Scottsdale golf course celebrated the Holiday Season

Our most significant tournament at Scottsdale golf course, The Rodeo, was held in recent weeks, with some outstanding golf played by both women and men. Kathi Clarke and Krissy Shanker were both playing well and took the net championship while Penny Rady and Percy Anderson put on their typical good play to best the gross field in the Ladies' championship.

The Men use the Shootout format with all 11 flight winners to determine their Rodeo champions. They play an alternate shot format with teams eliminated playing #18 three times. It all came down to the team of Josh Cormany and Steve Carr in a putt-off to secure the sterling silver belt buckle trophy. The field for both the Ladies' and Men’s fields had the largest participation to date and we look forward to more teams next year.

Recently, I was asked to do a video that focused on the golf course and how we all have the responsibility to adhere to the traditional rules and courtesies of the game. This video had the highest number of views of any I have done to date. So to recap, here you go...because we have one of the better-conditioned golf courses and provide some of the best playing surfaces possible.

Putting Greens:

Let’s start with the most important part of the Scottsdale golf course, the putting greens. No one wants to play on shaggy, ball-marked, slow greens.

Our tif- eagle Bermuda grass greens which are not overseeded, are some of the best in the Southwest. They typically have a Stimpmeter reading between 11 and 12 feet which is very fast. They are clean, and due to our maintenance practices of verticutting and topdressing regularly, they do not have grain and hold their intended line of roll very well. What we can do to help the Agronomy team is to fix ours and other ball marks as we walk the greens to our ball. Use the divot tool and twist/push the turf to the center of the imperfection and finish off the repair by smoothing out the turf by tapping your putter head to smooth the green. This practice will keep the greens in the best condition possible, and as they say, a ball mark that is not repaired will take weeks to heal.

Driving on Fairways:

This is preferred as shorter turf has more sun exposure thus a chance to heal, whereby driving in the rough will mats own the rye and lay over and not get any sun and heat and will stunt the Bermuda growth and it will die.

Fairway divots:

It is essential to repair divots in the fairways with sand and seed from the bottles on the carts, rather than trying to replace the divots. After you have filled the divot with sand/ seed tamp it level with your foot or club so another player’s ball will roll through or over the imperfection.

Bunkers:

Every player at a Scottsdale private golf course must rake their way out of any bunker and have the sand be as smooth and level as possible. It is very disappointing to have to hit a bunker shot from a previous player’s footprints, or a shot not repaired. Use the pull/push method of raking the bunker to remove lines, rake teeth marks, or anything else. When leaving any bunker,

The USGA asks that the rake is placed outside the bunker, parallel to the line of play. They do not suggest rakes either entirely in the bunker or half in half out.

Tees:

Whether hitting a tee shot at a Scottsdale private golf course, especially on par threes, it is your responsibility to pick up all broken tees, or tees left behind in the metal tee bins adjacent to the tee markers. Keep the tee clean of debris inclusive of tobacco products or sunflower seeds.

Lastly, Please note the dates and times of all Scottsdale private golf course tournaments which are now starting for the season, and can be seen on Foretees. You will notice you will be asked and responsible for declaring in advance, the tee box you are playing from so the professionals are properly informed. Should you have any questions, please let us know.

The plan is to have a fun, competitive season of golf, and should you have any questions, please let us know. Keep an eye on the progress of the new golf house as the construction is really moving along and we hope the finish is not too far away.

Last week I was asked what I thought of the recommendation of keeping your head down when you swing….My response was it might be a better thought to keep your head up and your eyes down as your eyes see the ball, not your head. Keeping your head down with your chin buried in your chest will restrict your shoulder turn on your backswing, just a thought….

 

Scottsdale Golf Club Kicks off the Season

The weather outside, as I write this at Scottsdale Golf Club could not be more beautiful…and we are seeing so much more activity at the club…whether it be the Fitness and Performance Center, the Racquet Center, Food and Beverage Outlets, and certainly not forgetting the beautifully manicured Golf Course and Practice Facility.

With that said, I wanted to take a moment to kindly remind our members and your guests of just a few mentionables…

Dining Reservations at Scottsdale Golf Club

Now, more than ever, with the increase in activity at the club and in the clubs’ restaurants, we would like to ask and/or remind our members that reservations are greatly welcomed…

There is an inherent benefit to making a reservation, as we may not always be able to accommodate walk-ins. Reservations allow us to prepare for you and your guests, as well as give you the peace of mind that your table is guaranteed for that meal period.

Being on time for your reservation at Country Club Scottsdale is not just the cordial thing to do, but it also allows our management, service, and culinary teams to plan appropriately for that meal service.

