UNICORN UNICORN THE
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
F F
ellow members, I hope you are all enjoying our beautiful summer months, and taking advantage of the longer days to get out on the golf course or over to the tennis courts on a late afternoon. Some of my favorite memories at FHCC are late afternoon rounds with my boys, finishing as the sun goes down. There is no better way to spend a long summer evening.
And speaking of summer evenings, I want to thank our entire management team and staff for another spectacular 4 of July Celebration. It is always a highlight of our year here at FHCC, and this year was no different. And based on all of the social media posts I’ve seen, it looks like everyone agrees. th
We also want to congratulate our Swim & Dive Team on a wonderful season! Their dedication, teamwork, and spirit made us all proud. We’re especially excited to share that FHCC will be hosting Finals next year and we look forward to welcoming our neighboring clubs to our beautiful facility.
Lastly, I want to thank those who attended our Town Hall Meeting on July 16 , where we discussed a significant capital improvement project: the potential replacement and repair of our irrigation system. Your Board of Directors, in collaboration with the Long Range Planning Committee and Club management, have been hard at work putting together relevant information that we believe is important for the membership to have as we begin this capital project over the next few years. As a Board, we are committed to our fiduciary duty to protect the value of our Club. Our long-term capital projects plan is an integral part of maintaining the value of FHCC, and protecting the value of each membership here. th
As always, I look forward to seeing you around the Club.
R . C . H A R L A N
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
R.C. Harlan
Doug Bradshaw
Adrian Guerrero ..2nd Vice President
Doug Rowan
Chris Kiyohara
Dr. Rick Avila ………………………Chairman
Kristine Chung Chairman
David Esgro ............................Chairman
Corey Ford …………………………Chairman
David Liu ........…………………….Chairman
Luis Michel………………………….Chairman
CLUBHOUSE HOURS
Hines Grill and Terrace Dining
Tuesday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday 6:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Breakfast
Lunch and Dinner
Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday - Sunday 10:45 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Snack Bar (Summer Months)
Monday - CLOSED
Tuesday - Sunday 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Fitness Center
Monday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Bryan Addis, PGA, CMAA General Manager/COO baddis@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext 305
Nephi Diaz Director of Agronomy
nddiaz@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext 101
Jay Prestella, PGA Director of Golf
jjprestella@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext 307
Patricia Wong, PGA Director of Membership
pwong@friendlyhillscc.com (562) 698-0331 ext. 334
Peter Phan Executive Chef pphan@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext 324
Taylor Stewart Director of Sales and Marketing
tstewart@friendlyhillscc.com (562) 698-0331 ext. 207
Shawn Kurete Director of Food and Beverage
skurete@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext 312
Don D’Ambrosio Director of Finance and Accounting
ddambrosio@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext. 202
Jennifer Shorr, USPTA Director of Racquet Sports
jshorr@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331
B R Y A N A D D I S
P G A , C M A A
General Manager/COO
A M E S S A G E
F R O M
O U R G M
G G
reetings Friendly Hills Country Club Members! I hope this letter finds you well! Summer is in full swing at the Club and all our Summer programs have been awesome!
Our 4 of July Fireworks were outstanding and everyone in attendance had a great time! Huge effort was put forth in providing a better member experience and it paid off with parking for everyone, more activities and of course, a great show! Our Junior Camp was well attended, and the kids are had a great time learning golf, swim & tennis. th
Speaking of swim, our FHCC Swim & Dive Team has concluded its regular season and finals at Glendora Country Club. Head on over to GCC to support our Unicorn swimmers! We are all looking forward to next year as Friendly Hills Country Club is set to host the finals once again!
Continued
We don’t often talk about Monday Tournaments in our newsletters, but we do have a special event coming to the Club on August 11 as we play host to the Southern California PGA Assistant’s Championship. This event features PGA Associate Professionals from clubs all around Southern California competing to be crowned champion. th
PGA Associate Professionals are working hard to become PGA Members and join the ranks of your Club’s PGA Professionals, including myself, Jay Prestella, Josh Bustos, and Patricia Wong. We are all looking forward to watching them complete!
