VOLLEYBALL RETURNS TO THE CLUB
STANDARDS COMMITTEE
REPORT
The Olympic Club Standards Committee is charged with responding to reports of Club members’ conduct that violates our rules and behavior expectations, and making recommendations to the Board of Directors for sanctions that go beyond a letter of warning or letter of reprimand. When any member abuses our standards of decorum or any other measure designed to create a harmonious environment at the Club, it adversely impacts all members.
Over the past two months, the Club has addressed the following disciplinary incidents:
f Failure to register family members as guests.
f Junior member used facilities not permitted for Junior members (jacuzzi), left items unattended in locker room, had unauthorized guest and lied about age (five separate incidents).
f Argumentative and verbally abusive toward staff member.
f Failure to check in member and guest at the Golf Shop prior to golfing.
The Board takes very seriously its responsibility to maintain civility among our members and to uphold a safe and pleasant work environment for our staff. The volunteers on the Standards Committee are likewise committed to fairly reviewing reported issues and maintaining the values of our Club. The Board prefers to use its time focusing on its role in strategic planning for the future of The Olympic Club, but, as provided by the Bylaws, it will vigilantly address disciplinary issues if and when necessary to ensure that a harmonious environment is maintained at the Club.
IN MEMORIAM
RAYMON YORK
Passed away January 24 Member since 1968
PAST PRESIDENT
MARTIN LABAGH
Passed away June 18 Member since 1968
KEVIN GENO
Passed away June 20 Member since 1995
OLYMPICS UPDATE
Since we published the July Olympian, we learned that Quinn Woodhead will be an alternate for Team USA in water polo. Congratulations to Quinn!
Left: Construction began on the Cliffs Course shortgame practice area in July to enhance the quality of the green. The project will enlarge the putting surface, create more level ground for chipping and reshape the practice bunker with new sand. Photos by Jared Kief.
Right: The Golf Architect Advisory Committee met at Lakeside on June 22 to walk the property and discuss Jim Urbina’s study for renovating the Ocean and Cliffs Courses. See more on page 2.
Cover: Bailey Steger, commissioner of the new volleyball program, serves at the OC’s first tournament at Santa Cruz Main Beach. She hopes this tournament is the first of many, as the program continues to grow in both indoor and beach volleyball. Photo by Missy Bystrom, Contributing member.
OLYMPIAN EDITORIAL STAFF
www.olyclub.com
Creative Manager/Editor-in-Chief
Robin Cheung (rcheung@olyclub.com)
Editor/Writer
Christine U’Ren
Contributing Writers
Kevin Bresnahan, Bob Del Torre, Andrew T. King, Hannah Ly, Camryn Mackey, J.P. Morgan, Jessica Smith, Gerry Stratford
Contributing Photographers
Missy Bystrom, Gene Choi, Hannah Ly, Norman Ng, Naoko Watanabe
OLYMPIC CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Malia Lyle, Vice President Martin Connolly, Secretary-Treasurer Andrew K. Gordon, Renée C. Baker, Molly J. Hellerman, Mark S. Kelly, Peter R. Mertz, Stephen R. Papale, Michael W. Soza, Eric Starr, Dennis M. Williams
CONTENT SUBMISSION
The OC’s Communications team depends on submissions from members to produce the Olympian magazine and website. All members are encouraged to contribute. If you have a story to share, an event to cover, or a member’s OC achievements to highlight, please send it to olympian@ olyclub.com with the subject line “[Month] Olympian Submission” for consideration.
Stories should be 300–600 words on Clubspecific activities. Please include high-resolution photos if available, with appropriate captions and photo credits. Content is due one month before publication. While we cannot publish every submission, we strive to use as many as possible in the magazine and on our site. We look forward to hearing from you!
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CONTACT US
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OLYMPIAN (ISSN 0030–2163) is published monthly for $49.20 per year (single copies $4.10 each) by The Olympic Club at 524 Post Street, San Francisco, California 94102. Phone 415.345.5100. Periodicals Postage Paid at the Post Office at San Francisco, California. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Olympic Club, 524 Post Street, San Francisco, California 94102. For prompt delivery of the magazine, Olympians should please notify the Membership Department of any change of address at 524 Post Street, San Francisco, California 94102 or email Membership at membership@olyclub.com. The views and opinions expressed in the Olympian are solely of its respective authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect those of The Olympic Club. © 2024 THE OLYMPIC CLUB. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED.
Dear Fellow Olympians,
As summer draws to a close, our Independence Day Celebration feels like yesterday, with over 500 attendees enjoying a perfect San Francisco evening, without fog! The event featured a massive bouncy house, a DJ and great food, all thanks to our amazing staff. Surveys confirmed the joy Olympians and their families felt celebrating our country and Club.
Kudos to Bobby Savulich, his team and our member and employee volunteers for making the 47th Trans Tahoe Relay the largest ever, with over 220 six-person teams (many donning OC caps), crossing the lake in 67 F water. This event is truly impressive.
Congratulations to Junior swimmer Amanda Vu for qualifying last month for the Winter Junior Nationals Championships! Way to go, Amanda!
Our 2022 Olympian Award for Athletic Achievement recipient, Cat Breed, and Coach Mike Keck organized the first Sea Camp for our Junior members, filled with activities such as breathwork, ocean swimming and a visit to the Marine Mammal Center.
Far from the ocean, 12 members represented us proudly last month at the Pan-American Masters Games in Cleveland, Ohio, competing in various sports. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our athletic prowess on a global stage. From Lisa Lohre: “I was excited to represent the Club along with my doubles partner, Caitlin Beatty, in the women’s doubles division in tennis. It was so exciting to see other Olympians competing in various sports, including golf, swimming, bowling, pickleball and others. Of course, we cheered each other on as much as possible. The games are a great opportunity to show one’s athletic excellence on a global stage, competing against other Americans and international athletes.
Hopefully we will have many more members competing in the future.”
The Lakeside kitchen remodel is making progress, and our staff deserves special recognition for operating out of a mobile kitchen. We appreciate everyone’s patience during this transition. I am in awe of the flexibility of our cooks and servers, and their ability to adapt.
As summer brings a quieter atmosphere to the City and the Club, consider utilizing our reciprocal club benefits for summer travel. It’s a great way to explore new cities and stay active.
I’ve been meeting with former presidents to learn about the challenges and successes faced by the Club during their time on the Board. Many initially comment, “the Club is so much different today than it was when I was president.” And then we compare notes and recognize that many common themes remain the same: how do we keep this special place intact? How do we move forward while honoring our unique and important history? One of the five pillars of our Strategic Plan, to “Increase our relevance and appeal to future generations while balancing the priorities of existing members,” resonates today, just as it did many years ago. It is my goal, along with your dedicated Board, to do just that.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to making The Olympic Club a special place. Here’s to a memorable end to summer and to the exciting times ahead. Cheers,
Malia Lyle
As a follow-up to Malia’s message to membership in June, we wanted to update you on some of the specifics of the proposed renovation of the Lakeside golf facilities, and updated timelines.
The Golf Architect Advisory Committee received Jim Urbina’s golf course study, consisting of his initial concepts, hole by hole, of the Ocean Course. The study also confirmed his suggested routing and renovation (bunkering, tee-grounds, etc.) of the Cliffs Course.
The committee, under Steve Meeker, met on-site at Lakeside on June 22 to walk the property and discuss some of the important aspects of the study: the hole and green configurations and added features (e.g., dunes and bunkering). The committee wanted more attention given to the practice facilities and to be more explicit about how any expanded range would impact the course, especially the 15th green and the back of the 16th tee.
The feelings of the committee were unanimously positive. Urbina came back to Lakeside and spent the week of July 7 here to direct the reconfiguration of the practice green on the Cliffs. Troy Flanagan also met with him for further discussions on the study.
The deliberations are right on schedule: the committee hopes to propose a plan for the Ocean and Cliffs Course, along with the practice facility, to the Board for preliminary approval this summer. We hope to make a presentation to the membership in the fall, and then solicit feedback from the members before final Board approval. If approved, we will continue to work toward obtaining approvals from the applicable state and local authorities.
Martin Connolly & Eric Starr
VOLLEYBALL RETURNS TO THE CLUB
by Hannah Ly, photos by Missy Bystrom (Contributing member)
The year is 2021. Bailey Steger just returned to the Bay Area after playing Division I volleyball at Loyola Marymount University while earning her bachelor’s degree and playing for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga while earning her MBA. She had been an Olympic Club member for multiple years — as the daughter of a very passionate 50-year member, it was only natural that she took advantage of the Club’s world-class facilities. When she started to use the Club more frequently after college, she joined the women’s basketball league for fun.
The new volleyball program will focus on beach volleyball in the spring and summer, and indoor volleyball during the fall and winter. Many athletes, like Erin McGannon, have more experience in indoor volleyball, but enjoy getting time to play on the beach for tournaments and open sessions.
Top: The open sessions have been attended by players of all abilities and ages, allowing each athlete to strive to improve.
Middle: Christian Wiedemann has always had a love for volleyball, and he’s thrilled to play the sport competitively again.
Bottom: After years of trial and error, Commissioner Bailey Steger is excited to see both the indoor and beach volleyball sessions flourish.
“It opened up my eyes to the social opportunities within the athletic programs at the Club — how I could establish a community there, which really motivated me to branch out,” Steger said.
Despite the OC’s impressive array of sports, Steger felt like something was missing.
“My dad said, ‘There are holes for volleyball poles in the gyms. I’m sure they have some nets available, so you could probably start something,’” Steger remembered.
And thus, the idea to revive volleyball as an official sport at The Olympic Club was set into motion.
A TRIBUTE TO TEAMS PAST
Volleyball is not new to the Club — by a long shot. There was a Club volleyball team as far back as 1922, and as the sport grew in popularity in the U.S., the OC team found a bit of success on the amateur circuit.
