The Bulletin: February 2020

The Bulletin: February 2020

THE BULLETIN A newsletter for members of the Wilmington Country Club FEBRUARY 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

Featuring Pastry Chef, Annie Cresswell, Spanish Wine Dinner dessert Pastel de Aceite de Oliva y Limón Photo to the right of Cerdo Ibérico con Fabadas y Manzanas from the Spanish Wine Dinner

Photos courtesy of Becca Mathias, Communications Coordinator

08 CONNECT

10 SOCIAL

12 EVENTS

2

04 President’s Message 06 General Manager’s Message 13 Calendar 14 From the Kitchen 18 Grounds

20 GOLF

24 RACQUETS

30 FITNESS

3

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As we move into the second month of 2020, I, like many of you, recommit to their New Year’s resolution of fitness and health. Well-rounded fitness programs are no longer just trendy, but have become a consistent way of life regardless of age. With that understanding, our Fitness Committee and Staff have done an excellent job making improvements with the overall fitness programming. Building upon our successful Beast Badge program for juniors, our variety of group classes, and first class yoga programming, fitness will be an area of continued focus for this upcoming year. Members will see an increased presence and availability of Elite PT, nutritional seminars by Dr. Arienne Messmer, new and diverse fitness workshops such as pilates and Tai Chi and an overall increase in energy and enthusiasm around the fitness center. Since we think of fitness as both fitness AND wellness, we are also very excited about the daily addition of a plant based special on our menu as well as the continuation of our beneficial amenity of massage therapy. The fitness center, is more than just personal training and great equipment, and I encourage you to explore all it has to offer throughout the month of “Fitness February”. Gary Ferguson President

Gary Ferugson President

Melissa Riegel Vice President John S. Wellons Treasurer Thomas C. Humphrey Secretary DIRECTORS Class of 2020 D. Michael Gioffre, Jr. Adam G. Landis Jonathan N. Saunders Edward A. Tarlov

Martha White Class of 2021 Thomas A. Beck

Zachary L. Chipman Kimberly A. Ciconte Robert W. Friz Megan S. Greenberg

Lisa A. Schmidt David E. Wilks

Edward K. Wissing Honorary Directors Joseph F. Hacker, III Richard H. Keller Advisory Directors Robert G. Hackett, Jr. Calvert A. Morgan, Jr. Pierre duPont Hayward Allen M. Terrell, Jr. John F. Porter, III

4

TENNIS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Progress at tennis continues at an excellent pace. The contractor erecting the structure, that will house the new courts, has indicated that they will be completely enclosed by the end of next week. This will permit the other trades, (electric, sprinklers, painters, etc.) to get moving indoors. The best part is that weather becomes less of an issue. The stair tower that will connect the new and existing buildings is also being erected. This, too should be nearing completion by the end of next week. Work to the new lobby structure will focus on completing the foundation so that the actual framing can begin. Over the next few weeks the facility will appear to make great progress. Inside, there will be much work to complete.

5

GENERAL MANAGER

WINTER GREETINGS I hope this Bulletin finds you warm and healthy. So far, we really can’t complain about the temperatures or how little snow we have received this season. There have even been several bonus days of golf enjoyed by some. Let’s hope for more of the same. Speaking of snow and ice, it is unlikely that we will get through an entire winter unscathed. When it happens, be assured that our grounds team will do their best to plow, shovel and salt. Regardless of their efforts, it is impossible to be completely free of the occasional slippery patch - especially early in the morning. Please use caution and good judgment when driving or walking this winter. How are you doing on achieving your New Year’s objectives? If your goal for the New Year included the phrase “drop a few pounds” or “get in shape”, we are here to help. Personal training and Group Exercise Programs are available seven days a week. There is no better time to tackle that resolution than now and no more comfortable a place than at your Club! Don’t know how to get started? Call Rick, Mary or Cory in Fitness for guidance. Don’t forget to cap off a great workout with a great massage. You owe it to yourself! When it comes to social and dining events, February has a few special days planned. To start the month, on Saturday the 1st, we will be featuring a “Disney Dance Party” from 2 pm to 4 pm in the afternoon for our youngest members. On Thursday the 13th, a more social evening is planned for “Galentines” featuring wine and chocolate pairings. The next evening we will be hosting a special “Sweethearts Dinner” in the Dining Room for Valentine’s Day. The evening comes complete with all the essentials to create the perfect setting to share with that “special someone”. Of course, the entire experience centers around the wonderful menu that Chef Tip has developed. More information is provided in this month’s Bulletin, but don’t wait too long to make reservations. Seating is limited and always fills quickly. When it comes to regular dining, I’d like to offer a reminder that Tavern/Grille features a selection of Brunch specials every Sunday. These items are served a la carte and the menu includes all your traditional favorites.

Phil Iannelli General Manager

Keith Van Yahres Assistant General Manager Christine Jordan Clubhouse Manager Tip Tribbitt, CEC Executive Chef Barbara Henderson Manager of Banquets Donna Schroeder Controller Susan Mathias Administrative Assistant Meghan Spero, PGA Membership Development and Communications Manager Jonathan Urbanski Director of Golf Courses & Grounds Michael Shank, PGA Director of Golf Bob Lennon, PGA Teaching Professional Ed McQuillin Director of Racquets Ed Chilton Assistant Director of Racquets

