2024 May Birchbark

Page 1

The Birchbark

AN ORCHARD LAKE COUNTRY CLUB PUBLICATION

NEW MEMBERS PAGE 5

GOLF PAGE 12

CALENDAR MAY/JUNE PAGE 24

MAY 2024
Inside

OLCC

The Board Corner

Dear Members,

Spring is in full swing, and we have an incredible summer planned for you! Your feedback plays a huge role in shaping the amazing experiences we offer. As a member-owned community, OLCC thrives on strong governance. This means a dynamic partnership between our volunteer committees, our dedicated General Manager, Department heads and their talented staff. Let's explore how this collaboration keeps your interests at the heart of everything we do.

Committees: The Voice of the Members

Our club committees are vital in shaping members’ experience. They bring together diverse opinions and specialized knowledge to guide the club's future. Here's a closer look:

• Golf Committee: Enhances all aspects of your golfing experience, from arrival to guest hospitality and course play.

• Greens and Grounds: Collaborates with the Golf Course Superintendent to maintain exceptional course conditions and beautiful landscaping throughout the club.

• Membership Experience: Creates enriching activities, events, and focuses on outstanding member service across the club.

• Membership: Develops strategies for member recruitment, orientation, and retention, while overseeing membership levels and benefits.

• Finance Committee: Ensures our club's financial stability.

• Waterfront: Oversees the experience, safety, and policies for all waterfront activities and facilities.

• Racquets: Optimizes all aspects of tennis, paddle, and pickleball for maximum member enjoyment.

• Ethics: Assists the Board in upholding ethical standards, member conduct, and legal compliance.

• Fitness: Champions your well-being by evaluating the fitness center's facilities and equipment, program offerings, and member engagement strategies. They recommend improvements and ensure everything aligns with your needs.

Each committee includes dedicated members, relevant department heads, and a Board Liaison for streamlined communication. Find more details and Committee Chairs in the "Committees" section of our website.

General Manager and Staff: Turning Vision into Reality

Our General Manager and his team are the backbone of our club's day-to-day operations. They possess the operational knowledge, professional insights, and dedication necessary to translate our collective vision into exceptional experiences. Their role is paramount in ensuring smooth functioning, member satisfaction, and the long-term success of our club.

The Benefits of Collaboration

When committees, the General Manager, and staff work in tandem, magic happens:

• Member-Centric Focus: Committees advocate for your needs, while the General Manager and staff ensure those needs are met with practical solutions and operational excellence.

• Informed Decision-Making: Committees gather member feedback and share it with the management team, enabling data-driven decisions that align with our community's wishes.

• Efficient Operations: Streamlined communication between committees and staff minimizes delays and redundancies, promoting a well-run club environment.

• Long-Term Sustainability: Strategic collaboration ensures financial prudence, protects our assets, and fosters a thriving club for years to come.

How Can You Get Involved?

• Join a committee: Share your skills, interests, and passion for our club by becoming an active committee member.

• Share Feedback: Communicate your thoughts and ideas openly with committee representatives and the General Manager.

• Support a Collaborative Spirit: Recognize the valuable contribution of fellow members serving on committees, as well as our dedicated staff.

As we continue refining our governance model, let's embrace open communication and a shared commitment to collaboration. By working together, we strengthen OLCC and secure a vibrant future for our club.

Sincerely, The Board of Directors

2 | The Birchbark | MAY 2024
BB

2024 Board of Governors

President

Mark

Vice

Eric

Treasurer

John Higgins

Secretary

Bob Sullivan

Governors

Katie Izzo

Gregg Speaks

Matt Pappas

Pat Flynn

Don Lough

General Manager

Peter Swick

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 3 Contents CLUB NEWS 2 THE BOARD CORNER 5 NEW MEMBERS GOLF & SPORTS 12 GOLF 14 RAQUETS 20 SAILING 21 SWIM CALENDAR MAY/JUNE The Birchbark Managing Editor: Nicole Petrone Design: Jennifer Spencer
George
President
Schwab
Orchard Lake Country Club 5000 W. Shore Drive Orchard Lake, MI 48324

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

4 | The Birchbark | MAY 2024
DIRECT PHONE NUMBERS 2024 Main Number/Reservations 248-682-0100 General Manager 258-682-1604 Accounting 248-682-2622 Catering 248-682-0911 Greens Building 248-682-2150 Golf Shop 248-682-2500 Racquet House 248-682-2334 Starters Booth
248-682-5340

