DECEMBER 2020
From all of us at North Ranch
Keeping up with the Club
Darian Cohen Board President
President’s Message
Fellow Members, Hard to believe that 2020 is almost finished…and it can’t happen soon enough! All kidding aside, it certainly has been an “interesting” year. However, when it’s all said and done, our club has navigated a most challenging environment incredibly well. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Jenny Duce and her entire management team for their hard work and dedication. They not only helped our club survive but thrive during a time of ever-changing rules and uncertainty. In addition, the Board and I share with you a sense of pride that we were able to financially support our employees during the shutdown/limited dining in March, April, and May. I know they are all appreciative for the loyalty the membership showed to them during a very stressful time financially. Of course, we didn’t just play defense this year. In April we were able to (finally) get the city to approve (on a Zoom meeting!) our plans for the Athletic Center. As previously communicated, our Architectural Drawings are in “plan check” with the city and we hope to hear back from them before the end of the year. Once the plan is accepted, we will begin the bidding and financing aspects of the project and are hoping to break ground in the first half of 2021. We have had record use of the club (historic rounds of golf, cart rentals, tennis play) and the associated sales in both the golf and tennis shops. Also, we found creative ways for members to enjoy the club with different types of events. Some of the new avenues were virtual wine tastings, dinners to be prepared at home, outdoor dining (taco and pizza night) to name a few. Our food and beverage team are committed to providing different events and offerings to keep things fresh and fun for all members. Our membership has pulled together as a community and we have had great support of our food and beverage operations. Your Board recognizes the support and voted to eliminate the 18% “house charge” on all food and beverage (except catering) to eliminate the “penalty” or “usage tax” for using the club and, instead raise dues by 5% on all membership categories. The house charge amounted to a tax (of almost 20% when you include sales tax) on members enjoying their club. The food and beverage operation is an amenity for use by all members, regardless of their individual usage. We don’t charge members a usage fee to play golf or tennis, why should we pay a fee to eat? In addition, financially it is a variable source of revenue while dues are a fixed source which enhances the quality of our earnings. For a Full Golf and Athletic Member who just spends the minimum of $1,800 per year on food/beverage the net 2
increase (dues increase net of house charge on the minimum) would be about $27/month. (Most members spend more the “minimum”!) We also will continue the food and beverage minimum of $1800 to be on an annual basis vs. $450 per quarter, to give our members flexibility when using the Club. All of these changes will go into effect January 1, 2021. Investments we are making for 2021 include Jenny and her team focusing on enhancing the member experience and we have increased the golf course maintenance budget to address noticeable deferred maintenance projects and equipment. On a personal note, as this is my final year of my Board term, I would like to thank all of you for your support and patience this year. This has been a year like no other and hopefully we are near the end of the craziness. With that, I am pleased to announce that Bill Powell has been elected as the President of the club for 2021. I know that Bill and entire Board will do a wonderful job and continue to push North Ranch to be the best we can possibly be. On behalf of the Board of Directors have a healthy and safe holiday season! Darian Cohen
Jenny Duce General manager
Manager’s Message
Dear North Ranch Members, In November, we had to adjust our operations as Ventura County went back into the Purple Tier. Thank you for your patience and understanding when we are required to adjust operationally due to new mandates. We want to remind all members that masks are required when entering the building, around the service areas, and any area where you may come into close contact with another member or employee. Masks may be removed when sitting down at your table to eat and drink. We know it can be frustrating, but our number one goal is to keep our members and staff safe. We are grateful our members who continue to support the Club and utilize golf, tennis, outdoor dining, and our events! It is also wonderful to see more kids participating in our golf and tennis programs. On the dining side, don’t forget we still offer Heat and Serve two times a week, and we are able to offer a ’la carte dinner to-go Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings! This Thanksgiving, we had record Gobble to Go orders to celebrate this year from home. A friendly reminder that all member food and beverage minimums were changed from a quarterly minimum to an annual minimum earlier this
year. All minimums must be met by December 31st. If you are not sure if you have met the minimum for the year yet, your statement will show if you have a remaining balance or not. On behalf of the employees, I would like to thank our membership for their generosity this year for your contribution to the employee year end fund. We had an amazing level of participation, and our employees will appreciate it very much when they receive their check later this month. I hope to see you and your family here at the Club through the holidays. Please stay safe, healthy, and if there is anything I can do to assist, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Best Regards, Jenny Duce General Manager
NRCC is Going Green Order yours today!
