Almanac 2018

Jan ua ry 20 - Ma 18 rch

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From the General Manager With another year coming to a close, we are provided an opportunity to both look ahead to 2018, as well as reflect on a wonderful 2017. Before doing so, allow me to represent our team here at the Club by thanking you, as Members, for your continued support, well-wishes, and relationships — as it is you that make Champions Retreat an enjoyable environment.

When we reflect back on 2017, there are many positives worthy of mentioning. Most notably, the grow-in process is complete on the Creek nine, as many of the sod scars have healed and the sand has settled.

The natural area grasses flourished during the summer season and the aesthetically pleasing additions will continue to mature over time. The Bluff nine renovation has just recently come to its completion, with the final repairs to cart paths and curbing being the finishing touches.

Cameron S. Wiebe Extensive drain work, bunker renovation and tree management was done with the goal of firm, fast, crisp and clean continuing. As those areas mature, as they did on the Creek renovation, I believe that the changes will continue to add to the quality of the golf experience.

Our lodging program has also undergone a quieter change with both the Club and our cottage owners making continued investments into the presentation of the cottages. These improvements have assisted in facilitating the increased utilization and have done so with our Club’s brand in mind. Whether you are a Member visiting from out of town, or live within the CSRA, our cottages are a wonderful getaway for any occasion.

Looking ahead into 2018, there is a continued optimism about Champions Retreat and our journey as a Club.

We will continue to see growth in our Membership family, our programming, and our team of staff, as the utilization of our Club grows daily. All of us here in the Augusta area benefit from the Masters tournament, whether attending the event as golf fans, or renting your home to those that do and 2018 is shaping up to be a Masters of note. The return of Tiger Woods and the anticipated clash between the new and the old will be palpable at next year’s event. Of course, this hinges on Tiger’s participation, but whether a fan of his or not, the golf world will benefit. This will bring larger crowds and more attendees... a plus for all that support it.

Our Membership family continues to diversify geographically, with continued interest and growth from outside of Augusta, spanning regionally, nationally, and internationally. With more new Members the use of the Club increases. You may have seen larger groups playing, staying, and dining with us. This contributes to the overall health of the Club. Many of these new Members were introduced to us from your referrals and

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our New Member Incentive program will continue into 2018. Let us know if we can assist you in introducing Champions to your network.

The TPC Passport program will continue into 2018 as well. Many of you have utilized this program to gain access to well-known Clubs around the country and the world during your travels — often times at a fraction of the cost. The list of accessible clubs, now over 100, nearly doubling from this time last year. The TPC Passport program is designed for you to have access, at your leisure, with an interface that makes your bookings easy and flexible.

2018 will continue to grow our team of Professionals in a variety of disciplines. We will introduce these new leaders later in the Almanac, but please join me in welcoming all of them to Champions Retreat. They will continue to uphold our standards and look forward to serving you as Members.

We have much to be thankful for at Champions Retreat. Again, we thank you as Members for supporting the vision and representing our club; both in the past and moving forward into the future. Our staff wish you and your family a very Happy New Year. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you at the Club.

Cameron S. Wiebe Champions Retreat General Manager, PGA (706) 854-6999 | cameron@championsretreat.net

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“The road to success is always under construction.” – Arnold Palmer

Membership It’s been an exciting and productive year here at Champions Retreat and one that we’re proud to say has been filled with growth. Thank you all for your individual and collective contributions and continued strengthening of the Membership and its culture.

In 2017, we added 46 new members to the Club from all over the United States and the World. Please continue to help us in welcoming them as you see new faces on property and out on the golf courses.

Our Preview Membership programs continue to prove their success in their Regional, National and International categories and we continue to grow steadily within the local community.

Despite our successes, I want to remind you all of the Member Incentive program – the health of our membership culture continues to be a factor that is dependent upon your engagement. I encourage you all to invite your friends, family and colleagues to the Club – there are more ways than ever to utilize the entirety of the Club and its facilities.

Once again, thank you all for an incredible first year here at Champions Retreat and I wish you all a happy, healthy and wildly successful 2018.