Clark Verchick Chief Engineer

6

We open a bit earlier (10:30 am) to better accommodate your schedules. Watch for a separate email with details. Whatever you do, DO NOT forget about joining us for Happy Hour in the Pub on Friday evenings from 5 pm till 7 pm. It is still the place to see and be seen! Speaking of the Pub, the Super Bowl will be on every screen. We will be featuring pizza and sliders specials for those joining us “in house”. We also have a “square board” behind the bar to add to the fun. The next item is to remind those members who have not yet met their food minimum that you have until March 31st to do so. Please do not wait until the final week. If you fail to fulfill this obligation, the balance will be charged to your account. Please don’t ask for relief or special consideration - none can be given. As always, the fitness room, squash courts, golf simulator and indoor tennis courts are open seven days a week. The Club’s dining facilities are open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Thus far, those of you in town are staying active, and we appreciate your support. Keep it up and I’ll see you at your Club! Phil Iannelli General Manager NEW AND NOTABLE Did you know that the Professional Staff is offering a winter junior golf program starting this month? Taking advantage of our new Golf Simulator space, our winter program gives juniors an opportunity to get a great head start on golf for the 2020 season. More details on the golf page. ElitePT (physical therapy) is addingFridayMorningAvailability! In addition to Monday and Thursday afternoon/early evening physical therapy, members can now schedule Friday morning appointments here at the WCC Fitness Center. Please call (302) 234-1030 to make your appointment! Calling all plant eaters! The Grille & Tavern is now featuring a vegan option. This offering will change nightly so be sure to check out the daily specials. Vegan, nut free cheese, has arrived at Cafe 1901 making our pizza a fully vegan offering. Top with your favorite veggies and enjoy! Gluten free crust also available.

7

CONNECT

CONNECT WITH US We have come a long way in a short period of time with our digital enhancements with the website, social media, The Bulletin, ForeTees and especially the app. As expected, when we started making these changes over three years ago, there was a bit of apprehension as we were moving out of our comfort zone. No longer would we rely on just pen, paper and the telephone. In most other aspects of our daily lives, digital convenience plays a big role…paying our bills online, making our hair or oil change appointments online, registering our children for camps online, receiving the national news on our cell phones and daily updates and reminders through push notifications. In our effort to align the way we communicate and operate with your other daily digital efficiencies, we thought it’s time to have a true event registration system to make it easy and convenient to sign up for all of our great events. This starts the first week of February. You will be able to access this ForeTees event registration through the app or through the Wilmington Country Club website on your tablet or desktop. We will also provide a direct link to register in all of our event emails. If you haven’t done so already, I highly suggest you take a moment and download the WCC app. #yourclubyourway WCC MOBILE APP To start usng the app, follow the following three steps: 1. From your phone or tablet, download the ForeTees ClubCentral app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. 2. Once downloaded, open the app to generate a one time login by clicking on “email me my credentials”. 3. Enter the one time login into the app, and you are all set! A NOTE FROM MEMBERSHIP THIRTY-SIXTY-NINETY Thirty days to the squash club championships, sixty days to Spring Cup Tennis and the golfing season, and ninety days to Mother’s Day and the welcoming of Spring! It is the best of times at WCC and we are gearing up for an active 2020 season! With the excitement of the new golf simulator and the summer completion of the new indoor racquets and recreation building, it’s time to spread the fun! Grab your phone, open the WCC app and propose a new member, no one should miss out on the full experience! Happy “clubbing”and Happy February.

Meghan Spero, PGA Membership Development and Communications Manager BE A PART OF THE IN CROWD

Facebook /wilmingtoncountryclub

Instagram @wilmingtoncc1901

Website wilmingtoncc.com

Don’t forget to download our mobile app!

Search “ForeTees Club Central” on the App Store or

Google Play Store. #yourclubyourway

Melissa Riegel, Membership Chair

8

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

Please welcome the following new members when you see them at the Club.

NEWLY ELECTED MEMBER

Christopher & Teresa Kenny

NEWLY ELECTED JUNIOR MEMBERS Jacqueline DiSabatino, Eli Dukart, Chase McDonald, Grant Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner

MEMBER MILESTONES

Mrs. Susan B. DiPietro Mrs. Alice D. Reilly Mrs. Deanna Kelly Mr. Edwin M. Dealy Mr. John C. Phillips, Jr.

15 15 25 40 40

Mr. William N. Spiker

40 50 60 70

Miss Paula Grant

Mrs. Betsy Hershey

Susan C. Corkran

IN MEMORIAM The Board of Directors, members and staff of Wilmington Country Club extend their sincerest sympathy to the family of:

Jacques C. Guequierre - Member 1 Year Edythe Mendolia - Member 61 Years Jan Rucker - Member 41 Years

EMPLOYEE ANNIVERSARIES Donna Schroeder Controller, 26 Years Peter Coates Licensed Senior Horticulturist, 15 Years Juan Xoco Equipment Operator, 12 Years Keith Van Yahres Assistant General Manager, 5 Years James Elliott Chemical and Fertilizer Technician, 1 Year Carlos Silva Painter, 1 Year

9

SOCIAL

AROUND THE CLUB The weather has officially turned cold and we are excited for our winter (indoor!) schedule of events. On Sunday, February 9, we’re celebrating one of my favorite days of the year – National Pizza Day! To commemorate, we are offering free unlimited toppings on all pizzas – dine in or carry out! There’s also still time to make your reservations for our Valentine’s Day Sweetheart dinner. In our dining room, this event is sure to sell out - somake your reservations soon. Chef Tip has developed a mouthwatering menu with options sure to delight. Also around the corner is our first Galentine’s Party! This chocolate & wine pairing is a great way to celebrate the holiday with a Girl’s Night Out – but of course, boys are welcome too! Later in the month, we’re hosting a Nutrition Lecture & Luncheon, “What to Eat in 2020 and Beyond.” Dr. Arianne Missimer, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Registered Dietitian, and founder of The Movement Paradigm, will be at the Club to discuss some important nutrition topics relevant to improving your overall health, various nutrition plans, and some strategies to feeling your best and preventing injuries and disease. Following this lecture, we will have a delicious & nutritious luncheon that highlights some of the topics Dr. Arianne discusses. Space is limited, so be sure to claim your spot! On another note, in January we started offering a plant-based special. These vegan options are available in the Grille and Tavern and change nightly. With this, we also have vegan cheese available for pizza in Café 1901, making our pizza a fully vegan choice. BOOK CLUB For our Tuesday, February 4th selection, we have chosen My Dear Hamilton which tells the epic story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton - a revolutionary woman who, like her new nation, struggled to define herself in the wake of war, betrayal, and tragedy. Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, the authors, used thousands of letters and original sources to tell Eliza’s story as a wronged wife at the center of a political sex scandal, but also as a founding mother who shaped an American legacy in her own right. Join us at 4:00 pm on the 4th in the Ladies’ Lounge as Frances Pyle leads the discussion of this meticulously researched masterpiece of historical fiction. For March, we have chosen Being Mortal , Atul Gawande’s insightful book on terminal care. He includes eye-opening research and riveting storytelling to show how medicine can comfort and enhance our experience in life even to the end.

