Mayacama Golf Club

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Introduction 6

Playing Favorites Members’ favorite holes on Mayacama’s challenging new golf course

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A Masterpiece in the Making Nature’s inspiration elevates Mayacama’s Clubhouse to an art form

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Beyond the Expected Mayacama’s Casitas, guest houses worthy of paradise

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Majoring in Minor Things Building a service culture of understated quality

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Wine and Roses Fine foods and rare wines at Ferrari-Carano’s Summer Soirée

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Cutting the Ribbon The grand debut of Mayacama’s much-heralded golf course

40 Calendar / Member Photo Gallery

48 Founder Members

James Ray Spah n

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Our touch on the land; the land’s touch on us A select few places on earth have the power to evoke a sense of timeless serenity and speak volumes with the beauty of their landscape. Mayacama is such a place.

With the establishment of the Mayacama Golf Course and Club, we are the stewards of this precious gift. We are the link that ties the future of this special land to its deeprooted history.

The native Miyakmah tribe once inhabited this valley of gently rolling hills and oak stands. They gathered seeds and wild oats from the fields, harvested acorns, caught fish and rabbits, and hunted the plentiful deer herds. The tribe called their home ground Sonoma, the “Valley of the Seven Moons,” in honor of the magical effect of the moon that appeared to rise and set seven times in one night over the ridgeline of the Mayacama mountain range.

Like the moon that waxes and wanes but remains a constant force in our lives, the Mayacama territory has evolved through many centuries, shaped by settlement and agriculture, but retaining its magic. Our goal is to preserve and promote the unique beauty of this place through careful planning and protection of sensitive resources, while at the same time creating a club of the highest caliber that offers exceptional golf and the finest of wine country living.

Nature is our greatest asset, and the Mayacama Golf Club is dedicated to ensuring that our touch on the land is an enhancement of the previous land uses. With the very best golf course design, facilities management, and

thoughtfully styled architecture tucked into the existing terrain, the future of this 675-acre sanctuary grows from the past with new vitality.

When a vineyard carefully nurtures its vines through various stages of growth to achieve maximum health and productivity, everything matters: the rootstock, the soils, the moisture levels, protection from unwanted organisms, the weather. Similarly, as the Managing Partners of Mayacama, we are aware of the many different needs of our members. The Clubhouse, the Casitas, the grounds, and the Club programs are designed to offer the utmost quality of experience. The staff provides expert service and has our full support in their efforts to be completely responsive to members’ requests. In much the same way that a well-tended vine bears the most flavorful grapes, we are committed to creating an exceptional membership environment. The satisfaction of our members is our measurement of success.

Over the coming years, the members of Mayacama will put down roots as they become part of the Sonoma Valley tradition. This is your home in the wine country.

Uncork that special bottle, join us on the verandah, and watch the moon rise over the range. There is no place like this on earth.

The Managing Founding Partners of Mayacama Gerald E. Engle and Michael S. Gilliland David A. Wilhelm, Founding Partner

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Hole 1

Playing Favorites What is your favorite or most memorable hole at Mayacama’s golf course?

Mayacama’s golf course meanders seamlessly through the landscape as though the land had just been waiting for it to arrive. Jack Nicklaus designed the course to take full advantage of the area’s hills, valleys, waterways, and trees to maximize both beauty and intrigue.

Should the scenery distract Mayacama golfers, the course itself will call their attention back to the task at hand. Like an exacting teacher, it can heartily reward good shots and sternly punish bad ones.

Golf Course Superintendent Dale Engman claims it is impossible for him to choose one stand-out spot on a course with 18 signature holes. So we sought out members, asking them to share their favorite holes on Mayacama’s impressive new course.

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Hole 3

HOLE 1 Billy Getty My favorite golf hole is the first one, because it’s dramatic and brilliantly framed. It’s a good introduction to some of the greater demands that come along further.

With its wide fairway, it gives you a nice opportunity to loosen up. It also gets you started on an enjoyable round by taking you into the rolling hills, streams, and oaks of Mayacama — a wonderful beginning to a journey.

Overall, it’s a great, fair, wide-open hole that still has some opportunities for risk and reward.

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HOLE 3 Paul Balatti My favorite golf hole is number three, because it’s the hardest first shot on the entire golf course.

HOLE 3 Abby Hoffman My favorite hole is the third one. Every time I play this hole it is a different experience — either really terrific or really lousy! It is also such a dramatic and fun hole to play with guests on their first visit to Mayacama.

It is one that everyone remembers and talks about.

Hole 4

HOLE 3 Jim Silveira I love all the par threes, but number three is my favorite hole. I really like the way it’s isolated from the rest of the course, with madrones and oak trees lining both sides of the hole. It’s also a great nature hike along the creek to get to the green. Besides all that, this is one of the most challenging iron shots you’ll make during the round.

