The Birchbark
NEW MEMBERS PAGE 5
GOLF PAGE 10
CALENDAR JULY/AUGUST PAGE 21/22
A Letter from the General Manager
Peter Swick General Manager
Spectacular Fireworks Display
A New Season of Elevated Experiences
Dear Members,
As the warm days of summer are upon us, Orchard Lake Country Club is buzzing with excitement and activity. We’ve had a fantastic start to the season, filled with memorable events and exciting new developments.
Once again, our annual fireworks display was nothing short of spectacular. Families and friends gathered to enjoy the vibrant show that lit up the night sky, creating magical moments for all ages. It was a perfect way to celebrate the season and bring our community closer together. Here is a link to the photos https://adobe.ly/3XCemuP
Players Invitational Tournament
The Players Member Guest tournament was an awesome event, showcasing incredible play, conditioning and hospitality. Congratulations to all the participants and winners who made this event a success. Your enthusiasm and competitive spirit truly embody the spirit of our club.
Players Recap & Photo Gallery: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/EOMxTkw9Kbohu
Introducing Six New Pickleball Courts
We are excited to announce the introduction of six new pickleball courts! It is incredible to see our members enjoying this fantastic new facility. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a beginner, we invite you to come out and give pickleball a try. Don’t forget your tennis whites!
Celebrating Kevin Fogarty's 40th Anniversary
One of the highlights of our summer was celebrating Kevin Fogarty's 40th anniversary with the club. Kevin has been an integral part of our community, and his dedication and passion have been an inspiration to us all. The anniversary party was a beautiful gathering, full of laughter, stories, and heartfelt tributes to Kevin’s four decades of service. Here is a link to the Photos Password: olcc https://www.photoelement.com/OLCC/6212024-Coach-Kevin-Fogarty-40-Years-OLCC/n-kPwxDC
New Software and Mobile Innovations
To enhance your experience at the club, we have introduced new software, including a user-friendly app, public and member facing website, Whoosh tee times, and mobile booking and reservations. These tools are designed to make your experience more convenient and enjoyable.
We encourage you to download the app and explore all the new features available at your fingertips.
Pilot Program with the Living and Learning Enrichment Center
We are proud to introduce a new pilot program in partnership with the Living and Learning Enrichment Center. This initiative empowers individuals with disabilities, providing them with opportunities to engage and contribute within our community.
You will see these individuals around the club on Tuesdays and Thursdays, always accompanied by a coach. We believe this program will enrich our club environment and foster a more inclusive community. “Using her life experience to help teens thrive, Vartanian (Founder/CEO) is creating lasting friendships in the heart of Detroit.” – Mitch Albom Living and Learning Video https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/video/expert-speaks-on-tackling-neurodiversity-and-employment/#x
Enjoy the Rest of Summer
There is still so much of summer left to enjoy, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the club. Whether you’re participating in an event, enjoying the new pickleball courts, a round of golf or simply relaxing with friends and family, we hope your time at Orchard Lake Country Club is filled with joy and memorable moments.
If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out. We value your input and are always here to ensure you have the best possible experience at the club.
