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.