The Birnam Buzz - September 2023

WHAT’S INSIDE

From The General Manager PAGE 5

Membership PAGE 6

Calendar PAGE 12

RTJ Pictures PAGE 16

From The Athletic Director PAGE 25

BIRNAM BUZZ

DEAR MEMBERS OF BIRNAM WOOD

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Stanton Anderson, President

This month’s column is a bit different from the past few columns which have dealt with Club business issues. I want to focus on GRATITUDE for the people of Birnam Wood Golf Club.

All of us are extremely fortunate to be members of Birnam Wood. It is truly a special place. We are surrounded by interesting and talented individuals who are willing to share their positive energy and unique life experiences with their fellow members. I am constantly amazed by the enthusiastic interaction between members. Birnam Wood offers a relaxing venue for sporting events or sharing a meal with old friends. It is also the perfect place for kindling new friendships. But beyond the events we all share at the Club, many members also give hundreds of hours of their personal time to improving our programs and services. This is a unique

environment for which we should all be grateful, particularly because it rarely happens at other clubs.

The staff members of Birnam Wood are another reason why this Club is so special. I can walk around this Club on any given day and find myself surrounded by a staff this is really unique... warm, thoughtful, helpful, and going the extra mile to anticipate member needs and resolve member queries.

If space allowed, I could easily list dozens of staff members who have performed in an exemplary way, but this column only allows me to highlight a few. Those who go unmentioned in this writing, and there are many, also deserve to be recognized for their tremendous contributions to making Birnam Wood a special place.

My story starts at the front gate. Our SECURITY staff greets everyone with a smile and a superb level of professionalism. They work when we eat, play and sleep. They help members and visitors who need assistance, and they set the tone that we all enjoy.

Then there is IVAN DIAZ, our Dining Room Manager. He is here, it seems, all the time. He is organized, always smiling, and happily leading us to our favorite table.

Have you ever really noticed that things around the Club always seem to function properly? That is ISRAEL RUIZ, Director of Facilities Maintenance, and his team. Seemingly everywhere at the same time. Always smiling. Always with a gracious greeting.

We mow the grass on the 35 acres of our campus about 350 days a year. Think about that and think about the dedicated members of the golf course team who are out there doing the work.

Much of our equipment is old and needs constant maintenance. Meet KEN DIANO, Maintenance Shop Supervisor. He’s the guy who sharpens the mowers and makes sure the equipment used by our golf course team is ready every morning.

Many of us have had the opportunity to interface with KRISTY EVANS, our Membership and Communication Director. She manages the day-to-day activities of the steady stream of members who are either joining or retiring from Birnam Wood Golf Club. She is professional, a really good salesperson, and a fantastic point person for the Club. I call her Sunshine.

I was sitting in my backyard several weeks ago and watching two of our assistant Golf Professionals, DAVID TUCKER, Assistant Golf Professional and REESE HUTCHINS, 1st Assistant Golf Professional, teaching a collection of energetic kids attending our Youth Golf Camp. It was hilarious. In trying to capture the attention of their campers, these two guys came up with a game that involved four different sports at once... a hockey stick, a tennis ball, golf swings, and base running. The kids were having an absolute ball, and so were Reese and Dave.

And then there is LULU ROMERO, one of our amazing Servers. Just reading her name makes you smile already, right? Lulu earned her degree and left us to teach. But she missed us so much that she’s back, always smiling, running between tables, and spreading her special brand of cheer.

There are lots more examples… and you probably have a list of your own. My point is that Birnam Wood is full of very special people, both members and staff, all of whom make this a really great club. I challenge you to pause for a moment, reflect upon the people who have enriched your last few visits to the Club, and BE GRATEFUL for what we have.

Sincerely,

Stan Anderson President

FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

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

New Faces at Birnam Wood!

Back in August of 2021, we hired Scott Burton. At that time our racquets program was much smaller and offered very few events/programs. Scott arrived and has breathed new life into our racquets program. If you haven’t noticed – it is booming! For the first time in Club history, we have two ladies’ teams in our tennis interclub league. We regularly host sold-out Tennis and Pickleball events and have over 100 active pickleball players at the Club. Because of the growth in our racquets program, we recently hired a Head Racquets Pro, Jeff Villano. Jeff, formerly of the Santa Barbara Tennis Club, will begin September 1st and will bring decades of experience to our team. Please welcome him to our team.

I would also like to highlight our Security Department. We have been working diligently this past year to enhance security at the Club. Over the past year, we fixed the perimeter fence and added proper lighting in designated areas. We added two new positions to the Security department so that we have extra staff working the graveyard shift. These two positions will significantly strengthen our patrol at night when we are most vulnerable. Please welcome Jeff Brown and Christopher Claudio to our security team.

We are also proud to announce the hiring of Michael Weems as our Chief Financial Officer. Michael comes to us from the Kimpton Canary hotel in Santa Barbara, where he was the Director of Finance. Michael brings a level of expertise that will prove valuable as the Club continues to grow.

You may have seen the recent email we sent out regarding the seal coat treatment of our roads. We have scheduled this treatment during the week of September 11th – 15th. This is a necessary inconvenience as it keeps our roads and shoulders in good condition, which benefits all our members. We thank you in advance for your patience.

I hope to see you at the Club very soon!

Jordan Sweeney General Manager

MEMBERSHIP

Candidates for Membership

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

Dan Encell (Caroline) Real Estate Agent

Tennis

Thomas Coleman Real Estate Development

Resident Valley Club, La Cumbre

Stuart Korshak Attorney - Founding Member

Non-Resident LA Country Club, Marrakesh Country Club

Mr. Michael Malaco

Mr. Hank Hurst

Mr. Bill McBride

Mr. Phil Bernstein

Mr. Jeffrey Barbakow

Mrs. Travis Kranz

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, September 22, 2023.

Membership Committee:

Kelly Vandever, Chair

Jen Abed

Trey Evans

David Grotenhuis

Ryan Malmsten

Patty Marshall

Marta Babson

Matt Porter

Betsey Moller

Chris Gregoire

Charles Kirschenman Member since 1998

Richard Hawley Member since 2012

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CLUBHOUSE OPERATIONS

Luis Flores

As we approach our Holiday Season, I would like to remind you that we have several Club Signature Events opening for reservations this month, starting with our Melville Wine Dinner. Reservations open for this event on September 14th at 9:00 AM. Our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is scheduled to open for reservations on September 22nd at 9:00 AM. We encourage you to use your mobile app to place your reservations. You may also call the front desk for assistance.

POOL UPDATE

We apologize for any inconvenience you may experience during the pool repairs. The original plan was to get the pool “up to code” by replacing several filters, depth markers, and some plumbing. Once those repairs were made, the pool passed its first inspection. Prior to filling the pool, however, we noticed the floor surface chipping in several places. With safety in mind, we decided to resurface the pool floor. We hope you enjoy the newly redone pool. I would like to thank Israel and his team for all their hard work on this project.

GOLF NEWS

Michael Goodcase, Director of Golf

The golf tournament season is in full swing. There have been a number of events in June, July and August. My focus for this article is our biggest, the Robert Trent Jones Classic. This event is our Signature Men’s Member-Guest.

This was the biggest field we have ever had in our member-guest, 118 players. That number is just two players shy of a full field. Thursday is our day for team registration and our recently added Par 3 Contest. All 18 holes are converted into par 3s. The field is split into front nine and back nine divisions. Ninety of the hundred and twenty players participated. The teams coming in first place and winning a nice sum of cash were: Palmer Brown & Eric Johnson with a score of 23 on the front nine, and Daniel & Michael Eades with a score of 19 on the back nine.

Friday marked the beginning of the five nine-hole matches. The field is divided into ten flights with six teams in each flight. This is the longest day for the competitors. Each team had to play three ninehole against other teams in their flight. The one nice thing about playing three matches in one day is the teams return to the clubhouse one extra time to consume some of Chef Abdu’s amazing meals.

And, if three meals was not enough, the players enjoyed the stag dinner that evening. It was a great time to meet new friends, have a cocktail and enjoy chef’s BBQ dinner. There were some side games involving short game skill. Players had an opportunity to show their skill by hitting a 60-yard wedge shot into a six-foot diameter kiddie pool. If that was too easy, they could also attempt a 30-yard pitch into a standard size trash can that was approximately three-feet in diameter. The beginning proved to be quite challenging for most players. However, Michael Eades made great use of his $20 entry fee. He proceeded to hit three of his four balls into the pool from 60 yards. Nobody else was able to repeat that feat, but a few were able to accomplish it one time: Daniel Eades, Palmer Brown and Timothy Schowe. As for the trash can, that proved to be a little more difficult. Only three players accomplished the goal: Will Borgers, Dean Rogers, and Eric Johnson.

