The Maple Ridge Messenger 5-15-09

… The more I like playing Maple Ridge. Sometimes when we see the same course and faces on a regular basis, it does us good to experience the golf world away from our Club. I have had a couple of opportunities to recently do so, once in an outing and another time just regular play. The condition of our course and the professionalism of our staff make me proud to be a part of Maple Ridge. I could not help but give us superior grades compared to the experiences away from home.

As we reach the busy season of the year, I want to thank Mike Gill and his staff, Doug Smith and his staff, Shawn Robinson and his staff, and our administrative staff for all of their time and effort to make your golf club experience fulfilling and enjoyable. We challenge ourselves to strive for continual improvement and to deserve your support and business. Thanks also to our members who not only support our Club but are an integral part of the camaraderie and the entire golf club experience.

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!

         Youth Golf Clinic Series begins June 3! Open to Members and non-members alike, kids will enjoy and benefit from group instruction offered over nine consecutive Wednesday mornings. Cost is just $10 per session, with ages 6-11 scheduled for 9-10:30 a..m. and ages 12-15 from 10:30 a.m.-noon. No advance signup necessary - just show up and learn! Attend any or all sessions.

         Thanks to all Parents, Juniors and Participants for playing in the Parent-Junior last Saturday, May 9. Results (all scores net): 1^st – Jon Howard/Brent Burns (61); 2^nd – Chris Campos/Tom Shellnutt (63); 3^rd – Bryant Matthews/John O’Connor (64). Other teams: Billy Nobles/Trent Nobles, Jason Hobbs/Jeff Hobbs, Walter Mauldin/Carter Mauldin, Torrey Wiley/Alex Ball, Greg Jordan/Shelby Jordan, Kelsey Jordan/Allie Jordan, Tom Shellnutt/Zach Shelnutt, Jim Beck/Jimmy Beck, Will Cranston/Rob Cranston, Jeff Clark/Amy Clark, Jack Letz/Cates Culpepper. Look for another Parent-Junior very soon!

         Hey, hey! Weekday Member Phil Sparks shot his age yesterday. Nice 73 for the genial Sparks, who carded his first hole-in-one earlier this year. Playing partners Ed Burkhalter, Frank Sharp and Frank Cason counted every stroke!

         When reactivating your membership (such as returning from Leave of Absence status), please make sure you’re in the Hole-In-One Club -- if you want that option. Since it is deleted when you deactivate, to avoid charging you for aces made during that time, we must be told to add it back – don’t just assume we know to add you back automatically. Thanks for your cooperation!

         Let’s have some fun while concocting (and consuming) a great meal at my rescheduled Cooking Class on Monday, June 8 – pushed back a week to avoid conflict with the Ladies Golf Association’s monthly dinner.

         MGA carnivores (meat-lovers): bring your best appetites to the Thursday, May 21 dinner! We’re serving Roasted Beef Tenderloin from a carving station, with Baked Potato, Vegetable du Jour and Salad Bar. If you don’t pull your dogfight points, you’ll at least be able to pull yourself to the table for this feast!

         Who says 13 is an unlucky number? That’s how many new members we’ve picked up in the first two weeks of May, thanks to "Potential Member Day #2" last weekend and the overall allure of our fantastic course and great people!

         Please extend the friendliest of welcomes to HR consultant and returning member Mark Fryer, back from a Midwest stint; Carolynn and Eddie Obleton, CB&T senior vice president and Muscogee County School District Chief of Student Services, respectively; William Ivester of Greenville, SC-based Harrell Construction, a Ft. Benning contractor; Travis Lumpkin of Kysor-Warren; Dr. Vaibhav Patel of Southeastern Cardiology; Keith Smith of AT&T Advertising and Publishing; U.S. Army Platoon Leader Brian Dommer; Liberty National Insurance branch manager Cliff Richey and sales representative J.T. Sims; Columbus State University student Ken Couture; and new Student Members Carter Mauldin (St. Luke School) and George Adams (Brookstone).

         Actually, that’s twelve. Our 13^th newbie is coming off injury rehab but cashed in on the "PMD" group discount. We’ll list him when he activates soon.

         A note on why Brianne Baggett’s contribution is missing: She has done a wonderful job assisting me, but "home economics" played a role in her decision to accept a summer internship with DOCO (Dougherty County) Regional Federal Credit Union in Albany near her hometown. Having worked there before, she was made an attractive offer, so Mom and Dad persuaded her to live at home till school resumes at Columbus State in August. She’ll free-lance here and there for us and wants everyone she’s met to know how much she’ll miss them, for now! Don’t be surprised if she’s back with us late summer.