USA Volleyball (USAV) Hall of Famers, All-Americans and other volleyball greats graced the OC team and walked the hallowed halls of the Club, ultimately winning the Club’s first and only national championship title for volleyball in 1980. The 1980 team, eventually inducted into the OC Hall of Fame in 2014, included names like Tom Duralde (All-American 1978), Steve Suttich (All-American 1978), John Bekins and Fred Sturm (both two-time NCAA champions at UCLA), Mike Blanchard (two-time Pepperdine All-American),
Gerald Gregory (future USAV Hall of Famer), and future 1984 gold medalists Dusty Dvorak and Marc Waldie.
The Club has had a successful history in the volleyball world. Tom Krause, who led the star-studded 1980 team, was a proud longtime Olympian and a member of the U.S. National team from 1973–1975. He also won a gold medal with the U.S. team in the North-Central American and Caribbean Zone Championship in 1973 while he was a member.
Al Monaco, who was also inducted to the OC Hall of Fame in 2011, played for the Club through the 1960s, when the team was ranked among the top 10 in the nation. He later became the first executive director of the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA, the former name of USAV) and helped lead the national teams to win multiple Olympic medals, while serving in multiple positions for the USVBA from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Butch May, father of USAV star Misty May-Treanor, spent some time at the Club as a member, as well.
Yet, in the 21st century, volleyball is not an official OC sport. The program gradually disappeared when the Club decided to focus their strengths elsewhere, and volleyball ended up losing its commissioner in 1982.
COMING BACK TO THE COURT
As with most things at the Club, the idea of bringing back volleyball comes back around every couple of years. Time and time again, members noticed those holes in the Post Street Gym and proposed a version of a revived volleyball program to the Athletic Committee.
But none of the previous proposals seemed to stick. “It was more like, ‘We want to play volleyball. We’d love it if we could go to the Club and play volleyball,’” Shawn Dahlem
recalled, thinking of all the previous failed volleyball proposals. Dahlem is currently the Athletic Captain and has participated in Club governance since 2000. “There wasn’t this kind of effort of ‘We want to build this as a more competitive sport going forward.’”
In 2021, Steger reached out to the new Athletic Director, Nick Lusson, to pick his brain about potentially bringing back volleyball. In their initial research phase, Lusson and Steger formed a group of about a dozen interested members and hosted open gyms to gauge the potential for this new program. The group featured existing members who were volleyball enthusiasts, as well as multiple college volleyball players, including the future Deputy Commissioner Mackenzie Albrecht.
“My dad encouraged me,” Albrecht remembered. “He said, ‘There’s no volleyball program, but there are these open gyms.’ And so, I decided to start going, met Bailey, and it was just so much fun.”
competitive, and I always left feeling good,” Annie said.
Lau, who wasn’t a member at the time, heard about the open gyms from her father, and coincidentally, she already knew Annie from when they played on the St. Ignatius (SI) indoor volleyball team together. Lau had been playing volleyball for the majority of her life, and she was happy to see that the Club was offering time to play the sport that she loved.
Both women saw the open gym sessions as valuable time to practice at a high level as they prepared for their college teams. “It was mainly a lot of older players who had college-level experience, so I was able to go to those and play with players who had a lot of experience, and obviously that helped me get so much better,” Lau said.
But, due to scheduling complications, volleyball naturally faded away once again. “Since we had such a small member group and we were running the open gyms on Sunday nights when there wasn’t a ton of foot traffic in the
“I always felt the level of play [at the open gym sessions] was really competitive, and I always left feeling good.”
— Annie Steger
The group that came to the open gym sessions ranged in both age and abilities, both former college players and up-and-comers. The younger players included Annie Steger, Bailey’s younger sister, and Natalie Lau, both recruited to play on college volleyball teams at Colorado College and UC Berkeley, respectively. Annie Steger had the same passion for volleyball as her sister and took advantage of the extra playing time. “I always felt the level of play was really
Club, people weren’t really walking past and stopping in and asking to play,” Steger said.
In 2023, Albrecht formally joined the Club. Coming from a family of members, and as a D-I volleyball player from UC Berkeley, Albrecht knew that she would fit right into the Club’s membership, with its strong Golden Bear community and phenomenal athletic offerings. As part of that first volleyball interest group, she was eager to see a volleyball initiative flourish.
Albrecht already had amateur volleyball experience, both in play and on the business side. As a former coach at a local volleyball club, she knew how to efficiently form a team and navigate its budgeting needs. She partnered up with Steger to try to push for a volleyball team one more time, and the pair went back to Lusson determined to make the program a real, permanent thing. “Bailey was one of my sponsors [for membership], and we decided to kick it into gear,” Albrecht said.
THE PLAYBOOK
Elyssa Pedote, a member of the Athletic Committee and now volleyball liaison, heard rumors of an upcoming proposal for volleyball and was eager to learn about it. “It was a no-brainer that we used to have a team, and
that we should have one moving forward,” Pedote said.
Dahlem was skeptical when the idea was brought up. “I know there have been times where [volleyball] had momentum and lost momentum and had momentum,” Dahlem said, looking back at his long tenure with the Club. “But once [Albrecht and Steger] got into their plan and I saw their enthusiasm, I thought, ‘Okay, here are two people who really want to get this going, and they’re going to do anything to make it happen.’”
Steger and Albrecht jumped through many hoops and red tape to convince the Athletic Committee to approve their proposal. The program would focus on beach volleyball in the summer, to avoid scheduling conflicts with basketball, and, luckily, the team could
take advantage of the public sands at nearby Ocean Beach.
The soon-to-be commissioners included a robust plan for competitive play that would help them form an official Club team. The plan broke up the 18-month pilot program into six-month increments. The first six months would focus on getting participation and building numbers by hosting open gyms and casual tournaments. The next six-month increment would focus on building an elite indoor volleyball team that would travel to tournaments, fitting the timeline slated, as those six months would be in the fall and winter. The final portion would come back to beach volleyball as the weather warms up, and the commissioners would continue building the team for both versions of the sport.
The Athletic Committee approved the pilot program for volleyball soon after Steger and Albrecht presented their proposal. The committee passed it along to the Board, who approved it in March 2024, and “they all said it was the easiest yes that the Board has ever had,” Steger said. From there, the commissioners announced a launch party to garner interest in the new team.
Christian Wiedemann and Adam Simon were both intrigued by the idea of a volleyball team at the Club. Wiedemann had been a member for over a decade, initially joining as an Athletic member to play for the OC men’s basketball team after playing center at Columbia University. However, he was always interested in volleyball, and he played both in high school and college. “I’ve always enjoyed volleyball more in some ways. It just has a different atmosphere to it,” Wiedemann said.
Simon was in the same boat. He had joined the Club to take advantage of the squash courts
The open beach volleyball sessions at Ocean Beach have been overwhelmingly successful. These casual sessions give players a chance to practice with all different types of athletes, and make new friends.
at City Clubhouse, but volleyball had always been a sport he enjoyed. “I was actually surprised that volleyball wasn’t an official sport when I joined,” he said. Simon had grown up playing volleyball on the beaches of Chicago, so when he and Wiedemann learned about the launch party, they both signed up.
Tons of people came to the May 22 event, including members and guests, from casual players to some of Albrecht’s former Cal teammates and other highlevel athletes. “We know the Bay Area just has such a rich population of very skilled volleyball players,” Albrecht said. “Through Bailey’s social network, my social network and working with college coaches in the area, we were able to just start getting the word out to folks who are interested in becoming Olympic Club members.”
With overwhelming support from the membership and the greater volleyball community, Steger and Albrecht introduced their new program and prepared for the next 18 months.
GAME TIME
Since the program’s formal introduction to the Club, the commissioners have hosted both open beach sessions and indoor open gym sessions, and each has seen enthusiastic and growing participation. At one Monday night indoor session, more than 20 people came. “We used to struggle to get 12 people for six-on-six,”
Middle: Alice Taylor, freshly graduated from high school, is taking advantage of the chance to play against other high-level athletes before she plays on UCSC’s volleyball team in the fall.
Bottom: Adam Simon grew up playing volleyball in Chicago, so when the Club announced the new program, he jumped at the chance.
Top: Colorado College player Annie Steger has the same passion for volleyball as her sister Bailey, and she was excited to play in her first beach volleyball tournament in a long time.
Steger remembered. A small community has come out of these sessions, too. After playing, some members will grab a drink in Article III or a nearby dive around Ocean Beach.
Lau and Annie Steger both agree that the open sessions have been super beneficial in polishing up their game while they’re on summer break. Since the indoor open gym sessions include both men and women, the
played through a series of rapid-fire beach volleyball matches.
Simon and Wiedemann teamed up to play in the men’s A division. In the women’s A division, the OC brought two teams: Taylor and Erin McGannon on Court 6, and Annie Steger and Lau on Court 12. For the women’s open division, our very own commissioner, Bailey Steger, stepped onto the court.
“It’s a really cool opportunity to be able to create our own path or write our own history and leave a legacy at the Club by starting this program again.”
— Commissioner Bailey Steger
participants play with the net at the standard men’s height, which is almost five inches higher than the women’s standard. “I think playing at a co-ed open gym is really beneficial, and that has helped me improve a lot this summer,” Annie said.
Alice Taylor, another SI volleyball alum, is using the Club’s open sessions as practice in preparation for her upcoming season on UC Santa Cruz’s indoor volleyball team. “It’s the best training I think I’ve ever been able to have, playing with people that good,” Taylor said.
“I’ve been to most of the beach sessions ever since the launch party,” Simon said. “We have even gotten some people together to play outside of the Wednesday open sessions to get more playing time.”