Warm regards,
Peter R. Swick CCM General Manager Orchard Lake Country Club
2024
Board of Governors
President
Mark George
Vice President
Eric Schwab
Treasurer
John Higgins
Secretary
Bob Sullivan
Governors
Katie Izzo
Gregg Speaks
Matt Pappas
Pat Flynn
Don Lough
General Manager
Peter Swick Orchard Lake Country
OLCC BB
Orchard Lake Management Team
Administration
Peter Swick General Manager pswick@orchardlakecc.com
David Simpson Clubhouse Manager dsimpson@orchardlakecc.com
Marty Agnello Controller magnello@orchardlakecc.com
Nicole Petrone Membership Marketing Director npetrone@orchardlakecc.com
Beth Deaton Website Administrator bdeaton@orchardlakecc.com
Carol Molina Director of Human Resources cmolina@orchardlakecc.com
Hospitality
Tyler Colman Executive Chef tcolman@orchardlakecc.com
Sarah Harris
Catering Director sharris@orchardlakecc.com
Atara Krakoff
Assistant Catering Director akrakoff@orchardlakecc.com
Greg Stangis Food & Beverage Director gstangis@orchardlakecc.com
Nathalie Fregonara Banquet Manager nfregonara@orchardlakecc.com
Jill Viculis Director of Dining Services jviculis@orchardlakecc.com
Tom Kruszewski Fitness Director tkruszewski@orchardlakecc.com
Golf Operations
Brian Sleeman PGA Head Professional bsleeman@orchardlakecc.com
Aaron McMaster Green Superintendent mcmaster@orchardlakecountryclub.com
John Gilbert
Golf Services Manager jgilbert@orchardlakecc.com
Racquet Sports
Lincoln Wirgau Racquets Director lwirgau@orchardlakecc.com
Lakefront
Kevin Fogarty Swim Team Coach
Doug Irey Pool Manager
Paige Loskill Waterfront Director sailing@orchardlakecc.com
Orchard Lake Country Club
OLCC MEMBERSHIP
Welcome New Members
Active (MiW) Member
Michael & Pinel Artinian
Swift Home Loans – Owner/Vice President
Children: Artin, Liv
Junior A Member
David Ajluni & Elena McWright
Capital Group – Regional Vice President
Active (MiW) Member
Michael & Jessica Dixon
Transformation Capital – Managing Partner
Children: Grayson, Calvin, Reece, Nolan
Junior A Member
Grant Haefner
Professional Golfer
Save the Dates
JULY
Thursday 4 Family Fun Day
Thursday- Saturday 18-20
The Blue Coat Invitational
AUGUST
August 1 Member Caddie Tournament & Play
August 18 Family Scramble Tournament
Friday 23–Saturday 24 Family Camp Out
Saturday 31 End of Summer Party
SEPTEMBER
Monday, 2 Labor Day Buffet
Tuesday, 3 Clubhouse and Golf Course Closed
Thursday, 12 Past Governors’ Golf & Dinner
Sunday, 29 Annual OLCC Family 5K Walk/Run
OCTOBER
Friday, 4 Glow Golf
Sunday, 6 Kids’ Etiquette Class
Friday, 18 Fall Wine Tasting
Wednesday, 23 Caddie Banquet
Saturday, 26 Family Halloween Party
NOVEMBER
Friday, 1 President’s Party
Wednesday, 20 Ladies Night Out/ Holiday Boutique
Thursday, 21 Ladies Holiday Boutique
Thursday, 28 Thanksgiving Buffet
DECEMBER
Thursday, 5 Annual Meeting
Saturday, 7 Santa Brunch
Sunday, 8 Santa Brunch
Friday, 13 Holiday Lunch Buffet
Saturday, 14 Christmas Cheer
Sunday, 22 Going Out with a Bang!
JULY & AUGUST
Tuesday-Saturday
Lunch 11am - 3pm
Dinner 5pm-9pm
Sunday Brunch 11-2:30pm
Sunday Dinner 5-9pm
GOLF SHOP HOURS
JULY & AUGUST
Tuesday - Friday 7:30am-7:00pm
Saturday - Sunday 6:30am - 7:00pm
OLCC Lake House Hours
Daily Operations
Tuesday – Thursday, 11am – 7pm
Friday, 11am – 3:30pm
(Lake house Dining 5pm – 8pm reservations)
Saturday, 11am – 8pm Sunday, 11am – 7pm
OLCC Pool Hours
Daily Operations
Tuesday – Thursday & Sunday, 12 – 8pm Friday - Saturday, 12 – 9pm
OLCC EVENTS
OLCC BB DINING
A Note From Chef Tyler
Tyler Colman
Professional Head Chef
Dear Members,
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the wonderful feedback you have shared regarding our new themed a la carte menus. Your enthusiasm and support have truly made this culinary journey a delightful experience for our entire team. It is a pleasure to craft dishes that not only meet but exceed your expectations.
As we move into the second half of the summer, I am excited to introduce the upcoming themed menus that will be available every Wednesday through Sunday, starting from July 17th until the end of September. Each week will bring a unique culinary experience, designed to tantalize your taste buds and offer something special for everyone.
