The Springfield Story, October 2023

Springfield Golf & Country Club

the

SPRINGFIELD STORY

October 2023

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

CANDIDATE PROFILES

ALL ABOUT PASO ROBLES

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

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 Tom Davis tdavis@gandrellc.com 703.772.5015 Joe English jenglish@bsbllc.com 571.214.4673

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

Racquets Campbell Palmer campbell.palmer@gmail.com 703.258.2255

Fitness Gayle Burgoyne gayleburgoyne@aol.com 703.455.3985

Rules Bruce Nordstrom bnorthstream@yahoo.com 202.494.655

Food & Beverage Brandon Streicher brandon.streicher@gmail.com 414.628.2362

Social Jen Palladino jennix4@aol.com 703.303.8779

Golf David Kelly davidnkelly@verizon.net 703.786.0980

Natalee Siveroni olahnatalee@gmail.com

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

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

www.sgccva.org

What it Means to Serve

BY DAVID DELORENZO | BOARD PRESIDENT

SGCC: Good afternoon, Mr. DeLorenzo. Thank you for taking the time to address our membership as you are wrapping up two years as the President of SGCC and we are in the midst of electing our new Board. Could you share your insights on what it takes to be a good Board member?

Mr. DeLorenzo: Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to discuss such an important topic. Being a member of the Board is both an honor and a responsibility. Here are some key qualities and considerations that I believe are critical for any member aspiring to excel in this role: •

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Passion for the Club: A genuine passion for the Club’s mission and values is paramount. While golf is in our name and our course is one of our most important assets, it’s not just about golf. In reality, our members are our most important asset and having a passion for the “club” is about the community and the overall experience we provide to our entire membership.

Commitment and Time: Serving on the Board demands a significant time commitment. Meetings, events, and decisions can take up a substantial portion of your schedule, so be prepared to dedicate the necessary time. This is time away from your family, your own activities, and your friends. Be prepared to be available.

Leadership Skills: A Board member should lead by example, serving as a role model for other members.

Leadership skills help drive positive change and inspire others. I do often find myself confronted with being in a situation where something is happening that I do not feel is in the best interest of the Club and I have to step in and steer things in the right direction. It is often conversations with your closest friends and allies that require you to separate yourself from the fray and be a leader of the “Club” versus a member of your group.

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Financial Acumen: We are running a business at SGCC, and the Board has fiduciary accountability to the membership. Understanding the Club’s financial health, budget, and the impact of decisions on its finances is crucial. Having good financial acumen and experience with making hard budgetary decisions ensures responsible stewardship of Club resources.

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Communication Skills: There is nothing more important for a good Board member, or really any leadership role, than effective communication. In a Board position you will often have to convey ideas clearly, listen to other members’ perspectives, and foster healthy discussions to reach consensus. You will also have to learn to put your own opinions aside and speak with the voice of the Board as a whole.

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Strategic Vision: Helping to develop and align a strategic vision for the Club’s future is a key responsibility of any Board member as this is crucial for the long-term sustainability and growth of the Club.

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Conflict Resolution: I can assure you that disagreements will arise, both within the Board and from the membership. A good Board member can navigate conflicts constructively, focusing on the best interests of the Club and its members.

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No Personal Agendas: Board members have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the overall Club. This means putting the organization’s well-being ahead of personal interests. Personal agendas or conflicts of interest can compromise your ability to make decisions solely for the benefit of the organization. Your inspiration to run for the Board may have come from a personal perspective, but as a Board member you must be part of a team

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and understand your perspective and experience should be used to express your opinion, but you must ultimately be willing to work towards Board solutions and speak with a singular voice once decisions are made.

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Networking: I highly recommend that any Board member builds relationships within all areas of the Club and if your concerns are mostly golf related, then network to the broader golf community as this can be beneficial with regard to all the other things I have already mentioned.

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Legal and Ethical Understanding: It’s essential to have a grasp of the Club’s bylaws, rules, and regulations, as well as ethical standards. Upholding these principles is crucial for maintaining trust and integrity. It was very enlightening for me to discover how many things at our Club were being managed by tradition, rather than policy. While we have addressed most of these things in my tenure, there is still a perception of what things are versus reality. The more you know about our Green Book, the more you can affect the membership.

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Volunteer Service: Serving on an SGCC committee before serving on the Board is probably the most important and valuable thing you can do in order to prepare for being on the Board. Committees have a narrower focus and are responsible for specific tasks or functions at SGCC and serving on a committee allows you to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of our organization, our mission, and our operations. This knowledge can be crucial when you step into a Board role as you’ll have a better understanding of the SGCC’s needs and challenges.

Serving on a committee can help you build trust and credibility, and it allows your fellow members to observe your dedication and competence, increasing the likelihood of being considered for a Board role in the future.

And much of this was done weighing the impact the global pandemic was having on our Club.

We recognized that our course and facilities needed basic improvements and modernization to remain competitive.

Knowing our financial situation after careful analysis of our 3-year projections, our Board worked together to develop a plan that outlined these improvements as a priority. These improvements included the removal of many trees on the course to improve the turf quality, rebuilding of a couple of holes that would be a model for future course changes, improving drainage throughout trouble areas of the course, and overhauling our tennis and fitness facilities to accommodate the growth of pickleball and other new programming, as well as attract new members to our Club by seeing that all of our offerings were as good as our golf course.

We conducted a thorough financial analysis to ensure we had the resources to undertake these improvements without compromising the Club’s financial stability. The Board communicated transparently with the membership about the proposed changes. We held town hall meetings, gathered feedback, and addressed concerns which helped build member support for the various projects.

We had multiple groups involved in the projects, including members with relevant expertise as well as Board members and Committee leads. Everyone worked to ensure the projects stayed on track, on budget, and met our high-quality standards.

We had to handle some conflict resolution along the way as not all members got involved early and did not buy into all the necessary pieces of the plan, but I have no doubt that the successful renovations and updates have not only enhanced the Club’s appeal but also attracted new members, which is critical to boosting our financial health. It demonstrated the importance of strategic planning, financial acumen, and effective communication in achieving positive outcomes for the Club.

SGCC: Those are valuable insights, Mr. DeLorenzo. Could you share an example of a situation where your Board made a decision that had a significant positive impact on the Club, and what qualities or actions contributed to that success?

SGCC: That’s a great example of the Board’s impact, Mr. DeLorenzo. Let’s delve a bit deeper into some specific aspects of being a Board member. Could you share some strategies or initiatives that the Board can undertake to engage Club members effectively and create a sense of community?

Mr. DeLorenzo: Certainly. One of the most impactful decisions we made during my tenure was to invest in course improvements and facilities. It required careful financial planning, strong leadership, and effective communication.

Mr. DeLorenzo: Member engagement is critical for the Club’s vibrancy. Some of the strategies that the Board and Club initiate include hosting regular member social events, leagues, and tournaments to foster a sense of camaraderie and build

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bonds across the many groups that exist at a club of our size.

We have an online portal that was made to be more prevalent the recent website design where members can provide feedback, suggest improvements, and access club information easily. Moreover, getting new people involved in committees or working on special projects gives a sense of ownership and responsibility. Additionally, we are introducing a Club-wide survey this fall to engage all classes of membership to gather information regarding some of our upcoming initiatives.

SGCC: Earlier, you mentioned tradition. Golf clubs often have deep-rooted traditions. How can a Board member strike the right balance between preserving these traditions and embracing innovation and change?

Mr. DeLorenzo: This is a fairly common challenge at any membership organization, not just country clubs. While many traditions are essential and give a club an identity, it is continuous improvement and innovation that keeps the club relevant. A balanced approach for a Board involves respecting core traditions while being open to modernizing aspects to keep in touch with emerging club trends with regards to benefits, utilizing more technology to drive efficiency, and embracing an evolving membership demographic for our area.

The key is to involve members in discussions about changes to preserve a sense of continuity.

SGCC: How can a Board member contribute to attracting and retaining members, particularly in a competitive landscape with regards to how families choose to spend their time and their money?

Mr. DeLorenzo: Attracting and retaining members requires a proactive approach and to continually be doing environmental scanning of our area, our offerings, and our opportunities. We work with the staff on many strategies, and they do a great job, but Board members can lead by example and demonstrate the Club’s value through their involvement. In recent years, we have approved referral programs where existing members could refer new ones, offering incentives like reduced fees or guest passes. More importantly, however, is our dedication to continually improve the Club’s amenities, service quality, and course conditions, which is critical not just for keeping members satisfied, but also attracting new ones.

SGCC: Lastly, what advice would you offer on succession planning for Board members to ensure the continuity of effective leadership?

