THE MAPLE RIDGE MESSENGER

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

NOVEMBER 1, 2009 EDITION

THANKSGIVING WISHES!!!                                                                           Tom Kubik, General Manager

As we approach the Holiday Season, I want to share an experience that I had last week that had nothing to do with golf.  I was on my way home last Thursday (taking a late lunch break to get something I had forgotten that morning) and was the third car stopped at the traffic light at the end of the By Pass in Phenix City.  The first car at the light was a PT Cruiser and pulled out when the light turned green only to be rammed by a water delivery route truck. 

The car was hit directly in the driver’s door, spun around, and came to rest over 100 yards from the initial impact.  I pulled over as did many others to offer help and it seemed as though volunteer medical and emergency crew were there immediately followed by a Deputy Sheriff, Phenix City Police, Fire Truck, and Ambulance.  Unfortunately one of the volunteers took out a cover and covered the driver so the worst was realized, but the passenger was still being treated.  A good looking, clean cut young man was the driver of the truck and will be scarred forever by the event. 

I asked the Police if they needed a witness and they said they had enough.  I went home to get my paperwork and returned to work passing through the same intersection and all was gone, not even a trace of the tragedy that occurred (the woman passenger also died from her injuries).  The lesson to be learned is how much our lives are like a footprint in the sand…gone in an instant and how precious a gift each day and our relationships with each other truly are.  

Happy Thanksgiving … to each one of our members and employees and the time we share together.

McGLADREY EXPERIENCE:   “TRIP OF A LIFETIME!”                       Gene Matthews, Head Professional

            A special thanks to the Maple Ridge Men’s Golf Association (MGA) for its sponsorship to Pinehurst for the RSM McGladrey National Championship.  It was truly a trip of a lifetime;  everyone had a wonderful time.  The tournament was nothing less than the quality of a PGA tour event.  We were treated like kings! 

            We stayed at the historic Carolina Hotel, where we enjoyed an incredible breakfast each morning followed by unforgettable rounds of golf on Courses #2, #4 and #8.  If you love golf and have never been to Pinehurst, you have to go!  Just being on the grounds of such a fabulous place, you could feel the history in the air.  It really takes you back to how golf is supposed to be played, caddies walking around in neat white uniforms, everything orchestrated and organized perfectly.  The statue of Payne Stewart with his famous putt at 18 to win the U.S. Open, the statue of (course architect) Donald Ross – I have been fortunate to have played all over the United States and have never felt golf tradition and history like at Pinehurst.

            We didn’t play as well as we would’ve liked, but finished 29^th out of 41 teams.  The winning team from southern California shot 65-under-par for three rounds!  This was two best balls net – how they shot that, we can’t figure out, but congratulations to southern Cal!

            It’s not too early to start thinking about your team for next year.  As the McGladrey slogan goes, “Anything is possible with the right team!”  Our Maple Ridge entry was Gene Matthews (PGA Golf Professional), Terry Register, Larry Jay (subbing for Michael Ray, who was unable to change his work schedule) and Donnie Russell III.

            (Editor’s note):  See related story on the homepage of www.golfmapleridge, including coverage of Donnie’s raffle prize of breakfast with LPGA stunner Natalie Gulbis.  Top PGA pros Chris DeMarco and Zach Johnson also appeared Oct. 26-28 as guests of RSM McGladrey.

            Kids age 10-17:  Plan to play in our Thanksgiving Junior Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 28.  This individual stroke play event will feature tee times between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m.

THE GOLF GODS HAVE SPOKEN!                                                                      Mike Gill, Director of Golf

            With the end of Daylight Savings Time comes changed operating hours at your Club.  Weekdays:  Golf Shop opens at 8 a.m., first tee times at 9 a.m.  Weekends:  Golf Shop opens at 7 a.m., first tee times at 8 a.m.  All Days:  Golf Shop and Grille close at 6 p.m., with exceptions for evening activities. Call for Tee Times: Start 7 a.m. (Sundays), 8 a.m. (Mondays).

            “Get Custom Fit at Maple Ridge and Lower Your Scores!  Demo the Latest PING Innovations” here Thursday, November 5 from 2 till 6 p.m.  Public is welcome and encouraged to attend - featuring the new G-15 and I-15 series endorsed by PGA Tour star Hunter Mahan.

The winner of the 2009 Maple Cup will be decided at the final Men’s Golf Association points tourney Saturday, November 21.  You can now access MGA standings leaders on www.golfmapleridge.com.  Read our feature story on the Brent Burns ReMax Prime Realty-sponsored MGA activities, or click on Club News/Men’s Golf Association/Maple Cup Standings.