HOLE 4 Steve Barker Since we’re not allowed to say “all of them,” I would

have to say the fourth hole is my favorite. A majestic and challenging par five, defined by the two perfectly placed and beautiful oak trees. I love that it is reachable to the long hitters for the risk/reward decision, but also because its design requires three well-hit strategic shots to get on the green in good position. The multi-tiered green, protected by the lone oak, is one of the toughest on the course, in my opinion. Lastly, it also takes the “most memorable hole” title for me, as I eagled it the very first time I played the course — which Bill Bernstein can attest to!

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Hole 13 10

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Hole 12

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Hole 18

HOLE 12 Jim Costello My favorite golf hole is the 12th hole. Why? If you par the 12th hole from the middle tee, you know you’re playing well.

HOLE 12 Tom Courtney The reason I like hole 12 is that it’s a long, difficult par

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four that challenges you. If you hit a tee shot down the left side, just to the right side of the tree, the fairway is dry, and the ball will kick around and leave you a relatively short iron in. If you don’t challenge it, and you chicken out and hit it to the right, it plays extremely long and requires a very long iron in, when it’s a difficult green. For that reason, I think it’s the best and strongest hole on the course.

HOLE 13 Kevin Bedsole I especially like the 13th hole, a great driving hole that is unforgiving both left and right. The approach shot is intimidating due to the deceptive nature of the wind that is often swirling greenside. This, combined with the presence of a steep ravine in front and a back-to-front sloping green, makes hole 13 an extremely challenging, yet fair test.

HOLE 18 Cindy Buckles Eighteen is my favorite because, for whatever reason, I play it well. It is a great finishing hole. This hole has everything — the water, the view of the Clubhouse, and the challenge. It is also one of those holes that, depending on your drive, presents many different possibilities.

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A Masterpiece

Nature’s inspiration elevates Mayacama’s Clubhouse to an art form 14

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in the Making

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The power of architecture is two-fold. A well-crafted building creates a memorable environment and also stands as a symbol, a translation of inspiration into reality. At Mayacama, the Clubhouse, now under construction, lies at the center of the golf course and the Club experience. Its low-slung forms and artful fusion of interior and exterior spaces carry a message clear and simple: Mayacama sets a new standard for golf and wine country retreats.

“The Clubhouse is the cornerstone of Mayacama,” says Gerry Engle, founding Partner. “We began with an outstanding piece of property, and Jack Nicklaus gave us a superb golf course. The Clubhouse is a crowning of the Mayacama vision.”

David Wilhelm, founding Partner, originally conceived of the Clubhouse as the embodiment of Mayacama’s membership values. “The Clubhouse is an adult version of the student union,” Wilhelm says. It is the nexus of Club activities and the symbol of Mayacama’s singular blend of wine country estate and golf club.

From the big picture to the smallest details, “the

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Clubhouse is a conglomeration of many different types of construction at the highest level of finish,” explains David Hill, Partner. “Each component brings its own unique set of design and construction issues that, when melded together, will make the Mayacama experience truly wonderful.”

Slated for completion in the autumn of 2003, the Clubhouse is a testament to the numerous architectural and environmental influences found in the Sonoma Valley.

“Overall, the look is a combination of Spanish, Mediterranean, and historic Northern Californian styles,” describes Mike Marsh, the chief architect of the Clubhouse and founding principal of Marsh Associates.

In terms of finishes, textured stucco and local Napa fieldstone walls, bronzed copper accents, heavily mudded clay tile roofing, and decomposed granite walkways bring to mind an Old-World European estate, gracefully weathered through the ages.

Architectural features reinforce the easy flow of space between indoors and outdoors by subdividing the

Clubhouse into a series of smaller, attached volumes.

This quality underlines the Clubhouse’s air of relaxed elegance and takes advantage of Sonoma’s mild climate.

Vine-draped arcades and wide doorways open onto outdoor rooms that are perfect for reading the morning paper, alfresco dining, or sipping an evening glass of wine while the sun dips behind the distant mountain range.

An essential force behind the architecture of the Clubhouse is the site itself. “In many years of practice, I have never seen a more beautiful setting,” Marsh says.

“There’s nothing around but nature, which makes the experience phenomenal.”

The Clubhouse welcomes visitors with a broad, lushly planted courtyard anchored by a fountain. Arrivals are led through the central courtyard to the Wine Tower, a square-set stone edifice that marks the heart of the Clubhouse and displays the Club’s wine collection.

As members and guests pass through the main level of the Clubhouse, double French doors open onto the verandah. Here the genius of the location shines forth: the eye is met by a spectacular, multi-layered vista of the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and the surrounding Sonoman landscape. Ancient oak trees and rolling greens stretch almost as far as the eye can see — a sight to behold for nature and golf connoisseurs alike.

Inside the Clubhouse, the atmosphere speaks of aged, casual luxury with hints of Tuscany and Provence. Beth Slifer of Slifer Designs describes the look as “colorful, refined, but relaxed spaces” that connect to outdoor living areas. Exposed timber trusses (custom-made on site), hand-troweled plaster walls, wrought iron fixtures, clay tiles, and rich fabrics accent gathering areas as well as the men’s and ladies’ locker rooms. Members will find several options for dining, from festive group meals and intimate dinners in the courtyard to private functions in the lower level Great Hall and tasting rooms.