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Nicole Chapman Director of Membership
Membership
"OUR CLUB, OUR FUTURE." Preview Membership Initiative Extend An Invitation We cannot overemphasize the importance of new Member acquisition as the formula for our continued success as a private club. A strong and vibrant membership will contribute greatly to the success of our short and long-term financial performance and capital improvement goals. The “Our Club, Our Future.” marketing initiative depends upon the core tenet of “membership by invitation only” which is more than a “buzz phrase”…it forms the foundation of what makes North Ranch Country Club so special. We are requesting your assistance in introducing the lifestyle experience that defines North Ranch Country Club to your friends and associates. Thank You Rewards Referring new Members is not a simple task. It takes a great deal of time and effort. In recognition of those efforts, we would like to extend our “thank you” to Members who successfully refer new Members into the Club during the “Our Club, Our Future.” Preview Membership Initiative. As such, each referring Member will have the opportunity to enjoy monthly credits to their Club account for up to 18 months, equal to the applicable credit for each new Member they have referred into membership. The credit shall commence following payment of the initiation fee within 90 days of application by the new Member. The monthly credit may be utilized throughout the Club for all amenities and services, including reducing your monthly dues obligation. Preview North Ranch Country Club We would like your friends to experience, first-hand, everything 4
we have to offer at North Ranch Country Club. Prospective new Members will have the privilege of “Previewing” the Club for 12 consecutive months, without the payment of an up-front initiation fee. During their preview term, their only responsibility will be the dues, fees and charges applicable to the category of membership in which they are approved. If they decide to purchase their membership within 90 days of application, they will enjoy the preferred initiation fee. UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! Current Social or Athletic Members may upgrade their membership to the desired Golf Membership classification during the “Our Club. Our Future.” Membership Initiative. Current Social or Athletic Members shall pay the difference between the initiation fee paid for their current membership and the Preferred Initiation Fee being offered during the marketing initiative. The upgrading Member shall also enjoy the applicable credit to their account for 18 months, upon the payment of the initiation fee and the applicable new Golf membership dues structure. Again, we appreciate your continued support of the Club’s efforts in membership. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Chapman or Rick Siemons in the Membership Department with any questions at (805) 496-1995 or nchapman@northranchcc.org or rsiemons@northranchcc.org.
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Mauricio Recinos Director of F&B
Food & Beverage Festive Holiday Pairings
As we transition into the holiday season, here are some classic and fun pairings!
Ham and Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir can be so diverse depending on which region it is produced from. Even certain vineyard plots that are feet away from each out can completely change a final wine due to the transparency of this grape. For ham, one of our favorite pairings is Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Oregon can produce a spicier version of Pinot and can complement a honey baked ham well. Some of our favorite producers are: Oregon: Domaine Serene, Archery Summit, Domaine Drouhin
Prime Rib and Cabernet Sauvignon or Rioja
The traditional pairing with prime rib is Cabernet Sauvignon. With its big body and tannin structure, Cabernet Sauvignon compliments prime rib well. Rioja, however, tends to have more acidity which does the same trick in cutting through the prime rib, just in a different way. Rioja is also a bit more savory and can go great with a rosemary or herb crust. Some of our favorite producers are: Cabernet Sauvignon: Heitz Cellars, Diamond Creek, The Mascot Rioja: La Rioja Alta, Marques de Murrieta, Muga
Lamb and Merlot-Based Blends
Due to lamb being a leaner and gamier meat, Merlot’s green undertones and softness make it a great pairing. I would lean towards a more old-world style of Merlot since it can overripen in California very easily and take over the savory notes of lamb. There are still some great versions coming out
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of Napa as well that can be very similar to Bordeaux. Some of our favorite producers are: California: Long Meadow Ranch and Hudson Bordeaux: Chateau La Pointe, Chateau Clinet, ChateauPavie-Macquin
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Jodi FOss Director of Events
Member Events
Season’s Greetings to you and your family! We are looking forward to a joyous month creating safe holiday memories in the best ways that we can in 2020. We're starting the season with our Family Frozen Night, and we won’t stop there! The Holidays are so very special, even during the pandemic, as we get to see all the families and children enjoy their Club during this special time of the year. We are looking forward to a healthy and happy 2021 and will start January off with a few fun events in celebration of the New Year. See you at the Club!
