TOM TOM MARCH 2022
STAFF MARCUS KING GENERAL MANAGER MARCUS@SAHALEE.COM BRYAN NICHOLSON DIRECTOR OF GOLF BRYAN@SAHALEE.COM
THE SAHALEE TEAM
CHARLIE SCHAUWECKER GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT CHARLIE.SAHALEE@GMAIL.COM JUSTIN KEENER CLUBHOUSE MANAGER JUSTINK@SAHALEE.COM SIEMON SLAGTER CONTROLLER SIEMON@SAHALEE.COM BRITTIANY LATHRUP MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR BRITTIANY@SAHALEE.COM LAURIE COLEMAN ACCOUNTING ADMINISTRATOR LAURIE@SAHALEE.COM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JACOB LIPPOLD PGA HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL JACOB@SAHALEE.COM
SCOTT HEYDON-PRESIDENT MIKE DENTON- VICE PRESIDENT
WALLACE SMALL PGA ASSISTANT PRO WALLACE@SAHALEE.COM
STEVE MOGER-TREASURER JOHN TINKHAM-SECRETARY
JUSTIN STURDY PGA ASSISTANT PRO JUSTIN.STURDY@SAHALEE.COM
JAY KIRSCHENMAN-SOCIAL LIAISON PAUL COOKE-LONG RANGE/BYLAW FOCUS LIAISON BILL BONNELL-MEMBERSHIP LIAISON NORMAN CHEUK-CHAMPIONSHIP LIAISON MARYLE TRACY-GREEN LIAISON
COMMITTEE CHAIRS GOLF-BRIAN SELBY GREEN-MICHELLE HOOD FINANCE-DAWN NAYE HOUSE-BILL PHILLIPS MEMBERSHIP-HOWARD LEE
LAURA KRAFT ASSISTANT PRO LAURA@SAHALEE.COM RYAN BENZEL PGA DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION RYAN.BENZEL@SAHALEE.COM JIM PIKE PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL EMERITUS PIKEPGA@SAHALEE.COM ERIK AGNEW FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER ERIK@SAHALEE.COM
DEVIN BRIGHAM OUTSIDE SERVICES MANAGER/CADDIE MASTER DEVIN@SAHALEE.COM
HANDICAP AND RULES-JEANNE LINK JUNIOR GOLF-BEAU CLINE CHAMPIONSHIP-TYLER DION SOCIAL-LIZ PHIPPS MEN'S DIVISION-GEORGE GLAUSER WOMEN'S DIVISION-DEBBIE ACTON
Cover Photo Credit: Dan Lewis
Warm Welcomes
Junior Executive
Cheers
Gabe Nakashima Jon and Ashley Plott Michael Johnson
TO NEW MEMBERS!
Social
Justin and Karli Houle Kyeong An and Go Eun Lee Fond Farewells
Germelina Salumbides
HOURS OF OPERATION Driving Range
Golfer's Grill
Restaurant
Monday: 8am-5pm Tuesday: 8am-4pm Wednesday: 8am-5pm Thursday: 8am-5pm Friday: 8am-5pm Saturday: 7am-5pm Sunday: 7am-5pm
Monday-Tuesday: 10am-5pm
Breakfast Saturday-Sunday 7am-11am
Honor Bar Service Starter House Daily
Lunch Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm
Pro Shop Monday: 7am-6pm Tuesday: 7am-6pm Wednesday: 7am-6pm Thursday: 7am-6pm Friday: 7am-6pm Saturday: 7am-6pm Sunday: 7am-6pm
Dinner Thursday, Friday, Sunday 5pm-8:30pm
A Letter from our President I’m happy to report that the governance amongst club leadership, committees, and the BOD is off to a good start. Committees are working hard to tackle some important issues, with an eye towards ensuring members have a fabulous 2022 and beyond. Of note this month is the enthusiastic Social Committee, led by Liz Phipps and supported by Justin Keener. They have met twice now in the span of three weeks to brainstorm fun activities for members to enjoy and develop a full Social Calendar. Everyone is excited to reconnect with some familiar faces and new activities. It’s going to be a fun year! When you next come to Sahalee, you will notice many enhancements to the member experience are in full swing – with more to come as the weather turns: -The AboutGOLF simulator in our newly designed swing room seems to be a big hit (pun intended!). Bryan tells me we’ve had nearly 100 members try out the new