May 2015, Issue 12 Memorial Day Weekend Luau Sunday, May 24th 5-10pm Live Music on the Pool Deck Kid s Games and Activities Polynesian Inspired Buffet $18++ for adults and $12++ for children under 12 Contact Alex at 904-372-2222 for reservations. 1
LETTER FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER Dear Club Member, It has been a very exciting and busy first quarter of our new Club. We have seen fantastic support for our special events such as Easter Brunch, where over four hundred dined with us that day. Our Hump Day Happy Hour on Wednesdays has become a huge hit with over two hundred enjoying live music, cocktails and great food. We are definitely seeing some trends in your food and beverage desires. Live music, buffets, family themed events, adult only events, children s recreational programs and appetizer type menu items are among those on our list. Our programming is evolving and will require modifications in staffing and operating needs to effectively introduce these new programs and events. We do receive a lot of feedback from you through our comment cards, emails and in person. Please keep these coming as it is very helpful in establishing what you would like your Club to be. We are planning on a club survey in the near future after the pool season is complete so that we can get a more concise assessment of what you like and would like to see improved at the Club. One area we do ask for your help is the adherence to our Club Rules and Regulations. The club is and will be a place to relax, have fun, make memories and enjoy. However, we do need to remind you of a few areas that have become a concern: A) Children under age 12 are welcome throughout all areas of our club with a parent. They are, however, expected to remain seated at tables when dining indoors. Children are not permitted in the Sunset Grille & Bar after 9pm on Friday and Saturday and may not be seated at the bar at any time. This is a requirement of our liquor license as well. B) Please refrain from using inappropriate language in a loud manner in any clubhouse area. We also ask that if you are enjoying your favorite alcoholic beverage that you do so in moderation. Again, we are bound by the provisions within our liquor license regarding this issue and may be forced to limit sales of alcohol to you should you overindulge. C) The outdoor patio and lawn is a wonderful place for families and a fantastic way to watch our sunset each day. Please keep your children away from the Sherman s Creek fence and out of landscaped areas. At times, the lawn will be not usable due to maintenance and applications. D) Those wearing bathing suits are not permitted in the clubhouse dining areas without an appropriate cover up. Our snack bar is now open and the pool deck has table seating available for dining. An outdoor shower is located near the Splash Pad that may be used rinse off before or after swimming. E) Lifeguard service will begin soon on weekends and everyday when school is out. Please remind your children that they may not run on the pool deck, jump off the dive blocks, play on the lane lines and/or disturb the landscaping and flower beds. F) Pets are not permitted on club property at any time. G) Food and drink service on the patio and pool deck will be in plastic only due to the hazard of broken glass. Everyone must wear shoes on the patio and in the clubhouse at all times. H) Personal golf carts and bicycles should only be parked in the designated Cart and Bike Parking area located on the concrete pad in the parking lot in front of the tennis shop and pool. I) All guests must check in with the member while using any club facility and be accompanied by a member. The charge for guests at the pool will be $5.00 per person on your club account. For Sports Members who bring guests to the Fitness Center, the charge is also $10.00 per person. For golf, members must accompany guests unless approved in advance. Guest fees and range ball fees will be applied to your club account. J) Our dress code is not as strict as some clubs, but we do ask that gentlemen remove their hats when using the Sunset Grille and Bar. K) On the golf course please remember to fill your divots, rake bunkers after your shot and repair your ball marks. As golfers, we all have a roll in maintaining the condition of our golf course. L) After tennis, please use the shoe wash pad prior to entering the building. The clay tracks in