Dick Hyland, Director of Golf, Inducted Into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame

The Selection Committee of the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame recently named Dick Hyland, Director of Golf at our Scottsdale Country Club, The Country Club at DC Ranch, to its list of new inductees for 2016.  The Induction Ceremony was held on Tuesday, November 22 at Paradise Valley Country Club.  

Hyland embraces a wide range of talent and services that has brought him to this pinnacle in his career, including:

• Demonstration of outstanding qualities of leadership
• Demonstration of strong moral character
• A substantial record of service
• Recognized and regarded as a model PGA Professional

As Hyland mentioned in his speech, “I would not be successful without the support of the membership and staff at The Country Club at DC Ranch, and I can tell you they have been terrific with all of our initiatives. I know with receiving this award tonight there is a responsibility that goes with it, and I am fully prepared to accept the challenge. I am very fortunate to contribute to the golf landscape in Arizona in a small way over the last 30 years and I do not plan to stop any time soon.”

It is a tremendous honor to be a part of Who’s Who” in the world of golf. Included among the 90 other Arizona Golf Hall of Fame members are Karsten Solheim, Tom Weiskopf, Bob Goldwater, Heather Farr, Billy Mayfair and Dr. Ed Updegraff.

Hyland’s passion is running golf operations that keep members happy, and teaching young pros how to serve their clientele. The following quote from Dick says it all - "I've never really had a job - I've had a career. A job has hours and limitations, and a career does not. My greatest thrill is to see the young professionals who have worked with me over the years go on to successful careers." At last count, he has placed over 50 PGA professionals to head Golf Professional, Director of Golf or Instruction positions in the industry.

Hyland brings over 30 years of experience and numerous awards to Scottsdale private golf courses and is recognized as one of the top performers. Throughout his career, Hyland has participated in the design and start-up of 12 Scottsdale private golf courses, implemented global planning for club operations, and has been recognized for his expertise of managing golf professionals, agronomy teams and retail personnel.

The Country Club at DC Ranch has been a center point of the Scottsdale community for 20 years and features one of the most well-maintained private golf courses in the Valley. The championship golf course, designed by the famed PGA pro Tom Lehman and John Fought, offers a traditional golf experience wrapped in panoramic views of the Sonoran desert.

Scottsdale Country Club Staff Members Celebrate Their “Sweet 16”

When you begin a job at the start of the new millennium, it’s easy to keep track of how long you’ve been working. Three staff members of the Scottsdale Country Club at DC Ranch are celebrating their “Sweet 16” anniversary at the Club this year: Cheri Farias, Director of Communications and Clubhouse Operations, Alfredo Garcia, Lead Server and Sommelier, and Melanie Halpert, Director of Membership. They took time out recently to talk about the special qualities that motivated them to stay with us among all the private golf clubs in Scottsdale for so many years.

“The most rewarding part of my job is watching new members meet lifelong friends at The Club,” commented Melanie Halpert. “So many of our members are new to the area and do not know anyone. The Club is known throughout the Valley not only as a premier lifestyle country club, but as a warm and inviting family-oriented place.”

Cheri Farias agreed: “We are a true family-friendly club. We stand behind our ‘Fun, Family and Friendliness’ mission statement. The membership has grown from 250 when I started to more than 500 now, and many more families have children under the age of 18. When we offer an adult event, we do our best to also offer a kid’s event at the same time.”

Lasting Memories

Alfredo: Years ago, a member told me golf was the easiest sport to play. She was a great golfer, and explained that since the ball doesn’t move, it is easy to hit. Coming from Mexico, where golf is not a popular sport, I decided to try learning to play. One of the golf pros gave me some basic tips, but after the explanation of the correct stance (shoulders, head, hips, feet, butt out, etc.) I realized it wasn’t so easy! Now I appreciate the game even more.

Cheri: One of my favorite memories was when we surprised Paul Skelton, our COO at the time, with the Leadership Scholarship for ongoing education. We were preparing for our Grand Re-Opening of the clubhouse after renovation and he had just been inducted in the Golf Hall of Fame. Continuous education for the employees at CCDC was one of his passions, so we started a scholarship in his name and surprised him with it on his birthday. It was an exciting time at The Club for everyone.

Beloved Traditions

Cheri: The Santa dinner is one of the magical events I look forward to each year. We have the “real” Santa here to greet the children and sit with each one of them to take their photo and get their wish list. It is an “organized chaos” kind of a night because the children get very excited with all of the activity!

Alfredo: The Opening Party! When the Members arrive and see their friends, and the staff, the excitement is very high. There’s a lot of anticipation for the season ahead.

Melanie: I think one of the reasons our Scottsdale Country Club members love being at The Club is seeing so many of the staff members who have been here for 10, 15, 20 years! They love that it feels like family.

Insider Facts About The Club

Did you know that . . .

• When The Club first started, employees wore cowboy and cowgirl uniforms
• There is more grass on the golf course at The Country Club at DC Ranch than any other golf course in north Scottsdale
• The Club has a “secret special cookie” only served on Saturdays to the members. It’s delicious!
• The Four Tops once performed at The Club
• Martha Stewart once planned and hosted a wedding at The Club

What You Need To Know About Chef Lenard Rubin of Scottsdale Country Club

Lenard Rubin - of Scottsdale Country Club - has an impressive resumé which shows him to be a globe-trotting, award-winning chef. His “recipes, commentary and/or food styling” have been featured in a dozen books. Today, Scottsdale, Arizona, is his home and the center of his culinary world.

At the Scottsdale Country Club, Rubin is ultimately responsible for a range of dining

experiences, from upscale meals to pool snacks. Thank goodness he’s handled everything from fine dining to casual, “even fried chicken and deli restaurants,” as part of the group he worked for in Russia, Rubin says. “And I’m well-versed in all styles of and cuisine.” He likes to create international and regional dishes and events for his members, who “truly appreciate the diversity of offerings, as most of them are also well-traveled.” Rubin enjoys giving back to his community, too; he was a Guest Chef for Phoenix Children’s Hospital Rainbow Camp for six years.

Here’s more on his career and activities:

Q: At the Ritz-Carlton, you found yourself “starstruck and with a knack for the cooking thing.”

LR: In the early ’80s the Ritz Café was the place to see and be seen, and I got to cook for

and often meet celebrities and politicians, like Robert Redford, Jackie Onassis, Ted Kennedy, Diana Ross, Peter Falk .... I started as a “runner” for the Café. That kitchen was so small, they needed someone to go up and down the stairs to the main kitchen to deliver food for each meal period. I got to help cook as well, in an open kitchen. In a short time I moved up to the main kitchen and worked my way around all the areas of the classically French brigade. I was hooked and haven’t looked back! Then Lenny’s Gumbo, because I’m told it’s better than what you get in New Orleans. I actually lived there, and while working at the InterContinental I did a function for the mayor with Paul Prudhomme, who showed me how he made his gumbo. It’s all about the roux!

Q: Your food helps recruit Scottsdale Country Club  members—so what’s your approach to staffing?

LR: I don’t look for the most talented or experienced cooks, although that is a great

quality. I look for eager cooks without egos who will fit into the culture I’ve created in our kitchen—to create great dining experiences for our members and their guests, and to learn from each other how to get better at what we do every day. To keep good : Give positive reinforcement at every opportunity, get to know everyone well and show empathy at all times. Also, hold them responsible but be fair and consistent.

Q: And how are the  Scottsdale Golf Club food and beverage amenities promoted?

LR: We use Twitter, Facebook, magazine advertising, email marketing, PR and our website. Being a private Scottsdale Golf Club, club we don’t really promote our banquet services. For the most part we exclusively do member or member referred events and weddings. During the slower months we’ll consider non-member requests on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Today, pleasing Scottsdale Golf Club families is a large part of your success. Great ideas?

LR: We do quite a few family events throughout the year at Scottsdale Golf Club, such as Disney Night, End of School Party, Dinner with Santa, Labor Day Luau, The Cowboy Cookout,

Father/Daughter Dance, Back to School Party, Memorial Day BBQ, Taco Tuesday, Easter Brunch, Mother’s Day Brunch, and many, many more!

Q: You recently won ACF’s “Western Region Chef of the Year.” So the DC Ranch cuisine is no slouch!

LR: I completely changed the Scottsdale Golf Club dining room menus shortly after I got here to reflect my style, but more importantly to reflect what members want to eat.

Q: Top two menu items?

LR: Mexican Corn Made Easy, because it’s delicious—and cut off the cob so it’s not.

Q: For as long as you’ve worked in Shamrock Foods territory, you’ve been a fan. Why?

LR: I’ve been a loyal Shamrock Foods customer for nearly 30 years. What initially won my business was the way that the sales representatives, management and ownership—as big as they are as a company—treat their customers. They celebrate my accomplishments and support me like a family member. Our business relationship is a partnership, not just a series of transactions.

Q: And your rep, Tom Moore?

LR: I’ve worked with Tom for many years, and he’s always there for me no matter what. If I need to source or sample a new product, he makes it happen. He helps me get products if I miss something or have an emergency, and goes out of his way on a daily basis to make sure I have what I need, when I need it. And before every season I ask Tom to go over pricing with me to see if there are any products we need to re-evaluate to get the best price-value relationship and still fall within my specs.

Q: You say you purchase “about 99%” of your products from Shamrock Foods.

LR: Yes, and they are all great products at great prices. I do buy bread from a local baker, because there is nothing like fresh!

Sign-ups for the Gentlemen’s Interclub

We would like to announce the opening of sign-ups for the Private Golf Clubs in Scottsdale Gentlemen’s Interclub. Sign-ups are currently up on Foretees in the Golf Events. There will be a separate sign-up for each event. The first seven players to sign up will get into the tournament, and the eighth player of the team will be a professional. The cost per tournament is $80 per player, and an additional $20 cash.

There have been some changes that the Interclub Committee believe will make the events much more enjoyable for everyone. All of the Private Golf Clubs in Scottsdale in our division will play at the host club on the same day. Each club will still be playing against only one other club. The teams will be made up of one professional and seven members. The team will be split into four two-man teams. Each team will compete in a four-ball stableford competition.

Dec 1st:           @ Desert Forest Golf Club, 11:30am lunch, 12:30pm shotgun start

Dec 15th:         @Pinnacle Peak Country Club, 11:30am lunch, 12:30pm shotgun start

Jan 23rd:         @ Desert Mountain-Cochise, 11:30am lunch, 12:30pm shotgun start

Feb 20th:          @ Troon Country Club, 11:30am lunch, 12:30pm shotgun start

March 6th:      @ The Country Club at DC Ranch, 11:30am lunch, 12:30pm shotgun start

April 4th:         @Terravita Golf and Country Club, 12:00pm lunch, 1:00pm shotgun start

Golfer Clinics & Events

Thank you so much for taking part in our Ladies Golf Clinic Survey. Your responses have been a great help for our Professional Staff in determining how to run an educational and fun golf clinic. We want to let you know we are listening and paying attention.


We have determined that offering two clinics at Scottsdale Private Golf Courses , based on skill level will work best for both the student and the teacher. One clinic will be focused more on the Beginner/Casual Golfer. The other clinic will focus more on the Advanced/Casual Golfer. Both will involve a social component, but not every clinic.


For the Beginner/Casual group we want to offer the clinic every Monday on Scottsdale Private Golf Courses, from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM. Lunch is optional and will be prior to the clinic, from 11:45 AM until 12:45 PM in the mixed grill.


We will focus on all areas of golf, including on course instruction. Our end result is to see a growth in confidence, golf game, and knowledge of the game. The first Beginner clinic is scheduled for November 7th.


The Advanced/Casual golfer clinic at Scottsdale Country Club is planned for Wednesday afternoons, 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM. Some days we will offer a social component; you can expect those specific clinics to extend until about 4:30 PM. The social components will include wine & nines, scrambles, and other on course formats to encompass fun and learning. Our Professional Golf Staff will be with the ladies on the course, answering any questions one may have about how to hit a certain shot or ruling. The focus will be more on player development, situational awareness, and social components. The first Scottsdale Country Club Advanced Clinic is scheduled for November 2nd.


Both clinics will include full swing, short game, rules of golf, and golf etiquette. We will provide you with an outline of each clinic to include dates, times, teaching outline, and cost. Next week we will send out an outline of each program.

Please find the Event sign up on Scottsdale Country Club Foretees. The first clinics for each program are up. Next week we will send out an outline of each program and have all the dates posted.

Kicking Off The New Season!

Hopefully, all of you are as excited for the start of the Private Golf Clubs in Scottsdale season as we are. Please take a moment to read the following information about our upcoming events and course happenings!


Practice Parks

The north end of the driving range will be open starting soon. It will be open from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. This does include the entire north chipping range.


Overseed

At this point we are pleased with the Scottsdale Private Golf Courses overseeding process. It appears that everything is growing in nicely, however we won’t know for sure until we see our first frost. When the courses do open up for play, we will remain cart path only until November 7th, although Push Carts will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Cart path only will apply to all play with the exception of pre-approved medical situations.


Opening Day

To kick off our season, we are holding a double shotgun event. This involves a 7:30am shotgun start, as well as a 12:30pm shotgun. Currently, both shotguns are fully subscribed. With that said, please feel free to sign-up for either shotgun as a waiting list has been created for both.

There will be a BBQ and a beer garden on the south end of the driving range beginning at 11:30am. The $40 entry fee includes both the food and golf.


Tee Times

Scottsdale Private Golf Courses tee times will be open to be made 7 days in advance, starting at 7:00am.


Demo Day

Scottsdale Private Golf Courses will also hold a multi-vendor demo day on the range. This is to include Titleist, Taylormade, Ping, Callaway, and Mizuno to name a few.


