2023 Sept/Oct Birchbark

The Birchbark

SAVE THE DATE PAGE 2

GOLF PAGE 10

CALENDAR SEPT/OCT PAGE 25-26

2023 Board of Governors

President

Steve Dailey

Vice President

Mark George

Treasurer

Eric Schwab

Secretary

John Higgins

Governors

Katie Izzo

Jim Gatward

Bob Sullivan

Gregg Speaks

Matt Pappas

General Manager

Peter Swick

Girls

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

Doug Ganhs Executive Chef chef@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

Tom Kruszewski Fitness Director tkruszewski@orchardlakecc.com

Golf Operations

Brian Sleeman PGA Head Professional bsleeman@orchardlakecc.com

Aaron McMaster Green Superindendant amcmaster@orchardlakecc.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

Bruce Lilley Waterfront/Sailing Center Director blilley@orchardlakecc.com

DIRECT PHONE NUMBERS 2023

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

Orchard Lake Country Club

Welcome New Members

Junior A Membership

Charley Frederick

CDW – Account Manager-Healthcare

Not Pictured:

Social Membership

Dr. Ammar & Ola Taha

Interventional Neuro-Radiologist –Neuroradiologist/Medical Legal Consultant

Children: Maya, Omar

Social Membership

Santa Ono & Gwendolyn Yip

University of Michigan - President

Children: Juliana, Sarah

Social Membership

Judith Kramer

Retired

OLCC BB EVENTS

From the Kitchen

A letter from Chef Doug

Doug Ganhs, CEC Executive Chef

We have completed another busy summer here at the club, and I am proud to say that it was our best in my five years. The food and beverage team worked well together and pushed our teams to the next level. I am amazed every year by the staff at the Lake house. This staff is comprised of mostly high school and college students. Many of these students work here at the club to help pay for college and it is rewarding to see them return to their studies at the end of the season. We have a few employees that will use their time at the Lakehouse to move forward in the culinary profession, but most have other plans. You may ask why we do not hire more culinary friendly staff that want to make this their profession. It certainly makes sense to me that a culinary student would be a valuable asset. The unfortunate fact is that we would not have a home for them at the end of the summer, and most would rather go to work in a restaurant that is open year-round. We do our very best to try and keep a couple Lakehouse employees through the entire season, but it is difficult to find enough work outside of the summer months.

I think the leadership of Ervice Gregory the past few years has been extremely impressive. She develops a new group of employees every summer with the help of a handful of returning staff. She has the task of training them how to cook, clean, place orders in the point of sales system and most importantly, she teaches them how to be professional, kind and courteous. Many of these new summer employees have never even worked in the restaurant business. They complete about a week of fast paced training due to their schooling and hit Memorial Day running. They are forced to learn and understand the fast-paced and chaotic restaurant business. The Lakehouse has turned into one of the busiest food service outlets here at the club and I am amazed what these young students can accomplish in such a short time. Thank you so much to Ervice Gregory, Joe Godell, Brett Kovak, Brooklynn Gregory, and Lindsey Kuhn for all of your leadership and hard work at the Lakehouse this summer, Great Job!

Chef Doug Ganhs CEC, Executive Chef

Catering Happenings

A letter from our catering department

Sarah Harris & Atara Krakoff Catering

The spirit of summer continues to shine brightly at our club as we think back to not just one, but two incredibly successful family camp outs. We couldn't be happier to share these heartwarming experiences with all of you, making cherished memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. The atmosphere was electric, with an air of anticipation and familiarity as families set up their camp spots. As the evening unfolded, it was evident that this camp out was about more than just camping; it was a celebration of community and belonging. So, to all who joined us on these magical camp-out adventures, thank you! Your presence and participation enriched the experience for everyone, and we can't wait to see you again as we continue to explore and celebrate the joy of togetherness in the great outdoors. Until then, happy camping!

Our tropical themed “End of Summer Party” was the pinnacle of the season, a spectacular event that brought everyone together for a bittersweet farewell to the warmer months. The festivities were nothing short of extraordinary, with a dazzling array of entertainment that left everyone in awe. From the steel drums to the live hula dancers and fire breathers, the party was a true celebration of the excellent summer we have had.

As the leaves start to change color and the crisp autumn breeze fills the air, we are thrilled to announce an exciting lineup of events coming to the club this fall. Get ready to mark your calendars, because we have prepared three fantastic evenings that promise to be filled with laughter, mystery, and heartwarming moments.

On October 14th, saddle up and put on your best cowboy boots because we are having our very own Country Western Night. The club will transform into a Wild West wonderland, complete with rustic decorations, hay bales, and country tunes that will make you want to do-si-do all night long. Grab your partner, or find one on the dance floor, as we

line dance and two-step our way into the night. The evening will feature live country music performances alongside mouthwatering Southern cuisine.

