Reminder: Scottsdale Golf Club Cardio Tennis and Scottsdale Golf Club Saturday Junior Tennis Clinics

Just a reminder that we have Scottsdale Golf Club Cardio Tennis this Saturday from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Scottsdale Golf Club will have a smaller class this week so make sure you sign up in advance before we fill up!

Also, we will start our Scottsdale Golf Club Saturday Junior Tennis Clinics for 6-12 year old players this Saturday from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Please let us know in advance if you plan to attend. You can email Traci at tguy@ccdcranch.com to sign up. For the month of August, we will have only the 6-12 year old players come.

Starting September 5, Scottsdale Golf Club will begin a 4-5 year old class from 9:00-9:30 a.m. and move the 6-12 year old group to 9:30-10:30 a.m.

The Saturday class is designed as more of a Scottsdale private golf club family day with all age groups coming at once.

On August 31, Scottsdale private golf club will start our after school clinics which will be more age specific with Scottsdale private golf club 6-8 year olds coming from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and Scottsdale private golf club 8-10 year olds coming 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. The 11 and up group will be on Monday and Wednesday from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

The Scottsdale Country Club Tennis Pro Shop

The Scottsdale country club Tennis Pro Shop continues to make good progress! We are still looking at an October 1 start date followed by a grand opening party and tennis social on Sunday, October 11. As you look at the photo, the bathrooms are on the right side of the picture and the tennis shop is on the left side. The Scottsdale country club shop will have a small space for some retail items such as rackets, shoes, accessories, soft goods, stringing and basic Scottsdale country club logo clothing for men and women. There will also be a small lounge area with a table and chairs to enjoy a beverage after you play and watch a little tennis. We do ask for your continued patience until the construction is complete as we are down two courts still and dealing with noise and dust, but promise it will be worth the wait!

Scottsdale country club Welcomes Conner Edwards We are pleased to announce the hiring of our new Assistant Tennis Professional, Conner Edwards. Conner comes to us from Kansas City, Missouri, where he was a standout player for the University of Missouri-Kansas City. During his first two years at UMKC, the team qualified for the 64 team NCAA field. He finished his career as the all-time doubles wins leader and single season singles leader at the school. Conner comes to The Scottsdale country club DC Ranch with a wealth of experience in the tennis industry, having grown up in Topeka, Kansas where his father was the Director of Tennis at Topeka Country Club. He has a great understanding of not only the game of tennis and how to teach it to adults and juniors, but also what it means to provide the highest in customer service to the members. While in Kansas City, he worked as an assistant at Kansas City Country Club, which is one of the premiere clubs in the Midwest. Conner will work with both juniors and adults and is available for private lessons right away. He will also be working to build some gentlemen’s and mixed doubles clinics as well. You can reach Conner at cedwards@ccdcranch.com. Please take time to welcome him to The Scottsdale country club at DC Ranch!

How good it is to be Scottsdale country club!!

Reading President Bohlen’s letter last evening to the membership regarding the Schedule of Dues, Fees & Charges got me thinking just how fortunate we are at The Scottsdale country club at DC Ranch. In fact, just last month I shared an industry newsletter (Private Club Advisor) that addressed some of the key concerns from the 2015 World Conference on Club Management. Although private clubs are recovering from the economic downturn, only 34 percent of the clubs surveyed consider their clubs to be financially sound! The biggest issue weighing on the minds of club leaders? Forty-eight percent of the survey respondents stated that catching up on deferred and pressing capital improvements was their biggest challenge. The next biggest issue? Effective club governance! Like I mentioned above, it's good to be The Scottsdale country club at DC Ranch where the steps have been taken to reinvest and address the club’s long-term capital needs and the 'best practices' approach to club governance is in place. More importantly, however, as it pertains to the ‘health’ of the Scottsdale country club, it is the membership that defines a club and is ultimately responsible for its success….or its failure.

Your financial support of the Scottsdale country club is to be applauded, but please know that, at least from my perspective, it's that "fun, family and friendliness" culture you've created that defines The Scottsdale country club at DC Ranch – a culture unlike any other club in the valley or beyond. The culture you've created at the Scottsdale golf club also has benefits that extend beyond the "where everybody knows your name" comradery. In reading a brief article in yesterday's Scottsdale Republic, I learned that a recently released real estate report found that DC Ranch experienced the greatest home-value appreciation of any of the eight luxury communities tracked….and that Silverleaf was a close second. That's a far different story than what was being said four to five years ago. Does a healthier Scottsdale golf club lead to a healthier real estate market (particularly in gated communities)? Just saying……….