Here’s a preview of what’s to come:
**Carnivore Week: July 17 - July 21**
Prepare for a meat lover’s paradise with a variety of succulent, hearty dishes that celebrate the best of carnivorous cuisine.
**Breakfast Week: July 24 - July 28**
Indulge in breakfast favorites all day long. From classic morning staples to creative twists, this week is dedicated to the most important meal of the day.
**Burger Week: July 31 - August 4**
Savor the ultimate burger experience with an array of gourmet burgers, each one crafted to perfection with unique toppings and flavors.
**Taco Week: August 7 - August 11**
Dive into a fiesta of flavors with a variety of tacos, inspired by traditional and contemporary influences, promising a vibrant and exciting culinary adventure.
**Carnival Week: August 14 - August 18**
Relive the fun and flavors of a summer carnival, with whimsical and delightful dishes that bring the fairground to your plate.
**Potato Week: August 21 - August 25**
Celebrate the versatility of the humble potato, with an array of dishes showcasing its many delicious forms.
**Indian Week: August 28 - September 1**
Journey through the rich and diverse flavors of Indian cuisine, featuring a selection of aromatic and vibrant dishes.
**Vegan Week: September 4 - September 8**
Enjoy a week of plant-based delights, offering creative and flavorful vegan dishes that will satisfy and surprise even the most devoted meat eaters.
**British Week: September 11 - September 15**
Experience the comfort and tradition of British cuisine, with classic dishes that bring a taste of the UK to our club.
**Moroccan Week: September 18 - September 22**
Delight in the exotic and fragrant flavors of Moroccan cuisine, with dishes that highlight the rich spices and culinary traditions of North Africa.
**Steakhouse Week: September 25 - September 29**
End the summer on a high note with a week dedicated to steakhouse favorites, offering premium cuts and exceptional accompaniments.
Thank you once again for your continued support and enthusiasm. I look forward to seeing you at the club and sharing these exciting new menus with you.
Bon Appétit!
Chef Tyler T. Colman C.E.C.
Executive Chef
OLCC CATERING
AfrRecipe om Chef Tyler
Sweet HealthySummery Treat
Chia Seed Pudding with Coconut, Nuts and Dried Cherries
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups Milk or almond milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
2 tablespoons honey + 1 tablespoon for drizzling on top
2/3 cup chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
2 tablespoons chopped dried cherries
2 tablespoons chopped raw nuts
2 tablespoons wide-flake coconut
Preparation:
In a small bowl, combine the milk and the honey, vanilla, and ginger powder and whisk to combine. Add the chia seeds and orange zest and whisk vigorously to fully combine. Pour into a container, cover, and refrigerate at least 5 hours, and ideally overnight.
When ready to serve, stir well. Spoon into bowls and top with cherries, pistachios, and coconut; drizzle with a bit of honey.
Special Celebrations
Atara Krakoff & Sarah Harris Catering Team
Dear Members,
We are thrilled that summer is in full swing and busier than ever here at the Orchard Lake! June was an incredible month for us, highlighted by our annual "Smoke on the Water, Fire in the Sky" fireworks event. It was a massive success, with over 900 people joining us for an unforgettable day filled with smiles and laughter.
This joyous event was just the beginning of all that is yet to come. Throughout June, we had the pleasure of hosting numerous bridal showers, baby showers and weddings. These special occasions brought so much liveliness to the club, and we are honored to have been a part of your significant life moments. Of course, we can’t forget our annual Player Invitational and the swim meet against PLCC that we hosted both of which showcased so many of our members in their element.
As we move into July, our schedule remains packed with more of your special celebrations. We are delighted to see our calendar filled to the max with events that mark important milestones in your lives. We have our Terrace Wine Tasting on July 11th, our Blue Coat Tournament and of course our 4th of July Family Fun Day and Dinner BBQ so be sure to come on out and celebrate the holiday with us.