The Clubhouse adeptly marries Mayacama’s two raisons d’être: superlative golf and wine. On the latter point, the lower level houses a series of wine tasting rooms, the Great Hall (with double barrel-vaulted ceilings that evoke wine cellars of yore), and a wonderful wine cave embedded into the hillside above the 18th hole that includes members’ private wine lockers. Most

impressive of all, however, is the two-story Wine Tower that houses the Club’s wine collection. Described by Slifer as “extremely innovative,” the glass-enclosed room is visible from the main entry and living/dining rooms of the Clubhouse. Wine bottles are displayed in a customdesigned wheel of sorts that serves as a focal point.

“The Clubhouse has the ability to offer many different experiences,” says Marsh. Its character, while timeless and tinged with European flavors, is flexible enough to change with the day and with the members’ needs. “In the entry courtyard, ringed by low, copper rooflines, it feels as though you’re in Italy. On the verandah, overlooking the golf course, there’s a big fire pit and a huge view. It’s the best of Northern California,” Marsh points out.

In many ways, its unique details set the Clubhouse apart. In addition to the glassed-in Wine Tower, the Clubhouse wine cave has 400 lockers just for members’ private stock, which means Mayacama boasts more wine lockers than golf lockers. While it hosts one of the nation’s “Top 100 Modern Golf Courses” and top-notch wine facilities, the Clubhouse also provides members and their guests with a variety of other diversions. The spa and fitness facility, tennis courts, swimming pool, and miles of hiking and biking trails will be available year-round.

Mayacama is a rare, resonant blend of agricultural and contemporary cultural traditions, with the Clubhouse at its heart. Where else can one wake up in the city and within hours be playing golf in a pristine setting where wild turkeys occasionally strut across the greens?

Mark Twain once said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”

At Mayacama, the only thing spoiled is the notion that a clubhouse is a purely functional necessity. Here the Clubhouse is raised to an art form, one that unites under a single roof the passions of golf, wine, and gracious wine country living.

J. Amidon

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“This region is social by the very nature of sharing wine and food. The Casitas at Mayacama are meant to be a place where members can enjoy the company of people who have a similar appreciation of fine wine and the game of golf.”

David Wilhelm, founding Partner

Beyond the Expected Mayacama’s Casitas, guest houses worthy of paradise

What does paradise look like? For the sake of argument, let us say that it includes plenty of excellent wine; unspoiled, forested hills and pristine meadows; plus a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. The good news, then, is that paradise has been found: the Mayacama Golf Club.

Located at the base of the Mayacama Range that separates the Sonoma and Napa valleys, and deep in the heart of the region’s best wine grape-producing appellations, Mayacama is a destination for those in search of the very best. Soon, members of the Club and their guests will have the opportunity under various, emerging programs to stay within the enclave in one of the luxury Casitas now being built.

“Mayacama really is much more than a golf course and a clubhouse; it is a celebration of the Sonoma lifestyle,” says Gerry Engle, founding Partner. “The Casitas give our members a wonderful opportunity to be at home in the wine country.”

“We see the Casitas as an important element of the Mayacama experience,” says founding Partner Mike Gilliland. “Traditionally, the great clubs provided accommodations for their members and guests to create their own sense of community. Since we happen to be located in one of the most renowned wine regions of the world, our Casitas program offers immersion into the local wine and culinary traditions as well as deluxe lodging.”

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The Casitas, along with the Clubhouse, are the realization of an attitude that is at the very root of Mayacama’s spirit. “Wine is not a solitary pursuit,” says David Wilhelm, a founding Partner of Mayacama and one of the primary architects of the Club’s vision.

“This region is social by the very nature of sharing wine and food. The Casitas at Mayacama are meant to be a place where members can enjoy the company of people who have a similar appreciation of fine wine and the game of golf.”

Accordingly, the layout of the Casitas is intended to re-connect members with friends and with themselves.

Interaction is designed into the architecture — interaction with fellow members, with the breathtaking natural landscape, and with one’s inner thoughts.

Members will notice that architectural and

interior details are not randomly selected from catalogs — they are carefully considered interpretations of local aesthetics and adaptations of historic materials.

Tuscan and Provençal motifs such as plastered walls, exposed beams, and handmade tile floors in rich earth tones create just the right setting for a memorable visit. Furnishings reinforce the atmosphere of rustic elegance, with oversized leather couches and chairs that invite leisurely conversation or perhaps an afternoon nap.

Outdoor living spaces are an important feature of the Casitas, with entertainment terraces, sitting areas, broad entryways, and private patios for the master suites. Built-in fireplaces both on the outdoor flagstone terraces and inside send a warm glow throughout the cottage on cool evenings.