Mr. DeLorenzo: Succession planning is often overlooked but crucial. I always encourage Board members to mentor

potential successors. I always find myself recruiting members to get involved with Committees as this is the best way to prepare for being a Board member. It is the responsibility of every Board Member and Committee Chair to help identify and groom future leaders. We have worked with our Nominating Committee over the last couple of years to develop clear guidelines and expectations for board roles and will periodically review and update them to reflect the evolving needs of the Club. Effective succession planning ensures a seamless transition each year and maintains the Club’s momentum. The Strategic Planning Committee is also working with our GM to look at the best governance models for a club such as ours to ensure that we are always pathing towards a strong and effective Board and Executive Committee.

SGCC: Mr. DeLorenzo, you’ve shared a wealth of information on being an effective Board member. Before we conclude, can you offer some advice for our aspiring Board members who are looking to make a positive impact from the moment they join the Board?

Mr. DeLorenzo: Absolutely, I’d be happy to. Here are some practical tips for aspiring Board members: •

Learn and Listen: Take the time to understand the Club’s history, culture, and current challenges. Listen to fellow Board members, staff, and Club members to gain insight into what matters most.

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Build Relationships: Forge positive relationships with your fellow Board members. Effective teamwork is essential for making sound decisions and implementing change.

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Commit to Education: Stay informed about developments in the golf industry and best practices for club management.

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Volunteer: Get involved in committee work and volunteer for tasks that align with your skills and interests.

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Communicate Openly: Be open and transparent in your communications with members. Share the Board’s decisions and the rationale behind them and be responsive to member feedback and concerns.

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Be Adaptable: Be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and evolving member needs.

Flexibility and the ability to pivot when necessary are key to long-term success.

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Lead with Integrity: Uphold the highest ethical standards in all your actions and decisions. Your integrity is a reflection of the Club’s values.

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Celebrate Successes: Recognize and celebrate achievements, both big and small. Positive reinforcement fosters a culture of accomplishment and motivates everyone involved.

Remember, serving on a Board of Directors is a rewarding experience, but it also comes with responsibilities. Approach the role with enthusiasm, dedication, and a genuine desire to contribute to the Club’s growth and success.

SGCC: Thank you, Mr. DeLorenzo, for sharing these valuable tips. Aspiring Board members can certainly benefit from your experience. Thank you for your continued commitment to SGCC. Mr. DeLorenzo: You’re most welcome. It’s been a pleasure discussing this important role, and I’m always here to support anyone looking to contribute to our wonderful country club.

Thank you for the opportunity to share these insights. 

Meet the Candidates

BY EMILY KAUFFMAN | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS I would like to start by thanking our six candidates for their time and cooperation. Each of them took time out of their busy schedules to learn about this project and answer my questions, even though some of the questions were a bit out of left field. The purpose of these profiles is to introduce the membership at large to their Board candidates. We have a wonderful member community, and many of you are fast friends. However, depending on what functions you attend, what leagues and teams you belong to, where you spend most of your time at the Club, and even what days you like to come up for dinner, you might not know the people you see listed on your ballot.

The purpose of these profiles is to provide a holistic picture of each of your candidates; you’ll learn about their vision for the Club and what is driving them to run for the Board of Directors, but you’ll also get a sense of who they are as people.

Each year we hold an election to fill three upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors. Voting members receive personalized ballot links and may vote for up to three people. Newly elected, or re-elected, Board members take office in January and serve a three-year term. The profiles are arranged alphabetically (they’ll be auto shuffled on your ballot though!). I hope you enjoy getting to know your candidates as much as I did! Before we dig into the meaty questions, let’s break the ice with the question that got the most laughs from our candidates: If you were in a talent show, what would your talent be?

JOHN ASTORINO: A comedian! I can’t dance, but if I did, you would certainly laugh!

WALTER BURKHARDT: Probably singing; I’d give it a shot, although I might drive most everybody away!

JOHN CASILL: Where’s the talent show and who’s the audience?! I’m a big karaoke fan and I’ve been known to bust out a little Ice, Ice Baby. I’m probably not a good singer, though some people think I am...I don’t know if they’re tone deaf or if I am!

DAN MCCARTHY: I would have to say comedian. I’m not saying I think I’m funny, but I am inclined to keep things lighthearted.

JOHN PALLADINO: I play a mean air guitar. I was in a band when I was younger; I played drums...I’ve never played an actual guitar, but people have probably seen my air guitar a few too many times at the Club.

Mr. Sampson opted to skip our theoretical talent show (I probably would, too), so his talents will remain a mystery a little longer.

Okay, now let’s turn the page and meet the candidates!

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JOHN ASTORINO joined Springfield Golf and Country

Club in 1999 after being invited to the Club as a guest by Bob Gault. He knew several other member families - the Morgans, Supkos, and Clapsaddles—all of whom ultimately ended up sponsoring him when he applied for membership. Despite joining when the old clubhouse was still standing, Mr. Astorino only had one meal there—it was Prime Rib Night; the next day, a wrecking ball went through the old building and construction on our current Clubhouse began.

For Mr. Astorino, SGCC is a haven of recreation. “All the amenities Springfield has to offer rival any club in the area,” he says. “Our golf course is a hidden gem and our Racquets and Fitness Center is better than most clubs.” Golf is his passion, and he runs the 9-5 group which is both fun and competitive.

One of his favorite Club events is the Fall Member/Guest which was introduced a couple of years ago and spans two days in late September.

Golf is definitely Mr. Astorino’s main hobby, but he is also a photographer and enjoys making pizza from scratch.

You’ve likely seen Mr. Astorino’s photos of the Fitness Center in different places around the Club such as the website and in old membership packets. His favorite travel destinations are Vienna and Sienna Italy because they are a photographer’s dream.

While he loves golf, Mr. Astorino says hanging out with his friends is the best part of spending time at the Club: “The membership is what makes the Club. It’s an extension of my home and a place to relax and have fun with friends and family. And with new members joining each year, those friendships keep growing and expanding.”

As the seventh of eight children, family has always been important to Mr. Astorino. He and his family have been members of the Club for twenty-four years; his children grew up here, and the Fourth of July Picnic holds a special place in his heart as an event he’s enjoyed with his family over the years. The community aspect of the Club, the friendly attitudes of the members and staff, and the active, social environment create a unique SGCC personality that, in Mr. Astorino’s opinion, constitutes our biggest asset and sets us apart from other local clubs: “Without our members and staff we are just the golf course and some buildings to eat, drink,

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play tennis, and work out in. When you go to a restaurant you know a few people, but when you come to the Club you know just about everyone. You are building relationships with so many different people.”

Mr. Astorino’s knowledge of the Club’s history and his firsthand experience with its legacy and changes are some of what he brings to the table in his bid for re-election. He’s made use of all of our amenities, understands where we’ve been, and has a clear idea of where we need to improve. “We’ve had a significant amount of change in the past three years,” he notes. “Right now, continuity in our governance will support the staff and secure the progress we have made. A lot of focus has been on our infrastructure. Things got done that were put off for too long. The glamorous things like a new tee box on #3 and changes to #5 and #15 are just a few examples on the golf course. New outdoor tennis courts and lighting as well as the refresh to the Racquets and Fitness facility are some other obvious changes.

The less glitzy changes, but much needed, were the repairs to our buildings: the Clubhouse roof, leaking plumbing, peeling wallpaper, and much more. There is still a lot to do. Serving on the Board is all about giving back to the Club I love.”

Over the years, Mr. Astorino has found myriad ways to give back to SGCC. His first opportunity came early on when he served as the Junior Golf Chair. He loves seeing people he knew as children in the junior golf program that are now adults and belong to the Club as Legacy members. His first stint on the Board began in 2004 and he served another two full terms while also joining the Membership Committee. He left the Board in 2012, but ran again in 2020, was elected, and has served as Vice President for the last two years.

When asked about the future of the Club, Mr. Astorino emphasizes the need for forward momentum: “We must always be moving forward and improving our services and amenities. I’ve visited almost every club in the area, and some things other clubs do better, but for the whole package, we are the best. We need to keep attracting new members and investing in our facilities and infrastructure. We also need to be mindful of who we are; I’d hate to see us change or lose our identity.”

WALTER BURKHARDT and his wife, Bonnie, moved to

the DC area in 1989 on a three-year field assignment. What was meant to be temporary soon became permanent as the couple grew to love the area. They liked the people and they liked the school systems; the only thing Mr. Burkhardt didn’t like were the dismal six-hour rounds of golf he played on Fairfax County courses. “I told my wife I was either going to give up golf or join a club,” Mr. Burkhardt recalled. “And she said join a club!”