We are excited to get this season underway, and look forward to spending it with you all!

Scottsdale Private Golf Courses

I am pleased with your feedback regarding the golf instruction pieces in recent newsletters, so I will do my best to continue with topics for everyone. We have seen many junior golfers enjoy some tournament success this summer and I believe it is just the starting point for them. As I talk to them about their goals and objectives, they have high expectations with as to how far they would like to go in the game. I encourage them to write down what their practice and play several Scottsdale private golf courses.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have spent far more time on Scottsdale private golf courses with my short game which is putting, chipping, bunker, pitching than beating balls on the range in search of the perfect swing. I believe it is also extremely important to go on the courses and put your practice to the test as often as possible, and have games with your friends so as to get the competitive spirit activated.

Realizing in this day and age many juniors rely on practice sessions with technology such as Flight Scope, Trackman and the like, I say I have yet to see a player shoot their best score on the practice tee with the help of these tools, so get out and play on our Scottsdale private golf courses.

I also caution you against playing from the “Tips” at Private golf clubs in Scottsdale or back tees all the time for the following reason (although occasionally it offers quite the challenge): Playing from tees that you are not ready for (as you might not hit it far enough to reach greens in regulation) gives you no positive feedback as how to score and play good golf. I recommend that it is helpful to play from a short set of tees where you can reach every green in regulation and have birdie opportunities.

Now the fun begins!


To understand how to handle making birdies and not bogeys as you might experience from back tees.


Your mental aptitude and emotions get tested as you start to play better.


Can you get to one under par and then two, three, four and so on?


And at what point do you get out of your comfort zone, as we say?

This is great for every player from time to time as the name of the game is, “How low can you score?” At every level, there is no substitute for experience in playing at different Private golf clubs in Scottsdale and tournaments. I would suggest you compete as often as you can to get more comfortable playing in tournaments. No matter who you are, and even playing at the highest level on any tour, your nerves are always tested the entire round, especially on the opening holes.

A good way to reduce the stress and anxiety is to understand the situation at hand and embrace it as best you can. It is also helpful to have a plan and routine that you stick with from beginning to end from the first tee shot to the last putt. When you execute this plan the task at hand gets easier over time. If you are prepared to play based on the fact you have practiced and played prior to playing in the tournament, you have a better chance for success. Let it be said, to mention the often used cliché, that a game with no plan is a plan for no game and most likely, poor results.

In summary, it is a delight to watch the growth and development of our juniors, and we would encourage more to come out and give the game a try and test yourself to be the best player you can be. I have worked with many juniors who were diligent with their practice and play habits to eventually get a college scholarship, which you would be surprised to know are abundant for the deserving ones. It is a game for a lifetime, so there are plenty of reasons to keep working on your game and make new friends.

Special Mention: During a one month period, Joe Spencer played some special golf like never before with 2 rounds in the seventies. He shot his age (which will not be mentioned) and topped it off with a Hole-in-One on #16!!! Well done, Joe.

Scottsdale country club is most definitely a year-round Club

Is it hot enough yet for everyone out there? As I looked at the Scottsdale golf club tee sheet this morning and counted 42 total players for the day, I am reminded that we are firmly in the middle of our summer season with only the brave venturing out to the Scottsdale golf club links.

With that being said, we have seen a tremendous response to our Scottsdale golf club “Best Summer Yet” program which has resulted in a full kids camp, as well as record sales in our á la carte food and beverage offerings during the month of June. Members have continuously talked about how much they love the new small plate offerings on Wednesday evenings in the Bar and Lounge, and the Half Price Wine Night on Saturday evenings, among others.

For those of you that are returning to town in the coming weeks with the beginning of school, come out and join your friends and family at the Club! For those of you who have supported your Club throughout the summer day after day, it is quite apparent that Scottsdale country club is most definitely a year-round Club. As we continue on through the summer, the management team is putting its final touches on the Club calendar, which is on track to hit the presses at the beginning of September. We are also continuing on with our staff development program that I referenced in last month’s article.

Our Scottsdale country club staff is responding quite well to the coaching, and I look forward to improved results in the fall and beyond. In other staff news, I would like to congratulate Carter Keenan and Marie Frost who have taken on additional roles with the Club, serving as the first Assistant Managers in what is a new comprehensive program at the Club.

In their roles at Scottsdale country club, Carter and Marie will be focused in the daily food and beverage operation, managing the floor throughout service. In addition, they will be exposed to all of the other areas of the operation, including accounting, golf maintenance, golf operations, tennis operations, as well as building maintenance. The goal of this program is to develop the future leaders of our industry as they grow in their careers. We are very excited for both Carter and Marie, so please make sure to congratulate each of them when you are at the Club next!

