indian river golf club newsletter

bership and successfully

implemented her idea to

benefit IRGC. She also

teaches the game she

loves and manages tour-

nament activities.

Thanks Marcy for your

great idea.

Sandy Temple:

Sandy has a full

time job and is raising

two children with an

absentee husband dur-

ing the golf season.

Thanks Sandy for your

husband‘s time. Doug

has done an outstanding

job.

George Miller

The annual meeting

was well attended. Our

membership was treated

to an interesting review

of the Michigan deposits

of oil and gas by Susan

Topp, attorney, an ex-

pert in the oil and gas

field. Following her pres-

entation, she answered

questions from the audi-

ence, explaining that the

oil and gas frenzy of a

few months ago has qui-

eted to almost silence. It

is thought that after the

state‘s mineral rights

auction scheduled this

fall, the leasing activity

with private land owners

will begin again.

We have three very

special women to thank

for contributions of tal-

ent, creativity and per-

sonal sacrifice.

Sheryl Marsh:

Sheryl is a graphic

designer who has done

numerous projects for

the club. If she were to

be paid, it would require

thousands of dollars to

compensate her for ser-

vices rendered. Thank

you Sheryl for all of

your good work.

Marcy Rowan:

Marcy, a bridge

master, conceived the

idea of a bridge mem-

From The President

House Committee

The new masthead picture is

of the newly stained deck and the rock wall as viewed from the ninth green. This has been a major effort this year of the House Committee

and the many volunteers who have

made it possible.

Bill Bray

September/October 2010

Indian River Golf

Club

Newsletter

Inside This Issue:

Manager’s Report

Upcoming Events

Membership Committee

2

2

2

Golf Shop News & Events 3

Tournament and Golf 4

Greens and Grounds 5

Social Activities

Mah Jongg Tournament

6

6

Photos 7

Mah Jongg , Cards

SPGA

8

8

One often overlooked benefit of belonging to Indian River Golf Club is the discount

members get on both food and beverage. This discount is for all food and beverage, with the exception of daily specials. The member discount is currently 10%. This means that for every $100 of food and beverage you order, you are only paying $90. The amount

shown on your check should reflect the 10% discount. In other words, if you order a

tuna melt sandwich which is $6.50 on the menu, your check should show $5.85.

I‘d like to ask all of our members to be sure their friends and neighbors are aware that our restaurant is open to the public (although non-members cannot eat in the main

dining room). I recently had lunch at the club with a group of my neighbors from Burt Lake, most who had been in the area for years. After a delicious lunch, I was shocked to hear several of them say they didn‘t realize the restaurant is open to the public. Dave

Marsh has been doing a lot of advertising to inform the public that they can dine in our restaurant, but many people still appear to not be aware of this. Please do what you can to pass the word. Having more people utilize our restaurant definitely helps our bottom

line. Sukey Stump, Treasurer

Notes From The Treasurer

“No one has as much luck around the greens

as one who practices a lot.”

Chi Chi Rodriguez

September 7th Men’s Night League Last

Day and Banquet

September 8th IRGC Ladies Interclub

vs. C.C. of Boyne @ IRGC 9 AM Tee

Time with Lunch to follow

September 9th Ladies 18 Hole Last Day

League Fun Day (8:30 to 9:30 AM Break-

fast before Golf)

September 10th and 11th Melvindale

Limited Tee Times

September 13th Board Meeting 12:30

September 13th Men’s Scramble Last

Day

September 14th Men’s Day League

Scramble and Banquet 3 PM

September 15th Men’s 18 Hole Mixed

League Last Day

September 17th Boyne Couples Event

@ IRGC 1 PM Shotgun

September 18th VFW Outing 11 AM

Shotgun

September 22nd Member’s Night 3:30

PM Shotgun

September 25th Last Hurrah Party 5 to

7 PM

October 2nd Indian River Women’s

Club Auction No Dinners

October 11 Board Meeting 12:30

October 12th Last Night for Bridge

Dinners

October 17th Last Dinner for the Sea-

son Kitchen Closed

The tree off my deck and empty blackberry bushes are telling me that fall

is nearing closer. As many of you begin winterizing your cottages, remember we only have six weeks left to use up minimums and your remaining 2010 Pro-shop credits must be used before the end of the year. Please check with the office to obtain your balances. If you know what date you may be leaving, let

us know so that we can change your address in our systems. As you prepare to leave, the same can be said about our staff. The season-ality of most positions here at the club lends itself to the lack of staff on some

days. This is why it is vital to make reservations both in the pro-shop and res-taurant, so that we can schedule the proper staff to take care of your needs or give you good service.