The Burkhardts visited SGCC as well as Country Club of Fairfax and Army/Navy in their hunt for the right club for their family. By that time, it was the mid-nineties and the Burkhardts had two young children, ages four and six, so they were looking not only for a good golf course, but for a haven the whole family would enjoy. “What we found was that Springfield was a very family-oriented club,” Mr. Burkhardt said. “They welcomed our kids. Jim Harper was on the committee at the time and he took us around the Club and treated our kids like people, offered them hot chocolate and things like that. That’s why we joined.

I didn’t know anybody at the Club, but I knew that it had the right environment, the right feel to it, and I liked the course a lot.”

Mr. Burkhardt and his wife are regulars at the Club enjoying the golf course, playing pickleball, and attending various social events like wine dinners and Comedy Night. Mr. Burkhardt plays with the Retirees and serves as one of the group’s captains as well as playing with the Senior B Team. He is also on SGCC’s Handicap and Rules Committees, does course ratings for the VSGA, and serves as a Rules Official which has provided him the opportunity to visit other local clubs. Even though their own children are grown and have moved away, SGCC’s family-friendly atmosphere remains Mr. Burkhardt’s favorite thing about the Club: “I love sitting on the Patio on a summer evening and watching the kids running around and rolling down the hill. The feel of the Club hasn’t changed since we joined, and I think that’s great. I like seeing the new, young families coming in and injecting new blood and energy into the Club.”

Having grown up in Colorado, Mr. Burkhardt has always been enthusiastic about nature and the outdoors. The Burkhardts maintain a home near the Western Slope and spend several weeks a year enjoying skiing and hiking. Mr. Burkhardt is a

volunteer Ranger for the U.S. Forest Service and spends a lot of time in Eagles Nest Wilderness patrolling trails and teaching others about the wilderness. It is no surprise, then, that his appreciation of natural beauty extends to his home course here at Springfield: “I love standing on the third tee in the fall when the shadows are long and the trees are all gold and red; it’s just a peaceful place to be.”

That said, Mr. Burkhardt is adamant that it is the people, not the golf course, that is the Club’s biggest asset. “I’ve heard some folks say our biggest asset is our golf course, and, yes, it’s our biggest physical asset, it’s our most expensive physical asset and we have to protect it, but the Club itself is made up of the people. The people are our biggest asset and we have to make sure we protect them, too.”

For Mr. Burkhardt, it goes beyond a friendly atmosphere, great golf course, and gorgeous Racquets and Fitness facility. He sees SGCC as one large family made up of members and staff who genuinely care about one another: “When I retired, I began looking for ways to give back. That’s why I became a Rules official. It’s why I stepped up and became a captain on the Retirees. I’m running for the Board because I want to make use of the business skills I gained while working and bring them to the betterment of the Club because it has been a big part of my family’s life for the last 25 years. I have the time to do it now and I have skills that will be beneficial to the Club going forward. Our Board is a service board; it is there to serve the membership, to remember that our stakeholders are our members, and to provide the leadership to the staff to make sure we have the quality membership experience we’re looking for.”

Mr. Burkhardt stressed that the staff is a big part of what makes Springfield a special place. “What blows me away is how quickly the staff knows your name,” he said. “It’s really important because it shows that they care enough about the members, that they care enough about you being there, to take the time to learn your name. It really connects you to the Club. I can’t say enough about how impressive and special that is.”

Leadership management, a penchant for motivating others, and a mentorship background are just a few of the skills Mr. Burkhardt brings to the table. If elected, Mr. Burkhardt also

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plans to bring his financial expertise to bear to help ensure the warm, family-friendly culture that originally drew him to SGCC remains firmly in place while also planning ahead: “The future is bright. We have a fantastic facility, we have a good membership, and we have a good culture, but we also have challenges in terms of making sure we can continue to attract new members who have a greater choice in how they spend their disposable income now that the pandemic is over

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and people are traveling more. Costs are rising everywhere, so how can we maintain our quality membership experience without raising dues to the level that we drive away the very members we want at the Club? We want to attract those young families, and they can’t keep spending more and more every month. I think what I learned in the corporate world in terms of balancing expenditures while maximizing stakeholder benefit will be important going forward.”

JOHN CASILL joined Springfield Golf and Country Club

in 2017. He and his wife, Stacy Usher, were living in Daventry and neighbors with several member families including the Dardens, the Garstkas, and the Spatas. At the time, Stacy belonged to several tennis clubs and was looking for another to either round out or consolidate her experience. Bill and Marilyn Darden encouraged them to tour the Club, and everything else is history.

They originally joined as Social members, but upgraded to Golf within a few months. Even though neither of them had played golf prior to joining, they quickly became enamored with the sport: “I mean I golfed, but I didn’t golf, I would hang out on the course for a couple hours with my buddies. Then we joined the Club and I started actually playing. Stacy would come back from playing tennis and I’d still be playing golf, so she decided she might as well learn too. It’s been an incredible experience for us. I’ve taken some tennis lessons, but she’s played her whole life, so it’s hard to do that together. When we have time to go and do something together, we lean toward golf because it’s a more independent thing. She can golf at her level and I can golf at mine—we’re both not all that great—and neither of us is impacting the other, whereas she plays tennis constantly and I can’t go and integrate into her games—I’ll never get that good!”

Emphasizing that the membership is the most treasured aspect of SGCC, Mr. Casill believes the golf course is our biggest asset: “It’s what draws people here, it’s why people pay to be here. It’s absolutely imperative that we prioritize the golf course, but not to the extent that we’re neglecting the rest of the Club. It’s our biggest asset and what enables us to support the rest of our assets and do things like resurface the tennis courts.”

While his family’s love for the golf course and the tennis courts is undeniable, it is the people and social life that Mr. Casill loves most about SGCC: “If all the people disappeared and all we had was the golf course, obviously, I’d come play golf, but it wouldn’t be the same. The people are what it’s really about—meeting up with people, meeting new people, talking to people you haven’t seen in a long time. The Club is a congregational place where even if you see someone you’ve never met before, you already know you can walk up and have something in common; you’re part of the same community.”

Mr. Casill spends most of his free time at the Club; he and his wife recently bought the house right off the 8th green, so having SGCC in his backyard is a dream come true. Even when they aren’t physically at the Club, they are usually spending time with the friends they’ve made here. Mr. Casill is a bit of an introvert, and when he and Stacy aren’t entertaining he enjoys unwinding with a puzzle or Netflix. That doesn’t happen too often, though, since even Mr. Casill’s secondary hobby —football—brings him up to SGCC: “I’m a Buffalo Bills fan, so my life is pretty much consumed with that from August through hopefully February. I’m at the Club every Sunday watching football.”

Mr. Casill has been intimately involved with every organization he’s been a part of whether it was serving on the Leadership Committee in his college fraternity, chairing the Recreation Committee of his HOA, or joining committees at SGCC. “I want to be involved, I want to give back,” he says. He joined the Membership Committee shortly after joining SGCC and served as Committee Chair. He is also part of the Social and Strategic Planning Committees. “Running for the Board is the natural next step for me.

Members bring ideas to Committees, the Committees percolate those ideas and bring them to the Board, and the Board has to try to integrate the ideas with the available resources and come to a decision. I want to bring what I’ve learned on the different Committees to help make those decisions and then be able to explain why the decision was made to the rest of the membership.”

Effective communication is one of Mr. Casill’s strong suits. He believes in the importance of not only explaining things clearly, but knowing when to remain quiet and listen. He is hopeful that his committee experience will further enable him to communicate clearly: “If someone asks ‘how do I become a member?’ I can explain the value and sell it. Then we have all these new members and the next question is how do we entertain them and get them involved? That’s where the Social Committee comes in. On Strategic Planning we ask, in fifteen years are we still going to be able to entertain people and keep our membership levels where they are? Are we going to be able to keep the positive environment at a price point that allows us to have the right people at the Club and maintain our identity?”

“The most underrated part of our Club are the opportunities

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to get involved,” Mr. Casill says. “I did so many interviews for the Membership Committee and it was always something I brought up, because no matter what type of membership you have, you’ve got an opportunity to join a committee and really get involved not only in how the Club operates, but the future of the Club.”

As for how he sees the future, Mr. Casill says it all comes down to our identity and who we are as a community. “We’re a family community; that’s the lifeblood of the Club,” he says. “And you don’t have to be a self-made millionaire or a silver spoon kid to be part of our Club. I think keeping those family values and that accessible core of our identity is crucial.”

