fore may, 2019 for… · el cerrito, california 94530 510.233.7550 fitness center hours daily: 6:30...
TRANSCRIPT
FORE
May, 2019 Berkeley Country Club
Est. 1920
2019 Board of Directors
Mike Westall – [email protected]
President
Carter Strauch – [email protected]
Vice President, Grievance Committee Liaison
Lee Thompson – [email protected]
Secretary, Ambassador Committee Liaison
Ken Mizono – [email protected]
Golf Committee Liaison
Bob Hester – [email protected]
Green Committee Liaison
John Snider - [email protected]
House Committee Liaison
Blair Allison - [email protected]
Ambassador Committee Liaison
2019 Committee Chairs
Marsha Conwill, Chuck Smith & Tom Carman Ambassador Committee
Marc Gauy Golf Committee
Bill Guba Green Committee
Kerry Gough Grievance Committee
Nancy Strauch House Committee
Carter Strauch Planning Committee
Judith Warren Little
WGA Captain
Wendy Bakkenta
Carole Freethy
Martha Staskawicz
9 Holers Co-Captain’s
Office Hours
Monday – Friday – 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday – Closed
Shawn Goben - General Manager 510 860 4914
Adam Levinsohn - Superintendent 510 860 4930
Zach Happy - Head Golf Professional 510 860 4929
Ryan Rodrigues - Assistant Golf Professional 510 237 7045
Andrea Brendlinger - Director of Event Sales 510 860 4934
Alaun Grimaud - Executive Chef 510 860 4921
Sharon Larry - Accounting 510 860 4916
Restaurant Hours
Monday – Friday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: 6:30 AM -7:00 PM
9-Down Café
Daily: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Berkeley Country Club
7901 Cutting Boulevard El Cerrito, California 94530
510.233.7550
Fitness Center Hours
Daily: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Dear Members,
My apologies for not getting the Fore out in the last 2 months, but as I am sure most of you are aware there has been several changes in club
personnel. I’m happy to announce that we have new team members in place to help service the membership.
Zach Happy is our new Head Golf Professional. Zach previously worked at another CBIGG property, Oronoque Country Club, in Stratford,
CT. Zach came to Berkeley to help out in the golf shop in early March. Zach’s friendly personality and enthusiasm are contagious which
lead me to request having him transferred to Berkeley. I look forward to working with Zach and helping him progress in his career. If you
have not met Zach, please stop by the golf shop and introduce yourself. Zach’s email is [email protected]
Alaun Grimaud is our new Executive Chef. He most recently comes to us from being Chef Instructor at the French Culinary Institute.
Alaun has also been the Executive Chef at the Berkeley City Club. Alaun has an impressive culinary background and he is a genuinely nice
person with a lot of enthusiasm for his craft. Alaun will be happy to meet you and speak with you in the dining room, let your server know
so they can see if he is available. For health and safety reasons, please do NOT go into the kitchen. Alaun’s email is
Sharon Larry is our new Accountant. Sharon was a long-time accountant for one of our members, Alex Rodriguez. Alex highly recom-
mended her and in her short time here she has more than lived up to that recommendation. The membership side of the club is new to her,
but she is learning quickly. If you have any questions about your bill, please feel free to stop by her office, located on the second floor of the
clubhouse. You can also email Sharon at [email protected]
I have also hired a new F&B Manager and Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. They are both scheduled to start in the middle of May, so
I will be introducing them in next month’s Fore.
It will take a little time for the team to come together, but I truly believe that we have put together a very qualified group of managers, that
are service orientated and that will work well together and with the existing staff.
Sincerely,
Manager's Memos Shawn Goben
What beautiful weather we are finally having. Maybe winter is over. As the course dries out and Adam is able to get
the mowers back to work, the course conditions should continue to improve. Get out and enjoy the course.
A big thank you to the Reach West organization and Ken Mizono for the contribution they recently made to the Club.
This was in appreciation of the Club allowing them to hold their benefit golf tournament on a Friday last fall. The
Board earmarked this donation for our Centennial Projects Fund. The project(s) will be defined later this year. If you
see Ken around the Club, you can thank him yourself.
A number of you have approached me over the last few months to voice your concerns about the extent of the
changes to our staff. When Shawn took over as our General Manager, he met with the staff, individually and in
groups, to outline his expectations of them. He emphasized professionalism, accountability, respect and courtesy to
the members, guests, and fellow staff members, while performing the tasks for which they were responsible. Some of
the staff subsequently decided to advance their careers by following a different path. We thank them for their service
to the Club and wish them luck. Others have proven to be unable or unwilling to fulfill Shawn’s expectations and
have been terminated. The entire staff is employed by CBIGG and Shawn is their supervisor. All personnel decisions
are theirs to make. Shawn has kept me aware of pending personnel actions and I have informed the rest of the Board
at the appropriate time.