simulators in the first four weeks. Members can get real-time swing feedback or play world class courses like Pebble or St. Andrews -- with our own Sahalee soon to be added to the course menu. -There’s a training bag on the range with several swing aids for your use. -ToughLie 360 has been installed on the range – a practice platform to replicate the variety of non-level lies we have at Sahalee. -The Outside Services area is being improved as well. Devin, our new Outside Services Manager, comes to Sahalee with a passion for the game and a mission to elevate the service experience. He is already starting to have a positive impact. I’m very excited about all the member experience improvements the entire leadership team will be delivering in 2022. Past Business At our February Board meeting, the Board had four recommendations to consider: three from the Golf Committee and one from the House Committee. After over an hour of good discussion, questions, and considerations the BOD approved all recommendations. Additionally, the BOD was provided with several communication pieces committees were preparing based on recommendations the Board had already approved. 1.Full Golf Calendar. We approved Sahalee’s 2022 full golf calendar. The Golf Committee (chaired by Brian Selby with support from Director of Golf Bryan Nicholson) set a goal to provide a robust tournament schedule while ensuring the course wasn’t overrun by tournaments restricting play for non-participating members. In the past, the golf calendar has been viewed primarily through the lens of official events. This year, the Golf Committee suggested viewing the scheduled golf events in relation to non-event days to ensure there is ample access to the course for non-participating members. Here’s a visual view of the summer’s three peak months:
Despite a solid schedule of Divisional events, there is still plenty of open time (72% of all weekend days Fri-Sun) for non-tournament players to enjoy the golf course. Additionally, many tournaments allow for some course access during the day. Well-done Golf Committee! Bryan N. and his team are working on a full communication of the entire year’s schedule to be sent in the coming days. 2. Updated Hole-in-One Policy. The Men’s and Women’s Divisions have had different policies towards how holes-in-one are rewarded. Previously, participating members were charged $1.75 for a men’s ace and $2.50 for a woman’s ace. Both Divisions were excited about developing a common approach for recognition while increasing the prize pool when the rare hole-in-one is achieved. With this new policy, each participating member is eligible for $5 from all other participating members when their ace happens at Sahalee. Assuming 500 participating members, the $2,500 payout can be used for food & beverage or pro shop credit. Personally, I’m hoping Dawn’s incredible year of two aces becomes the trend for this year’s President 😊! 3. Member Events. With over 700 active golfing members, Sahalee has many relationships and connections to be embraced. Some go back decades, while others are just blossoming. Many members find an opportunity to play together on a frequent basis in minievents. We want to embrace a culture where groups can play together in private events for fun or competition outside of official division events.