If you haven’t already noticed, our Food & Beverage Director, Shawn Kurete, along with our Executive Chef, Peter Phan, have introduced a Prime meats program to our dining menu.
Hand-carved prime steaks are now featured on our dinner menu and the difference is astounding. Great work guys!
We have seen an uptick in unauthorized use of our Fitness Center, and would like to remind you that the gym is reserved for our Primary Members and their Spouse only.
Additionally, our Swimming Pool and Tennis Courts are for Members Only and we appreciate the efforts you are making to let us know when you see unauthorized use of these areas, thank you!
Stay cool out there as the weather looks to briefly dip into the 80’s mid-July but shoots straight back up into the high 80’s for the remainder of the month so please, stay hydrated and don’t overexert yourself.
Thank you all for your ongoing support of Friendly Hills and see you all around the Club!
AAs summer reaches its peak, we look back on an extraordinary few months here at the Club.
From our festive springtime celebrations like the Easter Spectacular and Mother’s Day Brunch, to creative and casual evenings such as Pinot & Paint Night and the Father’s Day BBQ Of course, summer wouldn’t be complete without our annual 4 of July Firework Spectacular - a highlight of the season - which was made even more memorable this year thanks to a special member donation: claw machines from Robo Hunters that quickly became the hit of the night for kids and adults! We also just wrapped up another successful run of our Junior Sports Camp, where our youngest members made lasting memories on the courts, course, and in the pool th
As we look ahead, the excitement continues with a fresh lineup of events you won’t want to miss. Be on the lookout for upcoming events such as Bocce & Beer, Rockin’ Rodeo Roundup, Glow Golf Twilight, and Watches & Whiskey. We can’t wait to have many more unforgettable memories at the Club.
A T R I C I A W O N G , P G A
Director of Membership
n behalf of the Club, it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all the new members who have joined our Club this year. We are thrilled to have you part of our FHCC family.
Each new member brings fresh energy, diverse experiences, and a shared enthusiasm for everything our Club has to offer
M E M W E L C O M E N E W
If you know someone who might be a great fit for our Club, contact Patricia Wong at pwong@friendlyhillscc.com or call 562-698-0331 x334
R E G U L A R E Q U I T Y
BIN LI
STEVE RHEE
RICKEY KIM
JOE PULIDO
RAUL OSEGUERA
WALTER FRANCO
ANTHONY REYNA
ARMANDO VILLEGAS
KA KIT MAK
THANKS SILACHAI
JAMES LEE
THOMAS UMEMOTO
DENNIS CHAVEZ
J U N I O R E X E C U T I V E
KYLE PEKO
LIZBETH HERNANDEZ
MAURICIO BOURS
JOE GIRGIS
MICHELLE WONG
S O C I A L M E M B E R S
SYLVIA CHAVEZ
JUAN RUIZ
SPENCER TIEN
ERIC AGUIRRE
G O L F C O U R S E M A I N T E N A N C E
AAs we head into the warmer months of Summer, I’d like to share a few highlights from April through June.
We enjoyed another successful, sold-out MemberGuest Tournament. The golf course provided a true test, with green speeds reaching approximately 13 feet on the stimpmeter. Your FHCC Maintenance team worked extremely hard to deliver premier playing conditions. Congratulations again to all the winners!
On June 23rd, we completed our scheduled DryJect service on the putting greens. Approximately 30 tons of sand were injected at a depth of 4 to 6 inches, using a 3x3 spacing pattern. This process was completed efficiently, allowing the greens to be back in play the very next day.
DryJect aerification is a key part of our Summer turf management program. By injecting sand deep into the soil profile, we improve oxygen exchange, enhance water infiltration, and promote more effective drainage.
These benefits are especially important as we transition into the hotter months, ensuring that the greens remain healthy and resilient under increased environmental stress.