Play well, Andrew Press |Membership Director (706) 854-6962 | andrew@championsretreat.net ALMANAC —4—

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Golf News Well, we had a tremendous 2017 here at Champions Retreat. There were so many changes and exciting new experiences all around the golf operation. From the renovation on the Bluff to hosting the inaugural CR Cup, we had a lot of great activity this fall. We are always trying to elevate the experience for both members and guests and I’m proud of the team for all of their hard work this past year.

We hosted the inaugural CR Cup this past October.

This is a great event which features a team of members 50 and over versus a team of members 49 and under. This year we had 24 players on each team.

This is a one day, 27 hole event which has a format of better ball and individual matches and a final 9 holes of alternate shot. Each match is worth 1 point. In this inaugural event, the Unders defeated the Overs 25-22 in an exciting finish that came down to the wire.

The Club Championships were hosted in October as well and, as usual, provided some dramatic shots and

great play. Here are the winners from this year’s Club Championships: Men’s Club Championship Overall Champion- Shae Stancil Net Flight Winner- Al Farlow Senior Club Championship Overall Champion- Wayne McKenney Gross Flight Champions- Craig Kizer, Mike Carr Net Flight Champions- Joc Knispel, Lew Stewart Women’s Club Championship Overall Champion- Kristen Perry Net Champion- Charlotte Johnson A huge addition to our programming this year was Operation 36. We hosted semesters of the program and participation grew in each semester. It is a wonderful concept, why start at the full tee box if you can’t shoot 36 from 25 yards out for 9 holes. We

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hosted Academy classes during the week, supervised practice on Saturdays and matches every other Sunday.

When a junior shoots 36 or better from 25 yards for 9 holes in their match, they move back to 50 yards for the next match and so on. The juniors loved competing and playing games during the Academy classes in an attempt to win skill point chips. The chips they banked could be used at the end of the semester party to buy toys, candy, etc. The feedback from the juniors and parents was incredible and we think that in 2018 the program will grow exponentially.

We are now headed into a slight “off season” for the game we love, but don’t get too removed from it. This is a great time to work on your fundamentals with a member of the Professional Staff. We have many attractive lesson package options that may suit you and help you get ready for another great season of golf.

Mike Rymer, PGA | Director of Golf (706) 854-6964 | mike@championsretreat.net ALMANAC —7—

Course Conditions As we welcome the new year, I want to take this opportunity to share a snapshot of the turf care team’s vision for 2018.

We have been in construction for the past two years and I am truly grateful for the patience everyone has shown during this process. The property has certainly taken a fresh, new direction and it is our responsibility as good stewards to continue our pursuit of clean, crisp, firm, and fast playing conditions for everyone to enjoy. You will continue to see our staff working on smaller projects throughout the year, which include expanding and fortifying our new native grasses on the Bluff course.

We will be sodding again to clear up small blemishes that still exist course-wide and we hope to begin some root pruning and removal to aid the turf along the tree lines for better playability and drought tolerance. We will continue to push back the brush line edges along the perimeter of the course.

Tree management will be ongoing, along with sodding of the tees that have the Jones Dwarf Bermuda surface. Agronomic ALMANAC —8—

and cultural practice will also be non-stop on the Bermuda grass to continue to attack our thatch issues. There have been some serious strides made and it is imperative we continue to be aggressive.

Additionally, we are welcoming new staff members to our team and will be training them on our standards and programs. Our goal is to exceed expectations, and I truly feel we will reach new heights of success this coming year.

We look forward to the opportunity to serve! See you on the course!

Scott Slemp, GCS | Golf Course Superintendent (706) 524-5402 | scott@championsretreat.net

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Food and Beverage We continue to be inspired by regional cuisine and keeping up with the cutting edge trends, while embracing the true spirit of Southern Hospitality. We put lots of love into everything we prepare at Champions Retreat.

Join us anytime, whether sitting outside by the fire with a cocktail, or dining with us in the Grille House. This season, we are featuring our new dinner menu inspired by cool nights and the abundant fall harvest.

We look forward to 2018…new menus, special events, and plenty of good Southern food. Come to experience our latest menu and theme nights. The whole family can enjoy the rustic charm of Champions Retreat.

We look forward to seeing you at the Grille House of Champions Retreat, where you are always greeted with a smile and your cup is always full.

Daniel Hill | Chef de Cuisine (706) 854-6960 | daniel@championsretreat.net

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FOOD AND BEVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS The Banquet department has a new look at Champions Retreat. Not only is the Barn decorated for the Holiday season but we are proud owners of new linens and skirting for groups and meetings.

