CHIPSHOTS CHIPSHOTS fall 2026
Inside this Issue Billing enhancement upgrades (p. 3) Golf course closed October 12 - 15 (p. 6) A look into the holiday season (p. 7) Paddle season is here! How to get involved (p.9)
CONTENTS
Inside this Issue
Upcoming Events Clubhouse Conversation Wednesday, October 7 Fall Fest Saturday, October 17
Upcoming Events ......................... 1
President’s Letter ...................... 2
General Manager’s Report ........ 3
Finance Report .......................... 4
On the Tee with Tyler ............... 5
Collin’s Corner ........................... 6
Dining .............................................. 7
Paddle ............................................ 9
New Members ............................... 10
Club History ............................... 11
Clubhouse Conversation Thursday, November 5
St. Davids
007 Casino Royale Friday, November 13
Hours of Operation
BYOB Night Saturday, November 14 Friendsgiving Happy Hour Wednesday, November 25 Ladies’ Holiday Shopping Wednesday, December 3 Santa Brunch Saturday, December 5 Men’s Holiday Luncheon Friday, December 11 Member Holiday Party Friday, December 18
Golf Club
Restaurant Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Wednesday – Sunday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm The bar opens at
Golf Shop
Saturday - Monday Monday Closed Closed Tuesday - Friday Tuesday - Friday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday - Sunday 7:00 am - 6:00 pm Paddle
11:00 AM
Golf Course
Tuesday - Sunday
Monday Closed Tuesday - Friday 8:00 am - Dusk Saturday & Sunday 7:00 am - Dusk
Christmas Brunch Sunday, December 20
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Office
Seasonal Golf Course Closed October 12 - 15 for fall aeration
PRESIDENT’S LETTER A Season to Remember, a Bright Future Ahead It's hard to believe the golf season is almost finished, but it was an amazing time to be back at the Club. All our major events went off without a hitch, and the feedback I've received on the course and clubhouse internally and externally has been overwhelmingly positive. We have also learned and captured a lot of important member feedback that we will use to continuously improve the member experience going forward. Change is never easy, but we are anchored by a strong cultural and financial foundation, and set up for future success. As has become tradition, we will be hosting a member "town hall" event to share updates on club strategy and to hear from our membership - look for an announcement on that soon. Thanks to all of you and our amazing staff for making this such a special place. Looking forward to fall golf, playoff baseball, and football weather! See you around the Club! Advance it forward, stay the course.
John Beisty President
St. Davids Private Photo Gallery
Head to our page for quick and easy access to photos from past events, all in one place.
PASSWORD: 1897
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GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
A Busy Summer, An Exciting Fall Ahead Going into this season, we anticipated a busier-thannormal summer at St. Davids and that certainly came to fruition. Even with the summer heat and traditional vacation season, we continued to see high levels of activity on the golf course and in the dining room. There’s no reason to believe that trend will change as we enter the fall and some of the best golf weather of the year. As the golf calendar slows down in the fall, we will return to a more active event calendar so you can continue to enjoy your time at the Club. We’re very excited about the upcoming Fall Fest on Saturday, October 17th where we will feature our very first DRONE SHOW! 150 drones will launch from the practice range tee area and perform a 15-minute show custom built for St. Davids. You won’t want to miss it! At last year’s Fall Town Hall, we announced that St. Davids engaged GGA Partners to assist with a capital asset study and plan. Over the summer, we completed the first stage of that project where every club asset over $2,500 was logged, along with its anticipated replacement date and corresponding cost. The information (over 500 items) accumulated during that process allows the Club to better anticipate annual capital replacement needs. This information is vital to keeping our assets fresh and our equipment operational, which leads to a better member experience. Controller, Bethany Jones, and I will continue to work with our Capital Planning Committee and the Board to ensure that our capital plan is thorough, comprehensive, and capable of protecting the Club’s assets. I hope that you’re looking forward to a great fall at St. Davids. The course continues to mature and thanks to our
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talented team in the Green Department, we should see impeccable conditions during the fall playing season. Thank you for using the Club, bringing your friends, and helping to showcase the phenomenal results of your commitment to improving St. Davids over the last year.
