A P R I L 2 0 1 7 VO L U M E X I I N U M B E R 3 WHAT S NEW FOR THE 2017 GOLF SEASON! Johnny-O Practice Range Tail Men s West Coast Prep apparel. Wear on the course, of off, or at the pool! New Target Poles, Wedge Practice Barrels and Bag Stands Performance, Fashion and Comfort in Ladies apparel New Tournament Bobby Jones Instagram 1st Ever May the 4th Be With You Night Golf Tournament Iconic name, Quality Men s Apparel, just in time for The Masters New Instagram Social Media Follow us at @RiverCrestGolfClub
APRIL 2017 THE PRESERVE PA G E 2 The RiverCrest Stewardship Committee prepared this Membership Pledge to create awareness and encourage proper course etiquette while maintaining a 4 hour pace of play. It's the responsibility of each Member to abide by the following policies to ensure an enjoyable experience for all Members of the Club. RESPECT THE COURSE - In every aspect, leave the course in better shape than you found it RESPECT PACE OF PLAY -Play in 4 hours and allow faster groups to play through REPLACE DIVOTS - Divot replacement is favored over filling with seed mix REPAIR BALL MARKS - Repair your ball mark and others you see on the greens RAKE BUNKERS - Bunkers are to be raked after each use. Leave rakes in the bunker RESPECT CART RULES - Carts are never to be in the native grasses or within 30 yards of a green RI VERCR E ST P R E SE RV E S
A P R I L 2 0 1 7 T H E P R E S E R V E PA G E 3 SUNDAY BRUNCH every sunday from 11 to 2 N O R E S E R V A T I O N S R E Q U I R E D TEXAS HOLD EM Jim Madanci and Jeff Baun are off to a quick start in the point standings for 2017. The season is still young and lots of opportunity to qualify for the tournament in November. Simply place 1st or 2nd and you're in! All members are welcome to come out and try their skills! Poker starts at 7:30pm on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. NEXT HOLD EM Wednesday, April 19th everything tastes better with beer THURSDAY MAY11 th starting at 6:30 pm 5 COURSE PAIRING 50 DOLLARS PER PERSON ++ ONLY 20 SPOTS AVAILABLE SIGN UP ONLINE MOTHERS DAY BRUNCH Sunday, May 14th 10am and 1pm Seatings $ 14 99 $ per child 12 and under 34 99 per adult CHILDREN UNDER 3 EAT FREE GUESTS WELCOME U P C O M I N G E V E N T S Easter Bunny Brunch - Sunday, April 9th Cooking Demo & Dinner - Wednesday, April 12th Easter Brunch & Dinner - Sunday, April 16th Mother Daughter Tea Party - Sunday, April 30th Kentucky Derby Happy Hour - Saturday, May 6th Beer Dinner - Thursday, May 11th Mother s Day Brunch - Sunday, May 14th New Member Happy Hour - Friday, May 19th Memorial Day Pool Party - Monday, May 29th
APRIL 2017 THE PRESERVE PA G E 4 CONGRATS TO TEAM O BRIEN AND THEIR RIVERCREST RUMBLE VICTORY!
A P R I L 2 0 1 7 T H E P R E S E R V E PA G E 5 POLICY REMINDERS FOR 2017 THE 2017 GOLF SEASON OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY! We hope all Members and Guests enjoy the golf course and have a wonderful round of golf. We kindly ask all fellow Members and Guests to do their part in helping maintain the excellent conditions by following the guidelines listed below: PRACTICE RANGE The range tee will be set on grass on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday and mats the other days of the week. Please aim balls towards the target greens and for long hitters please be aware of shots reaching the Learning Center and avoid hitting balls that can reach the tee box on that end. GOLF COURSE ETIQUETTE - We ask your assistance following proper golf course etiquette. Please make an extra effort this year to go above and beyond your normal routine by fixing multiple ball marks per green, replacing divots and raking bunkers. Be sure to leave the course in better shape than you find it. PACE OF PLAY - Our goal is to maintain a four hour pace of play (2 hours for 9 holes). Please play ready golf and keep up with the group in front of yours. We ask that Members take the responsibility of their play and that of their guests and inform your fellow players that your group is falling behind and everyone needs to pick it up. GOLF CARTS Please notice and follow the daily cart regulations listed on the front window of you cart. Golf Carts are never permitted in the native fescue grasses. CLUB IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYS - The Clubhouse, Golf House, Golf Course, Putting Greens and all Practice Facilities are closed to Members on Tuesdays. Please do not use the main Putting Green or any of the Practice Facilities on Tuesdays. CLUB STORAGE - The Club provides Members storage of their golf bag in the Cart Barn. Members and Guests are not permitted in the Cart Barn or Club Storage area. Clubs are retrieved by a member of the golf staff. OPENING WEEKEND AT THE CLUB!
