McCall Golf & Country Club McCall Matters Page 1 General Manager s Letter Bob Casler The golf season is in full swing and June promises to be an active month at McCall. At this time I would like to say welcome to our new members. If you haven t noticed, we now have more tables and chairs out by the gazebo area so members and guests can enjoy some drinks in the late afternoon or just have a seat while you are waiting to get on the range. Don t forget each year we do offer commemorative bricks for our members 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 new price for a commemorative brick is $100 and we have many examples out on the walkway by the gazebo. For more information, call Debbie Valinsky at 610-734-7913 or email her at deborah.valinsky1@exeloncorp.com. Over the past several weeks we have had a lot of extra people using the driving range area and for the most part it hasn t been that bad. With change always comes confusion and displacement of people. Let s face it, no one likes change but it seems to be working better every day. I would like to thank all the members for their patience! Before you know it the area will be less congested and people will figure out that there are certain times of the day that are better than others. Personally, I see the change from when we first opened this season. I know not all members like the new format but we are definitely moving in the right direction. Our Pro Shop staff, headed up by Eric Figueroa, Pete Cardarelli and Joe Mascio, with help from Dave Helms, Tim Reynolds, and Steve Regan, as well as Matt, and Alex, are very accommodating to all our members and guests to ensure that your experience at the Club is exceptional. If you are a new member and looking to get matched up with other players that may have a similar handicap or interest, check with Pete, as he has the pulse of the membership and a willing-to-help attitude. The June golf calendar will be posted on our website at www.mccallgolf.com. With June comes qualifying for the Club Championship and our Tuesday Night Golf League winding down. Our Jack & Jill Tournament on June 28 th is a great time to meet other couples that enjoy playing golf together, so look for a flier coming out soon.
McCall Golf & Country Club McCall Matters Page 2 General Manager s Letter Bob Casler Bill Shields and Chef Bill along with the entire clubhouse staff did an amazing job on Mother s Day here at McCall. We served the most people ever, not including the little ones. Our next Club event will be our Father s Day Breakfast Buffet on Sunday, June 21 st beginning at 9:00 AM till 12:30 PM. The flier has been released. If you have any questions, please call Kathy Cullen at 610-734-7901. Don t forget Dad! During the month of May, our conference center was very busy with many types of affairs as well as weddings. I would like to take a brief moment to thank Bill Shields and Theresa Burch as well as Chef Bill, along with the staff for their hard work and dedication. May is usually one of the busiest months on the calendar but this May was exceptional! With June here, our outside affairs will continue to keep us busy throughout the month. If you are looking for a great place to have your next event, look no further. Contact Theresa Burch at 610-734-7934. 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 all of the membership is fantastic. Very special thanks to those members. The flowers look amazing and the tennis court area is really shaping up nicely. Kudos to everyone! Enjoy, relax and have a safe and fun-filled summer! Bob
Page 3 McCall Matters The Golf Course Joe Candelore, Director of Golf & Facilities Out on the course everything is in full swing from mowing and rolling to spraying and fertilizing. Once again this year the weather never fails to amaze me. This year in particular, I guess, we already have had everything in the period of two months. Extended cooler temps followed by some extremely beautiful springtime weather all the way up to temps in the 90 s. The weather seems to be getting warmer earlier in the season with temps in the 90 s the last several years during April, May and June. It has made for some great Memorial Day weekends but this year a new twist has been the lack of rain and the dryness over the last week in April and all through May. If I added up the rain totals and then added a couple of tenths, I would still be hard pressed to come up with a half inch of rain for that time period. For the staff it means about 30% of our time has been spent on hand watering areas that dry out faster than others. We had a little tough time with the irrigation system as we started it up with both small and large leaks all over the course. I think the cold winter had a little say in all our opportunities to get the system up and running. We are putting a lot of water on the course now to keep it growing strong as we head into the season. It is way too early to let things go into dry dormancy now. While we are spending extra time on watering, you will notice some detail work not done such as trimming around trees and the edges of some bunkers but we are catching up. Not sure how long the dry weather will last but hopefully we are not going down the California road. I will keep you posted. The volunteers are in full swing with flowers being planted, trash being picked up, ball marks being repaired, divot boxes being filled as well as divots themselves being filled in and also marshalling with helping me keep an eye on the course. These bands of merry men and women make a big difference on the course and every member should notice and thank them if you see them on the course working. I certainly thank them all for their many hours of beautifying McCall. McCall has been a busy Club this spring with lots of golfers, softball in full swing and I have never seen the clubhouse so busy in May before. All the activity is great and it keeps the Club alive and vibrant. The clubhouse staff does a great job handling all the crowds and it also keeps the grounds staff a little busier with maintenance to the building along with the outside area right around the clubhouse. Well that is all for now but if you have any questions just stop me on the course or ask one of the crew and we will get you an answer. As always, thanks for being a member at McCall. Joe
Page 4 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 Things are starting to heat up here at McCall. The weather is one thing that is really heating up. That means summer is upon us. Great for those who love the hot temps. I ll be happy if we have a summer like we did last year. One can only hope. With that said, make sure to get out here and play some golf. The course is in great shape and you should come out and enjoy it! See you out on the links! COURSE ETIQUETTE (PLEASE READ) 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 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. SPRING SALE In an effort to get you ready for the 2015 season, we will be offering 30% off to VIP members on apparel and accessories. That s an extra 10% off of your regular VIP discount. Clubs and balls are excluded from this sale. Sale items are limited to in stock items only. Not a VIP member? Stop into the shop and ask how you can become a VIP member. It s simple and is a no brainer! DRIVING RANGE (PLEASE READ) 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. It is a change to McCall and we are all trying to get our grip on it. Thank you for understanding!