Lastly, I would like to congratulate our Executive Chef Lenny Rubin who was, as you know, named ACF Chef of the Year for the Western Region. Recently, Chef competed in the national competition. While he came up just short, he did a tremendous job in efficiently creating four courses within an hour period! Having attended the competition, I can say that I am so very proud of his efforts, which only reinforced my feelings that the Country Club at DC Ranch is so lucky to have Chef Lenny leading our culinary team.



Chef is now focused on developing updated menus for the fall season and is excited to bring what he learned from this experience to the Ranch. As we wind down the summer, we are putting the final touches on our plan for the season and we look forward to seeing you all at the Club in the near future.

Upcoming Events at the Scottsdale Golf Club

Please allow this note to bring you up to speed on some of the upcoming events at the Scottsdale golf club Scottsdale golf club as we near overseed and the end of the hot summer months.

This Monday Bill Kostes and his team will be performing a pencil tine aerification and light top-dressing of greens. The Scottsdale golf club greens should be playable the following day and very good by the end of the week.

The golf course is open on Labor Day - Monday, September 5th. We will have an 8:30 a.m. open play shotgun for all who wish to play. There will also be an optional better net ball of partners competition for those who choose to participate. Sign-ups are currently available on ForeTees.

Our bi-annual Scottsdale golf club Ryder Cup competition vs. Silverleaf has been scheduled for Friday, September 16th at Silverleaf and Saturday, September 17th at DC Ranch. Scottsdale golf club Players wishing to play must first qualify. Qualification will take place over the week of Sunday, August 28th to Saturday, September 3rd to ensure that anyone interested in playing has a chance to qualify.

In order to qualify you must first declare your intent to use that day's score as your qualifying score with the Scottsdale country club Professional Staff. Play will be from the Black/Blue combo tees only and each player will be allowed only one qualifying score. Qualifying scores must be attested by another Member (not necessarily another qualifier) and may not be played alone.

The Scottsdale country club Golf Course and Practice Facilities will be closed for overseed beginning Monday, September 26th thru Thursday, October 20th and will reopen for play with our Season Kick-Off golf tournaments on Friday, October 23rd. Registration will be available on ForeTees by this Sunday under the events tab for both the 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. opening day shotguns. We expect this year’s fields to be fully subscribed, so if you plan to play please make sure to sign-up soon to secure your spot.

It is also important to remind you that all Scottsdale country club golf carts will be restricted to cart paths only for the first few weeks thru Monday, November 7th to ensure that the ryegrass is able to successfully establish itself before the cooler winter temperatures arrive. There will be no medical flags allowed during the first week of cart path only October 21-27, no exceptions. If you need a medical exemption from October 28th – November 7th please plan on providing your DMV hang tag or a doctor’s note to the Golf Shop for limited access to the turf areas.

The Red Ball Academy at Scottsdale Country Club

The tennis staff at Scottsdale golf club is committed to providing the best in instruction and development in the city for your junior tennis players. We have revamped the program to create a better learning environment, with the goal to get the kids playing matches more often and more quickly within their respective stages.


Scottsdale golf club will continue to utilize the different stages of balls and court size, so that the players will develop the right way. They will have longer rallies and gain more confidence. When players are ready to move up to the next stage, we will have a place for them here at Scottsdale golf club


What are the different stages of balls that we use?


Stage 3 is red ball and is played on the 36 foot court. This ball is used for players 4-8 years old, with foam balls ofted used for the 4-5 year old group.


Stage 2 is the orange ball and is played on the 60 foot court. This ball is used for players 10 and under. In order to play in any USTA 10 and under events, players must play on the 60 foot court with the orange ball until they gain enough points to move up a level.


Stage 3 is the green ball and is played on the 78 foot court which, is the full tennis court. This ball is used for players 12 and under, as well as those 10 and under players who have gained enough points. We also use them for older juniors who are just starting.


Stage 4 is the yellow ball which is the ball we have all known for decades. This ball is used for players 13 and up or those Scottsdale country club players who are younger and have gained enough points to move up.


Scottsdale golf club will have five groups utilizing all the ball stages, which creates a clear pathway for advancement:


Red Ball Tennis for 4-5 year old players will be offered Wednesdays, 4:00-4:30 p.m. beginning September 7th and Saturdays, 9:00-9:30 a.m. beginning August 20th. The Red Ball tennis class will focus on movement, hand-eye coordination, learning the strokes, and having lots of fun!!