A Letter from our President The Golf Committee felt it would be helpful to clarify how these private events should be governed and supported by club resources. To that end, the BOD approved their recommendation that encourages members to continue running these ‘private-member’ outings. It also sets clear expectations on roles and responsibilities and the level of support provided by club staff. Whether it’s a casual game assembled amongst a foursome or a larger collection of players, each group will be required to secure their own tee times and manage their own event. With this policy, there should be no expectation of assistance in securing tee times, administering the event, or requesting any special golf course setup. This enables the club to fairly balance resources for all members. 4. Outside Patio. The House Committee is working to complete the previously approved patio renovation and requested the BOD weigh in on furniture selection. After reviewing the comprehensive recommendation of the Committee members, the BOD approved their recommendation on furniture style and color. We’re hoping for a completion date of June 1st, but we’re at the mercy of the supply chain challenges affecting the nation. 5. CAP Patrol Plan. One of the Golf Committee’s goals this year is to increase participation in Divisional events, which has historically been around 55%. Some members comments in the past have suggested that one barrier to greater participation is the perception that all players don’t have a fair and equal chance in our divisional net competitions. As you may have read earlier this week, the BOD approved the Rules and Handicap Committee’s recommendation to implement CAP Patrol. CAP Patrol is a sophisticated analytics tool that will help us more efficiently review member posting and handicaps in order to maintain a level playing field. While index adjustments are made by the Rules & Handicap Committee, the Board and I believe the use of CAP Patrol’s regular, systematic, and analytical approach will result in a more level playing field for all competitors. Members should have confidence that all players have a fair chance of doing well in any tournament. You can read more about it from our Rules & Handicap Chair Jeanne Link in this Tom Tom. 6. Sahalee Ravens Programming. The Junior Golf Committee (Chaired by Beau Cline) presented the Board with a comprehensive packet of information on Sahalee’s 2022 Ravens program. It’s a fun, creative, and engaging description (developed by our own Laura Kraft) of all the activities and events our fabulous Golf Shop team will be putting together to support Sahalee’s Junior golfers this year. New Business In March we will host our first Member Forum of 2022. I have committed to hosting a couple of Member Forums this year to further expand communication between the BOD and members. As a Committee and Board member, you end up learning a lot you didn’t know. We’re hosting these forums to share all these fascinating learnings with all members - so you can learn along with us. This Forum we will focus on our upcoming Bunker Renovation Project that was approved by the BOD last month. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned about bunkers over the last two months. The more I learn, the more excited I get with the improvement the bunker project represents for Sahalee. Charlie Schauwecker our Course Superintendent has amazing expertise in this space. In this Forum (March 8 at 6pm) Charlie and I will share the project’s scope, technical details, benefits, and financials. The Bunker Renovation Project is a large (and long overdue) undertaking for Sahalee, vital to improving member enjoyment and our position as the top club in the Northwest. The bunker renovation was a key component of the Golf Course Master Plan, as approved by our Architect Rees Jones, Inc. With rising labor and material costs, it’s also significantly more expensive than we had originally budgeted. Luckily, Sahalee is in a favorable financial position to be able to afford the investment. During the Member Forum I’ll share more details on the cost and financing of the project. Lastly, per state and county mandates, masks will no longer be required in the clubhouse starting March 12th. It’s been a long slog, and I’m hoping this becomes our new normal after 2+ years of enduring the Covid Pandemic. I’d like to thank all members and staff for their compliance and patience with this issue. Again this month, I will be available to meet with members who have questions or just want to connect. I plan to be available at the club on the first Sunday after the monthly Board meeting in the Acton Lounge. This month that’s April 3rd from 11am-4pm. If you want to connect, send me an email to sheydon203+scc@gmail.com or just drop by the Acton Lounge. Warmly, Scott Heydon Club President