Fast-forward to their very first tournament. Our players dug their feet into the warm sands of the Santa Cruz Main Beach on June 29, repping the Winged “O” as they
As the morning Pacific fog began to clear, our teams competed for a spot in the playoffs. Simon and Wiedemann challenged their opponents in their matches of the men’s A division, but missed out on advancing to the playoffs from their pool. While they didn’t have much luck, both said it was a blast to be back on the court. “I’ve actually played in some [California Beach Volleyball Association] tournaments in the past,” Wiedemann said. “But it’s been a number of years since I’ve done that, so it was super fun to just get back out there and play again.”
Taylor and McGannon had better luck, winning their first two games 21–17 and 21–17, which secured them a spot in the round of 16 of the women’s A division, but the pair lost to their opponents, 28–15.
Also in the women’s A division, Annie Steger and Lau found their groove in the last two games of the elimination round, beating
the opposing teams 21–14 and 21–11. The two college players moved on to the playoffs and won their first game 28–23, but the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by a close margin, 28–26.
Bailey Steger paired up with Madilyn Yeomans, a former UCLA player, for the women’s open division, and the two dominated their pool, winning three out of the four games. In the playoffs, Steger and Yeomans were seeded into the quarterfinals and beat their opponents 28–21, moving on to the semifinals. The pair were less fortunate in the semifinals, and lost their spot for the final match 21–28.
All of the players are excited to compete in more tournaments throughout the year and watch the program grow. “I’ve always loved playing beach [volleyball] so much, so this is so nice that I have the opportunity to play beach again,” Lau said. “The people at The Olympic Club make it so much fun, and also push me to be a better player.”
LEAVING LASTING LEGACIES
One of the biggest accomplishments that Bailey Steger and Albrecht want to achieve is bringing some hardware home and leaving a lasting impression on the Club. The Olympic Club may already have a volleyball national title under its belt, but that was only for men’s volleyball, due to the nature of the membership at the time.
The rise of women’s volleyball has been front and center in sports media over the past year. With the record-breaking crowd for the University of Nebraska’s women’s volleyball game last August, and ESPN reporting a significantly increased viewership for the 2023 NCAA season, it’s clear that volleyball is on the rise.
“It’s a really cool opportunity to be able to create our own path or write our own history and leave a legacy at the Club by starting this program again,” Steger said.
It’s not just volleyball that has started to grow. The new OC volleyball team is reflecting the current trend of more women’s sports in the Bay Area. Bay FC, the first National Women’s Soccer League team in the Bay Area, started its inaugural season in March 2024, and the WNBA announced the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, who will play in the Chase Center starting in May 2025.
The Club is hoping to have both men’s and women’s teams as the program grows, but for now, the commissioners are focused on developing an elite women’s squad to play in tournaments and hopefully bring home another national championship, based on the
significantly skewed interest by women members for the sport. “To revive this program, and have the women’s side be so strong so that we’ll be able to get that rolling pretty quickly, is really inspiring and just a testament to how far The Olympic Club has come, and how far women in sports have come,” Albrecht said.
“We’ve had volleyball before. It’s back again. It’s here to stay,” Lusson said at the launch party. “The Club is looking to lean on its history, as this is our guide for our legacy, but also set new traditions and new legacies.”
If you are interested in getting involved with volleyball, reach out to Commissioner Bailey Steger at bpsteger@gmail.com or Deputy Commissioner Mackenzie Albrecht at mackenzie.albrecht1@gmail.com.
L-to-r: Christian Wiedemann, Alice Taylor, Natalie Lau, Annie Steger, Bailey Steger, Adam Simon and Erin McGannon played at the OC’s very first beach volleyball tournament in Santa Cruz on June 29.
A feature from the History & Archives Committee giving Olympians a look at the way we were.
VOPEN TO ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS:
by Jessica Smith
olleyball has long been a draw for Club members, as both a fun recreational sport and a competitive one. As best as we can determine, the Olympian first mentions volleyball in 1922 as an activity hosted in the gym. An intramural league formed in 1926 — the games were played on “Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon and open to all active members. Volleyball is a wonderful form of mild exercise especially adapted for business and professional men.”
In 1946, the Bay Area Volleyball league formed, and the OC created a team to compete. In the 1960s and 1970s, the sport’s growth was ignited by Kent Dorwin and OC and USA Volleyball Hall of Famer Al Monaco, who were commissioners as well as leaders on the court. The quality of players increased, additional pickup games were played, intramural leagues expanded and spirited tournaments were played throughout the country. From 1963–1975, the Club finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Volleyball Association (USVBA) National
Championships seven times (finished second in 1969) and in the top 10 at the AAU Nationals four times.
But at the Club, volleyball has always been rooted in providing as broad an experience as possible. An intramural league and tournament were created to provide playing opportunities for new and seasoned players, which were led by more competitive players, including current members Monaco and Clark Gilson. In 1967, when discussing the conclusion of the Intramural Volleyball League, the Olympian
noted that “many Olympians were able to learn and become proficient at a new sport.” The 1968 magazine provided a refresher on “How to Play Volleyball,” discussing the basic skills and rules players should know to play in the league tournament. “With a little practice of these basic skills, players can become quite efficient in a short time and enjoy the excitement and exercise of power volleyball.”
We look forward to watching this next generation of players take up the game at the Club again!
“How to Play Volleyball,” from November 1968.
On court action in the Post Street Gym (note the running track pictured).
Members of the team who finished second at the USVBA Nationals Championships in 1969.
VOLLEYBALL AT THE OC
Olympian cover from September 1969. Olympian cover from June 1970. Winning team of the 1963 Intra-Club Volleyball league. Top row (l–r): Kent Dorwin, Tom Doyle, W.J. Farrell and Jim Coyle. Kneeling: Carl Knox, Al Peace and Al Monaco.
Collage of action shots of the 1971 OC team.
DAGOBERTO DEL VALLE
by Christine U’Ren, photo by Gene Choi (Contributing member)
Dagoberto Del Valle, chief engineer at City Clubhouse, manages “basically everything that makes this building run,” from the biggest issues, such as air conditioning and plumbing, down to the smallest scratch on a wall or a door that sticks. Although he’s been at the Club for less than a year, he’s had a long, globe-spanning career as a mechanical engineer.
What attracted you to this job at the OC?
My son moved to San Jose a couple years ago, and he asked me, “Hey, Dad, why don’t you think about getting a job down here in California?” When I heard about The Olympic Club opening and the building, I felt it would be a big challenge for me.
How did you get involved in your industry? I’m originally from Cuba. Around 1984, the government offered to send me to Russia to train in telecommunications, electrical, emergency sources of energy, etc. I like to fix stuff manually and invent stuff, and to me, at 18, it was a big adventure.
Where else have you worked?
After 10 years in Russia, I was assigned to work in Angola, where I met my wife. (We’re divorced now, but we have three children together.) Then I spent time in Milan, Italy, and Monterrey, Mexico. From there, I got a sponsorship from a big HVAC company in Nevada. I didn’t speak any English, so I worked for two years as a carpenter while I learned. Now I live in Pittsburg, California. I love the area.
Do you have any hobbies?
I like to collect sports memorabilia, such as trading cards. I go to sports shows and visit eBay to find things.
Any advice for members about your job? I walk through the building two, three times a day; they should raise any concerns with me in person or let the manager on duty know. My crew and I can work magic.
CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
Members gathered on June 7 at City Clubhouse to experience a dozen different brews from artisans of the Bay Area, along with adventurous food pairings by Director of Culinary Derek Ingraham. The local beermasters included Fogbelt Brewing Co. of Sonoma, Iron Ox of Santa Rosa and Original Pattern of Oakland. Beer flavors ranged from rich imperial stout to a tart new take on the traditional German gose, and dishes included lamb croquettes, unagi nigiri and mahi mahi tacos.
photos by Norman Ng, Contributing member
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Lakeside hosted an unforgettable celebration of Independence Day the evening of June 29. Members gathered on the driving range for fun with the whole family, including games for all age groups, exciting obstacle courses and inflatables, swag and various activities for kids and adults alike. A DJ added to the party atmosphere, and the food ranged from classic July 4 fare such as hot dogs to more sophisticated dishes from our world-class staff.
The evening was capped off by a brilliant display of fireworks in the clear night sky (no fog!), as families huddled in the warmth of blankets below to enjoy the spectacle and the togetherness.
photos by Gene Choi, Contributing
A CALL TO ALL CLUB MEMBERS
Olympic Club Foundation President Matt Niehaus has ambitious plans for the Foundation’s 2024 Campaign for the Kids, a fund that has helped provide more than $8 million in athletic grants to over 500 local youth sports programs over the past 30 years.
BIG GOALS
“In 2023, the Foundation distributed $710,000 in grants to more than 70 deserving athletic programs. Our Board has committed to the goal of giving out $1 million annually by 2027,” Niehaus said. “It all starts with the Campaign for the Kids and raising awareness of the impact we are having in our community. While we are making great strides, currently only 15% of our membership contributes to the Foundation. But I know we can do better, given the incredible support we have from the Club membership.”
Former Foundation President John Trauth agreed. “We have great events like Fight Night, but the annual campaign is truly the ‘foundation’ of our giving,” Trauth said. “We started the annual Campaign for the Kids in 2002, the year I joined the Board, and it has grown each year as we have continued to prove to more and more Olympians how much their gifts mean to so many young athletes around the Bay Area.”
CAMPAIGN FOR THE KIDS AT A GLANCE
A FOCUS ON ACCESS TO SPORTS AS THE DEMAND INCREASES
The Foundation prides itself on providing access to sports in underserved communities that don’t always have the resources to purchase equipment, pay for travel, rent fields, etc. In 2023–2024, the Foundation was proud to provide first-time grants to a dozen programs, including the Pinkney Foundation, to promote golf in Oakland; the South San Francisco United Soccer Club, to provide scholarships and new uniforms; and the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, to support water safety and swimming lessons for their 325 kids. Demand continues to grow.
