DIVOT
Rancho santa fe golf club
President's rePort
Mick Marks
Page 2
director of agronoMy’s rePort ~ toM Huesgen
Page 3 & 4
WoMen’s events and neWs
Pages 6 & 7
President’s Message
Michael Marks
Earlier this month, the recently formed Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC) met to review the work of our predecessors and to begin shaping a vision for the Club over the next ten years. Building on those past efforts and informed by the valuable feedback gathered from last year’s membership survey, we have identified what we believe to be the twelve most important priorities for our members today.
While not listed in order of importance, the following represents our “Dirty Dozen” Priorities:
1. Restaurant Renovation – construction to begin 1/15/26.
2. Snack Bar Project – Substantially approved, with an estimated start date of April 2025.
3. Players Clubhouse Remodel – Upgrade facilities to better serve members.
4. Maintenance Equipment Structure – Construct a roof to protect and preserve equipment.
5. Enhanced Social Spaces – Maximize areas for member connection and community.
6. Ongoing Golf Course Improvements – Continue phased enhancements (three phases already complete).
7. Optimized Storage – Incorporate expanded and efficient storage solutions during future remodels.
8. Driving Range Safety Review – Evaluate the need for protective netting.
9. Walking-Friendly Initiatives – Promote walking the course, including the introduction of a Caddie Program.
10. Training & Performance Center – Develop facilities to support practice, instruction, and overall player development.
11. Expand and enhance Junior programs.
12. Continued focus on supporting and developing the heart of our club – the staff.
In addition to these opportunities, we also recognize two significant long-term risks to the Club: the threat of wildfire and the potential for a sustained water drought. The Committee will work closely with the Association Board to explore strategies to mitigate both of these challenges.
Our next step will be to prioritize these long-range goals and establish preliminary budget estimates. Once developed, this framework will allow us to share a more detailed vision with the membership and, with your feedback, refine and reprioritize accordingly. We acknowledge that many of these objectives will take years to fund and implement, but we are committed to thinking big, engaging members in the process, and transparently laying out a multi-year plan that can guide future Boards.
As always, your input is essential. Please share your thoughts and concerns – we look forward to continuing this important dialogue as we shape the future of our Club.
Director of Agronomy
Tom Huesgen
This summer has been extremely busy for our maintenance operation, not to mention the tee sheet…with no end in sight. The days seem to fly by as we begin to be bring the summer to an end this month, but not without first pointing out some recent successful accomplishments.
To start, we completed some Landscape Master Plan work on holes #14/15. This effort was planned almost a year ago, and now finished, has exceeded our expectations. As mentioned a couple months ago in the Divot, this project addresses drainage, improved operational access, irrigation, and overall aesthetic of the course perimeter area. The feedback on this project has been very positive.
The second of grand achievements is the aerification process we completed starting mid August. See below photos. As with each year, our goal is to aggressively scalp down, verti-cut, sand top-dress, and aerify all the primary bermudagrass playing areas. We succeeded! This year’s process included additional areas and different rates of sand. In total, we applied over 1,000 tons of sand to the primary areas. That is a lot of sand!
In doing this, which is the fourth consecutive year, we are making great strides toward improving our playing conditions for the off season and into the future. This process will be necessary each year to maintain the course with a high level of standards, in particular, given the volume of golf traffic. I realize at times the course may be less than desirable, and the process seems to be excessive, however, I believe with our continued diligent efforts, positive results will follow.
As with years past, during the aerification closure, we complete other projects as well. One such long-term project we have been working on each year is the conversion of cool season grass to bermudagrass. As discussed previously, these remaining areas to replace all exist in the rough, no primary playing surfaces. The impact to the golf experience is minimal, however, still exists as “Ground Under Repair” until maturity of the sod. This year we replaced the coolseason rough turf left and right of hole #6 as well as the large area between holes #10 and #18.
Left of #15 tee complex
Hole #1 & #9 with aerification cores on the ground
Sod removal between holes #10 and #18
Applicaton area with recovering bermuda grass
Sand top-dresser on hole #15
Sod installation between holes #10 and #18
Application area adjacent to cool season grass
Lastly, in anticipation of the closure and course/project recovery, we applied an herbicide treatment for the control of some cool season weeds and Poa Annua grass, the primary target. The “Poa” is the hardest weed to control in bermudagrass, in fact, probably the number one challenge of maintaining bermudagrass as a high-level playing surface in our environment. The effort must be persistent and aggressive at times to stay ahead of this battle and not fall behind in allowing the Poa population to get beyond our control. The application focused on areas along the perimeter of existing cool season grass and where Poa population was highest. We do realize the off-color appearance is not desirable. The bermudagrass will recover, although slower in some areas compared to others.
Thank you for your continued patience with numerous projects and these steps toward improvement. We are fortunate to have the hardworking, dedicated team in our maintenance department to make this happen.