Please know that these procedures have been designed and implemented with your best interest in mind. Our Country Club Scottsdale culinary and service teams strive to provide you with the best product and service possible, and by adhering to these guidelines you are helping to ensure the best possible experience for everyone. 

 Guest Policy

 Below is again a gentle reminder of our Club Guest Policy for Country Club Scottsdale and would ask that you read through and acknowledge it.

Unaccompanied guests are prohibited from any use of Club Facilities without the prior written approval of Club Management.

Members may request the use of certain Club Facilities (tennis, swimming, and dining facilities) by non-resident unaccompanied family guests in accordance with the following parameters:

Guest is defined as follows: A relative by blood or marriage inclusive of parents and grandparents of the Members; children (under the age of 24 that are married, do not reside with the Members, nor attend college on a full-time basis, or are over the age of 24). Any such guests must be staying at a member’s residence in order to be able to utilize a guest pass during their stay. The approval of any guest will be made at the discretion of Club Management in advance on a case-by-case basis. All guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times when on Club property.

The Member must request a Guest Card from Club Management and register the guest with the Club prior to the guest’s arrival. The Club will consider all such requests on a case-by-case basis. These cards will be issued through Club Management and its administrative staff. Requests must be made in writing to Club Management who will then issue the cards for the use of Club Facilities (excluding golf course facilities) in advance of any such usage.

All charges incurred by the guest must be posted to the sponsoring Member’s account during the guest’s stay.

Such Guest Cards will be issued for a maximum of ten (10) consecutive days. Unaccompanied guests must carry their Guest Card with them at all times when on Club Property.

Country Club Scottsdale Expands Tennis Program

In an effort to continue to provide a fresh and fun tennis schedule, we are very excited to announce revamped Saturday morning adult drills at Country Club Scottsdale.

We have a great group of players at Country Club Scottsdale and want to continue improving our clinic offerings with consistently fun, fast-paced drills with players of your level.  The new name will be Grip N Rip Drill and we will now have the advanced drill on Foretees for signup as well. You should continue to sign up for the drill that you have always come to for the time being.

Here is what to expect from our new Saturday morning Grip N Rip clinics moving forward at Country Club Scottsdale.

Grip N Rip Format – All classes will follow the same format of fast-paced drills and games, mixing around partners within your level as you go.  The drills and games will be consistent week to week so you will know what to look forward to!

Same Levels and Times – Advanced Grip N Rip will continue at 8 AM, followed by 9:30 Grip N Rip group.  Ryan will post court assignments according to levels each week.

All Signups on Foretees – We will no longer take any signups via email or text so please make sure to sign up on the tennis events page under Grip N Rip.

Going forward, Ryan Shomo will be the lead professional at Scottsdale Golf Club on Saturdays overseeing both the adult and junior drills, and Director of Racquet Sports, Dave Moyer will now be available for lessons on Sundays.

We are very excited to improve our Saturday mornings at the Scottsdale Golf Club. We think this will be a high-energy class that everyone will love so come on out and join us.

Remember, the format will still be a fun, live ball format but with a new name and a slightly new structure.

We look forward to seeing everyone there at Scottsdale Golf Club! We still have room in this week's Live Ball Drill so it's not too late to sign up.

Scottsdale golf course hosts 2022 Member-Member Rodeo

We are excited to see everyone at the Scottsdale golf course for the 2022 Men’s Rodeo, Member-Member event!  In advance of the tournament, we are providing the tournament information, including the flights, pairings, and structure for your reference.  

Please remember to bring $250 cash for your team buy-in monies to be collected at registration at the Scottsdale golf course.

We will also be conducting a side competition on the Country Club Scottsdale Horseshoe. This will feature a 5-hole alternate shot competition that teams may buy into at the tee during the competition that afternoon.  The buy-in will be $20 per team and we will payout the top 3 teams, 50%/30%/,20%.  Players must choose two clubs each to play with.

We will be sending two links to the parimutuel betting on Homestretch, similar to what you used for the Inferno.  Expect these links no later than tomorrow morning.  There are two betting options:

1)     Bet any team to win their flight

2)     Bet any team to win, place or show in the overall tournament

All bets need to be placed by the start of play at Country Club Scottsdale.  Reminder, as part of the team buy-in, your will purchase your team in both bets.  $5 for the flight winner and $15 to cover the win, place, and show for your team overall.  All teams will be covered in the parimutuel to ensure robust payouts!

This year’s tournament at Country Club Scottsdale features 11 flights, consisting of 6 teams in each flight.  We will be awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place credit book to each flight, and the top three teams in the Shootout.  The Rodeo Champions will receive championship trophies and their names will be etched into the perpetual board, soon to be located in the Men’s Locker Room.     