Speaking of family, I have some sad news to report – August 27th was the last day of employment at the Club for our beloved Pool Supervisor, Victor Vega. Victor was a nine-year employee of the Scottsdale golf club that initially started as a server and, on occasion, worked in banquets, as a bartender and even as a valet before moving to the pool four years ago. We're certainly disappointed that Victor has decided to ‘move on' but we do wish him all the best. Okay, last but not least,

• Did you know – that the patio extension and event lawn expansion project was initially scheduled to be completed September 1? Or that, as of August 26th, we're being told that this project will be completed on or before September 15th?!
• Did you know– that the Scottsdale golf club tennis facility project was initially scheduled to be completed on October 15th? Or that, as of August 26th, that the project remains 'on schedule' and 'on budget'! Next up, of course, is our annual over-seeding of the golf course. Please remember that while the golf course is closed (September 21st – October 15th), the clubhouse and all other amenities will remain open. Wherever you may be, enjoy the 'rest' of your summer…. and know that the entire Scottsdale golf club staff is very much looking forward to seeing you all back on the Ranch.

Letter to Scottsdale Country Club DC Ranch Golfers

Dear Scottsdale Country Club DC Ranch Golfers,

It is important to inform you of our Scottsdale country club course conditions and playing surfaces as we move through the summer months: Please be reminded our base grass year-round is named 419 Bermuda grass.  This Bermuda is what Scottsdale country club overseeds each fall with Rye grass, so the playing surfaces are very good when we drop seed in September through the early spring.  The Bermuda is a warm season grass and typically goes dormant (to sleep) when the colder temperatures arrive in November.

It turns golden beige and doesn’t green up until sometime around March, however, Bermuda doesn’t actually start to grow until the combination of warmer temperatures, humidity and dew point arrive around the 4th of July continuing through the end of September and the first few weeks of October.

Because Scottsdale country club does over seed beginning in September, the Bermuda time frame to grow is only 75 days and our Agronomy consultant would prefer at least 100 days for the Bermuda recovery period. Scottsdale country club’s goal is to reopen the course around the third week in October when the weather has cooled down.

Some might observe and say the Scottsdale country club course is “just getting in great shape ‘when you close it to overseed.  Scottsdale golf club understands this, but we need to factor many variables as the best dates to optimize the best overseed and Rye “catch” as we say.   If we overseed too early while the Bermuda is flourishing, the Rye will struggle with the warm temperatures as it is a cool season grass, and if it is too late such as in November, it eliminates the chance to play when the weather is great for golf.

When Scottsdale golf club overseeds with a high rate of seed (800-1000 lbs. of Rye per acre), it crowds out the Bermuda, and thus it will decline at about 15% per year throughout the entire course.   If you carry it too long in the spring and perhaps into the summer months, the Bermuda decline could be more extensive, above the 15% mentioned.   At these rates it won’t be many years before you have to replace or repair a great deal of turf whether in the fairways, rough or tees.

Ok, so we see the problem with the decline on the course, but what are the corrective measures, knowing that overseeding is here to stay? 

1. We overseed at a slightly lower rate in the fall at about 450 lbs. per acre and at a time for a more successful result.  We maintain the height of rough cut under 2” in the primary rough, 1 ½” in the intermediate rough and fairways at ½ “ from October through February, and when the temperatures start to warm up in mid -February, we lower all heights by about ½ “ to take advantage of the warmth and sunlight.  When we get to the May time frame, it is time to expose as much Bermuda as possible by eradicating the Rye until the fall.
2. Also, aerifications, top-dressing, verti-cutting, slicing, fertilizing and appropriate watering schedules are very important during this time period when we cannot get them done in-season with the significant amount of Members we have enjoying their golf.

At this time we see and calculate how much Bermuda decline has occurred since September with a plan to re-sod these thin areas with the belief that the humidity in the next weeks and months will knit the Bermuda together for as much coverage as the healing months will allow.

The Scottsdale golf club goal is to have as much grass as possible year round, be it Bermuda or Rye. We fully understand how important Scottsdale golf club pristine playing surfaces are to all players, especially with the extensive tournament and play schedule we have each year and it is  also necessary to communicate the programming it takes to get there.

In a perfect world, a Scottsdale golf club in this area would never overseed for the health of the turf and avoid the conflict of cool season grasses versus warm season grasses having a priority, but golfers prefer to play on green grass year-round and we will do our best to make this happen.