A CALL TO ACTION
The Foundation is undoubtedly making an impact in neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area, and is building the next generation of leaders through sports. “Our Foundation is now the largest non-governmental funder of sports for kids in the Bay Area,” Trauth said. “The continued growth of the annual campaign will be essential in helping us get to our goal of $1 million in annual grants by 2027. What better cause for one of the oldest athletic clubs in the country than to help less-advantaged kids grow through sports? As a proud member of this wonderful Club for 52 years now, our Foundation’s good works makes me even more proud.”
Niehaus echoed Trauth’s thoughts, adding, “I am just an average athlete by Olympic Club standards, yet sports have meant so much to my life, bringing countless lessons and indelible memories. I contribute to The Olympic Club Foundation so that others can enjoy sports like I did. If you share my passion for youth sports — and I suspect as an Olympian you do — please give generously to the Foundation’s annual campaign. We’ve set a goal of $1 million in annual giving, a goal that’s in sight and getting closer with your support.”
HOW TO GIVE
OCF’s Director of Giving Programs Karin Haskell noted, “the OCF’s grant applications jumped from 80 in 2020 to 199 in 2024, a 148% increase over four years. If we can add an additional 1,000 gifts over the next 12 months, it would be a huge help. Whether the donation is $25 or $5,000, every gift makes a big difference.”
While the Campaign for the Kids letter will arrive in mailboxes in mid-September, members can easily make a gift at any time in one of many ways:
Donate through their ledger by simply emailing Haskell at info@ocfkids.org and providing an amount and ledger number.
Make a ledger or credit card gift online using the QR code below, or by visiting www.olympicclubfoundation.org/donate-1.
Call or text Haskell about a gift of stock or other type of transaction at 415.713.8825.
It is that easy, and the Foundation staff will respond to all requests right away!
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE KIDS
f “As exciting as it is to see the growth of giving and generosity among Olympic Club members the last few years, it is even more exciting to see firsthand the great use of the funds in support of more than 70 youth sports programs in the Bay Area.”
— Greg Vaughan, Board Member
f “I was embarrassed I didn’t know that the Foundation wasn’t part of the OC proper; and that if I wanted to really support this great cause I needed to make an effort to give, and I have ever since. I think any member would/should support the campaign, given all that the Foundation does for young people wanting to compete at sports.”
— Greg Suhr, Board Member
f “As Olympians, we understand firsthand the benefits of athletics, as many of us enjoy the opportunity to continue to play the sports we love. By giving to the Campaign for the Kids, you are making a commitment to inspire the next generation of Olympians and contribute to thriving communities in the Bay Area.”
— Annie Crangle McCauley, Foundation Vice President
f “The Foundation’s mission is one that my wife, Andrea, and I have believed in, and will continue to support. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on San Francisco and Bay Area youth athletics.”
— Alan Austin, Grants Committee
f “The support of Olympic Club members has allowed YTA to run hugely impactful tennis programming for under-resourced youth. This support was particularly helpful during the last few years, when far more youth needed help and far less help was available.”
— Mike Skinner, Youth Tennis Advantage
Former Foundation President Dennis Moriarty presenting a grant check to DeMarillac Academy.
John Eggert, Realtor®
Olympic Club Member since 2003
LIC# 01904780 | 415.735.8010
joeggert415@gmail.com www.johneggertsf.com
(415) 377-2177 DRE #01717299
Join us for a special evening designed for fathers and daughters 21 and up, including a photo booth, professional photos, casino table games, no-host cocktails, an SF-themed buffet and a DJ to help you dance the night away.
$130 + taxes & fees
SIGN UP AT WWW.OLYCLUB.COM
Dress code is coat & tie and will be strictly enforced. Reservations open September 17. Cancellation deadline November 2.
OCTOBER 27 | 2–5PM
Come join us for some Trickor-Treat and costume fun! This event, tailor-made for the kids, will be an afternoon of delightful giggles and sweet treats.
$45 + taxes and fees SIGN UP AT WWW.OLYCLUB.COM
Reservations open August 28. Cancellation deadline October 13.
SF Italian Athletic Club in North Beach 12:00 - 4:00 PM / 40 teams of four All proceeds will support the Olympic Club Foundation and the SF Italian Athletic Club Foundation.
photo by Gene Choi
photo by Norman Ng
HALL OF FAME
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 | 5:30PM
Complimentary cocktails before celebration
RSVP AT WWW.OLYCLUB.COM
Reservations open August 12 | Coat & Tie suggested
RAYMOND FEE Boxing FRANK GRANNIS Swimming
GEORGE MITCHELL Water Polo
SUSAN MORSE Distinguished Service
JACK PATRICK Football & Rugby
SPEAKER EVENT
AI: WHAT IS IT AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? MEGAN GRACE, AFTAB KHANNA & JEFF WANG
AI. ChatGPT. Generative AI. AI toothbrushes. What does this all mean and why should we care? This panel of Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts will help explain — in layperson terms — what Artificial Intelligence is and is not, and how it will impact us as a society.
SEPTEMBER 19 | 5:30PM | CITY CLUBHOUSE
$35 + TAXES & FEES
RSVP AT WWW.OLYCLUB.COM
Cancellation deadline September 5.
NETWORKING NIGHTS HEALTHCARE & MEDICAL
AUGUST 21
LIFESTYLE, HOSPITALITY, TRAVEL, CONSUMER PRODUCTS & RETAIL
SEPTEMBER 26 6–8PM | HALL OF FAME GAME ROOM
$25 + taxes & fees SIGN UP AT WWW.OLYCLUB.COM
photo by Norman Ng
MOTHER
photo by Jordan Sofris
photo by Gene Choi
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sign up on www.olyclub.com, the OC mobile app, or call City Clubhouse at 415.345.5100 or Lakeside Clubhouse at 415.404.4300. Watch the magazine and the weekly blasts for reminders and updates. Registration opens 60 days prior to event or on the listed date in the event ad.
Please note: Club cancellation deadline for events is 14 days prior to avoid being charged for the total number of reservations booked.
AUGUST
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST 23 | 5:30PM | CITY CLUBHOUSE
Warm up those vocal chords and get ready to shout “BINGO!” at family-friendly bingo night while enjoying margaritas for $10, tacos, quesadillas and chips. This could be your night to win big prizes!
$45 + taxes & fees. Cancellation deadline August 9. SIGN UP AT WWW.OLYCLUB.COM
NCAA BASKETBALL TIP-OFF
September
RSVP at www.olyclub.com.
$135
Cancellation
photo by Tonya Boneiso-Barna
BUILD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH WITH PILATES
by Camryn Mackey
“Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things.”
— Joseph Pilates
Hello, my name is Camryn, and my fitness tip is about Pilates. As a new resident of the Bay Area, I could not be more excited to join The Olympic Club’s personal training team. I have a background in dance, and I developed a deep passion for studying Pilates (and yoga), as it was a necessary addition to my workout regimen and improved my power. I have studied multiple forms of group exercise, and my passion lies in helping clients improve their strength physically, mentally and emotionally through both reformer and mat work.
Pilates offers numerous advantages as a form of exercise:
1. Pilates promotes overall physical well-being through a combination of strengthening, flexibility and balance exercises. Not only does it focus on strengthening the core muscles, but it also targets muscles in the arms, legs and
back, leading to improved posture and a toned physique. The emphasis on controlled movements in Pilates helps enhance body awareness, ensuring correct alignment and reducing the risk of injury during other physical activities.
2. Pilates has the potential to enhance mental well-being. The practice emphasizes mindful breathing techniques, which promote relaxation and reduce stress levels. By connecting the breath with precise movements, Pilates encourages individuals to stay present in the moment, fostering a sense of tranquility and mental clarity. This mind-body connection, cultivated through Pilates, can have a positive impact on managing anxiety, improving focus and boosting overall mental resilience.
3. Lastly, Pilates is crucial for its adaptability and accessibility to a wide range of individuals, regardless of age or fitness level. Whether you are recovering from an injury,
seeking to improve athletic performance or simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Pilates offers customizable exercises that can be modified to meet individual needs and goals. Its low-impact nature makes it suitable for people of all ages, including older adults and individuals with physical limitations. Furthermore, the collaborative and supportive environment often found in Pilates classes creates a sense of community and motivation, making it an enjoyable and sustainable form of exercise.
My clients can find Pilates to be a rewarding and effective way to enhance their physical well-being, build confidence and enhance performance in other related activities and sports, with added strength in stability and coordination. Find me on the sixth floor to discuss your goals further and get set up to achieve your desired results. Email me at cmackey@olyclub.com to set up our first session together.
Happy training!
FITNESS TIP FROM
OC SPORTS
DIRECTOR OF GOLF ’ S UPDATE — MATT JORDAN
ENJOYING A BUSY SUMMER OF GOLF
As I write this, we are experiencing a Bay Area heat wave at Lakeside. It’s summertime, and things have already heated up in golf. Our busy season continues with great golf days, tournaments and plans for the next season.
In May and June, we had several exciting events to watch and host, two of which were invitationals. Our first one was our 85th Invitational, hosted over three days, May 23–25. The first day started with a practice round and ended with a competition on the Lombard Putting Course and the closest-to-the-hole contest, resulting in a complimentary team entry. Matt Blach scored the complimentary entry after hitting the flagstick, with the ball coming to a rest at 3 inches. The next two days were a fierce competition within five flights. Congratulations to our overall gross winners, Pat Cahill and guest Kris Marshall, along with our overall net winners, Jay Lee and guest David Ko.