OLCC MEMBERSHIP

Welcome New Members

Active (MiW) Member

Travis & Ashley Peitz

Export Corporation/Packaging Services –Director of Business Development

Children: Penelope

MAY

Junior A Member

Junior A Member

Michael & Mercedes Schloop

Huntington National Bank –VP Relationship Manager

Children: Vanessa, Oakley

Jack & Mollie Snedeker

Huntington National Bank – AV Portfolio Manager Save

the Dates

Thursday, 19 Past Governors’ Golf & Dinner

Sunday, 12 Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner

Monday, 27 Memorial Day Buffet

Tuesday, 28 Clubhouse & Golf Course Closed

JUNE

Thurs – Sat.13-15 The Players Invitational

Sunday, 16 Father’s Day Brunch/Dinner

Saturday, 22 “Smoke on the Water, Fire in the Sky”

JULY

Thursday, 4 Family Fun Day

Thurs. – Sat. 18-20

The Blue Coat Invitational

AUGUST

Fri., 23–Sat. 24 Family Camp Out

Saturday, 31 End of Summer Party

SEPTEMBER

Monday, 2 Labor Day Buffet

Tuesday, 3 Clubhouse and Golf Course Closed

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!

- 7:00pm

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 5
MAY
La Carte
Wednesday
Saturday Lunch
JUNE
GOLF SHOPE HOURS MAY & JUNE
Friday
A
Dining
-
11am-3pm Dinner: 5pm-9pm Sunday Brunch: 11am-2:30pm
A La Carte Dining Tuesday - Sunday Lunch 11am-3pm Dinner: 5pm-9pm Sunday Brunch: 11am-2:30pm
Tuesday -
7:30am-7:00pm Saturday - Sunday 6:30am

Easter Celebration 2024

Our Easter Celebration at Orchard Lake Country Club was truly special this year! The kids absolutely loved the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, creating unforgettable memories for everyone involved.

6 | The Birchbark | MAY 2024 OLCC BB EVENTS
MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 7
2024 Easter Egg Hunt Gold Coin Winners!
OLCC EVENTS

OLCC BB EVENTS

8 | The Birchbark | MAY 2024
MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 9

DINING

A Flavorful Summer Awaits at Orchard Lake Country Club! A Note from Chef Tyler

Greetings to all members of Orchard Lake Country Club!

I am thrilled to share my first article as your new Executive Chef. My name is Chef Tyler, and after ten wonderful seasons here, I am honored to step into this role and continue our tradition of culinary excellence.

As we gear up for an unforgettable summer, I am excited to unveil a new culinary experience: a calendar of themed weeks for our à la carte dining specials. Get ready to mark your calendars because starting in May, we'll be embarking on a gastronomic journey like never before!

Here's a sneak peek at what's in store:

May 1st - 7th: Crab Week

Indulge in the delicate flavors of crab prepared in various mouthwatering dishes.

May 8th - 14th: Spring Week

Celebrate the season with fresh, vibrant dishes inspired by the bounty of springtime.

May 15th - 21st: Lobster Week

Savor the luxurious taste of lobster in an array of delectable creations.

May 22nd - 28th: Caviar Week

Elevate your dining experience with the exquisite richness of caviar-infused dishes.

May 29th - June 4th: Japanese Week

Immerse yourself in the artistry of Japanese cuisine, from sushi to tempura and beyond.

June 5th - 11th: Mediterranean Week

Transport your taste buds to the shores of the Mediterranean with flavorful dishes from Greece, Italy, and beyond.

June 12th - 18th: Messy Food Week

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into a week of finger-licking, indulgent eats.

June 19th - 25th: Spanish Tapas Week

Experience the vibrant flavors of Spain with a tempting array of tapas dishes.

June 26th - July 2nd: Italian Week

Indulge in the comforting classics of Italian cuisine, from pasta to pizza and everything in between.

July 3rd - 9th: French Week

Celebrate Bastille Day with a week of French-inspired delicacies and culinary delights.

July 10th - 16th: Thai Week

Spice up your summer with the bold and aromatic flavors of Thai cuisine.

I invite you to join us throughout the summer for these exciting themed weeks. Be sure to save the calendar so you don't miss out on your favorite culinary experiences. Let's make this summer at Orchard Lake Country Club one to remember!

Bon appétit!

