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Tee Times Newsletter - April 2006
April 5, 2006
Upcoming Events
Opening Social & Casino Night
Friday, April 21st
Enjoy the entertainment of Lou Nelson as “Tom Jones” and the added entertainment of “The Rainman”.
Complimentary glass of wine upon arrival, hors d’oeuvres, casino money and ticket to the show.
Price: $15.00
Easter Sunday Brunch
Sunday, April 16th
We will be featuring our scrumptious prime rib buffet.
Brunch hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Last reservations at 12:30 p.m.
Cost: Adults - $19.95, Children under 12 - $9.95, Children under 5 – free
Reservations recommended, call 825-2186 ext. 226
Welcome Night for New Members
Wednesday, April 26th, 7:00 p.m.
All new members are invited to an information session at the club. During this session, brief presentations will be made by representatives of the various members of the club executive and committee chairs.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet some of your fellow members and get acquainted with the various committees at the club. Watch for your invitation in the mail and follow instructions relative to registration.
Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner Buffets
Sunday, May 14th
Join us on Mother’s Day for our Brunch or Dinner buffet. A good opportunity to show that special someone how much she is appreciated and how much you really care.
Expansion Plans
A number of members have called the club regarding a recent article appearing in one of the local newspapers. The article concerned the proposed new sub-division development surrounding Orchard Estates and Cedarhill Estates. In this regard, we understand that a revised draft plan of the sub-division is now being presented to the City which details a residential development of 132 one acre lots along with the expansion of our golf course. Incorporated in the plan is the approximate 26 acre parcel which will be used for development of four new golf holes at Cedarhill. A second parcel will be set aside for the development of a nine hole Executive Par 3 golf course to the North of us. During the second week of April, a drawing will be available for viewing in the clubhouse which details the proposed sub-division lot plan and the new hole configuration. At this stage, we are unable to comment on the timing for completion of the proposed four holes as the final sub-division plan and the golf course expansion plan must first be approved by the City. This new information does, however, bring further confirmation that the project is moving forward.
Given the recent and positive information, it is ownership’s decision to defer work on the proposed new Pro Shop and escalate plans for the remodeling and rebuilding of the existing Clubhouse. The remodeling will, in all likelihood, incorporate a new Pro Shop and other facilities and we are currently in the process of selecting an architect to work with us in the designing of our new facility. The existing Pro Shop is currently undergoing some minor cosmetic improvements as is the existing club storage facility. These improvements will be completed prior to the middle of May.
The foregoing is exciting and timely news. As we move through the 2006 season, further clarity will come about on timing for our course and building construction. With the lengthening of the course, the building of the four new holes, the realignment and reconfiguration of the existing holes and the expansion of the Clubhouse, it is our vision to turn Cedarhill Golf and Country Club into one of the best golf course facilities in the region. We will update you as information becomes available.
Lockers
Lockers will be available for use beginning the week of April 10th. You may use the same number which was assigned to you in 2005 unless your requirements have changed. New members or members requiring a locker for the first time are asked to contact the office.
Signing In - Pro Shop/Starter Area
All members and guests are required to sign in at the Pro Shop prior to beginning their round. This practice has been in place for a number of years but has not been monitored.
As the membership continues to grow, it is in everyone’s best interest to ensure an orderly and controlled process is in place at the 1st Tee. Our starters have been asked to allow for some flexibility during the early part of the year but that flexibility will be removed by the middle of May. Please avoid the embarrassment and inconvenience of being sent back to the Pro Shop to sign in. As the Pro Shop has been relocated and access routes to the 1st Tee have been altered, it would be a good idea to arrive a little earlier for your first couple of tee times in order to acquaint yourself with the new process.
President’s Message
Sandy Farrell
During the winter months, your Executive Committee has been busy getting things organized and in place for this season. The committee hasn't changed much over the past year however we remain committed to ensuring that both your golfing and social needs are well organized throughout the golfing season.
Your Executive Committee is as follows:
Sandy Farrell, President
Liz Curran, Past President
Lee Whelly, Treasurer
Keelan Green, Secretary
Tom Bowie, Club Captain
Scott Brewster, Director
Dave McNaughton, Director
Bill Gosewitz, Director
Bob Williamson, Management Rep.
