UNICORN THE
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF FRIENDLY HILLS COUNTRY CLUB
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
D D
ear Members,
The Board of Directors would like to acknowledge our Management and Staff for their resilience during a challenging first quarter
Despite greater than anticipated rainfall, we successfully completed our scheduled Golf Course maintenance and capital improvement upgrades to the Driving Range.
The closure of the Grill Room for renovations presented logistical hurdles, but our F&B Team and Kitchen adeptly handled these challenges to ensure uninterrupted dining experience for Members. Hosting a full house for Easter and navigating last-minute weather challenges was no small feat.
Thanks to the dedication of our Team, we were able to continue to enjoy our Golf Course and Club and its many events and activities.
The Board’s goal remains for Friendly Hills Country Club to consistently meet Members’ needs Heading into our busy Spring and Summer months, we are looking forward to debuting the new Grill Room, Men’s and Ladies Member-Guest Tournaments, kick-off of the Swim and Dive season, Wine Tasting events and more Additionally we will continue progress on upcoming Capital Projects
Our employees remain invaluable assets Many thanks to everyone for making FHCC the place to be
As always, we value your continued support and feedback
Doug Bradshaw………………. President
R.C. Harlan ………………Vice President
Adrian Guerrero 2nd Vice President
David Liu ………………………..Secretary
Doug Rowan ………………….Treasurer
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Eddie Cerda…………………………Chairman
Kristine Chung ……………………Chairman
Corey Ford …………………………Chairman
Ken Go Chairman
Chris Kiyohara…………………….Chairman
Luis Michel………………………….Chairman
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
CLUBHOUSE HOURS
Hines Grill and Terrace Dining
Saturday - Sunday 6:30 a m - 2:00 p m Breakfast
Tuesday - Friday 8:00 a m - 2:00 p m
Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sunday Brunch
Lunch and Dinner
Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 a m - 8:00 p m
Tuesday 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Brandon Morgan Director of Food and Beverage blmorgan@friendlyhillscc.com (562) 698-0331 ext. 312
Taylor Stewart Director of Sales and Marketing tstewart@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext. 207
Patricia Wong Director of Membership pwong@friendlyhillscc.com (562) 698-0331
Wednesday - Friday 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Snack Bar
Tuesday - Sunday 5:00 a m - 10:00 p m Fitness Center
Monday 7:00 a m - 5:00 p m
Swimming Pool
Monday - CLOSED
Tuesday - Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Peter Phan Executive Chef pphan@friendlyhillscc com (562) 698-0331 ext 324
Raj Manni Director of Finance rmanni@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
1 7
A M E S S A G E
F R O M
O U R G M
G Greetings Friendly Hills Country Club Members and Happy October! I hope this latest edition of The Unicorn finds you ready for Halloween and the start of the Holiday Season! We are already in “preparation mode” for our favorite time of
year and look forward to seeing all of you at the bevy of events on this year’s Social Calendar.
Also, our Annual Meeting is just around the corner, scheduled for October 16th at 8:00pm, with updates on our Capital Project 2.0 and happenings throughout the Club beginning at 7:00pm. You should have received your ballots and candidate information brochure in the mail this past week and we encourage you to participate in this year’s Board of Directors Election as well as attend the meeting.
Since our last newsletter, we started and completed our golf course Tee Levelling project, and everything turned out great! Although the heat we all experienced in July and August slowed things down a bit around the club, it was the perfect weather for the Hybrid Bermuda used to sod the renovated tee tops. The tees have all rooted into the soil and are actively growing, although they will go dormant this winter. Next Spring, they will bounce back and by the time we reach our “season,” will be absolutely perfect! Thanks to Prestigious Golf Construction and our very own, Nephi Diaz for their diligence in managing the project through its completion and under budget!
Also, since our last newsletter, Patricia Wong has accepted the permanent role as our Director of Membership at the Club. Patty is excelling in her new role and moving the position in a wonderful direction. Congratulations, Patty!
I would like to offer a special thank you our Board of Directors and Club President, Doug Bradshaw As we come to the end this year’s board cycle, leadership has done an amazing job pointing our Club toward the future. Much needed improvements to the driving range, downstairs dining room, and the tee project highlight a very busy 2023 2024 project calendar. Their guidance has been invaluable and has set the stage for continued success for many years to come. Thank you.