Looking ahead into August, we have a few events we want to highlight that we hope you will check out. Join us with your tent at the Family Camp out taking place on Friday, August 23rd into Saturday, August 24th. We will have a delicious BBQ buffet as well as games and a movie for families to enjoy. On August 31st, we are excited to announce an event you absolutely won't want to miss: our End of Summer Totally Rad 80s Neon Party! Get ready to travel back in time and relive the iconic 80s with us. Mark your calendars because the DJ will be spinning all your favorite 80s bands, ensuring the dance floor is packed with energy and nostalgia. It's the perfect opportunity to break out your neon windbreakers, parachute pants, leotards, leg warmers, jean jacket vests, old school Adidas, and fanny packs. Let's bid farewell to summer in the most spectacular way possible, embracing the vibrant and fun spirit of the 80s. We can't wait to see you there, ready to dance the night away and celebrate the end of summer in true 80s style!
Thank you for making these moments memorable with us. We look forward to sharing more wonderful experiences as the summer continues.
Warm regards,
Sarah Harris & Atara Krakoff
OLCC BB
A Letter From the Golf Pro
Brian
Sleeman PGA Head Professional
Happy Summer! The season is well underway, and we hope you’re enjoying your time on the golf course together. Below is a little recap of the season so far and a preview of what’s ahead!
Women’s Golf
The Women’s Member-Member was a success with a fun “Flower Power” theme bringing out the creativity of the players and some inspired decorations. See the photo gallery on the following pages for a look at the fashion and fun! Our Golf 101 program ended in early June, and our Tuesday evening Women’s League is rolling along. As a reminder, Thursday mornings are reserved for women’s golf at Orchard Lake, whether you are part of the 18-Hole Women’s Golf Association enjoying one of our weekly games or just looking for another chance to get out on the course with your fellow lady members. Up next on July 10-11 is the expanded and revamped women’s member-guest now known as The Blue Lake Cup! Invite a friend and join us for a friendly scramble on Wednesday followed by light competition in the 18-hole round on Thursday. And don’t miss out on the always popular Pink Shirt Invitational, our casual nine-hole member-guest experience on Wednesday, July 31. Please contact me or Drew Jenkins if you have any questions on our women’s golf program and consider joining us whenever you are able!
Men’s Golf
Men’s League just wrapped another great season, and we’ve also completed the first of our three-day member-guest tournaments in the Players Invitational! Our eyes are set on a fun-filled July, with the festive Red, White & Blue event on July 7 and the 60th playing of the Blue Coat Invitational July 18-20. The President’s Cup is moving into round three, and the competition is tightening up as all remaining contestants have already proven their mettle. Though the Senior Club Championship and its Ralph Dailey net division have concluded, the overall Club Championship is highlighted as we work on our games in preparation for this year’s tournament August 9-11.
Junior Golf
Dominic DiLisi and the team have been focused on the summer junior golf program with a refined approach to the curriculum and several success stories from our youngest players. Please join us in encouraging our PGA Junior Leaguers as they work their way through a fun interclub calendar, as well as our high-school age
Best Cart Decor: Jennifer O’Farrill Diaz GOLF
Motown Cup participants as they sharpen their skills in 18-hole competition with 10 other clubs in the region. Outside of our regular programming, Dominic is also available for private and small group lessons for any juniors looking for more opportunities to improve their game!
Course Care – Bunkers & Rakes
Every club does things a little differently – here at Orchard Lake, we leave our rakes outside of the bunkers and parallel to the line of play for the given hole. This minimizes the potential for a rake to interfere with the path of the ball. Please be sure first to properly rake your bunkers after play and leave the rake in this fashion for a consistent and enjoyable experience.
I and the entire golf team hope you’re enjoying another wonderful summer at Orchard Lake, and we encourage you to reach out to us if there’s ever anything we can do to help. See you on the course!
