December 2024 Olympian

OLYM PIAN AWARD FOR ATHLETIC A CHIEVEMENT

THE IRONMAN OF OC SOFTBALL: LOU ALESSANDRIA

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 Inappropriate behavior by member and guests, violation of dress code, smoked cannabis on property.

f Drove golf cart in restricted areas, causing damage to Club property.

f Derogatory language toward a staff member.

f Conduct unbecoming an Olympian, with verbal abuse toward OC employee and violation of non-solicitation policy.

f Verbal and physical altercation.

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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

PETER DAL POGGETTO

Passed away September 26 Member since 1963

EUGENE CHAPUT

Passed away November 3 Member since 1960

DONATE A TOY TO A CHILD IN NEED

Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the SF Firefighters Toy program. Donation bins will be available December 1–17 at both clubhouses.

Cover: Lou Alessandria won this year’s Olympian Award for Athletic Achievement, and his teammates were not surprised. Alessandria not only helped create the OC’s phenomenally successful softball program, but is known for looking after every player. Read more on page 3.

by Norm Ng, Contributing member.

Right: Lakeside Housekeeping Director Tavi Sojo and Food & Beverage Manager Sophia Harris (pictured with GM/COO Tim Muessle, center) both completed the Manager in Development program after presenting their ideas to improve the Club to a panel of members. Photo by Hannah Ly.

Photo

photo by Missy

Bystrom

OLYMPIAN EDITORIAL STAFF

www.olyclub.com

Creative Manager/Editor-in-Chief

Robin Cheung (rcheung@olyclub.com)

Editor/Writer

Christine U’Ren

Staff Writer/Photographer

Hannah Ly

Contributing Writers

Tonya Bonesio-Barna, Kevin Bresnahan, David Ezzo, Dennis Herrera, Dan Noyes, Matt Richtel, Jessica Smith, Gerry Stratford, Jim Tighe

Contributing Photographers

Missy Bystrom, Gene Choi, Frank Morse, Norm Ng, Brandon Shepard, Jordan Sofris

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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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

PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED.

Dear Fellow Olympians,

One of the great honors of serving as president is notifying the winner of the Olympian Award for Athletic Achievement. This year, I had the pleasure of delivering this exciting news to Lou Alessandria, and our conversation will remain one of my favorite memories. After a bit of phone tag, Lou and I finally connected, and it was wonderful to hear his heartfelt reaction. Lou was genuinely surprised and moved, exclaiming, “Really?! No! Seriously? I can’t believe it! This just means I’m getting old. My wife isn’t going to believe it!” His enthusiasm and genuine joy captured the spirit of our community, and when Athletic Captain Shawn Dahlem shared the news with Lou’s team, they responded with spontaneous cheers. Seeing our members uplift and support one another is part of what makes The Olympic Club such a special place. Congratulations, Lou!

I’d also like to recognize members Mike Finn, Will Kurth, John McCauley and co-captains Kelly Rupp and Ryan Sack for raising over $10,000 for Youth on Course through the 100 Hole Hike on the Cliffs last month. And as though the golf gods were cheering on this effort to make golf more accessible, Kelly scored an ace on the seventh hole during his 13th hole of the day! He commented that the day was filled with “lots of birdies and lots of fun.”

As we enter a month packed with celebrations and time with friends and family, I want to bring attention to our Employee

Holiday Fund. Each year, this fund allows us to show our appreciation for the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to make our Club experience exceptional. I encourage you to consider a contribution to our Olympic Club family this season, acknowledging their hard work and commitment to all of us. Contributions can be made online at www.olyclub.com.

Thank you to all committee members completing their terms this month. As a member-led Club, we benefit greatly from the time and expertise of our volunteers, who continuously contribute ideas and energy to enhance our community. Your service is invaluable, and we appreciate your dedication.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that the volunteer portal for the 2024 U.S. Amateur, which we will host next August 11–17, is now open. This prestigious tournament, featuring 312 of the world’s top amateur golfers, provides members a front-row seat to some of the most exciting golf around. I encourage you to consider joining us as a volunteer for this memorable event.

Finally, we recently concluded our cherished Mother/Son and Father/ Daughter events. These gatherings remain among our most beloved traditions, underscoring the importance of family and community at the heart of The Olympic Club.

Thank you for being part of what makes The Olympic Club so extraordinary. May your holiday season be filled with warmth, joy and cherished memories.

December is an exciting time of year for our Club, as this is when we as a Board review the applications submitted for committee service. Over 200 members presently serve on our 20-plus committees, and as usual we have many more applicants than open positions for 2025. We are blessed to have such strong interest in committee service, and for those selected, you have a great opportunity to positively impact the member experience.

Over my 17-year tenure as an OC member, I’ve had the privilege to serve on 10 committees as a member or Board liaison. Reflecting on this experience, I continually marvel at the time and effort our members put into serving the Club. Most initiatives percolate up from the committees, and this year is no exception. Some of the major accomplishments driven by our committees in 2024 include: 1) developing and implementing our Strategic Plan; 2) creating a consistent financial framework for our golf tournaments; 3) running the process to select our golf architect for the Ocean Course renovation; 4) revamping the benefits of the Tennis Privilege; and 5) shepherding a member-driven initiative to bring volleyball back to the Club.

I speak on behalf of the entire Board in offering a heartfelt thanks to our committee members for all your hard work. And for those who’ve recently applied or are contemplating doing so in the future, I hope you have the chance to serve, as there’s no better way to shape the future of our beloved Club.

Dennis Williams

Malia Lyle

OLYM PIAN AWARD FOR ATHLETIC A CHIEVEMENT

THE IRONMAN OF OC SOFTBALL: LOU ALESSANDRIA

by Dan Noyes, photos by Norm Ng (both Contributing members)

Have you ever met someone and felt like you’ve known them a lifetime? That’s the way it is with Lou Alessandria. A handshake will not suffice. He brings you in for a brisk hug and a pat on the back, and that exemplifies how Alessandria has carried out his role as captain of The Olympic Club’s softball teams for so long.

“Yeah, I’m a hugger, so, postgame handshakes, nobody wants to be behind me because I’m hugging everybody I know on the way back,” he said with a laugh.

The Olympian went to San Francisco’s Moscone Field on a recent Wednesday evening to watch the teams in action and to meet those who know Alessandria well. “Oh, he’s the best,” teammate Kevin Barry told us. “He looks after everybody. Everybody plays. Everybody’s welcome. It’s amazing.” Barry went to San Francisco’s St. Ignatius College Preparatory with Alessandria and started playing softball for The Olympic Club in 1991. “He is amazing,” Barry said. “He held that whole program together, built

the program. We started with 12 guys playing tournaments and Bumper Smith and Lou would go and grab guys from other teams and say, ‘You’re playing with us, you’re not playing for anybody else.’ And it’s just continued.”

The Athletic Committee voted to recognize Lou Alessandria with the 2024 Olympian Award for Athletic Achievement for his outstanding contributions over 34 years. Alessandria has racked up statistics that surpass most professional baseball players, competing in more than 1,500 games for the Club. In nominating Alessandria, Softball Commissioner Brian Tsung wrote, “On average, he plays three times a week across multiple OC teams, competing three seasons each year for an impressive span of 34 years. As a team captain, with a winning percentage exceeding .750, Lou has secured nearly 50 San Francisco Softball League Championships.”

The team has recognized Alessandria’s contributions with two Bumper Smith Awards, named for Justin “Bumper” Smith, a large, powerful athlete and firefighter, regarded as the father of OC softball. Alessandria has also received multiple team MVP honors. This year, Alessandria’s two San Francisco Softball League teams have a combined record of 41–7 at the time of this writing, winning four City Championships, with the potential for more titles in the fall season now underway.

“Lou’s leadership and passion for the game extend beyond his own performance,” Tsung added. “His long-standing commitment to the program has earned him widespread respect, and he has successfully promoted Olympic Club softball, recruiting many quality new members.”

“I WAS STUNNED”

Alessandria has been on the other side of this award, nominating Albert Chang

in 2013 for his contributions to the Club’s tennis program. The only other member to have won this award for softball was Smith, for both softball and basketball in 1993. Now that Alessandria is receiving the honor, he told us, “First, I was in disbelief, and then I was stunned and now I am honored, kind of the whole range of emotions. I’m accepting this award on behalf of the hundreds of people I’ve played with and the more than a thousand games I’ve played on behalf of the softball program, and all the relationships I have forged.”

Alessandria was born and raised in San Francisco and began going to The Olympic Club during elementary school. “All the boys in my class, we all joined The Olympic Club at the same time on the same day because there were Junior activities; there were no afterschool programs back then. We would just walk from Pine and Grant over to

Masters softball — just another Wednesday night. Back row (l-to-r): Jeff Clark, Joe Pollaro, Jeff Woodhead, Dave Braun, Aldo Congi, Jim Ketcham, Ed Delfs, Mike Chaput, Bill Stridbeck, Norm Dudham, Jim Sweeney, Tom Chaput. Front row: Mike Carmignani, Stan Woerner, Kurt King, Joe Engler, Shawn Dahlem, Kevin Barry, Lou Alessandria, Billy Carlson, Joe Shasky, Anthony Rea.

The Olympic Club and stay until our dads picked us up at 5:00 or 5:30.”

During those years, Alessandria’s love of baseball grew. His family had season tickets to the San Francisco Giants when they played at Candlestick. “I grew up playing baseball, and that was Little League, PAL (Police Activities League), Flame (firefighters league), you know, since I was a kid. So, baseball’s always been my favorite sport.” Alessandria also plays in the Club’s basketball leagues but devotes most of his time to softball.

Alessandria spent 20 years at Bank of America as a commercial lender and then went on to his “labor of love.” He headed the St. Vincent De Paul Society for five years, with its homeless shelters, detox facilities, two affordable housing programs in the Tenderloin and two domestic violence shelters. He now develops real estate, while helping his wife, Brenda, at her designer clothing consignment shops.