On a positive note, Shawn has added to our staff in a number of areas. We have a new Head Pro, and have promoted
one of our outside staff to second assistant. I’m sure you have all noticed our new maintenance man, Bobby. Behind
the scenes we have a new accountant, line chef, and mechanic. I understand that we can expect an Executive Chef,
another line chef, an F&B manager, and an assistant course superintendent in the next few weeks. Please be patient
while Shawn builds the staff he feels he needs to make our membership more satisfying.
Once again I encourage any member willing to help define, schedule, and promote events to celebrate our centennial
anniversary to contact either Shawn or myself. We are anxious to get a tentative schedule of events in place so
Shawn and the staff can start working on the details.
If you feel like making any comments or suggestions or simply want to stop by and pass some time, I will hold office
hours in the Lake Room on Wednesday, May 15th, from 3:00 to 5:00.
Hopefully I will see you on the course in the near future.
Mike Westall
Michael Westall President’s Message
Hello BCC Members,
My name is Zachary Happy and I was recently given an amazing opportunity to become the Head Golf Professional
here at Berkeley Country Club. Originally from Prospect, Connecticut, my golf career started at Washington Golf
Club in 2011. Wanting to pursue my golf career aspirations, I made the move to Naples FL in 2014. While in Naples I
became the Assistant Golf Professional at Vanderbilt Country Club and worked there until 2017, learning everything
I possibly could about being a golf professional: teaching, tournaments, member relationships. I then was given an
opportunity to work for CBIGG management back home in CT at Oronoque Country Club in Stratford, CT and I
jumped on the opportunity. While there, I continued to learn and grow. My next step was here at BCC as your Head
Golf Professional. I am thrilled and grateful for this opportunity, I promise I will do the best I can to make Berkeley
fun and exciting for every member and for everyone to enjoy their experience while here. Thank you to everyone for
welcoming me to Berkeley Country Club, I am very excited for the future. Now let’s play some Golf!!
Zach Happy
Head Golf Professional
Adam Levinsohn Superintendent
Hello everybody and welcome back to the GCM monthly Fore section.
Spring is in full swing here at Berkeley Country Club and it looks like we are out of the rainy season. Total rainfall
amounts here at BCC this winter were 28.62 inches, well above average. The large amount of rain this year has tre-
mendous benefits as well as some minor drawbacks. I think we are all pleased that California water reserves are at full
capacity for the first time in quite a while.
High rainfall amounts this year brought about rapid growth on the golf course which has been a little bit of a chal-
lenge to keep up with during aerification and other necessary spring GCM practices. We are now just about caught up
with mowing of the various golf course areas and have them back to the appropriate heights of cut.
We are now entering into the dry spring and summer season. Going forward water management on the golf course
will be a main focus for our department throughout the next 6 months.
As you are out on the course you may notice a few small projects that have been completed or that are in process.
Most notably has to be the reshaping of the area in front of the #2 greenside bunker. The large mound just outside the
bunker edge has been removed providing a smooth transition down to the cart path. The large drain here was also
raised in order to soften the extreme low spot in this area. We have also completed some tree work over the last month
beginning with the removal of 2 dead Monterey Pines that were just to the right of #3 green. While we were in the
area, some lower branches of the large Eucalyptus tree next to #5 fairway were pruned in order to open up more of a
line to the green from the right side of the fairway.
I would also like to welcome the new additions to our management staff here at Berkeley Country Club. I am person-
ally excited to have them on the team and look forward to working with them to make the experience here at the club
something special. Along with these new hires, the Golf Course Maintenance department will also be adding another
manager this month. With the addition of an Assistant Golf Course Superintendent role this year at BCC, Gary Tuttle
has been hired for this position and will be starting May 15th. We look forward to having him on board to help achieve
our golf course maintenance goals.
I look forward to seeing you all out on the course.
Adam Levinsohn
Golf Course Superintendent
Coming from a family of restaurateurs, Chef Alaun Grimaud had an early introduction to the culinary industry. After
graduating with honors from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, he built his resume in various fine-
dining restaurants throughout California. As Sous Chef at Jordan’s Restaurant in Berkeley, Chef Alaun gained an ap-
preciation for sustainable practices and developed an ingredient-driven mentality. As Chef de Cuisine at El Bizcocho
Restaurant at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, he had the opportunity to work with James Beard award Chef Gavin Kaysen,
who taught him why plating and food styling are important skills to develop as a chef. Later as Executive Sous Chef,
he and his team earned the restaurant a full 5-star review from revered Food Critic, Naomi Wise. As he continued to
progress professionally, he spent time at David Kinch’s 3-Michelin Star Restaurant, Manresa and Nancy
Oakes’ Boulevard, which he notes was, ―the most influential working experience,‖ to this day. Chef Alaun then spent
time at the W Hotel in San Francisco and at the Berkeley City Club as Executive Chef where he opened the club’s
French inspired restaurant Julia’s. Prior to joining us at the Berkeley Country Club, Chef Alaun was a Chef Instructor
at the French Culinary Institute in Campbell, teaching the next generation of culinarians.