Page 5 McCall Matters The Pro Shop UPCOMING EVENTS IN JUNE Eric Figueroa, PGA Golf Professional Senior Club Championship McCall s Senior Club Championship will be held on June 6 and 7. This is an 18-hole gross and net event. In order to be eligible for the Senior Club Championship, you must be 55 years of age or older. The Super Senior Division is 67 years of age and older. Please call the Pro Shop to sign up. Jack & Jill The format for the Jack & Jill is a two-person scramble. Each team consists of 1 male and 1 female. This year s event will take place on June 28 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 6 until July 1. 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 lesson and supervising the play on the course. Please call the Pro Shop for details and to register for the league. Junior Classes Please contact the Pro Shop to sign up or for any questions you may have. Start Date Time Dates of Class Cost Age 8 thru 12 11:00 AM May 24, 31, June 7 & 14 $60 Age 13 thru 17 12:00 PM May 24, 31, June 7 & 14 $60 Upcoming Events in JULY Flag Tournament This year s Flag Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, 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 6 McCall Matters The Pro Shop Eric Figueroa, PGA Golf Professional Par 3 Challenge This event is scheduled for July 19 and is a fun format for all skill levels. We will turn all 18 holes into par 3 s. This event is open to all men, women and children. Stay tuned for more details to come! The golf course will be closed until 1:30 PM. 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: Cost is $125 and you receive a $125 in merchandise. 20% discount on all apparel, accessories and guest fees for the season. 10% off all equipment purchases (off retail price only). 5% off a dozen golf balls. $4 off cart fees 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 2015 season. Clinics (adult & 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 7 McCall Matters Golf Committee Report Bob Murray, 2015 Golf Chairman Well, by now you finally should be out there playing a lot of golf. A whole lot! As much as you can, I hope. We are in one of the nicest months for golf. Here is a suggestion--keep it in the fairway. This time of year our rough will be (is) tough, so avoid it at all costs. I would like to congratulate Anne Cole on her election as the new President of the Women s Golf League and I want to thank Elaine Costagliola for her service to the league this past year. If you can play on Wednesday mornings, you should come out and join them for some golf, some fun and a nice lunch afterwards. Upcoming Events: June 3-7 June 6 & 7 June 21 June 28 Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing July 4 Women s Club Championship Senior & Super-Senior Club Championships (18 holes) Father s Day Brunch Jack & Jill Tournament (9 holes) with lunch afterwards Rubenstein Match Play Club Championship Play Thursday Night All-Stars play (The Grille is open afterwards) Wednesday Night Ladies Beginner s League/Clinic Junior Clinics Flag Tournament (18 holes) July 19 Par 3 Challenge # August 23 Tough Pin Tournament # # = Don t be a wimp, give it a try!
