Springfield Golf & Country Club
the
SPRINGFIELD STORY
December 2023
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
HOLIDAY FITNESS FUN
SUPERB SUGAR COOKIES
JOSH REFLECTS
2023 Board of Directors
2023 Committees
David DeLorenzo President david.delorenzo@gmail.com 703.887.0505 John Astorino Vice President john.astorino@longandfoster.com 703.898.5148 Caitlin Clark Secretary sheaclark@comcast.net 703.967.8997 Bob Sampson Treasurer bsampson71@gmail.com 703.362.0027 Mike Cozad mcozad@advairac.com 703.926.6758
Audit Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673
Membership Jon Danforth danforth.jon@gmail.com 703.409.7383
Communications Katie Kissal katiekissal@gmail.com 703.244.4583
Personnel John Astorino john.astorino@longandfoster.com 703.898.5148
Finance Bob Sampson bsampson71@gmail.com 703.362.0027
Rules Bruce Nordstrom bnorthstream@yahoo.com 202.494.6558
Fitness Gayle Burgoyne gayleburgoyne@aol.com 703.455.3985
Social Jen Palladino jennix4@aol.com 703.303.8779
Food & Beverage Brandon Streicher brandon.streicher@gmail.com 414.628.2362
Natalee Siveroni olahnatalee@gmail.com
Golf David Kelly davidnkelly@verizon.net 703.786.0980
Tom Davis tdavis@gandrellc.com 703.772.5015 Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673
Green Dan Derisio dderisio@yahoo.com 703.618.1720
John Palladino jape199@aol.com 703.901.0744
House Julie Graham juliegraham10@me.com 703.650.8788
Charles Rolen rolencw@gmail.com 703.862.9370
Club Connections
Swim/Pool Mike Goede goedes@me.com 703.927.0941 Tennis Campbell Palmer campbell.palmer@gmail.com 703.258.2255
Find Us On sgcc_springfieldcountryclub
Main Office
| 703.451.8600
Fitness Desk
| 703.451.1485
Accounting
| 703.451.8602
Pool Office
| 703.866.0045
Golf Pro Shop
| 703.451.8338
Golf Course Superintendent | 703.451.6619
Tennis Pro Shop | 703.451.8988
Strategic Planning Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673
sgcc_racquets sgccvagolfshop sgcc_weddings
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General Manager’s Message BY STEVE LAWSON, CCM | GENERAL MANAGER
The holidays are officially here! I am excited to share this magical time of year with you and your family at our variety of holiday-themed events as we celebrate our beloved SGCC community. Amidst the hustle and bustle, I’d like to take a moment to pause and reflect on the wonderful year we’ve had. My first seven months have been quite extraordinary, and I am extremely grateful for all the blessings this year has brought. I have learned so much and couldn’t have done it without the dedicated, hardworking, and proud staff I have around me. They inspire and challenge me on a daily basis, and it is an honor and pleasure to learn, grow, and work with them. I want to be sure to give special recognition to Jordan Willis and all he does to make the Club what it is. Often behind the scenes, the support Jordan gives is tremendous. His attention to detail is unparalleled, and he cares very deeply about this place. He and our whole team are so passionate
about making Springfield and your experience here the best it can be for you and your family. As we turn to the new year, I am excited for the direction Springfield is heading. I am looking forward to continuing what was built this past year and for continuous growth in all Club aspects such as service, facilities and amenities, maintenance, future planning, and social. Connection is at the heart of who we are and what we do, so infusing it into all areas of our community gives me great purpose and enthusiasm. I want to wish you and your family a very happy and blessed holiday season filled with peace, joy, and love. Cheers to 2024!
December 2023 | 3
Superb Sugar Cookies BY LINDSAY WEBB | PASTRY CHEF
We have Cookie Decorating Kits available to order as well as Take & Bake Cookies for Santa, but if you feel like whipping up your own batch of cookies this holiday season, here is my favorite sugar cookie recipe along with some suggested tools to help you along the way.
Sugar Cookie Dough
7.
Cut out cookies then refrigerate for another 10 minutes
8.
Bake for 8-10 minutes
9.
Let cookies cool completely before decorating
Royal Icing
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1 1/2 C Sugar
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1 lb Powdered Sugar
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3 C Butter, room temperature
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3 oz Pasteurized Egg Whites
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2 Eggs
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Splash of Vanilla Extract
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1 Egg Yolk
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Food Coloring
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6 1/2 C All Purpose Flour
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2 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
1.