The overall look is festive and elegant and we hope you will attend one of our many events and take note of our new creative direction.

For More Information on Banquets & Meetings Contact: Shelby Ortiz Toro | Catering Sales Manager 706-854-6977 | shelby@championsretreat.net

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Lodging As we reflect the past year, we can’t help but be proud of the vast improvements we have made along the way. We are excited to announce cottages have been updated with carpet and electronic key pads, as well as new linens. These type of improvements will continue throughout 2018.

We continually strive to make your experience here at Champions Retreat a memorable one. We look forward to your special occasions, staycations, groups, birthdays and more. To enhance your stay, we offer a variety of amenities: in-cottage dinner experiences, spa services, yoga, personal training sessions as well as transportation.

Continue to watch the newsletter as we reveal new seasonal packages and specials. We can’t wait to hear from you for your next stay.

Jeannine Levasseur | Director of Lodging (706) 854-6972 | jeannine@championsretreat.net ALMANAC — 12 —

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Welcome Our Newest Additions As Champions Retreat continues it’s growth, our Leadership team grows with it. I remember upon my first visits we had fewer than 70 employees and now we have over 100.

With an elevated standard, comes highly skilled Professionals. I would like to take a moment to recognize some of our newest additions, as they will continue the Champions Retreat mission.

Join me in welcoming our newest additions in leadership.

Marcelina Melendez

Eric Epting

Club Concierge

Assistant Golf Professional

Marci, an existing presence We look forward to their continued at Champions Retreat with contributions into 2018: banquets and special events, sensed the opportunity for Clubhouse Manager greater fulfillment with the Club Jill Kraft Concierge position.

Banquet Manager Renee Ginn Grille House Manager Janie Toole Club Concierge Marcelina Melendez Assistant Golf Professional Eric Epting

Marci has embraced the challenges of working special events with a positive, energetic spirit and is ready and very excited to bring this energy to her new position within the club.

Join us in congratulating Marci on her new position as Club Concierge at Champions Retreat.

Eric, 23 years old, grew up in Tallahassee, Florida and is a recent graduate from Methodist University. He has recently completed his 7 month internship here at Champions Retreat and is now onboard as a full time Assistant Golf Professional.

Eric has been an integral part of the operation this year so we are excited to have him join us as we move forward. Having completed his internships at top level clubs including Independence Golf Club, The Patterson Club, and Liberty National Golf Club; his experience will be invaluable.

He looks forward to helping us exceed the expectations of both our Members and Guests.

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Jill Kraft

Renee Ginn

Tyler Canaday

Clubhouse Manager

Banquet Manager

Assistant Golf Professional

Jill is a skilled operations specialist with vast experience in the golf industry, expertise in club operations with an emphasis in F&B. Since joining RCS Hospitality Group in 2001, Jill has provided interim general management, preopening planning, operational consulting, and training programs to more than 60 clubs around the world. Jill has also been a primary recruiter for RCSHG and has placed a vast network of candidates at clubs across the U.S. Her passion for health and wellness has driven her to complete fifteen half-marathons, and The Chicago Marathon and ultimately led to her certification as a Pure Barre instructor and studio owner.

This experience has positioned Jill to be an integral part of the management team at Champions Retreat and a contributing factor in our continued success.

Renee recently moved to Augusta after she and her family were stationed in San Antonio, TX for the last three years. Renee has over 20 years event planning experience and expertise.

Tyler is a 23 year old, Class A PGA golf professional from Boston, MA. He graduated from Clemson University in 2016 and during his last year was Secretary for the PGM Student Board.

She has held positions such as Director of Catering at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado and Event Manager for Bon Appétit Magazine in New York City.

For the last year Tyler was working at The Springhaven Club as Lead Assistant in Wallingford, PA. He worked at several courses during his time at Clemson, including TPC Sawgrass, Shorehaven Golf Club, and Sea Island.

Renee loves great food, events, and providing the ultimate guest experience, from vision to exit.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children and puppy. Join us in welcoming Renee to Augusta.

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Tyler enjoys basketball and golf in his free time, as well as, experiencing new activities and experiences.

He is looking forward to watching the College Football Playoff! Go Tigers!

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