and can then get into the wood floors, tile grout and in the fitness machines. We certainly do not want our staff to seem overbearing, but please understand that when our staff politely reminds you of a club rule, they are simply attempting to maintain the quality and standards our members expect. Continued violations of club rules may result in a suspension of your membership as approved by the Board of Directors. For a complete list of our Club Rules and Regulations, please email Melissa Bryan at Melissa@ atlanticbeachcountryclub.com. We have many great events and activities ahead. On behalf of the entire staff, I hope you have had a great spring and are ready to dive into summer!! Sincerely, Ed Tucker, PGA General Manager 2
Greetings, fellow Atlantic Beach Country Club members! What an exciting few months it has been since we all gathered under tents and beneath the stars to celebrate the grand opening of this beautiful club. It s been a pleasure to see everyone enjoying our facilities and services. With the warmer months upon us, I know I ll be seeing even more of you lounging poolside, hitting the links or bringing the family by for a delicious dinner on our back patio. It was an honor last month to have been chosen by my fellow members on the ABCC Board of Directors to serve as Club President for the coming year. I have appreciated the words of support and encouragement from so many of you as we move forward in further developing our fabulous club. As I serve this term, I will be joined by fellow Board members Chip Greene (Vice President), Mike Carlin (Treasurer), Josh Allen (Secretary), Bryan PRESIDENT S LETTER Croft, Alan Gasparovic, Howard Halle, Rick Moyer and Leed Silverfield. I assure you that our Club is in excellent hands with this group, which includes bankers, small business owners, young members, retirees and everything in between. For those of you curious as to what your Board s direction is as we see this Club through the coming months, we hope to continue to create enjoyable experiences for our members to keep you coming back to the Club time and time again. Outgoing Club President Mike Carlin has been an invaluable part of building this direction that allows us all to call such a beautiful club our own. I cannot thank him enough for his mentorship over the past few years and for the countless hours of service he dedicated to seeing this Club come to fruition. We are incredibly lucky to have him continuing his service on the Board as Club Treasurer. I would also like to thank Laura Ferrante for her years of serving on the Board. She is a class act, who contributed countless hours of legal expertise, always with a calm demeanor. My family and I have personally enjoyed many of the Club s brand new facilities and services in the months since the grand opening. Chef Marvin continues to find ways to make our meals fresher, healthier and tastier, Lindsay in the fitness center whips me into shape several mornings a week with her High Intensity Interval Training class, and my husband assures me the golf course is one of the best he has ever played. I hope you will all continue to explore and enjoy the many facets of your membership and make Atlantic Beach Country Club a part of your family s traditions that will endure as the Club grows. See you around the Club! Kelley Strong FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER We are pleased to announce that Aaron Holley has joined our team as Food & Beverage Manager. Aaron s background includes several years of managing both the Slammer & Squire and King & Bear Golf Clubs at the World Golf Village. Prior to that Aaron worked for large restaurants here in Jacksonville and in Denver, Colorado. Aaron will be responsible for the daily management and service in the bar and dining areas. Aaron attended the University of Florida and Colorado State. He and his family are residents of Atlantic Beach, and we are excited to have Aaron take our service to the next level. DIRECTOR OF SPORTS & RECREATION Sarah Hall will be joining our staff as Director of Sports & Recreation. Sarah has a wide range of experience and is certified in Personal Training, Aqua Aerobics and Pilates. She is also certified in pool operations and is a Red Cross Lifeguard/ Water Safety instructor. Her background also includes tennis as she is a certified USPTA Tennis Professional. Sarah comes to us from Deerwood Country Club where she has