Upcoming events in December: Family “Frozen” Night Wednesday, December 2 4:00 - 6:00 PM Enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride with your family and other festivities, including snow sledding and more. New this year, the kids will enjoy “Build a Snowman”," take pictures with Elsa, Anna and Olaf, balloons for the kids and take home memorable Holiday photos. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served. Dinner will be offered To-Go to enjoy with your family at home after all the festivities. There is a 1 hour time limit for all families and safety procedures and strict policies will be implemented to ensure a safe environment for all families. There will be staggered times starting at 4pm, 4:30pm 5pm, 5:30pm and 6pm $64.99++ adults $29.95++ children Reservations are for Members and Family Members only. Children’s Gingerbread House Decorating Class Saturday, December 5 at 10:00 AM & 1:00 PM Don’t miss our annual children’s hands-on Gingerbread House decorating class. All children will receive a Chef ’s hat and apron to look the part of a real Pastry Chef. At the end of the event each child will take home their very own beautifully decorated Gingerbread House to enjoy for the Holidays. $48++ Reservations are for Members and Family Members only.
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Holiday Luncheon and Boutique Wednesday, December 9 12:00 – 2:00 PM Join us for an exclusive Holiday Ladies Luncheon with complimentary champagne and Holiday instrumental music in the background. Enjoy shopping at the Holiday Boutique for your last minute Holiday gifts! 12:00 – 2:00p.m. Please indicate who you would like to sit with when you sign up. Reservations are for Members and Family Members only $46 Holiday Family Movie Night Saturday, December 12 at 5:30 PM Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and bundle up for a fun movie, "The Grinch," under the stars. Pre-ordered box dinners for purchase are optional. Beverages will also be available for purchase the night of. $14.99pp++ Popcorn and candy included. Holiday Festivities with Santa and Mrs. Claus Sunday, December 13 4:00 - 6:00 PM Enjoy the magic of the holidays at the Club. Bring the family and watch the kids have fun on the pony rides, slides, a holiday train, balloons, take home pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus and more. The kids and family will sit on a sleigh while Santa and Mrs. Claus stand behind them for photos. Dinner will be offered to-go to enjoy with your family at home after all the festivities. There is a 1 hour time limit for all families and safety procedures and strict policies will be implemented to ensure a safe environment for all families. There will be staggered times starting at 4pm, 4:30pm 5pm, 5:30pm and 6pm
$64.99++ adults $29.95++ children Reservations are for Members and Family Members only. Holiday Ruinart Champagne Event Wednesday, December 16 at 6:00 PM The House of Ruinart is unlike any other. It was the first established House of Champagne in 1729 and inspired by the intuition of a monk well ahead of his time. His nephew, Nicolas Ruinart gave rise to an enterprise and created the world’s first Champagne Company that continues to flourish 300 years later. Chef will provide elegant hors d’oeuvre plates to pair through the tasting. Reservations are for Members and Family Members only. All wines will be offered for sale with guaranteed delivery prior to December 24th. What a perfect way to celebrate the Holidays! Cheers! $130++ New Year’s Eve Dinner Thursday, December 31 5:00 – 8:00 PM Reservations Ring in the New Year at the Club under the Patio Tent with a Pre-Fixe, New Year’s Eve Dinner. DJ Mark Ray will provide background music and we’ll have fun table celebration cheer. Toast at the end of your dinner with a complimentary glass of champagne. Sign up under dinner reservations. Limited seating available. $130++pp.
Save the date and we will follow up with more details on these upcoming January events: Wednesday, January 13 Intimate Floral Class - Build your own gorgeous Floral centerpiece to bring home and enjoy. Our experienced floral designer will guide you in building your very own custom centerpiece. Champagne and Cheese Plate included. 5:30 – 6:30pm, $79.99++ Sunday, January 17 Family Bingo Night and Dinner, 5pm – 7pm Back by popular demand, join us for a fun night out with the family at the Club. We will start with a three course dinner followed by Bingo. Adults $39++, Kids $19.95++, Age 10 and under bingo cards $5 each. Wednesday, January 20 Patron Mixology Class and Dinner on the Patio 5:30pm - Join us for a fun evening on the Patio. Mixologist, Rosie Ruiz has worked with and was mentored by some of the industry’s top professionals. Rosie has since collaborated diligently with James Beard Award winning chefs and created menus for Patron Secret Dining Society and numerous A-list events. Rosie will educate us on Patron’s tequila and teach us how to make her favorite cocktails. She will take us through three cocktails paired with Chef Karl’s cuisine. $85++