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Each Casita is a detached, one-bedroom bungalow averaging 800 square feet, sprinkled in clusters across the hillsides that adjoin the golf course. “In siting the Casitas,” explains Partner Philip Norfleet, “a high priority was placed on keeping the golf experience pure. Rather than large homes lining the fairways, we created small villages of Casitas. Every Casita has a view of the course or over the wooded hills, and guests will be within walking distance of the Clubhouse.”

Many aspects of the Casitas make graceful country living easy. Dining and entertaining are indoor-outdoor experiences that take full advantage of the near perfect Mayacama micro-climate. One can easily imagine a bottle or two of Sonoma’s fabled Chardonnay chilling in the living room wet bar for an impromptu party, warmed by the outdoor fireplace on the greenside terrace following a round of golf. In addition, the master bedroom suite features a large marble and stone-tiled bathroom with a multi-jet spa tub and extra-sized shower. Where privacy permits, some floor plans include an outdoor shower.

The secluded placement of the Casitas, along with transportation on the property being limited almost entirely to electric carts, preserves the serenity and beauty of the Sonoma countryside. There are no urban distractions as one looks out over the lush green course that Jack Nicklaus calls “a modern classic.” The only sounds to intrude on the quiet tranquility of the Casitas are songbirds and other wildlife — and perhaps the occasional loud sigh accompanying a skulled chip shot.

Currently, the Casitas program and reservations system are in development and will soon give members the opportunity to enjoy the sense of a home in the wine country. Fitting smoothly into the calm beauty of the landscape, the Casitas are guest houses worthy of paradise.

Indeed, the only disadvantage to staying at Mayacama is that, eventually, one does have to go home.

Tom McGuire

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Majoring in Minor Things Building a service culture of understated quality

Picture the golf course, the Clubhouse, the Casitas, and all of the facilities that you see at Mayacama as the Club’s “hardware.” Now consider the operational energy that goes into bringing the framework to life, from the administrative staff, Club management, and golf professionals to the golf course and grounds maintenance team, food and beverage planners, chefs, and servers.

This is the “software,” the human input without which Mayacama would still be a twinkle in someone’s eye.

The “hardware” and the “software” are equally critical to the Club’s success. Interestingly, just as buildings are designed for specific uses and to evoke a certain ambiance, our operational strategy is purposefully shaped to provide members with a particular caliber of service. Like any operating system, the “software” of Mayacama is engineered to perform at the highest standards. In this effort, flexibility is a major asset. As the “hardware” and the needs of our members evolve, the bugs will be worked out of the system and upgrades will be continually applied.

“At this time we are ‘majoring in minor things,’” says Michael Gilliland, a founding Partner. This entails constant monitoring of all areas of club operations. The focus is on adjusting issues as they arise and educating the staff on the culture of service at Mayacama. In this effort, Gilliland adds, “It is very useful to us to have members share their preferences so that we can provide the very best experience.”

Mayacama’s fairways, blending artfully into the wooded hillsides, provide a visual metaphor for the concept of majoring in minor things: understated excellence.

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“As a development team we worked hard to enhance the natural qualities,” says Philip Norfleet, Partner. “The golf course and roads follow the contours of the land. We want our staff to take the same approach with their service skills: subtle and professional.”

In keeping with the subtle but full-service philosophy, there is an honor bar in the Members Lounge that invites members to help themselves to a cup of coffee or a sandwich to take out on the golf course.

Caddies balance knowledge with discretion; golfers get assistance or information when they want it without suffering through unwanted tutorials.

“Every person here wants the members to have the utmost — not just in playing golf, but in everything that happens from the moment they come through the gate to the moment they leave,” reflects Norfleet. “We are absolutely committed to being the best.”

“Our mission for the Club is informed by its extraordinary location, quality, and membership composition. We are seeking an atmosphere that reflects the informal elegance of a Sonoma vintner’s estate, combining the relaxed atmosphere of country living with the attentive, understated service of an old-style golf club,” describes Gilliland.

Still a young club, Mayacama is in the process of developing its unique set of customs. As with all great clubs, members will help build the traditions. An essential aspect of the Club’s character will also stem directly from the training and performance of the staff.

That is why, operationally, there is no time like the present to major in minor things.

“Every person here wants the members to have a great golf experience — not just playing golf, but everything that happens from the moment they come in the gate to the moment they leave.”

Philip Norfleet

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Head Golf Professional Ted Antonopoulos A passion for golf, a commitment to service Head Golf Professional Ted Antonopoulos cannot remember learning to play golf; he was too young back then. He does, however, remember practically growing up on fine golf courses and attending the Masters Tournaments with his father and brother (also a golf pro now) in their home town of Augusta, Georgia.

Although he majored in art at Middle Georgia College and the College of Marin, Antonopoulos succumbed to the lure of golf soon after graduating.

“I always had a passion for golf,” he recalls. “After college I played in a couple of amateur events, then decided that was what I wanted to do.”