managed their entire Fitness, Aquatics and Children s Recreation program since 2012. Prior to that,sarah managed several Jacksonville area Community Development recreation programs and amenities and before that she was the Aquatics, Fitness and Recreation Manager at Sawgrass Country Club. Sarah will be developing some new and exciting programs as well as expanding our children s recreation and care offerings. Sarah is a graduate of Flagler College, and she and her family reside in Jacksonville. We would also like to thank Alicia Dawson for her hard work in opening our facility and getting the first step of our new Club s sports facilities off the ground. Alicia has been accepted to occupational therapy school in St. Augustine, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors! 3
GOLF GAME OPPORTUNITIES Men s Group Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM $2.00 Nassau All handicaps welcome Be done before lunch Sign up Friday before noon Senior Men s Group Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:30 am Handicap range 20-36 70 and older Friday Flatback GAME $20.00 Best 1 of 2 Net (Blind Draw) and Gross Skins All handicaps welcome Option to move up to Leatherback tees and subtract 2 strokes from handicap ABCC Women s Golf Group (18-Holes) Thursdays 9:00 AM Sign Up in Ladies Locker Room or Call Golf Shop Sign Up by Wednesday at noon ABCC Women s Golf Group (18-Holes) Saturdays 11:00AM Sign Up in the Ladies Locker Room or call the Golf Shop Sign Up by Friday at noon ABCC Women s Golf Group (9-Holes) Tuesdays 1:30 PM Sign Up in Ladies Locker Room or Call Golf Shop Sign Up by Sunday at noon 2015 ATLANTIC BEACH INVITATIONAL Non-Member Invite Entry ($250) Member Entry ($195.00) includes - 2 Practice Round (Cart Fee) certificates to use any weekday before the tournament ***May bring up to 3 guests for $55.00 ***Certificates will be given out once entry is received - Official Practice Round on Friday, May 15th - 2 Tournament Rounds- Saturday May 16th and Sunday, May 17th with Lunch - Tee Gift and Prizes MEMBER ENTRY FORM ALL ABCC Members are formally invited to participate in the 2015 Atlantic Beach Invitational at Atlantic Beach Country Club on May 16 and 17. Formerly The Bob Meeker Invitational, this tournament had its beginnings in 1961 and will now host one of the best competitive fields in Northeast Florida. The best amateur players in the area will compete for the coveted Bob Meeker Trophy. Players will also get an opportunity to earn Underwood Cup Amateur points. This is a 2 day, 36-hole stroke play event. Gross Flight No handicaps will be used Flatback Tee Markers Prizes will be awarded to 20% of the field Net Flight The number of flights will be based on the number of players participating Flights will be determined by handicap index Leatherback Tee Markers Net Prizes will be awarded in each flight Member Entry Fee of $195.00 includes Two Practice Round (Cart Fee) certificates to use any weekday before the tournament ***May bring up to 3 guests for $55.00 ***Certificates will be given out once entry is received Official Practice Round on Friday, May 15 Two Tournament Rounds- Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 with Lunch Tee Gift and Prizes 4
GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE ETIQUETTE Thank you to all 40 teams participating in this year s Men s Member-Member. Congratulations to Overall Champions, Don Sabia and Barry Sabia! Maintaining our course: 1. Turf tends to explode on impact, making it difficult, if not impossible, to replace the divot. There are two sand buckets and a sand bottle on our carts. If everyone can try to fill at least two divots per hole, it will help keep our fairways in great shape. 2. Bring a rake into the bunker with you -- remembering that you should always enter the bunker from the low side at a point nearest to the ball. Whenever possible, avoid walking on the steep face of a bunker. After hitting your shot, rake the area you played from, as well as all your footprints and any others within reach. Rakes should be left just outside the bunker. 3. Important to repair any pitch marks or indentations caused by the ball hitting the green. Using a tee, knife, key or repair tool, repair the mark by working the edges towards the center, without lifting the center of the mark. Don t tear the grass. Finish by smoothing the area with a club or your foot. Try to get the area smooth enough to putt over. 4. Just remember that while the Rules of Golf allow you to repair pitch marks on your putting line, you cannot repair spike marks on your putting line until after you have putted. THE BIG GAME Congratulations to Scott Nicholson and Keith Mathews for winning The Big Game on Sunday April 12th. If you are interested in the The Big Game on Sunday, May 24th, you can contact Mark Carroll to sign up. mcarroll@benchmarkdesigngroup.com 5