COME TO TACO TUESDAYS! From 4:00-6:00 PM
Join us on the downstairs patio every Tuesday for Antonio’s Famous A la Carte Taco Bar and Specialty Margaritas. (Available for takeout as well)
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Tania Trombetta Director of Catering
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Catering
Darren Miller Director of Tennis
Tennis
As 2020 comes to an end, the Tennis Staff would like to thank you again for your continued support through this tough year. We only hope that we could give you an outlet and a place to come and have fun and get rid of some stress! We still have some programming in place for the remainder of the year, but things seem to change on a weekly basis. Here is December at a glance: December 4th – Ladies Holiday Round Robin and Luncheon December 12-13th – “Singles Bells” 1st Annual Adult Singles Tournament December 14-18th – Winter Kids Camp December 21-23rd – Winter Kids Camp Lastly, a friendly reminder to please adhere to the dress code policy and wear a mask while at the Club. Please stay safe and Happy Holidays to you and your family! Work Hard…Play Smart!!! Darren
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Scott Miller Head Golf Pro
Golf PERSONAL BEST AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Dear NRCC Members, If you have not heard yet, I am excited to announce that the 42nd Annual Southwestern Intercollegiate Invitational hosted by Pepperdine University will be televised on the Golf Channel. The event will be held January 24th -27th, 2021 and aired live on the Golf Channel from 1:30pm-4:30pm each day. The Club will host the College-Am event on Sunday 24th and the Southwestern Collegiate Stroke Play event will be taking place Monday thru Wednesday. We will be closing the courses and practice areas to the Membership on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th, so please plan accordingly. Also, keep an eye out for the College-Am sign up in late December. It fills up quickly, so mark your calendar now. The event needs volunteers who will either be a walking scorer for a group or shuttle players in between the Oaks and Lakes courses. The group scorer will need to walk with the group for all eighteen holes and enter scores electronically after each hole. There are twenty-two playing groups, so we need quite a few volunteers for Monday thru Wednesday. If you are interested or want more information, please email me at smiller@northranchcc.org. MEN'S LEFTOVER TURKEY SHOOT Fall is here and the tradition must continue! Even if we have to change up the format. • Tee Times will be all throughout the day and each foursome will be required to book their own tee time. • Valley-Oaks Rotation • Format is 4 Man 1-2-3 Best Ball (All Players will play off their current Handicap) • Sign up in Foursomes or Twosomes. If you don’t have 4, we will pair you…Send me your teams. • $60 buy in per man. $240 PER TEAM. Click Here to Sign Up 2019-2020 Player of the Year Results – Congratulations to Mitch Stanton on dethroning 3-time Player of the Year, Dan Ragsdale. Mitch added two majors to his resume, which included 2019 Member-Member with playing partner Brandon Hill and the 2019 Individual Match Play! Click Here for Full Results 14
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Basu Ghosh carded his third career ace on Lakes #3 from the White tee. He hit a smooth driver that landed short of the green and then rolled straight into the hole!
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Rich Rosenthal carded his personal best 9-hole score on the Lakes with a solid 39 from the White tees. If you have a personal best or achievement that you would like to share, please stop in the office (door is always open), call (extension 237) or email me (smiller@northranchcc.org). DRESS CODE REMINDER Proper Golf Attire is required in all golf areas. Men must have shirts tucked in and hats facing forward. Ladies shirts must have a collar or sleeves. Denim of any color, jeans, or exercise apparel is NOT permitted. TOURNAMENT RESULTS Men’s Individual Match Play Update We have reached the Finals! Final match deadline is December 29th, please plan accordingly. Gross Brackets Blue Brackets White Brackets Men’s Club Championship The 2020 Men's Club Championship is in the books! Weather conditions proved to be tough this year, as this is the first time in 13 years the championship was held in November. High winds and cool conditions tested the patience of the 95 participants that were vying for the coveted championship title. Despite the horrible weather conditions, there were some good scores posted. Coming out on top in the Gross division was 4-time champ, Craig Steinberg. Craig posted a 54-hole score of 4-over par, which proved to be more than enough to beat defending champ Dan Ragsdale by 9 shots. On the net side of play, Kevin Flahavan fired a 1-under
total of 213 to win his first Net Club Championship. His 1-under par on the final day was good enough to edge out playing partner, Ryan Nedrow, by one stroke!