Antonopoulos’ 21-year golf career took him to the Carmel Valley Country Club, Tournament Players Club at Eagles Trace, PGA National Golf Club, Cypress Links Golf Club, and Fisher Island Golf Club before he came to Mayacama.

“What attracted me to Mayacama was the vision of a more traditional golf club — walking only, with a caddie program,” he says. “It was exciting to be in on the ground floor of a fine private club like this.”

Although Antonopoulos had envisioned a beautiful golf course, he was awed when he actually saw Mayacama. “I knew it was going to be great, and it was far better than I ever imagined.”

Imaginatively woven into the hilly terrain, the course has both stop-in-your-tracks vistas and intimate, nestled-in areas among the valleys and trees. Since

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minimal development is allowed within view of the course, “it will always have that natural feeling,” Antonopoulos says.

“It is also a great test of golf,” he adds. “It uses almost every club in the bag. It’s demanding, but if you’re hitting good shots, it can be rewarding.”

Interestingly, he notes, the intrigue of the landscape can sharpen a player’s psychological edge in the game.

“Every good round of golf, I’ve played one shot at a time, so my mind didn’t wander to what was ahead or fall back to mistakes I’d just made. At Mayacama, the shot value of every shot encourages you to do that, then rewards you greatly. When you step off the green onto the next tee, you get excited about the next shot. That can enable you to put everything else out of your mind.”

Mayacama’s course rivals anything Antonopoulos has played in half a lifetime of golf, and he intends to provide “personal, professional, friendly service” at the same standard. He thrives on all aspects of his job: teaching, playing with members, providing top merchandise in the golf shop, greeting members and their guests, and hosting events.

“We schedule only a few quality events — the course is mainly for members to come out and play,” he notes.

“But when we do an event, from the entry form, to how people are treated when they arrive, to the first tee, to the trophy presentation, I want to make members feel like they’re playing in a Masters Tournament.”

Golf Course Superintendent Dale Engman A dream course on his own home turf To Golf Course Superintendent Dale Engman, the hills of Mayacama’s course feel as familiar as his childhood backyard. That is partly because Engman and his sheepdog Piper roam this land daily and partly because it really is, essentially, his childhood backyard.

Raised in Santa Rosa, Engman has been cultivating this soil since he ran a landscaping business after high school. His study of plants led to a horticulture degree from Cal Poly with a focus in turf grass management.

Engman launched his turf management career as project supervisor at the Meadow Club in Fairfax, rising quickly to first assistant superintendent. In July of 2000, he came to Mayacama as assistant superintendent. “I wanted experience building a golf course and growing it in,” he says. “Mayacama was a high-end club with a great course design, so that move was exciting.”

Engman was involved in the golf course construction almost from its start. “It was quite challenging, but I loved it. It was fascinating to see how it all went together.”

The result, he claims, “ranks with the best courses I’ve ever played.” In addition to the excellent Jack Nicklaus design, “the site is spectacular and varied, from open grass areas to tight woodlands.” On the course, golfers see little development but plenty of native plants and wildlife — deer, mountain lions, turkeys, and coyotes. “The course fits beautifully into the natural landscape; it looks as if it’s always been there,” Engman describes.

Beauty can be a welcome consolation for golfers here,

since the challenging course taps every skill in the book, from straight drives to finesse putts. Strong from start to finish, the course essentially has 18 signature holes, Engman says.

Now that course construction is complete, Engman and his crews maintain it at the highest level. “I want to make sure the playing conditions are perfect every day,” he says. “Golfers are always telling me it’s perfect, but it’s my job to see all the tiny defects.”

Engman’s mastery of course management has not gone unnoticed. “In just three weeks prior to our Grand Opening last year, Dale took the course from a difficult state to nearly perfect tournament conditions,” says Tim Taagen, Director of Golf Course Maintenance for the Cordillera Group.

Growing turf at Mayacama, Engman admits, requires little magic. “This climate is where cool-season grass was meant to be grown.” He and his crews constantly finetune the course, such as fixing any weak spots in its drainage. The new maintenance facility should make operations even more efficient.

Engman invites members to seek him out for conversation or comments. Thus far, feedback on the course has been overwhelmingly positive, he notes. “You can’t come here without falling in love with it. People love how the greens roll, how true the fairways are.

Mayacama’s course has everything: setting, design, maintenance, and playability.”

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“Italians approach life as an art, and their lifestyle reflects their love for food, entertaining, gardens, and music.”

Rhonda Carano

Wine and Roses At vintner events like Ferrari-Carano’s Summer Soirée, Mayacama members follow the red carpet to fine foods and rare wines.

Some of the world’s finest wines never make it to the store shelf. They are enjoyed as private stock, parceled out by winemakers to only their families, friends, and fellow aficionados. For Mayacama members, however, invitations to slip behind the scenes to taste rare and reserve wines at some of Sonoma’s top wineries are a welcome benefit of the Club’s Vintner Member program.