Alaun Grimaud
Executive Chef
Please join us for a special event:
"The Magnificent 7: The Seven Greatest U.S. Opens in History" - an evening with Joe Passov
Friday, June 14, 2019, 7 pm in the Ballroom
Join us for a very special event during US Open week featuring a talk by Joe Passov and the launch of his upcoming
book project, "The Radical Professor of Golf Course Architecture - Robert Hunter and the Golden Age of Berkeley
Country Club" to be self-published by members of BCC. A discussion of the format, content and funding of the book
will take place following Joe's remarks.
Joe specializes in writing about golf travel and golf course architecture. He has researched and written more than 300
articles on classic courses and architects, including features on Alister MacKenzie, A.W. Tillinghast, Perry Maxwell
and Donald Ross. Perhaps best known for his popular ―Travelin’ Joe‖ and ―Eye on Design‖ columns in GOLF Maga-
zine. He has had more than 2,000 articles published in nearly 100 publications in North America, the U.K. and Asia.
He is the 2019 recipient of the prestigious ASGCA Donald Ross Award. The award, given annually since 1976, is
presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course
architecture. Past recipients include Deane Beman, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus.
Richard Pettler Joe Passov
Men’s Guest Day
Friday, June 14th is Men’s Guest Day. Bring one, two or three of your guests to join you for a
Best Ball Event, 1:00pm Start.
Contact the Pro Shop for details.
One Guest—$60.00
Two Guests—$100.00
Three Guests—$120.00
Plus Cart Fees
Women's Golf Association Judith Warren Little
May FORE 18 holers
So much for ―in like a lion, out like a lamb‖! March went in like a lion, out like a lion. Despite two rainouts, wet con-
ditions, and perpetually challenging long rough, ten stalwart ladies turned out for team match play on March 14 and
fourteen ladies for the monthly sweeps tournament on March 21. On March 28, a six-person contingent played the
first East Bay Team Play event of the year at a very swampy Rossmoor. The tough conditions everywhere may have
helped spur our decision to adopt the new USGA ―local rule,‖ alternative to stroke-and-distance in the event of a lost
or out-of-bounds ball.
The weather improved in time for us to host the annual WGANC Open Day on April 11. Ladies from 16 Northern
California clubs — some of them quite far away — arrived to enjoy our BCC course. Thanks to Patricia Rappaport
and her band of volunteers for a well-organized and successful Open Day. Thanks also the the Pro Shop and the Club
House staff for making our visitors welcome, and to Adam for allowing carts on the course for the first time in many
weeks.
With warm and sunny weather, we enjoyed hosting the Senior Men on April 18. As the month comes to a close, we
are completing qualifying rounds for the annual match-play Handicap Tournament.
Judith Warren Little
Nine Hole Group Wendy Bakkenta
During the last two months the BCC Niners have played in between rain storms and crowned two new Charm Cham-
pions. March Champ was Robin Mori and April Champ was Carole Freethy Congratulations Robin and Carole! The
Niners also had our Spring Friends and Family event and 29 golfers turned out for the tournament. The format was
two best balls and in first place was Michael and Patricia O’Connor and their guest Gary Robinson. Second place
honors went to Jung Kim, Isabel Kim, Kim Kim, and Sharon Miller. In third place was George Bakkenta, Ikuko
Boyland, Ellen Doran and Carole Freethy. Closest to the hole on the second hole was Patricia O’Conner. All winners
received gift certificates from the pro shop. We all appreciate the pro shop staff for the work they did to make it a
fun tournament.
The next big event for the Niners is the sixth annual Spring Classic on May 7. The format will be two best balls per
foursome, and there will be prizes and surprises. All women golfing members are invited but sign ups must be made
by May 6, and the pro shop will be forming the teams. The Niners host a number of events throughout the year, in-
cluding regular Tuesday play days and Guest Days. There will also be another Friends and Family Tournament in
September.
If you are interested in playing nine holes with a fun group of ladies, give Wendy Bakkenta a call at 510-527-1507.
Our first big major is upon us.
The Directors cup is our member/member tournament, and some say the best tournament of the year!
If you have not signed up or if you need a partner, please contact the Pro Shop. This starts with a
cocktail party on Friday that includes buying your team or another team in a Calcutta format. Fun
and dramatic! Flighted team matches begin over the next two days that culminate with the flight
winners playing in a horserace format for the championship and a copper cup!
If you love golf and friendly competition including great food and drinks, this is your opportunity to
enjoy this great club at a deeper level!!
Until next time remember attitude, approach & expectation are everything; please reread the
following attitude adjustment statement I put out in February.
Golf Club Members vs the Golf Course Customer:
Members will:
Have respect for the other members, the golf facility, the staff and the course.
Replace their grass divots, then sand.
Repair their ball marks on the green (free tools at the pro shop).
Rake the bunkers for the next player (Have you ever tried to hit a bunker shot out of a foot print?).
Keep pace with the group in front; pace of play goal is 3:45, not 5:00 what we see at the Public
Courses.
Post all their scores.
Do this for the betterment of all.
Customers will:
Do none of the above and yet complain about condition, service, pace of play and others.
Leave the course worse than they found it and continue to look for the next cheap deal.
Golf Committee Marc Guay