The Birnam Buzz - March 2023

WHAT’S

BIRNAM BUZZ

DEAR MEMBERS OF BIRNAM WOOD

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Stanton Anderson, President

The construction fences have reappeared at Birnam Wood… a clear signal that long-awaited improvements are on the way, but also a reminder that the Club experiences will prove to be somewhat challenging while we wait for the next set of surprises to appear.

While we cannot eliminate the noise, nor the dust, nor the construction traffic, we all have a special role to play in reducing the stress that surrounds us right now… among our fellow members, invited guests, our tireless staff, and our entire construction team. May we all take it upon ourselves to be kinder, more tolerant, and more thoughtful of those around us.

Let’s look first at the impact of all of these changes upon our wonderful staff… the Club’s best asset. Their key responsibility

is to create and maintain member satisfaction, which is particularly challenging during these tough days. They work extraordinarily hard, with many spending long hours travelling back and forth to homes out of the immediate area. We cannot thank them enough for the care and service they deliver!

Recently, I have received several reports of members taking their own frustrations out on staff members. The Board and I view this type of conduct as an absolute red line, and such conduct cannot be tolerated. Each of us needs to treat staff as we expect our friends and colleagues to treat us.

Golf course conduct is another area where we can do better. All golfers should re-familiarize themselves with the Golf Rules and Regulations, which are available on our website as well as in the annual Club Roster. We all share the responsibility for ensuring that our guests are familiar with and abide by our Rules of behavior and play.

The Rules also set forth how members and their guests should dress on the golf course. Please be aware that these Rules apply even when the weather is a bit chilly.

Speaking of our dress code, we all need to respect the differences between appropriate dress on the course, the courts, or the fitness center, and how we should modify our dress when moving into the various Club dining areas. Again, please re-familiarize yourself with our Rules, including a reminder that gentlemen need to remove their hats when in a dining area. What we are wearing and how we are behaving can certainly impact the dining experience of those around us. We can all do better.

My last thought is that all members be extra patient during our next phase of construction. The staff has done an incredible job in creating an amazing ambiance in our temporary “New Grill.” Check it out. I know you will be pleased.

As spring approaches, all of us will want to enjoy the Club’s various venues, but keep in mind that each of us has responsibilities of conduct so that everyone can equally enjoy the Club’s facilities. Let’s all keep a smile on our face…and special warmth in our behavior.

FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

Jordan Sweeney, CCM, CSW, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer

I am happy to announce that for the year 2022, the Birnam Wood Wine Program has been named the top wine program for all private clubs in the nation by the International Wine Society of the Club Managers Association of America.

There were over 100 Clubs that submitted their programs for review, and our program was chosen as the very best. Zac Welch, the Club’s Advanced Sommelier, has taken what was started a number of years ago, and moved it to the next level.

A few of the reasons our program was chosen as the #1 program are:

• We offer over 30 wines by the glass from regions all around the world.

• We offer a 100-page wine bottle list featuring wine from over 100 regions!

• We offer large and small format bottles.

• We use varietal specific stemware.

• We offer multiple wine dinners, wine seminars, and festivals throughout the year.

• We have four Sommeliers on staff.

I am beyond proud of what we have accomplished. Please help me congratulate Zac, Eric, and the entire Food and Beverage team on this huge accomplishment. We will receive our award at the National Conference in Orlando, Florida, in March. You can now tell your friends that you belong to the Club with the number one wine program in the nation

To enhance our award-winning program, The Grill remodel will feature a 2,000+ bottle wine storage area. Currently, when we sell a bottle of wine, we have to go down to the cart storage area to collect it. This new design will enhance the wine and dine experience by storing the wine in beautiful and accessible cabinets along the wall, which should be completed in November.

Finally, the Terrace construction is moving along nicely and is on time and on budget. It should be completed in mid-June.

Thank you for your continued patience. These are exciting times!

Jordan Sweeney General Manager

MEMBERSHIP

Welcome New Members – January 2023

Karissa (Kristie) Chapman Intermediate

Austin Herlihy, Bryan de Ponce, Jeff Horn

Kristie received her BA from UCSB and her MBA from Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. She is the founding partner and President of Westerlay Real Estate Group and the mother of two boys. Their family is much beloved in the Santa Barbara area, and her oldest son is a very avid golfer. He is currently on the San Marcos Varsity team and has many friends at Birnam Wood. Kristie grew up playing tennis and hopes to play tennis and Pickleball with her many friends here at Birnam Wood.

Candidates for Membership

The following new candidates for membership will be considered at the next meeting of the Membership Committee:

Kirk Davis (Kim)

Out of State

Managing Director Citigroup Global Mkts

Dallas Country Club

Rich Flaten

Tim Underwood

For the best interest of the Club, information regarding any candidate, whether favorable or unfavorable, is earnestly requested. Communications concerning any applicant may be made personally or by a signed writing to the Membership Committee. All communications will be held in strict confidence.

