THE RIVER REPORT
PETE DYE RIVER COURSE
OF VIRGINIA TECH
YOUR CLUB
HOURSOFOPERATION
PRESTON’SRESTAURANT*
Monday I CLOSED
Tuesday I CLOSED
Wednesday I 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday I 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday I 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday I 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday I 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
GOLFSHOP*
Monday-Thursday I 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday-Sunday I 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
PRACTICEFACILITIES
Open 30 minutes prior to first tee time
Closes at dusk
Sundays I Closed from 5:00 pm
CLUBNUMBERS
Main Office
Golf Shop
Restaurant
Special Events
*Hours are subject to change
CLUBHOUSE, EVENTS & ADMINISTRATIVE
Kari Kendall | General Manager foh@petedyerivercourse.com
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
JC Botero | Executive Chef chef@petedyerivercourse.com
GOLF
DJ Shively | Resident Golf Professional dj.shively@petedyerivercourse.com
GROUNDS
Greg Caldwell | Golf Course Superintendent greg.caldwell@petedyerivercourse.com
THE CORNER OFFICE
Dear Members,
Welcome to The River Report! A chill is in the air at the River Course the leaves are glowing gold and orange, and fall is officially here. This season is one of our favorites! It’s a time filled with holiday parties, social gatherings, and time well spent with friends. Thank you to everyone who supported our annual events this year. Oysterfest was a huge success, and Chef JC and his team had a great time creating something fun and memorable for everyone.
Also, please welcome Amanda Ferguson to our team. Amanda is taking over as our accounting and HR department. We are very excited to have her join us!
Looking ahead, we have some exciting events coming up at the River Course:
Do not forget to sign up for “Evening with The Chef.” It will sell out!!
Holiday To-Go Available the week of Thanksgiving
2nd Annual Candy Canes & Cocktails Party the first Saturday of December
Santa Brunch Mid-December
Our restaurant team can’t wait to deck the halls and bring the holiday spirit to life. We look forward to celebrating the season with you! As we wrap up 2025 here at the River Course, I want to extend the warmest wishes for a blessed and fruitful holiday season to each of you! Thank you for being part of our family We can not wait to see you all on the course and in the restaurant
Thanks again for your continued support,
Kari Kendall General Manager foh@petedyerivercourse.com
ON THE LINKS
November & December Edition | A Message from Your Golf Professional
As we move into the cooler months, I want to thank all our members and guests for a fantastic golf season.
�� Turkey Shootout Friday, November 28
No set tee times play anytime during the day! When booking your tee time, please let the golf staff know that you’ll be playing in the Shootout.
Format: Two-Person Teams
Front 9 Best Ball: Each player plays their own ball, counting the best score on each hole.
Back 9 Chapman Format: Both players tee off, then switch balls for the second shot. From there, select the best ball and alternate shots until holed out Example: Player A and B tee off A hits B’s drive, B hits A’s drive B’s ball ends up on the green that’s the ball you’ll play next, so A will putt
Entry Fees
Members: Cart fee (if applicable) + $5 tournament entry
Guests: $45 (includes cart and green fee) + $5 tournament entry
Handicaps
USGA formulas will determine handicaps for each format
Prizes & Fun
Low team scores win prizes, and there will be plenty of camaraderie and laughs throughout the day Don’t miss this great tradition!
�� Use Your Shop Credit Before Year-End!
A friendly reminder to all members be sure to use your pro shop credit before December 31! Check your balance with the golf shop staff, and treat yourself to some new gear, apparel, or equipment before the year ends Once January rolls around, unused credit will expire don’t let it go to waste!
❄ Coming Soon: Winter Simulator League
We’re excited to be bringing back our Winter Simulator League, starting after the holiday season! This is a great way to stay sharp (and warm!) during the winter months, enjoy some friendly competition, and keep the golf camaraderie going all year long Keep an eye on your weekly golf email updates for more information on registration, schedule, and format details coming soon
Looking Ahead
We’re already working on a full calendar of events and tournaments for 2026 Stay tuned for more details in the next newsletter and get ready for another great season of golf at The River
Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday Season!
Thank you all for your continued support and enthusiasm throughout the year Here’s to great golf, good friends, and a strong finish to 2025!
See you on the course,
DJ SHIVELY | RESIDENT GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Office: 540.633.6732
dj.shively@petedyerivercourse.com
TURF TALK
Winter Turf Maintenance: Setting Up the Course for Spring Success
While play slows and turf growth nearly stops, winter is one of the most important times of the year for golf course maintenance. Proper winter care protects fine turf surfaces from stress and ensures that greens, tees, and fairways rebound quickly when temperatures rise.
1. Strengthen the Root System
A late-fall fertilizer application rich in potassium supports root hardiness and carbohydrate storage. This nutrient reserve fuels early spring recovery and helps turf withstand freezing and thawing cycles common to golf course conditions.
2. Control Traffic and Compaction
Frozen or saturated turf is easily damaged Restrict cart use, rotate traffic patterns, and reroute maintenance equipment whenever possible On greens and tees, lightweight rollers or walk-behind equipment reduce wear and soil compaction through the winter months
3. Prevent Disease and Surface Damage
Snow mold and crown hydration are key winter threats. Apply a preventive fungicide program before snow cover and maintain good surface drainage to limit standing water. Brush or blow away leaves and debris regularly to improve air circulation and light penetration.