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Mr. Casill also points out that change takes time: “We have improvements that we can make, but being able to just continue to grow…I think we’re a good size, especially for the assets that we have. The tee sheet is almost fully packed every weekend and the restaurant is full. We’ve recently improved the availability of tee times and we’ve improved the quality of the food. The future is in these iterative improvements that keep our core values intact.” After all, he says, people joined Springfield for a reason; the Patio is packed on weeknights for a reason: “There are improvements to be made, but finding a way to do that while remaining true to who we are is paramount.”

DAN MCCARTHY has spent the majority of his life in

Springfield; he may not have been born here, but he was raised here, he raised his family here, and he considers himself a Springfield native.

The McCarthys have been members of Springfield Golf and Country Club since 1999. Before joining, Mr. McCarthy visited the Club several times as a guest and found himself growing more and more fond each time he came to SGCC: “I enjoyed it every time, and I thought this would be a great place for me and my family…now it’s twenty-four years later and it turns out I was right.”

Mr. McCarthy likes playing golf, socializing with his friends at SGCC, and spending time with his family. He says his favorite place to visit is New York because that’s where his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter currently live: “I’ve been blessed to have gone to many, many beautiful places in the world, but I would say that is my favorite place to visit right now so I can see them.”

Mr. McCarthy plays in the Tuesday Night League, is on the B Team, and is an alternate for Senior Scratch. His wife, Tracy, is an avid tennis player and has played on several of SGCC’s tennis teams. The McCarthys have been to most SGCC social events over the tenure of their membership and while they’ve rarely come across an event they didn’t enjoy, the 3 Day Member/Guest is by far Mr. McCarthy’s favorite due to how well done it is each and every year.

Our biggest golf tournament of the year may be Mr. McCarthy’s favorite event, but what he loves most about the Club is the warm, welcoming, friendly attitude of the members. “The members are our biggest asset. Period. It’s not our golf course, it’s not our facilities, it’s our members; they’re our biggest asset and they should be our biggest concern,” says Mr. McCarthy.

“You feel the acceptance and warm welcome from the moment you step on the property. Tracy and I have made dozens of lifelong friends over the years that we’ve met at the Club.”

previously served on the Board during particularly financially challenging times, my experience will be instrumental in fostering both short and long term financial strategies. My professional background as a business owner of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical contractor will bring a practical perspective to our infrastructure development, which is crucial because our infrastructure is aging.”

When it comes to the future of SGCC, Mr. McCarthy emphasizes the need for decisions made in the interest of the entire Club. In particular, he’d like to see the Board endeavor to support the influx of young professionals and young families who have joined our community over the last few years, particularly as it pertains to services and financial stability.

“The newer, younger families that are moving in might worry about cliques or special interest groups,” he explains. “I would endeavor to support decisions in the best interest of the entire membership, not just one group.”

Due to his previous term on the Board, Mr. McCarthy is familiar with best practices as well how other clubs handle governance. He is impressed with the current Board and all that they’ve accomplished: “Over the past few years, in my opinion, our Club has made remarkable strides in a positive direction, including, but not limited to, our membership base, facilities, and financial stability. I would be eager to contribute to this positive trajectory. ”

Candidate Profiles Continued on Page 14

Mr. McCarthy has served on the Board once before; he took office in 2018 and was Vice President in 2019 and 2020. He is confident that his previous Board experience as well as his business acumen will be useful in the years ahead: “Having

October 2023 | 13

JOHN PALLADINO and his wife, Jen, joined Springfield

Golf and Country Club in the summer of 2014. At the time, Jen was a member of Washington Sports Club where she met SGCC members Don and Sandy Watkins. “They invited us to dinner one beautiful summer afternoon. We sat out on the Patio and were like ‘Oh my goodness, this is Springfield?!’ It was just a beautiful view; we’d lived in the area for about thirty years and had no idea the Club existed.” The Palladinos were sold after just one meal and quickly filled out a membership application; they joined as Social members later that month.

The Palladinos weren’t avid golfers prior to joining, but the golf bug bit quick and they upgraded to Golf within a year and a half.

The more golf they played, the more involved in the SGCC community they became. The Palladinos were instrumental in bringing Spin classes and a larger selection of beers on tap to the Club: “When we first joined there were only three beers on tap and Jen really wanted a Spin class.

That was something we got rolling within our first two years of membership; it was exciting and really nice that when you had a suggestion things moved.”

The Palladinos enjoy spending their free time playing golf, especially since Jen has become a more active golfer after attending the Club’s Women, Wine, and Wedges and Operation 36 clinics.

The couple is extremely social and they like seeking out interesting activities in the area. Whether they’re attending an event they discovered in the Weekend section of the Post or checking out a new restaurant, the Palladinos are always thinking about how they can bring the idea and apply it at SGCC. According to Mr. Palladino, the best part of belonging to Springfield is the social environment.

“I’ve heard a lot of feedback from SGCC members as well as members at other clubs that there’s no such thing as a night life at other clubs, or at least it’s rare. We walk into the Club at 7:30 PM or so whereas their clubs are empty at that time and getting to close down for the night,” says Mr. Palladino.

“I don’t know what it is about Springfield, but people just love coming up here and hanging out. You never know who’s going to be here, and it’s nice to interact with different people. That’s what sets us apart. A golf course is a golf course, yes ours is gorgeous and probably one of the best looking ones in the area, but the social aspect of the Club is just different.”

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Their love of the social life at SGCC led the Palladinos to join the Membership and Social Committees which allowed them to become more involved with bringing new families into our community and keeping them entertained and engaged once they are here. Mr. Palladino believes it is both the golf course and the personality of the membership that lead prospective members to join the Club: “Our members are engaging.

They’re not snooty and they love it here. That’s attractive.

SGCC is a casual, fun, social place, and new members and prospective members feel that. I think that’s why our Club has been so successful, especially over the last six years.”

Mr. Palladino is wrapping up his first term on the Board and running for re-election. “I originally decided to run for the Board because I realized it was another opportunity to help make the Club more successful, just like coming up with ideas for the Social Committee or the beer taps or Spin classes.

If there’s a way to help make the Club better, I want to be part of that,” says Mr. Palladino.

His biggest accomplishment during his first term was turning the Food & Beverage Committee into its own standalone committee rather than a subcommittee under the House Committee. Mr. Palladino has worked in the restaurant industry his entire adult life, and he wanted to bring his expertise to help improve the quality of the service and food at the Club.

Mr. Palladino acknowledges that the restaurant industry and the country club industry aren’t directly comparable, but there is some overlap and his professional background brings a useful perspective to those areas including his knowledge of food, how a kitchen runs, and his extensive contacts when it comes to equipment repair.

He served as Chair of the Food & Beverage Committee, then as the Board liaison to the Committee. He is still on the Committee and actively works with the staff to help them meet their goals: “We had a lot of member feedback in the beginning when the service and food weren’t where they are now. We’ve been through three chefs since then; Travis is very open to listening to all kinds of ideas and he’s done a wonderful job. We’re moving in the right direction. The Committee was instrumental in getting the pizza oven in the kitchen, and now it’s our biggest seller every week. I brought Jen Keeler here; I knew she would be successful because she’s got that drive. You

can see she’s always thinking about how to make things better and service has really improved, especially in the Bar.” These sorts of changes and improvements are what Mr. Palladino sees shaping the future of the Club. “We can’t be complacent,” he says. “I have so many ideas for big, long term

changes, but we need the money to do it. We’re much better off than when I first joined, and hopefully we can see some of the ideas implemented over the coming years. It doesn’t have to happen right now; whenever I see progress it’s exciting. It’s great to see the ideas we had a few years ago coming through.”

Candidate Profiles Continued on Page 16

October 2023 | 15

BOB SAMPSON joined Springfield Golf and Country

Club in 1997 after hearing about the Club from a good friend who was a member. He and his significant other, Debbie Bird, are often at the Club enjoying spending time with their friends and family. Mr. Sampson is an avid golfer, and he is also a frequent visitor at the Fitness Center and Pool. He and Debbie love the sense of community at SGCC as well as the Club’s relaxed environment and friendly atmosphere.

Mr. Sampson has many fond memories of the Club. He hosted his mother’s 90th birthday party here and enjoys playing golf with his grandchildren and watching them develop a love for the game.

Golf is an important part of Mr. Sampson’s membership experience. He plays in the Twilight League and has a regular Friday golf group he looks forward to hitting the course with each week. The 3 Day Member/Guest is one of his favorite events hosted by the Club.

When he’s not at the Club, Mr. Sampson enjoys reading, boating, fishing, and traveling. Some of his favorite destinations include Deltavilla, Nags Head, Costa Rica, and Belgium. Mr. Sampson prefers to spend his free time playing golf, so his membership at SGCC is a central fixture in his life.