Red Ball Rally for 8 and under will be offered Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. beginning September 7th and Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. beginning August 20th. The Red Ball Rally clinic is for 8 and under players who can drop and hit the ball over the net on their own, and can rally a little bit. We will focus on getting the kids to play, serve and keep score.


Orange Ball for 10 and under players will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Players in this group must be 9-10 years old, or be able to drop hit from the 60 foot line and begin to serve on the 60 foot court as well. Players will stay in the Orange Ball clinic until they turn 11 or gain enough points in USTA tournaments for green ball play.


Green Ball for 11-12 year old players, those 10 and under who have developed out of orange ball, or players 13 and up who are beginner/advanced beginner type players. The Green Ball clinic is also Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and will transition the kids into playing full court tennis.


Yellow Ball for those 13 and up or younger players who have gained enough points to move up. The Yellow Ball clinic will also be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and will be a great spot for high school players and middle Scottsdale country club schoolers looking to some day play on their high school team.


The Match Play Academy for Orange, Green and Yellow ball begins August 23rd with all three groups coming 4:00-6:00 p.m. We will start with a two week session and then switch to a four week session beginning September 6th. With full participation in each level, we will have our entire staff teaching this group.


The Red Ball Academy began Saturday, August 20 and the Wednesday class began September 7. Saturdays will be more of a pay as you go clinic but you must sign up each week so we know what our numbers look like. The Wednesday clinics will be charged by session with the Red Ball at $40 for four weeks and Red Ball Rally at $80 for four weeks. They can make up on Saturday if they miss a class.


Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to sign up. We have limited space available in the Scottsdale country club Match Play Academy. You can email at dmoyer@ccdcranch.com to sign up. The sign up for this Saturday’s Red Ball and Red Ball Rally is on Foretees right now.


I hope to see your junior tennis player on the courts!

The 92nd ARIZONA STATE MEN’S MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP will be played at

Scottsdale Private Golf Club, The Country Club at DC Ranch

Monday and Tuesday, August 22nd and 23rd, are the qualifying rounds at Country Club Scottsdale for the most prestigious State Am, played right here at Country Club Scottsdale DC Ranch. The low 64 rounds will qualify for match play throughout the remainder of the week with the finals on Saturday Morning, August 27th.

You are welcome to come and watch some of Arizona’s finest amateur golfers, or better yet, if you have some free time and want to get involved, we could use some Country Club Scottsdale volunteers the first part of the week. Please call the golf shop if you are interested!
The Country Club Scottsdale golf course will be closed on Tuesday, August 22nd. There will be limited member play available Wednesday, August 24th- Saturday, August 27th. The practice areas will be open 7-6, Tuesday-Saturday.

SAVE THE DATE - LADIES, THE SCORCHER IS BACK!

Years ago we had a Ladies Summer Member Guest named THE SCORCHER, which will be making its return this year as part of our Scottsdale Private Golf Ladies Guest Day on Thursday September 8th. The entry fee of $100 per player includes cart fees, lunch before round, hors d’oeuvres following play, and prizes. The first 30 ladies to sign up on Foretees will be able to participate. These 30 are encouraged to host 1-3 guests for this 12:30 shotgun start. The format for this one round competition is a Two Best Balls of 4. Following the round, there will be cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres, and scoring. Sign up and more details will be available by July 1st on Foretees.

Country Club Scottsdale: Best Summer Yet!

Despite the high temperatures,  we’ve continued to see a good bit of activity during the past month, which has most definitely contributed to the excitement of our Country Club Scottsdale having the “Best Summer Yet”!


Traffic on the golf course has maintained throughout the past month. The Country Club Scottsdale Clubhouse has also seen much more traffic than in years past, as we are open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday, and for dinner Wednesday through Saturday.


For those who want to get a quick bite to eat, we have also introduced our new “Grab & Go” program at the pool, as well as “Pizza to Go” on Thursday evenings. As you can see, there is a great deal going on here in the summer. Come enjoy with your friends and family so you don’t miss out!


As many of you know, we recently completed a Member Satisfaction Survey conducted by the McMahon Group, who has long been a partner of the Scottsdale private golf club. We had 452 surveys returned, resulting in 57% of our member households being represented. The survey has provided some very valuable information to the Scottsdale private golf club board and management team.


Scottsdale private golf club is currently working on developing action plans to address our shortfalls, while looking at opportunities to enhance those areas rated favorably by the membership. Our goal is to keep the Club in the forefront of the Club industry.


The results of the survey have been shared recently with the Scottsdale private golf club membership through the Ranch Roundup, but here are a few items of note identified in the survey:

• 91% of the respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the Club
• Membership views Member Dining as the most important activity, with Golf being the second most important activity.
• 67% of our members shared that they are satisfied with the current member dining offerings, while 87% shared they were satisfied with the Scottsdale private golf club golf offerings.  