Mix first three ingredients together with an electric mixer
1.
Preheat the oven to 350F for conventional ovens or 325F for convection ovens
2.
Separate into bowls as needed for different colors; mix in the food coloring then transfer to piping bags
2.
With an electric mixer in a large bowl, cream the room temperature butter and sugar until just combined
3.
Scrape the bowl, then slowly add the eggs and egg yolk while mixing
4. Add the flour cup-by-cup, mixing in between, until the flour has been added 5.
Roll out the dough between sheets of parchment paper to 1/4” thickness
6.
Wrap and refrigerate the dough for 10-20 minutes (Note: if you are not ready to bake your cookies yet, you can leave the wrapped dough in the fridge until you are ready to use it. It will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 1 month in the freezer if it well-wrapped. The dough can be used for cut-out cookies, thumbprint cookies, and as a pastry shell)
4 | December 2023
Recommended Tools •
Rolling Pin with Thickness Guides
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Fun Cookie Cutters (start a collection and enjoy decorated cookies for all holiday celebrations)
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Off-Set Spatula
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Piping Bags
Happy Baking!
Truffles • •
Available in Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate,White Chocolate, & Blond Chocolate 8/box (single flavor)
•
$20++
Decorating Cookies • • •
6 cut-out sugar cookies Icing, piping bag, food coloring, sprinkles $15++
Hot Cocoa Bombs • •
s t a e r T
$7++ each $6+ each for orders of 2 or more
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s ’ dva a s y s a m 3 day
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no nce
ti
on
Take & Bake Cookies for Santa • •
Chocolate chip cookie dough for 6 cookies $9++
December 2023 | 5
Fun Fitness Ideas for Family Get-Togethers BY REGGIE EDWARDS | DIRECTOR OF FITNESS The holiday season is a chaotic blend of cheer and stress. With so much packed into a few short weeks, it can be difficult to balance quality family time, holiday prep, and maintaining (or starting!) a fitness routine. If you’ve read the weekly Fitness emails, then you know I encourage you to slow down this time of year and enjoy the season…stress is bad for your body, so try to relax and relish the festive moments! That said, there are definitely ways to squeeze fitness into your holiday experience. The great thing about these examples is that most of them can carry over to any other time of year, so keep this list in your back pocket for those times when life is getting in the way. •
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Make it a game! Create a deck of fitness exercise cards using standard playing cards. Hearts stand for push-ups, clubs for crunches, diamonds for jumping jacks, and spades for squats. Let someone in your family, like your child, pick the card, then do as many of the assigned activity as the card states. For example, an ace of spades would be one squat and the six of hearts would be six push-ups. Speaking of games, a 2005 study found that laughter increases your heart rate by 10-20%, and that fifteen minutes of laughter can burn up to 40 calories. Try breaking out a game that’s guaranteed to make you laugh: Kids Against Maturity (or Card Against Humanity if you’ve got an older group) is always a good bet, but other games like charades, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, and Taboo can all lead to serious cases of the giggles. Gaming systems like the Nintendo Switch have family fun games such as Nintendo Switch Sports and Just Dance that encourage movement and will have you breaking a sweat while having fun with the family.
6 | December 2023
•
Play sports in your backyard with your family or other kids in the neighborhood. Basketball, soccer, baseball, and flag football are all fun choices. If you don’t have enough players, adapt the game by working on sport specific skills such as throwing or dribbling, or find more players at the park or community center.
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Think like a kid. If you have children, you’ve probably been challenged to a race more than once. This time around, you issue the challenge! Your kids will be delighted and you’ll add a blend of cardio and family fun to the day. Other options include hula hoop or jump rope contests…ready, set, go and see who lasts the longest!
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Go to the park. Take a walk to your neighborhood park. Instead of sitting on the benches, get out and play! The swings are especially great as they are known to reduce stress while improving core strength and balance.
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Bike riding is such a simple activity but the possibilities for fun are endless. The best part about biking is that it’s something you can do as a family—and there are very few sports where both parents and children can be “athletes” at the same time.
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Swimming is a great low-impact exercise that you can do as a family. It is easy to learn, does not require any special equipment, and even the youngest member of your family can participate. Make sure to keep it indoors this time of year though unless you opt to participate in an organized polar dip!