Your Committee Chairs are as follows:
Playing Committee: Tom Bowie, Club Captain
Greens Committee: Marty Wells, Chair
Social Committee: Greg Chambers, Interim Chair
Day Ladies: Robbie Dempster, Chair
Business Ladies: Bev Goold, Chair
Senior Men: Alan Bentley, Chair
Men’s Night: Steve Bright, Chair
Junior Committee: Len Damiano
The Executive Committee supports and encourages member functions and activities through the organization of committees.
In order to grow and prosper your playing and social experience at Cedarhill, I encourage all members to support and help in any way the activities of your committees. Please remember that these committees are made up of club members who volunteer their time and energy to enhance your enjoyment, whether competitive or social, at Cedarhill. If you should see fit, please feel free to contact anyone of the above to volunteer your time and energy to help out. As you can see, we are in need of a Social Committee Chair and a Junior Committee Chair. Anyone wishing to be considered for either of these two Chairs please contact either myself or Bob Williamson and let us know.
Last year we experienced many course improvements taking place and this year we should become accustomed to it as the club is more focused than ever on improving the playing conditions and, of course, enhancing your golf experience at Cedarhill.
Playing Committee
Tom Bowie, Club Captain
Contained in your Newsletter is the 2006 Schedule. We have reviewed comments from the Survey and we have listened to your comments and hope that we have addressed many of your ideas. We have tried, we have tinkered, we have debated and here it is. Some of it might still be a work in progress; please watch the notice boards and the website for further info. Some of the more notable changes include the following: the men’s Intersectional Matches will be on Sunday, July 9 rather than the 1st weekend in July … this is an OVGA change. Cedarhill will be hosting the Section F matches because Gatineau is undergoing significant renovations; your Executive and management have approved this. Ladies’ Intersectional Qualifying will be two rounds on Sunday, June 4 and Saturday, June 10. The Cedarhill Cup will be on Thursday, 20 July (back by popular demand) and Saturday 22 and Sunday 23. There will be a separate event for the Senior Intersectional Qualifying August 5 and 6.
We will try very hard to have tournament information and signup sheets up at least 3 weeks prior to an event. Please sign up early. Post entries are becoming increasingly difficult to accommodate and may be eliminated. If for some reason you must cancel after you have signed up and the draw has been done it will be your responsibility to advise the Pro Shop. If you have not participated in these events in the past, come out and join in the fun and meet some of your fellow members. These are YOUR events and your opportunity to participate in competitive golf at the club level. CLGA and OVGA events will be posted on notice boards and sent in on the required dates. More information is available at www.ovga.org.
Can it ever be too early to harp on course etiquette ---- let’s do it! PLEASE. Replace your divots, fix ball marks and rake traps. Let’s keep our course in good condition (leave it in at least as good a condition as you found it, if not better). Generally in 2005 we had very good Pace of Play. As a reminder: it should not be a race nor should it be a snail’s pace. It should be reasonable. We should be able to enjoy a round of golf at Cedarhill in approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes, although some tournament play and conditions may require a bit more. It should be an enjoyable round of golf/day. Let’s ALL have fun.
So now that you have looked at your schedule --- the 1st scheduled golfing event is your Get Acquainted on Saturday, 29 April. Come on out for a terrific breakfast and some “warming” golf. It’s a great opportunity to get back into the swing of golf and golfing friendships. Information will be on the notice boards so signup -- $15.00 all inclusive.
As always we welcome your ideas and if anybody has the desire and time to help, you will not have to yell too loudly, and we gladly welcome you. If we can be of any assistance just ask and/or share your thoughts.
Playing Committee Members: Tom Bowie, Club Captain, Bill Gosewitz, David Green, Laura MacHutchon, Brad Myers
Handicap Committee Chair: Scott Brewster
Greens Committee
Martin Wells, Chair
Members for the upcoming season are:
Martin Wells, Chair
Scott Brewster
Michi Small
Bob Williamson
David Green
Chuck Garland
Kyle Murray
Men’s Night Committee
Steve Bright, Chair
As I look outside and watch the snow melt no doubt most of you are like me and are starting to put away the winter apparel and are anxiously awaiting the start of another golf season and getting back into the swing of our weekly Thursday evening Cedarhill men’s nights.
