Greenside Grille. Hopefully, there will be pictures of our other new members. Treasurer s Notes Sukey Stump Gaining new members and retaining current members continues to be a priority for the club. Our operating budget each year is based on the current level of membership. If we are to continue our existing programs and services in the face of rising costs, we must continue to gain new members. I d like to give the annual thank you to all the volunteers who plant (at their own expense) and maintain the many gardens around the clubhouse and golf course. Not only does this volunteer effort beautify IRGC, but it helps our bottom line too. Thanks also go to the many volunteers who work to maintain and make improvements to the clubhouse. The food from our dining room has been excellent again this year. For any of you who aren t making progress toward your dining minimum, keep in mind that you can get food to take out. 2
Wise Words from Westbrook As the club moves into full swing (no pun intended) for the month of July, the staff is ready to help you with your game. We have added two more Short Game Schools to help tune up your game from 100 yards and in. Be sure to check with the pro shop in that regards. The President s Cup is underway and the members have been keeping within the deadlines for the rounds of play. A couple questions have arisen from the match play format. In match play, the way to win your match is to be up more holes than remain in the match. For example, when player A is up 4 holes with only three remaining, the match is over and player A wins 4 and 3. Also, in match play, a player may NOT play a second ball as in doubt to procedure. The issue must be resolved before a player tees off on the next hole. A good resolution is to call the pro shop for help with the issue. ALL PLAYERS MUST POST HIS/HER PRESIDENT S CUP SCORES TO YOUR HANDICAP AS WELL. Special note about hole #5: the right side of the hole past the red tees extending up to the green will no longer be a lateral hazard. It will be played as an integral part of the golf course. If a ball is lost in the woods now, it must be played under the stroke and distance ruling for a lost ball. Remember to play a provisional when you hit it deep into the woods on the right side. It will still be a hazard off the tee up to the red tees on #5. Next time playing the hole, check to see the changes that were recommended by the USGA/GAM about that previous hazard. Some other questions I ve received from golfers were about LOST BALL vs. UNPLAYABLE LIE. When a player hits a ball into the woods, it is my suggestion for a player to hit a provisional ball to speed up play rather than having to go back to the previous spot, if the ball is not found. A player must state that they are hitting a provisional ball. If the player finds the original ball, he or she will NOT be able to play the provisional ball under any circumstance. Once the original ball is found, the provisional ball is not an option since the ball is not lost. If the ball is not in a good place, a player may then proceed under Rule 28 for an Unplayable Lie. Under the penalty of one stroke, a player has three options: Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole. Note to members: Please consider range balls to be the property of IRGC. If you have leftover range balls, please return them to the pro shop for full credit. Do not keep them in your locker or automobile because the pro shop has run short on busy days. Remember to check in at the golf shop prior to teeing off as well. For the months of July and August, play has increased so be sure to book a tee time in advance. Also, golfers might be paired up to create foursomes to help pace of play. We appreciate your understanding on this matter. Pairing golfers up together help generate more revenue for our fine club! Thanks for all your support. Enjoy the rest of these great summer months! John Paul Westbrook, PGA Head Golf Professional 3
Tournament and Golf The 2014 Presidents Cup is in full gear as we go to print. The Ladies Division is down to the final four while the Men s Division is into the round of sixteen. There have been some terrific matches played to date with most going down to the final holes, and there have even been several matches that have gone to extra holes. If you have never signed up for this event in the past, you may wish to consider joining next year. The event is a chance to play match-play golf and perhaps play golf with someone you ve never paired up with in the past. Something new we are trying this year is to have the final matches played on August 9 th. The idea here is to promote a gallery to follow the matches for some or all of the holes. Mark your calendar for these matches and come enjoy the fun and help us toast the winners. By the time you read this article the 2014 IRGC Couples Championship will have been played. This event is really fun-- and growing each year. We will report the results in next month s newsletter. Congrats to the IRGC Men who defeated Country Club of Boyne in the annual Inter-Club Matches. The plaque has already been grudgingly delivered to us by Boyne and is displayed in the clubhouse. Next month we will be prepping for the annual IRGC Club Championship. Our number ONE goal for this event is to increase participation. Save the weekend of Aug. 23 and 24 for this event. Go ahead and tell the kids and friends that you are busy that weekend Gary Freismuth and pick another time to come up and visit you ve got golf to play!!! Finally, the T&G Committee would like to thank Karen Pung for all of her hard work on the IRGC Board of Directors and chairing this committee. If you have not heard, Karen and Rick will soon be leaving us and moving to the Howell area. They will be sorely missed! I have been asked to fill in for Karen, and my personal goal is to not mess up all the hard work Karen has done. Thanks and good luck to the Pungs. Get out there, play some golf, have some fun and post those scores! Follow your favorite players throughout the President s Cup Matches by checking the large brackets in the clubhouse bar area!!!!! Greens and Grounds Committee The golf course looks great, thanks to the hard work of Pat Whitman and his crew! I hope that everyone has taken the time to look at the flower beds which look especially colorful and abundant this year Many members have inquired about where we purchased the hanging baskets around the club house this year. I am happy to say that they are from Kelly Ashford at Flowers Unlimited right here in Indian River. She does great work and is very reasonable. It would be great to see more members support her business. If you have noticed a big smile on the faces of many of the women golfers recently, that is because we are golfing from our new forward tees. Although they are currently not rated by GAM, that should happen very soon. Those of us who have tried them find that the golf experience is just more fun. That is exactly the intent of the move it forward movement. Sue Schultz Beauty Around Indian River Golf Club Clubhouse 4
