THE MAPLE RIDGE MESSENGER

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

FEBRUARY 1, 2009 EDITION

MAPLE RIDGE … A WORK IN PROGESS          Tom Kubik, General Manager

          While 2009 is not exactly shaping up to be a booming year economically, we here at Maple Ridge will continue to do our best to make your escape through the game of golf, and fellowship with others who share the same passion for the game, as enjoyable for you as possible.

          On the golf course side, we will continue to renovate bunkers, complete the removal of the old cart path on #1, contour and sod the left side of #5, and maintain the course as you have come to expect (a good example is the greens roller and resulting smoother green surfaces).  We have received one bid for the clubhouse restrooms and are awaiting a second before we move forward with that project.

          The feedback we received on overseeing the fairways was extremely helpful to us in that the cost to you, our members, and ownership is not justified at this time.  The lesson to be learned from the process is that nothing is outside the box when it comes to making our facility the best that it can be.  Please continue to share your thoughts and vision for Maple Ridge.

          Thank you so much for your continuing support!

M.R.J.G.A. ROCKS!         Mike Gill, Dir. of Golf & Gene Matthews, Head Pro

We hope you had a wonderful Holiday season.  With the new year already on us, it’s time to start thinking about competition again.  Our 2009 Maple Ridge Junior Golf Association will be starting in March.  The cost once again will be $25 and will cover all your tournament entry fees and prizes.

All Junior Golf Association members will be required to maintain a handicap in 2009.  The free is $15.  The Junior Golf Association is open to all juniors of Maple Ridge from the ages of 10 to 18.

2009 MRJGA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:  March 21:  Parent/Junior; April 11: Stroke Play;  May 23:  Four-Ball;  June 13:  Stroke Play;  June 27:  Scramble;  July 15-16:  Club Championship;  Sept. 19:  Handicap Championship;  October 17:  Junior/Senior.  All events are on Saturday except for the Club Championship.  We look forward to seeing you on the links!

TURF TALKIN’                                                                                Doug Smith, CGCS

We’re off and running in 2009 as we have picked up on our improvement projects where we left them in 2008.  Some of the improvement projects you will see include:  Renovating bunkers at holes three, four, and seven.  Thinning out trees and adding turf left of the cart path at hole number five.  Beautifying the tee area at hole number one.  Repairing numerous eroded creek banks throughout the course.  Updating the sprinkler heads at the greens and tees.  Installing flower beds and an herb garden at the clubhouse.   We also plan to do some maintenance shop improvements for better equipment storage and office area organization.  As you can see the list is long, but if we keep striving for a better tomorrow we will always make Maple Ridge the best it can be.

AN ALL-CONSUMING IDEA                      Shawn Robinson, Dir. of Food & Beverage

          You’ll definitely want to bring your honey to our annual Valentine’s Day Dinner on Saturday, February 14!  We’ll serving Baby Green Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, 8-oz. Filet Mignon, 4-oz. Lobster Tail, Grilled Asparagus, Scalloped Potatoes, Dinner Rolls, Sweetheart Chocolate Dessert for Two – all for $60 per couple, which includes one glass of wine per person, tax and gratuity.  Reservations are being taken;  just call us Susan or Tom at 706-569-0966, or email smccollum@wcradley.com or tkubik@wcbradley.com.     

          Down the homestretch with Thursday Night Grille Games menu’s: Feb. 5:  Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans. Feb. 12:  Grilled Pork Chops, Au Gratin Potatoes, Fried Apples, Sauerkraut.  Feb. 19:  MGA Dinner (menu TBA)  Feb. 26:  Cheese Steaks w/Peppers & Onions, Fries.  March 5:  Final Indoor Grille Games (Menu TBA) before the resumption of Thursday Night Dogfights.

          Also, we remind you that not only would we like to cater your next party at the club (anniversary, birthday, rehearsal dinners, business functions, etc.), we also are now catering off-site.  The W.C. Bradley Real Estate Division was delighted with our Christmas lunch served down at their new Eagle and Phenix Lofts, and we’re handling a church wedding reception in February.  As always, we’re able to match or beat other caterers and would appreciate the chance to bid on your next event, whether here at the Club or elsewhere.  Please call me at 706-569-5180.  We’ll whip up a menu that’ll make you proud! 

FEBRUARY FRONTIERS                Rick Jacobson, Dir. of Sales & Marketing

          Cold days are nearing an end, so activities and membership here will be starting to zoom in the near future.  Let’s welcome our two newest members from late January:  Junior Intermediate Rick Eggleston, a U.S. Army captain originally from the Richmond, VA area, and 16-year-old Student Member Max Hewitt, a sophomore member of Northside High School golf team, coached by Weekday Member John Drew, whose team practices here (except for Tuesdays).

          Rick and Max represent two of our most attractive and perhaps least-known membership categories.  Our active-duty Military Members pay just $300 initiation fee on the assumption they’ll be stationed relatively short-term at Ft. Benning.  Only after two years as members are they required to pay the difference up to their respective age category’s fee.  It’s a great bargain for the soldier who lives off-post and wants to enjoy Club membership.  And our Student Memberships cost just $550 for a full year of golf and range usage, with no costs other than grille or pro shop purchases.  Parents, it’s a great way to hone your youngster’s game while they make friends, benefit from Mike’s and Gene’s tutelage and enjoy the respect of our diverse membership.  The $550 figure is pro-rated through December for those who join post-New Year.

          We’ll be ramping up our marketing to the military via a series of display ads in The Bayonet and in a Ft. Benning Area Visitors & Relocation Guide. We’ve also got the back cover of Century 21 All-Star Realty’s relocation folder.  And plans are underway for a big March roll-out of our 2009 membership drive, using a wide array of media.  No one locally will be able to say they haven’t heard about Maple Ridge Golf Club and the many reasons why they should join!

          Coming up as well are a New Member Reception on Tuesday, February 24 (invitations to be mailed) and an Open House for non-member residents of the Maple Ridge Golf Community on Saturday, March 14.  Watch for details!