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Happy Spring!

A Note From our Catering Department

Welcome back and happy Spring! Atara and I are thrilled to welcome the 2024 season! We have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to reconnect with all of you and can’t wait to show you what we have been working on throughout the off season. This year, we are particularly excited to unveil a host of fresh and exciting experiences from family-friendly events to twists on classics, there will be something new for everyone!

It was so great to see all of the green clothing at our first event, our St. Patrick’s themed Welcome Back Party which marked the beginning of an exciting season ahead. The club was filled with laughter and chatter as guests mingled, enjoying the lively beats of AJ Lynn and delicious food created by our talented culinary team.

We then moved on to Easter which was nothing short of a resounding success. The 2 days unfolded with over 700 of our members in their finest Easter outfits gathered in anticipation of the excitement that awaited them. The scent of enjoyable food drew everyone to an array of delectable buffets prepared with love and care, the petting zoo allowed our members to get up close and personal with adorable animals, the magic show was captivating, leaving everyone spellbound and who could forget the highlight of the weekend—a special visit from the Easter Bunny himself. It was a day filled with laughter, love, and cherished memories, reminding us all of the magic that can be found in coming together to celebrate the spirit of Easter at Orchard Lake.

Pancakes and Pajamas was a new event introduced this year where members were invited to wear pajamas while decorating their pancakes with yummy toppings, participating activities with the DJ and creating their own pillow to take home. We were so happy to see how many members participated in this event and can’t wait to bring it back again in the future.

As our 2024 season begins, we extend an invitation to all to join us in embracing the magic of each passing moment. Whether you're a longtime member of our community or a newcomer eager to explore all that Orchard Lake has to offer, we can't wait to see more smiling faces at all the events that await us this season. Here's to a season filled with joy, connection, and endless possibilities. We can't wait to share it with you!

Catering Department

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 11
OLCC CATERING

OLCC BB GOLF

Spring Golf at OLCC

A Letter From The Pro

It’s been wonderful seeing you all as we kick off another great golf season at Orchard Lake! Summer will soon be upon us, and with it comes a wide array of programming for members of all ages and skill levels.

Men’s League has already begun, and Women’s League will soon follow as we turn the corner into June. The Early Bird and President’s Cup have also gotten things started on the men’s side, with Women’s Opening Day coming soon. As we did last fall for Closing Day, we’ll be offering a special retail experience in the West Shore Boutique to round out the Opening Day experience in the women’s locker room. Keep an eye out for messaging on these events and many more as the season gets into full swing! The Golf Shop is well-stocked with fresh arrivals for golf, tennis, fitness, and casual apparel for men, women, and juniors, with more of everything scheduled with deliveries throughout the season. Please be sure to follow the Golf Shop’s Instagram account at @ orchardlakegolfshop for the latest updates on new arrivals as they occur, and kindly keep us in mind for any special orders that may be of interest.

Your member discount ensures you’ll always receive the most competitive pricing, and our team of dedicated staff will work with you to ensure any order is created to your personal preferences. Whether it’s a ski jacket for yourself, a special gift for a friend or family member, or an array of corporate items to share with your clients and colleagues, we are here to help!

On the equipment side, we’ve gotten off to a great start with some early fitting days in the simulators this past winter, with several more on the books with all of our vendor partners scheduled across the spring and summer season. Please see the schedule in the separate section and contact the golf professionals with any questions or to sign up. We will also be promoting these dates via email with easy-to-use sign-up links to register for your fitting session. Can’t make a fitting date? Our team of professionals are here to coordinate 1-on-1 fitting appointments on your schedule. Using our arsenal of demo and fitting tools, we’ll be glad to spend time with you on the practice tee to ensure your equipment is properly fitted to help you make the most of your game.

We’re also continuing to refine opportunities on the lesson tee. You might be surprised to learn that the same TrackMan launch monitors we use in the simulators through the winter are also available for lessons with our staff on the practice range. We’ve got a talented team of professionals ready and eager to help you with any element of your game! Additionally, Top 100 teacher Donald Crawley will be back with us once again in late June/early July for clinics and private lessons. Our programming continues to expand and all of it is undertaken with the goal of helping you maximize your experience at Orchard Lake. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions at any time, and we’ll look forward to seeing you at the club!