The Clambake 2025
Final Results
The Clambake 2025 Final Results
Gross Champions
David Fish and Joe Greiner 202
Net Champions
Danny Shepherd and Calvin Coseo 196
Par Three Champions
Danny Shepherd and Calvin Coseo 196
Sam Snead Flight Champions
Kevin Carraher and Eric Ingersoll 197
Ben Hogan Flight Champions
PJ Woolley and Blake Schroeder 200
Byron Nelson Flight Champions
Dave Scherer and Kyle Wall 203
Horton Smith Flight Champions
Peter Mossy and Travis Mossy 201
Paul Runyan Flight Champions
Steve Charton and Paul Sylvan 207
Jimmy Demaret Flight Champions
Charlie Muha and Chuck Ciuni 207
Par Three Champions
Danny Shepherd & Calvin Coseo
Gross Champions
David Fish & Joe Greiner
Net Champions
Danny Shepherd & Calvin Coseo
Ladies’ Tee
Nancy White
Happy Coming of Fall Everyone! Now we get into our warmest time of the year! But thanks to Tom and his crew, our course is in absolute pristine condition, making our golf games so enjoyable (okay, and challenging). So no excuse to not pick up that club!
AUGUST SUMMARY
As you may well recall, our course was closed from August 11th through 20th for aerification and topdressing. Then again on August 25th and 26th for herbicide application. But we managed to get in our Ladies Meeting Day beforehand.
Ladies Meeting Day
Thursday, August 7th, 8:30 shotgun start. It was Hawaiianthemed and was followed by a beautiful Hawaiian Lunch created by our own Big Kahuna Chef Tommy! And it certainly was tasty!
We had a good turnout with 7 foursomes. And here are the winners:
1st Gross – Tina Thomas, Cami Staunton, Kathy McElhinney and Nancy White with a Gross score of 74!
1st Net – Madeline Javelet, Jackie Silberberg, Jenny Freeborn & Edean Chin who shot a sizzling 65.7!
2nd Net – Jocelyn Scott, Melissa Swanson, Bev Boyce & Sue Sanderson with a close net of 66.8!
And then there were the Closest-to-the-Pin Aces –Hole #7 – Michele Homan breezed in there at 12’6” Hole #17 – Jackie Silberberg with the impossible 1’11”!
Niners
There is always such happy camaraderie at our events, even if we didn’t come home with the gold star. We all had a good time.
Afternoon Delight – Summer Scramble
Thursday, August 21st, 3:30 shotgun. The first day after the course opened was christened by the Niners. Followed by cocktails and delicious appetizers, and lots of smiles.
Here’s the winning team: Franci Free, Nancy White, Jackie Silberberg and Susan Bien.
The After Party . . .
2nd Gross – Gerda McDonough, Carol Heil, Joan Scott & Jane Woody who were right there with a hot 76!
And here are some “Also Rans” enjoying the festivities.
UPCOMING SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Ladies Par 3 Day ~ Sunflower Swing
Thursday, September 4th, 8:45 shotgun, followed by lunch. This is always popular – a fun and quick game of golf where no hole is longer than about 100’. Best time to utilize all you’ve learned in those short-game lessons! Be sure to sign up in the Ladies Locker Room. All levels are welcome, so don’t be shy, and come on by!
Ladies President’s Cup Final
Thurs, Sept 11th, 8:30 shotgun, followed by lunch and awards! This is so exciting!
Here’s what happens:
9 Holers – Final match between Susan Bien and Natalie Soracco.
18 Holers – as of this print date, one match between Mickey Burgess and Kristin Bailey still has to be played. The winner of that match will then, on September 11th, play Gretchen Jimenez to claim the title of 2025 President’s Cup Champion! And get her name engraved on the President’s Cup Trophy!
Now, in addition to those 2 final matches, all those players who entered the President’s Cup tournament are entitled to play in the Consolation Game. So, everyone, be sure to get your name on the list in the Ladies Locker Room so you can join in the celebration. You will surely be glad you did!
Ladies Guest Day ~ La Dolce Vita
Thursday, September 18th, Breakfast included beforehand at 7:15 a.m.; 9a.m. shotgun start. Format is 2 best balls of foursome. Lunch will follow play. You may bring 1 to 3 guests. Sign up is in the Ladies Locker Room, or call the Pro Shop by September 12th.
Just to recap who our new 2025-2026 Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Golf Club Executive Board Members are:
Executive Board
Chairman – Susan Rillie
Vice Chair – Sally Stirnkorb
Secretary – Susan Muha
Treasurer – Margaret Miller
Tournament Director – Barbara Stolz
Committee Chairs
Membership – Janice Weitzen
Rules & Handicap – Mickey Burgess
Communications – Sally Shaps
Past Chairman – Cindy Bligh
So as we move into Autumn, I wish you all good golfing ahead. And, of course, remember those words of wisdom coming from our Pros – head down, stand up straight, belt buckle towards the target, etc., etc. And have Fun!
Cheers, Nancy
Board of Governors Meeting • September 10, 2025
BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2025/2026
President - Mick Marks
Vice President - Mason Matthies Treasurer - Scott LaRue Secretary - Pascal Stolz
Governor - Andrew Jasco
Interim General Manager
Director of Golf
Director of Agronomy
Director of Food & Beverage
Executive Chef
Governor - Scott Rayden
MANAGEMENT TEAM:
Shanon McCarthy (858) 756-7463
Governor - Joan Scott
smccarthy@rsfgc.com
Michael Jack (858) 756-3094 mjack@rsfgc.com
Tom Huesgen (858) 756-5880 thuesgen@rsfgc.com
Michael Clark (858) 756-1350 mclark@rsfgc.com
Tommy DiMella (858) 756-1582 tdimella@rsfgc.com