Christine Jordan Clubhouse Manager

FEATURED EVENTS February 1 Kids Disney Dance Party February 9 National Pizza Day! February 13 Chocolate & Wine Pairing February 14 Sweetheart Dinner February 21 Mardi Gras Happy Hour Fridays Happy Hour in Pub37

10

BRIDGE NEWS

Need a partner? Call Mary Jo Fidance (302-652-5570) and leave a message stating the date you need a partner!

Thursday Mornings - 9:30 am Ginny Kuhn, Chair, (302) 540-3386 Mary Jo Fidance, Vice-Chair, (302) 652-5570 Lou Ann Carter, Bridge Manager, (302) 652-6709 December 19th First Place: North - South Section A & B: Candy DiSabatino - Mary Jo Fidance First Place: East - West Section A: Judy Jackson (Guest) - Carl DeMartino Section B: Mary Kunkemueller - Mary Harding Cist December 26th First Place: North - South January 2nd North - South Section A: Kimmie Fulweiler (Guest) - Pat Sinex Section B: Lou Ann Carter - Louise Roselle East - West Section A: Carolyn Hughes - Marilyn Dunning January 9th First Place: North - South Section A: Lee Davis - Tom Hughes Section B: Carroll Shannon - Toni Battaglia First Place: East - West Section A: Judy Jackson (Guest) - Carl DeMartino Section B: Nancy Bowman (Guest) - Marina Tarlov Section A: Eleanor Brown - Louise Roselle Section B: Lou Ann Carter - Joanne Bahr

MONTCHANIN SOCIAL DUPLICATE BRIDGE

Wednesdays Lunch Buffet - 12:00 pm Bridge - 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm If you are interested in joining our group or have any questions, please call Marina Tarlov at 658-1532.

11

SOCIAL EVENTS

FEATURED EVENT CHOCOLATE & WINE PAIRING February 13 6:00 pm Chit Bar and hors d’oeuvres, 6:30 pm event start 50/Person Ladies, grab your girlfriends or favorite guy and join Chocolate Sommelier, Estelle Tracy, for an exclusive Chocolate & Wine Pairing event! During this tasting, you will learn about wine and chocolate basics and discover the secret behind a successful pairing. Call the Front Desk at (302) 655-6171 to make your reservation. Limited space available.

UPCOMING EVENTS February 1 : Kids Disney Dance Party 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Clubroom, 20/Person February 9 : National Pizza Day! Unlimited toppings on all pizzas. Dine in or carry out. February 13 : Chocolate & Wine Pairing 6:00 pm Chit Bar and hors d’oeuvres, 6:30 pm event start Clubroom, 50/Person February 14 : Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, The Dining Room, 75/Person February 21 : Mardi Gras Happy Hour 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Pub37 February 26 : “What to Eat in 2020 and Beyond” Nutrition Lecture 11:00 am lecture, 12:00 pm luncheon, 30/Person March 5 : Steakhouse Night 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Dining Room March 31 : Welcome Back Tuesday! Build Your Own Burger Night

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2020

SUNDAY

MONDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

Kids Disney Dance Party 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Clubroom

2

3

4

5 Montchanin Bridge 12:00 pm Balance, Posture, and Form Workshop 4:00 pm Fitness Center

6 Thursday Bridge 9:30 am

7 Squash Doubles Member-Guest Happy Hour 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pub37

8 Squash Doubles Member-Guest Junior Squash Grand Prix Build Your Own Program Workshop 12:00 pm Fitness Center

No Clubhouse Food Service Hut Open 5:00 pm

No Clubhouse Food Service WCC Book Club 4:00 pm Ladies’ Lounge

Jack Daniels Paddle Event

9 Junior Paddle Club Championships National Pizza Day!

10

11

12 Montchanin Bridge 12:00 pm Battle Ropes Workshop 4:00 pm Fitness Center

13 Thursday Bridge 9:30 am Chocolate & Wine Pairing with Estelle Tracy 6:00 pm

14

15

No Clubhouse Food Service Hut Open 5:00 pm

No Clubhouse Food Service

Happy Hour 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pub37 Sweetheart Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Dining Room

Navigate the Fitness Center 12:00 pm Fitness Center

16

17

18

19 Montchanin Bridge 12:00 pm

20 Thursday Bridge 9:30 am Women’s Super B/C Paddle Tournament

21

22

No Clubhouse Food Service Hut Open 5:00 pm

No Clubhouse Food Service Ladies’ Paddle Member-Guest

Mardi Gras Happy Hour 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pub37

High School Tennis Camp

Women’s B Paddle Club Championships Dumbbells Workshop 4:00 pm Fitness Center

Mixed Pickleball Play and Social Build Your Own Program Workshop 12:00 pm FItness Center

23

24

25

26 Montchanin Bridge 12:00 pm Squash Club Championships Finals Night Nutrition Lecture & Luncheon with Arianne Missimer 11:00 am Lecture 12:00 pm Luncheon Smarter Workouts Workshop 4:00 pm Fitness Center