On June 1–2, our second event combined our Stroke Play Championship and Women’s International Team Challenge qualifier, also known as the WITC. After two days of competition, contested over the Lake and Ocean Courses, our Stroke Play champions emerged. Congratulations to our champions!
f Men’s: Daniel Connolly
f Women’s: Brigitta Bloyer
f Senior: John Hamm
f Super Senior: Maurice Monserez
f 1st Flight: Jim Bray
f WGN: Christina Johnson
The WITC team heads to Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland this September. Congratulations to Brigitta Bloyer, Pat Cornett, Joanne Hickman, Margie Lao-Williams, Linda Lewis and alternates Erika Corradi and Cam Loback. They will represent the OC proudly and bring us back a victory.
Our last invitational was our SGA Invitational, contested on June 26–27. The tournament was broken into three flights with a total of 84 golfers. Congratulations to our overall low gross winners Mark Brittain and guest James Kraft, with a score of 139.
We are dedicated to carrying our momentum forward to complete the year. As I’m writing this, our MHGP have two more invitationals to host — Double Trouble and the beloved Jim Lucius Shootout — along with a guest day in September. They also have a series of other competitions through the end of the year. Our SGA has a few more Home and Home’s to complete. And we couldn’t forget our WGN and their Sadie Hawkins tournament and Player Development series.
Each event gives our membership the exciting opportunity to show off our golf course conditions, food and beverages, and incredible experiences provided by the entire staff. And we are just as excited to provide that stellar experience for our members and their guests, which we strive to do
every day. Even if you don’t participate, you can see the results on the golf section of the mobile app or website.
As we plan for the next season of exciting events, we look toward hosting a major championship, the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship. A few of our operations team and member liaisons will travel to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, the 2024 host club. We will support this beloved amateur championship and prepare to host next year, learning how to meet the expectations of the players while providing the best spectator experience. It’s hard to believe that 2025 is right around the corner. But we are extremely excited to return to the world stage doing what we do best, hosting major championships.
In closing, whether hosting a major championship or facilitating golf games for members, our teams at Lakeside strive to create a memorable experience. We look forward to your next visit and hope you are enjoying your summer at the Club. See you soon.
CHRIS LUNDY WINS THIRD VICTORY IN DIPSEA RACE
by Christine U’Ren
Chris Lundy made local history on June 9 by winning the Dipsea Race a third time, closing in on the four-time records held by Shirley Matson and Brian Pilcher. Lundy’s clock time was 48:10, beating her own third-place time last year by seven seconds, but more importantly, coming in ahead of the 2024 second-place finisher by 37 seconds.
Other Olympians who finished the famously steep and tricky 7.4-mile trail race were Matthew Barger, Robert Bertain, Jeffrey Bohl, Kevin Clifford, Patrick Flemming, Stephen Hankins, Melissa McKenzie, Julie Mithun, Michael Potter and Mike Sample.
Lundy felt her finish time didn’t reflect her level of fitness this year, but her win was a perfect illustration of the importance of consistent practice. “I trained really hard for this race and was very fit going into it, which enabled me to have a good result in spite of getting sick the week prior,”
she said. “I was coughing throughout the race and was not able to push the uphills as hard as I wanted, but otherwise felt ok.”
Lundy had no idea she would be able to keep the lead as she made the final downhill descent. “There was never a moment of realizing I would win until crossing the line,” she said. “Someone asked after the race why I was sprinting in to the finish when there was no one behind me, and that is because at that point you can’t hear if anyone is coming, and you just never know until the end.”
The race’s unusual handicapping system adds to the unpredictability of the results. Lundy pointed out that the system was in her favor this year, because her age allowed her one extra minute’s head start over last year. (Her actual time was 1:03:09.35.) But next year, she will be given a one-minute penalty as a winner of one of the three most recent races. (Lundy previously won in 2017 and 2018.)
Lundy’s favorite moment of the 2024 race was “cresting Cardiac [a trail section], seeing the ocean below and knowing it was almost all downhill from there! I love the downhills on trail because they’re fun for me — I’ve always been good at technical descents from years of mountain racing and don’t have any fear of trying to get down as fast as possible.”
Lundy’s next race will be the Headlands 27k in September, which has a highly competitive international field. “I’ll be lucky to finish in the top 30, but will try to win my age group!” she said. In 2025, she plans a return to the Dipsea.
“I will absolutely try to win a fourth time, but I’m also quite happy with the three wins,” Lundy said. “My main goal is to stay healthy and be able to enjoy racing the Dipsea and other events for as many years as possible. There are runners in their 80s completing the Dipsea, and that is an amazing thing.”
Chris Lundy doesn’t seek speed for its own sake, but her fearless approach to trail running enhances her ability to win. Photo by Tony DiPasquale.
OC SPORTS
OC SWIMMERS STAY STRONG AT USMS SPRING NATIONALS
by Christine U’Ren
OC swimming came in fourth of 307 local clubs at the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) Spring National Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 20–24. The Club sent a tight-knit team of eight women and 14 men, and came away with 25 victories and a total of 703 points. Over 2,300 swimmers from Masters programs all across the country competed.
“The team did great,” Masters Swim Co-commissioner Juan Valdivieso said. “Our swimmers far outscored the top three teams on a per-swimmer basis, but unfortunately we didn’t have the numbers we had last year. Our relay teams did particularly well, with six of them winning national titles.”
“A lot of hard work this year paid off at this meet,” Aquatics Director Bobby Savulich said. “Jim Elder continues to score big points for OC, Bill Van Horn was dominant, Kyle Millis cleaned up in the younger division, Elyssa Pedote had her best meet as a Masters swimmer, Selby Sturzenegger and Eddy Solaeche Gomez (aka The Spanish Bullet) showed out in the sprints. Naoko Watanabe is our most consistent swimmer, and Juan and Cat [Catherine Ladd] showed great leadership (and swimming) as team commissioners.”
Van Horn, age 86, showed his dominance by winning all six events in his division and earning 66 points, the team’s top individual result. “Bill won by wide margins, and was really fun to watch,” Valdivieso said. Valdivieso and Van Horn were the only Olympians to swim the 1,650 distance, which is more than a mile, and was scheduled on the last day of the meet. “I was basically running on fumes,” Valdivieso said. “The competition was tough,
and our friendly rival the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) brought over 50% more swimmers than we did. Even though Bill got a bit of a late start and dove in without his goggles (which I handed to him in the middle of the race), he still won, and set a team record.” Valdivieso came in second in his own division.
The relay races “really brought out the best in our swimmers,” Valdivieso said. “Some who hadn’t been able to train much in the last year, for various reasons, including injuries, dug deep and pulled out some remarkable performances.” The relays also became a focal point for team spirit, as the Olympians who weren’t swimming gathered to watch and cheer.
Another exemplar of team spirit was Phyllis Quinn, who was sidelined due to injury. “She still made the trip and was a huge help as an added coach!” Savulich said.
The event was hosted at Indiana University’s Natatorium, the largest indoor aquatic facility in the United States, and was timed to coincide with the final weekend
of the U.S. Olympic Trials. “A number of us went to Trials to watch, and it was great to see our elite member Ryan Murphy make his third Olympic team in the 100 and 200 backstroke,” Valdivieso said. A special perk was a backstage tour of the facility at Lucas Oil Stadium, given by a former OC swimmer who now works for the company that built the pool. “She invited us to watch the last session from their box,” Valdivieso added. “That was really cool!”
The Olympians celebrated the meet at their annual dinner with New York Athletic Club (NYAC), who came in third overall. The connection runs so deep that the Olympians, when they realized they would not be in contention for first place, switched over to cheering for NYAC.
Next up for OC Masters swimmers are the USMS Summer Nationals, August 21–25 in Mission Viejo, California. “Our goal is to win it,” Valdivieso said. “We are calling all members who have a competitive swimming background to consider competing at the meet because it’s so close by.”
FIRST PLACE FINISHES
f Jim Elder, Men 80–84: 50 Free, 100 IM, 50 Fly
f Scott Greenwood, Men 45–49: 50 Back
f Kyle Millis, Men 18–24: 100 Back, 200 Back
f Elyssa Pedote, Women 30–34: 200 Fly
f Eduardo Solaeche Gomez, Men 30–34: 50 Breast, 100 IM, 100 Fly
f Selby Sturzenegger, Women 25–29: 50 Back
f Juan Valdivieso, Men 40–44: 500 Free
f Bill Van Horn, Men 85–89: 100 Free, 50 Free, 100 IM, 200 IM, 50 Fly, 1650 Free
f Naoko Watanabe, Women 40–44: 100 Back, 50 Back
f Men 18–24 200 Free Relay: Eduardo Solaeche Gomez, Kyle Millis, Reed Malone, Julian Mackrel
f Mixed 1824 200 Free Relay: Julian Mackrel, Kyle Millis, Cat Ladd, Deirdre Clute
f Mixed 18–24 200 Medley Relay: Kyle Millis, Julian Mackrel, Deirdre Clute, Cat Ladd
f Men 35–44 200 Free Relay: Bobby Savulich, Trent Holsman, Juan Valdivieso, Scott Greenwood
f Mixed 35–44 200 Free Relay: Bobby Savulich, Scott Greenwood, Naoko Watanabe, Molly Ward
f Mixed 35–44 200 Medley Relay: Naoko Watanabe, Scott Greenwood, Bobby Savulich, Molly Ward
Members watched their fellow member Ryan Murphy swim in the Olympic Trials in Lucas Oil Stadium. Photo by Juan Valdivieso.
photos by Naoko Watanabe
OC SPORTS
OLYMPIANS TAKE TOP HONORS AT LAKE
by Christine U’Ren
The OC open water program had a great turnout — and great results — at this year’s Lake Berryessa race, Saturday, June 1. The race consists of two events on a well-marked fivebuoy course: two laps for the 2-mile race, then one lap for the 1-mile (with a rest of about 90 minutes in between). Chad La Tourette took first place in both events, finishing the 2-mile in 39:40 and the 1-mile in 21:02. In the 2-mile, Allison Arnold, Catherine Breed and Elyssa Pedote swept the 30–34 age-group podium, while Joby Bernstein placed first among men 25–29, followed by Will Roberts. In the 1-mile, Brian Schmidt took second among men 30–34. In addition, Arnold and Bernstein both landed in the overall top 10 in both distances.