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Yoga and meditation are great family activities. Yoga has many benefits, but it can also be used as a family bonding activity that brings people together in
the present moment. Kids who are struggling to sit for meditation for long periods of time will benefit greatly from yoga, which is why it’s such a popular practice in schools. •
Dance, just like yoga, is an activity that will bring engage everyone in the room and help them be present in the moment. Dancing is a fun activity that also helps with coordination and balance. This can be a great way to bond with family members of all ages. Throwing an impromptu dance party is an excellent way to boost your heart rate and have fun, especially if the weather is poor and going outside isn’t an option.
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Walking and hiking are great ways for parents and kids alike to enjoy the outdoors while getting some exercise. During the holiday season, you can add evening walks to the mix to enjoy looking at the lights in your neighborhood.
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Ice skating is also another great workout that’s familyfriendly. There are several outdoor rinks in the area that are open this time of year: Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion, Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run, and the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink are just a few options.
December 2023 | 7
Notes from the Cutting Board BY TRAVIS SIMMONS | EXECUTIVE CHEF
As we head into the holidays and the cold months of winter settle in, most of us tend to eat a little heavier as we seek comfort foods and seasonal treats. With New Year’s Resolutions right around the corner, let’s look at a few ways to lighten up those winter dishes we love so we can both enjoy ourselves and get a head start on healthier eating. First off, olive oil is our friend. Whenever possible, and it is possible quite often, try to use olive oil instead of butter. A good rule of thumb is to substitute three-quarters of the butter in a recipe with olive oil, meaning if a recipe calls for one stick of butter (eight tablespoons), use six tablespoons of olive oil. If you’re looking for a more neutral-flavored oil, grapeseed oil is a wonderful alternative. Now, bear in mind that not all recipes will work with an oil substitute. For instance, if you’re making butter cookies it’s best to stick with the real thing then enjoy them in moderation. Another way to make your meals healthier is to stay away from the whipped potatoes and white rice dishes. Whipped potatoes are basically mashed potatoes but more delicious. There are
8 | December 2023
several easy healthy alternatives. Potatoes themselves are packed with nutrients and without all the butter and cream in mashed/whipped potatoes, they are a low-calorie food full of fiber and potassium (more potassium than a banana!). They are a wonderful food in the wintertime not only because they are warm and filling, but because you can get a third of your daily vitamin C from either a potato or sweet potato. Baked potatoes (careful with those toppings, though!) and roasted potatoes are a healthier alternative to mashed potatoes and require less work to make. Remember, many of the health benefits come from the skin of the potato, so give them a thorough cleaning, but keep that skin on! Both regular potatoes and sweet potatoes are full of nutrients, but if you’re looking to get the most out of your food, sweet potatoes have a slight advantage with fewer calories and carbs, more vitamin A, and the addition of the antioxidant beta carotene from their orange flesh. When it comes to rice, I like to use brown rice or cauliflower rice. When prepared properly, there isn’t much difference to white rice, but the health benefits are greater. Brown rice is a whole grain and white rice is the processed/refined version of
the same grain. Brown rice has more fiber since it retains its bran as well as more vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats from its germ. Now, most white rice is enriched, meaning vitamins and minerals are added back in after being removed in the milling process, so there isn’t that big of a difference, however, minimizing consumption of processed foods is a pillar of many health-conscious lifestyles. If you don’t like brown rice or can’t quite master cooking it properly, cauliflower rice is a wonderful alternative. Cauliflower rice has far fewer calories than white rice (we’re talking 20 calories versus 210 calories per cup), fewer carbs, more fiber, more antioxidants, and is an easy way to add more vegetables to your meal. Remember, increasing the amount of fiber in your diet can lead to bloating. To avoid this, increase your fiber intake gradually, give your body time to adjust, and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. Introducing substitutions like cauliflower rice may seem a little daunting at first, but I promise you can make a mean vegetable stir fry with cauliflower rice and vegetable stock. Think about healthier eating as a lifestyle shift rather than a temporary diet —you want to find ways to get more from your favorite meals rather than depriving yourself. Reconsider how much space the different food groups occupy on your plate and try moving vegetables and lean meats to the forefront. Small changes
go a long way and have a greater chance of becoming a habit. Simple practices like Meatless Monday and Fish Friday are great opportunities to think about how you approach balance in a meal and get creative while embracing healthier eating by skipping the red meat. You might even try adding tofu to your stir fry and other dishes; it’s a great source of protein and will incorporate nicely with most recipes as it has a neutral flavor profile. When it comes to tweaking family-favorites, substitute ground turkey for ground beef as much as possible. I love to do that with tacos and lasagna. If you need some lunchtime inspiration, a protein bowl is a great option. Normally loaded with vegetables, beans, and rice, protein bowls taste great and will fill you up on a cold day. If you enjoy soup over the winter, try adding lentils and garbanzo beans to those recipes to increase the nutritional punch and keep you full for longer. My last suggestion would be to try adding cabbage, braised greens, and pickled vegetables to your diet over the winter. These items are full of probiotics and antioxidants which we can’t get enough of, especially during cold and flu season. On behalf of the entire Culinary staff, I wish you a happy, safe, and healthy 2024!
