2023 Sept/Oct Birchbark

The

Birchbark

A N O R C H A R D L A K E CO U N T R Y C LU B P U B L I C AT I O N FA L L 2 0 2 3

Inside

SAVE THE DATE PAGE 2 GOLF PAGE 10 CALENDAR SEPT/OCT PAGE 25-26

BB OLCC

2023 Save the Dates September 2-3 3 3-4 4 13 15 24

Family Camp Out Red, White and Blue Golf Tournament Commodores Cup regatta Labor Day Surf and Turf Buffet Past Governors’ Golf and Dinner The Ward Cup Colt and Alison Member/Member

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Paddle Opening Day

October 1 2 3 6 7 8 14 14 19 22 25 27 28

OLCC Family 5k Men’s Paddle League Begins Ladies Paddle League Begins Glow Golf Saturday Paddle Clinics Begin Kid’s Etiquette Class Haggis Cup Country Western Night Murder Mystery Dinner Family Halloween Party Caddie Banquet Fall Wine Tasting HAIG

November 10 23 29 30

Daddy Daughter Dance Thanksgiving Buffet Ladies Holiday Boutique Ladies Holiday Boutique

December 2 3 7 8 9 17

Santa Brunch Santa Brunch Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch Buffet Christmas Cheer Going Out with a Bang!

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Club Hours of Operation

A La Carte Dining SEPTEMBER Wednesday - Saturday Lunch: 11am-3pm Dinner: 5pm-9pm Sunday Brunch: 11am-2:30pm Sunday Dinner: 5pm-8pm

Golf Shop Hours SEPTEMBER Tuesday - Friday 8:00am-7:00pm Saturday & Sunday 7:30am-7:00pm

Golf Shop Hours OCTOBER Tuesday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Saturday & Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm

Contents 2023 Board of Governors President Steve Dailey Vice President Mark George Treasurer Eric Schwab Secretary John Higgins Girls Night Out at the Lake 2023

Katie Izzo

CLUB NEWS

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Governors Jim Gatward Bob Sullivan

MEMBERSHIP

Gregg Speaks Matt Pappas

GOLF & SPORTS

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General Manager Peter Swick

GOLF RAQUETS

CALENDAR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Orchard Lake Country Club 500 W. Shore Drive Orchard Lake, MI 48324 The Birchbark Managing Editor: Nicole Petrone

Design: Jennifer Spencer

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BB OLCC 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

Nathalie Fregonara Banquet Manager nfregonara@orchardlakecc.com Tom Kruszewski Fitness Director tkruszewski@orchardlakecc.com

Doug Ganhs Executive Chef chef@orchardlakecc.com Sarah Harris Catering Director sharris@orchardlakecc.com

Brian Sleeman PGA Head Professional bsleeman@orchardlakecc.com Aaron McMaster Green Superindendant amcmaster@orchardlakecc.com John Gilbert Golf Services Manager jgilbert@orchardlakecc.com

Lincoln Wirgau Racquets Director lwirgau@orchardlakecc.com

Lakefront Kevin Fogarty Swim Team Coach

Atara Krakoff Assistant Catering Director akrakoff@orchardlakecc.com

Doug Irey Pool Manager

Greg Stangis Food & Beverage Director gstangis@orchardlakecc.com

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

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DIRECT PHONE NUMBERS 2023

Golf Operations

Racquet Sports Hospitality

Orchard Lake Country Club

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

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

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BB OLCC EVENTS

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OLCC DINING

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

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BB OLCC CATERING

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

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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

OLCC FITNESS

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.

Tom Kruszewsk Fitness Director

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

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BB OLCC EVENTS

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OLCC GOLF

Golf News A Letter From The Pro

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.

Brian Sleeman PGA Head Professional

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

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BB OLCC GOLF 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

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OLCCGOLF 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)

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BB OLCC 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

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Men’s Club Champion Christian Allen

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

OLCC GOLF 2023 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Girls Ages 5-6 – Kenzie Rock

Girls Ages 7-8 – Rory Doescher

Girls Ages 9-10 – Ivy Honer

Girls Ages 11-12 – Gigi Giudici

Girls Champion – Brianna Giudici Boys Champion – Asher Langwell

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BB OLCC GOLF

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

Boys Ages 7-8 – Angelo Palazeti

Boys Ages 9-10 – Robbie Izzo

Boys Ages 11-12 – Teddy Izzo

Boys Ages 13-14 – Charlie Borio

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OLCCGOLF 2023 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND Continued

Men’s Young Adult – Ethan Oblak

Women’s Net – Abby Gordon

Men’s Flight 3 – Patrick Fishman

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

Men’s Flight 2 – Alex Williams

Men’s Flight 4 – Scott Salzeider

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BB OLCCGOLF FAMILY SCRAMBLE

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

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OLCCGOLF 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

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BB OLCC 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.

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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

OLCC RACQUETS

Interclub Tennis Finals Junior Interclub Program Results

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.

Lincoln Wirgau, USPTA

Director of Racquets

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

Champions:

Finalists:

Karishma Vakhariya Girls 12's Singles

Matthew Chon Boys 10's Singles

Bebe Wyzykowski/Gigi Giudici Girls 12's Doubles

Matthew McKany/Abhi Batra Boys 12's Doubles

Noah Kemp Boys 10's Singles

Ellie Wyzykowski Girls 18's Singles

Kavin Lala Boys 12's Singles

Yana Higgins Girls 14's Singles

Paddle News 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.

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BB OLCC RACQUETS

Matthew McKany/Abhi Batra

Ellie Wyzykowski

Bebe Wyzykowski/Gigi Giudici

Kavin Lala

Noah Kemp

Matthew Chon

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OLCC RACQUETS

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

Girls 14's

Lillian Zahnow- Champion Grace Clopton- Runner Up

Charlotte Cook- Champion Yana Higgins- Runner Up

Boys 10's

Boys 14's

Noah Kemp- Champion Matthew Chon- Runner Up

Jacob Finkel- Champion Benjamin McKany- Runner Up

Girls 12's

Girls 18's

Karishma Vakhariya- Champion Sofia McKany- Runner Up

Anna Olekszyk- Champion

Boys 12's

Boys 18's

Rithik Vakhariya-Champion Noah Kemp- Runner Up

Frank Salzeider- Champion Braeden Spencer- Runner Up

2023

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BB OLCC EVENTS

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OLCCCALENDAR

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BB OLCCCALENDAR

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Orchard Lake Country Club 5000 W. Shore Drive Orchard Lake, MI 48324

PRESORTED FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI PERMIT NO. 964