CALLAWAY

EQUIPMENT FITTING DAYS

May 30 (2:00 – 6:00 pm)

June 18 (2:00 – 6:00 pm)

July 24 (2:00 – 6:00 pm)

July 27 (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)

DETROIT PUTTER COMPANY

May 16 (3:00 – 6:00 pm)

MINZUNO

June 8 (12:00 – 4:00 pm)

NEVER COMPROMISE PUTTERS

April 25 (3:00 – 6:00 pm)

TAYLOR MADE

May 23 (2:00 – 6:00 pm)

TITLEIST

May 18 (12:00 – 4:00 pm)

TOUR EDGE

May 11 (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)

XXIO

May 31 (1:00 – 5:00 pm)

July 27 (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)

12| The Birchbark | MAY 2024
Brian Sleeman PGA Head Professional BETTINARDI PUTTERS TBD

OLCC GOLF

CADDIE CORNER

We are pleased to share that Orchard Lake caddie Alex Broadwater was awarded the Evans Scholarship this past winter. Please see his letter below for an update from Alex:

Dear Orchard Lake Country Club,

My name is Alexander Broadwater, and I have recently been awarded the Evans Scholarship I have caddied here at Orchard Lake for the past 5 summers, totaling over 350 loops Currently, I study business administration and German through the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. The Evans Scholarship will be a great way to relieve the financial burden of paying for tuition, as well as housing The opportunities and network that I wi ll gain as an Evans Scholar will also be invaluable to my future success as a business professional.

This past year, I was a diver for the University of Michigan’s Swimming & Diving team. The many hours that I put into training made it a difficult, but feasible challenge to maintain academic and athletic excellence throughout my freshman year.

During my time at the University of Michigan, I plan to join consulting and real estate clubs, as well as to focus my studies on those respective areas. Outside of my studies, I am employed as both a Senior Writer for AI model training with Outlier, and a PhD Classroom Consultant for doctoral programs at the Ross School of Business.

I would like to thank every member and staff, especially those who I have worked with, for their donations and growing support towards the Evans Scholar Foundation. This wonderful opportunity would not have been possible with your help!

Go Blue!

Ross School of Business - Class of 2027

Ross Doctoral Programs - Classroom Consultant

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 13

Winter Racquets Recap

A Letter From the Pro

What a great month of events and ladder play we had in March at the paddle courts. We hosted both the Men’s/Women’s Member/Guest and had both Club Championships. They said Ladies first so let’s start with them.

We had a field of 12 teams for the Ladies Member/Guest and we divided them into two different flights. In the good flight Gina Morgan and her guest Nicole Serraiocco were just too strong for the rest of the field going 5-0 on the day and taking home first place. In the Topflight Kelly Cook and her guest Julie Garcia were a little too much to handle for the rest of the field with patience and steady play they were able to outlast their competition and go 5-0 on the day as well.

For the Ladies Club Championship, we had 20 ladies sign up to participate. With breaking them into two different flights we had some great paddle played. In the B flight it looked like Jenn Spencer and Carrie Way were on their way to a club championship after sweeping the play in the round robin. But in the finals, Lindsey Barnett and Sarah Shaw came back revenging an earlier loss in the day to take home the championship for the B flight. In the A flight we had some very close battles in the round robin play with two teams just a little bit stronger than the rest of the field. Heather Tallinger and Jennifer O’Farrill Diaz vs Jessica McCullah and Abby Gordon clashed in the finals. Playing on court 2 in the middle of the afternoon can be a little tricky with the sun but all four of them handled it like the pro’s they are. They battled in a 2 out of 3 set match that lasted close to 2 hours of play with Heather and Jennifer making the right plays at the right time and came out on top. Congratulations to Heather and Jennifer on winning their first club championship.

On to the Men and their events. We had great weather for the Men’s Member/Guest and the play was up for it. We were able to field three different flights with a total of 20 teams playing. We will start off in the good flight where there were 8 strong

teams and everyone got 3 matches in, but there were two teams that stood above the rest and they did meet in the finals Karl Schwartz and his guest Geoffrey Sale played Robby Wilson and his guest Chris Spangler. Unfortunately, the young guns were just a little stronger and won the final 8-4. In the B flight Drew Janney and his guest Griffin Nienberg sweep away the competition by out lasting Todd Peterson and his guest Bill Smith in the finals 8-3. In the A flight with had 5 really good teams and one very great team Brandon Finkel and his guest Dave Robare took care of business and walked away the champs.

