Oakwoodian Newsletter July 2025

Page 1


Photo courtesy of Diana Mullen

From the General Manager

MEMBERSHIP

DEAR OAKWOOD MEMBERS,

From the thoughtfully reimagined ground floor to the exciting new family-friendly amenities, recent updates reflect our ongoing commitment to providing a best-in-class experience for our members. What was once a vision is now ready for you to enjoy.

✨ Two Four-Bedroom Luxury Cottages perfect for hosting outof-town family and friends right here on property.

�� Expanded Sports Bar and Deck a lively place to gather with fellow members and watch the game.

�� Kids Splash Pad Experience a refreshing new favorite for our youngest members.

�� Kids Zone, Nursery, Kids Locker Rooms, and Updated Ground Floor Restrooms providing a safe, fun space for your children, plus the convenience you need.

⛳ Elevated & Expanded Golf Shop stocked with the best for your game and lifestyle.

These improvements are more than just new walls or fresh finishes they’re a reflection of where Oakwood is headed: a forwardthinking, family-friendly private club rooted in tradition but always evolving to serve you better.

We encourage you to take full advantage of these new spaces this summer. Whether it’s hosting visiting family in our beautiful cottages, enjoying a relaxing Saturday while the kids have a blast at our new Kids Zone, or unwinding with friends on the Sports Bar deck, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm during this time of growth. We can’t wait to see you enjoying all that the new Oakwood has to offer.

OVER 430 OF YOU HAVE ALREADY DOWNLOADED THE NEW OAKWOOD APP! DON’T MISS OUT AND GET THE APP NOW!

Search “Oakwood Country Club KC” in the App or Google Play Store OR scan the QR code to download.

LOGININSTRUCTIONS

USERNAME:MEMBER#

PASSWORD:lastname(alllowercase)

Login(Primary)

Username:207

Password:smith

Login(Spouse)

Username:207W(wife)or207H(husband)

Password:smith

From the Head Golf Pro

JUNE 2025 OAKWOOD GOLF EVENTS

Greetings Oakwood Members,

We’ve had a fantastic season so far, filled with exciting events and activities at Oakwood

As we head into the heat of July, we’d like to remind everyone how important it is to help keep the course in top shape. Please remember to sand and replace your divots, repair ball marks, and follow cart traffic signage whenever you’re out playing Your efforts make a big difference!

We have a packed schedule ahead for both the Big Course and the Par 3 Course Mark your calendars for these upcoming July events:

July 4: Flag Day Quota Event (Schedule your tee time with the Golf Shop)

July 9: Summer Men’s Guest Day

July 10: CCWDA Golf Association (Private Event)

July 11: Area 51 Alternate Shot (Par 3 & Putting Course)

July 15: Summer Ladies Guest Day

July 26: The Intimidator Club Championship

Please register for all events through Golf Genius.

Now that we’ve settled into our new Golf Shop, we’ve enjoyed seeing members peruse our expanded space and selection! We’re proud to offer a wide variety of apparel, equipment, and golf gadgets and don’t forget, we’re always happy to place special orders for personal needs or corporate gifts.

If there’s something specific you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!

All the best,

June Golf Spotlight

Please congratulate our June Golf Event Winners!

ACORN CLASSIC CHAMPIONS

Acorn Flight:

Lynn Poskin, Deborah Quirk, Amy McAnarney, Abby Henke (-18)

Oak Flight:

Carol Freirich, Susan Rouse, Jill Shapiro, Kathy Shapiro (-18)

Nine Hole Division:

Debbie Smith, Paula Davis, Rita Cosentino, Nancy Osborn

1881 CUP WINNERS

Titleist Flight:

1st – Blake Cooper & Trevor Taylor

2nd – Matt Streeter & Mark Hogan

TaylorMade Flight:

1st – Doug Curry & Nick Curry

2nd – Michael Clark & Peyton Warwick

Callaway Flight:

1st – Max Johnson & Jonathan Jacobs

2nd – Matt Sheridan & Mark Metz

Ping Flight:

1st – Alex Cuenca & Jeff Schmid

2nd – Max Caylor & Bryan Yourdon

Cobra Flight:

1st – Bob Bushman & Floyd Frieden

T-2nd – Harry Bosley & Howard Weiner

T-2nd – Bob Steer & Bill Krueger

Overall Champions: Blake Cooper & Trevor Taylor

Par 3 Hole-in-Ones: David Dalton, Blake Hartner, and Morgan Clark

Oakwood On the Road:

Congrats to Joe Knudson on winning the 2025 Highlander Men’s Member-Guest, and to Connor Wood for a 3rd place finish great representation for Oakwood!

From the Director of Grounds

DEAR OAKWOOD MEMBERS,

A Tale of Two Seasons

It’s been a true tale of two seasons lately first cool and rainy, now hot and humid. While the weather hasn't made outdoor plans easy, it’s par for the course here in Kansas City. The silver lining? The heat and humidity have been just what our warm-season fairways needed to heal and grow back into strong playing shape. On the other hand, our cool-season rough and greens will be on the defensive for the next couple of months.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be fertilizing the fairways to further push healthy growth. For the greens, we plan to vent with 1/8-inch tines, just as we’ve done in past seasons. This light aerification helps dry the surface and allows the roots to breathe vital during this stretch of summer stress. With a little luck, we’ll catch a break in the weather afterward and give the greens a chance to bounce back.

We’re seeing great progress on the fairways, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our agronomy team. They’ve been laying sod, aerifying, hand watering, verticutting, topdressing, and fertilizing thin spots all with the goal of getting us back to peak conditions The recent heat and humidity have only helped accelerate their results.

As always, a few quick reminders to keep our course in top shape: Please fill your divots using the sand provided on carts Repair your ball marks and maybe even one or two others while you're at it

Avoid applying sunscreen or bug spray on the turf. The aerosol propellant can cause unsightly burn spots often recognizable by two footprints right in the middle of the damage.

Thank you for your continued support and care for the course. We’re making great progress and look forward to strong summer conditions ahead.

See you on the course!

From the Director of Instruction

Are You Practicing or Just Hitting Balls?

As Director of Instruction at Oakwood, I watch a lot of players come through the Performance Center. And I see a common pattern: well-meaning golfers arrive with the goal of “getting better,” but without a clear plan, their practice quickly turns into an aimless rhythm of ball after ball with no feedback or focus

Sound familiar? The truth is, real improvement comes from structure, intention, and feedback not just repetition. So here’s a simple, effective 30-minute practice structure you can use next time you're at the range or in the Hitting Bays:

�� The 30-Minute Focused Practice Plan

1 Warm-Up with Awareness (5 minutes)

Start with 8–10 smooth swings using wedges or short irons. The goal here isn't perfection it's to wake up your body and notice how you're moving today. What feels tight? What feels solid?

Take a couple slow-motion swings to tune into tempo and balance.

2 Block Practice: One Skill, One Club (10 minutes)

Choose a club and a specific focus For example: 8-iron with the goal of controlling ball flight height

Driver with a focus on start line or face angle

Use alignment sticks or targets, and pause between shots to reflect. What did the ball do? What did you feel? Am I making adjustments, or just swinging?

3. Random Practice: Simulate the Course (10 minutes)

Now switch it up. Pick different targets, different clubs, and different shot shapes just like you'd face during a round.

Try this:

"I'm hitting a tee shot on hole 3" (Driver)

"Now I have 155 yards uphill with a breeze" (7-iron)

"Now I’m short-sided in the rough" (Wedge)

Give yourself only one ball per “scenario” make it count.

4 Finish with Scoring Shots (5 minutes)

Wrap up by sharpening the shots that lower scores: 40 yards and in Hit low chips, high pitches, and bump-and-runs to specific targets. Feel free to step onto the short game area to finish with real-world feedback.