Please submit comments by Friday, March 31, 2023.

Membership Committee:

Kelly Vandever, Chair

Jen Abed

Trey Evans

David Grotenhuis

Ryan Malmsten

Patty Marshall

Marta Babson

Matt Porter

Betsey Moller

Chris Gregoire

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CLUBHOUSE OPERATIONS

Luis Flores

I have some sweet news to share. We recently hired Alex Loretto to be our Executive Pastry Chef. Alex worked at some of Los Angeles’ top restaurants, such as Bouchon and Ink. He also worked at Rare Society and Renaud’s here in town. Alex will be working on developing new desserts, fresh baked dinner rolls, pastas, and fruit preserves. In addition to his role, he will be assisting Chef Abdu Romero with specialty projects.

Below is an excerpt from Alex’s bio.

“My passion for baking started at the age of 17 working at local bakery. From that point, I have tried to work at the best local bakeries possible. In that journey, I found a love for French pastry which took me to Los Angeles looking for the best restaurants I could find. I spent some time in Los Angeles learning and absorbing everything I could. Now, back in Santa Barbara, I’m again looking for the best, which is what brought me to Birnam Wood Golf Club.”

April 2023

GOLF NEWS

Michael Goodcase, Director of Golf

After all the rain that we experienced in early January, it was extremely nice to have some golf events back at the Club.

We had no golf carts on the course for almost 30 days, beginning a few days after Christmas through January 23rd.

The first event back was the Mixed Friday Game on January 27th. We had a nice sized field with 44 players. The reception was back at the Bocce Court, and everyone truly enjoyed sitting outside around the fire pits.

The following Monday, we hosted the always-popular Member-Employee Golf Mixer. Once again, we had 44 players with 2 members and 2 guests in each foursome. The format was the always enjoyable scramble. The day culminated with a fantastic meal provided by Nana’s Kitchen. It was a wonderful spread of tacos, quesadillas, jalapeño poppers, and tostados.

On Wednesday of that week, we hosted our monthly Men’s Guest Day. That was one of the biggest fields we have had in quite some time with 72 players. F&B did a fabulous job on lunch and hors d’oeuvres. All the players had a wonderful time being back on the links with their good friends.

The theme of well attended events continued with the Ladies’ Valentine’s Guest Day on Friday, February 10th. They had 56 ladies all dressed in pinks and reds. They enjoyed breakfast and lunch in the 19th Hole, as that was the week the terrace construction/demolition began.

Finally, our men’s team is back in action. They have played two home matches and two away matches. All matches have been extremely close. Captain Bryan de Ponce has done a nice job of juggling the line-ups and maintaining success. Our first home match against Montecito was a victory by a small margin of 27-21. However, the team played hard and earned the head-to-head victory by losing at Montecito 22-26. The other away match versus North Ranch had us on the short end but, again, by a slim margin of 20-28. It is going to come right down to the wire to see who will advance to the playoffs.

The BWWGA 2023 most improved players:

January - Anne Hall

IS GOLF MORE MENTAL OR MORE PHYSICAL? Scott Maier, PGA Certified Teaching Professional

Hall of Fame baseball player Yogi Berra once said, “Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical”. Some might say the same thing about golf, but there’s more to golf than just the mental and physical aspects of the game. Jim McLean divided golf into four equal areas that golfers should strive to be proficient in to play their best golf with his 25% Theory.

Those four areas include The Long Game, The Short Game, The Management Game, The Mental Game

THE LONG GAME

Includes the full swing and shots of 100 yards or more for low handicap players and 75 yards or more for mid to high handicap players. Players tend to spend most of their practice time on improving their long game but find that their handicap stays they same because they neglect the other three areas of the 25% Theory.

THE SHORT GAME

Includes pitching, chipping, bunker play, and putting. The PGA Tour average for greens in regulation this year was 66.09% (11.88 greens per round). So, the average Tour Player must get up and down six times per round. That same average Tour Player gets up and down 58.46% of the time. Ask yourself how many greens in regulation do you hit? How many strokes does it take for you to get the ball in the hole when you miss the green? 2, 3, 4 or more.

THE MANAGEMENT GAME

The management game can be broken down into two areas. The first part covers your course management. Are you attempting too many low percentage shots? Are you aiming at trouble too often? The second part covers what you do away from the golf course. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you hydrating properly? Are you eating a healthy diet and exercising? Are you completing your to do list, so you’re not distracted while playing golf?