In the Club Championship it was a different day different year but same result Jack McNaughton and Kyle Eick were just to strong for the fourth straight year in a row. A little nerves in the first match vs Todd Peterson and Steve Lord but then the settled in and took down Brandon Finkel and Mike Barnett in the finals 6-1 6-4. In the second flight Chris Oben and Robby Wilson avenged and early lost to Dan de Varona and Jonathan Stoneback in the finals. Dan and Jon got them earlier in the day but Chris and Robby won when it mattered the most in the finals. In the C flight Jeff Dziuba and David Smith Jr. won there first club championship together defeating Karl Schwartz and Craig Weingarten 8-5 in the finals.

Shifting grears to the Junior Tennis and Adult Tennis programs for the summer. If you saw in the last birchbark we did some shifting with the junior sports times. That was to allow more time in-between classes and all help with opening the hard tennis courts earlier for pickleball. The Junior Tennis schedule is listed below. Please note that my and the OLCC tennis staff will do everything we can to help with making each kid experience at the tennis courts the best it can be. Along with letting different age players come to different classes if it best fits them and if they need to do a make-up class. The staff and I do the best we can to break kids up by ability and teach skills to all levels of players in the program. Believe it or not we at the tennis courts want everyone to enjoy themselves and get better. The Junior program is as follows.

3-6 years old’s is the ankle biter programs- don’t let the name fool you these kids get after it. Playing on the smaller courts and learning eye-hand coordination. We want to let these kids grow on the tennis court and help them with their confidence

14| The Birchbark | MAY 2024 OLCC BB
RACQUETS
Lincoln Wirgau, USPTA

OLCC RACQUETS

on the court. There are two different times for these future starts, and it is based on age. 8:30-9:15am is for the 3-6 years old’s and 9:15-10am is for the 5–6-year-old kids. This program takes place Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday and is charged daily.

The 13 and up’s will practice from 10-11:30am on Tuesday/ Wednesday/Thursday with match play on Fridays. One of the bigger goals the racquets committee and myself came up with was making the tennis program more competitive for all levels. We want to be able to take the newest kids and the kids that have been playing for 15 years and make them better. We as coaches want nothing more than to watch you kids learn to love the game of tennis and learn to love to compete at the same time.

From 11:45-1:15pm we will have the 7-10 year old kids. We will use a mix of the red/orange/green dot balls for this level of class working to help with their skills and getting them ready for match play. This class will be offered Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday with matches on Friday. The coaching staff and I want each of these students to be able to rally and keep score by the end of the session. Each kid will work with the different kind of tennis balls to help with their ability to learn to control and structure a point.

From 1:45-3:15pm we will have the 11–12-year-old. This group will train on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday with match play on Fridays. This group will focus on match strategy and trying to figure out how to play doubles and be a part of a team, along with working on the correct form.

The Adult Tennis Schedule for the summer.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from 9-10am we will run the Cardio Tennis for All levels. This is a big hit if you are looking to get back into the game or you have been playing for years or even decades. It is a great way to grab a friend run around and listen to average music while you do it. We spend the first 2530 minutes watching everyone run around and then the last 30 minutes competing with level-based games.

On Tuesday evenings Keri will offer an adult beginner class from 5:30-6:30 and then her famous Drill and Play from 6:30-8pm. Keri’s Drill and Play is for intermediate players and up. She will focus and a certain shot for the first 30 minutes followed by point play for 30 minutes then match play for the

last 30 minutes.

Wednesday evenings we will have Ladies Night from 6-7:30pm along with Men’s Night from 6:30-8pm. After play we hope everyone sticks around for an adult drink on the tennis patio.

New this year we will offer Thursday night Couples Play for Tennis. This will be level based mixed doubles or if the sign up calls for it we will do normal doubles. With drinks and snacks on the tennis patio after play.

Friday morning, we will run the Ladies Clinics. These clinics are level based depending on time and are more structed with teaching and training. This is a little bit of a slower class where the coaches will bring you in and help with stroke performance and look to add something new or sharpen part of your game.

9-10:30am is for the USTA ranked 3.0 and below players 10:30-12pm is for the USTA ranked 3.5+ players. If you have questions on your level of play, please ask Lincoln Wirgau.

Saturday and Sunday mornings will look similar. On Saturday we will run the Cardio N Play for the 3.5+ USTA players from 8:30-10am. From 10-11am we will have cardio for all levels. From 11-12pm we will offer an adult beginner class for those just getting back into the game and want to feel a little more comfortable on the tennis court.