I would also like to thank the entire membership as I near the conclusion of my first year as your General Manager/COO Friendly Hills Country Club. Without question, every member at this Club worthy of the “Friendly” moniker and I am more excited than ever for the future of the Club!
See you around the Club! < Continued
B R Y A N A D D I S , P G A , C M A A General
Manager/COO
M E M B E R S H I P
THE OCTOBER EDITION
H Hello Members! As we head into the final months of the year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible energy and excitement we’ve experienced here at Friendly Hills. Our social calendar has been packed with events that bring our members together, and the best is yet to come!
Looking ahead, I’m excited to share some of our upcoming staple events Be sure to mark your calendars for Breakfast with Santa, a cherished family tradition, and our festive Thanksgiving Feast, where members gather to enjoy a delicious meal together And don’t miss our End of the Year Celebration, a fantastic way to wrap up 2024 with great company and fun memories.
In addition to overseeing our social events, I’m thrilled to have recently taken on the role of Director of Membership. If you know anyone who would be a great fit as a member, please don’t hesitate to send them my way. We have a few social membership opportunities, and I’d love to share more about the benefits of joining our Club.
Thank you all for making our Friendly Hills Country Club community so special I look forward to seeing you at these events and many more!
Director of Membership
FALL WINE TASTING . . . OCT 18
CLASE AZUL DINNER . . .
3
FRIGHT NIGHT . . .
18
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA . . . . . .
THANKSGIVING FEAST NOV 28
DEC 7
GINGERBREAD NIGHT . . .
NEW YEAR CELEBRATION . . . . . .
HOLIDAY DINNER BUFFET DEC 18 DEC 11
DEC 28
N E P H I D I A Z Director of Agronomy
GGreetings FHCC Members, as Summer closes and Fall begins, we’re seeing temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten However, we can expect great golf course conditions as we head into Winter
We have recently completed our tee box renovation project. All tees were stripped of their existing turf, followed by soil tilling and laser leveling. We installed 80,000 square feet of TifTuf hybrid Bermuda turf.
This turf variety is known for being droughttolerant, retaining color late into the season, greening up early in the spring, and its high resistance to traffic with quick recovery from wear and tear. Maintenance will continue with sand topdressing for smoothness and mowing to a height below ½ inch.
As we approach the year’s end and colder, wetter weather, we will manage cart traffic using our GPS system to minimize damage to the course. Please also remember to fix your ball marks.
Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season!
During our recent closure, we also aerified the greens and added over 55 tons of sand into the soil profile. Aeration offers many benefits, including relieving compaction, improving drainage, enhancing air and water movement, breaking up thatch, stimulating root growth, and improving water infiltration. While aeration might seem inconvenient, these health benefits are essential for our 50+ year-old greens.
G O L F C O R N E R
BY JAY PRESTELLA, PGA Director of Golf
KEYS TO PUTTING
I’ve had the privilege of watching some incredible golf over the years, witnessing great championships won by players with vastly different putting techniques. These golfers proved that there isn’t one “perfect” way to putt--it’s about finding what works for you. Here are a few memorable examples:
Hubert Green: Known for using a split-handle grip, captured the 1977 U.S. Open and the 1985 PGA Championship.
Raymond Floyd: Standing tall using a 37-inch putter, went on to win 1 Masters, 1 U.S. Open, and 2 PGA Championships.
Jack Nicklaus: Often considered the greatest golfer of all time, Nicklaus putted with a hunched posture and slightly open stance He broke his wrist on the backswing and stayed firm through the stroke--winning an unmatched 18 major championships
What we can learn from these legends is that it’s not about perfecting one technique; rather, it’s about mastering the ability to read the line and control the speed of the putt.
When you’re practicing or out on the course, remember: focus on your line and speed--those are true keys to sinking putts
King & Queen Tournament
Corey Ford
Stephanie Ford
Doug Bradshaw
Kristine Chung
Mr. & Mrs. Championship
1st place gross: Peter Cho & Nicole Sim
1st place net: Michael Park & Candy Park
2nd place gross:
Phillip Berres & Shirley Berres
2nd place net: David Gomez & Nidia Gomez
3rd place gross: Corey Ford & Stephanie Ford
3rd place net: Terry Ahn & Cindy Ahn
Congratulations to Bill Mcdermott
CHAMPIONS
CAPTAIN
ADRIAN GUERRERO
CO-CAPTAIN
OZZIE PADILLA
TEAM GUERRERO
Adrian Guerrero
Ralph Rudd
Javier Castro
David Lee
Mario M. Figueroa
Jose Becerra
Tyler Nicol
Peter Cho
Tom Liu
Edward Tien
Michael Ancich
Johnny Cardenas Jr.
