December 2022 Tom Tom

TOM TOM DECEMBER 2022

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

LEADERSHIP LESLIE LUDLOW GENERAL MANAGER/COO LESLIE@SAHALEE.COM BRYAN NICHOLSON DIRECTOR OF GOLF BRYAN@SAHALEE.COM CHARLIE SCHAUWECKER AGRONOMY DIRECTOR CHARLIE.SAHALEE@GMAIL.COM

THE SAHALEE TEAM

JUSTIN KEENER CLUBHOUSE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR JUSTINK@SAHALEE.COM SIEMON SLAGTER FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR SIEMON@SAHALEE.COM BRITTIANY LATHRUP MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR BRITTIANY@SAHALEE.COM ADRIAN SIBUG CULINARY DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE CHEF ADRIAN@SAHALEE.COM ALEXA MENDOZA FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER ALEXA@SAHALEE.COM LAURIE COLEMAN ACCOUNTING ADMINISTRATOR LAURIE@SAHALEE.COM RYAN BENZEL PGA DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION RYAN.BENZEL@SAHALEE.COM

Cover Photo: Ashley Clark

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COMMITTEE CHAIRS GOLF-BRIAN SELBY

SCOTT HEYDON-PRESIDENT MIKE DENTON- VICE PRESIDENT STEVE MOGER-TREASURER JOHN TINKHAM-SECRETARY JAY KIRSCHENMAN-SOCIAL LIAISON BILL BONNELL-MEMBERSHIP LIAISON NORMAN CHEUK-CHAMPIONSHIP LIAISON MARYLE TRACY-GREEN LIAISON TYLER DION-CHAMPIONSHIP/GM SEARCH CHAIR

GREEN-MICHELLE HOOD FINANCE-DAWN NAYE HOUSE-BILL PHILLIPS MEMBERSHIP-HOWARD LEE RULES AND HANDICAP-JEANNE LINK JUNIOR GOLF-BEAU CLINE CHAMPIONSHIP-TYLER DION SOCIAL-LIZ PHIPPS MEN'S DIVISION-GEORGE GLAUSER WOMEN'S DIVISION-DEBBIE ACTON

The Sahalee family warmly welcomes

Junior Executive Members Dr. Perry and Lindsay Hamilton

A Letter from our President November was a ‘light’ Board activity month, with the bulk of our time spent preparing for the annual meeting. For those that could attend in person or over Zoom, I think attendees found it informative and helpful. We shared a lot of improvements in 2022 that Board Members are all proud of. Assembling the summary for the Annual Meeting was quite exciting – we kept remembering improvements delivered early in the year that now seem like distant memories.

While there are still challenges and plenty of opportunities ahead, we are most proud of these: -Funding and executing the bunker renovation project -Producing an amazing championship golf course with top-notch Division events -Securing two major tournaments in the next two years (SPC and the KPMG Championship – which is 99.9% done) -Reinventing our dining menu -Approving a series of new financial policies that will provide Sahalee with meaningful interest income for the foreseeable future.

-Hiring an amazing new General Manager, Leslie Ludlow.

-Improving communication structure to “Golf and Greens Weekly Update” on Tuesdays, and “Club and Dining Weekly Update” on Wednesdays. This makes it easier for us all to digest all the great news coming our way. Thanks Leslie!

Financially, the Board and leadership team actively managed the club’s operating P&L throughout 2022. We are projecting a slight net operating loss of around $31,000. As you might imagine, when the budget was set late last year, there were hundreds of assumptions made. Throughout the year, with actual results, there were understandable puts and takes to these assumptions. The leadership team did a great job – aided by the Finance Committee’s newly developed quarterly forecasting process – of managing to a near break-even. Given all of these projections when the budget is set, the Board considers any final result within 1.0% of target successful. This year we will end about (0.04%) – which is really good.

A copy of the presentation has been placed on the Important Documents section of the member portal to review.

Additionally, a few valid and helpful questions were asked.We have posted an FAQ from the annual meeting. They are a good way to catch up on the state of Sahalee.

Past Business As indicated above, most of the Board’s attention in November was on the Annual Meeting. With final votes tallied, all four bylaw proposals were passed by membership. As stated in the introduction, the Bylaw Committee has more work to do.

These first four amendments were the beginning of strengthening the membership structure and governance of the club.

More proposed changes by the BOD will be communicating soon. An updated version of the amended bylaws has been posted on the Sahalee Portal.