The BWWGA 2023

most improved players:

January - Anne Hall

February - Barbara Kummer

March - Dina Wilson

April - Dina Wilson

May - Marta Babson

June - Jill Mazursky

July - Elizabeth Slaught

As the final day approached, competitors had a pretty good idea of what they needed to do to win their flight and qualify for the Championship Horse Race. Only one team from each flight would advance and earn the opportunity to play for the title of RTJ Champions! Here are the flight winners: Flight 1 (Van Halen), Chris Gregoire Jr. & Chris Gregoire Sr., Flight 2 (Rolling Stones) Charlie Bissell & John Pate, Flight 3 (Def Leppard) Bob Kammer & Dave Schrontz, Flight 4 (Eagles) Bob Smith & Stewart White, Flight 5 (Led Zeppelin) Todd Aldrich & Michael Walker, Flight 6 (Chicago) Austin Muller and Jerry Karczewski, Flight 7 (Grateful Dead) David Stein Jerry Peifer, Flight 8 (Beatles) Nathan Lipps & Steve Grey, Flight 9 (Journey) Terry Kern & William Mabrey, and Flight 10 (The Who) Frank & Tim McGinity. These ten teams needed to outlast the other nine in a two-man scotch horse race. Once the order of play has been decided, the players had to alternate shots throughout the play of each hole. Teams got eliminated after each hole. Hole 18 was the final hole. The three teams standing there with a chance at the title were Austin Muller & Jerry Karczewski, David Stein & Jeffy Peifer, and Terry Kern & William Mabrey. After the tee shots, it was truly a two-horse race. The team of Stein & Peifer were on the green in regulation, but they had a difficult two-putt ahead of them. The team of Kern & Mabrey laid up but hit a fantastic approach giving them a good look at par, plus they received ½ a stroke for their team handicap. The good chance at par slid by the hole a good six feet. They needed to make that putt to put pressure on the Stein team. William Mabrey stepped up and banged that six-footer into the back of the cup, giving them a net score of 5 ½ on the hole. Stein and Peifer faced about 40 feet up the ridge with quite a bit of left to right break that they had to two-putt for the victory. Jerry Peifer stepped up and stroked it as beautifully as could be without having the putt drop. David Stein then stepped up and tapped the ball in for par and claimed the championship!

EVERYTHING AT ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT AT IMPACT. Scott Maier, PGA Certified Teaching Professional

I have listened to players tell me that they are trying to look the same at impact as they do at address. They are disappointed when I show them two pictures side by side of a player at address compared to impact and they can see the differences. Let’s compare the two positions.

ADDRESS

• The body is in alignment (feet, knees, hips, shoulders).

• Weight and pressure are evenly distributed on both feet (50/50).

• The shaft is straight and a slight extension in the lead hand.

IMPACT

• The body is no longer in alignment. The golfer’s hips are more open to the target than at address and are more open than the shoulders.

• The trail heel is off the ground.

• Weight and pressure have shifted to the lead foot. Approximately 80%.

• The golfer’s lead arm, lead knee, and trail knee are forward of their address position.

• The golfer’s upper center of the body is more forward at impact.

• The golfer’s lead wrist is flat or slightly bowed at impact.

MIXED COUPLES' CHAMPIONSHIP

Sund ay, Sep temb er 2 4 th

1:00 PM Shotgun

Entry Fee: $20 per person (Maximum 60 Players)

Better Ball of Partners

Gross & Net Prizes

Arrange your own golf foursome, or ask the Golf Shop to assist you

Dinner Following Golf $65++

Includes a glass of wine, champagne, or a cocktail

You will be seated with your foursome for dinner after golf

Non-golfing spouses welcome for dinner ($65++)

BIRNAM WOOD MONTECITO

WOMEN'S CLUB

September, 14th, 18th, 19th, and 21st, 2023

Defending Champion: Kathy Barton #1 Seed if playing

Championship Flight: Match Play with No Handicap

All seeds will be made by Current Index as of Monday September 12th

Thursday, September 14th - 9:00am

Matches will be played if more than 8 entries

Monday, September 18th - 11:00am

Tuesday, September 19th - 9:00am

(Regular Tuesday Play after Tournament)

Thursday, September 21st -

*Championship Match TBD

Presidents Cup:

Thursday, September 21st -

Awards Luncheon:

Follows play on Thursday, September 21st - $45 for Lunch

Prizes:

Champion & Runner-up in Championship

Flight Net Winner - Thursday Only

All players not in Championship Match will play in Net Competition - 9:00am Shotgun

*Individual Net Point Par Format.