4. Manage Moisture and Drainage
Inspect low-lying areas and bunker surrounds for poor drainage Standing water can lead to ice encasement, suffocating turf Where feasible, vent or lightly aerify problem spots during mild periods to keep oxygen moving through the root zone
5. Winter Equipment and Planning
The offseason is the ideal time to service mowers, reels, and sprayers. Calibrate fertilizer and pesticide equipment, sharpen blades, and finalize fertility and overseeding schedules. Winter planning ensures a smooth transition into the active growing season.
By taking these steps now, superintendents can minimize winter injury and position their course for a strong, uniform spring green-up ready for play as soon as conditions allow
Regards, Greg Caldwell
Superintendent greg.caldwell@petedyerivercourse.com
WHAT’S COOKIN’?
Chef’s Fall Message ��
Well, it’s that time of year again the leaves are changing color, the birds are heading south, and I’m busy creating dishes to keep you warm through the cold days ahead. As always, I put my heart and soul into every dish I make, and with the chilly weather approaching, it’s officially soup season! I’m excited to introduce some delicious new soups to our menu, including lobster bisque, tomato bisque, and clam chowder, just to name a few. You’ll also find some brand-new menu items alongside the classic favorites you all love.
I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for making my journey here at Pete Dye River Course truly unforgettable Every “Evening with the Chef” is a blessing you allow me to share my creativity and passion for food with you, and that means the world to me
A huge shoutout to my incredible kitchen staff for their dedication coming in early, staying late, and working tirelessly to deliver the best food and service possible
The snow will be here soon, and while the course may close for a “snow day,” as long as the roads are clear, we’ll be here serving up amazing dishes. Between Kari and myself, we’ve brainstormed some exciting ideas to help keep you from going stir-crazy this winter!
Thank you all for your continued support and inspiration. I look forward to sharing many more meals with you.
Warmly, Chef JC
CLUB EVENTS
THANKSGIVING-TO-GO
Available for pre-order! Call the restaurant to put your order in: 540.633.2667
COCKTAILS & CANDY CANES
Friday, December 5th 5PM-8PM
SANTA BRUNCH
Saturday, December 13th 11AM-2PM
TAILGATE-TO-GO
Make every game worth tailgating for! Our TailgateTo-Go menu is great for in-house entertaining or taking food to the game! Call by 5pm the day before your game and let us know when you want to pick it up. This is great for Thursday night football, Saturday football, and NFL games!
Save the stress and hassle of doing it yourself. Make the call and enjoy the food!
540-633-2667
Here comes Santa Claus! Our very special tradition here at the River Course. Make reservations by calling 540-633-2667.
INSTRUCTION
END OF SEASON GOLF TIPS
��♂ Golf Tip of the Month: Nail Your Alignment Like the Pros
If you've ever hit a shot that felt perfect but still ended up offline, your swing might not be the problem your alignment might be
Many golfers unknowingly set up aimed slightly left or right of their target. The result? Compensations in the swing and inconsistent ball flight. The good news is that proper alignment is one of the easiest fundamentals to fix and it starts with how you aim.
�� Step 1: Pick a Precise Target
Rather than aiming “somewhere down the fairway,” pick a very specific target like a tree, a flagstick, or even a small sign in the distance The more precise, the better your aim
�� Step 2: Draw an Imaginary Line
Once you've chosen your target, imagine a straight line running from the ball to that target This is your target line the path you want the ball to start on
�� Step 3: Find an Intermediate Target
Now, pick something small on that line that’s just a foot or two in front of your ball a blade of grass, a broken tee, a discoloration on the turf. This is your intermediate target. It’s much easier to line up your clubface to something close than to something hundreds of yards away.
�� Step 4: Set the Clubface First
Before you take your stance, set the clubface square to your intermediate target This ensures that your face is aligned exactly where you want the ball to go
�� Step 5: Step Into the Shot
With the clubface square, now build your stance around the club: Align your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line (imagine railroad tracks ball on the right rail, your body on the left). Keep your focus on that intermediate target as you set up it keeps your alignment consistent.
�� Pro Tip: Always Align Clubface First
Many amateurs step into the ball, get comfortable, and then try to adjust the clubface. That’s backwards. Clubface alignment dictates body alignment, not the other way around.
⛳ Final Thought:
A few extra seconds spent aligning properly can save you strokes throughout your round Practice this process on the range and make it part of your routine With consistent alignment, you’ll swing with more confidence and start hitting more greens
DJ Shively
Resident Golf Professional
dj.shively@petedyerivercourse.com
Brunch
BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT WITH US
From birthday parties to anniversaries, baby showers, and graduation parties, the clubhouse at Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech offers an unforgettable setting for your next event. Overlooking the historic New River, our elevated terrace and banquet rooms provide breathtaking views of the course and surrounding landscape.
Whether you're planning an intimate celebration or a large-scale event, our flexible indoor space can accommodate groups from 10 to 115 guests Partitioned layouts are available to better serve smaller gatherings, while the full room can be configured to meet the needs of corporate functions, receptions, and more
Amenities & Features:
Panoramic river and golf course views
Wi-Fi and modern AV technology
Microphone, projector, 52" LCD monitors, podium, and sound system
On-site event coordination and setup support
To book your event today, email foh@petedyerivercourse.com or submit an event inquiry using the button below
EVENT INQUIRY FORM
PDRC buzz
Never miss out on a club event, the latest McConnell Golf news or the chance to share your member experience Stay connected to Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech and McConnell Golf on social media and join the conversation today @petedyerivercourse @mcconnellgolf @rivercourseofvt
@hokieswgolf It's almost that time
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