Last summer, Don and Rhonda Carano of FerrariCarano Winery in Dry Creek Valley opened the grounds of Villa Fiore for 75 members to take part in a special tasting and reception.

Villa Fiore (“house of flowers”), the winery’s hospitality center, is normally accessible only by members of the trade or friends of the owners. However, as Vintner Members the Caranos opened the Villa to

host an event for fellow members. Calling it “A Summer Soirée, Italian Style!” the Caranos rolled out the red carpet for their visitors.

Dry Creek is always beautiful in June, and the day of the party dawned spectacularly. Members enjoyed the warm weather as they wandered among tasting stations set up alongside the reflecting pool in the Villa’s courtyard. At each table, resident chef Joseph Costanzo paired an award-winning Ferrari-Carano wine with a variety of enticing dishes.

With the Reserve Chardonnay, Costanzo served fennel-crusted roasted salmon squares to bring out the ripe fruit and buttery flavors of the wine while offering a refreshing contrast to the richness of the fish. At another table, prosciutto with melon, peaches, and figs

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Richard and Judy Guggenhime

complemented a delicate Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc.

The herbaceous hints, vanilla and oak notes, and crisp finish of the wine provided a flavorful foil for the salty ham and sweet, juicy fruit.

Lovers of red wine found their delights as well.

Trésor, one of Ferrari-Carano’s proprietary reds, accompanied grilled tri-tip marinated in Trésor and served on crostini with a germolata topping. Several varieties of pizza (smoked salmon, shrimp with pesto, Kalamata olives with feta and caramelized onions) were passed among the visitors.

Curious guests were invited to view the underground barrel room where many of the winery’s finest red wines age. Winemaker George Bursick offered tastes of his superb Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Sienna — the blend of Tuscan grape varieties such as Sangiovese with their California equivalents — was also poured.

Guests learned that Sienna is one of the pioneers in the movement to meld Northern Italian winemaking styles and grape varieties with Northern California wine technology and flair.

As the afternoon progressed members strolled through acres of gorgeous gardens designed by Rhonda

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Carano. Over 200 rose bushes, with bedding and border plants rotated seasonally, surround the Villa. The Villa Fiore itself reflects the Caranos’ Italian heritage. Stone columns and arches, Sienna-colored stucco, a Roman tile roof, and limestone-paved courtyard create an Old World drama that fuses deftly with the Dry Creek surrounds.

“Italians approach life as an art, and their lifestyle reveals their love for food, entertaining, gardens, and music,” says Rhonda Carano. “I wanted Villa Fiore to incorporate all these elements in a reflection of our own lifestyle that would convey warmth and conviviality and the traditional Italian way of life — eating, enjoying wine, and sharing conversation with friends in a

pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.”

Exclusive private tastings at Sonoma’s finest wineries are one of the distinguishing perquisites of membership at Mayacama. The Club encourages winery principals to become Vintner Members. As such, each year Vintner Members set aside a portion of their best wines to be served at Mayacama. They also open their doors for

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Clockwise from left to right: Doug and Michele Dillard; John and Fabienne Menth; Cheri and George Kauffman; Kelly and Gail Kane

member events and enable members to get a true taste of the wine country.

“The Vintner Member program was established to integrate the Club into the fabric of the region,” says David Wilhelm, Founding Partner. “The program allows members to come face to face with the place and to meet the ‘farmers’ who make this land what it is.”

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The Club plans one to two vintner events each month. Amber Behrens, who organizes the Vintner Member program, says, “Not only are these gatherings a lot of fun, but they give members access to wines and wineries that they might not otherwise have. Also, lots of golfing foursomes are formed at these tastings!”

Tom McGuire

Above: Lindy and Gary Sitzmann with Gayle and Brian Sullivan. Below: Rick Herbert, Karen and Jim Silveira, and Martha Herbert.

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Ph otos by Th omas Rosh kind, Serena Mc Callum, and Jim Mandeville

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Cutting the Ribbon The grand debut of Mayacama’s much-heralded golf course On a fittingly glorious day, August 11, 2001, more than 600 people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Mayacama’s golf course. Designer Jack Nicklaus headlined a press conference, helped cut the ceremonial ribbon, then teed off for the first official round of golf on the new course.

“Mayacama is a very exciting golf course,” he comments.

“The whole experience is natural, secluded, and private.”

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John McMullen, Jack Nicklaus, Brian Paul, and Ted Antonopoulos

Bruce Cousins, John Wetlaufer, John Livingston, Jack Nicklaus, Diane Livingston, Michael Colhoun, Mary Colhoun, Bill Harlan, and Matt Gallo 38

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Above left to right: Philip Norfleet presenting plans for Mayacama; Jack Nicklaus. Below: Felix Posen, David Wilhelm, and Jack Nicklaus.

An opening celebration worthy of a Jack Nicklaus signature course.

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Nath an Bilow

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John and Abby Hoffman and their guests Leslie and Troy Attavilla at the Jordan Vintner Event.