Softball is a near daily sport for Alessandria. He recounts how he was actually playing for another team in the City leagues when Smith approached him in the dugout and said, “Members don’t play against each other. As a matter of fact, you’re playing this weekend in a tournament with The Olympic Club at Red Morton Playground in Redwood City.” Alessandria tells that story at the team’s annual banquets and adds, “Everybody in this room was asked to be here. Somebody reached out to you and said, ‘We would like you to be a part of our softball family.’ Everybody here is here for a reason, not just your athletic ability on the diamond but because we feel you’re a person of good character.”

THEY CALL HIM “GAZELLE”

Alessandria is one of the fortunate few who remain in shape without worrying about working out. He simply plays the

sports he loves. “I have a high metabolism,” he said. “I eat what I like as often as I like. I don’t gain that much weight. I’m at about my high school weight. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been injury-free. My joints hurt a little bit, but I stayed fairly healthy. Since 1990, I’ve been healthy.”

Because of the way he can move across the outfield, his teammates gave him the nickname “Gazelle.” Alessandria explained, “Anybody who has the honor of making a travel team gets an animal name. It’s a rite of passage. You have to earn your name, and we kind of fit it to your attributes. So, yeah. I got the gazelle name a long time ago.”

Alessandria plays left center field and is lead-off batter. “All the other teams know him because he’s not going to swing at a bad pitch to start the at-bat,” OC Athletic Captain Shawn Dahlem said. “So, he’s happy to walk and do whatever he can to help the team.”

Alessandria in 2001, proving his weight has remained unchanged over decades. Photo by Tom Hall.

Alessandria, shown here in 2000, has always been a welcoming presence on the OC team. Photo by Tom Hall.

In 2010, Alessandria helped run the Club’s six softball teams. Now there are nine. Photo by Michael Mustacchi. The Olympic Club | December 2024 5

With Alessandria’s help, Olympic Club softball has expanded from one team with 15 members, to nine teams with more than 100 members this year. “We’ve got a full slate of guys playing every night in the City and in the South Bay and different leagues all around town, tournaments all over the state and all over the country,” Alessandria said proudly.

Alessandria himself competes in Open DD, the highest division in the City leagues, and the Open Masters Division. He has played with many of his teammates for decades, and most of them have experience with baseball; some are former college players. So, there is not much coaching needed. “There’s a couple of guys who actually predate me by one year that are on my squad. So, when I read the lineup, everybody jokes about it, but it’s pretty set. Everybody kind of knows where they’re hitting, where they’re batting, because of their longevity.”

But Alessandria helps the new players adjust to the high arc of slow-pitch softball and to rules in some tournaments that can include a limit on home runs. “If you hit the ball over the fence, you may hit the ball 400 feet, but that’s an automatic out. So, you don’t want to do that. There is some coaching that’s involved, especially on the hitting side, but the guys have been playing for a long time, which is why we’re so good.”

HIS BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

Ask Alessandria about his biggest accomplishment, and it won’t be the win-loss record, his personal stats or the awards. It’s the fact that he has extended the playing careers of so many Olympic Club members. He explained that about 15 years ago, he was aging out of the elite teams, so he instituted Masters play, using the OC Masters swim program as a model. “And I took that model, and I brought it

over to softball, and guys are still playing and they’ll continue to play. I have guys on my team who have gone through a hip replacement or a knee replacement. They don’t run so good anymore but they’re still out there playing.”

Alessandria said The Olympic Club teams are, by far, the oldest team in the City, with a mix of “younger guys” — the 40-year-olds — and “older persons like myself.” He just turned 60. He says the team’s senior statesman is Jim Ketcham, former OC Board member, who at 67

one-run lead when a ball soared into the right center field gap. “And I made this headlong dive and it just stuck to my glove. I remember lying on the warning track with dirt on my face, and Dr. Barry coming over and going, ‘Oh, my God, you caught it. I can’t believe you caught it. What a great catch.’ It’s like 9:00 at night, running off the field, back to my dugout thinking, ‘this is fantastic.’” Alessandria believes the team came in sixth or seventh in the country that year, but the memory of that catch remains sharp.

Ask Alessandria about his biggest accomplishment, and it won’t be the win-loss record, his personal stats or the awards. It’s the fact that he has extended the playing careers of so many Olympic Club members.

pitches and “throws nothing but strikes.” Alessandria added, “One of the funniest quotes we’ve heard in the postgame shake, where we’re shaking the other team’s hands after we’ve beaten them, was when one kid said, ‘We just got beat by our dads.’”

The decades of experience and familiarity with the same teammates has paid off. “We’ve won five out of the last six Open division titles and five out of the last six Masters titles in the last couple of years. And we’re probably on our way right now to winning two more again in the City.”

FIELD OF DREAMS

Alessandria’s most memorable moment in his decades of playing softball came in the 1997 ASA (Amateur Softball Association) Nationals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a scene very similar to The Field of Dreams film: cornstalks surrounding the field, night game under the lights. The Olympic Club was protecting a

We wrapped up our interview by asking Alessandria what keeps him going, day after day, game after game. “If ever I got to a point where I wasn’t having fun, I would stop,” he answered. “But I’m fortunate that, with some of the guys that I played with, we go back to Little League. We play hard between the lines. I go for a couple of pops afterwards. It’s just social interaction, the appreciation of what The Olympic Club has given to us, the opportunity to play and represent the Winged “O” at tournaments all around the country. All around the state, all around multiple leagues in the City. Just the opportunity to put on that uniform and share friendship and camaraderie…All the memories I’ve had going back almost 50 years, and that’s truly a special thing. Not many people can say that. It’s truly a special place for me. And I’m very appreciative, and I think in some small way, I’ve given back.” 

THANK

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Stephen R. Papale  ACTIVITIES: Ahmed N. Chehade  Rocco J. Papale  ADMISSIONS: Patrick E. Brandin  John W. Eggert  Luke A. O’Brien 

Alexander S. Paras  Joan J. Smith  ATHLETIC: Kendall Beveridge Liss  Patrick J. Cronin  AUDIT: Richard J. McNamara  BUILDING: Daniel O’Connor  Tina Phillips  COMMUNICATIONS: Nancy R. Murphy  FINANCE: Christopher J. Coble  Bianca C. Dawydiak  Michael Paul  Gregory A. VandenBosch  GOLF & GOLF TOURNAMENT:

James R. Bray  Darin J. Delagnes  Marc G. Ialeggio  James W. Mason Jr.  Zachariah A. McReynolds IV  GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP: Michael O. Abendroth  GREEN: Barbara Azevedo  Michael Dougherty  Kyle Holm  John W. Kramer  Donald L. Morelli  HISTORY & ARCHIVES: Anthony E. Cuadro  Jeffrey J. Hamm  James R. Sutton  HOUSE: Joseph S. Cannata  Felicia F. Lee  Keith C. Metzger  INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT: Andrew R. Gaspari  JUNIOR MEMBERS: Lily I. Becker*  Catherine Breed  Kevin E. Kern  Celine Wei  MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Geoffrey E. Callan  Kelly K. Hall  Jeffrey B. Hamlin  Anne E. Stricherz  NOMINATING: Leslie J. Davis  STANDARDS INVESTIGATIVE: James S. Brown  Alicia J. Donahue  William L. Marchant  TENNIS: Shelley M. Carpeni  F. Alexander Dean*  Anne Herrera (*not pictured)

SAM SANDOVAL

by Christine U’Ren, photo by Gene Choi (Contributing member)

Sam Sandoval joined the Club staff as a greenkeeper in July 2021, and a few years later began turfgrass management classes online at UC Riverside. This past July, he was promoted to Assistant in Training. “We were very excited to hire from within our union team,” Director of Golf Maintenance Troy Flanagan said.

What got you interested in this job?

My dad worked in the industry for 30+ years, and he would always talk highly about Lake Merced, where he worked. I love being outdoors, working with my hands and problem solving. Every day there is something to challenge myself, and learn in the process.

Tell us something about your family. I am married to my beautiful loving wife, MaryAnn Sandoval, and we are raising one boy, Leo, 4 years old, and one girl, Eliana, 10 months old. We have a 4-year-old German shepherd named Nala Jane, and a 7-year-old turtle named Luna. As a family we love the outdoors: hiking, mountain biking and camping.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

Spending time with family and friends. Either going to a country concert with my wife or going to see my favorite teams play at home (Giants, Warriors or the 49ers).

What do you like about your job?

I love to mow greens, especially early in the morning just when the sun is coming up, and especially when there is dew on the grass. It’s satisfying to see nice clean lines. 

GET TO KNOW THE ARCHITECT: JIM URBINA IS BRINGING THE FUN BACK TO GOLF

by Hannah Ly

J

im Urbina is no stranger to the courses on the California Coast.

“I’ve been passing by The Olympic Club for many, many years and I’ve always been intrigued by the golf courses, both the Lake and the Ocean,” Urbina remembered. “Little did I know that almost 30 years later I would be working on the Ocean and Cliffs Courses.”

After the successful renovation of the Lake Course in 2023, Urbina was chosen by the Club’s Golf Architect Advisory Committee to work on renovating the Ocean Course, Cliffs Course and the practice facilities.

After graduating college with a teaching degree, Urbina got his start in golf architecture working under Pete Dye and learned how to shape a course from the ground up. He spent over 10 years with Dye and his son Perry, then moved on to design and build golf courses with Tom Doak, including Old MacDonald and Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and Claremont Country Club in Oakland.

Like Gil Hanse, Urbina has a hands-on approach to golf architecture. Under Dye, Urbina learned a core tenet of his architectural process. “The ideas may always be there, but somebody’s got to build them,” he said.

