EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SHARON
President
JOHN
Vice
ED
Secretary
Treasurer, Finance Chair
WILLIAM BOOTH
Executive
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANDREW
Recreations Chair
DANIEL COAR Legal Affairs Chair
DANIEL LUCKENBAUGH
Membership Chair
JAMES A. HORTY, III Clubhouse Chair
JEFFREY GOSNEAR Strategic Planning Co-Chair
KAREN
Centennial Chair
MIKE
PHILIP
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Several years ago, I went into a store to buy a birthday card for a friend and stopped in my tracks when I found this one, buying all that were for sale, and then framed one for my office. It said:
If you read my letter last year at this time, you will recall I included another picture from Ted Lasso’s quote, “Believe”, which was my theme that month. The one above is something I have used over and over again in my therapeutic work with people struggling, especially during the holidays, with estranged or missing family. I say, “You can’t choose your blood relatives, but you can choose your friends -- relationships you create that become your ‘chosen family’ who care deeply about you and help make your life better and you a better person.”
I am reminded of this idea during our holiday season at RBCC.I think of all the wonderful friends my husband, Barry, and I have made since we became Members and the relationships that have helped positively shape our transition here permanently from Metro DC. Our life has been made richer by so many of you and I deeply appreciate the kindness and support we have received, particularly in my time as President.
Gratitude is something that, to me, should be part of the fabric of this season. I remember going to church during Advent and the priest “challenging” us to write letters or say words expressing gratitude to those who serve us on a daily basis. I took the challenge and shared this with several people, including one who passed away a short time later, and can say it was an exercise I’ll never forget nor regret. I would encourage all of you to take on this challenge and consider ways to let your “chosen family” know how important they are to you!
Our chosen family for many of us at RBCC, also, includes the Talon Tribe. By now, you have received notification about the Holiday Gift Fund which provides a bonus to almost 60% of the staff we interact with regularly, as well as the over 40% of our staff who work hard behind the scenes. If you haven’t already donated, please consider a generous donation to express your gratitude for their service. In addition, the 1925 Eagle Foundation is gearing up to ask for “founding benefactors”, who will help give an ongoing legacy of support to the needs of our staff and the community and be recognized on a founding plaque. A separate communication will be sent to the membership regarding donor levels.
Sharon Covington Board President
I also want to direct you to review Board Briefs from our recent November meeting. It will give you an update on some of the many initiatives the Board continues to work on this year. We are making good progress through the hard work and collaborative efforts of a strong BOG, dedicated RBCC Committee Members, and the professional skills and talents of our Talon Tribe. It has been a “family” effort which I deeply appreciate.
Wishing you and your family -- chosen and blood-- good health, much happiness, and Peace on Earth throughout our coming Centennial year!
Carpiu "C" Chereches GM/COO
GENERAL MANAGER’S UPDATE
The month will be sprinkled with holidaythemed events for all ages and will culminate with the fireworks show on New Year’s Eve Gala as the event will mark the entrance into the Club’s Centennial. We kindly ask you to RSVP while there are still spots available. I can’t wait to experience all the special events throughout the next year and to get some of the centennial logoed clothing for my wardrobe (available soon, right Pat?).
More information as it becomes available will be shared with you through our publications and at our monthly Coffee with C, next Saturday, December 7 at 9:00 am. I hope to see you there and to see you around the Club.
Wishing you and your families Happy Holidays and a Happy Centennial Year!
For some reason, I don’t remember the Earth traveling this fast around the Sun, because it’s the end of another year already as this season flew by in a blink of an eye. But just before we can close the last chapter of our Club’s hundred-year history, we still have December It’s the time of the year when I really don’t have the words to thank you enough for your contributions towards the Talon Tribe Holiday Gift Fund, attesting to how much you appreciate and continue to support the Talon Tribe. Your generosity shows your immense gratitude and will put a smile on their faces, again; from all of us to you, a very warm thank you!
My holiday “gift” was Spaska’s CCM (Certified Club Manager) designation, as a recognition for her talent and dedication to this industry, to our Members and to the entire staffcongratulations!!!
Right after we successfully delivered some long-lasting family memories for this Thanksgiving, we quickly turned around and decked the halls for Christmas. Santa and Mrs. Claus were so impressed by how quickly we’ve flipped the Clubhouse from one season to the next, that they decided to stop by for Brunch on the very first day of December- so don’t miss it if you still want to make the Nice List this year!