This is also the time of year to reflect. What a successful and fun season we have had. Membership numbers were positive, and the addition of Doug Temple really regenerated the club. It‘s also a time to reflect on the many

good members that passed away and to remember all the good times we had with people like Charlie Beaubien, Fred Smith or Jerry Quart to name a few. As you prepare to leave for your winter retreats stop in and say ―thank you‖

to everyone that worked so very hard this year to make your summer in Northern Michigan enjoyable. We truly have a very special staff here. Always be mindful of what a great club Indian River Golf Club is and have a

great winter. Dave

From Our Manager, Dave Marsh

Upcoming Events

It‘s September! The kids are starting back to school and football games

have begun. Go Bulldogs, Spartans and Bucs! Did I forget anyone?

The good news is that we have had modest gains in golfing memberships

this year and a successful first year of bridge memberships. Our social mem-berships are down slightly, and we are still way below our 250 cap on certifi-cate memberships. Each winter we lose, on average, 12 to 14 golfing mem-

berships usually due to health and aging. So, unless we get that many new

members each year, we lose ground and experience financial shortfalls.

We all need to focus on encouraging friends, relatives, business associ-ates and acquaintances to join our club. Our members are the key to in-creasing our numbers and stabilizing our financial condition. Members are

the best ambassadors and salespeople for the benefits of being a member of Indian River Golf Club. Therefore, we as individuals must accept this respon-

sibility in order to preserve the wellbeing of our beautiful club.

Consider all the special features that you enjoy about Indian River Golf Club and realize that these do not come without the efforts of all of us, members and staff. Please do what you can to help us maintain and improve

our investment in Indian River Golf Club.

Be well, do good work. Stay in touch and recruit new members!

Bruce Hunting,



Remember to change

your address and e-mail when

you leave for your winter

retreats.

Don’t Put the Clubs Away Yet!

Here are Few Great Tournaments Still on the Books this Fall!

The UTO (Ugly Tie Open) 3 Club Scramble – Thursday, September 23rd (NEW DATE)

Time: 4:00 Shot Gun Start

Format: 3 person - 9 hole event – To be played with only 3 clubs of your choice. Event will be handicapped

MANDATORY – Players must where their ugliest Neck Tie – A tribute to Bobby Jones

Cost: $20 - Prizes and Appetizers Following Play

NEW EVENT – The Temple Cup! - Saturday, October 2nd & Sunday, October 3rd

Each year I organize the illustrious Temple Cup event for family and friends. In this fun two day event, we

will play at several different golf courses in different formats like Scramble and Best Ball. One of the days will

be held at Indian River Golf Club and another at another area facility. The event is fun, filled with camaraderie

and some great prizes. As always, the event benefits a charity, and this year we will be raising funds for the

Alzheimer's Association. Look for a sign up sheet (with limited space being posted) in the locker room soon!

News and Events From The Golf Shop

SHOP TALK!

Thank you to all who supported

the food drive and Sale-A-Bration! The

event was a big success with nearly 30

bags of food going to local food pan-

tries. Those of you who made dona-

tions received some LOW, LOW,

LOW prices on inventory. Thanks for

shopping at and supporting your club.

Many great deals are still available in

the golf shop so please think of us! We

can special order items also.

THANKS FOR A GREAT SEA-

SON!

I wanted to let all the members

know what a great season I‘ve had!

When things are crazy hectic, I like

many, I forget to remind all of you how

special you have made my first year.

From inviting me to cookouts, to go

boating (haven‘t had time yet), dinner

on the deck, for golf or simply asking

about my family, you have all done a

good job of making me feel wel-

come. My family and I appreciate

the hospitality. With all the new

programs and new perspective on

existing ones, the membership has

overwhelmingly supported the

changes. I‘m excited to work with

the committees and board this fall

in creating the 2011 schedule and

continuing to increase everyone's

enjoyment of the IRGC facility.

THE GOLF ACADEMY @

IRGC

Heading south soon? Make sure

you‘re working on the right me-

chanics and know what swing drills

will help you achieve your personal

goals. PGA Professional, Doug

Temple, has lowered many handi-

caps this season and improved

every student‘s overall enjoyment

of the game. If you‘re looking for a

few tips before you head south, give

the golf shop a call! 231-238-7011

SURVEY SAYS – GIVE US

YOUR INPUT!

I am putting together the golf

shop buying plan for 2011, and I am

looking for your input! I will be send-

ing out a survey either via email or

snail mail and will be looking for im-

portant info that will guide the look

of the IRGC Golf Shop and its prod-

ucts. Please take a few minutes out

of your day to complete the survey.

Your insight is invaluable.

September is here already, but the

activities are not over yet! The leagues last hurrahs are the first two weeks. A favorite for all IRGC golf

members are the inter-club matches with Boyne on Sept 8th, when the IRGC ladies host the Boyne women

with a 9AM start. The Boyne Cou-ples inter-club match is on Sept 17th with a 1PM shotgun start. Sign-up

begins on Friday, Sept. 3rd.

