THE MAPLE RIDGE MESSENGER

The Official Newsletter of Maple Ridge Golf Club, Columbus, Ga.

MARCH 15, 2009 EDITION

ACTIVITIES WARMING UP WITH THE SEASON!!!                            Tom Kubik, General Manager

Member activities are getting into full swing just as daylight hours and temperatures are on the increase allowing you more time to enjoy Your Club.  Whether you participate in Thursday Night Dogfights, Couples, Junior Golf, MGA, LGA, Dinner Club, Member Tournaments, Demo Days, play with friends, or just hone your talents on the driving range…we are here to serve your recreational needs and provide an escape.  From our Golf Professionals and Golf Operations Staff to our Maintenance Team to our Grille and Kitchen Personnel to Sales and Administrative Staff…we are here to provide you with a quality product and quality service. 

Golf rounds were down in the State over 10% for January, but rounds at The Ridge were actually up over 13%.  Thank you so much for your support to buck the declining play trend.  We ask your help to recruit new members so that they may take advantage of the Membership Drive that is now underway.  You are our best ambassadors and we appreciate your help to also buck the trend of declining golf club memberships that is occurring nationally. 

As always…please let us know your thoughts and ideas to make Your Club the Best it can be.  Thank you so much for your continuing support!

­GOLF SHOP NEWS                                                                 Mike Gill, Director of Golf

Member – Member is filling up. Put your team together and sign-up.  Thursday - Team party (Big-C), following Thursday night dogfight.  Saturday - 2 PM Shotgun, Cookout after play (included). Sunday - 9 AM Shotgun, Breakfast before play (included).

MGA News: The MGA Thursday Night Meeting – Dinner is being upgraded!!!!

Out with the $10 sirloin - We are offering a nice cut of meat at market price.  Example … This Thursday (March 19) enjoy a 14-16 oz. T-Bone and sides - $20.  Grilled chicken is available as an optional entrée for $10.

Overcome your bad winter habits.  During winter golfing you may pick up a few bad habits, one being incorrect ball positioning.  As the grass becomes thin over the wintertime and the course stays wet on a regular basis, you may have a tendency to move your ball back in your stance to insure better ball contact. During the spring, work on the correct ball positions.

·         Never play the ball farther back than center of your stance for any club.

·         As the club gets longer, move the ball forward in your stance.

·         PW-8 (middle), 7-5 iron (between middle and Left toe), 4-3 wood (inside left toe).

Learn to play the ball forward in your stance; this will help you get the ball up in the air and produce the correct ball trajectory. You may find it difficult at first, but stick with it.  Look at it this way, you are trying to move to your left side in your swing, a back ball position will cause you to hang back and make it difficult to get the ball up in the air.

Some teachers teach to play every club under your left arm pit. Makes sense, with a proper swing, the bottom of the swing arc would happen under the left arm pit as you are moving toward the target.

LET’S TALK TURF                         Doug Smith, Certified Golf Course Superintendent

It’s Never Too Late!   It’s that time of year when I start to field many questions concerning home lawn maintenance.  From these conversations I have deciphered that most of us haven’t started doing much, yet.  That’s O.K… No need to worry ... I am going to give you a simple five-step procedure that will have your lawn whipped into shape for the start of the growing season. 

Step One:  As soon as possible, mow off the dormant winter growth and remove the clippings.  This will open up the newly emerging turf down below to the sunlight.  Step Two: Sooner better than later, apply a post-emergent herbicide for existing winter annual weeds and a pre-emergent herbicide for summer annual weeds such as crab and goosegrass.  Step Three:  Within the first two weeks of April, fertilize your lawn with approximately one pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet.  The first number in the analysis on the label represents the percentage of nitrogen based on weight. For example a 50-pound bag of fertilizer with an analysis of 24-6-12 would contain a total of 12 pounds of nitrogen.  Therefore one, 50-pound bag would treat approximately 12,000 square feet of turf.   You will need another application in late May.  Step Four:  Within a few hours after fertilizing, water in with a 20-minute irrigation cycle for two or three consecutive days, or try to time your application before a moderate rainfall event.  About a half-inch of rain after you fertilize would be perfect.  Step Five:  Shortly before or after each of the first four steps come out and enjoy a round of golf so we can continue to make Maple Ridge the best it can be! 

GRILLIN’ AND CHILLIN’                               Shawn Robinson, Dir. of Food & Beverage

            The second half of March figures to be a mouth-watering stretch here at The Ridge.  As Mike says, we’re going to satisfy you big MGA meat-eaters with hefty T-Bones on Thursday, the 19^th.  I’m disappointed the heavy rains washed out the St. Patrick’s Day Irish Stew lunch planned for the Salvation Army outing on the 17^th, but we’ll come up with something special for their makeup date on April 21.

            Now that Thursday Night Dogfights are back in force, don’t miss my homemade Sicilian-Style Pizza on March 26!  And we’re excited about the International theme for the March 21 Dinner Club, when we’ll serve up (and these are just the entrees):  Eggplant Parmesan (Italy), Tandori Chicken (Mediterranean), Asian Pepper Steak (the Orient) and Wiener Schnitzel (Germany).   Add in Olive Relish and Feta-stuffed Tomato over Bed of Greens tossed with Green Goddess dressing, German Potato Salad, scrumptious grilled vegetables and a lovely Crème Brulee dessert … ooh-la-la!  Remember that members bringing a guest receive $5 off each meal – and that reservations are required by March 18.  Thanks for all your positive remarks!

OH, TO BE YOUNG AND GOLFING!            Rick Jacobson, Dir. of Sales & Marketing

            What’s the old grumpy complaint, “Youth is wasted on the young”?  Here at Maple Ridge, we say “Youth will be served!”  So we welcome the first three responders to our “Hit the Pin, Tap it In, Win-Win” membership drive, all in their 20’s.  New Military Member Chris Dreher (29), a Savannah-area native, was first in (thanks to his sponsor, member Travis Powell, just back from Ft. Bragg).  Next to join:  22-year-old  Jack Warner, a CSU student who also works in dad Randy’s law practice.  The Warners listed Marty Durden as Jack’s sponsor.  Then Brian Wallace, 24, a Columbus police officer signed up.   This old warhorse, for one, is glad these young men jumped aboard!

            Two dates to keep in mind: we’re opening the Club for member play on Tuesday, April 7.  Also, our first of five “Potential Member Days” will be Saturday afternoon, April 11.  On “PMD’s”, for just $25 the first 20 non-members to reserve a spot play 18 holes with lunch, a post-round drink, and a chance to join the Club at group discount afterwards.   This promotion brought us more than twenty fine new members in 2008.

            For those who may not have gotten the word, our Open House for non-member Maple Ridge homeowners will be re-scheduled, probably for Saturday afternoon, May 30.  We seek better weather and greater subdivision awareness of our offerings of lunch, golf, a family golf clinic and “Taste of the Ridge” clubhouse reception to cap the day.

            On the public relations front, our next Junior Achievement activity involves setting up a table at Fort Middle School’s Career Day on Friday morning, March 27.