Additionally, all three nominated Directors were elected to the Board of Directors. With the amended bylaws, the Director transition will now officially occur on December 31st. Beginning their term on January 1, will be Tom DiMeco, Kim Shek, and Peter Zobrist. I want to thank our three departing Directors who have spent the last three years volunteering for you and our club. A heartfelt thank you to Jay Kirschenman, Steve Moger, and John Tinkham for your contributions. Sahalee is in a stronger position because of your time and guidance.

Late in the month, we worked on finalizing the terms of hosting the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. In addition to the prestige this opportunity offers Sahalee, the economics of the agreement appear to be slightly more favorable than our previous one. Discussions have already begun on how to improve Sahalee’s ability to translate this opportunity into a more robust membership position. Sahalee will receive a lot more attention over the ensuing 1 ½ years – for the SPC and KPMG Championship. Converting this increased exposure to new memberships is a top priority. In the next few months, you will see additional improvements to the public side of Sahalee’s website, as well as increased focus on driving new member sales.

A Letter from our President Also this month, the Greens Committee deliberated on a request from the PGA to remove a handful of trees from the 9 North green which do not come into play. Their approved recommendation was considered and unanimously passed by the BOD. Not only will this improve Sahalee’s infrastructure for hosting future tournaments, but it also garnered the support from our Golf Course Architect, Rees Jones. Mr. Jones felt expansion and recontouring of the greenside bunker on the right (approaching the green) will make for a better hole. The cost of this course improvement project will be covered by our agreement with the PGA. New Business In the rest of the year, the leadership team and board will be focused on trying to wrap up the 2023 operating and capital budget. As indicated at the Annual Meeting, there are many headwinds facing the operating budget in 2023: Inflationary pressures continue, with Seattle area inflation currently at 9% Average Sahalee wage rates have risen 7% this year Material costs are up significantly over last year: o Food costs + 8% o Fuel / electricity costs + 48% / +28% respectively o Seed / fertilizer costs +100% / +50% respectively Sahalee is conservatively planning on ~470 Proprietary Memberships through 2023. This is 30 memberships less than our full 500 (equivalent to $24,000 per month in dues).

While improving menu quality, our food and beverage economic model was challenged in 2022 cutting against a desire by many members to expanded F&B operating days each week.

While we have strong indications from peer clubs in the area that most are likely to raise dues 10%, 15%, and even some up to 20% in 2023, the Board and Leadership Team is keenly focused on how to mitigate inflationary pressures so that Sahalee has a relatively more modest increase this year versus other clubs in the area. There are a few levers at our disposal to improve club performance including additional classes of membership that put zero to limited pressure on the golf course, hosting additional outside golf and banquet events, re-evaluating F&B fees, and planning for improved cost management of the individual departments. Given all of these pressures, we do anticipate some level of a dues increase for 2023. More details to come on this in January.

I’d like to recognize my now good friend, confidant, and source of much knowledge, Dawn Naye.Without Dawn’s passion, knowledge, and willingness to support me and serve the club I would have been at a severe disadvantage in serving as your President. Thank you, Dawn!

Finally, with the holidays fast approaching, I’d like to thank all Sahalee volunteers and team members for a fantastic 2022 and wish everyone a joyous holiday season with friends and loved ones.

Here’s to a happy, joyous holidays and a wonderful New Year!

Sincerely, Scott Heydon Sahalee Club President

A Club Update from GM/COO Leslie Ludlow Click on this video link to watch a message from Leslie!

New Year’s Eve Bash Saturday, December 31st 7pm – 1am Ring in the new year with your Sahalee family! An incredible cocktail party replete with great food, dancing and complimentary bubbles all night long! Reserve a table of 10 for a VIP experience that includes a table in the party room and two bottles of premium Champagne. Call your friends and tell them that this year, the party is at Sahalee! $75 per person VIP table for ten - $1000 Reserve on our Sahalee App

A Letter from our Director of Golf Oh, the weather outside is frightful…….but the fire is so delightful. And since we’ve no place to go…..Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

I don’t think a holiday song could be any more appropriate to describe our weather scene as we wind down 2022! It seems like ages ago but fall started off with well above average temperatures and our October was glorious featuring the warm sunshine.

(Hard to think that was only 40 days ago??) Then, like a switch, and as many predicted with our La Nina pattern, November became the seventh coldest on record. Suddenly, those warm days in October seem like distant memories. Very soon, and with any luck, we will return to golf at the High Heavenly Ground!

I’d like to take a moment to wish you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season! As we look back on the last 12 months, what a year we have experienced! Sahalee saw quite a bit of change in 2022, with a strong foundation for much future success. Our bunker renovation is stunning, and the reviews from nearly everyone that has seen the work have been glowing. We made other significant investments throughout the golf operation in ’22, including staffing and service levels. As we peek over into the horizon of 2023, we are working very hard on adding more enhancements, including new programming and service improvements to your Sahalee golf experience. Our goal is to be the finest in the Northwest, and we are working very hard this offseason to continue building upon this vision. In January, I will outline many of these initiatives, and share much more!

For those that have already visited the golf shop this month – thank you! My team of elves (and Mrs. Claus) have turned the Golf Shop into the “Sahalee Christmas Store” featuring huge savings this holiday season! Please come by the Golf Shop this month and select an ornament from our Christmas tree. Each of these ornaments contain discounts between 10 - 35% off your member price! Throughout the month, our “Santa Saturday’s” (December 3, 10 & 17) will feature incredible door buster specials, so please be on the lookout for those in the weekly updates. We can always special-order items directly from many of our vendors, and we offer complimentary gift wrapping in “Santa’s Workshop” or even have the items delivered right to your doorstep! Here is a deal that you cannot pass up: Even if your holiday items are not purchased from the Golf Shop – bring them by, and we will wrap them complimentarily for you. It’s our way of saying Merry Christmas!

Pivoting a bit, the Golf Committee has been working very hard at finalizing our 2023 Golf Calendar. We have a robust event schedule, including some new events through our Men’s and Women’s Divisions. We have added a Men’s Senior Member-Guest to the schedule, and our Women’s Division will include a team “Swing Day” competition to their schedule.Additionally, we have a fantastic line up of “Links and Drinks” social golf events and a new Club Championship for Sahalee “couples.” It’s important to note that this past year, 75% of Sahalee members participated in at least one golf event at Sahalee (up from 56% in 2021), and we will build on that momentum in ’23!

Speaking of next year, a major highlight in ’23 will be the renewal of the Sahalee Player’s Championship! We are very excited to work together with the University of Washington on this Championship. Through the leadership of our SPC Committee and our Chairman, Kevin White, we are already brimming with excitement on the field that we’ve attracted, and the commitment from everyone to make this the best collegiate golf event in the country. While in Atlanta earlier this year as a guest of Husky Head Coach Alan Murray, all of the coaches and players that we spoke to about our Championship are glowing about playing Sahalee! I plan to release the “Majors” golf calendar before the end of December, and we will publish the entire golf calendar in early January!

A Letter from our Director of Golf With the offseason upon us – I would be remiss if I didn’t share some ideas or thoughts on how to improve your game in ’23.

• Putting – Most putts are inside 12 feet. Spend 10 minutes every day rolling some putts. Did you know that our swing room has cups cut into the floor? I would also recommend getting a quality mat for your home. Sahalee also has the Quintic Putting System which is a phenomenal tool to help you understand your putting technique. Set an appointment with Ryan, and you won’t regret the experience.

• Fitness – If you have not received a TPI assessment from Laura – you’re missing out! Improving strength and mobility has so many benefits.

• Speed Training – This spring be on the lookout for more speed training classes! Last year, we saw significant improvements in all the students that attended this class, including one student increasing club head speed by over 20%! We can help you make a difference in your on-course performance.

• Lessons – The only way to be transformational in your game is to work on it! Your Sahalee Golf Professional team has knowledge and tools which will push your game to another level.

• Stats – You should measure your performance, so you understand what you need to work on. If you would like to know more about what to track, or how to better manage your game on the course, we can help you!

• Launch Monitor – Did you know that Sahalee has two Trackman, and two aboutGolf swing studios? We can provide you with all the in-depth information that you need on club and ball performance.

• Get Fit – This is so important to be your best! Technology from all of the major manufacturers continues to improve each year! If you want to play your very best, make it a point to spend time one-on-one with a member of my team and we will help you understand your game and the tools you need in your bag.

Let’s make 2023 the best version of yourself and improve your quality of golf! I’ll close this month by saying how much I appreciate the opportunity to share with you everything that is transpiring in the Sahalee world of golf. From my family to yours, Happy Holidays, and we look forward to making many more great memories at the High, Heavenly Ground in 2023!

Fairways and Greens, Bryan

From the entire staff at Sahalee Country Club, we sincerely thank our members for their generosity with the Employee Holiday Fund.

It has been an incredible year serving our Sahalee family.

Happy Holidays!

Lessons with Ryan Benzel Lesson Rates Single Lesson: $100 Series of 3: $285 Series of 5: $450 Playing Lesson: $225 Junior Lesson: $75 Available Tuesday - Saturday 206-683-0025 cell ryan.benzel@sahalee.com 2016 Western WA Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year 2021 GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional

Subscribe and follow Ryan on his YouTube Channel !

MemberHOURS Inspired Call for OF OPERATION Events and Committee Meetups Members Have you ever wanted to learn to play Mahjong?

Please join us and learn one of the worlds oldest games. It’s never too late to learn something new.

We start with lunch at 11:30 on Wednesdays followed by Mahjong.

Contact Patricia Domine at 425-241-8506 or p_domine@hotmail.com to RSVP or for more information.

Have you ever thought about serving on a Committee?

Since 1969 Sahalee has been self-governed for members by members. The major strength of a committee is its ability to represent a cross section of the club. For this reason, both certificate holders and spouses of Certificate holders are encouraged to volunteer. Please understand that by volunteering for a committee you are making a commitment to attend regular monthly meetings and be a team player while demonstrating a willingness to take on related assignments.

Be on the lookout for an email with all the details but in the meantime; email Brittiany for more information!

Sahalee Players Championship Update

The Sahalee Players Championship (SPC) is the Men’s College event that Sahalee will be hosting on an annual basis starting in September 2023. Co-Hosted by UW Men’s Golf, and Sahalee, the SPC will be one of the best fields in College Golf, showcasing the beauty and pure golf course that Sahalee is. The expected field includes Arizona, Arizona State, Duke, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, Stanford, Texas, USC, Wake Forest, and Washington.

Tournament Update – Countdown to September 2023 The exact dates are September 8th – 10th, 2023. The 8th (Friday) will be the official practice round for the teams, the 9th (Saturday) will be a 36-hole competition day, and the 10th (Sunday) will be the final 18-hole competition day. Here is a summary of the latest updates: 1. Sponsorship – Under the leadership of Chris Grusz, our sponsorship drive is making solid and consistent progress. We are adapting our sponsorship strategies and packages based on feedback we are receiving from the companies we are talking to.

Specifically, we have decided to separate components of the sponsorship into areas (television, professional exemption, etc.) to make a more compelling offering. Our goal is to have all sponsors locked by end of calendar year 2022. If anyone has ideas on potential sponsors or would like to learn more about the details of the sponsorship – please contact Bryan Nicholson.

2. Volunteers – We have built the leadership team for the 2023 SPC, and are happy to announce the following members who have stepped up to lead the way in planning for the event:

3. Site visit to Golf Club of Georgia– In late October, Bryan Nicolson and I attended the Golf Club of Georgia Invitational hosted by Georgia Tech, which included some of the top teams in the country. Our goal was to network with some of the teams and coaches in advance of our event, as well as learn some components of running an NCAA tournament. The trip was extremely educational on both fronts as we both came back with healthy lists of ideas and issues to avoid.

4. Upcoming SPC events in 2023 – as the calendar for next year rolls out, please keep an eye out for the following: a. January/February 2023 – Virtual (and potentially in-person) Open House for the 2023 SPC to learn in more detail about the tournament, being a volunteer, and signing up to volunteer b. March 2023 – UW Men’s and Women’s SPC Preview events. We will be adding an event on both the Men’s and Women’s Division calendars giving all players a chance to play with both teams, meet players/coaches, and get excited about the 2023 SPC. 5. Field Update – Unfortunately, Florida had to withdraw from our field due to a mandatory conflicting event their conference put on the schedule. While both school and Sahalee are disappointed, this is just a reflection of how busy and popular college golf has become, and we look forward to having Florida come back in future years. Florida Coach JC Deacon is gutted, as he is a huge fan of Sahalee.

Coach Murray and I are talking to a few teams about joining the field, however, all parties agree that we will only extend invitations to the top programs. Quality of the field is a higher priority than having a full 12 team field. We will provide updates if we do add another team Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season!

Sincerely, Kevin White SPC Tournament Chair

Holiday Calendar Santa Dinner

Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th 5pm-8:30pm This event is so nice that we are doing it twice! A wonderful holiday buffet served with a side of Christmas cheer and family pictures with Santa Claus!