It will mark the biggest milestone in the Club’s life and it will be the first year for the 1925 Eagle Foundation, which had an impressive first-ever Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk event that hosted almost 250 participants while raising funds, having fun and spreading the good cause we’re set to continue. Thank you to all who have donated so far, ran/walked in the 5K and enjoyed the event. We hope that it will continue to grow next year!
And while winter might mean colder weather and shorter days, as long as we’re continuing to elevate your experience, you’ll see the Tribe working on all kinds of off-season projects (and not just on budgets for next year). They’ll be on the golf course, around the Clubhouse and in the dining rooms preparing for the summer season. A big project that we weren’t expecting, but it’s now at our doorstep, are the draining pipes and tidal gates around the golf course that need immediate attention, significant project updates, and the cooperation of our neighbors and state agencies (DelDot) to remediate quickly and efficiently.
C's Poem of the Month
"How bittersweet it is, on winter's night, To listen, by the sputtering, smoking fire, As distant memories, through the fog-dimmed light, Rise, to the muffled chime of churchbell choir."
- Charles Baudelaire,The Cracked Bell
TALON TRIBE UPDATE
Thank you to all the Members who have donated already to the Talon Tribe Holiday Fund. We appreciate your generosity! If you haven’t yet contributed and are planning to, you can click this link to donate online, or send in a check by December 10. I wish you all a warm, healthy, and safe holiday season.
Bethany Ackerman Membership & Communications Director
MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS
Updates to Eagle Point
The Club will continue to send the monthly Eagle Point newsletter; however, the contents will be changing. Eagle Point will continue to be sent on the 1st of each month, and it will include information on two months’ worth of events and offerings at the Club. Bimonthly, the Club will send a new issue which will feature more stories about the history, people and current standing of the Club.
As we move into the holiday season of December and the days get colder, the team continues through the off-season reviewing what went well (WWW) and even better ifs (EBI) to help with planning for the following year. While there are many things that went well, there are also areas we’d like to improve for next year. Two of the areas we’d like to continue to improve upon is in targeted Member communication and the monthly newsletter.
Targeted Member Communication
The Club is now sending monthly updates for Golf, Racquets, Fitness and Food and Beverage. The schedule of updates is as follows:
Second Wednesday of the month: Fitness
Second Friday of the month: Racquets
Third Wednesday of the month: Golf
Third Friday of the month: F&B
If you’d like to receive any of these monthly updates, you will want to visit the Club website, under Member Central, My Subscriptions and select either Fitness Classes, Racquets, Golf or Food & Beverage. These updates will be informational including changes in operation, new offerings, upcoming events, improvements to Club operations, manager updates, etc. If you need help registering for subscriptions, contact Mary Venema for assistance.
We hope that by adding targeted Member communications and giving separate outlets for events to stories that you will tune in to all things RBCC! ...who knows, maybe a podcast will be in our future!
E m a i l S u b s c r i p t i o n s
Membership Report
WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS
Danial & Cynthia Anastasi Lisa Belasco
MEMBERSHIP CONSIDERATIONS
The following individuals are being considered for membership in Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Any communication concerning these nominations should be directed to the Chairperson of the Membership Committee or the Membership Director. Information shared will be considered confidential and will be protected.
Posting for a Social Membership:
David & Christy Giulieri of Potomac, MD and Bethany Beach, DE Sponsor: Chuck Brinsfield
Doug & Meghan Motley of Rehoboth Beach, DE Sponsor: Shaun Tull
COFFEE WITH C Join on December 7 BOARD UPDATE
Want to understand the key highlights from the Board meetings?
Don’t miss the Monthly Board Update which is sent via email the following Tuesday after a Board Meeting. Missed the email? That’s okay, it is also posted on the Members’ website. You can view all Board Updates by visiting “Club News” & “Board of Directors Updates.”
Jerry Schreck Food & Beverage Director
ALL THINGS FOOD & BEVERAGE
buffet offerings will also be available on the 8th, 22nd and 29th which will be $28 per adult and $15 per child.