Marketing and Membership Committee Chairperson: Candee Tucker In an attempt to establish The Greenside Grille as a destination restaurant, we were lucky to be promoted on McGowan s Menu, a weekly feature of 9&10 News at Five. Many throughout northern Michigan were introduced to our fine dining facility. Tonya and John did a great job highlighting the fine food and service at The Greenside Grille. Please remember to visit the Trip Advisor website to offer a review. This is another free way to promote The Greenside Grille to those visiting the Indian River area. Amanda will be creating a new Facebook page featuring The Greenside Grille. Please join Facebook and like the page and the IRGC Facebook page which is still another way to promote our fine facility for free. The Happy Hours are 4 to 6pm Tuesday through Saturday at the bar and on the deck, excluding special events. The Greenside Grille will also be listed in the Traverse Magazine s, Restaurant Guide. This magazine is available throughout northern Michigan. Bill Hobson of Michigan Golf Live has finished the video, a flyover of the course. A thirty second voice over describing each hole will be completed shortly. When finished, the video will be available on our IRGC website, IRGC Facebook Page, and for use at different functions and marketing events. Indian River Golf Club The Friendliest Club In The North You may have noticed our staff wearing Ask Me buttons. This is a way to hopefully initiate the conversation regarding the fine benefits in being an IRGC member. The Membership and Marketing Committee has initiated a subcommittee, a Retention Committee. We realize that lives become busy throughout the summer season, and we would like to focus on present members who are not as active as they may have once been. By contacting them, we hope to get them involved so that they can enjoy the people and activities at IRGC. Carol Freismuth has volunteered to lead this effort. Discussions are being held regarding developing a more aggressive membership drive. Additional members will provide the opportunity to continue the great strides in quality we have made, continue with the capital improvements that are needed and have been talked about for years, and likely prevent additional dues increases and assessments. With the addition of twenty to thirty new members, the equity of our present certificates will increase. Please ask a Membership/ Marketing member about our possible proposal, as we are looking for your feedback. Cost: 155.106 Yuan ($25.00) Tuesday, August 12, 2014 11:30 AM Registration 12:00 Lunch 1:00 to 3:00 PM Tournament Awards and Prizes 3:00 PM Play For Fun! Register in the Pro-shop 5
Social Committee June's Member Scramble was well attended w/ over sixty golfers and Eighty for dinner and dancing. The food was excellent and the Brewery Band provided good sounds for dancing and listening. They will be back next year. Wednesday, July 30th is our next Member Scramble featuring our annual hole-in-one contest. There will be a $2.00 entry fee for all scramble participants. Those women who land on the green on holes nine or thirteen (depending which nine you play) will qualify for the hole-in-one event. For the men, holes two and seventeen will be the qualifying holes. The contest will follow the scramble on hole number nine and the crowd will be on the deck enjoying the competition. Dinner will follow along with the prizes for the scramble and the hole-in-one contest. The hole-in-one winner will take Mike Ridley on the Deck 6:00 to 8:00 PM August 14th Call for reservations! Jerry Lesperance, Chairperson home the pot of money. If no one gets a hole-in-one, the closest to the hole for the women and men will split the pot. You gotta be there! Next Up: The Boyne Couples event at Boyne is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13th. Check your calendars and watch for more details in the clubhouse. Happy Hour is working well for our members and guests. Remember, Happy Hour is available Tuesday through Saturday from 4 PM to 6 PM. Draft beer is half off, house wines are half off and mixed drinks (w/ well drinks-non premium liquor) are half off. Enjoy your time at the club! Dancing to the music of the Brewery Band after golf and dinner on Member s Night. Didn t know there were so many dancers with all that energy! Indian River Golf Club Presents: Art On The Green September 18, 2014 4:00 to 6:00 PM Come to happy hour at the bar and enjoy the art show presented by the members of Indian River Golf Course. The arts are many and varied ranging from painting, to wood carving, to writing, to jewelry and more. Some items will be for pur- chase, but others are just to enjoy.,inforormation: Pam Kroeger at 941-400-6404 6
Indian River Golf Club P.O. Box 428 Indian River, MI 49749 231-238-7011 2013 Officers: President: Craig Druskins Vice-President: Bruce Hunting Secretary: Bill Bray Treasurer: Suzanna Stump W E A R E ON T H E WEB! W W W. I N D I AN R IV E RG OL FCL U B. C O M Tee Times 238-7011 Restaurant 238-8515 Welcome to all IRGC members who enjoy a game of bridge. You are invited to play Duplicate Bridge on Tuesday at 6:00 pm (5 pm for dinner, if you can join the dinner crowd) and/or Party Bridge on Thursday. Come at noon for lunch and 1:00 for bridge Please call Margie Reh (238-2220) to sign up for Duplicate Bridge and Pat Stanton (238-8927) to sign up for Party Bridge. Sign up for one week or multiples. We always need and love new players. Non-members can also sign up for a minimal fee. The cost is $99 for the quarter (3 month bridge membership) or $5.00 guest fee per day. Call with questions. Euchre Every First and Third Thursday Join players for dinner at 5:00 PM Card play is from 6:30 to 8:00 PM Please call or email Sue or Bob Schultz by noon on Wednesdays SCHBOBIR@HOTMAIL.COM 231-238-4281 We need to know numbers to set up for dining, staff, tables, tallies, etc. If you would like to learn to play euchre, please contact Sue to make arrangements. Mah Jongg play is Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 2:30+ PM. Beginners are welcome. To inquire about learning the game, contact Jessie McFadden at 238-7369. Beginners are welcome! 7