A Letter from the Rules and Handicap Committee Centuries ago in Scotland, handicapping and betting were a big part of the game of golf. Betting on matches naturally led to creating odds on players, with the bets and odds entered and maintained in each club's “bet books.” Back then, the person responsible for awarding strokes to ensure a fair competition between players with uneven skill levels was called “The Adjustor of the Odds.” Over the centuries, the “Adjustor of the Odds” evolved into the club Handicap Chairperson, the “odds” evolved into handicaps, and the “bet books” evolved into scoring records maintained in the GHIN handicap system. Thank goodness for progress…and technology! Your “Adjustor of the Odds” (Sahalee’s Rules and Handicap Chair) is supported by a committee made up of representatives of the Men’s and Women’s Divisions who work together to help the USGA administer the “World Handicap System (WHS).” The Committee helps Sahalee fulfill its obligations under the USGA’s Rules of Handicapping and as required by users of the GHIN system. The R&H Committee is a specifically delegated stakeholder in the WHS with responsibility for periodically reviewing the Handicap Indexes (HI) of all Sahalee members to ensure that they continue to reflect demonstrated playing potential so that when playing in a handicapped competition – be it for the President’s Cup or a beer – players can feel the competition is a fair one. The periodic HI review involves reviewing the GHIN scoring records and Club competition results of as many as 700 players at Sahalee. While all of that data is relevant and informative; gathering, analyzing, and drawing conclusions based that large volume of data would challenge even the best “Adjustor of the Odds.” In yet another “giant step for personkind,” the R&H Committee, with the Board’s approval, has subscribed to a software application called “Cap Patrol” to assist us in fulfilling our responsibility. Cap Patrol is a third-party software program used by more than 450 Clubs nationwide. It supports a systematic and objective HI review by analyzing over 40 different data points in a player’s USGA GHIN record along with club specific data, comparing it to normative data of thousands of players in the system, and “advising” the Committee when a player’s HI should be adjusted to better reflect his/her demonstrated potential. Cap Patrol also has a downloadable smart phone app that is free to Sahalee members. Watch for a club-wide announcement on the member app in the next week or so. Leveraging this software will help the Committee achieve objective uniformity in how and when we review our members’ handicap indexes. Peer review will continue to play an important role in handicapping but relying on it exclusively can lead to uneven treatment. Cap Patrol will support a systematic review of all members and deliver data-driven decisions that will support the pursuit of our goal of a level playing field at Sahalee. Click here for the Member Letter and Questions and Answers on Cap Patrol. Jeanne Link Rules and Handicap Chair
Golf Calendar MARCH APRIL
MAY
2 0 2 2
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
19 SMD OPENING DAY 24 SOCIAL GOLF: NINE HOLE WELCOME MIXER 26 SWD OPENING DAY 30 SMD CHAPMAN 2 14 17 20 21
PNWPGA WESTERN WA PRO-AM (PRIVATE) SMD & SWD PRESIDENT'S CUPS SEATTLE WOMEN'S SWEEPS NINE WINE & DINE SMD PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
5 SOCIAL GOLF: "GUEST DAY" 7 SWD SPRING FIELD DAY 13 BRIDGE OF PROMISE (PRIVATE) 18 PARENT / CHILD TOURNAMENT 22 NINE WINE & DINE 26 SOCIAL GOLF: PUTTING CHAMPIONSHIP 30 SEATTLE WOMEN'S TEAM PLAY 7-8 WOMEN'S INVITATIONAL 11 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (PRIVATE) 15 NINE WINE & DINE 18 KPMG EVENT (PRIVATE) 21-22 SWD MEMBER-MEMBER 28-30 MEN'S INVITATIONAL 8 12-13 19-21 22 23
JPW EVENT (PRIVATE) SMD MEMBER-MEMBER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS (MENS/LADIES/JUNIOR) COSTCO (PRIVATE) BUNKER RENOVATION BEGINS
2-3 SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 9 SWD FALL FIELD DAY 26 EVANS CUP EVENT (PRIVATE) 27 SWD GUEST DAY 1 SMD STABLEFORD 9 SOCIAL GOLF: FALL FLING EVENT 10 WA GOLF ASSOCIATION PLAY DAY (PRIVATE) 14 SMD MEN'S AWARDS NIGHT 29 SMD FOUR BALL SCRAMBLE
A Letter from our Director of Golf It’s hard to believe, but it’s been a full two years of living through this pandemic. While it appears we are now turning the corner and hopefully (fingers crossed) making this a true endemic, the past two years for the golf industry has been something of a rollercoaster ride. As you likely remember, most golf operations across the country completely shut down during those early months, and then slowly eased their doors open with many safety protocols in place. Once reopened, the golf boom has been in epic proportions, as so many have turned to our great game as a safe recreational opportunity. Some have joked it took a pandemic to breathe new life into an old game, but reality is that golf has been enjoying a stable run for the better part of the last decade – really since the recovery that followed the economic bottoming-out of the Great Recession (20072010). What 2021 and the tail-end of 2020 fostered is renewed engagement, whether that’s committed golfers playing more, interested non-golfers giving the game a shot for the first time, or lapsed golfers returning after an extended time away. For us at home, rounds of golf climbed nearly 20% in 2020, and remained 14% greater than our historical averages last year which is on par for most private clubs across the country. As we inch closer to the start of our golf season at Sahalee, what can you look forward to in 2022? My crystal ball and all indications from many national sources suggest that rounds of golf will continue to be strong, as the work/office dynamic has largely changed for many. We have a tremendous opportunity as a game to foster this growth, and continue to push the game to new heights in the coming decade. In that spirit, the 2022 golf calendar features a great balance between men’s, women’s, junior and social golf programming. In working with our Golf Committee, it was our goal to provide opportunity to engage the Sahalee community in several ways. Previously, 57% of our membership participated in at least one club golf event, and