Full Results:
Also, taking place was our Boys Junior Club Championship for ages 14-17. It was a 36-hole competition from the Black tees. Although, the field was small it was extremely competitive. Nick Benton battled through the tough conditions to capture his first Junior Club Championship. Congratulations to all the Flight winners and to all the participants who grinded through the awful weather and completed all three rounds! Click Here for Full Results Couples Club Championship The Couples Club Championship was held last month with eighteen couples vying for the Championship. Good news, there were no divorces, and everyone is still happily married! For the first time in many years there were two new champions in both the Gross and Net divisions. Congratulations to Gary Auer & Kay Ko on defeating defending champs and 10-time winners, Steve & Robin Krieger in the Gross division! Also, congratulations to Raul & Tracy Orue on capturing their first Net division championship! Special thanks to Robin Krieger, Tournament Chair, for putting together such a great event. See you at the Club! Scott Miller, PGA Head Golf Professional
Upcoming Events and Holidays December 3rd December 4th December 5th December 10th December 17th-18th December 24th December 25th
Ladies Holiday Classic Guest Day Golf Shop Holiday Sale Men’s Leftover Turkey Shoot Women’s General Meeting & Scramble Merfeld Cup Christmas Eve (Course Open) Christmas Day (Course Closed)
General Manager.............................................................Jenny Duce, x 201 Director of Membership....................................... Nicole Chapman, x 202 Tourn. & Member Sales ............................................ Rick Siemons, x 319 Controller ........................................................ Jonathan Westbrook, x 205 Director of HR ...................................................... Tatiana Trujeque, x 216 Director of Facilities............................................... Brian McMurtry, x 262 Director of Events and Member Relations....................... Jodi Foss, x 220 F&B Director ........................................................ Mauricio Recinos, x 012
Tee Times 8am-5pm TBD TBD TBD *All carts must be in by 3:00pm
Catering Director ................................................. Tania Trombetta, x 253 Executive Chef................................................................... Karl Holst, x 269 Executive Sous Chef................................................ Enrique Alonso, x 213 Head Golf Professional...................................................Scott Miller, x 237 Superintendent............................................Ryan Bentley, (805) 497-4495 1st Assistant Golf Pro.....................................................Keefe Marrs, x 210 Assistant Golf Pro.....................................................Cortney Shrout, x 218 Director of Tennis ......................................................Darren Miller, x 251
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Women’s Golf This has been a very busy golf month with a plethora of events to participate in. SPOOKY HALLOWEEN GUEST DAY Our members and guests had a delightful time playing golf with friends and, more importantly, in picking out a unique costume to wear on the course. Thank you Diane Kane for the marvelous decorations and tee prizes. The winners are: • Robin Krieger, Leslie Welk, Julie Webster and Amy Wissmann • Jill Pfannkuch, Angela Lee, Aeri Lee and Vivian Lee • Suzy Hillshafer, Susie Casey, Mary Pat Yatsko and Wendy Sullivan • Stacey Allen and Lynda Asher • Wenji Hyde, Laura Ahn, Jill Johnson and Pam Jankorski • Janet Johnson, Joani Dempsey and Carrie Tsai PRESIDENT’S CUP
The flight winners are: • Wanda Smythe and Jill Pfannkuch • Diane Kane and Aeri Lee • Janet Johnson and Joani Dempsey • Jennifer Naylon and Marilyn Stoll PLAYERS CUP Twenty four players earned the right to play in this event from points earned during the year. The game format is INDIVDUAL STABLEFORE. The players are: Stacey Allen, Elizabeth Bergman, Kathy Bosse, Dori Chiang, Louise Conley, Dee Degen, Joani Dempsey, Carolyn Felger, Ivy Greenstein, Wenji Hyde, Jill Johnson, Diane Kane, Agnes Kim, Kay Ko, Robin Krieger, Aeri Lee, Jennifer Naylon, Tracy Orue, Lynn Ridzon, Tammy Snyder, Tara Tyrrell, Michele Vojtech, Julie Webster. The winner will be announced during the General Meeting on December 10. TURKEY SHOOT The largest payout sweeps game of the year. Everyone wins. DECEMBER SWEEPS
Winner: Wenji Hyde and Tara Tyrrell The champs scored a consistent 66-6664 for a total of 196 on this competitive 3 days partner’s net event. The runner’s up were Janet Johnson and Joani Dempsey who were only one stoke behind with 65-6468. So close…..so competitive…..so much fun. Congratulations to all.
1 Low Gross/Low Net (Players Tees) 3 Holiday Classic Guest Day 8 Fewest Putts. Count only strokes taken with a putter on the green. ½ HDCP 10 General Meeting and Scramble 15 Tee to Green. Total all strokes except those on the green. ½ HDCP 17 Three Blind Mice. Throw out your three worst holes. No sweeps for the remaining of the year. Plays from the Red Tees unless otherwise indicated. To qualify for sweeps money please email Melissakimball1@yahoo.com. One person per group email all the group players information. Please send no later than three days after the day of play. Include date of play, handicap for the tees played, game score and names of players. 17
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