Please see the Scottsdale golf club pictures enclosed for your viewing pleasure.  As you will see most of the Bermuda decline and damage are in the high-traffic areas, on and off each hole as well as around bunkers.

We were fortunate this summer to be able to get the entire course aerified, top-dressed and verticut within a four (4) day period.

We hope this explains what happens and why, and the challenges all agronomists face each year, and should you have any questions, please ask us.

Scottsdale Golf Club Facility Update

Scottsdale golf club has completed the first month of construction on the new tennis facility! Over the course of the next two months, you will start to see things take shape as the Scottsdale golf club building gets framed and enclosed. The hope is that construction will be completed by October 1 so that we are fully operational for the new Scottsdale golf club season. Many of you have asked me what the new Scottsdale golf club facility will entail.

Here are some things you can expect:

• New Scottsdale private golf club bathroom facilities for men and women
• Ice and water machine with cups

1. A breezeway will separate the bathrooms from the pro shop and be the main access to the tennis courts
2. Storage area for teaching carts, ball machines, etc.
3. The tennis pro shop will include:
   • A front desk area for check in before play;
   • Limited food and beverage items;
   • A Scottsdale private golf club lounge area with a small table, four chairs and a television for players to enjoy before and after tennis;
   • Scottsdale private golf club Office space for the staff; merchandising areas for logo clothing, soft goods, rackets, shoes, tennis balls, stringing and accessories; and
   • Space for ladders, marketing, pictures, etc.

Once things are further along, I will be able to give some limited hard hat tours, so let me know if you are interested. It is an exciting time for the tennis program and looking forward to many great years to come in our new Scottsdale private golf club facility!

July and August Adult Tennis Instruction
Adult Drill
Tuesday and Thursday
7:00-8:00 a.m.
We need a minimum of three players so please sign up in advance. All levels are welcome!


Cardio Tennis
Saturdays
8:00-9:00 a.m.
We need a minimum of four players so please sign up in advance.

Scottsdale private golf club
Junior Tennis Instruction
Junior Tennis Camp (ages 10+)
July 7th-August 6th
Tuesday-Thursday (3 days each week)
8:00-10:00 a.m.
Cost: $40 per day, $100 per week. Discounts are available for multiple week participants

Junior Tennis Clinics
Saturday morning clinics will begin again August 8th.
Scottsdale private golf club Junior Academy for 10+ ages will begin August 17th.
10 and under program will begin September 1st

Did You Know?? (Business As Usual)

Tee time anyone? As I looked at the Scottsdale country club tee sheet this morning and counted 40 total players for the day, a couple of thoughts came to mind; first, what a difference at the Scottsdale country club between the middle of ‘in-season’ and the middle of the ‘off-season’ and, secondly, what’s the matter with these hardy souls that tee it up in the heat (high today of 110) and the humidity (54%)?!! That said, we’re thankful for the Scottsdale country club Members that do show up day after day during the summer!

As mentioned last month, it is Scottsdale country club ‘business as usual’ here at the Club and the month of June was, much like May, busier than we’ve experienced in the past. Did you know . . . that our Scottsdale country club YTD (October – May) Total Rounds of Golf played is 25,363 – 7.5% higher than budgeted and 5.1% higher than year prior?

• Did you know . . that our Scottsdale country club total Revenue in May 2015 of $915,815 was up by 8% over budget and 19% higher than year prior?
• Did you know . . . that the month of May’s Gross Operating Profit of $34,806 was 196% better than budget and 136% better than year prior?
• Did you know . . . that the Scottsdale golf club’s YTD Net Profit After Other Income of $284,043 is 3.2% better than budget and 160% better than year prior ($109,118)?
Changing the subject. . .
• Did you know . . . that, in our recently completed 2015 Scottsdale golf club Employee Opinion Survey (“EOS”), 96% of our employees indicated that they were very satisfied or satisfied with their job?
• Did you know . . . that in that same survey, 96% of our Scottsdale golf club employees said their work is very meaningful or meaningful? Did you know. . . that 94% of our employees strongly agree/ agree that the Club offers equal opportunities regardless of race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion or marital status?
• Did you know . . . that 94% of our Scottsdale golf club employees strongly agree/ agree that they focus on problem solving instead of fault finding?