A P R I L 2 0 1 7 T H E P R E S E R V E PA G E 6 HAPPY HACKERS HAPPY TO BE HACKING AGAIN The Happy Hackers are gearing up for another season beginning Monday, April 17th. This Ladies group is all about having fun in a stressfree, non-competitive environment. There are no rules, other than to laugh, support one another and keep on hacking away. The group of nearly 30 ladies play 9 holes Monday mornings starting at 9:00am, followed by trading laughs over lunch. For more details or to join the Happy Hackers please contact Kelly Komancheck in the Golf Shop, kmk@rivercrestgolfclub.com. Just remember, Don t Worry, Be Happy! TAYLORMADE PRODUCT EXPERIENCE @ RIVERCREST Join us on Saturday, April 29th from 11:00am to 3:00pm when our Tech Specialist and fitting experts from TaylorMade will be showcasing their new products at the Practice Range. From everything M1 and M2, to the new wedges, to a plethora of shaft options, if you are looking to upgrade your golf equipment, do not pass up this opportunity. To ensure a quality and one-on-one experience for those serious buyers, we will be taking reservations every 30 minutes with the TaylorMade Tech Specialist. To schedule a 30-minute session, send us an email (golfshop@rivercrestgolfclub.com) or stop by the Golf Shop. The Professional Staff will also be available during the product experience to assist you and to properly fit you if you choose to walk-in. PRE-PAID GUEST FEE PACKAGE Purchase 5 Guest Fees and get 1 Guest Fee Free! FREE GREENS FEE!! The Pre-Paid Guest Fee Package allows Members to purchase five Guest rounds at $85 per round ($425) and receive a 6th Guest round Free. Members may purchase as many Packages as desired but must do so by May 15th. Rounds must be used by December 31st of 2017. To purchase the package or for additional details please contact the Golf Shop. GOOD LUCK GAP & WGAP TEAMS The Men s and Women s GAP teams are gearing up for the 2017 season! Our three Men s teams forge into battle on Sundays April 23rd, April 30th and May 7th. The three Ladies teams will compete on April 25th, April 28th, May 2nd, May 5th and May 9th. Thanks to all players representing RiverCrest. Play well! LADIES OPENING DAY Ladies Opening Day is Thursday, April 13th with a 9:30am shotgun start. The format will be a 4-person Step Aside Scramble. The Golf Shop staff will make fun, random pairings. There will be a continental breakfast prior to golf and lunch and awards following golf. Sign up online or by calling the Golf Shop and come out and support Ladies Golf! SENIOR GOLF OPENING DAY The Professional Staff will come up with a fun, unique theme and format and put together the pairings. There will be a breakfast prior to golf and lunch and awards following golf. Gentlemen 50 years and older may sign up online or by calling the Golf Shop. So come out and have a Senior moment! MATCH PLAY QUALIFYING BEGINS APRIL 1ST The season-long Men s Match Play events (Men s Handicap Championship, Men s Better Ball Championship, Scratch Match Play, Senior Handicap Championship, Senior Better Ball Championship, and Super Senior Handicap Championship) will have qualifying starting April 1st. Qualifying for the Men s Handicap Championship and the Men s Better Ball Championship will end on April 30th. All other Match Play qualifying will end on May 31st. The entry fee for each Championship is $25. Crystal trophies await the winners; will one have your name on it? See the Professional Staff for qualifying details. DATE April 8 April 13 April 17 April 19 April 20 April 23/30 A P R I L T O U R N A M E N T S TOURNAMENT Masters Saturday Event (starting times) Ladies Opening Day (9:30am shotgun) Happy Hackers (9:00am-10:00am starting times) Senior Golf Opening Day (8:30am shotgun) Ladies Golf (9:00am-10:00am starting times) GAP Matches (9:30am-12:00pm starting times) MEN S LEAGUE KICK S OFF APRIL 26TH! The 4th year of the Men s League begins April 26th. 32 teams, in four divisions, will battle it out for the title once again. The Professional Staff will make the divisions and the 9-hole round robin matches will start on Wednesday, April 26th with 5:30pm shotguns. The bi-weekly matches go thru the middle of July followed by 3 weeks of Playoffs. Good luck Men! April 24 April 25/28 April 26 April 26 April 27 April 29 April 30 Happy Hackers (9:00am-10:00am starting times) WGAP Matches (8:30am shotguns) Senior Golf (9:00am-10:00am starting times) Men s League Begins (5:30pm shotgun) Ladies Golf (9:00am-10:00am starting times) TaylorMade Demo Day (11:00am-3:00pm) Qualifying ends for Men s Handicap and Better Ball Match Play Tournaments