Mr. Sampson firmly believes that not only does our Club have a lot to offer, but that the membership recognizes and values the extensive amenities and activities for all ages and interest groups.

He has friends at most area clubs and says it is the people, both members and staff, as well as the atmosphere and golf course that sets SGCC apart from the rest.

Mr. Sampson’s professional background includes forty years of experience in finance and management as well as a history of volunteer work. He joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and is finishing his second term and seeking re-election.

Mr. Sampson has served as Board Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2019. He also serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Part of his efforts as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee include the development of a member satisfaction survey that will be distributed in the coming months and help define where we want to go as a club.

“My priorities as a Board member will be to continue to listen

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and be responsive to the entire membership, support our efforts to grow membership, keep the Club financially sound, and continue to improve our incredible golf course and other facilities,” says Mr. Sampson.

“Serving on the Board is my way of giving back to our amazing community,” Mr. Sampson continues. “We have come a long way as a Club and I would like to continue to support the efforts of the Board and Management. We have a bright future. When I look at our progress over recent history, I am very encouraged about what the coming years will bring.”

General Manager’s Message

BY STEVE LAWSON, CCM | GENERAL MANAGER/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

As the cooler weather approaches, the kids head back to school, and the leaves begin to change colors, I hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable summer. Now as we embrace fall, it is time to turn our focus on the final stretch of 2023. For many areas of the Club, these next 120 days are arguably the most exciting and action-packed of the entire year. In this month’s Springfield Story, you’ll find a whole host of activities, events, clinics, camps, golf tournaments, and culinary experiences that truly exemplify the Springfield lifestyle and are the reason so many of you look forward to this time of year.

The social calendar is shaping up for a spectacular fall season full of great dining experiences and Club events for the entire family to enjoy. This year, we’ve opened up reservations for nearly every upcoming dining and social event through the end of the year. Make sure to check out the details of these fantastic events on the Club calendar. If registration isn’t open yet, keep checking—it will be open soon: SAT

10.14 Flying Ace Distillery & Brewery Trip

SAT

10.14 Ballroom Dancing 5-Week Session Begins

The Annual Meeting coincides with the close of the voting window and will be hosted at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 17 in the Ballroom. If you’re not able to join us in person, the meeting will be streamed over ZOOM as well. This is an important event to attend as part of our club community, so mark your calendars and plan to join your Board of Directors for the meeting and Town Hall presentation.

Just a reminder, if you don’t already have the Springfield Mobile App on your phone or iPad yet, get it today. You’ll be glad you did. It’s a quick and easy way to stay on top of everything happening at SGCC. 

SUN 10.15 Goat Yoga FRI

10.20 Adult Halloween Mixer & Block Party

SAT

10.21 Mixed Doubles Pickleball Social & Tournament

TUE 10.24 Duckhorn Wine Dinner SAT

10.28 Family Halloween Festival

FRI

11.03 Dueling Pianos

THU 11.23 Thanksgiving SUN 11.26 Gingerbread House Party October also brings with it the annual Board of Directors Election. This year, the following members are running as candidates for the Board: John Astorino, Walter Burkhardt, John Casill, Dan McCarthy, John Palladino, and Bob Sampson.

Please take the time to read about the candidates, both in this issue and on the Governance page of the website where you will find their bios.

October 2023 | 17

Food & Beverage Corner

BY JEN KEELER | DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGE

“Wine is bottled poetry.”

— ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

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The Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a large, diverse appellation located within northern San Luis Obispo County, California. It is comprised of multiple distinct grape growing regions. The appellation is made up of 612,000 acres of which more than 40,000 acres are in wine grape vines. It is the fastest growing and largest by far of three AVAs in San Luis Obispo County, and the main reason that the county ranks behind only Napa, Sonoma, and Monterey counties in planted acreage among California’s coastal growing areas.

Paso Robles is in the heart of California’s Central Coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles. California’s Central Coast is geologically different from other California wine growing regions. Unlike others with deep, rich fertile valley soils, over thirty soil series are found in the Paso Robles AVA. Named for its local oak trees, the city El Paso de Robles, “The Pass of the Oak Trees,” is surrounded by scenic rolling hills, California’s premier wine regions, and is a handful of miles from the beach. Paso Robles is home to more than 200 wineries.

It is a community of cowboys and innovators where food, art, and wine meet small-town charm. In this article, you will learn about the history of Paso Robles, meet some of the great wines traveling from Paso to our wine list here at Springfield, and discover fun reasons to go and visit this wonderful wine region in California.

Paso Robles was founded in 1889 as a natural hot springs destination. It grew into an agricultural economy and has since evolved into a top destination for wine tourism. Sulfur springs still flow through Paso Robles and are open as public healing baths at River Oaks Hot Springs Spa, Franklin Hot Springs, and in certain guest rooms at the Paso Robles Inn. The city of Paso Robles is in the northern part of San Luis Obispo County on the original trail chosen by the Franciscan Friars known as the El Camino Real which connected twentyone Franciscan missions. One of the historic El Camino bells hangs in the Paso Robles city park.

It was the lure of gold that brought the original founders of Paso Robles to California: brothers Daniel and James Blackburn and Drury James, the uncle of infamous outlaw Jesse James.

Drury James was an architect and built the original Hotel El Paso de Robles as well as a two-block city park, envisioning a planned spa community for a hot springs tourist attraction. At one point, Paso Robles was known as “Almond City” because it had the largest concentration of almond orchards in the world.

Many of these ranch lands have become vineyards for the region’s concentration of wineries.

Paso Robles is one of the few places in California with limestone soil. Limestone is a highly prized element in the wine community. It is the basis of terroir (how a particular

region’s climate, soils, and aspect affect the taste of its wine) in Burgundy, Champagne, Sancerre, and SaintÉmilion. The Spanish conquistadors and Franciscan missionaries introduced wine grapes to Paso Robles in 1797, and the Padres of the Mission San Miguel were the first to produce wine in the area. Commercial wine making was not introduced to the region until 1882.

Ascension Winery was established by Andrew York, a settler from Indiana, at that time. The winery has been renamed and is now known as York Mountain Winery. Today, two-thirds of Paso Robles wineries are boutique wineries producing fewer than 5,000 cases a year. The most widely planted varieties in the Paso Robles appellation are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Paso Robles has optimal growing conditions for grapes. It is known for its cool coastal climate and has a greater day-to-night temperature swing (as great as fifty degrees!) than any other appellation in California. This temperature swing allows vines the ability to refresh themselves resulting in ripe fruit flavors and tannins, but lots of refreshing acidity and aroma.

Paso Robles’ distinct meso-climates, diverse soils, and extended growing seasons help produce premium wines.

Gaps in the mountains bring wind and fog making it perfect for growing Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Sauvignons.

Obviously, there are many great wineries operating out of Paso Robles.

Ancient Peaks Winery was named after the towering Santa Lucia Mountains that border Margarita Vineyard. These peaks help distinguish the complex geology and marine climate of the vineyard’s terroir. DAOU, meaning “light” in Arabic, is a family-owned winery in the Adelaida district. The DAOU Mountain is created from a

20 | October 2023

very rare soil: calcareous clay. This soil is famously found in Saint-Émilion and the right bank of Bordeaux and has a high limestone content, making it ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varieties. My Favorite Neighbor was inspired by the close friendship between Eric Jensen, who owns Booker Winery, and fellow winemaker Stephen Asseo of L’Aventure Winery. It is the shared spirit of two passionate winemakers that helped create this wonderful wine which embraces and celebrates community and close friendships.

Edna Valley has the longest growing season in California, February to November, due to a phenomenon known as the Pismo Venturi Effect as the cool Pacific breeze from nearby Morro Bay clears the evening fog from the valley. The later harvest dates result in greater flavor complexity in the area’s signature wines. Chardonnay is the leading variety planted in Edna Valley and was actually the first grape to be planted there in the 1800s.

Paso Robles Wine Country is known as a pioneer in sustainable vineyard practices and is historically home to dry-farmed vineyards and organically farmed, biodiverse terrain. The wineries on our menu from Paso, including DAOU, Edna Vally, Ancient Peaks, and Booker, produce wines with practices that prioritize environmental, social, and economic responsibility.

The designation “Certified Sustainable” comes from a variety of certification boards such as Sustainability in Practice (SIP) and California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA).

Eric Jensen of Booker Winery won the 2022 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year. He has exemplified the spirit of Paso Robles with outstanding vision and leadership. Booker is known for using a flock of over a thousand sheep to help maintain the beauty of their vineyard throughout the spring season. This practice removes the need for spring mowing and has the added benefit of the sheep fertilizing the soil as they go.