“Prime Rib Night” will accompany our regular a la carte menu on Saturday, the 21. To finish off 2024 and ring in the New Year there will be two options to spend your New Year’s Eve at the Club. Downstairs will offer a $100 per person four course menu “Candlelit Dinner” from 5:30pm-7:30pm. The menu will include an Amuse Bouche and choices for appetizer, entrée and a duet dessert. Upstairs in the Ballroom will be the “New Years Eve Gala and Centennial Kickoff Celebration”. This
will include hors d’oeuvres, raw bar, plated surf and turf dinner, music by Don’t Call Me Francis, dancing, Member open bar and 8pm fireworks will be included in the evening for $175.00 per person.
We hope you join us for your holiday festivities!
The holiday season has come upon us very quickly this year.The spectacular weather with the warmth distracted us from feeling like we were headed into the winter season. December will start off with Brunch with Santa today, December 1. Spaska, the Club’s Assistant General Manager, and Andra, the Events Manager, team up to lead the charge of decorating the Club and putting on an awesome Santa Brunch for the RBCC families. We hope the 200+ Members and guests who are in attendance enjoy their day!
Weekly, Bingo will be played on each Wednesday of the month (4th, 11th and 18th). A la carte dinner is available during Bingo. Chef Carolyn will continue the popular “Pasta Nights” on Thursdays including the 5th, 12th and 19th. Pasta Night is a “Build Your Own” dish from the a la carte Pasta Menu for $19.25. Select half-price bottle of wines are available on Thursdays as well. Cosi will host the annual “Holiday Wine Expo” on Saturday, December 7 from 5-7pm. This sale has drawn a huge crowd two years in a row. See Cosi’s page for more details.
On Sunday, December 15, kids of all ages are invited to decorate gingerbread houses in the Bayside Grill. It is priced at $30 per person. A brunch buffet for ALL Members that day will be in the 19th Hole Bar. Brunch
WINE, SPIRITS & BEVERAGES
Merry Christmas!
The most anticipated wine event of the year is here! Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 7 and join us for our Annual Wine Expo at the Club. It’s an afternoon dedicated to exceptional wines, education, and a little holiday cheer – perfect for getting into the spirit of the season!
Whether you're an avid wine enthusiast or new to the world of wine, this is your chance to taste a variety of wines, learn from industry experts, and finish your holiday shopping all in one place. It’s the ultimate event for anyone who loves fine wine, great company, and festive fun.
TJOINUSFOR WHISYEAR’S INEEXPO ON DECEMBER7
Cosi Dalalau F&B Manager
Cosi's Wines of the Month
Tablelands Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand $13/45
The combination of the rich yet zingy Martinborough fruit and more refined Hawkes Bay fruit leads to a wine that has amazing drinkability with the richness of stone fruit, highlights of peach and lime and underlying minerality
Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette, Oregon $13/45
The nose opens with luscious threads of a juicy tart and baking spice, continuing to a generosity of red fruit on the palate. Bramble and cocoa linger on the finish
Cocktail of the Month
Holiday Cheer
Cranberry Vodka, Cranberry Juice, Mint
Simple Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, and Club
Soda
Fall Crawl Golf Tournament
Pat Mastrian, PGA Director of Golf
GOLF DEPARTMENT UPDATE
We are continuing to see decent temperatures as we move into the winter months. Rounds continue to be steady. The operations are in full planning mode for the upcoming season. We do still have our holiday golf tournament, The Twelve Holes of Winter, where participants will play a different format every hole. This is normally a popular event, so we recommend registering early. Participation is limited to the first 56 registrations.
Alli is planning some fun holiday sales in the month of December so check out the Holiday Gift Guide and the specials below to complete your holiday shopping at the Club. I always try to remind the membership that we can be a one stop shop for anyone interested in ordering gifts for corporate holiday parties.
We are excited to announce that the RBCC Performance Center is officially open for lessons. The new space is geared primarily
towards instruction as we will be stocking it with top-of-the-line technologies to enhance your game. More information will soon be sent to the membership regarding how to book the space outside of lessons as well as associated fees. A special thank you to Chris Gary, Lead Golf Instructor, for all his hard work on this space as well as TaylorMade and Titleist golf who are leading the way in helping to create a one-of-a-kind fitting experience for the RBCC membership. Please stop into the Shop and we can show you the space in advance of the opening to the membership outside of lessons.
For anyone heading south for the winter, we wish you a very happy holiday season. Please travel safe. For all our local Members we look forward to seeing you out at the Club this holiday season!