David Thueson
Dong Ha
Mark Sirianni
Rick Avila
Ozzie Padilla
Johnny Cardenas
David Liu
Mark Skapik
Richard Ramos
Jaime Alejandre
Jackson Osborn
Johnny Tiao
Trenton Manasse
Alex Mendez
Jerahm Orozco
Arnold Gomez
Manuel Orozco
Chris Kiyohara
Ken Go
Efrain Ferrer
TEAM LOPEZ
Rudy Lopez
Dennis Kazarian
Jimmy Gonzales
Daniel Carrillo
Lee Khanthaphixay
Derek Johnson
Corey Lewis
Michael Mellick
David Esgro
Brad Durbin
Hector Alvarado
Jay Arroyo
Danny Hawa
Anthony Barcenas
Ed Holmes
Raul Tapia
Jeff Gibson
Ray Wu
Jesse Davila
Kevin Arita
Erik Tapia
Kevin Komatsu
Bob Souders
Anthony Munoz
Gilbert Cerda
Robert Chavira
Dario De La Riva
Paul Purunjian
David Gomez
Charles Ananian
Javier Bautista
Art Conc
F H W G A
OCTOBER 2024
U P C O M I N G !
It’s an exciting time to be part of FHWGA! Come join us on Tuesdays for Ladies Day. Where we have fun tournaments, games, the Birdie Club, and much more. Whether you’re an experienced golfer or just starting out, we would love to see you join us on ladies day! Check out our calendar below for our upcoming events
October 15th
General Meeting Day
October 22nd
Open Guest Day
November 5th & November 12th
Member-Member
November 13th
Deck the Balls: Golf & Tennis Mizer
November 19th
General Meeting Day
November 24th
Couples Turkey Shoot
December 12th
Holiday Hackers
December 17th
Christmas Luncheon Tournament
et ready for our Fall Junior Golf Series! Open to Equity members’ children ages 8-15, this program is designed for both beginner and intermediate golfers. Join us every Saturday from October 19th through December 21st (excluding November 16th due to the Member/Member Tournament) from 11:15am to 12:30pm.
Participants will enjoy a fun, safe, and supportive group environment, while learning and improving their golf skills under the guidance of the Friendly Hills Professional Golf Staff. Each week is limited to the first 12 kids, so don’t miss out! To reserve a spot, please email Kevin Harter at kharter@friendlyhillsc.com.
F O O D & B E V E R A G E
WINE
BRANDON MORGAN Director of Food & Beverage
ur annual Fall Wine Tasting is right around the corner on Friday October 18, 2024 at 5:30pm, please don’t forget to sign up through our club calendar.
This is a great event to come enjoy a beautiful evening on our Terrace while getting to taste some of your favorite varietals from all over the world Our Fall Wine Tasting is the perfect opportunity to stock up your wine cellars and prepare for the holiday season with friends and family
All members will have until Friday, November 1st, to turn in your orders and please remember, even if you can’t make it to the event, you are still able to order any of the wines from the book This year we will do our best to have all wine orders in by midNovember Once all of the wine has arrived we will start making our calls to everyone to schedule a time to pickup Looking forward to seeing everyone at this great event!
Once all wine orders have been received and processed, members will be contacted to arrange pickup From the date of notification, members will have a two-week window to collect their wine After this two-week period, a storage fee of $10 per week will be applied to uncollected orders
We encourage all members to pick up their orders promptly to avoid any additional fees
I N T H E K I T C H E N
CHEF PETER PHAN
Summer has come to an end, and we’re now fully embracing the fall season We had an exciting summer packed with events here at the Club, including a busy schedule for our Swim and Dive team, the Campout on the Range, Junior Sports Camp, Twilight Events, and Kid’s Cooking Class We also hosted some fantastic Golf Tournaments, a Clam Bake, and the debut of our Havana Nights event
As we look ahead, we have even more exciting events coming up, including our Fall Wine Tasting, Kid’s Cookie Decorating Class, Fright Night, Clase Azul Dinner, the annual Member-Member Tournament, and our Thanksgiving Day Feast
Be on the lookout for the release of our Fall Terrace menu in October! My kitchen team and I are always working hard to bring you fresh flavors and new dishes We’ve been crafting some new items and will continue offering Chef’s Dinner Specials on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays As always, we highly recommend making reservations!