Rule 9. Holing the Ball (circa 1744) By Jamie Komancheck, PGA Head Golf Professional Dad! Have you heard the news? Colby blurted out. They re changing the rules! Can you believe that! After I just learned them all! I had to calm him down and tell him the governing bodies were thinking of making changes, allowing a 6 month comment period on various rules. Colby responded, Well, who are the governing bodies? I have a few comments for them! I laughed and told him the USGA and the R&A. Who s the R&A? he inquired. I told him it stands for Royal and Ancient, getting its name from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which was originally founded in 1754. Colby insisted on going to visit them and give them a piece of his mind. So we packed up the family and off to Scotland and golf in the Kingdom! On the flight across the pond Colby, his Mom and I discussed the proposed rules changes (and even though it was a 6 hour flight, we still didn t complete our discussion!) The goal of the changes is to simplify the rules, making them easier to understand and hopefully making the game more enjoyable. Some rules are intended to speed up the game, which both Colby and I fully agreed was a great idea! I told Colby St. Andrews is recognized as the birthplace of golf, and the expected time to play a round of golf is 3 hours. Not a problem Dad! The three of us decided to get a round in on the Old Course before we visited the Captains of the R&A. The Old Course at St. Andrews has been on my bucket list of must play courses. To be able to play with Kelly and Colby made it all the more special. We were paired with an old Professional, Shivas MacDuff from a nearby course called Burningbush. He was a pleasant fellow who took to Colby right away. Throughout the round Shivas provided Colby a walking history lesson on the Old Course and how many of the rules came to be. Colby asked him if he was around when the rules were originally written. Shivas had a hearty laugh while Colby s Mom and I cringed. Colby, me lad, the rools o gawf av bin rond almost 300 yers, how auld do ye think I em? We all laughed at that. Colby asked Shivas what he thought of the proposed rules changes. Shivas told him (I ll translate as it s hard to spell what he said), Some I like, some I don t. But the rules have changed many times since 1744. Originally there were only 13 rules, and now there are 34. As a Professional we want all players to enjoy the game as much as we do. But we want the virtues, character and challenges of the game to remain. Colby nodded his approval, he could agree with that. Just shy of three hours after teeing off, we approached the home hole. The 18th Hole at St. Andrews is a short Par 4 measuring 357 yards, named Tom Morris after the original keeper of the greens and father of Professional Golf. After teeing off we had Shivas take a customary family photo on the Swilcan Bridge. I wish I would have taken a photo of him and Colby, but it slipped my mind. The pin was located on the front left of the green, right behind the Valley of Sin. Colby liked the name, and found it even cooler that the green was built on an old gravesite. Colby s approach shot found the green and had a makeable birdie putt of 12 feet. As he lined up his putt he noticed a spike mark in the line of his putt. He asked Shivas if he could apply the new proposed rule allowing players to repair spike marks or other damage on the green with no penalty (funny how we want to change the rules when they negatively affect us.) Shivas played along. Colby, when I originally helped