On October 19th, Step into the world of intrigue and suspense as we host our Murder Mystery Night. Get ready to channel your inner detective and solve a puzzling crime that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As you arrive at the club, you'll be greeted by a cast of mysterious characters, each with their own secrets and motives. Throughout the night, clues will be revealed, and it's up to you and your fellow sleuths to piece together the puzzle and unmask the culprit. Last but not least, for all the proud fathers out there, mark November 10th on your calendars because it's time for the Daddy Daughter Dance. This heartwarming event is an opportunity for fathers and their little princesses to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime. The ballroom will be adorned with elegant decorations, setting the stage for an enchanting evening. Fathers and daughters will dance the night away, creating special moments of love and laughter.

Atara and I have been working tirelessly to plan these events, and we can promise you that each one of these nights will be an experience to remember. Be sure to join us at the club for a fall season filled with fun, excitement, and unforgettable moments.

As we bid adieu to this fantastic summer, we can't help but feel grateful for the memories it has bestowed upon us. Whether you hosted a wedding, baby shower, bridal shower, or enjoyed a picnic down by the lake, we want to thank you for bringing so much excitement and activity to our club. Atara and I have truly enjoyed helping you plan these important events and look forward to all that is still to come this year. We can’t wait for the rest of what 2023 has in store!

Sarah Harris & Atara Krakoff OLCC Catering

Fitness Update

The OLCC Run the Lake 5K is right around the corner! For those of you who continue to say, "I'm not a runner," that's okay. More than half of the participants last year walked the event. October 1st is going to be a beautiful morning for a run or a walk. Bring the whole family out for the event featuring a route around the club property with views of the golf course and lake. All participants receive t-shirts, finisher's medals and breakfast afterwards.

Registration for the event is open until and including the day of the run. In order to receive your t-shirt on the day of, you must register by September 12th. Anyone registering after this will get their shirt three weeks after the event. This is also the deadline to ensure your sponsorship name will appear on race materials. We have multiple sponsorship opportunities available. Net proceeds from the event go directly to benefiting The First Tee of Greater Detroit. www.runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/OrchardLake/RuntheLake5K

Run the Lake 5K

The Run the Lake 5K is on Sunday October 1, 2023. It includes the following events: Run the Lake 5K and Kid's Fun Run.

runsignup.com

Tom Kruszewsk Fitness Director

OLCC BB EVENTS

A Letter From The Pro Golf News

Mother Nature wasn’t always cooperative, but despite the occasional ill-timed thunderstorm, it’s been another great summer at Orchard Lake! With ideal fall conditions in our future, there are plentiful opportunities ahead to get out and enjoy the golf course with your family and friends.

Part of that appeal lies in a mix of programs to enjoy with your fellow club members and invited guests, including the fall session of Men’s League and the return of our popular “Ladies’ Night Out” Golf 101 series. Following another fully subscribed Nine, Wine & Dine on September 1, we’ll jump straight into Labor Day weekend and the Red, White & Blue event. We host the GAM Senior Championship on September 11-12, where the top seniors in the state will take to the fairways alongside some of our members hoping to take advantage of being on home turf. These include Ed Borio, Rick Herpich, Stephen Lord, Greg Davies, and Mark Arthurs. Best of luck, gentlemen!

The Ward Cup – our one-day men’s member-guest – follows on Friday, September 15, offering a premium 27-hole experience with three different formats across the day. The Colt & Alison Fall Member-Member is on September 24, featuring 27 holes of competition as well, and our Women’s Golf Closing Day will take place on September 28. This will be a fun opportunity to gather as a group one last time to celebrate the growth of the past season and look ahead as we plan out 2024 together. October brings with it some cooler temperatures but more fun and games, as the ever-popular Glow Golf event brings out the child in everyone on October 6, and the Hard As It Gets (HAIG) event sets the golf course up for an incredible challenge on October 29.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for our annual Caddie Banquet on October 25, where we’ll honor our top 25 caddies from the past season and welcome them and their parents for an enjoyable evening at the club. Member attendance always adds to the atmosphere and offers the chance to meet and mingle with the young men and women who add to our golf experience each year. If you are unable to attend but would like to show your support, please contact me and be on the lookout for additional details as the date approaches.

Our team is here to help you make the most of it all, from lessons and late season club-fittings to helping you with any of your early holiday shopping needs. We’re looking forward to another great fall season and sharing it with all of you!