Yes, we also learned in the 2015 Scottsdale golf club Employee Opinion Survey that we have some areas for improvement, i.e.: promotions tied to improvement (69%), employee satisfaction with employee benefits (67%), and employee commitment to a career with the Club (72%....down 8% as compared to year prior). All in all though, we are extremely pleased with the survey results as they confirm a very high level of employee satisfaction and the fact that they truly do believe the Scottsdale golf club is a great place to work (92%)!!

Speaking of employees, congratulations are in order for Scottsdale golf club Executive Chef Lenard Rubin as he recently received his Certified Executive Chef certification from the American Culinary Federation. The American Culinary Federation (ACF) was established in 1929 and is the largest professional chefs' organization in North America. ACF, which was the progeny of the combined visions of three chefs' associations in New York, comprises more than 22,000 members in 230 chapters across the United States, and is known as the authority on cooking in America. Its mission is to make a positive difference for culinarians through education, apprenticeship and certification, while creating a fraternal bond of respect and integrity among culinarians everywhere.

Congratulations Chef Lenny on a milestone career accomplishment….and thank you for being on our team

Scottsdale Private Golf Club Field Goals & Objectives

As I sit here writing this article from Scottsdale private golf club, The Country Club at DC Ranch, it is but a few hours before the leaders tee off in the last round of the 115th Men’s US Open Championship at Chambers Bay near Seattle, Washington. When asked what I think about the golf course and set up of it thus far, as well as what the media and players are saying, I see it from both sides and here is why:

1. Having been a part of the teams which set up almost every level of competitions from Junior tournaments to Major Championships, we had to define what the goals and objectives were for the field. Sometimes it was to get players around in a timely manner with easier hole locations or to do what the USGA is attempting to do this week, which is “to determine and define the best player in the field testing all facets of their game, be it physical, mental or emotional”.
2. Many years I was schooled by some of the best course set-up officials from various tours who told me you should have a goal of balancing the requirements.
3. You should have six easy, six medium, and six difficult hole locations each day as well as six left, six center, and six right.
4. Your goal is to reward good shots and penalize the poor ones. Each hole location should be set so a putt to the hole will stop within reason if it goes past the hole, and not run away. The hole should not be cut so close to the edge of the green, on the apex point of a slope so a player can’t get it close with a good shot.

I realize what Jack Nicklaus told me years ago when discussing tournaments, that golf was not meant to be completely fair, and if you complain about the set-up for the competition, over half the field can be eliminated as potential winners. Brian Henning, a long time senior rules official on the PGA Champions Tour, told me that you will never satisfy all players, so do the fairest job possible and that “you set the test and the players take it”, and if they choose not to play, this is their decision. So, back to the US Open, here we go. We all know that despite all the fussing about yardages, green speeds, bumpy greens, par 4s and 5s, and vice versa, Sunday afternoon one player was recognized as the US Open Champion. They withstood all the USGA could test them with during the week. It was interesting to watch it play out.

Well, we said all along that May was a bonus month here at Scottsdale private golf club, The Country Club at DC Ranch from an unseasonably cool standpoint, and here comes June with warmer than usual temperatures.

We sprayed out the rye grass at Scottsdale private golf club, The Country Club at DC Ranch in the rough so the Bermuda grass will have room to grow vigorously when the humidity kicks in each summer, typically after July 4th. What it does tell us is that the more heavily you overseed at Scottsdale private golf club, The Country Club at DC Ranch with rye grass in the fall, the greater the Bermuda decline each summer, to the extent a turf scientist told me to expect a 15% Bermuda decline each year you overseed. That means after only three years, you could see almost 50% of the Bermuda gone at Scottsdale private golf club, The Country Club at DC Ranch in all turf areas. Scottsdale private golf club, The Country Club at DC Ranch does our best to manage the turf transition process each year.

“The Scottsdale country club Inferno”, our Gentlemen’s summer member-guest over the dates of July 24th and 25th, 2015 is fully subscribed once again for the Friday afternoon and Saturday morning Scottsdale country club shotgun starts. This should be a fun Scottsdale country club tournament as always, if only the cool weather stays away for the first time in years.

Sign up opportunities for the November Scottsdale country club Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Rodeo will be forthcoming in the next few months, but it is not too early to find a partner for the competition. The Scottsdale country club ladies play on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10th and 11th, followed by the men on Thursday through Saturday, November 12th, 13th, and 14th.

Please note the Scottsdale country club overseeding dates which will close the course are from Monday, September 21st through Thursday, October 15th. The course will reopen with tee times on Friday, October 16th. In closing, try as best you can to stay cool this summer and remember your sunscreen.