It has now been a little over a year since the completion of our tee renovation project. The Bermuda sod continues to mature and strengthen, and as it becomes more established, overall turf conditions will keep improving. Our golf course maintenance team remains committed to supporting this progress through regular aerification, topdressing, and fertilization. Additionally, we've focused on several holes to reduce shade and increase sunlight exposure, further benefiting our warm-season turf. We’ll continue to monitor and address shaded areas that impact turf health.
On hole 2, we have opened up visual corridors that now provide stunning views of holes 15, 16, and 17. We will look for more opportunities like this to enhance the aesthetics and experience of our beautiful course.
Year-to-date rainfall (January–June 2025) is approximately 4.90 inches, well below the longterm average of 10.2 inches. This continued shortfall in precipitation reflects a drier pattern for the season. As a result, we are increasing hand-watering, syringing greens, and performing emergency repairs as needed to maintain turf health. Staying proactive with water management remains a top priority to ensure our playing surfaces remain at the high standard our members expect.
Please stay cool, stay hydrated, and most importantly, enjoy the course!
U P C O M I N G
Next Greens Aerification Closure:
October 6–13, 2025
N E P H I D I A Z Director of Agronomy
B Y J A Y P R E S T E L L A , P G A
Director of Golf
Most amateur golfers make the mistake of swinging with their arms independently of their chest. This disconnect often leads to poor contact—offcenter hits, slices, pulls, fat shots, thin shots, and a noticeable loss of distance.
To improve your consistency and power, focus on keeping the insides of your biceps lightly connected to the sides of your chest, near the pectoral area This connected feeling helps unify your upper body rotation, encouraging a swing that’s built around your spine, not just your arms
Imagine holding a weighted medicine ball like the ones you’d find at the gym. Now perform an underhand tossing motion with it You’ll likely notice three things:
Balanced Athletic Posture: Your knees naturally flex, and your weight settles into your heels.
Arm-to-Chest Connection: The insides of your biceps stay snug against your chest, promoting that connected feeling.
Chest and Hands Work Together: The chest leads, and your hands follow it’s a full-body motion, not just an arm swing.
Years ago, I watched Padraig Harrington on the practice tee at Riviera Country Club. His caddie handed him two gloves—not to wear, but to place under each armpit I stood in awe as he struck shot after shot with laser-like precision, all while keeping those gloves firmly in place The result? A beautiful, connected swing from a three-time major champion
Next time you're hitting balls, place a glove or towel under each arm and make swings while keeping them pinned in place You’ll groove a motion that’s centered, connected, and rotational just like a medicine ball toss
0 2 5 U N I
M E M B E R - G U E S T
CHAMPIONS
OVERALL NET
JOHN LANTZ/JAN VIVIANI
FLIGHT WINNERS
AARON YEN/JEFF YEN
FLIGHT WINNERS
JIE WANG/FRANK ZHANG
SCOTT YAMABE/CONNOR BURKE
RAY WU/COLIN DRESSER
PAT PETTI/SHANE EAST
DOUG BRADSHAW/DAN MARRS
EDWARD TIEN/JOHNNY WU
RICH BURKE/MATTHEW BURKE
VICTOR GARCIA/ALAN GARCIA
SENIOR CLUB CHAMPION: PETER CHO
August 9-10 Hines Cup
September 5-7 Men’s Club Championship
September 13-14 Golf of Mexico
November 15-16 Member-Member
Overall Net Champion Dong Ha
St. Andrews Flight
Gross: George Gonzalez
Net: Dr. Rick Avila M
September 6 Junior Club Championship
August 24 King & Queen
H W G A UPCOMING FHWGA
JULY
2025
A huge congratulations to our 2025 Ladies Club Champion - Kathy Kurata!
For the 26th time, Kathy has claimed the title - an incredible achievement that adds to her already legendary list of accomplishments If you see her around the Club, join us in extending your congratulations on this remarkable milestone!