For new members or anyone not familiar with our men’s night, I would encourage you to come out any Thursday and check it out as it has long been considered one of the best men’s nights in the area. Briefly, members of men’s night are formed into 4-man teams with each week everyone coming out accumulating points for their team towards our season ending banquet where everyone enjoys a complementary meal and receives a prize. Each week, the majority of players stay in the lounge after their rounds to enjoy the weekly dinner specials, hopefully win a prize in the draw or just to socialize with the other members. All members of the club are welcome join up either as a team or individually.
Again this year we hope to have prize tables for most of our nights so we will be looking for sponsors for the prize tables. Sponsorship is a good opportunity for anyone wishing to bring out some of their clients or employees for a round of golf for little more than the cost of the green fees and carts.
This year we will also be looking for people willing to volunteer for some of the committee activities involved each Thursday night, especially with some tasks that need to be done for the early starters. If you are willing to volunteer please let me know.
The season will start with a social evening on April 20 starting around 6:30 PM which is an opportunity for everyone to come out and sign up, reacquaint themselves with fellow golfers and see some of the changes that have been made around the club. After that, with cooperation from the weather, April 27 will be our first non-scoring playing night with scoring starting the following Thursday, May 4th. Hope to see you all at the club once we get started again.
Senior Men’s Committee
Alan Bentley, Chair
Now that spring is finally here, we can truly start thinking about golf in 2006. The Cedarhill Senior men are a group of seniors who golf every Thursday morning with reserved tee times blocked off between 8:00 and 8:56 a.m. If you are a new senior at Cedarhill you are invited to come and join us. The cost for the year is $20.00 to cover prizes and the wind-up breakfast.
We have a different game in the competition every week, May through to October, and our team captain Ed Cashman keeps track of the points earned throughout the season. You can play 9 or 18 holes, depending on your ability and health. You make arrangements for carts, if required, at the Pro Shop. We have a lot of fun and the competition is keen, but not too serious. The Havelin Trophy is played for in August which is a 36-hole, two week competition. We play with handicaps, so it is appreciated if during the year you enter your scores into the computer after each game you play. That makes it fair for all concerned.
Our treasurer is Mike Hubbard and Chairperson is Alan Bentley. See you on the links and be sure to come out to our opening breakfast the end of April, noted in the schedule of club events. Watch the Senior Bulletin Board in the locker room for signup sheets and notices.
Day & Business Ladies Committees
Robbie Dempster, Chair
Bev Goold, Chair
Cedarhill Member turns 100
On Friday, January 6th, twenty-six ladies gathered at the Cedarhill Clubhouse for a luncheon to celebrate Marg Farstad’s 100th birthday (January 17). Marg was one of the original members of Cedarhill and has been a faithful member of the “Day Ladies” group up until the last three years when a shoulder injury forced her to give up the game she loves so much.
Doreen Meisner gave us all a brief account of Marg’s life. We were treated to many humerous and interesting stories of Marg’s early days; suffice to say, she was a woman before her time. At the tender, young age of 19, Marg was put in charge of a one-room schoolhouse - grades 1 - 9. Somehow I just can’t picture the petite, lady-like Marg we know today, riding 1 ½ miles on horseback daily to and from her job as a school teacher!
We would all like to thank Doreen Meisner and Carmen Beach for organizing this wonderful luncheon and giving us all the opportunity to personally wish Marg continued good health.
Ladies Opening/Men’s Get Acquainted Breakfast - Saturday, April 29
Please note that this event is open to all categories of Ladies’ membership, (i.e. 7 day, 5 day and 1 day). You will be put on a team when you check in. The format will be a 4-person scramble. We look forward to seeing you all then.
Day Ladies’ and Business Ladies’ Opening - Tuesday, May 2
This will be the official opening for both the Day and Business Ladies’ groups.
For the Day Ladies, there will be a 9:00 a.m. Meeting (Rain or Shine). The meeting will hopefully be followed by golf - weather permitting.