December 2023 | 9
Coach’s Corner: Body Language Screams BY BRANDEN BEETS | DIRECTOR OF RACQUET SPORTS
“Body language screams. It screams for everyone to see. In most cases, it’s a maturity thing but the second part of it is a lack of toughness. Mental toughness, that I’m not going to get down if I miss a couple shots or I fumbled a ball or missed some free throws. I don’t care. I’m tough.”—John Calipari
John Calipari, the Head Coach of the Men’s Basketball Team at the University of Kentucky, told the story of his star player, Anthony Davis, coming into halftime of the 2012 National Championship game. The kid didn’t make a basket in the first half of the biggest game of his life, and he knew his teammates were depending on him. He had won the Naismith award which is given to the best college basketball player in the country. He was the best player, as a freshman, on the number-one-ranked team in the country and projected to be the number one overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft at 18 years old. Anthony Davis must have had a big ego, right? There is no way he went into the National Championship with the mindset that he wasn’t going to play well, but that’s what was happening. How many times have you seen great players—in ANY sport —shut down when they aren’t playing well? You see heads drooping and players getting silent and feeling sorry for themselves. Sometimes you see another extreme—they get angry, emotional, and become a distraction to their partner or whole team. Anthony Davis, however, was tough enough to stand up, head held high, chest out, and look his teammates in the eye as they entered the locker room. “I can’t make a shot, but I’m going to get every rebound, block every ball and set you all up to score,” he went on to say. Anthony Davis didn’t have an ego about how many points he scored, he just wanted the team to
12 | December 2023
win. He finished the game with only six points. So, why did Coach Calipari play him for 36 minutes of a 40-minute game when shooting only one for ten? It’s because Anthony Davis was tough, and his teammates were feeding off his leadership. Instead of negativity, he found other ways to contribute. He followed through with his halftime declaration and finished with 16 rebounds, 3 steals, 6 blocks, 5 assists, and 6 points. When I was working with Team USA Tennis all the coaches had iPads set up with multiple data-tracking programs, one of which focused on body language. The coaches and I tracked all types of positive and negative body language and the correlation of those events to on-court performance. Fist pumps, positive self-talk, chest held high, head up after losing a point, and verbal excitement (“come on!” “Vamos!”) are examples of positive body language. Cursing, shrugged shoulders, outbursts, angry facial expressions, ball or racket abuse, rushing between points, and negative self-talk were examples of negative body language. The results were staggering. Not only did the player who exemplified bad body language make more errors in the proceeding points, but their opponent hit more winners as well! The opponent was fueled by the player’s bad body language and played better. The struggling player was “wounded” mentally, and their opponent frequently gained confidence and took advantage of the situation. We tracked matches as well as practices and it was clear that body language must be practiced! How do YOU respond when you miss an “easy” shot in practice? I challenge you to be mindful of your reactions. If they aren’t going to positively impact your game, are they worth it? They scream for everyone else to see as well. If you want your play to change for the better, you must change how you think and react first. So hit those practice courts and be tough!