Sunday morning, we will run the Cardio N Play for all levels from 8:30-10am followed by 10-11am cardio for adults and high school kids. This is a great way to watch some of the parent’s yell at their kids for not running to the ball. One of my favorite classes in the summertime. From 11am-12pm we will off and Adult Intermediate teaching class.

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 15

2024 WOMEN'S PADDLE CLUB CHAM PIONSHIP

16| The Birchbark | MAY 2024
OLCC
OLCC BB RACQUETS
Ladies Member Guest A Flight Winners Ladies Member Guest B flight Winners A Flgiht Champions B Flgiht Champions

OLCC RACQUETS

2024 MENS PADDLE CLUB CHAM PIONSHIP

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 17
OLCC
B Flight Winners C Flight Winners A FLight Championship A Flgiht Winners

OLCC BB RACQUETS

Men's Member Guest Paddle Championship Flight Winners

Pickleball Info 2024

As we are looking forward to the spring, we are also looking to the first real season of pickleball at OLCC. With tennis courts 1 and 2 switching from clay courts to hard courts it gives the racquet players more options at OLCC and we are excited for it. Once this project is complete, we will be able to start the season earlier and end later with the hard courts. We will still have 6 tennis courts but on top of the 2 hard courts we will be adding pickleball lines so members can play Pickle/Paddle/Tennis in the spring/ summer/fall months.

One big thing we must remember when playing pickleball since it is on the tennis courts, we will need to be in TENNIS WHITES once we step foot on the hard courts. So, make sure you get your TENNIS WHITES for pickleball this summer. The schedule for pickleball classes and open play are listed below. Please note that during the Junior Tennis hours we will be using them for tennis. With that being said we will offer clinics and open plays on Mondays to help offset the time lost on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday mornings during the junior Tennis programs.

On Monday and Fridays, we will be offering Pickleball Drill and Play. This will be a 45-minute instruction followed by 45 minutes of play. From 9-10:30am on both days it will be for the Intermediate and Advance levels. From 10:30-12pm it will be for ALL LEVELS of pickleball players.

Tuesday and Thursday evenings we will have pickleball and drinks from 5:30-8pm. You can come and play for a while have a cocktail and then play again anytime during that period of play. Bring a friend or show up alone we will find a group for you.

Saturday and Sunday mornings we will have coffee and bagels open play at the pickle courts from 8:30-10:30am for ALL LEVELS. Following open play starting at 11am-12pm we will have clinics for ALL LEVES.

On Saturday and Sundays, we will also be offering Junior Pickleball classes for the kids 11 and up who are interested in learning the game. On Saturday we will offer kids 11 and up from 12-1:30pm. On Sunday from 12-1:30pm we will have high school kids and adult clinic and play. This a chance for families to come and take on their high school kids in pickleball.

For all clinics and open play’s you will need to sign up online through the OLCC website.

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Member Guest A Flight Member Guest B Flight Member Guest C Flight

OLCC RACQUETS

2024 Junior Interclub Tennis Finals are hosted by OLCC this summer!

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 19

SAILING

OLCC Sailing News 24'

Although Punxsutawney Phil lied to us this year and said we’d have an early spring, the snow is melting again and the summer season at OLCC is right around the corner. This upcoming month the dock will be put back in, we will dust off the fleet, and welcome in some new additions down at the waterfront. Last week we were able to acquire quite the upgrade for our kayaks, and this year we will have five brand new Hobie Mirage Passport kayaks equipped with an easy-to-use steering system and twist-and-stow rudder. This is an especially exciting upgrade as we continue to make the waterfront an ever-evolving facet of the club, and support our commitment to facilitating new and exciting experiences down at the waterfront.

We are bringing in many brand new staff, as well as welcoming back some returning staff this month. Some familiar faces will be Bobby Jones, Amelia Rinehart, Claire Rubel, Evan Watson, Ben Clinger, and Max Murphy, who will all be excitingly returning this year. Some new faces will include Connor Philip, Bode and Hudson Kindt, Cameron Coffey, and Luke Rinehart.

We are so lucky to be a part of a program that brings so much joy to our members while also being a place for everyone to learn new skills, meet new people, and step out of their comfort zone. With our new and returning staff this year we will continue to uphold the highest expectations so we may continue creating a safe and supportive environment for everyone.