Scottsdale Country Club THE INFERNO:

Our summer Scottsdale Country Club Men’s member guest named THE INFERNO will be played on Friday August 19th in a 12:30 shotgun start and an 8:30 shotgun start on Saturday August 20th.
Once again we will have 4 nine hole formats over the two days and the field will be limited to the first 60 Scottsdale Country Club teams that sign up on Foretees to compete for the INFERNO championship trophy.
This fun Scottsdale Country Club tournament has been a sell out each of the previous years and we expect to see that continue with the date change to August.
The entry fee for THE INFERNO is $450.00 per team

SAVE THE DATE LADIES, THE Scottsdale Country Club SCORCHER IS BACK!
Ladies, years ago we had a Ladies Summer Member Guest named THE Scottsdale Golf Club SCORCHER, which we are bringing back as part of our Ladies Guest Day on Thursday September 8th. With an entry fee of $100 per player (carts, lunch before round, and hors d’oeuvres following play) the first 30 ladies to sign up on Scottsdale Golf Club Foretees will be able to participate. These 30 are encouraged to host up to 3 guests for this 12:30 shotgun start after lunch. The format for this one round competition is a 2 best balls of 4 tournament followed by cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres. More details will be available by July 1st on Foretees.
Moving forward through the summer and in keeping with continuing activity at the Scottsdale Golf Club Please mark your calendar with the following dates, and look for sign ups in the next few weeks on Foretees.

PUTT YOUR EYES OUT:
How many 10 foot putts can you make in a round of golf at Scottsdale Golf Club? Think it is easy? Let’s give it a go and have some fun while testing your putting skills. This competition will see our members start with a 3:00 shotgun. Scottsdale Golf Club Participants will drive to each green, and place their balls 10ft around the cup. The player with the fewest amounts of total putts by rounds end will be our champion.

The Arizona State Men's Match Play Championship:

Monday and Tuesday August 22nd and 23rd are the qualifying rounds for the most prestigious State Am at Scottsdale Private Golf, The County Club at DC Ranch,  and the low 64 rounds qualify for match play throughout the remainder of the week with the finals on Saturday Morning August 27th.

You are welcome to come and watch some of the states finest amateurs, or better yet, if you have some free time and want to get involved, we could use some volunteers the first part of the week Scottsdale Private Golf Club.

Please call the golf shop if you are interested.

Scottsdale Country Club REVERSE PAR 3 CHAMPIONSHIP:

Wednesday September 14th also marks the second anniversary of the Reverse Par 3 Scottsdale Private Golf championship with a 3PM shotgun start.

To familiarize you with the format, we play the back 9 from 18 tee to 17 green and so on.
This was fun last year, so we are giving it a go again.


MISCELLANEOUS

Wednesday July 6th with a 3 PM shotgun start; this is open to all Scottsdale Private Golf golfers of any ability.

Saturday July 16th Scottsdale Private Golf Men’s Day: Format TBD for the 8:30shotgun start for all who wish to play at that time.

Wednesday August 10th with a 3PM Scottsdale Country Club shotgun start on the front nine.

The One Club Scottsdale Country Club Championship is back for year two, so which one club gets it done over these 9 holes? This is a bunch of fun, so be careful with your choice.

This Scottsdale Country Club foretees notice is certainly lengthy, but with our playing surfaces getting better and better throughout the summer, we think it’s important for all of our Scottsdale Country Club members to enjoy the events offered by our club through the summer months. We understand it can be toasty at times, but with proper preparation and quick play we anticipate our best summer yet!

Please let us know if you have any questions, and we hope you join in the fun this summer.

Scottsdale Golf Club summer golfing tips + Scottsdale Country Club updates

Scottsdale Golf Club Summer Tips & Updates

I know many of you have escaped the Scottsdale Golf Club heat of the summer for cooler climates, but we still have many golfers who know how to enjoy a fast round of golf when the temperatures are over 100 degrees. To play safely in this weather, please do not forget to apply sunscreen generously before and during the round, wear headwear that also covers your ears, and drink plenty of water and Gatorade while you play at Scottsdale Golf Club. It also helps to keep a wet towel handy to keep your face and arms cool.


Most of our hearty golfers play in the morning before the temperatures reach their peak in the late afternoon. Typically, these times are before 10:00am. Again, by taking the necessary precautions before and during play we may continue to enjoy this game throughout the summer months. Listed below are some Scottsdale Golf Club activities and dates to remember, which I believe are important to talk about again in this message.