Urbina has worked on multiple courses across the country, and many that members may have played before, such as Claremont Country Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Pasatiempo Golf Club and The Valley Club of Montecito.

“I can’t tell you how many times I drove by Skyline Boulevard. How many times I looked across the valley from the lake while working at San Francisco Golf Club,” Urbina said. “So I was

totally surprised, totally caught off guard when they said ‘Are you interested in interviewing?’”

When he sat in front of the Golf Architect Advisory Committee, it was clear that Urbina’s vision matched the Club’s, and he was finally able to make his way onto the Ocean Course. “I had long stared and watched championships be played at The Olympic Club. Quite the honor for me to receive that call and accept the job,” Urbina said.

Steve Meeker, chair of the committee, noticed Urbina’s enthusiasm for the project. “He just came across as the guy we’d like to work with,” Meeker said. “He was very excited about it and told us that this would be one of the most important jobs he’s ever had.”

One of the biggest things that stood out about Urbina’s plans was his commitment to the history of the course. The Ocean Course, first designed by William Watson in 1924 and renovated by Sam Whiting in 1927, was first called the “Pacific Links” because of the way it flowed with the coastal dunes of the land, like the links found in Scotland and Ireland. Over time, the course was reshaped to the more modern design it is today.

Urbina, though, always had an appreciation for those Golden Age architects. He’s worked on restoring several Golden Age courses, designed by golf architect greats such as Alister Mackenzie, C.B. MacDonald, Donald Ross and Seth Raynor. During the time of Watson, moving dirt was a hard and painstaking task. So instead, the architects took advantage of the natural contours of the land they were working on, or, as MacKenzie said, they would “imitate the beauties of nature so closely as to make his work indistinguishable from Nature herself.”

The committee recognized Urbina’s passion for these classic designs.

“The thing that made Jim stand out was the way he communicated the aesthetic as well as the features he wanted to highlight of the Ocean Course,” said Marissa Mar, one of the members of the committee. “It was very apparent that he appreciated the natural beauty and the natural land that the golf course sits on.”

Mar has fond memories of playing on one of Urbina’s links-style designs. In 2015 — the same year that the Club hosted the inaugural U.S. Men’s Amateur Four-Ball championship — Mar and her playing partner Lila Barton competed in the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at

Jim Urbina will take on the second phase of the Golf Facilities renovation project.

Bandon Dunes. “We got to play [Pacific Dunes] during a national championship, which was incredibly special. I fell in love with that golf course.”

Similar to the Club’s seaside landscape, although with far fewer trees, Pacific Dunes is known for its vast dunescape, and gorgeous holes that take on the lay of the land. Urbina plans to implement that same idea into the Ocean and Cliffs Courses.

Ocean No. 15, in particular, will be renovated to make use of the natural topography. To extend the driving range, the hole will be shortened, and the green will be moved in front of the natural dunes that currently frame the approach. In this new design, the green will be cradled by the dunes, creating a respite from the surrounding landscape. “You will think you’re looking at a hole in Ireland,” Mark Avelar said.

Urbina is taking another page out of Watson and Whiting’s books by reducing the number of bunkers around the course. “Having an abundance of bunkers out there just doesn’t do anything for the topography or the beauty of the golf course,” Urbina said. He is focusing on the ground game for the renovated courses and doing away with the steep bunkers that “you have to crawl out of.”

These renovated bunkers will be grassfaced and look drastically different than the sand-faced bunkers on the Lake Course. Bunkers will have a lower profile, making them easier for golfers to get in

and out of if they land in one, and the reduced number of bunkers will give players more variety in their shots, making more space for a ground game rather than an aerial one. Urbina cited a 1927 aerial photo of Lakeside (above left) as the inspiration for his designs, where the fairways were wide, the dunes were large, and bunkers were strategically placed. “I’m going to use that photo as my compass,” he said. Some of the most noticeable changes will be on Nos. 5, 6 and 7 on the Ocean Course. The fifth green will be restored to its original 1924 location, and an approach fairway will be added to encourage a wide range of tee shots. “The option to play your own style of golf shot will reward creativity instead of just brute force,” Urbina said in his hole-by-hole review of the Ocean Course.

The tunnel leading to the No. 6 tees, which runs under the No. 7 fairway, will be removed as well. The new “sporty” seventh hole will be a short par 4 with a wider fairway, giving members a fairer shot.

When talking about the vision for the future Ocean Course, both Urbina and the committee agree that they want to see the Ocean Course as a unique course, not just a “cousin” to the Club’s championship course. “We wanted an architect who demonstrated a

real appreciation for the Ocean Course in and of itself, for its character and its ability to stand alone as a golf course and not just as a mini version of the Lake Course,” Avelar said.

It’s Urbina’s goal to make the Ocean Course an enjoyable and challenging course for golfers of all skill levels. For example, the shorter seventh hole will make it drivable for more skilled golfers yet reachable by several different strategies for the less experienced. “There will be less trouble for the average golfer on the new Ocean Course than will be found on the new Lake Course, but in keeping with the modern idea of a dual nature in a high-class course, abundant hazards will interest the golfer who shoots

This 1927 aerial photo of Lakeside served as a major influence in Urbina’s design.

Ocean Course No. 15 will be shortened,

Urbina plans to move all nine holes of the Cliffs Course west of Skyline

consistently for par,” Urbina said at his Town Hall presentation.

Urbina is planning a similar renovation for the Cliffs Course, and will be rerouting the course to fit all nine holes west of Skyline Blvd. Unneeded bunkers will be removed and vegetation will be thinned out to create that links-like seaside course. When reviewing the rendering of the new second hole, Urbina said, “I could hit my little bump-and-run, Matt [Jordan] could hit his 67-degree wedge and we’re still having fun playing golf.”

The first hole on the Cliffs Course will be rerouted to fit two holes, with the new No. 2 green opening up to stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. “Simplicity, widening, fun,” Urbina said. The current

third hole, which will become the new fourth hole, is undergoing a similar renovation. There will be drastically fewer greenside bunkers, the tees will be expanded and the holes will be widened to embrace the simple, yet fun design. Urbina’s vision for the Cliffs Course follows his motto: “Golf is supposed to be fun, spread the word.”

The plans also include an expanded driving range that will allow for a larger volume of players to practice. The northern teeing grounds will be leveled out to create more area for practicing, eliminating the current unused space caused by the current sloped tees. With the shortened 15th hole and 16th tees on Ocean, Urbina plans to create a southern teeing

grounds, so the range can be used more effectively by more golfers.

Construction won’t begin until after the 2025 U.S. Amateur, but Urbina is excited to get to work.

In his December 2023 letter to the Club, Urbina said: “The Ocean Course at The Olympic Club is a classic 1924 design. We will recapture the essence of the land to its fullest and allow the members to play it with modern advancements in golf equipment.

“In the air or on the ground, play it as you wish.”

Ocean Course Nos. 5 (pictured), 6 and 7 will have some of the most noticeable changes, including the removal of the tunnel.

and the green will nestle in between the natural dunes.

The current No. 1 green on the Cliffs Course will become the new second hole, with far fewer bunkers.

Blvd., turning the current No. 3 to No. 4.

THE OLYMPIC CLUB TO HOST THE 125 TH U.S. AMATEUR

by Dennis Herrera

As many of you know, we are the selected site of the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship. This event is one of the highlights of the golf world and will take place at our Lakeside property August 11–17, 2025. It will be the fourth time in Olympic Club history that we will host a U.S. Amateur Championship (1958, 1981 and 2007). The U.S. Amateur brings together the best amateur golfers from around the world, and we are proud to showcase our facility on this national and international stage.

As we get ready to turn the page on 2024, it’s important for members to begin thinking about this important event. We have a proud tradition of supporting both amateur athletes and championship golf, and we should collectively do our best to make this event the best it has ever been. There are a number of ways for members to get involved.

GET INVOLVED: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Hosting an event of this scale requires the support of our entire Club community, and we encourage our members to get involved. To successfully host the championship, the Club will need

CHAMPIONSHIP

almost 1,000 volunteers across 22 different committees. There will be a variety of opportunities available, including scorers, marshals, standard bearers, registration representatives and more. Volunteering is a great way to experience the tournament up close, meet fellow members and play an integral part in making this event a success. Whether you can commit a few hours or several days, your help will be greatly appreciated.

Volunteer sign-ups will begin in early December, and we will provide more details soon on how you can secure your spot. Keep an eye out for information regarding orientation sessions and training.

TICKET AND HOSPITALITY OPPORTUNITIES

Our hospitality packages allow both members and nonmembers to host and entertain guests throughout the week. Each package will include clubhouse badges, access to hospitality areas, and single-day tickets to share with charities, customers, employees, family or friends.

Some packages include exclusive access to play in a Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament following the championship. And, perhaps most intriguing of all to our

golf-passionate membership, all hospitality purchasers will have access to special presale hospitality and tickets for the 2028 PGA Championship at our course, ahead of the public on-sale date.

Please reach out to Membership Development Coordinator Josh Ned for additional information on Corporate Hospitality Packages: jned@olyclub.com or 415.345.5165.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES

As we get closer to the event, we’ll be sharing additional details, including event schedules, player profiles and exciting pre-championship activities. Be sure to check your email and our Club’s website for the latest updates. We are incredibly excited to welcome the U.S. Amateur Championship to our Club, and we can’t wait to share this special moment with all of you.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our event committee. Let’s work together to make the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship a truly unforgettable event. 

Photo by Dinno Kovic.

125 TH U.S. AMATEUR EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE LABELS

by David Ezzo and Hannah Ly, photo by Hannah Ly

The Club is excited to announce our partnership with Freeman Vineyard and Winery and Whistle Pig Whiskey to produce two exclusive bottles in celebration of the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship hosted at The Olympic Club.