            What a good crop of young up-and-comers we’ve got at the Middle School Level!  Nine of the leading 50 Chattahoochee Valley golfers this season, based on scoring average, are offspring of (or are themselves) Maple Ridge members:  #6 Zach Shellnutt (Blackmon Road, averaging in the 70’s);  #12 Daniel Davis (St. Luke School);  #22 Ben Womack (St. Luke);  #25 Wages Carroll (St. Luke);  #26 Patrick Edwards (Blackmon Road);  #38 Bill Whilden III (Brookstone);  #41 Tyler Butterfield (Blackmon Road);  #45 Bryant Blackmon (St. Anne School) and #49 Amy Clark (St. Anne).   Great young talent, and congratulations to all of you!

GRILLE FIXINGS                               Dick Esterson, Bill Williams & the entire Food & Beverage Staff

Make sure to make Thursday lunch part of your routine…Pulled Pork BBQ with our own homemade BBQ Sauce.  Select a sandwich, combo plate, or take it home by the pound.  We will be expanding our menu to include other grilled and smoked selections in the near future. 

Thanks for your help and support!!!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

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

Renovation work on the spillway at #9 creek crossing will begin the week of November 2nd.  Please take caution when using the temporary cart path during this time as the terrain is steep and the driving range tee is in close proximity.

            Also, a friendly reminder that during the late fall and winter months it is very important that we continue to fill divots, repair ball marks and obey cart traffic procedure since the grass is not actively growing.   Frost delays are  drawing near as well, so please check with the Pro Shop on mornings that are in the mid 30's or below for any adjustments to tee times that may been made due to the frosty conditions.

            Thank you for your help with these "housekeeping" issues as we all contribute in making Maple Ridge the best it can be!   

BE MY GUEST – BETTER YET, BE A MEMBER!                        Rick Jacobson, Dir. of Sales & Marketing

            One of the great advantages of Maple Ridge membership is having guest privileges.  You know, $45 with cart is really a good bargain on a course of our quality!  But wait – it’s getting better!  From December – February 28, 2010, members can bring up to three guests six times at just $20 each using a bright new punch card we’ll be sending with next month’s statement.  This is a thank-you gesture to our members, an effort to encourage winter play.  I fervently ask for your guests’ names, phone numbers and/or e-mails if they might consider joining us!

            New Clubhouse Member Katrina Lewis is an Atlanta native now living in Harris County who owns event planning firm Meetings R Us.  We welcome Katrina, reminding non-golfers that this annual social membership allows you full access to all grille activities, including Thursday Grille Games (Dinner/Poker/Corn-Hole/Sports on our HD flat screens), Friday Night Dining, Dinner Clubs, daily lunch specials, weekend breakfast buffets - a steal at just $150!

            For all other membership categories, the initiation fees have been sliced 33% to 50% for those who join before the end of 2009.  Our autumn campaign “It’s Not Quite A Free Fall, But It’s Close!”  makes for the “holiday gift that keeps on golfing” by saving up to $750.  Remember, there’s no contract signed, memberships are essentially month-to-month.  We’re confident that once a member, you’ll want to stay one as long as you can!

            There’s still time to join lots of “groovy chicks and far-out guys” on Friday, November 6 as “Dee Armstrong Presents A ‘70’s Costume Affair” from 7-10 p.m. at the Ridge (indoor-outdoor).  Funky music, great food, wild outfits and a chance to learn about Dee’s pet program “TeenPreneur” make it well worth the $25 donation.  Just call Dee at 706-593-9515, e-mail perezdesiree@att.net  or register for the year’s most novel event at www.meetingsrus.org.

            Support a great member’s good cause!  Charlie Speakman is heading up, for his fellow West Georgia Eye Care Center doctors, the 1^st Annual Lighthouse for Christ Charity Golf Classic.  The four-person scramble is Tuesday, Nov. 24 with lunch at 11, shotgun start at noon.  Based in Mombasa, Kenya, the Lighthouse for Christ Mission provides “Healing for physical and spiritual blindness on the East Coast of Africa.”  Last year 30,000+ people who would not otherwise have been able to afford eye care received treatment.  It’s $100 per golfer with hole sponsorships $200.  Contact Charlie at 706-332-4323 or drspeakman@wcecc.com. Champions Tour star Larry Mize will pose for photos from 11-12 taken by WGECC’s staff photographer, and autograph them for the golfers to pick up by the end of the event.