Golf Tips: Getting Out Of The Bunker

I am frequently asked about bunker play - specifically if I have any simple tricks, hints, or rules of thumb for getting out of the deep greenside bunkers. First I would recommend getting a quality 56 degree sand wedge and/or a 60 degree lob wedge with at least 10-12 degrees of bounce. The “sole” of the club (or flange) acts as a spoon through the sand and should have enough bounce so as to not dig too deep in the sand. By carrying a wedge with a higher loft and a reasonable amount of bounce, we can promote lift in the golf ball. This will give you the best chance to succeed more often than not out of all bunkers.


Once you have the proper tools, it’s time to talk set up. When you address the shot, your stance should be slightly open to your target line, with the ball placed in the center of your stance. Your body weight should be primarily focused on your forward side. This helps create what we call a “v” shaped angle of descent through the sand ever so slightly behind the impact area. Remember, the club never really comes in contact with the ball on an explosion shot, and we need some sand between the clubface and ball to soften the landing. A point to keep in mind is that the ball goes where the sand goes, and the sand goes in the direction of your swing, not where the clubface is pointed. Your club face should be slightly open to maximize the loft if the lift and sand texture is soft enough. If these conditions are considered to be more firm or hardpan, then a square clubface is better utilized.


To open the clubface properly, take your standard grip and turn the club within your hand placement to open the face. Do not take your standard grip with a square clubface and just turn the clubface to the right. Should you do this, the face will not be open through the impact area, the club will dig, and you might not get the ball out if you hit too far behind it. Most importantly, remember to first get the ball out of the bunker. Then get it on the green somewhere. Finally, when you get more proficient and confident, you can try and get it close or even hole it. After a little practice, you will never fear getting out of a greenside bunker again.

Scottsdale Country Club Clubhouse Member Golf

During the summer months of June, July and August, clubhouse members have the privilege of playing up to six (6) rounds of golf on a space available basis. These times may be reserved three (3) days in advance and have no restriction on the days in which they are played. You are welcome to host up to 3 guests with you for each round.

Scottsdale Country Club Fairway & Rough Aerification

On June 20th, we began aerifying all fairways and roughs and will continue until completed. As with our usual summer schedule, the golf course will be closed on Mondays.

Greens Aerification

Tuesday, July 5th and Wednesday, July 6th, the golf course will be closed for the only major green aerification of the summer.

Scottsdale Country Club Putt Your Eyes Out

How many 10 foot putts can you make in a round of golf? Think it is easy? Let’s give it a go and have some fun while testing your putting skills. This Scottsdale Country Club competition will see our members start with a 3:00 p.m. shotgun on Wednesday, July 20th. Participants will drive to each green, and place their ball 10 feet around the cup. The player with the fewest amounts of total putts by the round’s end will be our champion.

The Rodeo

It may seem like a long way off, but now is be a good time to start thinking ahead about who your partner is for the men’s and ladies’ Rodeo Member-Member. The Ladies Rodeo is on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 8th and 9th, and the Men’s Rodeo is on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 10th-12th.

Friday Fun Day: Center Cut

The Black Friday challenge was so well supported that we have decided to offer another chance to compete with your friends on Friday June 10th at the Scottsdale private golf Club.

We will have a 12:00 shotgun start for the first 120 Scottsdale Golf Club players to sign up on Foretees under the event tab named CENTER CUT.

You are welcome to bring up to three guests in this 2BB of 4 Stableford scoring format where you can WHEEL (have multiple partners for a fee) to increase your chances of winning.
The entry fee per a Scottsdale Golf Club member is $50.00, and guests are set at $100 which includes guest fee/cart, lunch, prizes and Hors d’houevres.
The Scottsdale Golf Club course will be played from the forward tees to hole locations in the center of each green, so we can encourage all players to shoot their best round ever and have fun doing it!
Please consult this Scottsdale Golf Club event sheet for more details.
If you think it might be too easy, then see if you can GO LOW!

Scottsdale Private Golf MEN’S DAY SATURDAY:
Keeping the momentum going, on Saturday June 18th we will be holding an 8:30 Scottsdale Private Golf shotgun start with accompanying competition for the men. Should anyone else like to participate and beat-the-heat, they are more than welcome to play in the shotgun – however will not be included in the men’s game.
On Scottsdale Private Golf  Foretees you will find the tab to sign up; This carries with it a $30.00 per person entry, which includes lunch and prizes and a Red ,White and Blue game.
The format per 4 person Scottsdale Private Golf team is each player will play 4 holes from the red, white and blue tees of your choosing and all play on #9 and #18 will be from the Scottsdale Private Golf black tees(Wherever we put them), from there it will be a two best balls of three competition.