La Tourette, who is also the Club’s rough water commissioner, confirmed that it’s his seventh win at Berryessa, and says the event is “an awesome full day of racing in the heart of wine country. Typically, the weather is sunny and warm, and the water temperature is perfect for racing (typically low to mid 70s). I think the predictability is
BERRYESSA
great, because most folks use this as their season opener and know what to expect.”
Training for Berryessa is predominantly done at City Clubhouse, but this year the program organized a few Bay swims at Aquatic Park to help acclimate the team to the open water. “Swimming in lakes and other bodies of water puts a lot more strain on the upper back for sighting and navigating (in a pool, you have a easy black line to follow),” La Tourette explained. “You also have to get comfortable swimming in a pack, which provides energy savings from other swimmers’ drafts.”
Arnold said that the start of Berryessa “is always a sprint to the first buoy and a front group separates.” Sticking with that group allows her to swim faster. “If you let your guard down, you might find yourself getting dropped, and it’s hard to catch up. I was in a solid group with teammates Joby Bernstein and Will Roberts, plus a few other competitors.”
Bernstein had a little trouble with the jostling pack in the second
race, and ended up with goggles full of water, but overall thought it was fun to be competing with so many different teams. The race attracted almost twice as many swimmers as usual, because the 2-mile was designated the USMS Middle Distance National Championship.
The Olympic Club also took advantage of the chance to measure swimmers. “This year, I am excited to see newer team members like Will Roberts, PJ Ransford and Matti Harrison placing really well in the 2-mile race,” La Tourette said. “We were using it as part of our selection criteria for the Trans Tahoe Relay and upcoming Cook Strait crossing in New Zealand. These new recruits will add great depth to our team and continue growing our community.
“It was a beautiful, warm day full of racing, laughter, and for those that made it to Pioneer Tap Room after, artery-clogging BBQ,” he concluded.
OC rough water veterans and new recruits joined in a beautiful race day at Lake Berryessa.
BARTON WINS WOMEN’S TROPHY IN ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ
by Christine U’Ren
The Winged “O” made a strong showing at the 43rd annual Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon on Sunday, June 9, led by Kelly Barton, who took first place among women overall. Catherine Breed was fourth among the women and second in her age division; Bradley KuperSmith was 11th man and first in his division; Lee Mount was 14th man and third in his division; Lori Keating was also third in her division; and Guy Kornblum and Elyssa Pedote were sixth in theirs. John Brilliant, Claire Dougherty, Hailey Eberle, Tom Emerick (who teamed up with his nephew) and Joe Galuszka also completed the modified International Distance Triathlon, comprising a 1.5-mile swim, 18-mile bike and 8-mile run.
“This was my first time doing the race and I had an absolute blast,” Pedote said. “Nothing is better than getting to race in your backyard and seeing familiar faces along the course, both racing alongside you and cheering you on.”
Racers never actually set foot on the island of Alcatraz. For safety, the San Francisco Belle boated
all the competitors to a spot offshore. One horn blew, and nearly 2,000 racers were off the boat and into the chilly waters within 5–7 minutes. The swimmers exited at the Marina Green Beach, shed their wetsuits, completed a brief warm-up run, then jumped on their bikes for a trip through the Presidio and all the way out to Golden Gate Park and back.
“The bike course is super fun,” Barton said. “You can’t really look at your power meter or your watch because there’s so many hills and turns. So it really feels like you’re in the moment, racing and enjoying the ride.”
The bike segment was more harrowing for Pedote, who became flustered after seeing Mount crash (a temporary setback), and took a wrong turn. “Fortunately, I saw Cat Breed, who stopped me from continuing to go the wrong way,” Pedote said. “Despite doing an extra mile, I’m very happy with my finish. I’ve been a swimmer my whole life and definitely consider biking and running outside of my wheelhouse. I went into the race wanting to have a smile on my face the whole time.
Finishing top six in my age group was an added surprise.”
The running course is famous for the brutal “sand ladder,” a steep 200 steps up the cliff. Even the veteran Barton was nervous approaching it, but to her surprise, she enjoyed it and completed that section in 2:24.
“Coming into the finish was really fun,” Barton said. “I passed by a bunch of people from the OC and was able to wave and say hi. It’s a long stretch once you turn into the finish chute, and there were a ton of spectators.”
“It was amazing to see field hockey, tennis, swim and triathlon members out spectating and cheering!” Triathlon Commissioner Liz Davis said. Club members also gathered the day before to watch the T100 race, a professional triathlon on the same course, “so it felt like a nice OC triathlon weekend in the area,” Barton said.
Top woman Kelly Barton loved the scenic 18-mile bike ride. Photo by Liz Davis.
Elyssa Pedote did well in her division, and won biggest smile of the day.
OC SPORTS
FIELD HOCKEY TEAM REACHES FINALS AT CAL CUP
by Christine U’Ren
Congratulations to OC field hockey, which came in second in the 52nd annual Cal Cup. The tournament, held May 24–26 in Moorpark, California, is one of the most important field hockey tournaments in the country, with 12 divisions this year of players of all ages. The OC fought a close championship game against the Thirsty Turtles, a University of Maryland (UM) alumni team, losing 1–0 after shootouts. This is the best Olympic Club finish in the Cal Cup.
“I have been competing in this tournament since I was 7 years old, and have fond memories of playing in almost every division!” Agustina Singh said. “Now playing with The Olympic Club in the Supers division has been so fun — and I knew we had great potential this year.”
Field Hockey Commissioner Brittany Knouse said the Thirsty Turtles were the most challenging team the OC played; they dominated last year. “They always have very talented players who are all accustomed to the same playing style/structure from UM,” Knouse explained.
The championship game came down to a dramatic finish as Paulina Lee, assisted by Loren Shealy, scored a last-minute goal to tie the score. This pushed the contest into shootouts. Knouse, Janaye Sakkas and Singh all had finishes, though the team came up two goals short of a win.
“My favorite moment was celebrating the goal scored by Paulina in the last 10 seconds of the final!” Singh said. “It was such a tight game and had been 0–0 for the majority of the match. While we didn’t end up with the trophy,
I am so proud of the team for having made it to the final for the first time in program history, and am so grateful I was there to experience it.”
“Agustina was one of our top scorers this tournament,” Knouse said. “She had an incredible performance throughout and some very impressive goals. She was battling an injury and persevered to play each game at a high level.”
Knouse also gave shout-outs to Nicole Ng and Janaye Sakkas. “Midfield can be a bit of a thankless position and involves the most running, patience, endurance and communication,” she said. “These two created many opportunities for us as a team, and maintained our structure through the spine of the field.”
Another standout player was Shealy, who normally plays forward, but selflessly stepped in as a strong defensive player in the back four at Cal Cup, “and was an absolute superstar,” Knouse said. The entire roster is “very strong,” and each teammate not only played extremely well, but worked seriously on recovery after each game. “Coach Mikey [Barminski] also brought great energy and a solid game plan for us to succeed,” Knouse added.
“Being an Olympic Club athlete gave us many advantages leading up to the tournament!” Singh said. “The access to the facilities, the training program led by [Strength & Conditioning] Coach Giuliano [Sanchez], and the hockey matches organized by OC were a huge blessing to myself and the team.”
Front row (l-to-r): Savannah DeVarney, Agustina Singh, Paulina Lee, Brittany Knouse, Nicole Ng. Back row: Courtney Barminski, Sarah Johnson, Fenella Scott, Fariyah Omarshah, Emma Giesting.
Paulina Lee (right) making a play for the ball in the final versus the Thirsty Turtles.
Brittany Knouse scored during the finals shootouts after eliminating the goalkeeper.
OC RUGBY SEVENS TAKE ON INTERNATIONAL TEAMS IN AMSTERDAM
by Andrew T. King and Christine U’Ren
The Olympic Club rugby sevens team kick-started their summer season by traveling to one of Europe’s largest tournaments, Amsterdam Rugby 7s at Sportpark De Eendracht, June 1–2. With clubs from over 20 countries and nearly 90 teams across five divisions, Amsterdam 7s attracts teams from Europe, South Africa, Australia and even China. The tournament features the best club teams, regional sides, semipro teams and even some national teams, all looking for high-level competition. The OC ruggers were looking to get exposure to the highest competition available before starting their quest to qualify for the U.S. Nationals, August 12–13.
The Winged “O” started their trip in Basel, Switzerland, where they could adjust to the time change, get high-level consistent training and play against their local hosts, Basel Rugby Football Club. “Their coach played for the OC a few years back,” Co-captain Lorenzo Rosas said. “The friendships that our team made with the Basel players was easily my favorite part of the tour.”
OC would beat Basel 31–7 before traveling north to the Netherlands as the only side from the United States. “Our team takes immense pride in representing The Olympic Club regionally, so including the broader national representation means that much more to all of us,” Guy Kasznik said.
At the Amsterdam 7s, OC started their competition right, with a big win against Rotterdam RFC. They then played the eventual tournament runner-up, Euskarians — a regional side representing Southern
Basque Country and featuring players from Biarritz Olympique, a French professional side — and suffered their first loss of the tournament. Following that, OC lost another tough match to the Mount Masada 7s, a select side featuring players from multiple countries.
After a difficult draw on day one, the Club looked to turn it around on day two, and that they did. In their first match, they took on Dutch side Delft Studenten Rugby Club, another club that was formed over 100 years ago. The Winged “O” won, 19–12. In their next match, the Club took on ASCRUM, Amsterdam’s premier rugby club, and earned a 12–12 tie, narrowly missing out on the final due to point differential.
OC finished the tour with a 3–2–1 record and a wealth of experience against elite sevens competition.