Adults - $59.95 Children 7-12 - $29.95 Children 3-6 - $15.95 Pictures will be $60 for the first pose and $20 for each subsequent pose. All pictures will be available to print from photographer’s link by December 8th.

Dickens Carolers Sunday, December 11th 5pm-8:30pm A wonderful night of Christmas joy with the Dickens Carolers singing their way through the dining room all evening long! A traditional holiday buffet will be served including Prime Rib, Leg of Lamb and yorkshire pudding .Adults - $49.95 Children 7-12 - $25.95 Children 3-6 - $15.95

Women’s Holiday Luncheon Friday, December 16th 11:30am An opportunity to gather with Sahalee’s women to shop at a trunk show put on by the Pro Shop and enjoy lunch with friends. Women members of all membership categories are welcome to join in the fun! $50 per person

Gingerbread House Decorating Saturday, December 17th 11am-2pm Everything you need to build a tasty holiday treat with a hot cocoa station, a hearty buffet lunch and a guest appearance from a very special man!

Limit 10 people per table Adults - $25.95 Children 4-12 - $12.95 Houses $15.95

Ornament Dinner Sunday, December 18th 5pm-8:30pm Enjoy a special holiday a la carte menu with family and friends! Sahalee ornaments will be available exclusively on this night – just in time to add to your tree before the big day!

Ornaments are $10 each and available while supplies last.

New Year’s Eve Bash Saturday, December 31st 7pm – 1am Ring in the new year with your Sahalee family! An incredible cocktail party replete with great food, dancing and complimentary bubbles all night long! Reserve a table of 10 for a VIP experience that includes a table in the party room and two bottles of premium Champagne. Call your friends and tell them that this year,the party is at Sahalee! $75 per person VIP table for ten - $1000 Sign up on our Club App!

From our new Women's Division Captain I'm proud to be writing my first Tom Tom article as the newly elected SWD Captain. With Julie Reid as Assistant Captain, we plan to make our upcoming year one to remember!

Our SWD Golf Team finished another terrific season with their final match at Rainier CC. They are the 2022 "Scratch Division" and "Handicap Division" champions! This group of women wake up early, drive miles to their events and play competitively in often wet, rainy and cold conditions. They've made quite a name for Sahalee and we're proud of them!

SWD Winter Golf is already underway, thanks to Sue Ursino, who has offered her time on Saturdays, welcoming ladies of all abilities to play a casual game and have fun together. The goals are to keep the bones moving, meet a few new ladies, enjoy the camaraderie of golf; there are no competitions. Sue is a wealth of knowledge in golf and she’s happy to answer questions as you go. If the course is closed due to frost, they've been known to meet for lunch and take a walk on the cart paths! If you have questions or want to participate, contact her at sursino@comcast.net.

Now that we're post-Covid and almost back to normal, our board is considering making changes to increase our membership, have more fun, be more welcoming and inclusive, and we've been working at including ladies of Sahalee to help "Chart Our Course" for 2023 and beyond. Through surveys and well-attended Town Hall meetings, we've heard your voices and are dedicated to elevate your experience as a SWD member.

Kim Shek was recognized by the WA State Golf Association for her golf prowess as Senior Golfer of the Year!

Earlier this year, she earned medalist honors at the US Senior Women’s Open qualifier at The Home Course and secured a slot in the fourth Senior Women’s US Open at NCR Country Club in Dayton, Ohio. In September, she won the Washington State Women’s Golf Association Senior Championship. Shek is currently our SWD Champion and SWD Senior Champion. This was the first time Kim has received the Senior Women’s Player of the Year award, and it’s well deserved after her amazing 2022 season. Kim missed much of the early season when major events were being played, due to her father’s passing in England. What she did after returning home was quite extraordinary. We’re proud to have Kim an SWD member!

Our final event of the year is the "Holiday Luncheon" on Friday, December 16th at 11:30 AM. This is a joyous time to gather with Sahalee’s women, shop at a trunk show put on by the Pro Shop to see what surprises our new merchandiser has for us, enjoy lunch and lively conversations with friends! Women of ALL membership categories are welcome to join in the fun. $50 per person. Please make your reservation right away by calling the office or emailing Alexa at alexa@sahalee.com Hit ‘em down the middle!

Marcia McAfee SWD Captain

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from the entire Sahalee crew!

A festive photo of our amazing Food and Beverage team after a successful Santa Dinner weekend!

News Alert: Be on the lookout this week for a national announcement about Sahalee Country Club!