Page 8 McCall Matters Golf Committee Report Volunteers Bob Murray, 2015 Golf Chairman The efforts of our various volunteers are already very visible around the course. Thanks to all those helpers and to Joe Candelore and Rich Flebbe for coordinating their work. Golf Committee The next Golf Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, June 17 at 5:00 PM. This will be the annual ride-around-tour conducted by Joe Candelore and Rich Flebbe, our Green Chairman. This is always an interesting and informative evening. The meeting schedule for the remainder of 2015 is September 16 and December 2, with probably a couple of cyber meetings thrown in. If you would like to attend a meeting, please give me a call or call me if you would like to submit an item for discussion at a meeting. We still have room for some new participants at our meetings. I would like to hear from you. GAP I encourage you to take a good look at the GAP website (gapgolf.org). Of special interest, among many other things, is the great list of outings on the Member Play Day list. As I said last month, there are some really nice courses on this list. Also, their main tournament schedule has a whole boatload of events, including a nice number of events that include challenged golfers such as me. As a reminder, GAP membership comes as a built-in part of your McCall membership, along with membership in the USGA/GAP handicap system. I would like to encourage all members to take advantage of this great benefit--access to all the great GAP event schedules, the handicap system, the opportunity to become a volunteer at GAP tournaments. Of course, there is no requirement that a member partake of these opportunities, but those who do have all enjoyed their participation. Course Care Please, especially as we try to get through this dry period, fix ball marks on the greens (yours and two more) and fill divots on the tees and in the fairways. It would be a big help if you would rake and clean up the bunkers after you hit out. Thanks. Bob
Page 9 McCall Matters The Member s Voice From The Putting Green Richard Flebbe, 2015 Greens Chairman Hopefully everyone has had the opportunity to play a round or two during May while enjoying the warm temperatures and condition of the golf course. Granted the height of the rough has been challenging and you may have lost a ball or more but it is what makes golf fun. Right? The limited rain received during the month was welcomed for a number of reasons but mainly watering cannot replace a natural rain and is only a supplement. The course was becoming very dry and more rain is required to get us back on track. Since the beginning of April, we only received just over 4-inches of rain with 3-inches of the four occurring on two consecutive days in mid-april. Since the beginning of May, we have only received about 0.6-inches so much more is needed. If not for anything else, just to knock down the pollen that is coming from the trees. One day we observed a cloud of pollen coming off the pine trees and floating down the fairway. Not much fun for the allergy sufferers. Did you notice the flowers planted around the course or the lack of loose trash around the grounds or the absence of divots in the fairways or on the teeing areas? Maybe the absence of pitch marks on the greens passed you by? They are all activities performed around the course courtesy of the McCall volunteers, a group of members that contribute time and effort to making the McCall experience an enjoyable one, so we thank all the volunteers for their contribution. Their efforts are much appreciated. Unfortunately we must continually remind members to take a minute or so to rake the bunkers after playing. On one Tuesday morning the sand bunkers around the second hole looked like the 3 rd army marched through the bunkers. Please take the time and make the effort because it will allow those playing behind you to enjoy their game. Enjoy the McCall Experience! Rich
Page 10 McCall Matters Women s Golf League Anne Cole, President The women's league began their season on April 29 th followed by an excellent luncheon. We want to thank the McCall staff for all their support they have given our league. We have a full schedule of events planned at this wonderful golf course throughout the year. We are considering a new event, if the interest is there, which would be a Women's Member/Guest Tournament. Don t forget the Club s Women Championship will be held from June 3 to June 7. If you have any questions about the championship, please give me a call. If you are not a member of the women's league, feel free to come out some Wednesday morning and join us. We have an 18-hole tournament and a separate 9-hole tournament each week between 8:30 and 10:00 AM. Anne Tennis Bambi Dudley Do you want to learn tennis today? You can! You can learn and play in just six weeks! Grab your racquet and come out to McCall Golf & Country Club for our Monday night six-week series of the basics. You'll learn forehand, backhand, serve, volley, overhead smash, and the rules. Plus, you'll have fun meeting new players, like you! Contact Bambi Dudley at corporatetennis@comcast.net or call 610-688-4974 to reserve your spot. You can sign up online at www.corporatetennis.org. Bambi Dudley www.consultantsartsmgt.com We Say What We Mean! BDudley@ConsultantsArtsMgt.com 610-688-4974 Bambi
Page 11 McCall Matters Conference Center Bill Shields, Food & Beverage Director I would like to personally thank all the members and their families as well as the others who attended the Mother s Day Brunch. I would also like to apologize to the ones who I had to turn away. It is the busiest holiday of the year and it is very difficult to accommodate everyone but we sure try to do our best to take as many as we can handle. I also would like to recognize the staff for the outstanding job that they all did in making this day a success so my thanks to all of you. You are the best staff around. We are winding down the month of May as I am writing this article and it was one of the most active months at the Club to date. We were very busy with weddings, golf outings, senior social groups, showers, birthday celebrations, weekly dinner buffets and PECO events, Sometimes when we have larger events than normal they can be a burden to the membership since we have to shut down certain areas of the Club so I wanted to thank each of you for your understanding and cooperation. The school year is coming to an end and it is not too late to book a graduation party with us. If you need to, please contact me at the Club and I will be more than happy to take care of your needs. Member s Grille Room ** We have extended the hours of our Grille Room to 5:00 PM each day so if you would like to get a cold beverage please stop by.** Hours of Operation Monday: Closed Tuesday thru Friday: 10:00 AM till 5:00PM Saturday & Sunday: 8:00AM till 5:00PM Upcoming Events Father s Day Brunch Sunday 6/21/15 Reservations are available from 9:00 AM till 12:30 PM Featuring Assorted Danish, Muffins and Fresh Fruit Gourmet Omelet Station Chef Bill s South Philly Steak, Egg & Cheese Casserole Adults: $18.00 & Children Under 12: $10.00 Children under 3 (Free) Must bring a high chair or booster.