Calendar of Events DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 CLUBHOUSE CLOSED MONDAY | HALF PRICE BURGERS WEDNESDAY
| HAPPY HOUR THURSDAY 5:30-7:30 PM
FRIDAY BUFFET 5:00-9:00 PM
| BREAKFAST SAT & SUN 8:00-10:00 AM
|
DEC 2023
JAN 2024
10
BRUNCH WITH SANTA 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
14
UGLY SWEATER HAPPY HOUR 5:30 - 7:30 PM
15
UGLY SWEATER TENNIS SOCIAL 6:00 - 9:00 PM
31
NEW YEAR’S EVE EARLY DINNER 4:00 - 7:00 PM
31
NYE FAMILY PARTY 6:00 - 9:00 PM
12
SUNDAY BRUNCH 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Holiday Hours
INDOOR PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 5:00 - 9:00 PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24
31
DANCE
ROCKIN’ NYE PARTY 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM
19
TRIVIA NIGHT 7:30 PM
20
GOODBYE PARTY FOR JOSH TREMBLAY, PGA Time TBA
Entire Club Closes at 3:00 PM Carts in by 2:00 PM
MONDAY, DECEMBER 25 Entire Club Closed
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26
Clubhouse Closed Racquets & Fitness, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31
Racquets & Fitness, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM Regular Dining Service Ends at 4:00 PM
MONDAY, JANUARY 1
Clubhouse Closed Racquets & Fitness, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
***Please note, Child Minding has altered hours during the holidays***
Josh Tremblay, PGA: A Story of Connections BY EMILY KAUFFMAN | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION
Director of Golf Josh Tremblay, PGA began his tenure at Springfield Golf and Country Club in early December 2009. His final interview came on October 18, 2009, which some of you may recognize as his birthday: “I had my choice and that was the final interview date, but I wanted to be the last one in the Committee’s mind. I had a ‘Top Ten Reasons to Hire Me’ in my presentation and the last one was ‘today’s my thirtieth birthday, this would be the greatest gift!’ It was cheesy, but it stuck with them.” According to Josh, his first year at SGCC was a mix of logistical problem solving, developing a rapport with the membership, and identifying needs rather than implementing a predetermined set of goals. “It became evident through questions and caring members’ thoughts and input that some things were needed here. There needed to be an investment in the junior program, which was really important to me, that’s why I got into this business, and the ladies needed some help increasing participation and getting support. Additionally, the Club was taking over ownership of the Golf Pro Shop and they needed organization, some new merchandise, etc. I brought over the inventory system I had put in place at Woodmont, and Dan [Hartmann], Ben [Hogan], and I got that up and running. It was very time-consuming in the first three-to-six months.” “I also wanted to put my stamp on things,” Josh continues. “There were traditional events that I wasn’t going to come in and just knock off the golf calendar, so instead I tried to figure out ways to insert things. We started the Masters Par 3 that first year, we got a lot of the junior programs going, and we hired a seasonal assistant and an intern and those individuals helped us a lot.” “As the first year went along, we got great feedback from the membership. They could feel the change and the energy, and
14 | December 2023
once you get confirmation that what you’re doing is working, you’re looking for more ways to do it without just jamming everything in. So really over the first three-to-five years, it was figuring out what the appetite was and building the programs and the staff out as we grew and the offerings grew.” The driving force behind Josh’s approach is the cultivation of relationships. Developing a culture where he and his staff had opportunities to interact with the members and establish meaningful relationships was a top priority. That meant having intentional scheduling and enough staff to give everyone the chance to engage and play golf. Josh received an opportunity early on to create the kind of connection with the membership he was aiming for when a couple of people from the Search Committee (Brad Rawls) and the Board (Ed Gray) asked for his help. “They wanted to plan a golf trip for their birthdays in February,” Josh recalls. “So, two months or so into the job, I was taking seven couples down to Orlando for a golf trip to Bay Hill and it snowballed from there.” Josh values not only his relationship with the membership, but with his fellow pros and recognizes the substantial influence both have had on his professional success. He has received a plethora of awards during his time at Springfield, the most recent being the PGA of America National Player Development Award. “It’s a tribute to the platform that Springfield allowed me to grow the game and engage with members and with other pros,” Josh says. “I look at the most recent recognition as a team award; we’ve had such great success and engagement within our Club that it really told the story of what we do. I think about when Larkin won the PGA of America Player of the Year, Robert’s recent recognition as one of the Top 50 Growth of the Game Professionals, and that Roger won the Assistant Professional of the Year award right before he came to Springfield. I want to give them the support and recognition
that they deserve and help them thrive.” When asked what he considers to be the golf program’s largest growth under his leadership, Josh doesn’t point to data-driven items like round counts, though those have steadily increased over the years. Rather, he is most proud of the connections he has seen blossom. “The Club has always had a great social atmosphere, but I think [the golf staff] has done a great job helping members get to know each other. Things like Twilight League and the Tremblay Two-Man Team, plus player development programs like Operation 36 and Women, Wine, and Wedges, help get more people into the game and help members meet each other.” Josh considers Twilight League to be one of the most impactful programs his team has implemented. “Say you have a brand new member who doesn’t know many people, or maybe doesn’t know anyone at all, but in a seven-week season they get to meet the seven other guys on their team and each week they’re playing with a different one of them, they’re