Social Committee
Greg Chambers, Interim Chair
The Social Committee is well underway with planning your non competitive golf events for the season. We will start the 2006 season off with our Opening Social (Casino Night) on Friday, April 21st. Please see the attached flyer for this “can’t miss” event. Register early and don’t be disappointed. The attached 2006 Event Schedule outlines the balance of our preliminary plans for the 2006 season. A number of new activities are planned and you are encouraged to come out and support as many events as you can. We will only be successful with your participation.
For the 2006 season, we have asked the Chairs of the various other club committees to assign a member of their committee or represented group to the Social Committee. This request was put out in order to ensure feedback and input on the social calendar from a broader base of the membership. Hopefully this initiative will result in a final calendar which touches on the needs of all of our membership.
On a final note, the Chair position for this committee is still open. Chairing any committee is a challenge but we can assure anyone considering the position that they will receive the utmost support from club management and the club Executive Committee. If you have an interest in considering the chair position or sitting on the committee at large, please contact Sandy Farrell, Club President. He can be accessed through the office at 825-2186, ext 221.
Pro Shop News
Greg Chambers, Head Professional
I hope everyone had a great winter, whether it was battling the snow around the area or basking in the sun down south. I’ve seen some great tans in the last few weeks. My staff and I made it through the off-season by working with the Indoor Simulator’s and serving lots of cold beverages, but it’s time to get ready for the real thing.
Coming back this year to our hut in the woods (the Pro Shop has moved toward the clubhouse for those who haven’t heard or seen it yet) is my Assistant Pat Laderoute. Pat will be overseeing our new “Course Assistants” program, Back Shop Operations, Inventory and Sales, Ladies and Men’s Night and all the day-to-day operations. Jacqueline Wilson will again be running our outside events as well as helping keep our Men’s Night crowd under control. Lauren Mongeau will also be back with us helping out with sales and member tournaments. I’m pleased to announce our newest signing for the 2006 season, our current Club Champion, John Seymour. John, who is in the Golf Program at Humber College, will be working in the Pro Shop, working with our Ladies Night and also helping out with our Jr. Program.
We’ve brought in some new and exciting items to the shop this year. Last year, I frequently was asked for more equipment and demo’s and that golf shoes be made available. For 2006, I will have far more demo’s for everyone to try out. You simply leave a credit card in the Pro Shop, and you can take it out for 18 holes or to a local driving range. This privilege is free to all club members. We will even have a Callaway Fitting Cart. This all fits into my marketing strategy that I will beat any advertised price at Golftown on any new equipment. When you buy at Cedarhill you will know you got the best price. We will even have Golftown flyers and ads posted in the shop to compare. I’ve brought in four different styles of shoes for Ladies and Men this year. You can get something conservative or something loud and colourful that you can see the tour players wear each week on the LPGA and PGA tour. If there is ever anything in equipment you are looking for and can’t find, do not hesitate to ask my staff or myself. It can usually be received within 2 business days. As the Cedarhill name and reputation grows, we are getting better service and shipping dates from our suppliers.
I hope to see everyone out soon chasing that little white thing. If you are a new member to Cedarhill please feel free to stop by to introduce yourself or if you just want to ask me a question on equipment or on your swing, don’t be shy. I hope everyone has a great year and enjoys all the great changes and upgrades we’ve made to Cedarhill.
Club House News
Elias Giannakopoulos, Food & Beverage Manager
We had quite a busy winter and are gearing up for a very busy summer. Our Sunday brunches, Golf Simulators, Superbowl party and “Taste of Greece” and “Taste of Ireland” evenings were very successful in keeping us in touch during the cold months. If you haven’t yet had the chance to try one of our Sunday Brunches, you’ll still be able to join us during the month of April. After the opening of the course, our regular Sunday Brunches will be discontinued.
Tom Sedlar, our Executive Chef, is close to finalizing the Lounge Menu for 2006. He has kept our most popular food items from last year and has added numerous new ones which, hopefully, will become your favourites. The majority of our staff has expressed an interest in returning this year so you’ll see many familiar faces upon your return.