If all this cool wine knowledge about Paso Robles isn’t enough, another fun fact to whip out at Trivia Night is that the San Luis Obispo region is a favorite among filmmakers. The GuadalupeNipomo Dunes were used in the 2007 Pirates of the Caribbean installment, At World’s End. Remember, the best things in life are to be enjoyed with friends and a glass of wine. 

October 2023 | 21

Fact or Fiction: The Many Facets of Spot Reduction

BY MOLLY FIELD | COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

We recently sat with SGCC’s Director of Fitness, Reggie Edwards, to discuss the concept of “spot reduction.” Not to be confused with “spot training,” which we will go over later in this article and which one can actually achieve, the hard data is less easy to come by when one is seeking verifiable, reliably sourced, consistent, and measurable data of the efficacy of spot reduction. In short, wait for it…actual proof is a little…well… spotty.

What is spot reduction, you ask? It’s a fat reduction strategy that suggests that strictly performing discrete reps of any particular muscle or discrete muscle groups so that the fat surrounding that particular muscle or muscle group will diminish and the result would be a more defined targeted muscle or group.

Spot reduction is conflicted. It’s like that fitness thing that we wish could be All The Things we need. If it worked, it would be endlessly researched and supported, and everyone would be doing it. It would be a miracle, even akin to a Fountain of Youth.

Alas, the promising (credible, substantiated, data-driven, and reliable) results we wish it would show simply don’t exist.

22 | October 2023

That said, life is about variety, and we want to be fair: some (very few) studies do suggest some spot reduction occurred in certain trials with multiple controls. The subjects were required to follow a very low-fat diet; and on mostly discrete days perform high intensity exercise; strength training with active recovery (active recovery examples include walking, swimming, cycling, jogging, yoga [balance and focus work], or dynamic stretching); and cardio to help burn more fat along with the “spot” (targeted muscle) work; and a day of actual rest. If all requirements were met, the reduction occurred, but it was still minuscule when measured within the scheme of overall bodyfat loss of the entire body performing the spot reduction work.

While we don’t want to throw out the whole idea, Reggie says he’s not a believer in spot reduction: “So they’ve done measurements with skinfold calipers, they’ve done measurements with MRI scans to see if this stuff is really happening, and most of the readings are false readings of fat loss. So, when someone comes to me with a fat loss goal, I tell them, ‘You can do all the strength training you want, but you’re still going to have to include cardio output to burn calories.

And if you don’t include strength or resistance training, you’re

in your own way.’ It’s all about what we already know: it’s about diet, it’s about cardio, and it’s about muscles.” Many fitness professionals are hard-pressed to endorse a spot reduction strategy.

By alternating your methods (cardio, weights, higher intensity workouts) and intentionally including a day of actual rest (if you want to do something to help you rest and reset for the return, our Yin Yoga on Tuesday nights at 7 PM over Zoom or our hybrid Gentle Yoga on Sunday mornings at 9 AM are both appropriate for a rest day), you will succeed. Another rest day activity that aids in fluid clearing is sauna, steam room, a massage, or a facial.

Perform each method, alternating days, twice a week per category (and up to four times a week if you want to do extra cardio), and you will start to see results around twelve weeks.

If you want to do it right, healthfully, safely, and intelligently, it takes time. To stay motivated, keep a log or chronicle your achievements with photos. Having those rest (actual rest/ inertia) days included will absolutely benefit your program because overtraining, exercise burnout, and exhaustion are real things, and can set back even the most fit humans.

So, what’s “spot training”?

It’s muscle training and strengthening (and if desired, muscle building) of specific muscles to achieve a certain goal: mass loss, mass growth, or strengthening after an injury or surgery repair. Unlike spot reduction, spot training actually works. If you have a rotator cuff repair, during your injury and recovery, you lose muscle mass, sometimes even before the injury/onset of pain because weakness often contributes to joint injuries. Your post-op physical therapy plan would include working both shoulders but should include extra and distinct work on the repaired shoulder to build back your mass.

If you want a bigger chest, arms, legs, and glutes (booty), it’s about progressing and always upleveling your routine: heavier weight, more reps, consume a ton of protein, and enjoy your meals. If you want defined muscles, that’s heading back into spot reduction territory and requires the multi-pronged requirements of the trial we shared above.

Sadly, the research hasn’t changed or provided us with a silver bullet to magically reduce the fat on our exteriors. Watch this space: What’s even more important is taking care of the fat surrounding our internal vital organs.

Regardless, your fitness staff is here for you. Come see us, we are here to answer your questions and help you live your best life. We’ve got everything you need to get started! 

Coach's Corner

BY BRANDEN BEETS | DIRECTOR OF RACQUET SPORTS

“Everyone chokes, it’s about how you respond to it.” –John McEnroe It’s true: everyone can get nervous, or too excited, when faced with competition. Those feelings are a natural, instinctual response when something is on the line, and you want it.

This response can even contribute in a positive way to your performance. However, when emotions negatively affect a player, as they often do, it’s the player with resilient confidence that will prevail.

Like most of you, I love tennis! I couldn’t get enough of the US Open and stayed up way too late watching many of the matches on TV. A young nineteen-year-old Coco Gauff is the Women’s US Open Champion, and this has been an amazing summer for her. Going to Wimbledon earlier this year, Coco was more mature, prepared to handle the big stage, and her body was conditioned for the tournament. Her team was in place and her game was better than ever. The stage was set for Coco to win multiple Grand Slams and take the number one spot in the world. But when the tournament started, Coco’s performance was awful. She lost in the first round after being seeded and I’m sure spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out how to move forward after such a loss.

Coco Gauff choked. Credit to Sofia Kenin for playing well enough to win but as the #7 seed, Coco was clearly the better player and simply did not execute. The questions came… Would Coco have fragile confidence, or had she worked on her mental toughness enough to exude resilient confidence? Fragile confidence is like a cracked egg. This type of player is confident when things are going well but can crack under pressure. This individual can easily become negative and lack trust in their shots. A bad matchup, a slow start, poor weather conditions, a bad call, and fatigue are examples that can rattle this type of player. On the other end of the spectrum, a resilient player

24 | October 2023

will go for their shots under pressure and find a way to win even when they are not playing their best. This type of player won’t string together lots of bad points and knows that even when they play a bad point, they can accept that and move on. They will play great on the next point!

Coco went on to win her first WTA 500 event (Citi Open) and WTA 1000 event (Western & Southern Open) in August following Wimbledon. Then came the US Open and a huge test in the semi-finals. It was an incredibly emotional match. There was a 49-minute protest that interrupted play. Coco served for the match but was broken and failed to convert five match points. A “fragile” Coco could have let any of these unfortunate events impact her, but, instead, she responded like a champion.

Coco went on to win a 40-shot rally and take down Karolina Muchova to advance to the US Open Championship.

You will face adversity while competing. My challenge to you is to practice competing and coping with tough situations.

Your coaches will put you in these conditions in a practice environment and work with you on tactical/technical decision making. You can do this. Control what you can control and believe in yourself. Your coaches sure do! 

October 2023 | 25

Turf Talk

BY SHAWN GILL | GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT

Last month I began by saying that it seemed like summer was pretty much behind us. I learned, once again, that I should never make predictions when speaking about the weather here in the Mid-Atlantic. Shortly after that, we were in the midst of our third severe drought of the season, nearly out of water, and we had the hottest week of the year with several consecutive days in the upper 90’s. We pumped water from #15 pond down into the irrigation pond, allowing us to keep the turf adequately cooled until some timely rains arrived late that week, bringing in cooler temperatures along with them.

While I know it means that the end of the golf season is quickly approaching, I must admit that I love it when I have to bundle up in the mornings to head out onto the course. I can practically hear the grass breathing a sigh of relief! It is also a time for our hard-working Greens staff to breathe a little easier. I wouldn’t say that things slow down all that much, but are definitely a bit less hectic. I notice bigger smiles in the morning and jovial spirits as they head out to their assignments. It is also the time of year with some of the most spectacular sunrises, so come on out and take a look.

We got through that test with only a few blemishes and then we set to preparing the course for the Fall Member/Guest.

The course healed up well and was back in great shape for the event. Never a slow moment here at Springfield though! Next, we concentrated our efforts on presenting fair and challenging conditions for the Club Championship.

This is the time of year I like to take a nice long look at the entire facility and think about ideas to continue to improve the course and the member experience. I will be working closely with your Greens Committee on what projects will be planned in the upcoming year(s) to add enjoyment for everyone.