27 Thursday Bridge 9:30 am

28

29

No Clubhouse Food Service Hut Open 5:00 pm Men’s Paddle Member-Guest

No Clubhouse Food Service

Happy Hour 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pub37

Build Your Own Program Workshop 12:00 pm FItness Center

FROM THE KITCHEN

CHOCOLATE INDULGANCE Chocolate desserts, as well as desserts in general, are not supposed to be that good for you, but the benefits of chocolate are voluminous. Not that one or two nights of chocolate participation will lead to a completely healthy you, but what better way to get the ball rolling than enjoying a few chocolate delicacies. Unfortunately, treats such as Snickers, Kit Kats and Hershey Kisses won’t give you that benefit but rather dark chocolate with a higher content of cocoa will. The good benefits of dark chocolate are rooted in the high content of cocoa without the addition of much sugar and milk. One of the many health attributes of dark chocolate is helping in fighting depression and reducing stress (cocoa increases serotonin, the happy thing, and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone.) Among the many other benefits of dark chocolate include, a preponderance of antioxidants which help prevent cancer, lowering the risk of diabetes (that’s a conundrum), improve eyesight, help your heart (not just the romantic side), and prevent cavities (but don’t look for chocolate toothpaste anytime soon). If all this makes no sense, cocoa can help reduce your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke, so indulge in the “dark side”, with one of our upcoming featured events. Let them eat chocolate, or was it cake, maybe chocolate cake??! February brings us Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day, two days of chocolate and other indulges. Valentine’s conjures up feelings of romance, roses, champagne and chocolate...and our Sweetheart Dinner promises to deliver on all accounts especially the decadent almond mousse tarte with bitter chocolate crémeux, morello cherries, and rose water syrup from Pastry Chef, Annie Cresswell. But why stop there…Galentine’s Day, on February 13th, is an evening full of chocolate indulgence coupled with the fruits of fine wine and presentation by chocolate sommelier and author, Estelle Tracy. Although promoted as a night out for the ladies, everyone is welcome to partake in the chocolate and wine pairing event while tasting and learning about the benefits of dark chocolate as Estelle guides you through this cocoa adventure. Enjoy Estelle’s feature on the following page to learn more.

Keith Van Yahres Assistant General Manager Monday No Clubhouse Food Service Hut: Opens 5:00 pm Tuesday No Clubhouse Food Service Hut: Closed Wednesday Dining Room: Closed Tavern/Grille: 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Pub37: Opens 3:00 pm/ Food Service 4:00 pm Café1901:4:00pm-9:00pm Hut: Closed Thursday Dining Room: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tavern/Grille: 11:30 am - 9:00 pm Pub37: Opens 3:00 pm/ Food Service 4:00 pm Café1901:4:00pm-9:00pm Hut: Closed Friday Dining Room: 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm Tavern/Grille: 11:30 am - 9:30 pm Pub37: Opens 3:00 pm/ Food Service 4:00 pm Café1901:4:00pm-9:00pm Hut: Closed Saturday Dining Room: 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm Tavern/Grille: 11:30 am - 9:30 pm Pub37: Opens 10:45 am Café1901:11:00am-9:00pm Hut: Closed Sunday Dining Room: Closed Tavern/Grille: 10:30 am - 8:00 pm Pub37: Opens 10:45 am Café1901:11:00am-8:00pm Hut: Closed

14

CHOCOLATE SOMMELIER ESTELLE TRACY

Bonjour! I’m Estelle Tracy, a food writer and chocolate sommelier based in Chester County and I’m looking forward to hosting your upcoming chocolate and wine pairing event. My chocolate journey started with the 37 Chocolates challenge: in June of 2015, I committed to sample 37 US-made chocolates by my 37th birthday on Halloween

of that year. What started as a delicious excuse to eat a lot of chocolate turned out to be a life-changing journey that revealed my passion for craft chocolate and the people behind these bars. As I reviewed my 10th bar, I realized that micro-batch, handcrafted chocolate carried the personality of a maker. This was a complete revelation for me and, from then on, I became obsessed with finding the personality of each bar. Since then, I’ve collaborated with sommeliers and winemakers, clubhouse managers and chefs to create successful, memorable wine and chocolate pairings. As I interacted with wine experts, I discovered their idea of matching wine with chocolate was sometimes regimented by a set of rules that didn’t seem to take the diversity of the chocolate world into consideration. For instance, some sommeliers are set on serving a sweet wine with chocolate. Others are convinced that white wine won’t go with chocolate. On the internet, I’ve shaken my head when a podcast host claimed “you can’t pair Champagne with chocolate!” The world of chocolate is vast and these rules are based on a limited exposure to fine chocolate. Granted, pairing wine and chocolate is tricky — a chocolate that goes well with a Merlot from a specific winery may not go with ALL the Merlots — so I understand the need to rely on some guidelines. After two years of leading my own wine & chocolate tastings, I’ve created my own set of rules which help me come up with the sweetest pairings and I look forward to sharing this with you on the 13th.

15

FROM THE KITCHEN

MONTHLY FEATURED DESSERTS White Chocolate Pavlova Spiced Winter Fruit, Mascarpone Chantilly, Honey Drizzle Vanilla Bean Crêpe Maple Budino, Candied Pecan Bacon, Bourbon Caramel, Double Cream Chocolate & Coconut Macaroon Cake Amaretti Cookies & Cream, Almond Brittle, Dulce de Leche Brown Butter Cherry Tart Black Pepper Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate Sauce Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

Fresh Strawberries Ice Cream & Sorbet

Photo Featured Dish: Pastel de Aceite de Oliva y Limón from the Spanish Wine Dinner

16

TAVERN & GRILLE WEEKLY SPECIALS January 29th through February 2nd Roast Turkey Breast with Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy,

Green Vegetable, Cranberry Relish February 5th through February 9th Roast Pork Loin, Braised Red Cabbage, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Apple Cider Sauce

February 12th through February 16th Ground Sirloin with Green Vegetable, Mashed Potatoes & Mushroom Gravy February 19th through February 23rd Grilled Chicken Primavera over Fettuccine, Garlic Bread February 26th through March 1st

Beef Stir Fry with Crisp Vegetables in an Orange Ginger Sauce over Brown Rice

Specials cost $14.95 and include choice of soup or salad.