“As we celebrate the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship, we invite our members to raise a glass to both the spirit of competition and the camaraderie that defines our Club,” Senior Director of Club Operations Abhishek Sonkkar said. “These exclusive bottles are more than just memorabilia; they are a tribute to the memories shared together.”

Members can now purchase the 2023 West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir by Freeman Winery in a commemorative bottle depicting the championship Lake Course, illustrated by OC member Gerry Stratford. For whiskey lovers, Whistle Pig, award-winning rye producer, is offering a special U.S. Amateur-branded bottle complete with the championship logo and the Lake Course scorecard for the special occasion.

FREEMAN WINERY 2023 WEST SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR

Located in Sonoma County, Freeman has been a pioneer in creating unique Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays shaped by the cool climate of the California coast. Their vintages, known for their elegance and balance, reflect the care and nurturing provided by the vineyard, resulting in limited production, with an even smaller number specially bottled for the 2025 U.S. Amateur. The medium-bodied 2023 West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir boasts a combination of rich berry fruit, elegant floral notes and exotic Pinot spice, “marked by generous balanced acidity and a long umami-driven finish,” Akiko Freeman said.

WHISTLE PIG OLD WORLD RYE AGED 12 YEARS

Distilled on a remote farm in Shoreham, Vermont, Whistle Pig’s Old World Rye provides a “symphony of flavor” born from the 12-year maturing process in New American Oak barrels. Winner of multiple international awards, this fine whiskey features notes of vanilla, winter fruits, rye spice and honey.

Buy a bottle or a case of the OC-exclusive U.S. Amateur memorabilia in one of our retail shops, available now! You can find both in the Sutter Store or place an order at the Golf Shop. Quantity is limited, so grab yours today! 

GOLF REPORT

CALEB SHETLER FINISHES IN ROUND OF 32 AT 2024 U.S. AMATEUR

by Hannah Ly

As Caleb Shetler finished his final year on the men’s golf team at San Jose State University, he contemplated whether he should pursue a professional career in golf. He ended up hurting his back during the school year, so he stuck around on the amateur circuit for a little while longer.

“I wasn’t hitting a ball until about two days before my U.S. Am qualifier,” Shetler said.

Shetler competed in the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, but didn’t make it past the stroke play round. This time, Shetler came back hungry to win and successfully made it to the round of 32 at the 2024 U.S. Amateur, hosted at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota from August 12–18.

In preparation for his last U.S. Amateur before turning pro, Shetler took a more holistic approach. “It was more about getting my body right,” he said. “I wasn’t necessarily putting in as many hours. It was more about just trying to stay patient and stretch.” At the qualifier in July at Mission Viejo Country Club, his work paid off and he tied for second place with a score of 3-under 68, securing his spot in the U.S. Amateur.

The stroke play round at the U.S. Amateur was an unexpected challenge for Shetler. He shot an even-par combined score after shooting a 1-under 69 during the

first round at Chaska Town Course and a 1-over 73 in the second round at Hazeltine National Golf Club. His score put him in the playoff round, where 14 players competed for 11 spots.

“The playoff round was probably the most pressure I’ve felt the whole week,” he said. To make it to the next round, Shetler needed to make par. He drove with a 4-iron to about 200 yards on the 10th hole at Hazeltine. Fortunately, he made it to the green with a hit from his 8-iron and finessed a two-putt for par.

“I’d describe that week as more of a grind,” Shetler mentioned.

For his first round of match play, he was up against Sebastian Moss, a fellow college golfer from the University of Louisville. The two tested each other’s skills, forcing two extra holes to

determine a winner. In the last four holes, Shetler, down one hole, started to gain momentum against Moss. “On the 18th hole, I ended up making one of the best shots I’ve ever hit,” Shetler remembered. “I was in a fairway bunker on the right, and I hit it to about 10 feet from there and made the putt for birdie.”

Moss made a few more mistakes on the last two holes while Shetler held steady and parred, winning the final hole and breaking the tie to win the match. “I remember I had the greatest sense of relief after,” he said.

In the round of 32, Shetler played against Brendan Valdes, a golfer at Auburn University and a 2024 All-American. “I was up for most of the match, but then at the very end, I think I just had a couple unlucky breaks,” Shetler recalled.

He lost to Valdes, 2 and 1, but even so, Shetler enjoyed the competition. “I wanted to enjoy it. I didn’t want to put too much weight on my shoulders in any sense. I think I did that too many times in college.”

Now officially in the pro circuit, Shetler is navigating his new career in golf. “I’m hoping to do this for a living for the rest of my life,” he said. Congratulations, Caleb! 

Caleb Shetler plays his tee shot on the fifth hole during the round of 32. (Chris Keane/USGA)

Shetler pitches a shot onto the green on the 17th hole during the round of 32. (Chris Keane/USGA)

HAAG COMPETES IN CONCESSION CUP AND MORE

by Hannah Ly

It’s no surprise that Randy Haag has won many trophies this year. Now he gets to add a new one — the Concession Cup.

Previously, Haag won titles at the SF City Championship, Alameda Commuters Golf Tournament, NCGA Senior Four-Ball Championship, Bay Regional Golf Championship and NCGA Senior Match Play. More recently, Haag won the NCGA Senior Championship — where he swept the competition with a record-breaking 7-under 206 — and came in third in the senior flight at the Crump Cup Memorial Tournament in September. His impressive run earned him enough points through the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) to earn a spot on Team USA for the Concession Cup.

The Concession Cup, run by the Amateur Golf Alliance (AGA), is a biannual Ryder Cup-style event that pits the top mid-amateur and senior amateur players from the United States and Europe against each other. This year, it was played at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Savannah, Georgia, from November 4–7. Playing alongside Haag were some of the top senior golfers in the country, including 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur champion Louis Brown and two-time USGA champion and 2024 British Senior Amateur winner Todd White.

Preparing to play two four-ball matches and a singles match,

Haag amped up his training to stave off a lingering back injury.

“I was going swimming after my rounds to try and feel better. That Tuesday, I got massages, and those made me feel great,” Haag said.

He played with Louis Brown in both four-ball matches, and the pair won their first match against Ruper Kellock and Stephen Jensen, 3 and 2, and were on track to win the second match until it started raining on their final holes. “We were literally having to hold out the umbrella for each other to walk out to the tee,” Haag remembered. “It was really unplayable, the whole course was casual water and the greens were saturated, but had we finished the ninth hole, we would’ve won.”

The team had to walk off the course due to the weather, but

Haag came back the next day, eager to win his singles match. All the senior U.S. players won their matches — Haag beat John Kemp 2 and 1 — and won enough points for Team USA to claim victory for the Concession Cup. “It felt especially good to win. On Monday, I wasn’t sure if I was even going to play,” Haag said. Haag was particularly proud that he only made two bogeys over all three matches. Haag’s wins over the year earned him NCGA Senior Player of the Year once again, and he has also become the first player to win all three NCGA senior events in one year. Despite all his success, Haag isn’t done yet in 2024 — he’s planning to compete in the California State Senior Amateur and hopes to cap off the year with his 10th win. Congrats and good luck, Randy! 

CONGRATULATIONS!

HOLE-IN-ONE ANGIE WONG

10.6.24 | Streamsong Red Hole 6 | 130 yards | 7-iron

SHOOT YOUR AGE

MICHAEL RAMSAY

Ocean Course | Age: 75

9.7.24 | Score: 74

CHARLES LEACH

Lincoln Park | Age: 89

10.8.24 | Score: 89

PETER FORTUNE

Lake Course | Age: 80

10.19.24 | Score: 78

Ocean Course 10.31.24 | Score: 79

GENE VALLA

Windsor Golf Club | Age: 84

10.19.24 | Score: 81

Peacock Gap

10.23.24 | Score: 83

Shadow Ridge

11.7.24 | Score: 82

Haag won the 2024 NCGA Senior Championship, making him the first player to win all three NCGA senior events in one year. Photo courtesy of NCGA.

MANSOOR AND GEORGE WIN 2024 JIM LUCIUS SHOOTOUT

by Hannah Ly, photos by Missy Bystrom (Contributing member)

Jeff Mansoor and his guest, Colin George, were named this year’s Jim Lucius Shootout winners. The event, one of the most popular tournaments of the year, was held on October 4–6 with 96 two-person teams.

As an invitational, the Jim Lucius Shootout, named after the Club’s beloved former head golf professional, allows members to play with someone from outside of the Club. Mansoor is also a member of The Valley Club in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he frequently plays with his friend and Jim Lucius Shootout partner, Colin George.

“We’re used to playing alternate shot and best ball together. And we’ve done quite well as a team,” Mansoor said.

This year, on both the Lake and Ocean Courses, Mansoor and George maintained their rhythm as complementary partners. “The first day, Friday, I more or less couldn’t miss a putt. [George] wasn’t playing very well, but I made just about everything I looked at,” Mansoor remembered.

“The second day, I wasn’t playing very well, but he played well.”

Players compete in a two-person better ball match-play format, where each team played five matches against the other teams in their flight, and gained points based on how many holes they won. Mansoor and George’s balanced partnership paid off in the first portion of the tournament, winning four out of five matches.

As one of the flight winners, Mansoor and George were entered into the final shootout and continued their strategy.

“You have to be good ‘ham and egg’ partners,” Mansoor said.

They both focused on staying in the game across each round.

Their slow-and-steady formula worked, and they found themselves on the final hole — yards away from winning the title. “I’ve come close [to winning] several times and it was just an absolute thrill to do this,” Mansoor said.

“When my partner made the final putt, I just looked to him and said, ‘We just won.’”

Mansoor and George received engraved barrel lids to commemorate their win. “I love the competition and The Olympic Club puts on such a good show — why wouldn’t anybody want to come and play?” Mansoor said.