Brian Sleeman

PGA Head Professional

Brian Sleeman

PGA Head Professional

2023 BLUE COAT INVITATIONAL RESULTS

Overall Champions: Brandon Finkel & Danny Zack

FLIGHT WINNERS

Orchard Lake CC Flight: John Higgins & Zack Anderson

Pine Valley GC Flight: Craig Valassis & Robert Kilbridge

Sea Island GC Flight: Steve Gantz & Billy Marudas

CC of Detroit Flight: Brad Spencer & Chris Gessner

Milwaukee CC Flight: Don Lough & Paul Lattanzio

Bob O’Link GC Flight: Loren Baidas & Wade Stufft

Royal Portrush GC Flight: Byron Trerice III & Chris Trerice

Muirfield GC Flight: James Goran & Rick Nini

Sunningdale GC Flight: David Lydy & DJ Lydy

Rye GC Flight: Bob Sullivan & Sam Phillips

Royal Lytham GC Flight: Sidhdharth Sheth & Glen Ringwall

2023 ORCHARD LAKE INVITATIONAL Tournament Results

Flight 1

1st Place - Jen O'Farrill Diaz/Nicci McClelland (-6)

2nd Place - Kristyn Cousino/Amy Stupak (-5)

3rd Place - Tegan Higgins/Tiffany Dietz (-5)

Flight 2

1st Place - Susan Graham/Kim Liddle (-9)

2nd Place - Sarah Gasper/Meghan Macdonald (-5)

3rd Place - Missy Mark/Mary Koshorek (-4)

Flight 3

1st Place - Kristen Palazeti/Louisa Ritchlin (-6)

2nd Place - Barbara Blain/Aleks Raven (-6)

3rd Place - Valerie Leebove/Susan Belen (-5)

Flight 4

1st Place - Cindy White/Susan Lucken (-8)

2nd Place - Alaina Finkel/Amy Perlman (-2)

3rd Place - Surita Chaudhry/Stacey Latona (-2)

OLCC BB GOLF

2023 SOLHEIM CUP

Our first ever internal Solheim Cup took place on August 10, featuring blue and white teams playing two ninehole team matches across the day (one a better ball, the other a scramble) with one point on the line for each match. Team Blue walked away the winners, but not before collecting their cash prizes. Their captain was Nicole Lough, and she was joined by Kay Albertie, Janet Murray, Surita Chaudhary, Courtney Tursi, Sally Smith, Kelly Winkler-Patterson, Carmen Goldstein, Jennie Fox, Tracy Woods, Judy Dunn, and Stephanie Gasper. Congratulations, ladies, and thank you to all of our players for making it a great first year. The White Team will be back for revenge in 2024!

2023 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Women’s Club Champion Trish Hughes

Men’s Club Champion Christian Allen

Men’s Flight 1 – Ken Landini (Not Pictured)

2023 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Boys Champion – Asher Langwell

Girls Ages 7-8 – Rory Doescher

Girls Champion – Brianna Giudici

Girls Ages 11-12 – Gigi Giudici

Girls Ages 5-6 – Kenzie Rock

GOLF

Boys Ages 9-10 – Robbie Izzo

Boys Ages 13-14 – Charlie Borio

Boys Ages 11-12 – Teddy Izzo

Boys Ages 5-6 – Jamie Blain & Greyson Cummings (Tied)

Boys Ages 7-8 – Angelo Palazeti

2023 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND Continued

Men’s Young Adult – Ethan Oblak

Women’s Young Adult –Amanda Sooch (Not Pictured)

Men’s Flight 2 – Alex Williams

Men’s Flight 3 – Patrick Fishman

Men’s Flight 4 – Scott Salzeider

Women’s Net – Abby Gordon

GOLF

Our first ever Family Scramble event was on Sunday, August 20, and brought together 16 teams of family members of all ages for some fun and creativity, with nine holes featuring a variety of outside-the-box approaches to golf including tennis racquets, a switch-hitter putting competition, and a roll of the dice to assign a club for tee shots. The weather was cooperative and plenty of laughs were in store for the players, followed by a casual late summer dinner in the Golf Grill. This is sure to grow in 2024 and we hope you’ll join in the fun and games!

RALPH DAILEY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Overall & Sophomore Champion: Byron Trerice III

Freshmen Flight – Patrick Fishman

Junior Flight – Sudhir Walavalkar

Senior Flight – David Littleton

MEMBER-CADDIE TOURNAMENT

Our inaugural Member-Caddie Tournament took place on August 2, bringing together members and caddies for a nine-hole scramble with bragging rights on the line and prizes for all of our caddie participants. We hope to grow this event year over year and our 2023 participants are already looking forward to 2024!

~ SAVE THE DATE – CADDIE BANQUET ~ OCTOBER 25 – 6:30 PM

OLCC BB SWIM

Dear Swimmers and Parents,

What a great finals weekend our swimmers had at BCC. Every one of our swimmers had a best time in their events, and many dropped several seconds. Next year’s finals will be August 2-3 at Pine Lake. Mark it on your calendars today! Even though we didn’t score the most points, we did have the most individual champions. That explains why our dual meet with Birmingham was so close, but they have greater depth in a championship format.