Our last Member‘ Night is Sept. 22nd with a 3:30PM shotgun start. The

format is a traditional scramble.

Fall is fast approaching. With this

season comes beautiful autumn day, and our course will be awash with spectacular color. It is a great time to

schedule tee times with all the friends you just have not had the chance to play golf with; or, just play the course

to enjoy the beauty.

Thank you for you overwhelming

support and compliance for IRGC‘s Handicap Policy. The policy has been a success as evidence in this past

summer‘s tournaments and events.

LAURA MOLLOY AND BRENT

VIZINA

2010 IRGC CLUB CHAMPIONS

DIANE VARISTO AND STEVE

CHELI

2010 IRGC PRESIEDENT CUP

WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS!

Tournament and Golf

Member Testimonials:

Bob Piotraczk: "I am very impressed

with Doug's teaching skills. He was

able to get right into my head and

change my game immediately. He has

given me the confidence to know

when I am doing it right and to quickly

fix it when I am doing it wrong.

Pat Stanton: "Doug's clinics are full of

enthusiasm and helpful individual

pointers."

Improve your golf game. Call the pro

shop at 238-7011 to schedule a lesson

or sign up for a clinic

Doug Temple, Golf Pro

President Cup Winner, Steve Cheli President Cup Winner, Diane Varisto

Club Champion, Laura Molloy Club Champion, Brent Vizina

Greens and Grounds

Members, guests and visitors all agreed the course was in great shape this summer. What‘s not so apparent is the high level

of productivity Pat and his people maintain while delivering this level of quality. The following is from a Golf Association of Michi-

gan survey of member courses.

(Figures are for 2008 but our numbers have barely changed since then. 255 started the survey, 106 completed it: 61 out of 137 private clubs, 45 out of 259 public member clubs. 80% have 18 holes. 45% have a swimming pool, 35% have tennis, 87% have

restaurant/bar.)

Indian River‘s overall course maintenance costs fall in the bottom third relative to other Michigan courses. We are below average for chemicals/fertilizers. We are way below average on # of people and equipment maintenance cost. We are in the

bottom third for labor costs.

Expense category # GAM IRGC

How many people do you em-

ploy for golf course maintenance?

Year ‗round, 1-3 56.1%

Seasonal, 12+ 47.1

Seasonal, 9-11 22.0%

Seasonal, 4-8 25.0%

1

0

0

6.5

How much did you spend on

chemicals and fertilizers? $10K – 25K 11.1%

$25K – 40K 21.2%

$40 – 80 31.3%

$24.600

How much was spent on repairs

and upkeep of course mainte-

nance equipment?

$1 – 10K 14.0%

10K – 25K 43.0%

25K –40K 29.0%

$9.500

What was your total golf course

maintenance budget ?

Under $100,000 8%

101,000-250,000 19%

$237,000

What was the total golf course

maintenance labor costs (Salary

and wages only, no taxes) ?

Under $100,000 18%

101,000-250,000 39%

250,000-500,000 36%

$144,000

Greens Thumb News

―Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower.‖ Albert Camus

Please not let us take for granted the many members who work hard to give

our course a little beauty throughout the summer. A big thanks to these members:

Patsy and Dewitt White, Vern and Dick Binder, Jesse and Bob McFadden, Pat

and Jack McGuirk, Ruby and Dan Rivard, Sally and Steve Bataran, Susan and Scott McPherson, Carol and George Miller, Carol and Gary Freismuth, Karen and Rick Pung, Sue and Bud Garlic, Sue and Bob Schultz, Karen and Dave Hill, Pat and

Bill Bray and Terry and Bob Foster.

A belated thanks to Lynda and Ralph Lindgren for sending a check as they got

here late and want to help. Enjoy the Fall. Patti Brown

scheduled for Sat. Sept.25th—4 till

7pm. This is a great opportunity to get together with your fellow members and tell a few golf stories. Watch for the

sign up in the dining room.

Also during September, we will host

the annual Boyne/IRGC Couples Tour-nament on Friday the 17th. This is al-ways a fun, minimally competitive

event where a CC of Boyne couple partners with an IRGC couple, followed by a great meal and prizes. This event‘s

sign up sheet should be downstairs in the tournament room by the time you read this article. Don‘t get left out—

sign up quickly as numbers are limited.

Football Saturdays should also be kept in mind this fall. Watch for flash e-mails to inform you of big deals during big games!

Also watch for the UTO tourna-ment that Doug Temple is setting up for

later in the month. UTO stands for UGLY TIE OPEN, so you know this will not be overly serious. Hope to see you

around your club!