we’d like to be closer to 70% as we reflect on this upcoming season. My team has been working diligently over the off-season to reimagine some of the key golf programming at the Club, and we have created an experience that will commonly share a single word – FUN! Some new events to look forward to this year include social golf mixers, 9 Wine & Dine, Couples Guest Day, Club Putting Championship, and a Parent/Child tournament. Additionally, we have combined some of our major golf events to elevate the excitement and energy with our Championships. I am excited about our Sahalee Ravens Junior Golf Program, which will be highlighted by our PGA Junior League participation, weekly junior development training, summer camp opportunities, and other fun experiences. Further, the golf professional team has created several new outlets for learning and developing your game at the Club. Soon, you’ll be hearing about our New Golfer Development, Couples Clinics, Speed Training, Short Game School, and our “Get Fit Challenge.” We believe that this approach will be inviting, while providing something for everyone to be involved with. I encourage you to connect with us, work on your game, and play your best golf in 2022! At the beginning of March, we intend to provide two important pieces of communication that will provide you with a broad overview of all that Sahalee Golf will offer this upcoming season. The first is our “Sahalee Golf Guide” complete with the club golf calendar, instructional information, staff bios, among other key pieces of information. Our second publication is the Sahalee Ravens Junior Golf Guide. Inside this colorful flyer, you will find details on our summer camps, developmental programs, and schedule of events for the upcoming season. We hope these two important pieces will be helpful to plan out your personal calendar and golf journey this upcoming season! With the calendar flipping to March 1, the official start to the GHIN posting season has begun once again. While it’s likely (very likely) with our wetter ground conditions from this latest atmospheric river that you will be playing winter rules, you are still eligible to post your score. As a matter of practicality, we will not be making official announcements of “winter” versus “summer” rules daily. In working with the Rules and Handicap Committee, we agree that we will get through the spring aerification before we make an official determination on the appropriate method of play. Please remember, playing winter rules can provide you with an advantage in terms of your handicap. I encourage everyone to play the ball down whenever it seems practical. Always post on the day that you play, as the WHS uses an assessment called Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC). At the end of each day, the playing conditions calculation takes place automatically to determine if scores made were significantly higher or lower than the expected scores, primarily due to weather and/or course set up.
A Letter from our Director of Golf While on the topic of our Rules and Handicap Committee, you will be learning this month through our communication on the introduction of new software that will be implemented called Cap Patrol. Our Sahalee Handicap Committee is responsible for monitoring all players that establish a handicap to ensure a player’s handicap is reflective of that player’s potential. This is to ensure a level playing field for all members. Cap Patrol analyzes over 40 different data points to determine when a player’s current handicap is not reflective of their true potential and should be adjusted downward to better reflect their potential. Some of the more important data points analyzed are: How a player has finished in events the last two years – more weight is given to larger fields and less weight to smaller fields Home Index vs. Away Index High and Low Index over the last 12 months Potential – Scores in tournament play over the last two years Rounds Turned In – making sure players are turning in scores each time they play a round There are several benefits to Cap Patrol, as it ensures a level playing field for all events and promotes fair play. The system is based on objective data so there is no bias from player to player. It helps the Club comply with the World Handicap System which requires peer review of fellow member’s handicaps. Lastly, Cap Patrol features a member App will be available to help members track their own play in more detail. Should you have any questions after the communication has been released, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or my team. As I wrap up this month, I must sadly announce the resignation of our great Player Ambassador/Starter, Gregg Bonda. “Three G” as we like to call him, Gregg has been a fixture “on the hill” for over 5 years at Sahalee and he has certainly left his mark on the Club. Gregg was the one constant within the changeover in golf operations at the Club, and he did an admirable job managing the expectations and transformation of the starting procedures over the years. I think we all appreciate Gregg’s smile, hustle, and constant positivity in all of his communication. Gregg and his wife, Meg, are relocating back to the East Coast and have found a beautiful new home in the Carolinas to be closer to family. His final day is scheduled for Saturday, March 26. On behalf of the membership and your teammates, “Three G” – THANK YOU! See you at the Club! Fairways and Greens, Bryan Nicholson, PGA Director of Golf
Fond Farewell to one of our favorites! We will miss you, Gregg Bonda!