Schedule of Events MAYACAMA

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Th omas Rosh kind

June

Anne and Scott Johnston with Candace and Sam Jones 42

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3

Club Closed

6-9

Napa Valley Wine Auction

10

Club Closed

12

Women’s Member-Member Tournament

13-15

US Open

15

Nevins Vineyards Cocktail Party in Healdsburg — 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

14-15

Men’s Member-Member Tournament

17

Club Closed

21

Junior Golf Clinic at the driving range — 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

22

Fine Art of Italian Living Cocktail Reception at Ferrari-Carano Winery

24

Club Closed

July 1

Club Closed

18-21

The Open Championship

4

4th of July Firecracker Scramble

20

6

Callaway Demo Day at the driving range — 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Turf Education Day with Mayacama Superintendent Dale Engman

20

Silver Oak Vintner Event

8

Club Closed

22

Club Closed

11-13

Sonoma County Showcase of Food and Wine

24-26

Junior Golf Boot Camp — 9:00 am to 11:00 am

14

Husbands and Wives Club Championship

27

Rudd Vintner Event

15

Club Closed

29

Club Closed

17

Dinner at St. Francis Yacht Club

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Bruce Riezenman of Park Avenue Catering donated his services to the Red Cross Relief Fund Golf Outing.

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August 2

Pro-Member Tournament

5

Club Closed

10

Draxton Wines Vintner Event

12

Club Closed

15-18

The PGA Championship

16-17

Men’s Club Championship

19

Club Closed

21

Women’s Club Championship

24

Armida Vintner Event

26

Club Closed

September 2

Club Open — Labor Day

3

Club Closed

6

Rules Clinic — 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

7

Ravenswood Vintner Event

9

Club Closed

16

Club Closed

18

Ladies’ Member-Guest Tournament

21-22

Men’s Member-Guest Tournament

21

Gallo of Sonoma Dinner at Twin Valley Ranch

23

Club Closed

28

Turf Education Day with Mayacama Superintendent Dale Engman

30

Club Closed

Jon Stiffler and Laurie Steel of the American Red Cross at the Relief Fund Golf outing.

Eric Upin MAYACAMA

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James Ray Spah n

October 1-10

Mayacama Member Ireland Golf Trip

5

Lynmar Vintner Event

7

Club Closed. Aerify Greens

14

Club Open — Columbus Day

15

Club Closed — Aerify Greens (back up)

21

Club Closed — Aerify Fairways

26

Lancaster Vintner Event

28

Club Closed

November

Members at the Red Cross Relief Fund Golf Outing.

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4

Club Closed

9

Landmark Vintner Event

11

Club Closed

18

Club Closed

23

Kistler Vintner Event at Hotel Healdsburg

25

Club Closed

Th omas Rosh kind

December 2

Club Closed

9

Club Closed

10

DR Stephens Vintner Event

14

Chateau Souverain Vintner Event

16

Club Closed

23

Club Closed

30

Club Closed

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Founder Members At the core of Mayacama’s growth What makes a club successful? There is only one answer: its members. Location and amenities are certainly key components of any club, but it is the presence of a balanced, cohesive, and vibrant membership roster that allows a club to reach its full potential.

“From the very beginning we knew Mayacama would be a destination club,” says Gerry Engle, founding Partner.

“It is a place where members gather to enjoy the wine country experience coupled with excellent golf, and importantly, to share it with others. Membership development was centered on this idea of meeting people who share the appreciation of fine wine and golf in a spectacular setting.”

At the core of Mayacama’s membership program are 35 Founder Members. These Club pioneers were initially identified as people who understood and would enhance the concept of a one-of-a-kind wine country retreat — a place that uniquely blends award-winning golf with limited development that respects the agrarian character of the region. This is a club that most likely will stand as the only one of its kind in Northern California’s wine country.

With the guiding vision in place, Mayacama asked its Founder Members to do what comes naturally: go forth and network. Since the end of 1999, the Founder Members have introduced the Club to a number of business and community acquaintances, building new friendships and

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re-connecting with established ties. Some Founder Members have brought in 20 or more new members, resulting in a healthy, 350-strong membership to date.

“It was truly an outreach of friends and colleagues,” describes David Wilhelm, a founding Partner. “The wine country is social by nature, and we sought people who embraced our vision for Mayacama.”

Perhaps the most important, lasting legacy of the Founder Members is the cohesive nature of Mayacama’s membership. As the founding Partners anticipated, the infrastructure of a great club is created long before architectural drawings are penned or concrete is poured.

“We recognized that if we were going to have the club that we wanted,” remembers Partner Philip Norfleet, “it had to be formed by a core group of like-minded individuals who would extend its vision to others.” It is the team of Founder Members, Norfleet concludes, that has been crucial to the enormous success that the Club has enjoyed in terms of building an impressive membership base. The Founder Members will continue to play a pivotal role as the Club evolves its culture, customs, and character. They will also serve as a resource for its management and for other members.