THE MENTAL GAME

The mental game covers not only the mental but the emotional aspects of playing golf. Do you give every shot 100% of your attention during a round of golf? Or do you take some shots “off”? Do you play with a positive attitude? Is your approach to hit a good golf shot or are you trying not fail? How do you control your emotions? Do you get too dejected when hitting poor shots? Do you get too excited when hitting great shots?

The 25% Theory is a guideline to follow, but it’s important to sit down and do a selfevaluation to determine which area(s) you are doing well in and which area(s) need some attention.

Call the Golf Shop today to schedule a lesson so we can discuss how you can apply the 25% Theory to your golf game and determine if golf is more mental or physical for you.

FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Scott Burton

Greetings from the Athletics Department! Though mornings are still on the cool side, afternoons are crisp and perfect for any sporting activities we offer here at Birnam Wood.

Our racquet sports are an ever-growing department here at the Club, yet keep in mind we have our Spring Bocce season on the radar as well. We will begin bocce season play on Wednesday, May 17th this year. We will host 14 teams and two divisions. Teams should be on the larger side as travel and business obligations will affect attendance. Those wanting to Captain a team should reach out to me at sburton@bwgc.net. We will play Wednesdays beginning at 5:00 PM. I encourage everyone to get in the game!

This past month we held our second annual Valentine’s Mixed Doubles Pickleball Tournament. This was a fantastic day on the courts, which included a light breakfast and lunch and a whole lotta pickleball! Teams competed in a round robin format that guaranteed everyone lots of play. When it was all said and done, our runner-ups were Ryan Siemens and Laura Levy. Our Champions, on their wedding anniversary no less, were an amazing team both on and off the courts. A big congratulations to Trina and David Grokenberger!

A SUPER TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

Look for an upcoming sporting event in The Daily. We always have something in the works!

If you know me, then you know that ettiquette is first and formost in my teaching. This months quote come from the great Knute Rockne “One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it.”

Wishing you all good health and fitness. See you on the courts!

FITNESS NEWS

Joy DuMay & Liz Parrish, Co-Directors

KEEP ON MOVIN’!

Most people know that aerobic exercise is an important part of a well- rounded fitness program. The challenge for many is knowing why aerobic exercise is important, how to monitor your intensity, and how to make sure you are doing the right amount. This article will explain what aerobic exercise is, what it can do for your health, and how to do it correctly.

The word aerobic means “with oxygen”, which means that oxygen is used by the muscles to help them burn fuel and move. Any activity that elevates your breathing and your heart rate is considered “aerobic”. Aerobic activities condition the heart to pump blood more efficiently to the whole body. Over time, it can increase bone and muscle strength and improve your immune system. It can help you live a longer and healthier life!

Examples of the benefits of aerobic exercise are:

•

HEALTH IS WEALTH.

Aerobic exercise can decrease health risks such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain types of cancer. As an example, aerobic exercise aids in keeping arteries clear. During aerobic exercise, the capillaries deliver oxygen to the muscles and carry away waste such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid. This serves to widen the vessels – making a blockage from plaque less likely.

• MOTION IS LOTION!

By moving your body, you keep the joints healthier and more mobile. Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joints providing much needed support. This support will make it easier and less painful for you to keep moving!

• BURN

CALORIES.

Whether you are trying to maintain your weight or drop a few pounds, aerobic exercise can help you to burn calories. Here are some examples of what a 30-minute aerobic session for an average person that weighs 154 lb. would burn:

Walking (3.5 mph) – 140 calories

Running – 295 calories

Swimming – 255 calories

Bicycling – 295 calories

Elliptical – 315 calories

Dancing – 165 calories

• BOOST YOUR MOOD.

Aerobic exercise can improve your mental health. Your body will release endorphins which are natural painkillers that promote an elevated sense of well-being. It can also improve your sleep.

There are many ways to get your aerobic exercise. Swimming, walking, running, biking, skating, rowing, using an elliptical machine – even some types of strength training such as circuit training are all examples of aerobic exercise.

The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 30 minutes 5 – 7 days a week of cardiovascular exercise. They recommend 3 of these 5 – 7 weekly sessions be moderate to vigorous exercise for greater benefits. The 30 minutes can be broken up into 10-minute segments throughout your day if needed. For example, you could take three ten-minute brisk walks throughout your day and meet the recommended daily amount.

It is important to monitor your intensity, so you don’t push yourself too hard or not hard enough. There are many ways to measure intensity including wearing a heart rate monitor or even taking your pulse. An easy way to determine your intensity is to use the Rate of Perceived Exertion method, or RPE.

RPE is determined by how you feel. It uses a scale of 1 – 10. A “1” would be walking across the room. A “10” would be exercise that is so hard you cannot go any further.