On Saturday June 6 we will have a special event to kickoff junior golf season. We will have demo day from 10am-1pm with snacks/drinks and prizes being awarded to those in attendance! There we will be an offering of three 4-day summer junior golf camps for children ages 5 to 13. The camps are scheduled from 8:30 am to noon. In each camp there will be a beginner option for kids 4-7 that will reduce the rate and time frame of the camp. Beginners will go from 8:30 am to 10am. The summer golf camps will cover all aspects of the game from driving and iron play to extensive short game instruction. We will also get our juniors out on the golf course each camp to let them experiment with their newly learned skills. In addition, proper etiquette, respect for the game of SUMMER JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMMING golf and good sportsmanship will be a big part of our camp experience. The price will be $225 for the junior camps and $125 for beginner option and this includes lunch, camp gifts, awards, snacks and drinks. Girls Only Junior Golf Camp This camp is specifically for girls ages 5 to 14. The camp will give girls a great golfing experience with NO BOYS ALLOWED!! The cost for the camp will be $175, July 14 July 17 from 8:30 am to 11am. Boys Only Beginner Golf Camp This camp is specifically for boys ages 4 to 7. The camp will give boys a great golfing experience with NO GIRLS ALLOWED!! The cost for the camp will be $125, July 14 July 17 from 11:15 am to 12:45 pm. The Terrapin Trot The Terrapin Trot is geared to the advanced junior golfer. Each session will consist of a one hour clinic followed by nine holes of golf and concluding with lunch and prizes. Cost for each Junior Round is $40 per session. Kids have an absolute blast playing in these mini tournaments! Advanced Junior Golf Camps These camps are for the more experienced golfer. There will be two advanced camps limited to twenty juniors. Juniors must be at least 8 years old and able to carry their own golf bag. These camps will be $180 consisting of three days of camp with the final day concluding with a Terrapin Trot Tournament. Lunch, prizes, and awards are all included! 6 2015 Major Tournament Schedule May 15-17: Atlantic Beach CC Invitational $195 for all ABCC Members $250 for invited amateur golfers May 26-28: GOLF COURSE CLOSED Aerification June 13-14: Caddyshack Tournament July 25: Junior Club Championship August 1-2: Club Championship August 3-6: GOLF COURSE CLOSED Golf Operation Golf Shop Hours are from and 7am-6pm (March-September) Weekday (Tuesday-Friday) tee times start at 8am Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) tee times start at 7:30am Full Members may book tee times up to 14 days in advance Sports and Social Members may book tee times up to 7 days in advance Practice Facility hours are the same as the golf shop. PLEASE CHECK IN THE GOLF SHOP BEFORE USING THE PRACTICE FACILITY. The range will close an hour early on Sundays for maintenance. Golf Shop phone # is 904-372-2224 Golfer will be able to order food off a limited menu on your cart by calling 904-372-2203 Aerification September 12: Parent/Child Championship October 22-24: Men s Member-Guest Tournament November 20-22: ABCC Ryder Cup December 11: Glow-Ball Golf Shop Staff: Head Golf Professional- Spencer Brown, PGA Spencer@atlanticbeachcountryclub.com First Assistant Golf Professional- John Duckworth, PGA John@atlanticbeachcountryclub.com Second Assistant Golf Professional- Chris Zambelli Chris@atlanticbeachcountryclub.com Golf Shop Merchandiser/Manager- Allison Free Allison.Free@atlanticbeachcountryclub.com Summer Junior Golf Schedule Junior Golf Kickoff Weekend June 6th Junior Golf Camps Camp 1 June 2nd 5th Camp 2 June 16th 19th Camp 3 July 7th 10th (Tuesday through Friday) 8:30 am 12:00 pm *Beginner Option 8:30 am 10:00 am Girls Only Junior Camp July 14th 17th Tuesday through Friday 8:30 am 11:00 am Boys Only Beginner Junior Camp July 14th 17th Tuesday through Friday 11:15 am 12:45 pm Advanced Golf Camps Advanced 1 June 10th 12th Advanced 2 July 29th 31st Wednesday through Friday 8:30am 12:30pm The Terrapin Trot Friday June 12th & July 31st 8:30am to 12:30pm Sign-Up at the Golf Shop or Email Coach Duck at john@atlanticbeachcountryclub.com