GREENS DEPARTMENT UPDATE
It’s that time of the year when the growth slows down and the leaf clean up speeds up, but it also gives us some time to catch up after a hectic year and look back at everything we accomplished with satisfaction.
By delaying the aeration until later in the spring, it helped to shorten the healing time and therefore extend the optimum conditions for play. Unfortunately, the timing was probably a week or two too late as we had no buffer before heading straight into the summer heat. This meant that we couldn’t fit into the schedule some extra practices that I would have liked to do. The fall aeration was perfect, and the course healed quickly so I was able to attack the items I didn’t get to in the spring and as a result the greens improved every week. They have come a long way in one year and now are more consistent and at higher speeds from day to day. I still have a bit to go to make them “perfect” (I am aiming for more smoothness, rather than speed) but overall, I am very happy with the progress we have made.
The texture management of the other fine turf areas removed a lot of grain which worked well; now the ball sits up better and the turf is less likely to snatch your club. This is something we will keep working on, but we are off to a great start for the upcoming centennial year.
We started to hand rake the bunkers daily for a better finish, and by maintaining the edges more frequently, they are crisper which provides better definition. The hand work prevents the sand moving around on the floors making them more consistent, within the limitation of the different sands.
We extended the intermediate cuts into the bunkers which brought them visually more into play by making them more cohesive with the fairways and not looking like they were sitting in the rough. The tight turf around these areas has enhanced the aesthetic of the course.
The list of projects we completed this past year is extensive and by doing these in-house we were able to save the Club a substantial amount of money in the long term. These projects included:
Remodeled the 19th hole
Removed bunkers on 1 & 17
Redecked the bridges on 13 & 14
Squared off the tee boxes and completely remodeled the front tee on 18 and the entire 11th tee complex.
Added native beds for the pollinators
Removed dead/dangerous trees
Sodded various areas on fairways that had died from flooding over the winter and from the July storms.
The 12” of rain in one week in July resulted in a lot of damage across the course, including destroying most of the bunkers, however we rallied and not only repaired them, but replaced the sand in over 10 of them within the week to have the course ready for the Member Guest! Removed the failing bulkhead on 6 and replaced it with a sod bank that greatly improved the look of the hole
Added a new putting course
The work extended off the course too as we removed some of the parking lot islands which created more parking for the Club, extended the Clubhouse 1925 and Bayside Grill Patios by 19, added a patio by the putting green and replaced the trees along the range with more native varieties that are deer resistant. And finally, an electric pump has been added by the pickleball courts removing the noisy tractor.
So, that was 2024 for the golf course maintenance team! Now we are working on leaf clean-up and putting the course to bed to rest it for the upcoming season. As always please email me if you have any questions.
From the entire GCM department, we wish you all a very happy holiday season.
Brushing Fairways
New Intermediate Cut into the Bunkers on 8 & 7
Grading the New Bank on 6
ng the Bank on 6
Bunker on 7 Before Edging
Edging Bunkers
Bunker on 7 After Edging Intermediate Cut & Edging on 7
Hole 5 Now
New Putting Course
Patio Extension by the Putting Green
1925 Patio Extension
Intermediate Cut & Edging on 6
Hybrid Turf on 13 Walk Bridge
Hole 9
New Tees on 12
Terri Gaskill
Racquets Director
RACQUET’S DEPARTMENT UPDATE
This should enhance the member experience and allow us to better serve you with reservations and all your racquet needs. The welcome and check-in center will still provide immediate needs for racquets accessories. We will continue to have balls, shoes, hats/visors, t-shirts, racquets, paddles and accessories available for purchase at the welcome desk. Please be sure to check out remaining 2024 inventory for your Christmas shopping at the Golf Shop!!
are unavailable through RBCC but may be available at the tournament website.
The following weekend, Saturday, February 22, we will be in Naples at the Grey Oaks Country Club for a tennis round robin followed by dinner at the club. A beautiful setting to gather our RBCC tennis community. Please come join us!
Happy Holidays Racquets Community,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. I am enjoying the sunshine, color and friends of South Florida. It has been very warm and relaxing in the early days of my winter break �� While I am resting and recharging, I am also spending time thinking of ways to make the centennial year special for the racquets community.
The Racquets Committee has been meeting regularly and working on needed improvements to the pump noise/smell near the pickleball courts, parking challenges and Racquets Shop welcoming area. Good news on these fronts! As Alan mentioned in his article, the pump is in and working so the noise and exhaust fumes of the past have been remedied. Parking considerations are being reviewed and solutions are being considered for implementation.