Open to all members of the BWWGA.

Tournament Chair: Vivienne Bellisario

Sign Up on the App or by calling the Golf Shop

54 Annual Lady Macbeth's Challenge

th th

Member Guest Tournament

October 12 & 13 2023

UEENS

Q Q G G th th

REENS OF OF THE THE

Sign up on the App or by calling the Golf Shop

Thursday, October 12

Range opens 9:30am

Brunch & Team Photos 10:30am Shotgun 12:00pm Cocktails & Buffet Dinner following Golf

Friday, October 13

Range and Breakfast opens 7:00am Shotgun 8:30am Luncheon & Awards 1:00pm

Co-Chairs : Holly Armour & Renee Curtis

$475 Entry Fee for member with guest.

FROM TEE TO GREEN

Brian O’Laughlin, Director of Agronomy

Greetings Birnam Wood family,

The heart and soul of any golf course reside in its putting greens, and Birnam Wood Golf Club understands this principle well. To uphold the exceptional quality and playability of our putting greens, we have adopted the practice of light and frequent sand topdressing. This technique is proving to be a gamechanger, ensuring that players enjoy excellent greens year-round.

Sand topdressing entails applying a thin layer of sand to the putting greens, and when done in a light and frequent manner, it offers numerous benefits. Firstly, this practice helps in leveling out minor imperfections that naturally occur over time due to regular foot traffic, ballmarks, and other factors. The outcome is a smoother, more uniform surface that enables golf balls to roll true and unhindered.

Furthermore, the light sand layer provides aeration to the roots, enhancing the overall health of the turf. It aids in mitigating thatch buildup, preventing compaction, and promotes water penetration, which is key for optimal root development. Frequent topdressing also aids in managing excess organic matter. By preventing an excessive accumulation of organic material, the greens maintain a firmer texture, contributing to faster green speeds and a truer ball roll.

Our objective for this practice is to minimize disruption to regular play. We will continually refine the program by selecting appropriate sand rates and materials that seamlessly integrate into the turf canopy and avoid lingering on the surface. This process will primarily occur on Mondays, utilizing the additional time available before the Tee opens for play. Ultimately, following a thorough watering on Monday night after the sand topdress application, we anticipate that by Tuesday, the sand will be unnoticeable to both golfers and our equipment.

Birnam Wood’s commitment to light and frequent sand topdressing is a testament to their dedication to providing an exceptional golfing experience. Players can anticipate consistent, fast, and true greens that challenge and reward their putting skills. As a result, the club continues to set a high standard for course maintenance and elevates the enjoyment of the game for golfers of all levels.

As always, please remember to fill your divots and fix your ballmarks. See you on the course!

SIGN UP ON THE APP TODAY!

All ages and fitness levels are welcome!

$85 entry fee - includes: t-shirt, awards, prizes, and brunch.

Distance : 1 ½ Mile walk or run (Do it twice for a 5k!)

Contact Joy for more information at jdumay@bwgc.net

FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Scott Burton

Summer has been great at Birnam Wood!!

Greetings from Athletics. Though mornings have been on the cool side, afternoons are warm and beautiful for any sporting activity we offer here at Birnam Wood. Now that summer vacations are ending, we are excited to see more participation throughout all sporting areas of the club.

This past summer we wanted to explore the idea of a weekly Friday Croquet Golf outing. Initially, we slated the month of May for our Croquet & Rose’ Wow… We had no idea it would take off like it did. We extended our Friday game through the month of August based on Croquet Golf’s popularity! I hope you had the chance to enjoy the beautiful views, and your fellow members over the summer during our Golf Croquet match play. It was another super opportunity for our members to get to know each other even better.

game Marta Babson “Rolled The Bay” to end the first game in record time! 6-0! In the second game, The Big La Bocce returned the favor and took game #2 with a 6-2 convincing win. It came down to that all important third game, and it started out extremely tight, when all of a sudden (as is often the case) The Big La Bocce took the final game after being tied at 3 all. 6-3 was the final tally, and just like that, in one frame it was decided! Don’t know about you… but I’m thinking Threepeat!! We’ll just have to wait until next season!

We recently wrapped up another amazingly fun Bocce Ball Summer league.

The teams have become more competitive as the level of play has shot up through the roof! Our season brought so many members together each week for some great times! I’m a bit melancholy that bocce has come to a close for the season.

