PDRC 2024 May/June Newsletter

THE RIVER REPORT

PETE

DYE RIVER COURSE OF VIRGINIA TECH

YOUR CLUB

HOURSOFOPERATION

PRESTON’SRESTAURANT*

Monday I CLOSED

Tuesday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)

Wednesday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)

Thursday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)

Friday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)

Saturday I 11:00am - 8:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 8:00pm)

Sunday I 11:00am - 5:00pm (Bar 10:00am - 5:00pm)

GOLFSHOP

Monday-Thursday I 7:30am - 6:00pm

Friday-Sunday I 7:30am - 6:00pm

PRACTICEFACILITIES

Open 30 minutes prior to first tee time

Closes at dusk

CLUBNUMBERS

Main Office

Golf Shop

Restaurant

Special

540 633 6732

540 633 6732

540 633 2667

540 633 1807

CLUB CONTACTS

CLUBHOUSE AND ADMINISTRATIVE

Michael Abraham | General Manager mabraham@petedyerivercourse.com

Fran Davis | Business Manager / Special Events fdavis@petedyerivercourse.com

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Anastasia Kramer I Executive Chef chef@petedyerivercourse.com

GOLF

Michael Abraham | PGA Director of Golf mabraham@petedyerivercourse com

DJ Shively | Assistant Golf Professional dj shively@petedyerivercourse com

GROUNDS

Greg Caldwell | Golf Course Superintendent greg.caldwell@petedyerivercourse.com

THE CORNER OFFICE

Dear Members,

Already four months into the year! How quickly time flies. We‘ve seen some exciting additions to the facility within the past month. The kitchen received some much need equipment upgrades and the practice facility now has a new range machine. The new machine has an app ‘Select Pi‘ which will allow you to create an account and use a QR code from your phone to purchase range balls. We are still offering the membership plan of $200 worth of golf balls for only $150.

Also new is a company called Noteefy. With this system as an overlay on our tee sheet, you can get automatic notifications when tee times become available. It‘s a great system to ensure you never miss out on a tee time again!

We have also partnered with two other organizations, The University Club of Virginia Tech and Sons of Saturday. with The University Club, our Resident Golf Members will be able to dine on Fridays and Saturdays. Their XLife Members will be able to play a

limited number of rounds per year We felt this was a good way to bring awareness, and hopefully more members, to each of our respective facilities Finally, Sons of Saturdays is an organization ran by VT alum who work with student athletes and NIL deals They are pushing our facility, bringing brand awareness to the community, and even having current and former student athletes making appearances and posting their experiences on social media

One of my goals in the past 10 months has been to get into the community and get our name and facility out on the forefront of the minds of local golfers and local businesses. I feel we have been successful and that we are creating a buzz through the community and that things are about to take off!

I came across a quote the other day that I feel is motivating: Fate whispers to the warrior, “You cannot withstand the storm.” The warrior whispers back, “I am the storm.”

Michael Abraham, PGA Master Professional General Manager / Director of Golf

The Pete Dye River Course mabraham@petedyerivercourse com

ON THE LINKS

Finally, back into the warmer weather which means more golf! Our first tee time is now at 8am and our last tee time is 5:50 Keep an eye out for our Men’s League, Men’s Match Play Championship, and our Couples Hit n’ Giggles which all begin in May

We are proud to announce that we will be hosting this years VSGA Four-Ball Championship on May 20th and 21st This will impact morning tee times for these two days We will also be conducting our second round of aerification on May 28th and 29th which will close the course those days We will also be hosting our first Blue Ridge Ladies Tour event on June 18th and the Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour on June 25th

Make sure to check the Weekly Happenings emails for other outside events coming up that may affect tee times

A BIG congratulations to Douglas Juanarena and John Marinaro for winning the Men’s Member-Member Championship!

Finally, registration for the men’s member-guest is open! We are looking forward to another great year This year’s event is July 12-14 Don’t delay in signing up as the event will sell out fast!