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meeting two other people from the other team, and they’re hanging out on the Patio afterward. By the end of the season, their connection to the Club and the golf program is solid. Twilight League has the broadest appeal from better golfers to high handicappers to people just looking to find their way at Springfield. I think the ladies version, the Whine & Dine, has done that as well.” Expanding the social nature of the golf program makes the game more accessible, reduces cliques, and improves the overall health of the Club. “People are still going to have their regular foursomes and their regular games, but they are more apt to be like ‘Oh, yeah, I’ll play with So-and-So, I played with him two years ago and had a great time’ instead of being standoffish. The other aspect that can’t be overlooked is creating an environment where newer golfers aren’t intimidated, where they feel welcome and know they have a place.” Josh recalls a few years ago when Lynn Gilbertson told him she had been nervous about playing more golf, but that the staff had made her feel comfortable and supported: “Now she’s out there all
the time, she’s participating in both the WGA 18 and WGA 9, and she’s active on their Boards. Those kind of things add up and create a true club where everyone feels connected.” Josh knows first-hand the impact a welcoming environment and encouragement from the professional staff has on a burgeoning golfer. “The reason I became a PGA professional is because I had a great mentor when I was a junior golfer. He looked like he was having a great time at his job every day. I started playing when I was five. My dad played some and then my mom decided that she wanted to learn, so she and I began about the same time. The three of us played as a family early on and that has had a big impact on my mentality. I am always trying to create ways to get the whole family out there and have everybody enjoy the game.” “As I got into my career, I had the opportunity to engage with ladies and try to grow their participation,” Josh adds. “My mom had struggled with cliques and some really staunch rule-oriented people that weren’t making golf fun.” For Josh,
making a sport accessible means helping people learn the ins-and-outs of the rules and etiquette in a way that doesn’t make them feel out of place. Part of that is setting the tone by considering how new golfers might view a program and examining ways certain segments of the golf population might be unintentionally alienated due to bias. The other part is changing the mindset of players already entrenched in the sport and helping them become part of the solution through collaboration on educational programs like Rules clinics. “You can tell somebody they aren’t doing something correctly in a way that is positive and helps them learn, or you can give them a slap on the wrist and potentially turn them away from the game.” Growing the game of golf has always been important to Josh, especially when it comes to developing junior golfers. He is credited as being one of the first professionals to bring PGA Jr League to the Middle Atlantic Region and has been instrumental in helping the program flourish.
December 2023 | 17
Springfield had a junior program in place before Josh arrived, but he quickly realized that the clinics weren’t being held at a time that was convenient for families. In order to come up with a solution, he organized a subcommittee of junior golf parents to act as a sounding board for program development and provide input on scheduling. Now a parent of three young children himself, Josh truly understands how something like the timing of a clinic can affect the level of acceptance a family feels as well as their ability to participate in the program. He has seen the ripple effect in the form of not only an overall increase in junior participation, but in the greater number of girls playing golf at Springfield. “It’s aspirational,” Josh says of the growing number of girls participating in the sport. “Think of our Club: you’ve got Alex Austin, Melanie Walker, Sidney Walker, and now Grace Saunders. They are an example for those younger girls. When girls feel welcome because they’ve got role models and other girls in their peer group it helps with that sense of belonging. I think of players that are coming up like Maddie Pool; she’s out there four or five days a week practicing and just shows that work ethic. We’ve had girls who have become collegiate golfers, we’ve had two consecutive Bowers winners, two consecutive Virginia Women’s Golfers of the Year, and that’s really gratifying to see. That’s not all on me or my staff—it’s really those girls that continue to be present, who come back and give back. We got some of them to play in our Pro-Junior event as guest pros. Grace is helping out with our junior program. Sidney was a mentor just like Alex was.” It’s not just the gender gap that Josh has worked to close, he’s also been an advocate for getting younger children involved in the game. The Birdie Basics program teaches children ages three to five the game of golf in a fun, age-appropriate way. “It’s a feeder for all our other programs. Now, we don’t lose a young boy or girl to another sport because they got that foundation early on and are ready for Operation 36 and PGA Jr League when they get older. Hopefully, it means a better retention rate as they become teenagers, too.” Birdie Basics also served as a way for Josh to spend time with his family; his eldest two children, Rory and Sloane, both participated for several seasons. “A golf pro’s work week ends on Sundays,” says Josh. “For a while, there was Birdie Basics on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 or 5:00 and my kids would show up and do the half hour clinic then I would go home with them. It was a cool way to end the week.”