Please let us know if you need anything in advance of next week, otherwise, we are looking forward to seeing everyone. 

Why Do Golf Courses Aerate So Much at Scottsdale Golf Course

Scottsdale Golf Course Playing conditions are of the utmost importance for most golfers, and aeration is needed to keep turf healthy and playing well.  Aeration can be disruptive, but the long-term benefits of aeration far outweigh the short-lived disruption.  The next time you play on Scottsdale Golf Course greens that were recently aerated, keep in mind that aeration is performed for the long-term health of the course.  The greens may not play their best immediately following some aeration treatments, but everyone is playing in the same conditions, and golfers still can enjoy the game and make plenty of putts.

The word aeration stimulates negative emotions for many golfers. It may come as a surprise, but golf course superintendents also dislike aeration.  After all, the last person who wants to disrupt the smoothness of the putting greens they work so hard to maintain is the superintendent. 

Scottsdale Golf Club Golfers often ask, “Why is aeration needed so often?”  Aeration is an essential program to keep playing surfaces healthy and in good condition.  Aeration primarily is performed to control organic matter-i.e., decaying roots and grass stems- relieve soil compaction, stimulate root growth and improve drainage. If the organic matter becomes too thick, it acts like a sponge and holds water at the surface after rain or irrigation.  Excessive organic matter also inhibits root growth, reduces oxygen levels in the soil, encourages disease, and eventually can lead to turf failure. Furthermore, excessive organic matter creates soft surfaces prone to ball marks, footprinting, and inconsistent playing conditions.  Aeration and topdressing are the most effective ways to control organic matter and maintain smooth, firm putting surfaces at the Scottsdale Golf Club.

Core aeration involves physically removing small soil cores from the turf and is the most common type of aeration. Aeration hold allows excess moisture to evaporate and promote gas exchange in the soil, resulting in stronger root systems and turf that is better able to tolerate golfer traffic.

Proper timing of aeration will ensure the fastest possible recovery and return to smooth surface conditions. The key to a quick recovery is to perform aeration when the turf is healthy and actively growing at Scottsdale Golf Club.  There are many types of aeration that superintendents use throughout the season; some are more labor-intensive and disruptive to playing surfaces than others.  Less-disruptive forms of aeration, including venting aeration with small-diameter, solid tines, also are beneficial because they can alleviate turf stress by promoting oxygen levels in the soil. Aeration programs that have a small impact on a playing surface generally can be performed throughout the season with little or no disruption to play.

Spring Transition a Scottsdale Private Golf Courses

 

Few discussions regarding turf grass management on Scottsdale Private Golf Courses get more emotional than discussions on whether or not to overseed with perennial Ryegrass.  However one fact about overseeding is indisputable: overseeding with perennial Ryegrass can, and often does, have an adverse effect on Bermudagrass. Nevertheless, Scottsdale Golf Course at management practices can be implemented that significantly reduce the impact of overseeding on Bermudagrass health.  The most important of those practices is getting rid of the perennial Ryegrass by late spring. One of the troubling trends occurring on golf courses is the increasing practice of Overseeding too early in the fall and keeping the Ryegrass too late in the spring/summer. If Bermudagrass does not have sufficient time to grow during the summer without competition from the Ryegrass the Bermudagrass will decline. This may occur in as little as one year and more often occurs gradually over a period of several years. Why does this happen? A fundamental principle in weed science is that plants compete with one another for four basic resources: 1) Water 2) Nutrients 3) Carbon Dioxide 4) Light. Light is the most crucial of these four for the benefit of the Bermudagrass. In overseeded environments, when Bermudagrass begins to come out of dormancy in spring, perennial Ryegrass growth is at its maximum. As a result, the Ryegrass provides significant shade to the Bermudagrass. 

Allowing Ryegrass to grow at  Scottsdale Golf Course into June in the Desert South West limits the Bermudagrass growing season and contributes to poor quality Bermudagrass. By late spring it is time for Bermudagrass to emerge from winter dormancy. Bermudagrass utilizes carbohydrates stored in underground rhizomes to produce new leaves every spring when temperatures in the top four inches of the soil reach about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Bermudagrass has about three chances to produce new leaves while trying to emerge from under the shade and competition of overseeded grasses before it will strike out and die. If a new leaf is unable to capture sunlight- strike one. This process repeats itself until, you guessed it, strike two and strike three. After strike three the Bermudagrass has spent its entire carbohydrate reserve and when sampling the soil it will reveal the hollow rhizomes. 

A proactive management regime at Scottsdale Golf Course is necessary to encourage successful Bermudagrass recovery. Here are the five key components for the Desert South West:

 1) Height of cut – The height of cut is critical. We begin lowering the height of cut on all overseeded areas come mid-February and progressively lower throughout the following weeks.