Why This Works:

Practicing like this builds transfer the ability to take what you’re working on and bring it onto the course. It also keeps you more engaged, efficient, and motivated. Remember: Practice doesn't make perfect. Purposeful practice makes progress.

If you're not sure what to focus on in your own game, come see me or one of our instructional staff We’re here to help you play better golf not just hit more balls

Meet Our New Staff

Makayla Mudd

We are pleased to welcome Makayla Mudd to the Oakwood team!

A Kansas City native, Makayla grew up in Raymore, Missouri, and graduated from Raymore-Peculiar High School. She went on to earn her degree in Entertainment Management from Missouri State University in Springfield.

During her time in Springfield, Makayla built a strong foundation in club operations at Highland Springs Country Club, where she worked for over five years She advanced through a variety of roles from serving and bartending to management ultimately becoming Event Coordinator.

Outside of work, Makayla enjoys spending quality time with friends, family, and her two cats She loves staying active with hobbies like pickleball, golf, and hiking, and takes every opportunity to travel. When the weather turns colder, you’ll likely find her curled up with a good thriller novel, watching movies, or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.

Makayla is excited to be part of the Oakwood family and looks forward to contributing to our club’s continued growth and success. Please join us in giving her a warm Oakwood welcome!

Austin Hall Meet Our New Staff

Golf Course Maintenance Management

Please join us in welcoming Austin Hall, the newest addition to our Golf Course Maintenance management team!

After a brief hiatus to explore other passions, Austin is excited to return to the world of golf course maintenance a field he knows well and cares deeply about. His experience includes time at Quail West in Florida, as well as serving as an Assistant Superintendent at The National Golf Club right here in Kansas City.

When he's not working on the course, Austin enjoys biking, fishing, and spending quality time with his girlfriend, Anna.

We’re thrilled to have Austin on board and look forward to continuing to improve the course together with his leadership and expertise.

Summer Camp

Acorn Classic

1881 Cup

Around the Club

STEVEN SHRAWDER General Manager

Email: steven@oakwoodcountryclub org

Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 138

Direct Line: (816) 768-8656

OAKWOOD STAFF DIRECTORY

KATELYN LAWSON Assistant GM and Catering

Email: katelyn@oakwoodcountryclub org

Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 104

Direct Line: (816) 595-4066

DENISE WIPPERMAN Administrative Assistant and AR

Email: denise@oakwoodcountryclub.org

Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 100

Direct Line: (816) 595-4063

TRAVIS NAPIER Executive Chef

Email: travis@oakwoodcountryclub.org

Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 111

Phone: (816) 595-4069

TIFFANY MURPHY Food and Beverage Director

Email: tiffany@oakwoodcountryclub.org

Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 106

Direct Line: (816) 595-4065

JESS EYSTAD Director of Membership + Marketing

Email: jess@oakwoodcountryclub.org

Phone: (816) 595-4703

OAKWOOD STAFF DIRECTORY

HUNTER HAYES PGA Head Golf Professional

Email: hunter@oakwoodcountryclub org

Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 132

Direct Line: (816) 595-4072

MAUREEN FARRELL, PGA Director of Instruction

Email: Coachmogolf@gmail.com

Direct Line: (402) 209-0501

CASSIE LOWELL, PGA Lead Assistant Golf Pro

Email: cassie@oakwoodcountryclub.org

JEFF LONG Assistant Golf Pro, Tournament Director

Email: jeff@oakwoodcountryclub.org

Direct Line: (816) 761-3670

JUSTIN EVANS Assistant Golf Pro

Email: justin@oakwoodcountryclub org

Direct Line: (816) 761-3670

BRENT RACER, CGCS Director of Grounds

Email: brentracer@gmail com

Direct Line: (816) 761- 1477

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Oakwoodian Newsletter July 2025 by OakwoodCountryClubMO - Issuu