Our first places came from…

Jack Bassett (8 and under back and IM)

Will Schwab (11-12 back and IM)

Emme Taylor (8 and under IM and fly)

Tyler Bassett (9-10 breaststroke)

Will Quarrier (11-12 breaststroke)

Lukas Gatt (8 and under back and free)

Madison Knesek (9-10 fly)

Catherine Howe (11-12 fly —new team record — and free)

Mayer Krieger (15-17 fly)

Mackenzie Conway (15-17 free)

Jack Higgins (15-17 free—new team record!)

And our eight and under relays—the 100 Medley of Jack Bassett, Michael Giaier, Emme Taylor and Lexi Gatt and our 200 free relay of Mario LoCricchio, Rylee Helm, Brooke Seizert, and Lukas Gatt.

Our second place finishers…

Mayer Krieger (15-17 back)

Tyler Bassett (9-10 IM and a new team record!)

Madison Knesek (9-10 IM)

Jack Higgins (15-17 IM)

Hully Quarrier (13-14 breast and fly)

Michael Sawula (15-17 breast)

Mario LoCricchio (8 and under fly)

Beckham Leith (9-10 free)

Swimming is a huge commitment, but the rewards are great. We swam well because I had a stellar staff. Alexander, Mikayla, Josie and Paul provided excellent support.

And our directors—-Lisa and Chris Hopkins, Rachel and Bryan Leith, and Kara and Patrick Howe were exemplary in providing the incentives that kept our swimmers improving all summer.

We had so much fun — from the kick-off party, through the dual meets and age-groupinvitational season, to the spirit night pep rally and both championships—the directors made sure we were well-dressed and inspired. It was truly a memorable season!!! While we have a strong team, we do have some holes in the line-up. We need more 11-12 &; 13-14 year old boys, especially.

I wish you all well in the off-season. I know many of you will be continuing your swim careers at club teams and at your schools. Work hard!  Please remember to keep the spring tune-up in mind if you are a summer-only swimmer. It can really make a difference! The summer season is so short and while we make so much progress, I would do anything for a few more weeks. Thank you all for making it a really memorable season.

Your biggest cheerleader, Kevin

Interclub Tennis Finals

Junior Interclub Program Results Champions:

We had a fantastic eight weeks of tennis here at Orchard Lake Country Club. Over 260 kids participated in our program this year, all from ages 3-18. It was a pleasure to see the joy the kids drew from learning the game of tennis, all while having some fun. There were great strides and improvements to each and every kid, whether that be in their strokes, serves, or even their character.

Competitively, the 2023 season was a great success. Our Junior Team placed second overall at Interclub Finals, falling just 1.5 points shy of victory. Our players fought admirably for every last point. I am extremely proud of how each player performed.

Our very own Frank Salzeider also received an award at Finals for the best sportsmanship during the tournament. We are very proud of him.

Finalists:

Karishma Vakhariya Girls 12's Singles

Bebe Wyzykowski/Gigi Giudici Girls 12's Doubles

Noah Kemp Boys 10's Singles

Kavin Lala Boys 12's Singles

Paddle News

Matthew Chon Boys 10's Singles

Matthew McKany/Abhi Batra Boys 12's Doubles

Ellie Wyzykowski Girls 18's Singles

Yana Higgins Girls 14's Singles

We have another great season of paddle approaching! I am very excited to announce that Orchard Lake Country Club has been chosen to host the Grand Prix Platform Tennis Tournament this upcoming season. The tournament will take place on January 27th and 28th. Men's and Ladies night paddle will start the first week of October. Please look for an email from Lincoln regarding the signups.

Lincoln Wirgau, USPTA Director of Racquets

OLCC BB RACQUETS

Bebe Wyzykowski/Gigi Giudici

Matthew Chon

Ellie Wyzykowski

Noah Kemp

Matthew McKany/Abhi Batra

Kavin Lala

Club Championships

Junior Tennis Annual Battle for the Win

Our Boys and Girls Club Championships went very well this season. We had many kids participate and play some tough matches against their teammates.

Girls 10's

Lillian Zahnow- Champion

Grace Clopton- Runner Up

Boys 10's

Noah Kemp- Champion

Matthew Chon- Runner Up

Girls 12's

Karishma Vakhariya- Champion

Sofia McKany- Runner Up

Boys 12's

Rithik Vakhariya-Champion

Noah Kemp- Runner Up

Girls 14's

Charlotte Cook- Champion

Yana Higgins- Runner Up

Boys 14's

Jacob Finkel- Champion

Benjamin McKany- Runner Up

Girls 18's

Anna Olekszyk- Champion

Boys 18's

Frank Salzeider- Champion

Braeden Spencer- Runner Up

OLCC BB EVENTS

OLCC BB CALENDAR