New BIRNAM BOOT CAMP

Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 AM

Tone, trim & tighten to get ready for the summer with cardio fun, core work and booty sculpting. This workout will incorporate a variety of modalities, including aerobics, mat Pilates and stability exercises. $25

RPE CHART

10 – Max Effort activity

Feels almost impossible to keep going. Completely out of breath, unable to talk.

9 – Very Hard activity

Very difficult to maintain exercise intensity. Can barely breathe, can only speak in single words.

7 to 8 – Vigorous activity

On the verge of becoming uncomfortable. Short of breath, can speak in a sentence.

4 to 6 - Moderate activity

Feels like you can exercise for hours. Breathing heavily, can hold short conversation.

2 to 3 – Light activity

Feels like you can maintain for hours. Easy to breathe and easy to carry on conversation.

1 – Very light activity

Anything other than sleeping. Watching T.V., riding in a car, etc.

As with any good habit, it takes time and effort to establish a new routine. Aerobic activity can feel uncomfortable when you are not used to it. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to build up your strength and endurance.

If you are looking for a new way to challenge your aerobic strength and add variety to your routine – try our new bike – The Assault Bike Elite! This fabulous bike uses air resistance (a fan). It scales automatically to how hard you want to work, making it the ultimate fitness bike for interval training. The harder you pedal, the greater the resistance. Users can also isolate the upper and lower body during a workout, or switch from forward to backward pedaling for additional variation. The bike has multiple custom seat adjustments which make for a more comfortable, customized ride. The Assault Bike adds to our fleet of non-electric cardio equipment located on the Fitness Terrace.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Stanton Anderson

Secretary & Treasurer Wade Nichols

Director Tim Armour

Director Charlie Bissell

Director Michael Bonsignore

Director Richard Caleel

Director Gary Finefrock

Director Linda Gluck

Director Nancy Hunter

Director Steve Jones

Director Diane Lundberg

Director Chris Teasley

Director Kelly Vandever

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

A&L Christopher Teasley

Athletic Wade Nichols

Compensation & HR Robert Nourse

Construction

Oversight Steve Jones

Cottage Sharol Siemens

Design Alex Nourse

Finance Richard De Schutter

401k Tim Armour

Golf Charlie Bissell

Green Matt Porter

Homeowners Richard Caleel

House Rachael Douglas

Membership Kelly Vandever

The next regular meeting of The Board of Directors will be held on FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 AT 9 AM.

BIRNAM WOOD GOLF CLUB

2031 Packing House Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108

CLUBHOUSE DRESS CODE - Country club casual dress is acceptable during the day in all areas of the clubhouse. For gentlemen this includes slacks or Bermuda shorts, collared shirts tucked in at the waist with a belt, or appropriate golf and tennis attire and for ladies this includes dresses, nice pants, skirts, and similar attire. In the evening, a country club casual dining option is available in the Casual Grill, the 19th Hole Bar, and on the Terrace. The Club may request event-specific appropriate attire (black tie, blue jean pants permitted, etc.) for certain functions. Members hosting or sponsoring private events are responsible for communicating the Club dress code to those attending such events.

CANCELLATION POLICY - Reservations for private parties and Club sponsored events will be charged to the Member’s account unless notice of cancellation is received at the office at least 48 hours in advance. Reservations for Major Club sponsored special events will be charged to the Member’s account unless notice of cancellation is received at the office at least one week in advance. Should a cancellation be made after these times, a charge of one half of the price of the event will be made. Should no cancellation be made, the full price will be charged.

CELL PHONES AND BUSINESS PARAPHERNALIA - The use of cellular phones and other electronic and wireless devices for the purpose of conducting audible conversations is strictly prohibited on the Club premises (including the Clubhouse and the Terrace areas of the Clubhouse, tennis courts, croquet courts, driving range, and golf course), except inside parked vehicles and the locker rooms and except for medical emergencies.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION - Audio and video recording is taking place at Birnam Wood.

STAFF ROSTER

Jordan Sweeney, CCM, CSW, General Manager and COO

Luis Flores, Director of Clubhouse Operations

Kristy Evans, Director of Membership & Communication

Michael Goodcase, Director of Golf

Ryan Bentley, Golf Course Superintendent

Scott Burton, Athletic Director

Manny Bravo, Director of Security

Dolly St. Germain, Controller

Debbie Daggett, Director of Human Resources

Eric Salazar, Director of Food & Beverage

Abdu Romero, Executive Chef

Tiffany Grummer, Director of Private Events

Israel Ruiz, Facilities Director

Joy DuMay, Fitness Co-Director

Liz Parrish, Fitness Co-Director

Katie Atchley, Executive Assistant

Cathy Kendrick, Lead Front Desk Attendant