The 2024 calendar has been published so mark yours for all of our regattas and opening days. We are looking to implement a July Fourth Regatta and schedule one or two interclub regattas with Crescent Sail Yacht Club, so keep an eye out for updates on when they will be!

For those who may be interested in sailing down at the waterfront but are unsure if they are ready to hop in a boat and race just yet, we will be implementing a new option to observe our regattas from the comfort of our TriToons! Securing a spot to watch your peers compete will be reserved on a first come-first serve basis, so come on down to the dock at noon the day of a regatta to get in on this exciting new experience - come see first hand what it's like to be out on the water during a race day!

Every week we get closer and closer to being back together at Orchard Lake, and we are all looking forward to another great year together!

See you at the dock!

20| The Birchbark | MAY 2024 OLCC BB
Paige Loskill Waterfront/Sailing Director

A Letter From Doug Irey From the Pool Deck

The weather has broken and we are well on our way to summer, the 2024 edition! Before we know it we will be vacuuming the pool and getting the Pool Deck, Waterfront, and Lakehouse ready to welcome the membership back for another wonderful season, and the memories that await this summer. I am really looking forward to once again seeing the Pool and Waterfront busy with families enjoying one of the features that makes Orchard Lake truly unique as a private club.

This year we are looking forward to improving on previous seasons while still providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This year will undoubtedly be different with the departure of Bruce Lilley however, adding an experienced and passionate person such as Paige Loskill to be our Sailing Director who has some new ideas for the sailing program will help ensure all ages of the membership enjoy their time both by and out on the water.

Speaking of staffing, I am currently putting the finishing touches on an attentive, personable, and professional staff for the summer. Starting my sixth season here at Orchard Lake I am proud of the strides that we have made over that time span, but also excited to continually meet new challenges. We anxiously await welcoming the membership back to the Pool and Waterfront starting May 25th.

Please note the following important dates:

• Rookies Swim Program Tuesday, June 18th through Friday June 28th.

• This summer the Blue Carp will have HOME meets on Sunday, June 23rd and Sunday, July 14th.

• The annual OLCC Mini-Meet will be in the morning Friday July 12th.

I hope to see you and your guests at the Pool and Waterfront this summer and encourage you to attend one of the many events that we have planned. We hope that every one of the members will come down and take in the beautiful view that we have overlooking the lake, enjoy warm weather, and relax in the enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere down at the lake. As always, we strive to provide you with a safe, friendly, and clean facility to make memories at. My staff and I look forward to seeing the membership again soon!

Swimmingly Yours,

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 21
OLCC SWIM

BLUE CARP SWIMMING

Join us on June 21 as we celebrate Coach Kevin's remarkable 40th swim season at OLCC!

Let's gather to thank him for his dedication, leadership, and his enduring love for our OLCC swimmers. Let's toast to many more years of OLCC coaching and lifelong memories!

22| The Birchbark | MAY 2024 OLCC BB SWIM

2024 OLCC SWIM TEAM SCHEDULE

may

Mon., 1 – Fri., June 9 Spring Tune Up @ Cranbrook

june

June 16 Blue vs. White Meet (team time trials- morning)

June 7 OLCC Swim Team Kick-off Party!

June 14 13+ age group meet, “Pontchartrain Relays” @ DGC

June 18 Rookies Program (June 18-28)

June 21 9/10 age group meet, “Rising Stars” @ BCC

June 23 PLCC @ OLCC

June 26 OLCC @ FLCC

June 28 11/12 age group meet, “Gator Bowl” @ FLCC

july

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)

august

Aug 2-3 A Finals Preliminaries @ BCC

september

Sept 8 OLCC Swim Team End of the Season Banquet

rookies

Rookies is a free swimming lesson program that the swimming staff offers at the  beginning of the summer season. It serves to introduce children ages 3-6 to the lifeguarding and coaching staff, to acclimate them to the pool, and to improve their swimming skills.

Swimmers will be grouped by age and groups will be fluid as we see their skills and comfort level. The program is offered from 12:0012:30 Tuesdays through Fridays June 18-28.

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 23
OLCC SWIM
24| The Birchbark | MAY 2024
OLCC BB CALENDAR

OLCC CALENDAR

MAY 2024 | The Birchbark | 25
Club 5000 W. Shore Drive
PRESORTED FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI PERMIT NO. 964
Orchard Lake Country
Orchard Lake, MI 48324

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