TENNIS UPDATE April Showers Bring May Flowers for the 8 and under Red Ball Crew! The 12 Beginner Team finished 3rd in the their division at the Florida Yacht Club on April 11th! Henry Batman: Hathaway Ellie Bowles rocking the backhand and princess skirt. The 10 s Orange Ball Champions at the NFPTA Junior Team Challenge on April 11th at the Florida Yacht Club. This is a great time of year to play tennis! We have so much play happening on the courts at Atlantic Beach Country Club. We encourage you to get involved in some of our many programs. On the first Wednesday of each month, we now have a Tennis Happy Hour where our own Terry Whitehead plays live music while our tennis players enjoy his smooth sounds and a cold adult beverage. Come out and join us! As always, please stop by the Sports Shop or call 904-372- 2211 with any questions. For updated daily information please check out ABCC tennis at http://www. usptaplayer.com/club/abcc/. Sincerely, REB and Vasil THE POSITIVE MINDSET By Vasil Atanasov Everyone makes mistakes, even the best players in the world! Never expect perfection on the tennis court because those expectations inevitably lead to disappointment. If your opponent hits a winner that was impossible to get, say good shot. A positive attitude will improve your play while a negative one will defeat all of your efforts. That s the champion s mindset! Adult Upcoming Events sign up on the USPTA Player site Tennis Social at ABCC with The Woods community Sunday, May 17th from 4-7pm Mixed Doubles Club Championships - May 23rd 24th. Cost is $30 per person. Boat Drinks Jimmy Buffet Summer Solstice Social Friday, June 19th at 6pm. Cost is $30 per person. Husband-Wife Mixed Doubles Club Championships June 27th 28th. Cost is$30 per person. Ladies Tennis Camps sign up on the USPTA Player site June 16th 19th and July 21st 24th from 8-10am. Cost is $35 daily or $120 for the week. August 10th 14th from 8:30 to 10:30am. Cost is $35 daily or $150 for the week. Adult Summer League Offerings spots still available Women s Tri-Level Division 2 and Division 3 women - Thursdays at 9am Men s Tri-Level Teal - Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Gold Teams - Wednesdays at 6:30pm Junior Team Tennis Tourney: May 9th - @ Julington Creek Plantation Junior Lessons: May 4-29th Red Ball Wednesdays and Fridays from 4-5pm. Cost is $15. Orange Ball Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5pm. Cost is $15. Full Court - Monday through Friday from 5-6:30pm. Cost is $20 daily or $150 monthly. June Junior Camps: June 2nd August 7th Red Ball Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10-11am. Cost is $20 daily, $30 weekly, or $100 monthly. Orange Ball Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-11am. Cost is $20 daily, $65 weekly, or $240 monthly. Full Court - Tuesday through Friday from 11am-1pm. Cost is $30 daily, $100 weekly, or $320 monthly. Direct Phone Numbers Main Clubhouse (904) 372-2222 Golf Pro Shop (904) 372-2224 Sports Shop (904) 372-2211 Sunset Bar and Grille (904) 372-2203 Ed Tucker (General Manager) (904) 372-2225 Melissa Bryan (Membership Director) (904) 372-2223 Deb Karasek (Accounting Manager) (904) 372-2226 Erin Ruddock (Banquets and Events Manager) (904) 372-2230 Spencer Brown (Head Golf Professional) (904) 372-2210 Chef Marvin McClelland (Executive Chef) (904) 372-2206 REB Phillips (Head Tennis Professional) (904) 372-2209 Alicia Dawson (Sports Manager) (904) 372-2208 Clubhouse Hours of Operation Clubhouse/Pool/Golf Course closed Monday Breakfast (Saturday) 7:30am Brunch (Sunday) 10am-3pm Lunch (Tuesday Saturday) 11am-3pm Dinner (Tuesday Saturday) 5pm-9pm Snack Bar (Tuesday Friday) 11am-6pm Snack Bar (Saturday and Sunday) 11am- 7:30pm Pub Menu (Saturday and Sunday) 3pm-5pm Kids Eat Free (Tuesdays) 5pm-8pm Hump Day Happy Hour (Wednesdays) 4pm-7pm Pool (Tuesday- Sunday) Dawn to Dusk Gym (Monday-Sunday with Membership Card) 5am- 10pm Tennis Pro Shop (Tuesday- Sunday) 7am-6pm 7
PRSRT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 610 Jacksonville, FL 1600 Selva Marina Drive Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 Atlantic Beach Country Club Newsletter 8