Gary

It was an evening filled with glam-

our and glitter at the annual IRGC dinner dance held on the evening of Aug.28th. A record number of mem-bers and their guests walked the red

carpet as they entered the club-house—which had been transformed into a gala ballroom—for the evening‘s

activities. Following a wine tasting, a fabulous dinner was served coupled with an exquisite dessert. Dinner mu-

sic filled the room as guests enjoyed the company of friends both old and new. After the dinner service couples

danced into the wee hours…or at

least till 10:45pm.

Special thanks go out to Sharon McIntosh and Karen Hamal for all of

their hard work. They made the eve-ning the success that it was. And thanks to Steve Cheli for ‗loaning‘ us

his 1940 LaSalle Roadster. Steve tells us that the rumor that he purchased

this car new is not, in fact, true.

As the calendar page flips to Sep-

tember do not fear-- your Social Committee is not yet done for the year. The annual Last Hurrah Party is

Social Committee

Mah Jongg Tournament Winners

Ruth Wolf, 2009 Winner, first winner of first Mah Jongg Tournament

Pam Correll, Ruth Wolf, Pam Lesperance, and Sheila Ashcroft, 1st

Place Winner

Thank you to the ladies who participated in the Mah Jongg Tournament, and a special thank you to Kathy Piotraczk and Karen

Strausbaugh for organizing a wonderful afternoon. The club grossed $600 from your generous support.

The Board of Directors

Ready to have a ‗proper tea‘

at the Mah Jongg tea table.

“Night At The Movies” Dinner Dance

The pictures taken next to the

1940 LaSalle Roadster owned by

Steve Cheli lent a definite air of glam-

our to the night. Members and guests

walked the red carpet as they ap-

proached the entrance.

The evening was an opportunity

to dress up, but it was not required.

The pictures show many smiling

faces!

Judee Burgoon, sans walker, in the

picture, did not miss the evening

even though she had a broken

femur.

Indian River Golf Club

P.O. Box 428

Indian River, MI 49749

231-238-7011

2010 Officers:

President: George Miller

Vice-President: Bob Foster

Secretary: Karen Hill

Treasurer: Suzanna Stump

Tee Times 238-7011

Restaurant 238-8515

W E A R E O N T H E W EB !

W WW . I ND I AN R IV ERG OL FCL UB . C O M

Mah Jongg play is Tuesdays from

10:00 AM to 2:30+ PM. Beginners are

welcome. To inquire about learning the

game, contact Jessie McFadden at 238-

7369 There is an on-going beginner

table.

Duplicate Bridge (Sanctioned)

Tuesday night at 6:00 PM. Dinner is at

5:00PM. Friday at 10:00 starting June

18th.

Party bridge is Thursdays from

11:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Lunch is at 11:30

AM, and bridge starts at 12:30PM.

Pinochle play is Thursday at

11:00 AM. Beginners are welcome to

learn the game.

SPGA – Slow Play Golf Association. Membership is simple.

1. Arrive in the parking lot at your tee time – that way the Starter will try to hold everyone else

up while you pay your fees and get your cart. Only then put your golf shoes on at the first tee.

2. No two people out of the cart at the same time. One player has to complete his shot and

return to the cart before the second person can exit the cart and begin planning his next shot.

3. Take plenty of practice swings – five or six minimum. If you don't feel the shot, change clubs

completing seven more practice swings.

4. Wait for the group ahead to clear. Even though your best drive is 170 yards, the group ahead

HAS to be on the green of the 400-yard par 4 before you can hit your drive.

5. Use all electronic devices - GPS, rangefinder, iPhone App, etc. before every shot.

6. Use the same club the pros use - Phil Mickelson hits his 7 iron 200 yards, and you should be

able to hit yours the same distance.

7. Following every bad shot, hit a mulligan. If you're having a real bad golf day, keep hitting until

you get one you like.

8. Look for lost balls no matter how long it takes. Leave the cart parked in the middle of the

fairway so the group behind knows you are still looking. Other members of your foursome

should not assist in locating any lost ball, but fish in the nearest pond for a dozen or so balls to

be used in completing the round.

9. Park the cart four feet from the green (or at least on the opposite side of the green from the

next tee).

10. View all putts from all four sides - the pros do and so should you whether it is the first, sec-

ond, third or fourth putt. Also remember to plumb bob all chip shots from 60 yards in.

11. After putting out stroll back to the cart, return to the green to pick up the club you forgot,

clean the clubs, place them in the bag, get into the cart, recount each stroke on that hole, re-

cord the score and then, and only then, drive to the next tee.

12. Never, ever wave the group behind through. All SPGA members have the right to play 18

holes without waiting on a shot every time they play.

Fair Warning: A chapter of the SPGA is forming at your club. NOW.

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