DJ Shively

Assistant Golf Professional

dj shively@petedyerivercourse com

May/June Golf Events

Men’s League

Thursdays at 5:30pm

Upcoming Dates

May 9

May 16

June 6

June 13

June 20

June 27

Each week we’ll have a unique format. Cart fee plus $5 entry fee. Points for the season-long race awarded weekly along with shop credit!

Hit N Giggle

Fridays at 5:30pm

Upcoming Dates

May 17

May 24

June 7

June 21

Couples Friday night golf! Each week we‘ll have various scramble formats for you and your partner to Hit and Giggle!

John Marinaro & Douglas Juanarena

February

April

Pete Dye River Course

2024 Golf Schedule

July

August 10 Super Bowl Golf Tournament 6 Hokie Ball 10 Master’s Par 3 Shootout 26-28 Member-Member 12-14 Men’s Member-Guest 10-11 Club Championship

September 22 Ryder Cup

November 22 Turkey Shootout

*Events may be subject to change

Thursday Night Men’s League:

May 9 July 18

May 16 July 25

June 6 August 1

June 13 August 8

June 20 August 16

June 27

Hit N’ Giggle:

May 17 August 2

May 24 August 16

June 7 September 6

June 21 September 13

July 19

All times starting at 5:30pm for weekly formats!

g f s surfaces with sand to dilute thatch and organic matter, for a firmer and faster surface. I am very excited about a few new products this season The wetting agents PBS 150 and Excalibur will be used on tees and fairways to promote more uniform moisture in the soil, reducing irrigation requirements and allowing for more ball roll on tee shots. This season, I will be using the Predict N7 fertility model for greens.This model uses soil testing data, weather data, soil temperatures and clipping yields to predict the required nutrient inputs needed over a 7-14 day period. The goal of this model is to decrease the amount of Poa annua in our greens by giving the bentgrass a competitive advantage.

In conjunction with the Predict N7 model, Cutless growth regulator will be used to deter Poa annua growth while still providing growth regulation to the bentgrass. Bentgrass can tolerate the effects of Cutless more than Poa annua can giving the bentgrass another competitive advantage. As always, thank you for your support as we strive to improve every day.

Regards,

Greg Caldwell Superintendent greg.caldwell@petedyerivercourse.com

WHAT’S COOKIN’?

CHEF ANASTASIA KRAMER

Summer is upon us! We are excited to have the warm weather just around the corner. It's the perfect time to enjoy a cold pint or glass of wine on the terrace with live music every Friday night. In June, we will be celebrating Beer, Bourbon and BBQ! Nothing says summer like an old school cook out on the porch with some friends Some of my favorite memories growing up was having cookouts on my grandad's farm with the entire family

When making BBQ of any kind at home, the key to nice tender proteins is patience and booze. Cook your proteins low and slow, I prefer 200-250 degrees for 8-12 hours. If you are cooking brisket or pork; placing your rubbed proteins in a grate lined pan with a shot of your favorite liquor. After adding liquids to the bottom of your pan, cover your pan with saran wrap then aluminium foil to help breakdown the fats and trap moisture in the meat

Upcoming Events

Live music May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and June 8, 14, 21, 28

May 9 - Paint Night

May 12 - Mother‘s Day Brunch

May 18 - Wine Tasting

June 8 - Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

June 13 - Paint Night

June 16 - Father’s Day Cookout

CLUB EVENTS

Paint Night with Terri Welch Returns!

Thursday, May 9 @ 6:00pm

Thursday, June 3 @ 6:00pm

Price is $35/person.

Mother’s Day Brunch

Sunday, May 12 - 10am-3pm

Celebrate Mother’s Day with your friends at The River!

A buffet will be available with pricing for adults and children 12 years and under.

Reservations are strongly recommended

MEMBER OF THE MONTH

June Washburn

PDRC: How long have you been a member?

June: Since 2019

PDRC: What‘s your favorite hole at The River?