August 19 Ryder Cup
September 2, 4, 9, 16 President’s Cup
September 30 Open Guest Day
November 4, 11 Member-Member
Overall Gross Champions: Kathy Kurata & Kin Izzi
Overall Net Champions: Kristina Petrossian & Kari McGill
U N I O R G O
S U M M E R
The 2025 Friendly Hills PGA Jr League team had a great season competing against Hacienda CC, Glendora CC, South Hills CC and Yorba Linda CC
They learned more about team competition and building relationships with fellow junior golfers Congratulations to Caleb Silachai, Leah Bautista and Lauren Pennington on making it to the All-Star competition on July 18th at Alhambra golf course
Congratulations to Briana Chacon on bringing home her second win this season on the Epson Tour!
Congratulations to Chloe Zhang on an exceptional summer season so far
F O O D & B E V E R A G E
SHAWN KURETE Director of Food & Beverage
Dear Friendly Hills Country Club Members, I hope you’ve been enjoying all that Friendly Hills has to offer. We’ve continued making strides toward providing the best possible experience for you and your families. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of such an amazing community and to get to know so many of you on a daily basis. It’s truly an honor to be here.
I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our members and staff for making our 4th of July celebration such an incredible event As it was my first Independence Day at the Club, I was truly blown away from the entertainment to the fireworks, it was clear that Friendly Hills knows how to put on a spectacular show
If you haven’t yet had the chance, I highly encourage you to try our new dinner menu, featuring Prime Steaks. The feedback so far has been fantastic! Make a reservation on the patio, enjoy a perfectly cooked steak paired with your favorite wine, and soak in the atmosphere with our live entertainment every Thursday and Friday evening.
We remain committed to continual improvement and making Friendly Hills the club others aspire to be. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or concerns I look forward to seeing you around the Club soon
S T R A W B E R R Y
S H O R T C A K E
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup heavy cream
3 ½ cup flour
⅓ cup granulated sugar
2 tbs baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 whole eggs
1 ¼ stick of butter turbinado sugar
extra buttermilk for brushing
PETER PHAN
Executive Chef
Hello members, we are halfway through the year and we are in full summer mode in the kitchen We had a very successful Men’s Member Guest Tournament, Ladies Fairway Festival, Mother’s Day Brunch, Junior Sports Camps, and our July 4 Spectacular We also started a Taco Tuesday night on the last Tuesday of every month th
Instructions:
Add flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Then add the buttermilk and cream and mix well. Add butter and continue to mix well. Form into 3" round biscuits Brush biscuits with buttermilk and sprinkled with turbinado sugar and bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes Biscuits should be fluffy and golden brown Let cool before serving
W H I P P E D C R E A M
2 cups heavy cream
½ cup powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
Add heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract into a bowl Whisk until the cream reaches a stiff peak or to the desired consistency of whipped cream S T R A W B E R
M A C E R A T E D S T R A W B E R R I E S
1 cup chopped strawberries
¼ cup granulated sugar basil (optional)
Instructions:
Add strawberries and sugar and mix well Add basil and balsamic (optional)
1 Cut the biscuit in half and place bottom half on a plate
2 Add the macerated strawberries and then top with whipped cream
3 Place the other half of the biscuit on top Add additional whipped cream Garnish with mint
We had a new menu update recently as well with some notable dinner options. We are featuring U.S.D.A. Prime meats. Our Carne Asada, Bone-In Rib Eye Steak, Dry Aged New York, and Filet mignon are all graded Prime.
What does USDA Prime mean? USDA Prime is a grade of beef labeled by the United States Department of Agriculture. They measure based on maturity of the cattle and the amount of marbling in the meat. Marbling is the amount of intramuscular fat and generally equates to a more tender cut of beef. It is considered the highest grade of domestic beef on the USDA scale, which also tends to be one of the most expensive as well. The USDA doesn’t require any meat manufacturers to have their beef graded for labeling. It is entirely voluntary system. Producers who choose to have their meat graded pay for a certified grader to come in and grade the entire carcass. It can be an expensive process and that’s why Prime Grade meat is higher than other grades of beef. Only 2-4% of domestic beef is graded USDA Prime.