write the rules back in 1744, Rule #9 states, No man at Holling his Ball, is to be allowed, to mark his way to the Hole with his Club or anything else. So, since you are in my homeland, we ll follow my rules. The spike mark stands! And if you don t like it you may post a comment with the R&A located behind the 18th green after you putt! But you only have 6 months, so hurry up and putt or I ll penalize you for slow play too! Colby looked like a deer in headlights after that lecture. He had no chance of making the putt and froze over the ball for a few seconds. Shivas, ever the consummate old Pro, walked up to Colby and told him to play it just outside the spike mark but take some pace off it. Colby did just that and the ball broke nicely into the hole for a birdie! He was so happy he forgot to stop at the R&A and instead went to have an apple juice with Shivas at the bar. The origins of golf have some records of a golf-like activity being played in the 13th century, almost 750 years ago. And the different forms of the game have no doubt had variations in the rules as well. As the governing bodies look to make changes to the rules once again, it is a great opportunity for all players, Professionals and Amateurs alike, to offer their comments on the proposed changes. What other sport does that? So take this unique opportunity, read up on the proposed rules changes and send in your comments. The game of golf will be better because of it.
A P R I L 2 0 1 7 T H E P R E S E R V E PA G E 8 GOLF ACADEMY NEWS with Moose Brian Moose DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION JUNIOR SUMMER CAMPS MINORS/MAJORS JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS (12 STUDENTS) $190 per child, 10:30am 1:30pm Minors Camp, Ages 7-10: June 28th-June 30th Majors Camp, Ages 10-12: July 12th-July 14th Combo Camp, Ages 7-12: July 19th-July 21st Topics: Pre-Swing, full-swing principles, putting, chipping, pitching, moderate video swing analysis, detailed introduction to course management, an individualized plan for each student, and fitness training. A variety of games developed by U.S. Kids Golf will also be a part of the curriculum to aid the learning process. Students will be required to bring their own packed lunch each day, snacks and water will be provided for everyone. Elite Junior Golf Camps (8 students) $320 per child, 10:30am 1:30 pm Minors Camp, Ages 7-10: August 7th-August 11th Majors Camp, Ages 10-12: July 24th-July 28th Legends Junior Golf Camp (8 students) Ages 13-17, $400 per child, 9:30am 1:30pm Camp #1: July 31st-August 4th **Students will spend 2 of the camp days on the golf course. Topics include in-depth instruction on: -Full-swing (pre-shot routine, set-up including aim, grip, set-up) -Short game (all aspects, in-depth drills, understanding the why & how) -Course Management (difference between "tentative" and "conservative", full understanding of rules/etiquette) -Individualized plan of action for each student -An incorporation of exercise and fitness into a daily practice regimen -Indepth video analysis and use of FlightScope. A variety of games developed by U.S. Kids Golf will also be a part of the curriculum to aid the learning process. Students will be required to bring their own packed lunch each day, snacks and water will be provided for ever ONE DAY GOLF SCHOOLS The school will offer instruction and how to develop practice habits to see your game flourish. The One Day Golf School will take place at the Golf Academy and all technologies will be used during the school. All areas of the game will be covered including but not limited to putting, chipping, bunker, trouble shots, mental approach, and full swing. The cost for the One Day Golf School is $250 per person. 4 people per school. Dates are as follows: April 22nd May 20th June 24th July 15th August 12th The One Day Golf School schedule will go as follows: 8:15 am-short game instruction 10:30 am-full swing instruction including practice habits 12:30 pm-lunch 2:00 pm-play 9 holes with on-course instruction 5:00 pm-concludes with feedback for further development