June: #3 because of the river and the beauty you see with the different seasons

PDRC: Best round you‘ve ever played?

June: I shot an 80 at The River Course!

PDRC: Who‘s in your dream foursome?

June: It would have to be Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and my husband, Frank

PDRC: What’s in the bag?

June: I’m a Callaway person! All through the bag!

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Hunter Wall

PDRC: How long have you worked at PDRC?

Hunter: 3 years. Two years in maintenance and one year in the golf shop

PDRC: What‘s your favorite hole at The River?

Hunter: #7 is my favorite It is “easy” in theory but if you miss the green you have to scramble to make a good score.

PDRC:What do you like to do for fun away from PDRC?

Hunter: I enjoy golfing, hunting and building legos with my girlfriend

PDRC: What‘s something good that has happened to you recently?

Hunter: I adopted a cat named Basil and she’s the best cat you could ask for!

COOKIES

THE MONTH

May June

OF

Lemon Cookie by Patricia Budniewski, Executive Chef Holston Hills Country Club

Chocolate Peanut Butter & Oat by William Tew, Executive Chef Wilson Country Club

INSTRUCTION

The weather is getting nicer and the grass is greening up wonderfully, River Course families! Are you ready for some golf? Our Academy has seen a sizable increase in enrollments for group instruction and private lessons so far this year, and we’re loving seeing so many new and returning students and families at the course. Our goal is to provide value to as many people as possible, so if there’s anything we can do to help our membership, I am always available.

As always, if any of our members would like to participate in a trial of our group programs or play in one of our Saturday 9-Hole Events, please let me know and we will make it happen!

Our summer PGA Camps offerings have been booking fast! Camps are held June 1014, June 24-28, and July 29-August 2 for half-day and full-day juniors, and space is limited. One camp is already completely filled, so if you have a junior that would like to attend a camp offering, I would recommend booking sooner rather than later by visiting the PGA Camps website or scanning the QR code inside the golf shop.

See you all on the fairways and greens!

Nick Boyea Academy Director

Let’s talk about specialty shots! For the most part, The River Course is fairly flat, but you do incur lies where the ball is above or below your feet, as well as uphill and downhill lies What do we need to do in our setup to ensure that we make the best swing possible? Well, we do need to make some adjustments:

Ball Above Your Feet - Stand taller, grip down a little bit and stand closer to the ball. This will help you make a more upright swing and not swing with the slope, which is encouraging you to draw/pull the ball. Ball position can be in the middle of your stance. With this lie the ball is going to want to draw, so aim a little to the right (for a right handed golfer)

Ball Below Your Feet - Stay down! It’s easy to pop up and this this shot Deeper knee bend, grip down and think about taking a 3/4 swing for control This lie will promote a fade so aim a little left (for a right handed golfer). Ball position can stay middle or slightly back.-

Uphill Lies - The launch angle of the ball is going to increase, so take an extra club. Also, get your shoulders to match the slope, so you’re swinging with the hill and not into it. Play the ball middle of your stance and put a little more weight on your left side. A 3/4 swing will help you maintain your balance and not fall down the hill when you transfer weight on the backswing

Downhill Lies - The launch angle of the ball is going to decrease, so loft up a club Get your shoulders to match the slope, so you’re swinging with the hill and not into it. Play the ball middle back of your stance, weight can be neutral. if you utilize these little changes in your setup then you’ll be more likely to make better contact with these tricky lies!

Michael Abraham, PGA Master Professional

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

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A donation from the Goodwin family in 2003 allowed the financial support to cover a complete redesign by Pete Dye on an existing 18-hole layout along the New River in Radford, Va. The River course earned a fourth-place award from Golf Digest in its Best Remodel rankings of 2006, the highest of any public facility The course which is the home to both Virginia Tech and Radford University’s golf teams has earned the reputation as one of the best collegiate courses in the country

Devin Johnson checked in at Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech