Play More Paddle:
Men’s Division 2 & 3 Paddle Champions
Membership Magazine August 2020
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
CONTENTS 1
Great People Make Favorite Places
2 Membership 3
À la Carte Dining
4
Club & Private Events
7
Fitness & Wellness
8 Golf 10 Grounds 11
Racquets
12
Snapshot: Play More Paddle
EVENTS CALENDAR
Event location, time, and date is subject to change due to restrictions regarding COVID-19 Virtual Events
August 6 - Wine Society: The Many Shades of Rosé
21 - Family Camp Out on the East Lawn
12 - Tequila Tasting
24 - BCC Summer Camp: Week 10
19 - Trivia Night (TBD)
28 - Dive-In Movie Night
21 - Friday Night Pool Party: Country Hoedown
September 3 - Wine Society
12 - Doggy Dip
4 - Friday Pool Party: Hawaiian Luau
13 - Fall Planters Workshop To-Go
6 - Red, White, & BBQ (Independence Day Celebration)
16 - Trivia Night (TBD)
7 - Labor Day at the Pool
19 - Cars, Coffee, & Crepes
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE The Membership Committee welcomes comments from the BCC membership regarding any of the foregoing candidates. All communication with the Membership Committee is held in strict confidence. The current members of the Membership Committee and their contact information are as follows: Mary Briggs, Chair mary.briggs@hotmail.com | 410.241.4132 Timothy Bojanowski tim@zestsms.com | 443.465.2950 Sharon D. Credit sharoncredit@gmail.com | 410.303.6242 Jeffrey E. Gordon jeg51168@gmail.com | 443.465.1494 Marianne Huddle bednarz401@yahoo.com | 917.439. 6212 Gregory E. Johnston gregjohnston@outlook.com | 410.382.7798 Matthew S. Thompson mthompson@lothorian.com | 410.935.9806
October 1 - Wine Society: Autumn Wines & Game
25 - Fall Fest at Roland Park
16 - Trivia Night (TBD)
31 - Howl-O-Ween: Pet Costume Parade
23 - Gentlemen's Night
Martin P. Brunk, President Thomas E. Carroll, Vice President Elizabeth R. Sieck, Secretary Hugh W. Mohler, Jr., Treasurer Mason M. Champion Raymond C. Daue, Jr. Joseph C. Huddle Edward M. Joffe, Jr. Gregory E. Johnston Paul McKinnell Leslie C. Rose S. Gale Woods
29 - Adult Pumpkin Carving
ON THE COVER BCC paddle champions Tyler Feeley, Roger Kelly, and Bryan Del Monte on the paddle courts at our Roland Park clubhouse—July 2020
RECEPTION Roland Park 410.889.4400 Five Farms 410.252.6505 Hours Saturday & Sunday 9:00am-9:00pm Monday 9:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Friday 8:30am-9:00pm
Great People Make Favorite Places BCC has created an actionable statement that helps define our philosophy known as The Simple Truth: Great People Make Favorite Places. Below is a small sample of staff members who are helping to make BCC your favorite place.
Staff Member of the Month MAY
Jessica Taylorson, Personal Coach & Group Exercise Instructor
We congratulate Jessica for being named May Staff Member of the Month! Once our fitness facilities closed due to COVID-19, Jessica took charge in keeping our membership fit during our “stay at home” order. Jessica offered a variety of Facebook Live classes, while also extending personal training to her clients via virtual platforms. Many of her Facebook Live participants commented under Jessica's workouts about not only how great her classes were, but also thanked her for keeping them going during these uncertain times. Once we were able to offer outdoor fitness at Five Farms to our members, Jessica started offering classes on campus while continuing her Facebook Live classes and training clients virtually. Jessica always has a positive attitude and is willing to help whenever needed. She is a real motivator and team player. She is the definition of “Great People Make Favorite Places.”
Exceptional Leadership Award MAY
Ben Fraczkowski, Clubhouse Services Manager
We congratulate Ben for receiving the Exceptional Leadership Award! Ben’s desire to improve clubhouse operations was apparent from the day he joined the BCC team in December 2019. The energy and experience he brought from the hotel industry has helped Ben to make a significant impact for our Club. Ben took charge and responsibility with every opportunity presented and especially thrived at identifying and improving inefficiencies in operations. Ben is a positive and solution-driven individual who represents the BCC culture of Great People Making Favorite Places.
Simple Truth Award Danny Murphy, Assistant Golf Professional & Junior Golf Leader
Congratulations to Danny for receiving the Simple Truth Award! Sometimes getting youth to enjoy golf can be tricky, but Danny’s creativity helped a young member, Jack, learn how to enjoy the sport. During previous lessons, Danny learned that he and Jack share a common interest in music production. Danny strived to connect Jack’s two passions together to make lessons more enjoyable and personal by creating golf sound bites that can be used to create music. Together, Danny and Jack learned that to get the sound they were wanting, Jack had to hit the ball harder and with more force into his shots. Way to go Danny for thinking outside the box and creating a memorable moment for one of BCC’s young members! 1
MEMBERSHIP
WELCOME TO THE CLUB! New member bios can be viewed on our website under Membership.
BCC presents our
Dr. Daniel Sack
Mrs. Kathy Sack
Mr. Ryan Siegler
PROPOSED FOR MEMBERSHIP The following prospective members were posted for membership in the Club at the July 14, 2020 virtual meeting of the Membership Committee. Proposed
Proposer
Mr. Bart Gibson
Mr. Christopher Hicks
Mrs. Denise Gibson
Mr. Christopher Hicks
Mrs. Kendall Mangan
Mr. Theodore Mangan
Do you know someone who would be a great addition to the Club? Contact Alexandra Craft, Director of Membership & Communications, at acraft@bcc1898.com or call 410.554.8004 for information on how to propose members. 2
August 2020
FREEDOM BOAT CLUB PARTNERSHIP In an effort to bring more comfort, fun, and normalcy to our members lives at a time when those things are critically needed, Baltimore Country Club is proud to announce our newest partnership with Freedom Boat Club (FBC) in effect now. This partnership will provide our members with great benefits to enjoy our waterways not only here in Maryland, but with all of Freedom Boat Club's locations nationwide! Here's just a sampling of what BCC members can expect: • Receive ongoing unlimited training by FBC certified captains no matter their boating experience or level • Reciprocal access to boats across the U.S., Canada, and France. No other club has as many locations. And no other club has as many boats • Members reserve a boat and enjoy! When members return the boat, they simply pay for the fuel. We take care of everything else • BCC Members join with a deeply discounted one time entry fee and then pay a monthly payment corresponding to their chosen plan • Choose from several styles of boats that are replaced no later than every three years and are fully equipped with the feature you want • FBC buys and maintains all boats, ensures every boat is clean and operational For more information, go to the membership page of the Club website or contact Antonio Iacampo at aiacampo@bcc1898.com.
À LA CARTE DINING
STOCK YOUR
CELLAR BCC's Food & Beverage Department was grateful to receive a special off-premise license to sell beer, wine, and spirits to our members in the midst of the COVID-19 shutdowns. We wanted to remind you we still have that license and you can take advantage to stock your home cellar. We have stock from all of our virtual spirit tastings, and several special whiskeys that are hard to find. Any members that would like to contact our Beverage Manager Patrick Owens to peek at this
collection of bourbons, ryes, and scotch can come in to see what they would like to take home. For wine lovers, we have been expanding the cellar with special selections from Powell & Son, Boedecker, Orin Swift, Foradori, RdV, CVNE, and more. Our aged Bordeaux selections include Chateau Montrose 2005, Chateau Figeac 2005, Cos d’Estournel 2005, and Clos du Marquis by LéovilleLas Cases 1990 and are all ready to grace your collection.
Are you looking for a case of something we don’t have in stock? Ask Patrick to find it for you. If it’s sold in Maryland we can find almost anything you are looking for. Take-out orders do not have service charges applied, and we try to get the most competitive values for our members. If you are interested in any of these options, please contact Patrick Owens at powens@bcc1898.com. ◆
Safety First!
For the safety of your fellow members and the BCC team, please be mindful of the safety guidelines below:
6 FT Masks must be worn indoors
A health questionnaire is required for all Club visits
Physical distancing (six feet) must be maintained at all times
PARTIES OF
6 OR LESS PER TABLE
Per the Governor's order, no more than six patrons to a table for dining (exception for members of the same household) 3
CLUB EVENTS
UPCOMING CLUB EVENTS
RSVP: Club Calendar • Cancellation policy applies unless stated otherwise • *Complimentary for children under 4 Adult Events Family Events Children's Events Featured Events This event location, time, and date is subject to change due to restrictions regarding COVID-19 Events with this symbol will be hosted virtually
6
WINE SOCIETY: ROSÉ Zoom • 6:30pm-8:00pm Free to Wine Society Members $30++ Non-Wine Society Members Additional Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual
12
TEQUILA TASTING
19
TRIVIA NIGHT (TBD) Five Farms • 6:00pm-9:00pm $45++ per Person (Includes dinner & glass of wine) Call to Make a Reservation; Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual
21
3
4
6
7
4
August
on page 6
21-22 FAMILY CAMP OUT ON THE EAST LAWN Five Farms • August 21 at 8:00pm-August 22 at 9:00am Adults $55++ | Children (4-12) $40++ (Includes Friday Pool Party buffet, overnight security, activities, non-alcoholic beverages, campfire treats, and a hearty breakfast! RSVP: Club Calendar by 8/7; Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual (Relaxed Attire After Hours); Members are Required to Bring Their Own Tent
24-28 BCC SUMMER CAMP: WEEK 10 28
FRIDAY POOL PARTY: COUNTRY HOEDOWN Five Farms Pool Complex • 6:00pm-9:00pm Adults $30++ | Children (4-12) $20++* Beverages by Chit; Pool Attire; Limited Snack Bar Available; Cancellation Policy Does Not Apply
SOLD OUT!
DIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT Five Farms Pool Complex • 7:30pm Bring the whole family to watch a movie while lounging in the pool under the stars! Complimentary Event! (Includes Popcorn) Additional Food & Beverage by Chit; Pool Attire
September
WINE SOCIETY: FOOD & WINE: THE APPLIED SCIENCE OF TASTE Zoom • 6:30pm-8:00pm Free to Wine Society Members $30++ Non-Wine Society Members Additional Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual
FRIDAY POOL PARTY: HAWAIIAN LUAU Five Farms Pool Complex • 6:00pm-9:00pm Adults $30++ | Children (4-12) $20++* Beverages by Chit; Pool Attire; Limited Snack Bar Available; Cancellation Policy Does Not Apply RED, WHITE, & BBQ CELEBRATION (Independence Day Celebration) Five Farms East Lawn • 5:00pm-9:00pm Adult Members $70++ | Adult Guests $85++ | Children (4-12) $40++* Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual; Guest Registration Begins August 15; 50% Non-refundable LABOR DAY AT THE POOL Five Farms Pool Complex 1:30pm-3:30pm & 5:30pm-7:30pm
August 2020
Adults $25++ | Children (4-12) $15++* Beverages by Chit; Pool Attire; Limited Snack Bar; COVID-19 Pool Guidelines Apply 12
DOGGY DIP Five Farms Pool Complex • 2:00pm-4:00pm Complimentary Event! (Complimentary Dog Treats) Pool Attire; Dogs Only Permitted in Pool; Dogs Must be Friendly & Spayed/Neutered; Waivers Must be Signed for All Dogs; COVID-19 Event Guidelines Apply
13
FALL PLANTERS WORKSHOP TO-GO Five Farms • 10:00am-12:00pm or 1:00pm-3:00pm $130++ Per Person Country Club Casual; 100% Non-refundable; Pickup: 9/15 from 10:00am-12:00pm & 6:00pm-7:00pm
16
TRIVIA NIGHT (TBD) Five Farms • 6:00pm-9:00pm $45++ per Person (Includes dinner & glass of wine) Call to Make a Reservation; Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual
19
CARS, COFFEE, & CREPES
on page 6
Canceling reservations 2 to 7 days prior to a Club social event results in a 50% charge of the original fee, while canceling within 48 hours results in a 100% charge, unless otherwise stated. | $++ Denotes tax & service fees
CLUB EVENTS
October
1
WINE SOCIETY: AUTUMN WINES & GAME Zoom • 6:30pm-8:00pm Free to Wine Society Members $30++ Non-Wine Society Members Additional Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual
16
TRIVIA NIGHT (TBD) Five Farms • 6:00pm-9:00pm $45++ per Person (Includes dinner & glass of wine) Call to Make a Reservation; Cocktails by Chit; Country Club Casual
23
GENTLEMEN'S NIGHT
on page 6
25
FALL FEST Roland Park • Times TBD (See Club Calendar for Updates) Activities, crafts, games, DJ, and festive buffet! Adults $50++ | Children (4-12) $35++ | Children (2-3) $25++ | Complimentary for Children Under 2 Beverages by Chit; Country Club Casual (Costumes Encouraged)
29
ADULT PUMPKIN CARVING Five Farms • 8:00pm It's time for the adults to have some Halloween fun! Make a reservation in À la Carte then carve your pumpkin. $25++ Per Person (Includes one cocktail) Additional Cocktail by Chit; Country Club Casual
31 HOWL-O-WEEN
on page 6
PRIVATE EVENTS
5
CLUB EVENTS
Puppy Costume Parade
HOWL-O-WEEN Saturday, October 31 | 4:00pm Five Farms Pool Complex
COMPLIMENTARY EVENT! costumes Encouraged!
RSVP: Club Calendar | Cancellation Policy Applies | Country Club Causal COVID-19 Event Guidelines Apply
6
August 2020
FITNESS & WELLNESS
21-Day Cleanse
BCC Resets Together is back with a 21-day program! Certified Health and Life Coach Vanessa O'Brey will guide you on this 21-day journey. Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain energy, eliminate toxins, or just feel better, this program is a great way to start!
CLEANSE BEGINS MONDAY, AUGUST 17!
Why do you need a reset? Here are some of the benefits: • • Shed excess weight • • Boost your energy • • Enhance your body’s ability to mobilize and excrete toxins • • Reduce and eliminate food cravings
Experience deeper sleep Get clearer skin Improve digestion and discover food sensitivities Happier mood and mental clarity
During your 14-day reset, you will start with strict, clean eating for seven days: Gluten
Red Meat
Alcohol
Fruits
Whole Grains
Dairy
Coffee
Soda
Vegetables
Healthy Fats
HEALTH & LIFESTYLE INVESTMENT: $99 (A limited-time special!) This program includes a 21-day cleanse e-book, step-by-step guidelines, grocery store shopping list, recipes, and tools to keep track of your goals and weekly group coaching sessions with Q&As. Jumpstart your health journey today and get one complimentary one-on-one coaching session with Vanessa. To register for BCC Resets Together, contact Vanessa O'Brey at vobrey@bcc1898.com | Maximum of 10 Participants
SENSIBLE WELLNESS FOR EVERYONE with BCC Yoga Therapist/Instructor Rebecca Printen
Saturdays | 1:00pm-2:30pm | Group Exercise Studio Join Rebecca as we explore four different aspects of wellness. Her wisdom and practical suggestions offer ways to find more wholeness and balance in our lives. INVITE - September 12 Learn to set intentions, meditate, and invite more gratitude and peace into your life.
DIGEST - October 10 Restore your body’s natural balance and learn which foods nourish your best self.
MOVE - November 7 Learn to move intelligently through yoga, weight training, and gentle cardiovascular movement.
SAVE THE DATE! REST - December 5 Maximize your body’s natural healing potential through the power of deep sleep, restorative yoga, and inviting more fun into your life.
$35 PER PERSON
Registration is required in advance via the Fitness Calendar (BCC Website) or the Calendar (BCC Mobile App) Minimum 5 participants; maximum 10 participants | Bring a mat, blanket, pen, paper, and wear comfortable clothing 7
GOLF
BE COMMITTED
to Caddies
Baltimore Country Club promotes the use of caddies to honor the origins of the game. We hope you will help support the BCC (Be Committed to Caddies) Program!
BCC CADDIE PROGRAM The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship provides a full-tuition college scholarship for caddies. This year, more than 1,000 deserving caddies across the country will attend college via this scholarship. Selected applicants must have a strong caddie record, excellent grades, outstanding character, and demonstrate a financial need. Three years ago, our very own Samantha Lannon was named an Evans Scholar and awarded a full four-year scholarship to Ohio State University. Samantha is the first caddie from Baltimore Country Club and from the state of Maryland to receive this prestigious award.
Caddie Rates per bag (includes gratuity) B Caddie | $40 A Caddie | $50
Honor Caddie | $80 Forecaddie | $30
To secure a caddie on your next round, please contact Caddie Manager Jason Hernandez at jhernandez@bcc1898.com.
The First Tee of Greater Baltimore and the Western Golf Association are collaborating with BCC for their fifth year to help facilitate growth of The Baltimore Caddie Academy (BCA). BCA provides caddie opportunities to approximately 10 trained young ladies and gentlemen from The First Tee each year. By taking a caddie or forecaddie, you are supporting demand for the program and creating job opportunities for young people in our community. Saying 'hello' to caddies you see on the course, offering encouragement, or talking up our caddie program to your fellow members will make a significant impact on the lives of these young people. These are exciting times, and we want to encourage your participation. We look forward to seeing you on the course! Please make a difference in the life of a young person in our community today and take a caddie/forecaddie the next time you visit the course! â—† 8
August 2020
of caddied rounds are requested by name— leaving half of our caddies without regular work
GOLF
TIPS FROM THE PRO By Pat Coyner, Director of Instruction Maximizing Your Fairway Wood Performance For most golfers, trying to find the right fairway woods for your game is a difficult task. Golfers of all skill levels either love or hate their 3 woods, and continue to search for the club that helps them hit long, straight shots from the fairway. What most golfers don’t realize is that the modern advancements in golf ball technology have made the traditional 3 wood obsolete for many players. Today’s golf balls spin much less than the golf balls of years past, so it takes a tremendous amount of club head speed to create the desired results with modern lofted 3 woods. Creating extra distance, especially carry distance, is all about creating the best possible dynamics at impact. If that means using a higher loft in your longest fairway wood— then so be it. It is the same principle that applies to certain golfers getting more distance from a 10.5 degree driver as opposed to an 8.5 degree driver. It’s all about optimizing your launch conditions. When looking for your next 3 wood/longest club after your driver, don’t get caught up in the loft on the club. Instead, focus on creating the best launch conditions to maximize
your ability to get the ball up in the air easily and carry the ball farther. This could mean using a higher lofted 3 wood, or even experimenting with a 4 or 5 wood as your longest fairway club. The new-found confidence will certainly lead to lower scores, and much more fun! Your Professional staff can help find the right club for your game. Please do not hesitate to contact us for help. Here’s to lower scores! ◆
UPCOMING JUNIOR EVENTS Parent/Child Tournament Saturday, August 1 1:00pm | 18-Hole Shotgun 3:00pm | 9-Hole Shotgun Cookout and awards to follow completion of play Drive, Chip, and Putt Clinic Friday, August 7 Driving Range | 5:00pm-6:00pm PGA Junior League First practice August 18 Five weeks of matches starting August 22 For more information, contact Joanna Coe at jcoe@bcc1898.com or Danny Murphy at dmurphy@bcc1898.com Junior Pro-Am Thursday, August 13 | 9:00am 9-Hole Shotgun Competition Juniors play alongside our Professional and Grounds staff in a 9-hole scramble. Ages 8-17 | $30 (Includes golf, lunch, and prizes)
Future Golfers Sunday, August 9 & 16 Practice Facility | 3:00pm-3:30pm Geared toward our youngest golfers, this clinic sparks interest through creative SNAG practice stations. Families may attend these outings together Ages 3-6 | $5 per session Girls Only Clinics Saturdays, August 15, 22 | 1:00pm-2:00pm Designed to refresh fundamentals of setup, alignment, and consistency while emphasizing fun! Ages 6-17 | $15 per session 9
GROUNDS
GREENKEEPER'S UPDATE By Tim Kennelly, CGCS, Head Greenkeeper Air movement across the playing surfaces has a strong influence on the overall health of the turf, particularly in terms of disease susceptibility and cooling of the plant. The pathogens responsible for the most destructive turfgrass diseases are far less active and damaging when air moves over the turfgrass. Once nighttime temperatures exceed 70 degrees, the fans around the greens are utilized to move air in order to keep the turf and the surface of the soil dry in these challenging growing environments. Plants stay cool in a similar fashion as humans. On a hot day, our skin is cooled as we perspire. The plant's perspiration system is called evapotranspiration which is a combination of evaporation and transpiration of water through the stomata of the pore of the leaf. Please note that for the fans to be effective, they need to be close to the green surfaces. From a playability standpoint, these fans can have an impact on the rules of golf and under the rules of golf as immovable obstructions. You can visit the Club's website under Grounds Maintenance to obtain additional information regarding turf fans and how they affect the Rules of Golf.
With the hot summer months, we are seeing the benefits of last year's resodding on the Driving Range tees with the bermudagrass coming to life! This grass is at its best between 80-95 degrees and the enclosed photos show the grass filling in the heavily divoted areas on the range tees (light green 10
August 2020
color). Because our tees on the range are small and undersized, its important that we practice properly to maximize the use of the grass on the tees. As a reminder, the linear divot pattern is the preferred method for warm up and practicing by placing each shot directly behind the previous divot. In so doing, a linear pattern is created and only a small amount of turf is removed with each swing. This can usually be done for 15 to 20 shots before moving sideways to create a new line of divots. So long as a minimum of four inches of live turf is preserved between strips of divots, the turf will recover quickly. This divot pattern removes the least amount of turf and promotes quick recovery.
Now is a critical time for divot repair on fairways and tees and everyone can play an important role in taking care of the Clubs courses. Once a divot
is taken, if intact and soil remains attached, it will most likely survive if it is placed back and tamped back in place. If the divot is destroyed and can't be replaced, fill with the divot with the seed/soil mix on the carts (including push carts) and tamp with your foot so the mix is level with the surrounding area. We appreciate your assistance and how it relates to keeping both courses in the best condition possible. As you are aware, how a golf course looks and plays is easily influenced by the current and past weather conditions. During a five-day period in late June, we received over 5.5” of rain and temperatures became more “summerlike.” In order to relieve stress from this excessive amount of rain, our staff used small venting tines on the practice and green surfaces to increase oxygen in the soil and assist in drying out the soil and putting surfaces. These tines affect approximately 1% of the surface and have little to no effect on playability. Depending on weather, our staff will continue to utilize these practices throughout the summer and fall to ensure the greens remain healthy and in the best possible condition. ◆
RACQUETS
R REGISTE NOW FOR THE E H IT H OF TER! M SUM
11
SNAPSHOT
Play More Paddle Men’s Division 2 & 3 Paddle Champions By Alexandra Craft, Director of Membership & Communications Four years ago, Jim Prey invited Roger Kelly to try a new sport: Paddle Tennis. Roger was immediately hooked. “I joined BCC for golf, but the highlight for my membership now is being part of the paddle team,” Roger Kelly proudly shared. “I love playing paddle. It’s so much fun.” A quick learner and a natural talent, Kelly immediately started as a Division 2 player. “The thing about paddle is you get better really quickly, it’s not as frustrating as golf,” Kelly shared enthusiastically.
I joined BCC for golf, but the highlight for my membership now is being part of the paddle team. As the name suggests, Paddle Tennis is an adaptation of tennis. Compared to tennis, the court is smaller and the net is lower. Rather than a strung racquet, players use a solid paddle and a depressurized ball. Because of the smaller court size, play is rapid and often reaction-based, with a strong emphasis on net play. Because of the pace of play, and a unique scoring system that results in longer matches than alternative racquet sports, paddle is a mentally challenging game of strategy. “When you’re playing paddle you step on the court and two hours later you step off and you have not thought about anything else other than hitting that next shot and strategizing with your partner,”
12
August 2020
BCC's Men’s Division 2 paddle team win the Interclub Championship on our Roland Park Paddle Courts—February 18, 2020
BCC's Men’s Division 3 paddle team win the Interclub Championship at L'Hirondelle— February 27, 2020
said Kelly. A tennis rally is a quick burst with time to reset in between, the walk between holes in golf allows for reprieve, and Kelly is quick to point out that in that time it is easy for work, bills, and outside distractions to creep in, but for him— paddle is different.
short years ago, has risen to become one of the top players at BCC and has been eager to grow the game as a Division 1 and Division 2 player himself.
Bryan Del Monte added “besides all of the camaraderie, it is also a sport that requires different thinking with the angles and the pace. It isn’t one- or two-dimensional... which makes it an interesting challenge.” With a sport where the whole court is not necessarily in play, but the walls are, Del Monte (who has been in the game for two and a half years) points out that paddle really is four-dimensional, bringing more excitement to the sport as well as added opportunities for new and engaging challenges.
The paddle players at local clubs are made up of a network of individuals with varying interests and skill levels, and BCC’s paddle community has grown rapidly. Played in the winter, the game allows athletes to build relationships and stay active even through snow, rain, and inclement weather. For many, it’s a great way to continue getting outside during the colder months following the golf season. “As soon as golf is over, we are so excited for paddle. I never thought I would have liked something as much as golf,” stated Feeley. The paddle season lasts 20 weeks, and players compete in a series of matches that culminate in a playoff determining a season champion.
In paddle the game doesn’t stop until someone makes a mistake, and in a sport where 94% of the mistakes made are by the last person to play the ball, it is no wonder that for all its similarities, paddle is a much different sport than tennis. “Tennis is a game of winners, paddle is a game of mistakes,” explained Tyler Feeley. Feeley, who began his paddle journey only five
The momentum of paddle and its growth over the past few years at BCC is truly a result of years of recruiting, encouraging, and engaging new participants in the game. “You get a few of the right people that get hooked on the game, and they get more people hooked on the game, and it just grows,” said Feeley enthusiastically. The growth the game has seen over the past five
SNAPSHOT years has allowed the divisions to become more competitive and that momentum has kept building to create the BCC champions we celebrate today.
It is pretty cool to see the support that everyone is giving each of the other teams as one club supporting each other. Only eight out of 16 area teams make it into the club playoffs each year, and in 2019, both BCC’s Division 2 and Division 3 Men’s teams played their best paddle ever down the stretch. The Division 3 team, led by Jack Keenan, saw their first playoff victory. “The Division 3 team this season absolutely dominated everybody. Through the championships they dominated the regular season and then absolutely dominated the playoffs. They didn’t lose a single match,” Feeley shared proudly. With 60 members coming out to watch the 2019 Paddle Championships as spectators, the energy was felt by all involved. “It is pretty cool to see the support that everyone is giving each of the other teams as one club supporting each other.” said Feeley. Additionally, there has also been one significant change to the paddle program in the last two years: Mark Parsons. Parsons, the #1 paddle player in the country, has been coming to BCC for the past two years to teach clinics to our paddle teams across divisions. “The Parsons Clinics took the middle of the road average (to above average) players and made them really good. I got exponentially better as a result of that clinic,” said Del Monte. In Parsons' clinics he focuses on what he calls “transitional shifting” which divides the court into panels with players shifting as a team as the ball transitions into different panels during play. In “transitional shifting” players base their movements on where the ball is, not who hits the ball, giving them a competitive edge over their opponents.
There is no mistaking that the introduction of the Parsons Clinics seemed to have had a direct correlation with Division 2 and Division 3 victories. “Having Parsons come out and do the clinics pushed us over the edge,” stated Kelly. In 2018, the year BCC introduced the Parsons Clinics to the paddle program, the Division 2 team made it to the playoffs and the team came close to victory in the finals. The following year, after an additional clinic with Parsons, the Men’s Division 2 Paddle team came back to claim their first victory in the Club Championships. Similarly, Parsons' impact on the Division 3 team was evident in their victory as well and BCC welcomed two champion teams into our ranks. Jim Prey, and the men who came before him over the past decade, have been able to grow paddle at BCC to where it is today through their tenacity and enthusiasm for the game. Paddle at BCC has grown so expansively that we’ve nearly outgrown our facilities and BCC has been challenged to keep up with the demand. “It’s gotten so big that we’ve had a hard time getting this other tier of players even into paddle, which is the crossroads we are at right now with the facility not being big enough,” stated Feeley. With a Division 3 team that performs more like most club’s Division 2 teams, finding space on the calendar for beginners has proven to be an unexpected but exciting obstacle for our paddle enthusiasts. It is incredible to see how much growth has happened in paddle in such a short amount of time, and with only two courts. The future of paddle is bright, and leaders in the paddle community are working with BCC staff to ensure there’s ample room for growth. “Now that we finally have the best Pros in the country, once the facilities meet the demand, the potential for growth in paddle at BCC is endless,” stated Director of Racquets Jarrett Chirico. Since Jarrett’s arrival two years ago there has been a significant push to improve the paddle facilities that has led to new lights and resurfacing for our
paddle courts, as well as new furniture for our Paddle Hut to enhance our member’s playing and viewing experiences.
It is incredible to see how much growth has happened in paddle in such a short amount of time, and with only two courts. Two years ago we were unable to fill a Division 3 team and our Division 2 team was mixed with players from Division 1, but now all paddle teams at BCC have a waitlist for participation. As we look to grow our facilities with BCC’s Lifestyle Facility Master Plan we will be able to add more teams, programs, and events and the potential for growth in paddle at BCC will be limitless. Once our facilities meet the demand for the sport, there is no end to how paddle can grow and increase engagement across athletics at BCC. We have an amazing opportunity to continue to grow our programs right here at BCC. If the demand for more paddle keeps increasing, the facilities will be soon to follow with members from all athletic disciplines eager to stay active through the winter months with a sport that is as fun as it is challenging. Through education, engagement, and commitment, we will continue to see sustained growth for our paddle program. And if you are looking for camaraderie and to build new relationships at the club, make sure you come down and support our paddle players in the coming seasons. Finally, in the famous words of Jim Prey, “Play more paddle!” ◆
13
Presort Standard U.S. Postage Roland Park Five Farms 4712 Club Road 11500 Mays Chapel Road Baltimore, Md 21210 Lutherville, Md 21093 www.bcc1898.com | 410.889.4400
MAIN NUMBERS
Fitness Center RP 410.554.8001 x1307 FF 410.554.8017 Golf House: 410.561.3381 Tennis House: 410.889.4474 Racquets Pro Shop: 410.467.1208
DINING HOURS
Lunch: 11:00am-3:00pm Dinner: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday: 5:00pm-9:00pm Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm-9:30pm
RESERVATIONS
For all reservations please visit www.bcc1898.com, download our mobile app via the Apple Store or Google Play Store, call 410.889.4400, or email reservations@bcc1898.com.
JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Facebook: Baltimore Country Club Instagram: @bcc1898 Pinterest: Baltimore Country Club or bcc1898
PAID
Baltimore, MD Permit No. 972