Photo Featured Dish: Langosta y Carabineros Paella from the Spanish Wine Dinner

GROUNDS

A NOTE FROM GROUNDS Forty-eight and sixty. What do these numbers represent? The first day of spring and April 1st, the “un-official start to the playing season.” Although the weather will always dictate when golf courses havehealed-in fromearly seasonmaintenance and tennis courts can be re-conditioned, our staff has been in countdown mode since the close of the 2019 season. We are excited about the work that has been conducted thus far, and will continue to push to meet our goals for the remaining weeks of the winter season. During the month of January, we began receiving the covers for the South Course greens. By the second week of February, all the green complexes will be covered, along with several areas such as par 3 tees and heavily used iron play areas resulting in divots, such as the low end of the fairway on the third hole. As seen below, the tarps will help warm the native soil sub-surface and promote growth during the winter season. With our change in the aerification schedule from August to November, it is our intention to utilize grow tarps and not aerify the South Course greens in late March. Moving forward for the foreseeable future, we will perform one major coring in November and less invasive disruption to the putting surfaces in-season.

Jon Urbanski Director of Grounds & Golf Courses

To improve the member experience, we have initiated a drainage installation project on 10 North fairway and cart path extension near 10 South tee. The in- ground piping network will run parallel to the fairway, and once completed, we will remove the first section of cart path on the left side of the golf hole. This should help alleviate any unwanted balls bouncing left into the woods and going out-of-bounds.

18

By extending the path at 10 South tee, we have increased the amount of exit points for golf carts. In the past, water from either irrigation or rain would run down the paver brick pathway and sit in the rough. By adding channel drains, we can move water from the high traffic areas and use the water run-off for the main irrigation pond on 9 South – 13/ 18 North.

With both golf courses, we are fortunate to have two of the most distinguished post-WWII golf course architects in Robert Trent Jones Sr. (RTJ) and Dick Wilson. The South Course renovation several years ago brought back aspects to the RTJ layout. Over the years, some features were lost that our staff will recapture before the playing season. One of these will be to re-align our teeing grounds.

Looking at 1 South above, the right-hand edge has become wavy over the last few years. The turf will be cut and either replaced with short-cut bentgrass or rough grass where appropriate. Dick Wilson was known to protect edges of the green complexes with features such as bunkers to bring the aerial game into play. Although he favored this, the ground game to Wilson was just as important on differing terrain throughout the round. Last year, we removed the primary cut rough fronting the 8th green on the North Course. Wilson never intended to have rough here in this location, nor did he want rough to front the greens on holes 10, 12, 14 and 17 North. Our staff will work to re-establish these areas prior to the season.

19

GOLF

PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW REVIEW It was a successful trip last week for your Professional Staff to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. This show annually gives a look at all of the latest products coming to market this season. Below are a few highlights for 2020.

Michael Shank, PGA Director of Golf

Course Availability Monday: 9:00 am Tuesday – Friday: 9:00 am Saturday & Sunday: 8:30 am

CALLAWAY MAVRIK DRIVER You may recall that last year, Callaway became the first company to debut a driver designed by a supercomputer (Epic Flash). In the last year Callaway doubled the size of its supercomputer, which now can generate 15,000 designs every three days. For 2020, the A.I. designed Flash Face SS20, a thinner face that creates faster balls speeds across the entire face. But even though the face is thinner and 6 grams lighter than its predecessor, theMAVRIK is stronger andmore resilient, due to a new FS2S Titanium face material. The new aero cyclone head increased aerodynamics 61%, equating to about 2-3 yards. Additionally, there are a variety of premium stock shaft options available for fitting. If you are in the market for a new driver in 2020, this is a great option to consider. TAYLORMADE SIM DRIVER AND WOODS The primary story with the newTaylorMade SIM (Shape in Motion) driver is aerodynamics. The driver features what TaylorMade calls its asymmetric sole shape & inertia generator. This reshaped sole design optimizes clubhead speed and enhances aerodynamics. The Inertia Generator positions weight at the extreme rear for increased forgiveness and is strategically angled to reduce drag on the downswing. It also carries over a lot of technology found in the M5 and M6, including twist face, speed injection, and a speed pocket. The SIM will take the place of the M5, while the SIM MAX likely fits more players as an M6 replacement. There is also a SIM MAX D model that offers maximum forgiveness for players that struggle to hit the center of the face consistently. The real winners from the SIM family might be the fairway woods and hybrid, which look incredible. In all, another great product line-up for TaylorMade in 2020.

Driving Range Monday: Closed

Tuesday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Saturday & Sundays: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Bag Room Monday: Closed

Tuesday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Golf Shop Monday & Tuesday: Closed Wednesday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday & Sunday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

20

TITLEIST SM8 WEDGES AND T-SERIES IRONS New from Titleist for 2020 are the SM8 Wedges. Several improvements make this the best Vokey wedge yet. For the SM8, the center of gravity (CG) has been pushed forward, which produces higher MOI. For golfers, this means improved feel and a club face that simply wants to square at impact. Also, the SM8 grooves are cut to the edge to maximize spin and shot control. Each groove on every head is 100% inspected for conformity, and a localized heat treatment is applied to the impact area to double the durability of the groove. Remember that older grooves do wear out, and wedges generally should be replaced about every two seasons (75 rounds) for a club player. If you are considering wedges this year, be sure to get a complementary wedge fitting from the Professional Staff to pair your swing with the correct grind. KJUS GEMINI JACKET It wasn’t just golf clubs at the PGA Show. There were plenty of great apparel items, too. One stand-out was the newGemini jacket from KJUS. A family-run Swiss company known for its technical prowess, this new outerwear offering is full of technology. A fully waterproof jacket that is also lightweight, ultra-stretch, breathable and reversible, one side of the jacket absorbs UV light to add warmth to your body. When the jacket is reversed, it pulls heat away from your body to cool it, up to 10.2 degrees cooler than the other configuration.

21

GOLF

WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM QUESTIONS ANSWERED Click the photo below for a video answering member’s questions on the new World Handicap System with Michael Shank, PGA or click here to read the questions and answers.

MEN’S EVENTS April 24: Opening Event April 22,29 May 6,13,20: Twilight League May 21: May Member Guest June 18-21: 84th Invitational July 4 & 5: Holiday Tournament July 9: July Member Guest July 24, 25, 26: Men’s Club Championship September 5: Labor Day Member/Member September 17: September Member Guest October 3 & 4: Annual Member/Member October 8: October Member Guest

WINTER JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS NOW UNDERWAY The Professional Staff is now offering Winter Junior Golf Programs every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. Remember that you can always create your own clinic (for juniors or adults), anytime. Contact the Golf Shop to sign-up, or for more information. EXAMPLES OF AREAS COVERED • Putting Analysis : Indoor putting analysis to help enhance fundamentals. • Dialed in Distance : With the use of Trackman, students learn the correct distance shots travel. • Hit the Sweet Spot : While focusing on fundamentals, students learn proper ways to hit the center of the club consistently. • Golf Circuit Training : Students focus on movements that enhance mobility, power and balance. • Scoring Strategy : Includes shot trajectory, intermediate swings and on-course recovery. • Rules of Golf and Etiquette : All you need to know to play by the rules. JUNIOR TRAINING SESSIONS One hour sessions with time split between the Golf Simulator and private Fitness Training Room.

This session is limited to 3 students at a time. Price: 40/Session or 500/All Sessions (18 sessions) January 29 – March 28 Wednesday 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Saturday 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm BUILD YOUR OWN GROUP One hour sessions to be booked with the Golf Shop.

2 students - 50/Junior 3 students - 40/Junior 4 students - 30/Junior

22

WOMEN’S 9-HOLE GOLFERS Tiny Mulvena President

WOMEN’S EVENTS 18-HOLERS April 14 : 9-Hole Scramble, 9:30 am / Opening Meeting, 11:30 am May 12 : Cocktail reception for all WCC Women Golfers, 5:00 pm May 19 : Senior/Super Senior Championship May 28 : 9- and 18-Holers Co-Twilight Event with Dinner to follow, 5:00 pm June 2 : WGAP WCC Invitational June 23 : WCC Invitational (Member Guest), 9:00 am July 9 : Putting Championship July 14 & 16 : Women’s Club Championship September 29 : RAIN DATE for WCC Invitational (Member Guest) October 13 : 9-Hole Scramble, 9:00 am / Closing Luncheon, 11:30 am 9-HOLERS April 15 : Opening Breakfast Meeting followed by optional golf May 12 : Cocktail Reception for all WCC women golfers May 28 : 9 & 18 Holers Co-Twilight Event June 3 : DuPont Invitational June 23 : Women’s Invitational Tournament (June

Barbara Togman Vice President

Susan DiPietro Treasurer

It is not too soon to start thinking about the 2020 golf season! Please make sure you have our Opening Day, April 15th, on your calendar. The following women are already hard at work preparing for another fun, exciting season. We really appreciate all their efforts!

OFFICERS President

Tiny Mulvena

Vice President

Barbara Togman Susan DiPietro

Treasurer

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Weekly Events

Roz Freeman, Becky Dickinson

Golf Book Newsletter Invitationals

Susan DiPietro

Judy Boyle

Carla Green, Judy Orth

Twilight

Rita Kingery Cook

Hospitality

Karen Healy, Pat Ripsom

If you are not already a member of the group and wish to join for the 2020 season, please contact either Michael Shank, Director of Golf, in the Golf Shop or Tiny Mulvena at [email protected], 302-256-0666 (home), or 302-384-0006 (cell). Dues of $50.00 for the 2020 season will be charged to current members’ accounts on the January 31st WCC statement. WOMEN’S 18-HOLE GOLFERS Ellen Cannon President Pam Tikellis Vice-President Pam McCrery Treasurer Ginny Dellose Secretary It’s not too early to ask the women golfers at Wilmington Country Club to save the date for the Invitational Member-Guest. It’s Tuesday, June 23rd. We will play shamble format on the South Course with a shotgun start at 9 a.m., followed by a sit-down luncheon and the awarding of prizes. The organizing committee is working hard to present a memorable event that we hope will outdo the 2019 Invitational. Hope you and your guests will join us for a fun day!

Member Guest) July 23 : Newark Invitational September 9 :

Nine Hole Club Championship September 16 : Wilmington Invitational October 14 : 9-Hole Scramble and Closing Luncheon

23

RACQUETS

A NOTE FROM RACQUETS February is the month that we host several paddle events for all ages and our Squash Finals Night on February 26th when all the junior and adult squash finals are held. We will be hosting our Ladies Member- Guest on February 18th and Men’s Paddle Member- Guest on February 24th and our Paddle Women’s B Club Championships on February 19th. Please be sure to circle your indoor tennis block booking time when you play or write in your name for an open booking so we can keep track of the courts used and what courts are available. We are certainly looking forward to our new tennis and sports facility to ease the court crunch and offer many new sports events. Pickleball is growing at WCC and we are offering several pickleball clinics and social play opportunities. We are holding Weekly Pickleball Learn and Play Clinics on Wednesday from 8:45 am - 10:00 am and Thursday evening from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Our February Pickleball Play and Social is on Saturday, February 22nd at 6:00 pm. Sign up on the ForeTees app or in the Racquets Shop for these events. TENNIS TIP You hear many tennis players say watch the ball after missing a shot, but how do you actually improve your ability to watch the tennis ball while playing? When you strike a ball in tennis, the ball travels so fast it only stays on the strings for a short 3 milliseconds. If you were to actually watch the ball into the strings of the racquet you would see a blur of the ball as it is hitting the racquet. There are a few ways to improve watching the ball while the ball is traveling from your opponent’s racquet to yours. A simple way to improve your timing while hitting and to watch the ball better is to say bounce when the ball is bouncing on your side of the court and hit when you are making contact. Also keeping your head still at the point of contact for two seconds after you hit will help watching the ball. Roger Federer uses this technique when viewing pictures or videos of his play. Watch the rotation of the ball as it approaches you to help with your focus of the oncoming ball. Try to read the lettering on the ball as it comes toward you to help with watching the ball. There are many ways to improve watching the ball in tennis. I hope you will try one or several of these techniques to improve this very important feature of improving your tennis. See you on the courts.

Ed McQuillin Director of Racquets

ADULT WEEKLY TENNIS PROGRAM

Monday 10:00 am - 11:15 am: Ladies 4.0 +Tennis Clinic

6:45 pm - 7:45 pm: Men’s Cardio Tennis

Tuesday 8:45 am - 10:00 am: Ladies 3.5 + Tennis Clinic Thursday 9:00 am - 10:00 am: Ladies 3.0 Cardio Tennis Friday 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Ladies 3.5 + Cardio Tennis

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Ladies 3.0 Cardio Tennis

11:15 am - 12:30 pm: Ladies 3.5 +Singles Clinic

Saturday 7:45 am - 8:45 am: Men’s Cardio Tennis

8:45 am - 9:45 am: Ladies 3.5 + Cardio Tennis

8:45 am - 10:00 am: Men’s Tennis Round Robin

24

WEEKLY PICKLEBALL LEARN AND PLAY CLINIC Wednesday: 8:45 am - 10:00 am Thursday: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

EVENTS Saturday, February 22: Mixed Pickleball Play and Social, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm TENNIS EVENTS February 22 : High School Tennis Camp, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm SQUASH EVENTS February 7-8 : Squash Doubles Member-Guest February 8 : Junior Squash Grand Prix #6 February 26 : Squash Club Championship Final Nights PADDLE EVENTS WCC EVENTS February 9 : Junior Club Champs, 3:00 pm February 18 : Ladies Member-Guest, 6:00 pm February 19 : Women’s B Paddle Club Championships February 20 : Ladies MAPTA Super B and C Tournament February 24 : Men’s Member-Guest, 6:00 pm

MEN’S PADDLE EVENTS Mondays : Men’s Practice, 6:30 pm Mondays : Men’s Clinic, 5:30 pm Wednesdays : Men’s D6 Matches Thursdays : Men’s D2, D3, and D4 Matches

WOMEN’S PADDLE EVENTS Mondays : Women’s Cup 3 Matches Mondays : Cup 6 Practice: 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Wednesdays : Women’s Cup 5 and Cup 6 Matches Thursdays : Ladies Clinic, 5:30 pm Thursday Cup 5 Practice : Cup 5: 9:00 am - 10:15 am Thursday Cup 3 Practice : 10:15 am - 11:30 pm Sundays : Women’s Sunday League, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

25

RACQUETS

2019 TENNIS CHAMPIONS EVENT

CLUB CHAMPION Kristin Mumford

FINALIST

Ladies A Singles Ladies B Singles Ladies A Doubles Ladies B Doubles Men’s A Singles Men’s B Singles Men’s A Doubles Men’s B Doubles Mixed A Doubles Mixed B Doubles

Marta Drane

Erin Rubano

Jennifer Jauffret

Marta Drane/Grace Dignazio

Kristin Mumford/Bessie Speers Jennifer Jauffret/Barbara Beck

Erin Rubano/Kara Hebert

Chris Jauffret Andy Houston

Chris Tigani

Joel Friedlander

Mark Mumford/Nolan Bacchieri

Chris Jauffret/Jared Klose

RJ Rittereiser/Jared Hossack

Joel Friedlander/Mark Collins Marta Drane/Jared Klose Jen Brown/ Jared Hossack

Kristin Mumford/Nolan Bacchieri Debbie Ashley/Michael Ashley

46TH COMMISSIONERS SQUASH RECAP The 46th Commissioners was held over the last weekend of January with 56 players across three divisions. The Commissioners this year were: David Lyons Jr. and Chip Sawyer and their theme was Top Gun, and all players received a “call sign” that seem to fit all participants perfectly. In Division III, Will Lunger (Holiday) and Peter Willard (Firefox) defeated Ray Babiarz (Warlock) and Tripp Way (Slider) in a 5 game barn burner, 15-11,15-8,7-15,11-15,15-13. Holiday and Firefox moved very well and had a few more opportunities to shoot the ball. Warlock with his awesome reverse, and Slider with his epic dives and determination, made it as close as a Mig and a Ghost Rider can get. In Division II, Aaron Stulman (Alley-Oop) and Leif Bohman (Viking) defeated Jack Harris (Agony) and Damian Dell’Oso (Stallion) in 4 solid games, 15-9,13-15,15-11,15-5.Alley-Oop with a great vertical jump, and Vikings long lunges outlasted Stallion and Agony in dog fight that was too much agony for Agony in the end. In Division I, Owen Butler (Blade) and Kenny Wynn (Sundown) defeatedMarshall Wright (Hollywood) and Nick Giacco (Killer) 15-12,15-13,15-4. Blade with his Ginsu precision, slotted numerous nicks and razor sharp drops, along with Sundown, enjoying the golden hour, who was error free and kept Killers bullets to a minimum.

Division I

Division II

Division III

26

MORROW PADDLE RECAP Click here to read a recap and see photos from Andy Podolsky.

SQUASH NEWS Our 6th Grand Prix will be held February 8th from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. These 11 and under junior singles tournaments have been chock full of players, with as many as 24 juniors. We usually have 35 to 40 matches, and all are within 20-25 minutes long. Come out and watch our exuberant youngsters compete in lighting round fashion. The next Grand Prix is March 7th. On February 7-8, the Squash Doubles Member Guest will feature two draws of 8 teams. Both divisions will play one match on Friday and two matches Saturday. The draws are deep so we are expecting many barn-burner matches. Fridays matches will run 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, and Saturday the competition start at 8:00 am. Finals of the two division are at 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. Finals night is February 26th! Finals of all Club Championship draws will be held on one night and one night only. Matches will run form 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Come out and cheer on our members as they compete for their respective titles. We have several new winner boards. So, with players eyeing the new gold paint, we are sure to have exciting final matches. This April 16-19, Wilmington Country Club will once again host the famous Lapham Cup matches between Canada and the U.S.A. Dating back to 1922, it is believed to be one of the oldest amateur sporting events between two countries, having been played for 98 consecutive years. WCC hosted this event in 2008 with great success, and now in the 99th edition, all USA and Canadian team members can’t wait to get here. The Lapham Cup holds 4 divisions. The Grant Trophy matches were inaugurated in 1945, the Crawford Trophy matches in 1999, and the Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy matches in 2001. These four events, held at the same time and venue, are hosted in alternate years by Canada and the United States. Scott Simonton, the USA Lapham/Grant Captain in 2008, returns as Captain of the Lawrence/Wilkens team, and Ed Chilton is the Captain of the Lapham/Grant team. The Coveted Lapham Cup is valued at over $50,000 and similar in size to the Stanley Cup. The Grant Trophy doesn’t disappoint either. These trophy will be displayed near the Cafe prior to the event. Those interested in volunteering to help with the event should contact Ed Chilton. SQUASH TIP In both singles and doubles, the three most important elements of a rail (a ball hit along the wall) are tight, height and depth. A tight rail, regardless of how how short or deep it is, limits your opponent shot selection. Height allows you time to recover to the best court position. And lastly, depth, makes your opponent go to the back of the court and creates opportunity for your next shot. The order in which they are listed is the order of importance. Put all three together and you are assured a win!

27

JUNIOR RACQUETS

JUNIOR SQUASH PLAYER SPOTLIGHT When did you first play squash?

I first started playing squash at WCC when I was 5 years old. How many times a week you play squash?

I play squash twice a week. What’s in your squash bag? In my squash bag, I have a squash racquet, 5 squash balls, squash glasses, USA sweat wrist bands, pink/green, pink, and yellow racquet grips. Favorite squash shot? My favorite squash shot is a boast. Favorite squash drill/game? My favorite drill is the lob game. What’s your favorite shot combination? My favorite combination shot is the rail/ boast. What has been your best exciting match thus far? I had a match when I was losing 2 games - 0 and came back and won 3-2. What is your pump-up song? “On Top of the World“ by Imagine Dragons What is your serve routine? I step forward with my right foot and say “one “in my head , then my left foot goes out of the box and say “two” in my head, I throw the ball up and say “ready” to myself and then I hit ball and say “go” to myself. Favorite grip color? My favorite grip color is pink. Do you play any other sports? Other sports that I also enjoy include ice skating, tennis, and field hockey. Tower Hill and immediately regretted quitting.  How many times a week you play squash? I play squash roughly 5 times a week.  What’s in your squash bag? In my squash bag I have 12 balls, two racquets, my goggles, a bottle of mouthwash, my squash shoes, shoe fresheners, and a knee sleeve.  Favorite squash shot? My favorite squash shot is a backhand cross volley drop that nicks on the right wall. Favorite squash drill/game? My favorite squash drill is rotating rails What’s your favorite shot combination? The classic gold rail then cross drop. What has been your best exciting match thus far? My most exciting match was last year. I was down 0-2 and I had pulled my back, and somehow managed to pull off a 3-2 victory. What is your serve routine? Usually, I serve quickly, to keep my momentum up, but if i have match point, I like to take my time. Favorite grip color? My favorite grip color is black.  When did you first play squash? I first played squash when I was much younger, about five or six years old, and didn’t really enjoy it, so I stopped. Eventually, when I was thirteen, I started playing again for

ELLEN KIRIFIDES Age: 10 Parents: Alexander & Kathy Kirifides

SANDER SARIDAKIS Age: 17

Parent: Penelope Saridakis

28

JUNIOR RACQUETS PROGRAMS Session 3 : January 6-February 23 | Session 4 : February 24-April 12 TENNIS Red 1 (5-6 Years) TENNIS COMPETITION Orange Competition

SQUASH Tuesday

Wednesday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Thursday 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Friday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Green Competition Wednesday 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Thursday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Friday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Yellow Competition 1 Wednesday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Thursday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Friday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Yellow Competition 2 Wednesday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Thursday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Friday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm High School Monday 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm Tuesday 6:45 pm - 8:00 pm High Performance Wednesday 6:30pm-8:00 pm Thursday 6:30pm-8:00pm

Monday 3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Tuesday 3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Saturday 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Sunday 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Red 2 (7-8 Years) Monday 3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Tuesday 3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Saturday 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Sunday 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Orange (9-10 Years) Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Tuesday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Saturday 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Green (11-12 Years) Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Tuesday 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm Saturday 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Yellow (13-14 Years) Monday 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm Tuesday 6:45 pm - 8:00 pm Saturday 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm

4:30 pm - 5:15 pm: 5-6 Years 5:15 pm - 6:00 pm: 7-9 Years 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: 10-12 Years Thursday 4:30 pm - 5:15 pm: 5-6 Years 5:15 pm - 6:00 pm: 7-9 Years 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: 10-12 Years Sunday 1:00 pm -1:45 pm: 5-6 Years 1:45 pm - 2:30 pm: 7-9 Years 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: 10-12 Years 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: 12-14 Years 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: High School PADDLE Monday 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: 10-14 Years 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: 8-10 Years Thursday 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: 10-14 Years 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: 8-10 Years

SQUASH FITNESS AND EYE-HAND PROGRAM 3-5 Years : The idea behind this program is to help children who are looking to work on their athletic movement, eye-hand coordination, speed, balance and physical coordination, which helps with basic fundamentals needed to have a kick start in any sport/racquet sport.

Saturdays: 11:00 am - 11:30 am Sundays: 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

Max of 6 per class. Sign up with the Racquet Shop.

29