It’s nice to get to this point in the season and be able to step back and see where all of the hard work paid off. However, as things are beginning to wind down on the golf calendar, this means it’s time for us to gear up on fall maintenance which will help improve the golf course for next year. Seeding and fertilization are going full bore ahead. Even though we lost very little turf this season, seeding is an important part of achieving consistent conditions where the desired varieties of turfgrass dominate the areas we want them and invasive varieties are crowded out.

This is especially true in the rough, where grassy weeds, poor soil conditions, and undesirable species create a splotchy look and can result in poor lies. Then there is the fertility aspect.

As most of the rough is particularly thick right now, I’m sure many are saying “What the heck is he doing, putting down fertilizer?!” However, most of what we will be applying through the fall is to help build up strong root systems to help the turf grow better throughout the following year. This is not to say that you won’t notice many areas gaining density this fall, so keep an eye on where you hit your shots. You will see the height of the rough going down a little now that we have survived summer, I promise.

26 | October 2023

Sorry, but I have to mention the spillway once again. The secondary repair, performed at no cost to the Club, was completed in very timely fashion and has survived a major rain storm with little additional erosion. The engineering firm has now moved on to designing options for the permanent repairs and obtaining state certification that will allow us to put this distraction behind us and get back to improving SGCC for the enjoyment of all of you.

As a parting note, it may be getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, but fall can be an amazing time to enjoy the course. The conditions will be great and you can enjoy a nice walk through YOUR wonderful park while chasing that little white ball down the (hopefully) fairway. It is an amazing game that we choose to play, and this is one of the best times to get out there. Oh, and bring a couple of extra balls with you because leaf season is on the way. 

October 2023 | 27

Inside the U.S. Women's Mid-Am: A Conversation with Alex Austin & Lauren Greenlief

BY EMILY KAUFFMAN | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS You know the names Alex Austin and Lauren Greenlief—the two are prominent female golfers from our SGCC community.

They’ve known each other through the world of golf for about twenty years and have previously competed as partners in the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball. Alex and Lauren both recently played in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and made it to the Quarterfinals.

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The qualifying process looked different for Alex and Lauren.

Lauren won the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am in 2015 and, as a result, has a ten-year exemption from qualifying. 2023 marked her eighth time playing in the championship and her fifth venture to the Quarterfinals; she advanced to the Semifinals in 2019.

Alex played in a one-day qualifier held here at Springfield in mid-August where she earned the medalist spot. Since Alex

advanced to the Quarterfinals in this year’s tournament, she is exempt from qualifying next year and has already secured her place on the roster.

The 36th Annual U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur was held at Stonewall (North Course) in Elverson, Pennsylvania September 9-14, 2023. The championship began with a field of 132 competitors who engaged in two days of stroke play, after which the top 64 moved on to match play. I asked Alex and Lauren what it was like as they advanced through the different stages of the competition.

“I felt good about how I was playing in stroke play,” Alex said. “I shot 2 over my first round, and I knew from playing in the event in previous years that I had some cushion going into the next day. The second day, I shot 1 under and ended up being 1 over overall. Lauren was in the same boat; she ended up shooting 1 over as well.”

“Having won the tournament before, I always feel confident at the event,” said Lauren. “I try to make sure I have enough practice and prep going in. The first two days of stroke play are really about putting together two solid rounds of golf. I’ve been fortunate to make match play all eight times I’ve competed, and I typically just try to play some solid golf and get a Top Ten seed. I ended up tying with Alex at 1 over and getting the 10th seed.”

Mindset is important in all things, but it is especially important in the realm of sports and competition. After taking a small break from competitive golf, last year Alex decided to approach the game from a different perspective: rather than playing for

money or status, she would get out on the course and play for fun. Alex says that approaching competitions from a more recreational mindset has been working well for her and that she’ll continue to do so moving forward. This year marked Alex’s first time making it to the Quarterfinals, so there is definitely evidence to back her up. The shift in perspective was particularly helpful as Alex began the match play leg of the Mid-Am. “I’m normally not a good match play player. I thrive in stroke play when I’m essentially just playing against the golf course and focusing on each shot,” said Alex. “In match play, I tend to get ahead of myself because I’m playing against someone else.

This time around, I tried to focus on playing the golf course, not necessarily my opponent, and I did it in three-hole increments.

If after three holes I was 1 up, then I would try to forget those holes and instead focus on the next three. It helped me when I was down. You can’t dwell, because that just makes the future worse.”

Lauren takes a focused approach to her matches and says she combines physical and mental preparation so that each time she competes, she knows she has done everything she could.

“I always try to remain confident,” said Lauren. “I’ve had success in match play and I’ve made deep runs in the championship multiple times, but I try to take it one match at a time. In match play, anyone can beat you. You have to go into each round knowing that you’re a good player. You have to stay positive, believe in yourself, and not create doubt.”

“I try to take it one hole at a time,” Lauren added. “The unique part about match play is that you’re playing your opponent, so you have a lot more information than you do in stroke play when you’re playing the whole field.

You know exactly what your opponent is doing.

You can see all of their shots. I try to play in the moment and think about what my strategy is based on the overall context of the match.”

Both Alex and Lauren advanced to the Quarterfinals, making them two of the best

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eight amateur players in the country. Both women spoke highly of the community surrounding women’s golf and their pride in being part of something so supportive and uplifting.

“Especially in Women’s Mid-Am golf, there’s a community —you see the same folks at various tournaments and they all have interesting lives and interesting stories,” said Lauren. “I’m probably friends with a third of the field at the Mid-Am, so it’s a good time to reconnect with my friends from across the country.”

The connections continue off the course as well, says Alex: “The girl I lost to last year and I follow each other on social media.

We keep up with each other and wish each other good luck.

It’s the same with everyone. When you go to these events, no one is wishing poor golf on anyone else. You can meet random women in the lunchroom and they’ll ask how you played and congratulate you. Before you tee off, everyone says good luck, play well! It’s a good feeling.”

Both Alex and Lauren know about the ripple effect that comes from belonging to a supportive community. “I talked with a girl that played for William & Mary the same year I was in college [at Radford]. She reached out to congratulate me, and said that my keeping up with golf inspired her and the rest of the team from that year to try and qualify for next year’s Mid-Am. That was really cool.”

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Lauren’s endeavors to spread the positive sense of community are best exemplified in her role on the VSGA’s Board of Directors. “Outside of my day job and competing, growing the women’s game is something that’s really important to me. I’m the Chair of the Women’s Competition Committee for the VSGA and involved in pushing a number of high-level women’s events across the country. This year, I’ve partnered with Brian Maloney to really be the driving force in starting two new women’s events in Virginia, including the inaugural Virginia State Women’s Mid-Amateur which will be held at International Country Club October 17-18.”

Alex and Lauren expressed a sense of pride and satisfaction when talking about seeing their fellow golfers advancing. Both women count themselves lucky to be part of the women’s golf community and look forward to seeing the game that means so much to them continue to grow. 

Header AUTHOR | TITLE

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Calendar of Events OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2023 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 7:00-10:00 AM

OCTOBER 2023 14

FLYING ACE BREWERY BUS TRIP 10:30 AM

15

GOAT YOGA 4:30 - 5:30 PM

17

ANNUAL MEETING & TOWN HALL 7:00 PM

20

ADULT HALLOWEEN MIXER & BLOCK PARTY 7:00 PM

21

MIXED DOUBLES PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT & SOCIAL 6:00 - 9:00 PM

24

DUCKHORN WINE DINNER 6:30 PM

28

CLOSING BREAKFAST

28

FAMILY HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL 5:00 - 9:00 PM

32 | October 2023

NOVEMBER 2023 3

DUELING PIANOS 8:30 PM

19

THANKSGIVING TO GO ORDER DEADLINE

23

THANKSGIVING DINNER IN THE GRILL

26

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING PARTY 2:00 - 4:00 PM

SUNDAY BRUNCH 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Membership Corner

BY SHELLY GOOREVICH | MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Summer is over and cooler weather is upon us. Make sure you take advantage of the many activities SGCC offers to keep you and your family active and fit.

Did you know that in the month of October there are ninetyseven fitness classes being offered? Have you been able to focus on yourself this season in the gym or ramped up your routine with Personal Training Sessions? If you’ve been reading the Fitness emails, then you know research shows that fall is the best time to a new fitness routine.

Can you remember the last time you treated yourself to a massage, an esthetics treatment, or have taken the time to enjoy a steam or sauna with us? Taking time to rest and relax is an important part of fitness and self-care.

In October, Racquets has fifty-seven activities scheduled for our membership. When was the last time you got out your tennis racquet or thought about trying your hand at pickleball?