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As much as Josh has loved running the Birdie Basics program, he recently handed over the reins to his staff who share his enthusiasm: “I had both Cameron Schwartz and Cameron Consolvo asking to run Birdie Basics. They’ve worked under me and now they’re taking it over to the point where I was just filling in if there was a staffing need. I feel really good about that program going forward.” It’s not all program growth and professional accomplishments; Josh’s time at Springfield has seen several personal milestones, too. He met his wife, Sarah, here when she worked in the Pro Shop and jokes that she still blames him for having to leave her favorite job. The two were married in 2014 and began their family in 2016, welcoming son Rory in August of that year. “Springfield has always been welcoming to my whole family and I was able to bring Rory to work with me occasionally. As our family grew with the addition of Sloane and Ellie that continued. I love being able to bring them out for a cart ride with Dad and they love to go find Mr. Tab and get a snack. The
ladies always want to say hi to the kids when they’re here or ask to see pictures of them. Golf pros work long hours and being able to share those special moments with my family has meant a lot.” “The people here are what makes Springfield special,” Josh says. “As long as we don’t lose sight of that, no matter who is here as the Director, the energy and engagement will keep going. Leaving is bittersweet; I’m excited for this new opportunity, but I’m going to miss it here. I look forward to the party on January 20 and seeing people there, and we’ll be back in the area to visit. I’ll always think of my time here fondly and I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to be your golf pro for these fourteen years. It’s been wonderful.”
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WGA-9 News BY MARCIA BISENIUS As 2023 comes to a close, let’s take a look back on the WGA 9’s wonderful golf season! We hosted a lovely, combined closing event with the WGA-18, run by Amy Rosenberger and Kathy Soules, to wrap up the season. All the tournament winnings (and donations) were donated to Shelter House. The money purchased 12 microwaves, 12 vacuums, and 8 bathmats. Shelter House provides each family with a new microwave and vacuum when they are relocated from the shelter into permanent housing. We are thrilled that twelve families will benefit from our “Season of Giving.” More WGA-9 Season Highlights: •
Stephanie Weinstein was our 2023 Champion
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Marie Rose, our Wednesday Play Chairperson, presented numerous Par, Birdie and Chip-In awards
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Lynn Gilbertson gave out cash winnings for the season-long Ringer game
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Many thanks to our volunteers for running such fantastic Golf Outings: Laura Clapsaddle, Gayle Burgoyne, Carol Staitman, Erin Jones, Marcia
Bisenius, Marie Rose, Karen Kelly, Stephanie Weinstein, Jessica Bradley, Amy Rosenberger, and Kathy Soules •
Christine Gray and Kim Sabo put on an absolutely wonderful Buddy Day event
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Thanks to Alison Webber and Claire Giambastiani for sponsoring a very successful MVTMA Invitational
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The WGA-9 team took 3rd Place in the MVTMA Match Play under the leadership of Prudence Brooks and Katie Stribling
We are very excited that Alison Webber will be our Chair for 2024! Thanks to Erin Jones for the past two years! Thanks to the Pro Shop and Front Office for their support and contributions to our fantastic season.
The WGA-9 is truly a wonderful and fun group of ladies. If you are considering taking up golf, please join the WGA-9 next season. Sign up will begin in February.
Lyn Squire Long-Listed for Book Award SGCC member Lyn Squire’s debut novel, Immortalised to Death, has been long-listed for the 2023 Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards (a division of Chanticleer International Book Awards). An avid reader of whodunits, Lyn Squire takes readers back in time to Victorian England and seamlessly reimagines the great Charles Dickens’ untimely death and his final, unfinished story in the form of a thrilling murder mystery. In a thrilling tale of secrets hidden in the literary legend’s halffinished manuscript, the mystery unravels as Dickens’ nephew and unlikely detective Dunston Burnett tries to find the solution to his uncle’s unfinished novel. Convinced the identity of his uncle’s murderer lies in the book’s missing conclusion,
Dunston becomes obsessed with investigating those closest to Dickens. Was he murdered because someone feared a ruinous revelation? Or was it revenge for some past misdeed? Immortalised to Death is the first installation of the Dunston Burnett trilogy and is sure to have you hooked as the mysteries unfold. Readers can expect deft plotting reminiscent of Agatha Christie, a refreshingly unique protagonist, and evocative prose which will have them questioning what is fact and what is fiction. You can boost Lyn’s chances of winning by reading his book and reviewing it on Amazon. Thanks for supporting our wonderful member community!