In other news, our Executive Sous Chef, Laura Alvarado, has moved on to become the Executive Chef at Yorba Linda Country Club. Laura was a valued staff member of FHCC for almost 9 years, and I couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her the best in her new role!
We’re also excited to welcome Adam Stevens as our new Executive Sous Chef, starting on October 9th, 2024 We can’t wait for him to join the Friendly Hills Country Club team!
Executive Chef
OCTOBER 2024
S A L E S &
M A R K E T I N G
TAYLOR STEWART
Director of Sales & Marketing
H H
i, Members!
It’s that time of year again holiday season is right around the corner, and December dates fill up quickly! Whether you’re planning a company holiday party or a personal celebration, Friendly Hills is the perfect setting for your festivities
Our team is ready to help you create a memorable event For more information on available dates and pricing for the holidays or for 2025, please contact me!
As a reminder, The Waterfall Room is a perfect space for intimate dinners, company luncheons, or private meetings Choose from pre-set plated menus, buffet-style options, or work with myself & Chef Peter to design a custom multi-course meal, with optional wine pairings. This stunning new room is versatile and ready for your next gathering for 22 people or less! A $300 room fee applies, along with taxes and service charges on all food and beverages ordered. Let us know how we can make your event special!
Exciting News: Jersey Mike's Commercial Film Shoot at FHCC
We are proud to announce the success of the commercial film shoot for Jersey Mike's, which took place on September 18th on our beautiful 1st and 18th holes! FHCC continues to shine as a premier film location, and we can’t wait to share more details about the release date of the commercial
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you around the Club!
Stay Connected
Want to receive the latest news and updates from Friendly Hills Country Club straight to your phone? Sign up for text message alerts! To get started, simply contact me, and I’ll ensure you're added to our list.
T E N N I S
P I C K L E B A L L &
GGreetings! I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone the best as we move into the fall and holiday months. I’m ever grateful for a chance to serve the amazing community here at Friendly Hills Country Club. We have seen tremendous growth in our numbers and our participation at the racquet center Cheers to your spirit and resilience
Around the Courts
We finished another fantastic summer sports camp season and many of our kids continue to get out and play in the after-school programs Check out the ‘Weekly Buzz’ for updates and program details for both juniors and adults
Our super 9 0 Mixed Doubles USTA Team made it to sectionals in its first year and almost pulled off the seemingly impossible getting to a line win away from the final round. Congratulations to team captain, Christine Kim, for an exceptional experience. We hope to be back on the courts again next season.
The FHCC Women's Tennis Association continues to thrive and now has over 35 active members as they begin the 2024 / 2025 season. A strong and exceptional group of ladies are bringing it out on the courts.
Director of Racquet Sports
Exciting News!
New benches are coming The first new bench is out on court one We are also getting a couple of new Adirondack chairs for the deck
We are continuing to explore expanding our pickleball footprint and will be looking into adding lines and nets to allow four courts on court three, while
As we continue to grow, we need to be cognizant of our court rules, common courtesies, and etiquette. Besides the standard rules of tennis, there are also some important unwritten laws which come under the title of “tennis etiquette”. Tennis and pickleball are social games, involving simple politeness and consideration. Everyone will enjoy the game so much more if those standards are maintained.
Rules & Court Courtesy
3 4 7 5 2 1
Tennis is a game that requires cooperation and courtesy from all participants. Talk quietly when standing near tennis courts that are in use.
6
Never walk behind a court when a point is still in play. Wait until the point is over and then cross as fast as possible.
Wear proper sneakers for tennis Other shoes may wear out quickly, hurt your feet, or damage the court
When sending balls back to a neighboring court, roll them on to the back of the court Never send them back while play is in progress
Always display good sportsmanship---compliment your opponent on good shots.
Always come prepared Bring not only balls, but towels and water to drink when it is hot Water only on the courts please Make sure to leave your court tidy and clean when you depart the racquet sports center
Have a court reservation if possible. Please remember, kids under the age of 14 are not allowed on the courts without parental supervision. Adults have priority on our courts after 5:00pm and on weekends.