Final Four

f 1st Place (pictured center right): Jeff Mansoor (left) & Colin George

f 2nd Place (bottom middle): Brent Whisenant (left) & Rand Lewis

f 3rd Place (bottom right): Mike Ahern (left) & Kevin Wolf

f 4th Place: Nick Shannahan & Tom Woodward

Flight Winners

f Flight 1 — Chinatown: Nick Shannahan & Tom Woodward

f Flight 2 — Cow Hollow: Mike Ahern & Kevin Wolf

f Flight 3 — Haight-Ashbury: J.P. Morgan & Pat Wells

f Flight 4 — Hayes Valley: Tim Albrecht & Dave Pedersen

f Flight 5 — Nob Hill: Chris Molumphy & Jeff Fraser

f Flight 6 — Noe Valley: Jim Bray & Hai Hoang

f Flight 7 — North Beach: Jeff Ratzlaff & Jim Grady

f Flight 8 — Pacific Heights: Andy Doll & Rob Chandler

f Flight 9 — Presidio Heights: Don Papa & Ronan McConnell

f Flight 10 — Potrero Hill: Jeff Mansoor & Colin George

f Flight 11 — Russian Hill: Terrence Jones & Korsen Yu

f Flight 12 — Sea Cliff: Frank Azar & Hayden Plant

f Flight 13 — Telegraph Hill: Brent Whisenant & Rand Lewis

f Flight 14 — Twin Peaks: Roger Pytlewski & Peter Pollat

f Flight 15 — The Mission: Jeff & Steve Banchero

f Flight 16 — The Sunset: Denis & Tim Wood

GOLF REPORT

SGA ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2025

I am pleased to announce that the SGA Board has elected JP Morgan as the incoming SGA President for 2025. Also elected as new incoming Board members are Russ Hoem, Margie LaoWilliams and Zach McReynolds. Congratulations and best of luck to each of you!

I also want to extend my thanks to my fellow 2024 SGA Board members for their excellent leadership and contributions in making this such a successful year for the SGA: John Abendroth, Michael Ahern, Romana Bracco, Don Campbell, Alan Lefkof, Jim Ketcham, J.P. Morgan and John Strain.

The SGA Board consists of nine members, each serving threeyear terms, with three rotating off each year. Rotating off at the end of this year along with me are Romana Bracco and Don Campbell. They both served in several important roles during their three-year term, and were a delight to work with. Thank you!

J.P. Morgan, a member since 2001, will be the incoming 2025 SGA president.

Russ Hoem has been a member since 2001. He is a retired business owner (commercial flooring business), former youth baseball coach and father of three sons.

Margie Lao-Williams is a retired firm administrator for a CPA firm in San Francisco. Her husband Steve is also an SGA member, and their daughter Lauren is a former OC Junior golf champion and is on golf scholarship at Le Moyne College in upstate New York.

Zach McReynolds has previously served on the SGA Board, the Finance Committee, the Golf Committee, and as SGA liaison from the Golf Committee to the SGA.

SGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to the winners and to all participants in the annual SGA Championship, October 9–10! The format was individual stroke play over two days on both the Lake and Ocean Courses.

Senior Flight

f Gross Champion: John Hamm, 149

f Gross Runner-up: John Dwyer, 164

f Net 1st: Joe Ferrero, 148

f Net 2nd: Jim Ketcham, 149

f Net 3rd: Rick Peterson, 149

Super Senior Flight (70+)

f Gross Champion: Doug Bargenquast, 165

f Gross Runner-up: Bob Tatemichi, 171

f Net 1st: John Broadhurst, 143

f Net 2nd: Steve Meeker, 151

f Net 3rd: Frank Clifford, 152

SGA CORNER by Jim Tighe, SGA President

Doug Bargenquast was the gross champion for the Super Senior Flight at this year’s SGA Championship.

John Hamm took home the gross championship for the Senior Flight at the SGA Championship.

HISTORY

Contrary to a frequently voiced aphorism, sometimes the reason that we study our history is in the hope that we might indeed repeat it. The walls and trophy cases in our clubhouses are more than a celebration of past successes, they are an inspiration to us and a challenge.

The rich archives maintained by our Club Historian, Jessica Smith, and the articles that she and the History & Archives Committee writes for the Olympian magazine celebrate accomplishments of our predecessors that define our culture and display our heritage. The new display outside of the Champions Bar is the product of Smith and the committee’s creativity, combined with an accumulation of data and artifacts collected by her predecessor, Bill Callan. And the latest chapter in celebration of that history is the new golf history book that will be published this month, written by Jaime Diaz.

Fellow member Wade Aubry chaired the working group that selected Diaz and shepherded the manuscript through a threeyear process. After assembling this work, Aubry said, “A club history is important and can enhance every member’s knowledge and appreciation of their club, its culture and its traditions.” This is a readable, enjoyable book, celebrating a century of golf at the Club and setting the stage for an equally enjoyable future.

The collection and preservation of our history has another benefit too. When Gil Hanse and Jim Urbina came to Olympic with commissions to renovate our golf courses, they each spent many an afternoon in our archives, exploring the collection of drawings, photographs and maps sequestered there. As a result, their discoveries inspired not just “renovations,” but also in many ways a “restoration” — a recognition of the concepts and intentions of William Watson and Sam Whiting so many years ago, which had been encroached upon by nature and by the good intentions of various other architects over the years. At the town hall meetings that previewed their design objectives, both architects were emphatic in acknowledging the importance of their access to our history.

So it is that historians perform two essential roles. They remind us of our past and inspire our future. And, we are not alone in having such a resource. Last month, a gathering of historians from 20 local golf courses inaugurated a new organization, the Golf Club Historians of Northern California. Inspired by Michael Jamieson, who for more than 40 years has chronicled the history of the Peninsula Golf and Country Club in San Mateo, this association will enable conversation, cooperation and creativity between these dedicated individuals.

Viewing the displays at Peninsula that celebrate the contributions to the history of the club by golf architect Donald Ross, women’s champion Helen Langfeld and Masters Champion George Archer, is inspirational. For example, learning that Archer suffered all his life from dyslexia prompted club members to establish a foundation and inaugurate an annual Pro-Am that raises funds to support educational opportunities for disabled children.

Interaction between historians can uncover connections as well. Reading the History of Diablo Country Club, written by fellow Association member David Mackesey, we learn of new aspects of our own Club history. Established in 1917, the Diablo Park Club built a ninehole golf course on a hill in the East Bay, on land that had been considered as a location for our

Club’s outdoor expansion a few years earlier. The new club hired John “Pop” Smith as their Course Superintendent, and he would serve their club for 30 years. He had come to America from Carnoustie, and his youngest son, Macdonald Smith, would become the head professional and superintendent at Olympic. The Smith family’s connections to Robert Hunter and Watson ultimately led to Watson being hired to expand the original nine holes at Diablo in 1925, and to the design of two new courses at Olympic two years later.

Of course, we are all historians. I bet you have some pictures at home that you would never give away. Display them and tell their stories. There are lessons there. 

TEE TO GREEN by Gerry Stratford, Member

GOLF PERFORMANCE CORNER

DRIVER BASICS

by Kevin Bresnahan, photos by Hannah Ly

Finding neutral in your golf game is key to finding success in golf. This enables you to control and manage your misses. For example, we do not want to line up too far left nor too far right of our intended target. We do not want too much weight forward nor back, too strong or too weak of a golf grip, or a clubface too shut (closed) or too open. Having an understanding and awareness of your setup to the golf ball with a driver is key to the success of your driver. Here are some basic, neutral setup keys to driving success.

Since the driver is the lowest lofted club in our bag, we need to swing more up, unlike with irons, where we need to swing more down. To make that happen more consistently there are a few setup keys we need to get into.

First, ball position. We need to play the ball slightly forward of center. One driver head width inside left heel (right heel for lefthanders) is a good start. This ball position allows for a slight ascent in our swing arc at the moment of contact.

Second, we need to tee the ball up more on the tee. I like to preach that the top crown of the driver head lines up to the equator of the golf ball. When the ball is higher on the tee, we tend to swing more up at it, as opposed to more down when the ball is lower on a tee.

KEVIN BRESNAHAN

Next, we need to set our shoulders on an upward tilt, left shoulder higher than our right shoulder (opposite for left-handers). This angle helps promote an upward strike at impact. We can easily get into this position by changing our focal point at setup. Instead of looking at the ground in the center of our fairway, look above the tree line, or even in the clouds above, to set this angle automatically, and visualize a high towering shot.

Finally, swing direction. In order to hit up on something, we need to swing more out to the right (left for left-handers) Since we play golf on the left side of the ball (for right-handers),

it is much easier to hit up swinging to the right than swinging left. It is very hard to hit up on an object if we are swinging out to in or left.

Take some deep breaths before you are ready to swing, to ease your nerves and swing more freely. Hopefully, this will help during your next round! 

Clubhouse 12:30, 1, 4 & 4:30pm; Lakeside Clubhouse 2, 2:30, 6 & 6:30pm CITY CLUBHOUSE : 6am–9pm, Article III Bar only 12–5pm, The Overlook 8am–6pm, 1860 Closed LAKESIDE CLUBHOUSE : 6am–8pm, All Outlets

GOLF : Golf Shop and Courses

CLUBHOUSE : 6am–8pm, The Lakeview 11am–2:30pm, Main Bar 11am–5pm, Champions Bar 11am–8pm GOLF : Guest play after 12:05am Ocean Course, 12:30pm Lake Course

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. Registration opens 60 days prior to event or on the listed date in the ad. Cancellation deadline is 14 days prior to avoid being charged for the total number of reservations booked.

DECEMBER

SUNDAY 1 HIGH TEA City Clubhouse

THURSDAY 5

SAT. & SUN.