U S D A P R I M E M E A T S
I would also like to highlight some of the vendors that we use You may have seen their trucks on property We buy product from these vendors everyday and they provide us with service and quality product so that we can strive to be the best for our members I can trust and use these vendors with confidence
TAYLOR STEWART Director of Sales & Marketing
Did you know that Friendly Hills Country Club is a top location to host an outside golf tournament? Whether you're looking to impress clients with a first-class corporate outing or raise funds for a cause close to your heart, we've got the perfect backdrop and fairways to make it happen
What Makes FHCC Tournaments a Hole-in-One?
A premier private course in pristine condition
Dedicated support from our experienced tournament team Delicious catering options and flexible packages
A stunning Terrace to celebrate after the last putt drops
2026 dates are filling up quickly now is the perfect time to lock it in.
For pricing and availability, contact Taylor Stewart at tstewart@friendlyhillscc.com or 562-698-0331 x207.
Let’s tee up something amazing together!
New!
Did You Know? You Can Now Report Issues Directly Through the Clubhouse Online App!
We’re always working to keep Friendly Hills looking and running its best and now, it’s easier than ever for members to let us know when something needs a little attention.
With the Clubhouse Online app, you can quickly and easily report a problem in just a few taps:
1. Log into the app
2 Click on the menu drop-down (the three lines at the top left)
3 Tap "Report a Problem"
4. Choose the area of concern, like “Clubhouse Maintenance” or “Golf Course Maintenance”
5 Add a photo (optional) and describe the issue
6 Hit send—and your report goes straight to the appropriate email
It’s fast, efficient, and helps us keep our Club in great shape
And don’t forget—this same app is a great tool to make dining or event reservations, or even schedule tee times right from your phone!
Having trouble navigating the app? I’m happy to help—please reach out!
P I C K L E B A L L T E N N I S
UPCOMING
W R I T E R ' S N A M E
Writer Title
Our next Golf and Tennis Twilight Social will be held on August 29th. Appetizers at 4:30pm in front of the Golf Shop with a start time of 5:00pm at the courts We already have several signups, and we will have a fun mixer at the courts followed by dinner at 7:30pm
Junior Tennis
Our junior tennis program continues to thrive. We're incredibly proud of our players who have joined the La Serna High School varsity team, including Richard Tellez Jr , Diego Chung, Marcus Kim, and Spencer Barney. As the summer sports camps wind down we will begin our tennis specific camp season which kicks off on Tuesday July 15th and continue each week through the end of August. The camps are for all ages and abilities including the advanced level. Camps run Tuesday through Friday from 9:00am to 12:00pm with mini camps for our youngest kids running from 9:00am to 10:30am. We have great staff ready to encourage and help develop players while having fun at the same time Space in the camps can fill up fast
Please contact our Director of Racquet Sports, Jennifer Shorr to enroll or if you have questions at jshorr@friendlyhillscc com
BBoth Tennis and Pickleball participation this summer has exploded.
Its exciting and rewarding to see kids in our sports and tennis clinics, as well adult social play continues to grow It’s important to make a court reservation in advance and arrive on time
We are excited to announce our first online based competitive tennis ladder. We are partnering with premier provider, TENNISRUNGS, an easy-to-use competitive ladder system that will allow players to make challenges, report scores and see how you are progressing. The ladder is inclusive and for all members and their children over 14 years of age who play at the intermediate level and above. Adults at USTA levels 2.0 to 5.5 will be welcomed. Members can download the free mobile app to make challenging and reporting scores a whole easier Download for free in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store
If you are ready to get started click on the link below to register: Ladder Sign-up Form
Then download the app and log in.
of Racquet Sports