Private lessons are a great way to stay up on your game during the cooler months. We have a great team and some new coaches ready to assist you!

Our golf course, driving range, and practice facilities will continue to be open (weather permitting) this fall as well as the hitting bay. What a great time to focus on your game and step things up a notch with lessons from our team of pros! Get your practice in now and you’ll be better than ever when the new season rolls around.

Please join me in welcoming one of our newest member families, the Yoo family!

Sunny and Diana Yoo were high school sweethearts, both raised in Northern Virginia. They kept in touch while Sunny attended The University of Chicago and Diana attended Washington University in St. Louis. After graduating, they spent a few years in the Midwest, but realized Northern Virginia was home and after getting married, they returned in 2010 to be closer to their siblings and parents. Sunny is a business development executive in the Federal sector and Diana is a Senior UX Specialist at Google. Sunny enjoys a variety of sports and outdoor activities, and Diana’s interests include tennis, gardening, flower arranging, and bookbinding.

They both share a love of cappuccinos and snowboarding. Their daughters, Genevieve (Evie), 8, and Elizabeth (Ellie), 5, attend Olde Creek Elementary in Fairfax and are both avid soccer players, swimmers, and prolific crafters. The entire family is looking forward to making new friends at SGCC and enjoying the many family events and fitness activities the Club has to offer. 

October 2023 | 33

34 | October 2023

Notes from the Cutting Board: How to Build a Wine Dinner Menu

BY TRAVIS SIMMONS | EXECUTIVE CHEF It's my favorite time of year: the weather is a little cooler, the scenery has changed color, and the harvest is almost done. It’s also the perfect time to enjoy a bold cabernet or merlot with a flame broiled steak. The fall marks the start of the Club’s social season, and our fall and winter wine dinner series is a big part of the monthly social calendar. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how to build a wine dinner. Of course, we want you to enjoy the wine dinners we host for you, but throwing a wine dinner yourself for family and friends can be a fun spin on a holiday gathering.

In my opinion, there are two ways to approach building a wine dinner. One would be like I mentioned earlier, picking a dish and wine to highlight: I would like a bold cabernet and steak.

This would be the feature of the evening. Once that has been decided, we start adding courses and pairings that crescendo to the featured course.

On the other hand, from time to time you find a wine or flight of wines you would like to feature. This approach seems to be the most enjoyable way to build a dinner. I like five courses because it gives you a well-rounded evening. Usually, we start off with a light white wine such as rosé or bubbly. A one or two bite treat of fruit and or cheese is a great way to start. Go with the first flavors you taste in the wine, then pair with food from there. The tasting notes on the bottle are a good source of information, but you can’t go wrong with what you pick up on your own palate.

Next, you’ll move on to something a little richer, maybe a chardonnay aged in oak. Let’s say it’s chilled, buttery, with hints of tomatoes on the vine…that wine is begging for Chilean sea bass, oven roasted tomatoes, and a light butter sauce.

your opening selections applies; you’re going to move from a light red to a big, bold red. So, for a third course you could go with a pinot noir. I lean towards an old-world style of pinot, something that’s light but has enough body to bridge from a heavy white wine to the bold red wines. In this case, roasted pork tenderloin with creamy goat cheese polenta and asparagus would work well. The sweetness from the roasted pork and the earthiness from the goat cheese pair nicely with pinot.

Now it's prime time for some big reds. For this course, let’s try a northwest merlot. These tend to be a little drier and earthy. That calls out for a dijon-roasted rack of lamb with wild mushroom bread pudding. Once again, just take note of the flavors you detect in the wine and try building on them. Of course, this means you’ll need to sample some different wines before you start building your menu. It’s handy to take notes while you’re doing that so you don’t forget what you tasted in each wine.

For the big finish, how about cabernet sauvignon by Caymus?

This wine seems to be bold, rich, silky smooth, and almost over the top every time I try it. You’ll need a dish with the same bold rich flavors. I recommend lavender-braised osso buco with truffle potato cakes. This combination might seem like a lot, but that’s what you’re going for!

Since you’ve gone to the trouble of planning out your wine and food menus, don’t skimp out on the details like plating. Here’s a tip, though: don’t go overboard with garnishes. Let the center of the plate speak to your guest. Remember, get creative and have some fun! 

Now let’s shift gears and talk red wine. The same principle as

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DIY Decor: Tabletop Talk

BY JODY HENDERSON | DIRECTOR OF CATERING & SPECIAL EVENTS

In a "quiet luxury" moment, we are loving monochromatic tablescapes that can carry you through the fall holidays without much fuss. Think white pumpkins and gourds, antlers, dried wheat, twigs, and pine cones. Mix in some white and cream candles, and try adding cinnamon sticks or acorns as well.

These will last on your table through Thanksgiving for a fresh and inviting look. Adjust based on your personal style: if you're a minimalist, the monochrome is already right up your alley and going with a more simplistic approach will suit your aesthetic.

36 | October 2023

If you appreciate a fuller look, baby's breath is back in style and will add flair and fullness to your centerpieces.

For a formal table or a fresh take on your linens, try tying a simple knot in the middle of your cloth napkin and adorn as a border for each place setting.

For a finishing touch, we still like mismatched glassware, so break out some family heirlooms for the season. 

Retirees Recap

BY RUSTY ROESCH SGCC Retirees’ season is almost finished with a solid record leading to the season-ending playoffs. Summer 2023 was a good time for our Retirees. As of press time, we are in second place in our division with eleven wins out of eighteen, behind Country Club of Fairfax by one match with two matches at home to go before the playoffs. We play Army Navy Country Club Arlington and Chantilly National Golf and Country Club on our home turf before the playoffs begin on October 12th.

On August 24, our home team delivered another great win against Evergreen Country Club 23½ to 12½ to keep us in the running for the end of season playoffs. Three-point winning teams were Steve Barker/Al Kuhns and Brad Westermann/John Benda. And once again, the key to our win were numerous outstanding low net scores. Mark Crook (68) showed us the way with Johnny Harper (70), John Benda (70), and Steve Soules (70) close behind. Mark Crook and Walter Burkhardt also clinched the sweeps.

Unfortunately, we lost a close rematch against Evergreen Country Club on August 31 19½ to 16½ at their club. It was a beautiful day but very windy and seemingly always in our faces.

Only one team brought home three points: F.D. Rosenberger and Steve Soules. Jordan Weinstein bested the field for the day with a gross 85, net 70, with Tom Natoli close behind shooting a gross 82, net 73. Mike Saylor, playing with Tom Natoli, took first place in the sweeps.

On September 7, we played a best of two balls friendly match with Washington Golf on our home course. It was a very hot day, but thirty-five golfers braved the weather with several combined teams turning in highly competitive scores. Jesus Medrano along with help from Mark Spooner as a blind led his four-man team to carry the day with a net minus 16 (or 126 for the team).

Walter Burkhardt & Mark Crook clinched the sweeps on Aug 24

Please remember that it’s never too late to join the Retirees (just be a 50+ male golfer available to play on Thursdays). For more information on joining, contact Bruce Nordstrom at bnorthstream@yahoo.com or 202.494.6558. 

October 2023 | 37

Bridge Banter

BY DON FREDERICK

Our SGCC Friday Evening Bridge Group is back in action after our summer break.

We play relaxed, party bridge starting at 7:00 PM, usually on the first and third Friday evenings of each month. Many of us gather at 5:45 PM for a pre-bridge dinner. If you'd like to join us, call Don Frederick at 703.425.9722.

Our next scheduled evenings are Saturday, October 21 (to avoid conflict with our Club's Halloween Party) and Friday, November 3.

38 | October 2023

Here are the results of recent sessions: SEPTEMBER 15 First: Mary & Ed Kringer Second: Robin Alapas & Kit Weyers Third: Lydia Peck & John Korfanta OCTOBER 6 First: Lydia Peck & John Korfanta Second: Cindy & Don Frederick Third: Pat & John Fischer 

Couples Golf

BY SUSAN & DAVID WELLS The Couples Golf trip this year took us to Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. We had fourteen couples that went, and we were fortunate enough to be able to play all three courses.

The people at Kingsmill did a great job with our accommodations and our dinner on Saturday night.

There was a change in format for scoring this trip. We decided to use a Stableford scoring system due to some restrictions in

tee times. It proved to be successful. Every couple came away with some winnings.

In past years, the Couples group has been to Hershey, Wintergreen, the Greenbriar, and the Homestead. We encourage everyone to start planning for next year’s trip. It is always a great time spent with friends playing some beautiful golf courses. 

October 2023 | 39