The Maple Ridge Messenger 4-1-08
4/1/2008 2:35:43 PMDELICATE BALANCE...
We are entering the time of year when we will host a number of outings and member and non-member tournaments. Management recognizes the need to be loyal to you our valued members with ample playing time for your needs, but also want to make you aware that the revenues generated by these events help to subsidize your out of pocket golf expense at Maple Ridge. For your convenience and pleasure, we also continue to offer reciprocal play with Callaway Gardens, Overlook, Highland CC, Southern Hills, Fox Run CC and are attempting to add to the list. When in doubt of the schedule, call the Pro Shop to help us help you to maximize your use of the Club.
We look forward to the day when we will enjoy a full membership (550 members, we are currently at 450) which will allow us to minimize our non-member play.
Just a heads up…look out for a face-lift of our on course restrooms. Thanks for your feedback…we do listen and if possible we do react.
Thank you, our members, for your support and for making Maple Ridge Golf Club such a special place…we look forward to discussing the continual improvement of your Club.
Tom Kubik, General Manager
CHERYL SHOOTS FROM HIP
So it is April already…where did the month of March go March was a busy month here at “The Ridge”. Three holes in one in the month of March. Yes, I did say THREE holes in one! Congratulations to David Reiss, Allen Wright, and Michael Ray. Stay tuned to our web-site for interviews and highlights of all three “Historic” events.
It is officially “GOLF SEASON” with the Masters just around the corner. Time to dust off the golf clubs and make your tee times. The tee sheets are getting fuller by the day. Call us here at 706-569-0966 to make your tee time today!
I would personally like to welcome the following new members to Maple Ridge Golf Club…Mike Taylor, Polly Adams, Matt Snyder, Scott Lunato, Mike Gathright, and Sam Bishop. Thanks to all of you for making Maple Ridge Golf Club your home for golf. We are GLAD you are here! Happy Golfing!
Cheryl Klobe, Sales & Marketing Mgr.
WHAT’S COOKIN’
APRIL Draft … Several members have asked about the possibility of changing or adding another selection of draft beer. The current selections of Coors Light, Killians, and Amber Bock have been very popular. As is the case with just about everything these days, our beer costs have increased. We can still have a $1 draft special if we change to Coors Draft rather than Coors Light, if we stay with Coors Light, we will go to $1.50. Either one is still a deal in today’s market.
Please let us know your preference (Coors versus Coors Light) and also let us know what other brand you might like to try in addition to our existing selections (there is a possibility that we can add another two tap tower to replace the single tap tower).
Thanks again for your feedback with regards to food and beverage offerings here at your Club. We value your opinion and your ideas continue to prompt changes in our offerings.
Thanks for your support!!!
Dick Esterson, Food & Beverage Director
DO YOU HAVE A HANDICAP?
The USGA rates course by qualified trained volunteers. Their purpose for golf is to make the game fair and equitable for everyone.
The golf course:
- Course Rating- This is the projected score a scratch golfer will shoot from a given tee. Example; Maple Ridge course rating from the GOLD tee is 66.8. A scratch golfer would score close to 66 from the GOLDS.
- Slope Rating – The raters would look at the difficulty of greens, bunker placement, water hazards etc.. They would apply a rating for each tee and course. 113 being average.
Your handicap index::
- Each course should have a reference chart that will give a handicap for a course or tee played based on your index.
- Every 12.5 index is the same regardless from which course or tees that index is established.
- YOU CAN NOT HANDICAP DISTANCE, ONLY SCORE
Handicap adjustments: You must take the ME factor out to understand the system.
- With the above statements in mind; A 12.5 index can not play another 12.5 index from a different tee box or course, fairly. So the USGA uses a formula that attempts to make the round equitable for both parties if they play separate tees. The course rating has the most influence in this formula.
Example: Maple Ridge WHITE TEES 69.5 vs. GOLD TEES 66.8 In this scenario if you played yourself WHITE & GOLD, the white should score an average of 2.7 shots higher each round.
- Your handicap is established this way, so it should be adjusted this way.
You can test this theory by looking at two players that play different tees. Take their 10 best scores and subtract their handicap to establish their NET score. Their NET average will be close to what the course rating is for the tees they play. You will see these two players could not compete fairly without an adjustment. Hope This Helps!
Mike Gill, Director of Golf
LET'S TALK TURFApril is known as “Turfgrass Month” in Georgia. This year we will be kicking off the growing season under the Level 4 drought restriction that began in late September of last year. Under this restriction golf courses are limited to the following: irrigation of new landscape material for 30 days, watering-in fertilizers and pesticides according to the label, irrigation system maintenance and repair, irrigation of greens. It is likely you will see the effects of these restrictions in the quality of the turf if they continue into the hot summer months. However, the maintenance department will utilize Best Management Practices, referred to as BMP’s, to provide you the best quality turf we can under these conditions. Best Management Practices is a “common sense” approach to turf maintenance backed by science and technology. Some BMP’s we may use are: altering mowing schedule and height of cut depending on conditions, hose watering dry areas (greens only), frequent aerification, routine use of wetting agents, additional fertilizer applications, cart traffic controls, and the list goes on … so we can
Douglas Smith, CGCS
JAKE’S GEMS...
As our “Plus Four” membership drive enters its second month, several initiatives are starting to bear fruit. We have more good prospects than ever, a solid multi-media campaign underway and are working the corporate sector.
We’re trying to attract groups of employees from companies like TSYS, CB&T, AFLAC, Cessna and many more with an “Employee Membership” that saves everyone big money on their initiation fee if they join together. Till now, many of these people have shown interest individually – we figure, why not pool their efforts and make their decision to join easy? Basically, a group discount.
Thanks, as always, for the many fine leads and referrals you’ve given us!
Rick Jacobson, Director of Sales & Marketing