7,8, 14,15

SUNDAY 8

WEDNESDAY 11

WED. & THURS. 11,12, 18,19

FRI. & SAT. 13, 20,21

WEDNESDAY 25

UGLY SWEATER MIXER City Clubhouse

THEATER NIGHT — HAMILTON City Clubhouse & Orpheum Theatre

CHILDREN ’ S HOLIDAY PARTIES City Clubhouse

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING Lakeside Clubhouse

LADIES HOLIDAY LUNCHEON Lakeside Clubhouse

HOLIDAY BUFFET NIGHTS City Clubhouse

JANUARY

WEDNESDAY 1 HIKE & DIP Ocean Beach & Lakeside Clubhouse

THURS.–SUN. 24,25, 30,31 CRAB FEEDS Lakeside Clubhouse

FEBRUARY

THURS.–SUN. 1,6,7,8 CRAB FEEDS Lakeside Clubhouse

THURS.–SUN. 13,14, 15,20, 21,22, 27,28

HOLIDAY PARTIES Lakeside Clubhouse

CHRISTMAS DAY BUFFETS Both Clubhouses

CRAB FEEDS City Clubhouse

MARCH

WEDNESDAY 26 LOBSTER FEST City Clubhouse

PLAY BRIDGE WITH US

HALL OF FAME GAME ROOM | 10AM–12PM SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAYS

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just learning the ropes, swing by to play the classic card game with fellow bridge enthusiasts or take on a round of dominoes, chess and more! Bring your friends or make some new ones — this relaxed and friendly environment welcomes all.

2024 HOLIDAY DINING HOURS

CHRISTMAS WEEK

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24

LAKESIDE CLUBHOUSE

Clubhouse: 6am–8pm

The Lakeview: 11am–2:30pm Main Bar: 11am–5pm Champions Bar: 11am–8pm

HIKE & DIP

CITY CLUBHOUSE

The Overlook: 8am–6pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25

LAKESIDE CLUBHOUSE

Christmas Day Buffets: 2 & 2:30pm, 6 & 6:30pm Clubhouse: 6am–8pm All Outlets: Closed

CITY CLUBHOUSE

Christmas Day Buffets: 12:30 & 1pm, 4 & 4:30pm

Clubhouse: 6am–9pm

Article III: Bar only 12–5pm

The Overlook: 8am–6pm 1860: Closed

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26

LAKESIDE CLUBHOUSE

Clubhouse: 6am–8pm

The Lakeview: Closed

Main Bar: Closed Champions Bar: 11am–8pm

NEW YEAR’S WEEK

CITY CLUBHOUSE

The Overlook: 8am–6pm

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31

LAKESIDE CLUBHOUSE

Clubhouse: 6am–8pm The Lakeview: 11am–2:30pm Main Bar: 11am–5pm Champions Bar: 11am–8pm

WEDNESDAY , JANUARY 1

LAKESIDE CLUBHOUSE

Hike & Dip: 7:30am at Ocean Beach Clubhouse: 6am–8pm The Lakeview: Closed Main Bar: Closed Champions Bar: 11am–8pm

CITY CLUBHOUSE

Clubhouse: 6am–9pm

Article III: 9am–3pm, Bar until 4pm 1860: Closed

THURSDAY , JANUARY 2

LAKESIDE CLUBHOUSE

Clubhouse: 6am–8pm The Lakeview: Closed Main Bar: Closed Champions Bar: 11am–8pm

NEW YEAR — NEW YOU 8-WEEK BODY FAT CHALLENGE JANUARY 6–MARCH 3

Start

photo by Frank Morse

photo by Missy Bystrom

SHARE YOUR BUSINESS AMONG FELLOW OC MEMBERS

JOIN THE SEPTEMBER 2025 OC BUSINESS DIRECTORY

This special edition will be dedicated to promoting businesses owned or operated by our members, creating a platform where we can support and uplift one another within the community. By featuring your organization in this directory, you’ll not only increase your visibility among fellow members, but you’ll also help strengthen the bonds of our Club by encouraging members to shop and support locally.

Visit www.olyclub.com/form-olympian-bd or scan the QR code to submit your business today!

LOBSTER FEST

Alex Alcaraz

Louis Alessandria

Brad Andersen

Renée Baker

Matthew Bean

Preston Becker

Michael Bradley

Peter Briskey

John Bruno Jr.

Adam Callan

Albert Chang

Anthony Clifford

James Colville

Aldo Congi

Martin Connolly

Mariah Cooks

Brett Corbett

Annie Crangle McCauley

John Cremen

Patrick Cronin

Ryan Crowley

Shawn Dahlem

Thomas Dee III

Brad DeJean

Adrian Dollard

Stephen Domingo

Alicia Donahue

Patrick Downs

Patrick Doyle

Ronald Dudum

Michel Dunia

John Eggert

Joseph Engler

Shawn Evans

Jonathan Fukuhara

Steven Gasser

Eric Geibel

Benjamin Harrison

Heike Harrison

Albert Hsiao

Matthew Huey

Miles Hurd

Matthew Hyland

Jill Jarrett

James Ketcham

Jordan Lazor

David Linsmayer

Alexander Litt

Burton Louie

Malia Lyle

John MacLean

Emil Maionchi Jr.

Casey Martin

George Martin

Stephanie Martinago

Oisin McCormack

Rafiki McDougald

Mary McKeegan

Michael McNevin

Craig Moore

Kathy Mueller

Grant Mullins

Martin Murphy

Nicholas Nardone

Derek Nightingale

Jon Nightingale

Paul O’Driscoll

Gerald O’Hara

Don Papa

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Lawrence Papale

Stephen Papale

Alex Paras

Anthony Passanisi

Sean Pritchard

Marvin Quebec

Christopher Reed

Elliott Robbins

Jim Rocchio

Michael Selig

Joseph Shasky III

Eric Simenstad

Paul Simpson

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Vanessa Snyder

John Stephens

Donald Sullivan

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photo by Missy Bystrom

photo by Missy Bystrom

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From left to right: John Vipiana, Mark Peracchi, Jeffrey Hamlin, Pete Picetti

McDevitt

HALL OF FAME 2024

by

On Thursday, October 10, in the Post Street Gym, The Olympic Club inducted five more legends of Olympia into the Hall of Fame: Raymond Fee (boxing), George Mitchell (water polo), Jack Patrick (football and rugby), Frank Grannis (swimming) and Susan S. Morse (distinguished service). The History & Archives Committee (bottom left) is tasked each year with identifying and researching individuals and teams who have distinguished themselves on behalf of The Olympic Club.

The inductees exceed the requirements to enter the Hall of Fame, where they join 102 individuals and 10 teams representing 20 sports, as well as the original 23 charter members, who have already been celebrated. Several current Hall of Fame members were there to welcome the new inductees, including John Abendroth, Geoff Cykman and Shannon Rowbury. Mark Goyne, grandson of Al White, a Hall of Famer and 1924 Olympian, also attended to see his grandfather’s legacy at the Club.

This year’s ceremony was emceed by 95.7 The Game’s Morning Roast co-host Joe Shasky III. He introduced all the inductees, emphasizing the hard work and commitment necessary to achieve greatness and the importance of community.

The committee chose to honor several competitors from the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, in honor of its 100th anniversary and the return of the Olympics to Paris this past summer:

Fee joined the Club in 1920 when he was just 18 years old. He quickly found success, winning Pacific Coast boxing titles in 1920, 1921 and 1923, and Far Western titles in 1922 and 1923. He was a semi-finalist at the national AAU championships twice. He was sometimes called the “Little Lion,” as he had “never known what the word ‘quit’ means.” At the 1924 Olympics, he proved he could outsmart as well as outfight opponents, winning bronze in flyweight boxing, despite being injured.

Mitchell won bronze with the U.S. water polo team in 1924, won the AAU national championship with the

Club in 1925 and competed with the 1928 U.S. Olympic team in Amsterdam. The San Francisco Chronicle referred to him having the reputation “as the greatest water polo player in the country.” He was a 67-year member of the Club and is in the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.

Patrick was a decorated rugby and football star, winning gold with the U.S. rugby team in the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, defeating France in the gold-medal match both times. He also played on the Club’s undefeated football team in 1925, when the team took down Cal’s Wonder Team, undefeated since 1919, in front of 45,000 fans (including 3,000 rooting for the Olympians). He later served as the Club’s rugby coach and as the Club’s director for the annual San Quentin “Little Olympics.”

Unfortunately, no family members were in attendance to accept the honors for our three posthumous inductees.

The committee also chose to honor two living inductees: Grannis, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, first joined the Club as a Junior swimmer in 1941, when the Natatorium was the only pool and still salt water! He later rejoined the Club in 1976. He began swimming with the Masters swim program in 1983 and soon won national and international titles and set age group records. He competed in several FINA World Masters Swimming Championships, starting with Tokyo in 1986, when he, Phil Gay, John Laird and fellow OC Hall of Famer Ed Rudloff Sr. won silver in the 200-meter medley relay.

He won his first individual medal at the USMS Masters Championship in 1994 and his first national title in 2004 (gold in both the 100-meter and 200-meter fly). He currently holds the men’s 95–99 national record in the 50-yard fly. His resilience and fortitude are inspiring to all who know him, but he credits his success to his great Olympic Club coaches and friends throughout the years.

Dr. Jack Saroyan, for the second year in a row, gave a moving speech about one of the inductees — his friend Frank Grannis. He informed the crowd that the weekend before the ceremony, Grannis competed in four events at

Jessica Smith, photos by Missy Bystrom (Contributing member)

the Pacific Masters Championships (short course meters), setting the record as the first man to compete in the 100–104 age category for the Club.