Page 12 McCall Matters Conference Center Bill Shields, Food & Beverage Director Sunday 6/28/15 The annual Jack & Jill Golf Tournament which is always a fun-filled day with golf, hors d oeuvres, dinner and adult beverages so sign up now in the Pro Shop It is also a good way to meet other members of the Club. **Special Reminder** Thursday, June 18, we have a Sponsored Golf Outing and the golf course will be closed for play at 12:00 Noon. Check with the Pro Shop for further details on this event. On Monday, June 22, we have the P.L.A.Y. Golf Tournament scheduled and the golf course will be closed until late afternoon. Check with the Pro Shop for further details. Sunday Breakfast Breakfast is served every Sunday from 8:00 AM until 12:00 Noon and I would just like to remind you to always call the Club in advance just to make sure that breakfast is being served since there are times that we are limited to space when we have large banquets booked at the Club. Tuesday Night Buffets - June 16 & June 30, 2015 When you make your dinner reservations for these buffets and your number of guests happens to decrease, please call me so that I can make the proper adjustments and also if you have to cancel your reservation completely, this will allow me to accommodate other members if the buffet happens to be a sellout. Always remember to either call me at (610) 734-7900 or send me an email at bill.shields@mccallgolf.com to reserve your table because these buffets do sell out quickly. If you have any suggestions to help us keep improving the operations here at McCall, please either stop by my office or you can email me at the above address. Bill
Page 13 McCall Matters Events & Marketing Update Theresa Burch, Catering Manager Parties, parties, parties! That is what the month of May consisted of here at McCall. We hosted many fabulous events in May from group golf outings to weddings, graduation parties, communions and more. This being said, as I mentioned before, Mother s Day Brunch was our largest and most successful event. It brought me great joy to be part of the McCall tradition. I enjoyed interacting with our members as well as their families and friends. This is an event that I will look forward to each year! June brings us some more events. It is our second busiest month so far this year! We have four graduation parties, three retirement parties, several sports banquets, golf outings and more! Additionally, we will be hosting our Father s Day Brunch on June 21. Please call Bill Shields for reservations. We look forward to seeing all of the fathers and grandfathers with their families! Our staff has been working extra hard to keep up with our busy season yet this has not slowed them down one bit! Over the past several weeks we have received numerous thank you notes filled with praise on their performance. These notes are much appreciated and shared with the staff. Also, speaking of the staff, starting this month they will be looking refreshingly bright in their new McCall golf shirts! These shirts will be worn for the warmer weather events and golf outings. Booking for the fall is still happening! I receive calls for September and October every day so if you are in need of some available dates for the fall, please contact me at meetatmccall@mccallgolf.com. Enjoy the warmer weather, summer is upon us! Theresa
Page 14 McCall Matters Culinary Corner William Bodek, Chef Continuing with cooking techniques, grilling is probably the best time of the year. Important message about grilling is keeping your grill clean. 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 m 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 ll get it right. Nothing beats experience or the opportunity to cook one thing many times over and over but that doesn t mean you can improve your grilling technique. Here are some 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 ll be grilling like a pro. 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 Chef Bill 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 as long as overnight, turning occasionally. 2) Remove steak from marinade; 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.