Brian Sleeman PGA Head Professional
2024 TIN LIZZIE RESULTS
Overall Champions: Scot Curry & Duane Tursi (117 Points)
Flight 1 Winners: David Smith & David J. Smith
Flight 2 Winners: Rick Herpich & Craig Valassis
Flight 3 Winners: Jon David & Michael Stanley / Matt Pappas & Gordon Coleman (Tie)
Flight 4 Winners: David Boerger & John Ball
Flight 5 Winners: Scot Curry & Duane Tursi
Flight 6 Winners: Mike Kane & Bill Stewart
2024 WOMEN'S MEMBER - MEMBER RESULTS
Overall Champions: Sally Yousif & Jennifer O’Farrill Diaz
Flight 1 Winners: Katie Izzo & Barb Blain
Flight 2 Winners: Ruth Baidas & Mary Nunez
Flight 3 Winners: Kari Elliott & Kim Peterson
Flight 4 Winners: Diane Hanaway & Kay Albertie
Best Dressed: Susie Graham
OLCC BB GOLF
GOLF SHOP CORNER
Peter Millar is not exactly a new brand, having dominated the golf landscape now for nearly 20 years. What may be new to you, however, is just how robust and comprehensive their entire product line is. In addition to the variety of apparel and accessories we carry in our shop (including in-stock basics for men and women in all sizes), we are happy to extend to you the opportunity to special order any item from their catalog, from men’s suits to women’s athleisure and junior golf apparel. Take a look at petermillar.com and let us know if you see anything to your liking, and we’ll be glad to order it up for you with or without the Orchard Lake logo. You’ll enjoy personalized service and of course, your member discount! One of our recent additions to the West Shore Boutique selection is a brand called “Sundays.” Founded by Julie Marder, Sundays is an expression of style without effort, for women who live a life of natural confidence, as much from within as through the clothes themselves. Sundays recalls memories of her time in coastal Italy,
embodying that unmistakable sense of ease from breezy days with hours passing by unnoticed. This is not about trendy pieces to wear for a season, but something that lasts for years to come, because Sundays is about that living memory. It is a state of being rather than just one great moment. Regardless of your age, where you are, or how you spend your days, Sundays embodies this ease with stylish, high quality elevated staples created to give women an immediate sense of confidence.
MEMBER-CADDIE TOURNAMENT – AUGUST 1
The Member-Caddie Tournament was a popular addition to our golf calendar in 2023, and we’re excited for its second playing on Thursday, August 1! Join us for a casual nine-hole round teeing it up alongside your young caddies in a friendly and light competition, after which we’ll gather in the Picnic Grove for some additional fun and games and a casual cookout. It’s a great opportunity to say “thanks” to the young men and women who
serve as our sidekicks and partners on the golf course before they begin returning to school. Registration begins in late June, so keep an eye on your inbox!
Please also consider making a donation for our caddie prizes. Our goal is to have something for each of our attending caddies, so whether it’s a gift card, event tickets, or sports memorabilia,
Summer Racquets News
A Letter From the Racquets Pro
Lincoln Wirgau, USPTA Director of Racquets
Summer is officially in full swing, and we have been playing some great tennis and pickleball on the courts. We have seen some great progress for both the adult and junior tennis programs, as well as our new pickleball classes this year. Our staff is looking forward to seeing more smiling faces on the courts as we continue with the summer season.
We have many Junior Interclub matches being played on Fridays. The schedule for the rest of the season can be found bleow.
We are also very excited to announce that we will be hosting interclub finals this summer. This is an event that each club hosts once every seven years. It is great to see all the hard work the kids have put into their training pay off at the end of the season and come together as a team one last time. Junior Inter-Club Finals takes place August 5th, 6th, and 7th.
We will be continuing our August Tennis Camp Program for the kids that would like to continue playing after our season has finished. The camps will run from August 13th-23rd. We will have an Ankle Biters class Tuesday through Friday, while our season can be found below. 7 and Ups will have class Tuesday through Thursday, with match days on Friday.
Youth Interclub FridaY Match Schedule
July 5
Orange-BOH
9-10s - OLCC
11-12s - BAC
13 & UPs -BCC
July 12
Red - BAC
9-10s - BCC
11-12s -OLCC
13 &UPs -PLCC
July 19
Orange - BOH
9-10s - OLCC
11-12s - BAC
13 & UPs BCC
July 29
Grand Slam Cup Red/Orange- BAC Green/ Yellow-BOH
Match times: Girls 12pM, BoYs 1:30pM, Red/OranGe 12:30pM
July 26 - RaIn out Date
tennis Spotlight- colleen PettenGill:
Hi, I'm Colleen, and this is my 3rd year working as an assistant coach at Orchard! While I normally jump around, you can usually find me teaching the Ankle Biters through 11-12s during weekdays and helping with cardio on weekends.