Dean Kandle General Manager
FINANCE REPORT
Investing in a Stronger St. Davids It’s been a wonderful summer for St. Davids on all fronts – and the excitement for our golf course, clubhouse, dining experience, and social events has translated to a successful year financially, as well. In spite of the challenges of a shortened golf season, certain “unknowns” such as water usage restrictions and course chemical needs, Dean Kandle and Bethany Jones have “aced” their forecasted budgetary needs thus far this year. I’m happy to say we are right on pace and successfully navigating our return to “business as usual.” Please remember that your positive member experience and enthusiasm for sharing St. Davids with your family, friends, neighbors, golf buddies and potential members, is the best advertising imaginable and is very accretive to our healthy finances. It’s a great time to schedule your family events in one of the beautiful venues at the Club, pay back any guest rounds of golf that you owe to friends who adopted you during the shutdown, and invite friends over for a shared meal.
understandable than in the past. 2. Additionally, the new PDF will include all of your chits for the month in one place, allowing you to easily scroll through and review each charge without having to click into individual chits. 3. Finally, each member will be given the option to have their chits sent, as they occur, electronically, throughout the month. This is an “opt-in / opt-out” option that will help identify billing errors more quickly and closer to real time. Keep an eye out for communications from Jill on this option. Remember that most billing errors occur at “point of sale” so we remind you to upload your headshot photo to your member profile so that servers and employees can match your face and name to our billing system. Please also remember to state your name and member number clearly when ordering food and beverages in the clubhouse and on the course. This is a great step in minimizing billing issues and the staff appreciates it!
Member Billing Enhancements: Stay tuned for Three Upgrades Most importantly, please keep enjoying and sharing your In response to member suggestions regarding simplified or love and enthusiasm for St. Davids as it’s the most enhanced billing communications, we are rolling out three important factor in our financial well-being. enhancements that will begin next month. We hope these changes will make viewing your bill and verifying your charges less cumbersome than ever. Look forward to these changes 1.Beginning next month, your bill will be sent to you in a straightforward, easy to read, PDF format that testusers have agreed is more easily legible and
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Michael Marciano Treasurer
ON THE TEE WITH TYLER
Fall Golf & the Final Weeks of the Season Fall golf has arrived! I hope you have been able to spend some time on the golf course during these cooler temperatures after a hot and humid summer. As we approach the final six week or so of our official golf season, I want to highlight a few important dates remaining on the calendar before we move to off-season rules. Friday, October 2: Guinness Gang Shootout Tuesday, October 6: 18-Holers Closing Day Wednesday, October 7: 9-Holers Closing Day Saturday, October 10 & Sunday, October 11: Founders’ Cup and Trenham Stroke Play Championship Monday, October 12 - Thursday, October 15: Course CLOSED Fall Aerification Tuesday, October 27: Women’s Cross Country Saturday, October 31: Final Day of St. Davids Golf Season (Rules and Restrictions) Saturday, November 7: Men’s Cross Country Saturday, November 14: Final Day of Score Posting for GAP
Fix your ball marks on the green Rake bunkers after your shot. Don’t forget your footprints walking in and out of the bunker Place rake near the entry point of the bunker and be sure to leave some space between all other rakes so they are evenly distributed Keep carts on the paths on all par 3s. Follow all signage and directional stakes on the course
With the days getting shorter and temperatures trending cooler, course recovery and grass growth will slow down, meaning it’s more important than ever to properly care for the course while playing! See below for some friendly reminders for your next round on the course: Fill your divots: If your divot is not easily replaceable, use sand/seed mix provided on carts. For walkers, lightweight bottles are available to you by the supplies box on the 1st tee
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Lastly, we have one staff update to share as Jeff Staples has accepted a seasonal role in Florida. Jeff will be joining the team at Atlantic Fields, a Discovery Land Company property, in Hobe Sound, FL for the winter season. Jeff’s last day at St. Davids will be in earlyOctober and he will return to St. Davids next April. We thank Jeff for all his work with Guinness Gang, the Men’s One-Day Member-Guests and the Junior golf program!
Tyler Santacroce Head Golf Professional
COLLIN’S CORNER
A New Season on the Renovated Course It’s hard to believe that just one year ago, we were seeding the final set of greens during the golf course renovation. Now, we’re approaching the end of our first full season back open .This summer has certainly brought its
The fall will also bring our much-needed aeration practices in October. The golf course will be closed Monday, October 12th – Thursday, October 15th and
reopen on Friday, October 16th during normal operating challenges and now the golf course is ready to welcome hours. I am frequently asked if we will need to aerate this the fall weather. season. Yes, we have brand new playing surfaces and it is This summer put the investments on the golf course to the ultimate test with intense stretches of heat along with both drought conditions and torrential downpours. We could not be more pleased with how all of the infrastructure improvements performed. The new bentgrass varieties shined during the drought like conditions requiring much less water, while still maintaining color, consistency and
not ideal to close the course again, however, it is very important that we do not fall behind on organic matter (thatch) accumulation and we relieve the soil compaction associate with the renovation. During the grow-in process we were pushing growth to prepare for opening. With all that growth and establishment comes organic matter build up at an expedited rate and managing it now is more important than ever to maintain appropriate levels moving forward.