“Playing at this level puts our regional talent into perspective,” Kasznik said. As Rosas pointed out, “European players have been ingrained in the sport all their lives,” in a way that even elite U.S. players usually have not.
“Facing off against these programs was immediately a different experience,” Kasznik said. “The pace of play was quicker, the physicality around the ball was tougher, and, most importantly, the ‘Rugby IQ’ that can only be developed from years of playing the sport was sharper. I am proud of how our Club was able to adapt quickly to these new elements of play.”
Guy Kasznik breaks free from a would-be tackler for an Olympic Club try. Photo by Erik den Burger.
Peter Walden tackles an opponent in Amsterdam. Photo by Erik den Burger.
OC SPORTS
OLYMPIC CLUB HANDBALL AWARDS CELEBRATION
by Deputy Commissioner Bob Del Torre
On June 10, The Olympic Club handball team held their annual awards banquet at the famous Capurro’s Restaurant at Fisherman’s Wharf. A huge crowd attended the event, emceed by Commissioner Loren Collado and me. Awards were presented to winners of several past tournaments, along with other noteworthy awards.
Special guests spoke, including national champions Al Chaparro and Olympic Club Hall of Famer Al Sandoval (four-time national champion). Charlie Leach, 50-year handball player and former handball champion, also gave a wonderful, inspirational speech.
Elite player Rene Lopez, who represents The Olympic Club in national tournaments, was also in attendance. Both Collado and Lopez are ranked as two of the top players in the nation.
2012 AWARDS
f Singles B Champion: Dino Lettieri
Editor’s Note: Lettieri was unable to collect his award in 2012 and finally received it at this year’s banquet.
2021 AWARDS
f A Division Champion: Joey Mucha
f B Division Champion: Rory Coyne
f C Division Champion: Jim McGuigan
f 80s Division Champion: Charlie Leach
f Charlie Yates Inspirational Award: Mike Martin
2022 AWARDS
f A Division Champion: Joey Mucha
f C Division Champion: Jon Chaparro
f 70s Division Champion: Bob Del Torre
f 80s Division Champion: Charlie Leach
f Most Improved Player: Jon Chaparro
2023 AWARDS
f B Division Champion: Andy Clark
f 70s Division Champion: Bob Del Torre
f 80s Division Champion: Charlie Leach
f Most Improved Player: Ted Callis
f Charlie Yates Inspirational Award: Paul Capurro
Appreciation awards were presented to three great Olympic Club players for their continued assistance in keeping the handball program one of the best in the country. Each are current or former highly-ranked players.
f Loren Collado
f Brendan McDevitt
f Al Sandoval
Anyone interested in joining the handball forces, contact me at bdeltorre@comcast.net.
We are also forming a firstever Olympic Club women’s handball team. All OC women are welcome!
OC handball celebrated their season and their success in maintaining one of the best handball programs in the country.
2012 B Division Champion Dino Lettieri and Commissioner Loren Collado.
OC TENNIS PLAYS MALIBU RACQUET CLUB IN INAUGURAL CALIFORNIA CUP
by Hannah Ly
It’s safe to say that the men’s Open team is on a roll. After winning the national invitational championship twice, they’ve been hungry to continue playing at a high level. One friendly rival has been continuously on their radar — the Malibu Racquet Club (MRC).
“Over the course of the last few years of [the national invitational championship] event, we’ve become close with a couple of the guys from Malibu,” Tennis Commissioner Lucas da Silveira said.
From there, the California Cup was born. The OC men’s Open team traveled to Malibu, June 21–23, to battle against MRC in the inaugural tournament of, hopefully, an annual tradition.
The OC team featured some of our best talent: Paul Girard (University of San Francisco), Jason Lapidus (Duke University), reigning Club singles champion Daniel Alameh (University of the Pacific), da Silveira (Brown University), Can Kaya (former UC Berkeley), David Wilczynski and Timothy Sah (Stanford). All the players on this star-studded team were captains of their college teams.
Malibu also brought some of their best players, including multiple former Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour players from UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and Pepperdine University. But before the ultimate NorCal vs. SoCal tennis spectacle could begin, the OC team acquainted themselves with the rest of the Malibu membership Friday night, with a casual round of live ball.
“It was fun for us to get to know some of the people down in SoCal, who I think are very different from people in the Bay Area, in a lot of ways,” da Silveira said.
The competition followed the format of the Laver Cup, widely regarded as the Ryder Cup of the tennis world. In the California Cup’s abridged version, Saturday began with two doubles matches, followed by two singles matches and a super tiebreaker in lieu of a third set. On Sunday, the top three doubles teams from each side competed for the title.
Despite the fierce competition, the OC team eked out the win. The first round ended up in a
tie, 2–2, with the teams of Kaya/ Lapidus and da Silveira/Sah winning the doubles matches. In singles, Alameh and Wilczynski lost to their MRC opponents.
Sunday featured nail-biting doubles matches. All three went to super tiebreakers for the third set, with Kaya/Lapidus beating out Morgan Mays/Alex Sarkissian, 7–6, 6–7, 10–4; Sah/Wilczynski staging a comeback against Dennis Mrktchian/Clay Thompson, 6–7, 6–4, 10–5; and da Silveira/Giraud defeating Mousheg Hovhannisyan/ Florian Gruessing, 6–1, 4–6, 10–6.
“I think it shows just how our team, playing together over the years, is building that familiarity with each other and how to play well,” da Silveira said. “That really showed up in the doubles. We won every doubles match there.”
With the success of this year’s tournament, both clubs are hoping to continue the event next year at The Olympic Club.
Can Kaya competed for the OC team at the California Cup with doubles partner Jason Lapidus, beating their Malibu opponents on both Saturday and Sunday.
The OC men’s Open team won the very first California Cup in the ultimate NorCal vs. SoCal tournament against Malibu Racquet Club from June 21–23.
From left to right: John Vipiana, Mark Peracchi, Jeffrey Hamlin, Pete Picetti
LAUNCH MONITORS AND CLUB FITTING
by Kevin Bresnahan, photo by Hannah Ly
I would like to take a moment to share with you how I utilize a launch monitor (we use Trackman) in club-fitting sessions, and what metrics I use to help select the best clubs for you and your game.
I always start a club-fitting session by explaining that I encourage your feedback on how the club feels, looks and sounds. To be quite honest, you will need that connection and confidence to help produce repeatable and enjoyable shots.
I also rely on the numbers that the Trackman is gathering as you hit each sample. It keeps me honest, and helps identify what combination is working to maximize performance and forgiveness. The launch monitor has been a game changer, as far as fitting golfers correctly. Before that technology was available, a lot of guesswork and “naked eye” recommendations, along with a ton of feel feedback, were used. Nowadays, we can rely on many dynamic measurements and metrics to make the right decision.
Here are the metrics I like to use and what they measure:
f Club Speed: Helps determine what flex and weight the shaft and golf club should be.
f Ball Speed: How fast the ball comes off the club head. This determines how forgiving and accurate you are hitting with that club. Faster ball speeds translate to further distance. They can also measure how forgiving the club head is on mishits.
f Attack Angle: The vertical up-and-down angle at which the club head is moving at impact, and how you are loading the club through impact. A negative number means you are hitting down on the ball, which gives me an insight on your launch angles.
f Launch Angle: How high the ball comes off of the club head at impact. It is the ball’s initial vertical angle, relative to the ground.
f Spin Rate: How much or how little spin is imparted on the golf ball when it is hit by a particular club and shaft combination. There is an ideal range, depending on what club and shot you are hitting.
f Land Angle: The angle of descent from the apex of the
shot, which helps determine how close the ball stops from where it lands. Keep landing angles below 40 degrees for a driver and between 45–55 degrees for your irons. When irons produce those landing angles, the ball tends to roll out between 10–15 feet from where it lands.
f Height: The apex point of the ball flight, measured relative to the height of the starting/ launch position of the ball.
f Carry: The carry distances you are getting from the club you are hitting. Quite simply, how far the ball travels in the air.
f Total: The total distance the club is producing. This metric is calculated using the algorithms of the shot data, combined to calculate the total.
f Smash Factor: The ratio of ball speed divided by club speed, which reveals the efficiency of impact. A rating system to help determine how well you are hitting the ball.
Want me to check out your swing? Book a club-fitting session by visiting the OC website.
GREAT GOLF FEATS
HOLE-IN-ONE
5.23.24 | Cliffs Course Hole 5 175 yards | 5-iron
PARKER RAMSEY
6.7.24
Harding Park | Age: 84 7.10.24 | Score: 79 CONGRATULATIONS!
6.23.24 | Lake Course Hole 3
7.13.24 | Ocean Course Hole 5 | 140 yards 48° Wedge
SHOOT YOUR AGE RANDY HAAG
Indian Wells | Age: 65
4.10.24 | Score: 65
PETER FORTUNE Lake Course | Age: 80
6.27.24 | Score: 79 Ocean Course
6.20.24 | Score: 79
6.25.24 | Score: 79
6.28.24 | Score: 80
6.30.24 | Score: 78 7.5.24 | Score: 74
| Score: 77
| Score: 74
VALLA
DEDE MORIARTY INDUCTED INTO NCPGA HALL OF FAME
by Hannah Ly
Dede Moriarty didn’t even think that women could become PGA members when Ty Caplin suggested she join. At the time, Moriarty was working as the shop manager at Lake Merced Golf Club and played in amateur tournaments around the area. Caplin, who was previously president of the Northern California PGA (NCPGA), could see the passion that Moriarty had for golf, and wrote her a two-page letter explaining that she should be a pioneer for women by joining the PGA.
“It was eye-opening, because I didn’t know you could do that,” Moriarty said. “There were no women to look toward to see what they’d done.”
Now, in 2024, Moriarty has been inducted into the NCPGA’s Hall of Fame. Since her entrance into the PGA 30 years ago, Moriarty has found her calling in teaching golf to players of all ages and abilities.