Our season would not have been complete without the crowning of our Championship teams. We have a repeat championship team this year. The Big La Bocce has done it again! Frank Blue & Bob Toledo’s amazing team has rolled their way to another championship! With the talent here at Birnam Wood, to repeat is quite impressive. In the finals it was Marta Babson and Kelly Vandever’s Rock n’ Rollers going up against our returning champs. We knew this would be a nail bitter before the first ball was even rolled! In the first

For me, the sportsmanship I witnessed throughout the season was amazing. Participating in sports provides us with so many great moments to foster our development of physical skills, such as eye-hand coordination, functional movement skills strength; and academic, self-regulatory, and life skills.

Here at Birnam Wood, we celebrate all these benefits but most importantly, we celebrate each other. The relationships we continue to build are special. I want to thank everyone for your participation in all that we provide here at the club. I thank my lucky stars to be a part of all that is Birnam Wood.

This month’s quote came from a non-athlete for the first time. Gretchen Rubin is an influential writer who’s a thoughtprovoking observer of happiness and human nature. She is an acclaimed writer who wrote “What You Do Every Day Matters More Than What You Do Once In A While.” So Simple, yet very true. So go for that walk tomorrow morning. Enjoy more sunsets. Keep moving and growing both physically & spiritually. Wishing you all good health and fitness. See you on the courts!

FITNESS NEWS

Joy DuMay & Liz Parrish, Co-Directors

H.I.I.T. FOR BETTER AGILITY AND HEALTH

By Joy DuMay

Recent research has shown that performing H.I.I.T. for fitness is much more efficient and effective for athletes as well as aging adults. What is it and why is this?

What is H.I.I.T.? This acronym stands for High Intensity Interval Training and involves doing quick, intense periods of movement throughout your workout. This could be, during a walk, stepping up and down a short wall or hitting a hill at a fast pace. During a strength workout, you could add short bursts of jumping rope or do fast sprints on an elliptical.

How intense and long should each interval be? In general, you want to work as hard as you can for 30 to 90 seconds There are many variations on this theme but try to move really quickly as you increase your respiration and perspiration. Then reduce your intensity to lower your heart rate and recover before hitting it hard again.

Why is H.I.I.T. better than a walk or run? Your body has two types of muscle:

1. Slow Twitch for endurance such as sitting, standing, walking and running.

2. Fast Twitch for sprinting, jumping, and recovering from a stumble.

As we get older, we lose our Fast Twitch muscles faster than our Slow Twitch, which is why we move more slowly and fall more easily when we trip. It is important to train for endurance, which improves our heart and lung function, but here is the key: Doing Interval Training with quick speed intervals will improve your endurance, but only performing endurance training will not improve our quick responses.

My advice? Mix it up! Keep doing your walks, runs or machine workouts – but two or three times a week, add some Fast Twitch moves into your routine. It is a challenge, but you will reap the rewards, whether you are an athlete looking for quicker responses, or just someone who wants to stay on their toes!

For more information, contact Joy DuMay at jdumay@bwgc.net.

Come join your

STRENGTHEN & LENGTHEN

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Stanton Anderson

Secretary & Treasurer Wade Nichols

Director Tim Armour

Director Charlie Bissell

Director Michael Bonsignore

Come join Joy DuMay (Tuesdays) and Nancy Clayton (Thursdays) in the Studio for heart pumping, muscle toning moves with fun music and great energy!

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS AT 9:30 AM / per class

$25

Sign Up on the App!

Iyengar Yoga

with Vanessa Bacher

Wednesdays 11:00 -12:15 in the Studio

This class focuses on the foundations of yoga through correct alignment of postures. This method develops strength, endurance, flexibility, optimal body (I alignment, and mental clarity. Props are used to give support and allow st udents of various ailments and abilities to achieve poses. Each class is unique and different from each other ranging from standing poses to restorative poses. Vanessa welcomes all ages and levels of ability to join her class.

Iyengar Yoga is charged with a monthly commitment for $25/class or $30 for daily drop-ins.

Contact Joy jdumay@bwgc.net for details.

Director Richard Caleel

Director Patricia Griffin

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, SEPTEMBER 29, 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, General Manager

Luis Flores, Director of Clubhouse Operations

Kristy Evans, Director of Membership & Communication

Michael Goodcase, Director of Golf

Brian O’Laughlin, Director of Agronomy

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

Cathy Kendrick, Lead Front Desk Attendant