In this issue, Mayacama honors three Founder Members for their exceptional contributions to the Club: Richard Guggenhime, Christopher Lenzo, and Paul Stephens.

Richard Guggenhime

“Mayacama was close to our weekend home, and we believed it would be a superb golf course in a spectacular location.”

For Richard Guggenhime, Mayacama’s pristine golf course seems even more beautiful for its contrast to the 34th-floor San Francisco law office where he spends most of his weekdays.

A graduate of Stanford and Harvard Law School, Guggenhime is a partner in the international firm of Heller, Ehrman, White, and McAuliffe LLP. There he chairs the Trusts and Estates Group and the Wealth Preservation Group.

A third-generation San Franciscan, Guggenhime boasts a long record of community service; for 18 years he has worked on various local commissions and charitable organizations. He now serves as president of The Olympic Club and Honorary Consul General of Finland in Northern California.

A proud father, Guggenhime has three grown children, three stepchildren, and two grandchildren.

With the bustle of their weekday lives, Guggenhime and his wife Judy have long sought weekend quiet in their wine country home. When they heard about Mayacama, they were immediately intrigued.

“Mayacama was close to our weekend home, and we believed it would be a superb golf course in a spectacular location,” he says.

As a Founder Member, Guggenhime has introduced several new members to the Club and participated in events whenever possible. “I enjoy the great golf; I get excellent exercise on this beautiful ‘walking’ course,” he says. “I also enjoy the people, on the staff and in the membership.”

Christopher Lenzo

“I look forward to helping shape Mayacama into the best club it can possibly be.”

Luckily for Mayacama, investments specialist Christopher Lenzo enjoys helping things grow; as of Spring 2002, he has referred 29 people to the Club.

Lenzo also serves on the Advisory Board of Governors, and he comments enthusiastically, “I look forward to helping shape Mayacama into the best club it can possibly be.”

A Long Island native with an MBA from Harvard, Lenzo started his own hedge fund in 1991 after ten years as an investment banker/institutional equities specialist. He also has been involved in private equity/start-up companies.

Lenzo is proudest of two growth investments named Isabella and Alexandra: “My daughters are my most important accomplishments,” he says.

“Aside from that, my wife Lisa and I are honored to be able to give back to various charitable organizations in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco School Volunteers, ARCS, and other educational and medical foundations.”

The Lenzos, who own a second home in Napa Valley, were drawn to Mayacama for its world-class golf. The course has exceeded Lenzo’s expectations: “I couldn’t be more thrilled.” Unless, perhaps, he could be there more often. “I still have to work on that...but expect me to be on the first tee as many times as possible!” he exclaims.

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Paul Stephens

“When the Clubhouse and Casitas are complete, this will be one of the great private golf venues in Northern California.”

Paul Stephens first toured Mayacama when it was “nothing but trees.” The spectacular property and the compelling vision of associates Phil and Carol Norfleet convinced him “this was going to be something special.”

Stephens and his wife, Elle, had developed an extensive wine cellar in their Tiburon home and enjoyed the Sonoma wine country.

“Mayacama was a perfect fit,” he recalls. “It promised world-class golf and a gourmet food and wine theme, with special Casitas so we could have a place to stay without buying a home.”

As a Founder Member, Stephens became “a vocal cheerleader” for Mayacama, and his faith has been rewarded.

“Everything the management has done has shown class and good judgment,” he notes. “The Managing Partners have done a fabulous job. When the Clubhouse and Casitas are complete, this will be one of the great private golf venues in Northern California.”

Stephens has vast experience in sizing up investments. A founder and managing director for San Franciscoo-based RS Investments, he is the manager of The Orphan Funds and co-portfolio manager of The Contrarian Fund. He and his two sons, Bart and Brad, also invest in seed, or early-stage, venture capital opportunities through Stephens Family Ventures.

Stephens serves on the Haas Business School Advisory Board at the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and later taught investment strategies at the Haas School for 10 years.

In his time off, Stephens looks forward to some “fairly intense” golf on Mayacama’s challenging course. “Mayacama will be our weekend retreat in the wine country,” he says.

PUBLISHER Kath y Meyer EDITOR Sandy Fails ART DIRECTOR Kath y Amen PRODUCTION & PRINTING Crested Butte Printing EDITORIAL REVIEW Rosalie Hill Isom PUBLISHED BY Mayacama Golf Club, 525 Mayacama Club Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (707) 543–8040, (707) 543–8094, www.mayacama.com HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL Ted Antonopoulos, mayagolfsh op@ap.net MAYACAMA GOLF SHOP (707) 543–7171 DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP Carol Norfleet, caroln@mayacama.com MARKETING EVENTS COORDINATOR Amber Beh rens, amberb@mayacama.com MEMBER ACCOUNT INQUIRIES Linda Hickam, lindah @mayacama.com

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Jan Runge

“It is a profound mistake to think that everything has been discovered; as well to think the horizon the boundary of the world.�

Lemierre