2) Soil moisture management- Dry conditions equal poor Bermudagrass recovery during late spring and early summer. It is critical to prevent areas from becoming chronically dry as it will delay the Bermudagrass transition.

3) Chemical removal- Many courses use a variety of tactics to chemically remove overseeded Ryegrass without injuring the understory Bermudagrass. However, we must not wait until June to employ this strategy because much of the Bermudagrass may have already struck out. This tactic is much more effective when used the end of April through May. 

4) Nutrient inputs- Nutrient sources should be applied in coordination with chemically removing overseeded grasses. This will stress Ryegrass during warm daytime temperatures while providing nutrients for emerging Bermudagrass.

5) 100 Days Plus- It would be nice to give Bermudagrass 162 days of growth in the absence of competition from Ryegrass. However, 100-120 days is the guideline courses should keep in mind when planning overseed dates and timing chemical removal of overseeded grasses.  If Ryegrass growth is retained well into June, the ability of Bermudagrass to develop the rhizome growth necessary to recuperate the following year will be severely limited. In other words, maintaining Ryegrass into June could result in a season-ending injury for Bermudagrass. 

Growing two grass crops at Scottsdale Private Golf Courses annually is a tenuous situation. Extending the Ryegrass growing season into June at the expense of Bermuda grass health is a season-ending injury.

Scottsdale Private Golf Courses Welcome Dr. Tony Megna to the Fitness and Performance Center at The Country Club at DC Ranch

 

There’s no time to waste, at Scottsdale Private Golf Courses, we must get started right away! The new fitness and wellness program is starting at Scottsdale Golf Course, The Country Club at DC Ranch. Let us teach you how to be fit and healthy for life. Let’s work together for 90 days with the intense focus of getting you healthy, strong, and pain-free so you can play at Scottsdale Private Golf Course.   We have studied around the world gathering and learning the best techniques from master athletes, teachers, practitioners and coaches who have all taught us their various arts in health and fitness and medicine; and now it’s our turn to teach and pass on this knowledge to you. Do you want to be able to move better? Do you want to hit the ball farther? To all who heed the call to get fit, healthy, and to maximize their potential, let’s get started. Our complete 5-Star 90-day program is designed to teach you step by step the fundamentals of exercise, diet, body maintenance, yoga, and meditation all alongside receiving advanced therapeutic and restorative bodywork therapies like massage, stretching, acupuncture, and, cupping which can all be used to improve blood circulation, resolve pain, optimize the nervous system, accelerate recovery, reduce inflammation, and help you sleep better! The question is really, “how healthy do you want to be?” Realize that there are many starting points with one’s health and everyone at Scottsdale Golf Course will have different goals. The first step is always to take inventory! Schedule a fitness assessment. Schedule a health evaluation today. Do you have any pain? How’s your heart tickin’? Do you have old injuries? What sort of traumas or accidents have you been in? What did you eat yesterday? Do you get headaches? Describe your sleep patterns? These are all questions that can help determine the state of one’s health. We must understand that there is no single method that can fix everything, and ideal health doesn’t happen overnight! We must apply everything we know, and we have to forge a lifestyle of healthy living in order for this to work. We may have to combine multiple techniques in order to improve health, and sometimes it might be difficult! Let us help you with your game plan. Can you visualize your best self? Scottsdale Private Golf Courses believe that setting goals in life is so important and will give you direction and it’s the consistency and disciple which will help you see it through, this is the key. We will create and tailor the most relevant program to meet your specific needs. This individualized plan is designed for you to make a rapid return toward ideal health and wellness. All roads lead to where we are going, to the top. Starting a wellness program with  Scottsdale Golf Course means that you must be ready to work on yourself too. To take an honest inventory of your life and to make the necessary changes and adaptations. Our staff is here to work with you as your health and wellness experts, your coaches, and your peer; but in the end, it’s ultimately up to you to take the reins of your own health, and we’re here to coach and teach you how to do that! We want the Country Club at DC Ranch community to thrive! This may be a grueling task and you may need to tap your own inner belly fire to overcome these essential growing pains. But we’re here to fuel these flames and we will be with you by your side the whole way! If you want to accomplish your highest goal you must be very clear within yourself. Start now. State your goals outright. Claw everlastingly towards your best self and never give up. Start learning and teaching yourself about healthy living. Realize there are no limits to how healthy you can be! Think big! Come stop by the Scottsdale Private Golf Courses performance center today and let’s help you get started. If you’re ready to take control of your health and wellness, allow us to be your guide on your way to the top of the mountain!