During his speech, Grannis told an amazing story about when he first joined the Club in 1941. His father, an OC member, could not afford for him and his twin brother to join. Soon after, Grannis, already a swimmer, competed at a local meet for Lowell High and caught the eye of then-OC swim coach and fellow OC Hall of Famer George Schroth. (Schroth was a longtime teammate of this year’s inductee, George Mitchell, at both the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.) Schroth worked with Grannis to get him to join, and Grannis “told my father, I’m going to join the Club without you. I used my own hard-earned money to pay the three dollars a month dues to join The Olympic Club.” He concluded it was “the smartest move I ever made.”

“For all of the many years of fun and excitement and satisfaction that I have received for being in The Olympic Club, it was truly a blessing that is almost unbelievable.” After the ceremony, the dinner crowd enjoyed an impromptu piano concert by Grannis. Thank you, Frank! It was truly lovely.

Morse moved to San Francisco in 1981 and joined the Club in 1994. She quickly became involved in Club governance, serving on various committees from 1999 to today. In 2005, she became the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors and was elected Club president for 2007, becoming the first woman president in 147 years. In her President’s Ball speech, she noted, “I do not stand here as a representative of the female members of the Club.

I am simply a proud Olympian who is honored to have been elected your president.”

She instituted sustained strategic planning, focused on stewardship, fiscal responsibility and responsiveness to members. She helped develop initiatives and programs that continue to enhance the member experience. She championed the expansion of our amateur athletic programs, including the growth of the Junior program, the addition of the ski and snowboard team, and the creation of the Club’s first women’s basketball league.

She oversaw the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship and continues to be deeply involved in the local golf community. She also utilizes the Club every day, staying active through golf and the Club’s yoga, fitness and weight training programs. She continues to work toward a vision of the Club’s future that is both more structured and more accepting.

Morse was welcomed to the stage by current OC President Malia Lyle with a heartwarming speech. She finished by telling Morse, “Your dedication, passion, and leadership have left an indelible mark on our Club, and for that, we are truly grateful. It’s because of individuals like you — someone who got involved early on and volunteered your time and energy to the betterment of the Club — that I can stand here today.”

Morse thanked a lot of people, including former President Jay Friedrichs. When he left his job in San Francisco, the company offered her the position, she and her family moved west, and the rest is history. Thank you, Jay!

She ended her speech by encouraging “all our fellow members to get involved. You’re going to meet so many wonderful people, and the Club really needs your input. It’s critical that people keep being involved and help us, so that this Club continues to evolve...Get involved, use your Club and even play golf with someone you don’t know.”

Congratulations to our inductees, their families and friends, and everyone who supported (and continues to support them) on their journeys. You can read more about the inductees at www.olyclub.com/the-club/club-history/ hall-of-fame/ and see their name plates in the Hall of Fame. Thank you to the Board of Directors, the History & Archives Committee (particularly the Hall of Fame subcommittee) and all the staff who helped make the evening possible.

We hope to see everyone there next year! 

OC MEMBERS JOIN IN 2024 FLEET WEEK

by Christine U’Ren

Fleet Week is an economic boon to the City, bringing an estimated $10 million to local businesses, but for Olympic Club members, the benefits are more personal: making direct connections as a way of saying thank you to our servicemembers and first responders. “It’s an annual opportunity to see my friends in the Oakland and San Francisco police and fire departments,” Jeff Woodhead said.

The Club’s Fleet Week events began with a two-day marksmanship tournament at the Wing and Barrel Ranch in Sonoma. The 15-person OC team went up against the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as the SF and Oakland Police Departments, and San Quentin correctional officers. On Monday, October 7, shooters competed in three relay rifle contests, aiming for a target 200 yards away. Tuesday brought the pistol competition: four 25-yard relays. “Being with our country’s servicemen and first responders made me proud to be an American,” said Fitness Director Tonya Bonesio-Barna, who competed for the OC.

Back in the City, October 8, the Club hosted a full day of softball and basketball, followed by the awards dinner at City Clubhouse in the evening.

The OC beat nine other teams at Moscone Softball Fields to retain the title, winning the championship game with a comfortable lead against the Oakland PD.

“It was pretty close after three innings, and then their offense kind of stalled. Our defense and pitching were very strong, and we just kept putting runs across the boards, and we were able to pull off the victory,” Ryan Crowley, the tournament organizer, said.

The OC also took first place in men’s basketball, with the SF Fire Department in second. “The championship game was highly contested,” Basketball Director Manny Nodar said. “The Club was down

10 points with two minutes left, and came back to win the game by two points.” With only five seconds left, Seth Tarver made two free throws, while the SFFD missed a shot at the buzzer, and lost their chance for a tie.

The women’s game exemplified the camaraderie of the day: members of the OC national team, league players and first responders split up into two teams that combined everyone. Commissioner Annie Crangle McCauley captained one of the teams and said, “It’s a special opportunity to compete alongside women who put their lives on the line every day for our communities and country. It was a competitive, up-tempo game. This is a great tradition and we appreciate being a part of it.”

The celebratory dinner and awards ceremony saw record turnout, Assistant Athletic Director Jennifer Beaton reported. Greg Suhr once again emceed, while Brigadier General Daniel Taylor of the Marines gave an inspiring speech, and helped present awards, along with Suhr and Rear Admiral Rosen. The U.S. Air Force Band of the West was “a huge hit,” bringing attendees out to sing and dance the night away.

Special thanks go to Fidel Alvarez, Crowley, Heike Harrison, Matthew Huey, James Lawler, Arlene Manahan, Nodar, Alex Paras, Lily Toy, plus the food and beverage and operations staff of the Club, for making 2024’s Fleet Week another wellrun and joyful event. “Ryan Crowley’s dedication and continued hard work to grow and improve this event makes it an annual ‘October must’ for me,” Woodhead said. “The interaction with the young men and women of our armed services is unparalleled. The energy, optimism and enthusiasm from these dedicated servicemen and women provides an annual ‘feel good’ shot-in-the-arm. I always walk away from this event with a renewed optimism, and a sense of pride for our Club, our community and our country.” 

photos by Missy Bystrom, Frank Morse and Norm Ng (all Contributing members)

DISCOVERING THE PIZZA MENU AT CHAMPIONS BAR

by Scratch Writer Matt Richtel (Contributing member), photo by Hannah Ly

Is there a hidden In-N-Out Burger at the Champions Bar at Lakeside? No.

Is there reason for suspicion? Yes.

This is my conclusion from one of those treacherous journalistic assignments that occasionally comes across my desk in the life of an Olympian correspondent. The assignment: go to the Champions Bar and sample the pizza menu curated by Executive Chef Keith Bailey.

This was treacherous for the obvious reason that it put me in a position to overeat, and I did. Over the course of five amazing pizzas, I threw down 10 slices, which was far in excess of what was needed to “taste” the pizzas. I can excuse this behavior on the grounds that I was doing it for you — the discerning Olympian reader — in order to

offer the most complete accounting. But the reality is hunger met great pizza and heavy consumption followed. As did several insights about Bailey’s clever pizza menu.

ƒ Arguably, the biggest revelation came from a pizza that the menu calls the Big Mac. The idea, Bailey said, was to mimic a burger, with the ingredients including ground beef, sauce, pickles, lettuce, red onion and American cheese. But the second the pizza collided with my taste buds, I was overcome with an immediate flavor association: an In-N-Out cheeseburger. The reminiscence was so pronounced that I immediately looked for confirmation from my good pal and fellow pizza taster, Shelley Carpeni. Carpeni is a member of the OC tennis Open championship

team and I brought her along to taste the pizza because I feel no OC food critique is complete without a superb athlete.

“In-N-Out,” Carpeni said to me, reading my palate. She had a look on her face like a dog who had just seen the beach for the first time. She was happy. This pizza was very good. Several Olympian bystanders tried a slice too and tasted the same thing! This reaction was a pleasant surprise to Bailey, who conceded the favorable comparison to In-N-Out suited him just fine.

Below are the other four pizzas that Bailey tempted us with, along with the collective quasi-wisdom of not-professional food critics. Please bear in mind that menu items can change so these reflect the pies at the time.

ƒ California Shroomin’: Comes with Brie, wild mushrooms, balsamic reduction and roasted garlic spread. This was my favorite. Creamy from the garlic spread, hearty with a sweet edge from the balsamic. Carpeni said she often hears from friends this is their favorite pizza, although she’s not a Brie person. So she set her piece aside and stared longingly at the next pizza, the Pacifica Fog Cutter, understandably.

ƒ Pacifica Fog Cutter: Pepperoni, sweet and spicy sausage, parm. Sure, you could call it a meat lover’s pizza. Carpeni offered a one-word

assessment of this pizza: nostalgia. This is a pie that brings you back — to every birthday or other celebration, but upgraded with high-end ingredients. “Also good for a hangover,” Bailey told us. Incidentally, we all quibbled over the meaning of the word “Fog” in the name. Bailey said the pizza has such simple clarity that it cuts through the fog. But my sense was that if I ate three slices, I’d fall into a pleasant fog and have to sleep in the parking lot before driving home.

ƒ Prosciutto Arugula: Garlic spread, parm, lemon oil, mozzarella. This pizza was the hit that provoked curiosity. It offered a twist on the increasingly popular arugula pizzas showing up all over the place. The twist: a lemon oil that took the edge off and gave it a light feel. We asked Bailey where he got the idea and he said several of the pizzas were inspired by meals eaten on a family trip to Italy, and then he added his own flair, like the lemon.

ƒ Finally, Bailey served us up the pizza of the week, Mushroom Broccolini, which was heavy on the veggies with goat cheese and garlic chips. Should this one come up again, fellow Olympians, the most important words are: goat cheese. If you like it, this is your pizza.

In conclusion, you can’t go wrong, but stop at slice six. 