KRAFTY CORNER What is TPI? If you’ve watched any of the PGA or LPGA Tour the last 10 years, you’ve probably noticed the game of golf has evolved. The top players in the world are paying much more attention to fitness to attain peak performance. While the average golfer may not squat heavy like Rory McIlroy or perform excellent Pilates like Lydia Ko, there are thousands of ways to get YOUR body in great form to play your best golf. The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is a network of people trained to help golfers not only play better golf but to play more golf with less pain. These certified professionals, myself included, are trained to take golf instruction, fitness instruction, and medical practices to a whole new level for golf-specific enhancement. If this interests you, feel free to reach out at laura@sahalee.com for more information, and be on the lookout for more “TPI Tips” on Sahalee social media!
ACES, EAGLES AND GREAT SHOTS! Jeff Shaw HOLE IN ONE 2/14/22 5 South 7 iron 165 yards 14th hole in one on the 14th hole on the 14th of February. Pretty cool!
Seiji Yamamoto 2/20/2022 Shot Age- 75
Stay safe and be well, Laura Kraft
LESSONS WITH RYAN Single Lesson: $100 Series of 3: $285 Series of 5: $450 Junior Lesson: $75 Playing Lesson: $225 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 ! Watch this golf tip: Uneven Lies on ToughLie 360
A Note from our Women's Division Captain Despite rain, wind, and frozen temperatures; the golf season is officially upon us. As of March 1st, everyone needs to post all scores after completion of their round. If you forgot to post a score it can still be entered but please do your best to post in a timely manner. If you signed up to play on but cancel at the last minute be sure the golf shop removes your name from the tee sheet. Please note April 26th is the Women's Division Opening Day. We have a fun and easy going round of golf for all levels of players with lunch ordered off the menu following golf. More specific information will be provided soon regarding Opening Day. I look forward to seeing everyone at the club soon! Debbie Acton Women's Division Captain
We Want Your Photo!
Did you know that if you upload a photo on your member profile online that it will sync to our restaurant and golf shop point of sale system? This would be so helpful for our staff as well as it is nice to have your photo on the member roster. Please upload in Member Central on your Club Profile or email Brittiany your photo today!
Sahalee CC Golf Shop is on Instagram! Please follow us @shopsahalee for sneak peaks of new merchandise, ongoing golf shop promotions and stay up to date with your Golf Professional team! Our first promotion is "Where's the Raven?" Send us your favorite photo of yourself or your group with a visible Sahalee logo in the picture and you will be entered to win a free Sahalee T-shirt at the end of the month. All monthly winners will be entered into our year end drawing for your choice of any polo from the golf shop! Pictured above: Kevin White with Cole Madey, 2018 Sahalee Players Champion, in Arizona
FITNESS CENTER REMINDER Please remember to make a reservation on our website to access the Fitness Center.
MAHJONG 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 11:00 on Wednesdays followed by Mahjong. Contact Patricia Domine at 425-241-8506 or p_domine@hotmail.com to RSVP or for more information.
F&B HAPPENINGS Our Food and Beverage Team is kicking off the Spring with new, healthy menu items and new cocktails! Come visit us for lunch, dinner, or a cocktail in the Acton Lounge with Matt!
Photos Top: Quinoa Bowl Bottom: Housemade Hummus Plate