Let’s Bowl! BY STEVE THORMAHLEN
Calling any SGCC members who might be interested in taking a break from golf and tennis for bowling. For many years the SGCC Retirees Golf Team, after their season ended, would get together at Bowl America Burke on Guinea Road on Wednesday mornings to bowl a set, enjoy some laughs, place some bets, and have a really great time. Under new management (Bowlero), we are now being asked to form a 20 person “league” that would only compete amongst ourselves, but does allow us a preferred time and some discounts as well.
We are looking for any and all members who might be interested in joining the group for the season (mid-December to early March) once a week on either Wednesday or Thursday around 11:00 AM. If interested, please contact Steve Thormahlen at steve.thormahlen52@gmail.com. The sooner the better.
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Retirees Corner BY RUSTY ROESCH Springfield’s Retirees season ending Bash was a great success. The day was sunny and calm, the competition was tough, and the buffet was delicious as usual. The event marked the end of another highly competitive season facing off against fifteen other clubs across Northern Virginia. Our record is a strong and we made it to the playoffs, coming close to winning the championship. We have won it all thirteen times since the league started in 1973—not too shabby! One foursome stood out at the Bash this year with a fourteen under par two player net 128: Bill Schneider, Steve Barker, Rusty Roesch, and Bob Lawrence, playing as a blind. Tom Natoli, Mark Waters, Walt Szczypinski, and Mike Cifrino finished in second place at eleven under par (net 131). Additionally, Johnny Harper, Pat Cavanaugh, Jordan Weinstein, and Bill Wydo all finished in the money by taking home closest to the pin honors on separate three par holes. Our team president, Bruce Nordstrom, followed a great meal prepared by Chef Travis Simmons and his team with season ending awards and recognitions. The highest average of most Nassau points won went to George Alapas (2.19 points) for the Blue Team and to Tom Skrobala at 2.67 points for the Red Team. The highest overall average and winner of the Grundy award went to Steve Soules with a noteworthy average of 2.88 points per match. The best performance versus his personal index (that is, on average, how close a player comes to playing to his handicap) went to the Red Team’s Mark Waters at 0.4 strokes above his handicap and to Blue Team member Rusty Roesch at 1.1 strokes over his handicap. Our most improved golfer award for the year went to F.D. Rosenberger for improving his index by a remarkable 3.9 strokes. Multiple players were also recognized for recording particularly low average gross scores for the season: Pat Noble (81.5), Charles Rolen (81.4), Brad Westermann (81.2), Mark Crook (80.1), Mike Saylor (78.4), and, the best of all, Steve Bartlett delivered an average of 77.9 strokes per match. Bruce also recognized Red Team Captains Don Bisenius and Bruce Sheaffer along with Blue Team Captains Charles Rolen
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and Walter Burkhardt for all they do to make the season work. Additionally, attendees were reminded of all the extra effort Walter Burkhardt has expended the last couple of years to make sure Golf Genius works smoothly across the sixteen clubs in the League. Additionally, Brad Westermann was welcomed to the leadership team to succeed Charles Rolen as a Blue Team Captain. Charles is stepping down after co-leading the Blue Team for the last five years. He was recognized not just for his work as a
captain, but for all his many talents in making training videos, helping the other captains learn how to navigate Golf Genius, and much more. As a reminder, even though we are closing out the 2023 season, it’s never too late to join the Retirees (just be 50+ male golfer available to play on Thursdays). Next season will begin with a registration and organizational meeting in mid-March 2024. For more information on joining, please contact Bruce Nordstrom at bnorthstream@yahoo.com or 202.494.6558.
Senior B Team Season Recap BY MARK WATERS
The SGCC Mens Senior B Team successfully defended their title to end the year as champions once again! The team members celebrated the great accomplishment at a Champion’s party hosted by Captains Mark Waters and Charles Rolen at Mark’s Bar with lots of food, drinks, and delicious desserts. Over the regular season, SGCC teams played eighteen matches, nine home and nine away, versus nine other Northern Virginia clubs. We won ten (seven at home, three away), lost
six (one at home, five away), and tied two to take first place with the most points in the League and secure home field advantage. In the playoffs, we beat Piedmont and Lansdowne to win the League Title for the second consecutive year and the fourth time over the past six years. SGCC has been in this league since 2015. That’s a decent record! The captains want to keep an eye on the prize and hope to three-peat next year.
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