After her time as an assistant pro at Lake Merced, she moved to Presidio Golf Course to become the first female head professional in San Francisco history. For Moriarty, the best part of golf is the relationships she makes on the course and with her students.
“When you see that they’ve had a little breakthrough and they say, ‘Wow, that’s the best I’ve ever hit the ball,’” Moriarty said. “That’s the joy that comes to me from teaching.”
Speaking of relationships — she has deep ties with the OC. Her brother-in-law, Dennis Moriarty, was Club president in 1996 and Michael, her husband, is a 50-year member and frequently plays the Lake and Ocean Courses. It also helps that she lives just two minutes away from Lakeside, making it easy for her to get a quick round in on the Cliffs Course. “I love being
a member here,” Moriarty said. “It’s kind of like my second home.”
But even though she has been named one of the best golf teachers in California by multiple publications, served on the NCPGA’s board for over 15 years (including as the president in 2019, helping plan and execute the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park during the COVID-19 pandemic) and earned the NCPGA Professional of the Year award in 2015, her Hall of Fame induction was a welcome surprise. “I was flabbergasted and honored and started weeping,” Moriarty said.
Moriarty is the third woman to join the NCPGA Hall of Fame and the second Olympic Club member, after Johnny Miller. “I’m just totally honored,” she said. Congrats, Dede!
Dede Moriarty (center) was inducted into the NCPGA Hall of Fame at a ceremony on June 23, surrounded by her family.
SGA CORNER by J.P. Morgan, SGA Board member
THE SGA IS THRIVING AND IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE
The Seniors’ Golf Association (SGA) golf season is in full swing — pun intended.
Membership is up, and participation continues to thrive. We started 2024 with about 400 members. As of June, we have 431 members. This is indicative of the health and popularity of SGA membership.
MHGP turning 55 by the end of 2024 or older are afforded the opportunity to join the SGA and participate in 24 total events and two SGA trips in this calendar year.
Over the past 12–18 months, your SGA board members have been working on methods to bring more awareness and value to the SGA at Olympic. We received feedback from the OC golf community that not all qualified and qualifying people were aware of the SGA. For others who were aware, some found it challenging to know how
to enroll. We are working in cooperation with our communications and membership staff to automatically alert people once eligible. This simple email communication may be one of the reasons we are experiencing an increase in numbers.
We are also continually looking at ways we can add value to SGA events. We are analyzing the popularity of and feedback from the trips, and exploring how to create the best possible experience with the greatest number of participants. We regularly evaluate the food and beverages offered for the events, and we select what we feel will be the best and most cost-effective options for our member participants and our guests.
I would like to issue a special acknowledgment to Jim Ketcham for initiating and successfully coordinating the new SGA’s First
Wednesday’s golf outings. The first two outings in June and July were thoroughly enjoyed by those participating. The next outing will be on August 7.
Here are the upcoming Home & Home events in the SGA season:
f Lake Merced: August 8
f Meadow Club: August 13
f Sonoma: August 22
f Marin CC: September 4
Additionally, the SGA will be hosting the MPCC men on September 19 and the MPCC women on October 23.
The SGA Four-Ball Classic is scheduled for August 29, the SGA Championship will be played on October 16 and the SGA Year-End outing is happening on November 7.
In early October, some of you lucky few will be traveling to Bandon, Oregon, where Mike Keiser was able to mold a section of Southeast Oregon into the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, for what I expect will be four fabulous days of golf.
The SGA board will take feedback from this trip as part of the criteria that will determine what trips will be offered to the membership in 2025. I, for one, am looking forward to the feedback.
SGA
GOLF REPORT
HOW MANY STROKES?
We all have our handicaps, and they do a remarkable job of enabling us to play with others who have different abilities. However, we sometimes question their accuracy as a predictor.
Setting aside the possibility of someone artificially creating an inaccurate record, and subsequently obtaining an unfairly inflated handicap, we still might ask whether handicaps truly level the playing field even when properly calculated.
So here is the question. In match play, does a higher handicap player have an absolutely level chance against a player with a lower index? First of all, we should note that our index is based not on an average of all of our scores, but only the lowest 10 of the most recent 20.
And, recent software updates have made it possible to adjust a player’s index every time a new score is added to the record. Limiting the calculation to recent scores certainly assures consideration of trends, as we continue to improve or contrastingly grow older and less strong.
Taking only one half of those scores certainly throws out unusually bad days. However, your handicap includes the exceptional low score that surprised not only your fellow competitors but also yourself. Hence, it is safe to say that most of us do not play to our handicap every time we play. The number more closely indicates our potential than a probability.
That being said, we might ask how the system works in actual play.
Studies have shown that on average in match play, the lower handicap player wins more than half of the time. Not truly a surprise — they are, after all, the better player. Typically, when we have a match, the handicaps are compared, and the difference between them is given to the high-handicap player, and the low man plays at scratch. If, for example, the two players are a 5 and a 10 handicap, then the high man would get a stroke on just the five holes rated most difficult on that golf course.
Unfortunately, a single stroke might not be enough to help them on the most difficult holes. After all, those holes were so designated by determining on which holes was the greatest disparity between scratch and bogey players.
What would happen if both players were to play to their full handicaps? The low-handicap player would still most likely win those difficult holes, as they both get a stroke there and are essentially playing even. However, now the higher handicap player gets a stroke on the holes rated 6–10. These are easier holes, and perhaps he is able to use that stroke to tie or win them.
Interestingly, studies have shown that this is exactly what does occur. When scored this way, the high-handicap player wins more often, although the low man still prevails more than 50% of the time. Next time you play, you might keep a record both ways. I would love to hear what you discover.
TEE TO GREEN by Gerry Stratford, Member
Dear Olympians,
As we mark the one-year countdown to hosting the best amateur golfers in the world for the U.S. Amateur Championship, I am filled with pride and excitement. Hosting this prestigious event is especially fitting for The Olympic Club, given our founding mission to foster amateur athletics. Our long-tenured members often share cherished anecdotes about the last time we hosted the championship in 2007 and the one before in 1981. I’m sure some can even regale us with stories from the 1958 Amateur.
The sense of community and camaraderie among our members is a vital element that contributes to the unique atmosphere of The Olympic Club. The support and enthusiasm of our members are essential not only in creating a welcoming environment, but also in driving the success of events like the U.S. Amateur Championship. I encourage all members to get involved, whether by volunteering, being a sponsor or just coming out to cheer. I know we are still a year out, but we want to keep the drumbeat going all year long.
We have been preparing diligently for months. Our sponsorship hospitality packages are now available through our partnership with the First Tee of San Francisco. This wonderful organization will benefit from the championship, and they will help facilitate tax-deductible corporate sponsorship opportunities. Packages include clubhouse hospitality, grounds passes, participation in a special golf outing, access to a women’s executive golf event and a right of first refusal for tickets and hospitality for the 2028 PGA Championship. For more information, please reach out to Josh Ned (jned@olyclub.com).
While our hospitality for players, sponsors, members, spectators and officials will be nothing short of spectacular, the true star of the show will be our golf courses. This would not be possible without the behind-the-scenes efforts of our fantastic grounds crew and agronomists,
led by our esteemed Director of Golf Maintenance Troy Flanagan. We are privileged to experience the excellence of their work daily, enjoying our courses in great condition. However, the Amateur will require an elevated level of preparation. In the months leading up to the initial tee-off, our team will need to intensify their efforts. This will involve many early mornings and long days, with much of their work remaining largely invisible. Nevertheless, their dedication will be the cornerstone of a successful event. Our grounds crew is just one example of the many unseen heroes at the Club whose hard work and dedication are crucial to enhancing our member experience. Housekeepers, dishwashers, maintenance workers, porters, procurement specialists, accountants, IT staff and many others work tirelessly behind the scenes. They may not often receive compliments, but they do hear when something isn’t right, and they fix it diligently. They often work during odd hours and handle tasks that most of us would prefer to avoid. These unsung heroes are the backbone of our Club, and I am immensely proud to call them my respected colleagues and teammates. As you enjoy your time at the Club, please keep these invaluable team members in your thoughts. Here’s to another remarkable year of preparation, camaraderie and excellence as we eagerly anticipate hosting the U.S. Amateur Championship.
See you at the Club!
Tim Muessle GM/COO
As the City Clubhouse Director, I have the privilege of leading one of the most committed operational teams I have ever worked with. The Olympic Club’s members view this organization with high regard, and I can honestly say my team mirrors that esteem.
Upon my arrival in August 2021, I was surprised and delighted to meet the team, several of whom have tenures exceeding 15 years with the Club. At that time, the operation was in the throes of reopening, post-pandemic. As the Club has seen more and more members returning to City Clubhouse, month after month, year over year, my team has been ever willing to pivot to the changing needs of the membership as they experience their day-today within the Clubhouse. Something I truly enjoy about working in a club, versus the hotel world I came from, is there is no hard, fixed, corporate-driven operating manual — the experience is ever malleable to the changing needs of the organization.
With two decades of hospitality service experience, my passion is to create the best possible experience I can with the resources at my disposal, all in the hope of providing a place where the membership can come gear up for or exhale after the stresses of the day.
My team and I welcome all questions, comments, concerns and feedback regarding the member experience in the City Clubhouse. I can generally be found walking around the building wearing bright yellow shoes or hanging by the front desk at Post Street.
James Lawler City Clubhouse Director
Olympics Closing Ceremony Event
September 5 | 5:30pm | City Clubhouse
Mix and mingle with some of our very own Olympians, past and present! We’ve invited some of our amazing athletes who competed in the Olympics to celebrate the end of the 2024 Summer Games. Find out what it’s like from the Olympians themselves and reminisce on your favorite Olympic moments.
$40 + taxes & fees
Sign up at www.olyclub.com
Cancellation deadline August 22.