MULTIVINTNER

WINE TASTING

Wine purveyors from around Northern California arrived at Lakeside Clubhouse, October 11, to show off their wares and explain the art of winemaking to members. The Lakeside food & beverage team provided delicious bites to add to the enjoyment of the evening.

photos by Missy Bystrom, Contributing member

MOTHER & SON NIGHT

The warm weather made it feel like summer in SF, as the Club celebrated the special bond between mothers and sons at City Clubhouse, October 19, with a sports-themed evening of athletic activities, team spirit, vibrant dancing and delicious stadium-style cuisine.

photos by Gene Choi, Contributing member

DUELING PIANOS

This unforgettable evening at Lakeside, October 24, kicked off with a magic show, then moved to an interactive musical performance by the Dueling Pianos duo, accompanied by the delectable cocktails and menu provided by our culinary staff.

photos by Norm Ng,

TRICK-OR-TREAT AT LAKESIDE

It was a wonderful day for families out at Lakeside on October 27. Everyone showed off their colorful costumes, while children enjoyed the treats and bouncy houses. Characters ranged from the most innocent Muppets to the toughest comic-book heroes, and all had a great time.

photos by Frank Morse, Contributing member

BBQ & Bluegrass

Members had a flavorful night out at City Clubhouse, October 30, with the East Bay’s favorite bluegrass band, Crying Uncle. The menu was tailored to the music, and featured St. Louis smoked ribs, barbecue brisket, bacon molasses baked beans and more. Each course was paired with a Russian River Valley wine, from local providers including Hartford Family Winery and Merry Edwards.

photos by Jordan Sofris,

OCF CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

The Olympic Club Foundation and the SFIAC Foundation held their Second Annual Cornhole fundraiser in North Beach on October 25. NBA legends Chris Mullin and Bill Cartwright were the honorary chairs, KNBR’s Brian Murphy and Nick Figone were the emcees, and the hundreds of people in attendance helped raise critical funds to support kids and culture in the San Francisco Bay Area.

photos by Brandon Shepard

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NEW THIRD FLOOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE CENTER

by Tonya Bonesio-Barna, photos by Hannah Ly

Be sure to check out our new Athletic Performance Center (APC) on the third floor of City Clubhouse. We created this space to reduce congestion on the sixth floor. It will be utilized mainly by our Juniors working with Strength and Conditioning Coach Giuliano Sanchez and our sports teams. The APC will also host additional group fitness classes focusing on strength, agility and HIIT programming, available to all members. APC availability is posted on schedules throughout the third floor fitness spaces. 

OC SPORTS

BASKETBALL DIRECTOR UPDATE — MANNY NODAR

EXCITED TO BEGIN AS BASKETBALL DIRECTOR

“There are a lot of coaches, but not enough teachers of the game.”

— John Wooden

As I begin my journey as the new basketball director, the quote from John Wooden explains the reason I chose to join Coach P and the basketball department here at The Olympic Club 12 years ago. Coach P always believed that practice was more important than games. The four hours a week that our AAU kids spend with us on our basketball courts are filled with life lessons, skill building and, most importantly, positive reinforcement to help them deal with the adversity that sports can bring regularly. Because of the great lessons I learned from Coach P, I feel strongly prepared to lead the basketball department and continue its ambitious standards and success with all programming that we offer.

With change comes innovative ideas! We want to enhance the membership experience across all programs. On the adult side, how about a 3-on-3 league or tournament to really test your basketball skills? Or an all-star game of players chosen by the captains? On the Junior side, expanding the off-season AAU program from one to three days will provide more opportunities for our coaches to teach. During those workouts, basketball will be collaborating with the

fitness department to incorporate strength and conditioning with Coach Sanchez.

Junior camp expansion is also on the agenda. We have added one more all-sports camp next summer. This will bring our total weeks of summer camps to seven. We are currently discussing and hoping to host Thanksgiving and Easter camps. Our goal is to provide more opportunities for our young members, but also to showcase what great facilities we have here at The Olympic Club. We do not want to stay the same, we want to get better.

We have already begun collaborating with our basketball commissioners on new ideas. On the women’s side, we have a new event with the Women’s Open House. This event will give women basketball players and business professionals in the Bay Area an opportunity to learn more about The Olympic Club’s year-round competitive women’s basketball league and what it takes to join our women’s national team.

On the men’s side, a similar event will be held to energize the teams for the season and attract more members to try out for one of our six men’s national teams.

As director, I am thankful and blessed for all the support that my family, the staff, the administration and the membership

expressed during the hiring process. In the next few weeks, we are hoping to bring another person to our team. Currently, we are in the process of hiring for the junior basketball manager position.

My children roll their eyes when I state, “I get to do what I love every day, and that’s coach and teach basketball.” Go, OC!

“If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion.” — Mia Hamm

MEET SOME OF OUR NEW ATHLETIC MEMBERS

JULIA COOPER

Julia Cooper grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated McDonogh School as a Lacrosse Under Armour All-American. She continued her lacrosse career at Stanford University, and her team won the Pac-12 tournament in 2019. She was a Pac-12 Academic All-American every year. She continues to coach both women’s and men’s lacrosse goalies and support local youth programs. She will begin coaching for the

JACK DEELY

Jack Deely played water polo at San Ramon Valley High School. He continued his water polo career at UC Berkeley from 2018–2022, helping the team win consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022, serving as team captain for the latter. His accolades include First Team All-American in 2021, Second Team All-American in 2022 and 2020, and leading the MPSF conference in assists during each of those seasons.

ABBIE WOLF

Abbie Wolf graduated from Northwestern University and led her basketball team to a Big Ten Regular Season Championship in 2020. She played three years of professional basketball in Europe, competing for FC Barcelona in Spain and the Caledonia Gladiators in Scotland.

Wolf founded Wild Works Connects, a basketball camp that grew into an international host-family network.

French national team in December, as they grow their women’s program in hopes of making the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Olympic Club has given Cooper the ability to continue to play at a competitive level and grow the game. She has loved being part of a new team with incredible women. “It is awesome getting to know other athletes from other sports and learning to play golf and tennis,” she said.

He was fortunate to be invited to scrimmage at the Club occasionally while in high school and college. “I was and continue to be in awe of all that The Olympic Club offers, both professionally and recreationally,” he said. “I’m incredibly grateful to become a member, and can’t wait to contribute to the Winged “O’s” winning culture in the pool.”

Wolf is proud to be an Olympian, as she comes from a family of athletes — her father was a shotputter in the 1984 Olympic Games. This past year, she competed in Portland and Detroit with the OC, where she witnessed the strong community and tradition of excellence.

Dear Olympians,

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the Junior Awards Banquet — a truly festive celebration of our outstanding Junior programs. It was wonderful to see so many of our Junior members, parents, coaches and staff come together to honor the accomplishments of our young athletes. Individual awards were presented in each sport, alongside the coveted Junior Olympians of the Year awards. From the dais, I had the privilege of recognizing our dedicated coaches, athletic support staff and our remarkable Athletic Director, Nick Lusson. Their commitment and expertise continue to inspire our Junior members and help shape their journeys as athletes and individuals. With over 220 people in attendance, the energy was contagious and filled with the pride and camaraderie that define our Club.

In addition to the Junior Awards Banquet, we recently hosted the annual Committee/ Commissioner Dinner, one of my personal favorite events. This dinner brings together committee members, sports commissioners, staff liaisons and our Board of Directors to reflect on the year’s work and celebrate all that has been accomplished. This year marks my fifth at The Olympic Club, and I am proud to say it was one of the most productive years for committee work that I have witnessed. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our members and the relentless support from our staff liaisons.

As we approach the holiday season, our calendar is filled with even more celebratory events. It’s a time to come together in the spirit of the season, enjoying moments with friends, colleagues, athletes, members and staff. The holidays bring a unique joy to the Club, filled with warmth and connection, and I look

forward to celebrating with all of you as we close out the year.

In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributes to making The Olympic Club the exceptional place it is. From our world-class staff to the volunteers in governance, and from our supportive Board of Directors to each of you, our members, your dedication and collaborative spirit make this Club the world-class institution it is. I would like to extend a special note of gratitude to our first two-year president, Malia Lyle. Malia’s selfless dedication and tireless efforts have been nothing short of extraordinary. Her love for the Club is evident in everything she does, and her leadership is an inspiration to us all.

Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and a joyful New Year.

See you at the Club!

Tim Muessle GM/COO

Helping The Olympic Club tell its story — to members and guests — is at the center of the work I do at the Club. With a history dating back beyond its founding in 1860, there is a lot to cover! At City Clubhouse and Lakeside, we walk the paths of all who have come before us, many of whom were excellent amateur athletes — from the well-known sports (basketball and handball) to the obscure (ice hockey and bowling). I enjoy the privilege of being a steward of this expansive history, working closely with the History & Archives Committee and the membership and marketing department to pass on the rich traditions to the next generations.

In October, I had the honor of being a part of the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (see story on page 30). It is my favorite event of the year. A lot of effort goes into the production but, in the end, it is satisfying to highlight the amazing stories of our members, celebrate their accomplishments and showcase one of the great traditions at the Club. I want to thank the members and staff who helped make this event possible.

Many members may recognize my name from articles in the Olympian throughout the years. You can also find my work in the halls and stairwells of both clubhouses, and as the producer of our podcast, The Winged “O.” In the next year, I look forward to helping write the next chapter of the Club’s story, as we host another U.S. Amateur Championship.

If you ever have a question, please feel free to reach out to me.

Jessica Smith Collections Manager History & Archives

BUY YOUR COPY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Be one of the first to get your hands on The First Century of Golf at The Olympic Club, by Jaime Diaz, who recounts this legacy in prose and pictures — a unique story intertwined with the dynamism and mystique of San Francisco and the rise of the most sublime and frustrating sport in the world. You don’t need to be a golfer to appreciate this book — coming this holiday season to the Golf Shop and Sutter Store. Scan the QR code to pre-order your copy today.

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