2025 will have big changes for the Racquets Shop. All racquets attire will be relocated to the Golf Shop for expanded offerings and space to display clothing. The existing Racquets Shop will be converted to offices for the racquets staff. We will be introducing a new welcome and check-in center outside in front of the Racquets Shop. This should enhance the member experience and allow us to better serve you with reservations and all
In the very near future we will be gathering in Florida for the East and West Coast events. I have many Members who have already expressed interest in attending. Please reach out to me if you would like to be a part of either or both of these events. The first gathering will be on the East Coast of Florida on Thursday February 13. We will start at the Palm Beach Country Club to play tennis and have an introduction to Padel. That evening we will be attending the Tacos and Tequilla event at the Delray Open. Tickets to the Delray event
By the time you are reading this, I am certain the tennis courts are closed but Pickleball will remain open throughout the year. Please be sure to check the Club website for the Pickleball Holiday round robin, Dink the Halls, on December 15. Thanks to Bill Wissinger for all his efforts to keep the racquets energy and community moving into the fall and winter months!!
Warm wishes for a wonderful holiday and a happy, healthy New Year!
Colleen Beck Fitness Specialist
FITNESS UPDATES
2025 Reset Challenge
Be on the lookout for our 2025 RBCC Reset Challenge! Begin the new year with fitness, better habits and great nutrition! Stephanie Sullivan, the yoga instructor, and I will be guiding you every step of the way with personal training lessons, nutrition guidance, and workshops. The challenge will run from January 6 - 31 and sign-ups will start the third week of December. More details to come soon.
Colleen’s Go-To Back & Biceps Workout
30-40-minute work out
Happy December RBCC! It is that time of year where we are busy celebrating the holiday season so here is some quick updates.
December Calendar
Make sure to keep an eye on the class schedule this holiday season! The best way to do that is to check the ForeTees app under the “Book a Fitness Class” tab. Please note that there will be no classes December 2 3- 26and the Fitness Center will be closed December 25.
Virtual Fitness Classes
Zoom fitness classes are live! Whether you’re leaving for the winter or simply want to workout in the comfort of your own home, you can now join us live and still get in a great workout. Each class will have a designated meeting code found in the class description or on the ForeTees Fitness Homepage. To maximize the efficiency of your home workouts, equipment such as dumbbells, bands, stretching straps etc. would be a good investment depending on what classes you would like to partake in.
Lat Pulldown Machine 3x12 1
Seated Row Machine 3x12 2
Cable Straight Bar Pulldowns 3x12 3.
Each Side (use bench as support) 4.
Single Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Rows 3x10
Seated Back Supported Dumbbell Bicep
Curls 3x12 5 T h e r a p i s
M a s s a g e
Vesna brings 22 years of knowledge, understanding and passion to customize each session to the needs, goals and feedback of her clients.
BOOK NOW ONLINE! 60 minutes - $145 90 minutes - $180
Vesna Josic Janicijevic
HOURS OF OPERATION
ADMINISTRATIVE
HOURS OF OPERATION
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
8:30am to 4:30pm
FOOD & BEVERAGE
HOURS OF OPERATION
MONDAY
Closed for Dining Services
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm
Bar Bites Menu: 3pm to 5:30pm
Dinner: 5:30pm to 8pm
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm
Bar Bites Menu: 3pm to 5:30pm
Dinner: 5:30pm to 9pm
SUNDAY
Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm
Closed for Dining Services at 3pm
Clubhouse & Locker Rooms Closed at 5pm
MONDAY - SUNDAY
Halfway House: Pending Play
FITNESS CENTER
HOURS OF OPERATION
MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 5am to 11pm
GOLF SHOP
HOURS OF OPERATION
MONDAY - SUNDAY
Golf Shop: Opens at 8am to 4pm
Golf Course: 9am
Driving Range: 8am to dusk
RACQUET FACILITY
HOURS OF OPERATION
Open at 8am every day weather pending
POOL COMPLEX
HOURS OF OPERATION
Closed for the season. Thank you!
TCLICKHERE OVIEWTHE HOLIDAY HOURS
CLUB PHONE NUMBERS
Clubhouse: (302) 227-3811
Golf Shop: (302) 227-3616
Racquets Shop: (302) 227-3811 ext. 280