I'm going into my second year at The Ohio State University, where I'm double majoring in Applied Physics and Astrophysics, along with a minor in Nuclear Engineering. I had a pretty busy first year outside my studies, playing for the Top OSU Club Tennis team, traveling to multiple universities for tournaments, and helping out on the courts. I graduated from Bloomfield Hills High school in 2023, having been on the girls' tennis team all 4 years. I played 4 doubles for the team my junior year, picking up a State Championship and 1 doubles the year after.
Pickleball!
As a longtime Interclubs player, I'm so excited for OLCC to host finals this year, and I'm even more excited to see the hard work of our members pay off. The community of players, families and staff at Orchard is outstanding, and there's no group more deserving of a great end to the year.
I'm looking forward to working with everyone again this year and getting to know the new players!
We had a phenomenal start to our pickleball season last Thursday June 6th at our opening night Mixer. It was the grand opening of our 6 brandnew pickleball courts, and twenty-five of our best athletes played in an open-play format for almost 2 hours. We had players of all ages and skills. Plenty of new players came out to learn the basics and were quickly up and running.
In one of the most endearing moments of the evening, Bill Streng and Dennis Glick played against Bebe Wyzykowski and Emily Finkle in an intergenerational battle for the ages. The young guns came out on top.
OLCC BB FITNESS
Join us for the fourth annual Run the Lake 5K and Kid’s Fun Run on Sunday, September 29th, 2024. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Friends of the Children – Detroit. For more information, or to register for the event see Tom Kruszewski, or visit runsignup.com/Race/MI/OrchardLake/RuntheLake5K.
HOSTING A PARTY OR EVENT?
Magnolia Beech Massage offers chair massages for events* Call (248) 671-4967 or email magnoliabeechmassage@gmail.com to to take your party to the next level!
*MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO PARTICIPATE
From the Pool Deck
A Letter From Doug Irey
Doug Irey Pool & Waterfront Director direy@orchardlakecc.com
Happy Summertime!
This is the first opportunity that the staff and I have had to wish everyone a happy summer since everyone has been released from school at the end of June, and since the first official day of summer has passed (June 20)! And what a month June turned out to be!
We were able to enjoy the annual club fireworks Smoke on the Water, Fire in the Sky after some unseasonably cool weather at the beginning of the season, and of course at the end of June we started to feel the weather that the heart of summer is known for. I probably do not need to remind you of this, but it was HOT!
During July we get into the normal events that we have at the pool, particularly home swim meets, the annual Apple Island Swim (July 14th), and the Mini-Meet.
Upcoming Blue Carp Meets-
•On the following date the pool will close early due to a Blue Carp home swim meet.
•Sunday, July 14th
•The pool opening may be delayed on Friday, July 12th for the OLCC Mini-Meet that we will host in the morning.
As a staff, we are fortunate to be able to provide the membership with such beautiful facilities to enjoy and make memories at. Please be respectful of our beautiful Pool and Waterfront facilities by returning your used towels to the office when you are done with them. You can also help keep the locker rooms tidy by keeping your items either in the locker you’ve rented, or either in a backpack hanging on the hooks or placed in the cubbies in the locker room. While the staff continually sweeps through the locker room and moves abandoned items into the lost and found bin in each locker room, this will really help the membership as a whole to be able to navigate to and from their lockers and throughout the locker room.
See you at the Pool and Waterfront!
Swimmingly Yours,
Douglas Irey Pool and Waterfront Director
2024 OLCC SWIM TEAM SCHEDULE
July 7 OLCC @ BCC
July 12 Mini Meet @ OLCC
July 14 BOH @ OLCC
July 21 OLCC @ MCC
July 25 OLCC Team Spirit Night! July 28 B Finals @ MCC (brunch held afterwards @ OLCC)
Celebrating Coach Kevin
OLCC CALENDAR