firmness. The bunkers withstood rain events reaching rates of 4-inches per hour with minimal repair work and all of the added drainage was able to move mass amounts During the off-season Mottin Golf Construction will be of surface water to our ponds. Seeing this performance at back on property to finish some deferred aspects of the just one year is very reassuring that the future is bright for golf course renovation. When we decided to open the golf St. Davids. course, we wanted to ensure it was without any disruption to the golf experience. In order to do that, we postponed As we move into the fall, you will notice the golf course some minor work that was not necessary for opening day. starting to play a little bit more familiar with firmer playing surfaces and quicker green speeds. We have had This work includes: some timely rains and optimal night time temperatures that have really helped the turf recover from the summer stress, which allows us to be slightly more aggressive with our agronomic planning and daily set up. We will continue to monitor the health and performance of the turf and adjust cultural practices accordingly throughout the
Cart path installation around the 11th green and 12th tee Cart path installation around the 15th green and 16th tee Fine fescue planting around the irrigation ponds
fall.
Additional drainage installation
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COLLIN’S CORNER CONT. / DINING
Holidays & Happy Hours
This work will begin sometime after the posting season has ended. Once Mottin starts, more detailed information will be communicated with the Membership for impacted Summer came and went! We had a wonderful season full of events and dining! Dining activity has continued to be holes and expected timeline for completion. higher than we anticipated even with the rainy and hot days We cannot thank you enough for your support and summer brought us. feedback over the course of this season. We hope you continue to enjoy the golf course as we enter the best time BYOB nights on the patio were a hit! We have our final BYOB Night on Saturday, November 14th. You are always of year for golf! welcome to bring your own favorite wine to dinner with a $25 corkage fee. We look forward to seeing you out on the golf course!
Collin Harley Golf Course Superintendent
We’re looking forward to the holiday season approaching at St. Davids! Make sure you add the following dates to your calendar: Wednesday, November 25: Friendsgiving Happy Hour Wednesday, November 25: Thanksgiving Take Out Wednesday, December 3: Ladies’ Holiday Shopping Saturday, December 5: Santa Brunch Friday, December 11: Men’s Holiday Luncheon Friday, December 18: Member Holiday Party Sunday, December 20: Christmas Brunch Thursday, December 31: New Year’s Eve Dinner Evenings on the patio are still as beautiful as ever. Keep an eye out for when we have happy hour tastings and enjoy the beautiful sunsets while we can! Our fall menu will be launching soon. We will have some new & returning menu items. Our cocktail menu will also be featuring house infused liquors and warm fall spices.
Angela Hummel Clubhouse Manager
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EVENTS
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PADDLE
Get in the Game! Paddle Season at St. Davids Our Paddle Progam consists of social activities for all St Davids members as well as Interclub MAPTA Teams. We have many volunteers who work to make the entire program a success. The best way to become involved, socially or with the teams, is to contact either Andy Schmucker or Carolyn Masciantonio. In addition, all members are welcome to use the courts on a casual play basis. MAPTA League Update The Men’s and Women’s MAPTA Interclub League play will begin the third week of October. St. Davids is fielding 3 men’s teams and 3 women’s teams.
Other Social Activities Mixed Paddle Socials - For many of us, Paddle is the outdoor winter pastime of St Davids. Socials are a lively way to meet other couples that play while enjoying crisp air, music, libations, food, friends and the warmth of the fire pit. It's a fun evening involving a round robin type tournament in which everyone's guaranteed a certain amount of playtime. All levels of Paddle are welcome and encouraged to participate. Dates have yet to be set. For more information on the Paddle Socials please contact Ylva Kelsall (ylvakelsall@yahoo.com).
Women’s Paddle Update New player clinics with coach Pete Donnelly will commence mid-October Women’s Tuesday Night Paddle will begin late October Men’s Paddle Update Monday Night Paddle begins at 6:30 pm and runs through the end of the evening This year we are offering training camp for those who want additional preseason play, desire to improve, or want to learn the game. Neal Colligan will be leading this for us on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm The Dave Webb Hi Lo Tournament is currently scheduled on Thursday, October 15 Preseason Home and Home with Martin’s Dam will be scheduled in October; we will have a friendly home and home series with Martin’s Dam (dates TBD)
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Friends of the paddle program hiked Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on Monday, September 14.
Andy Schmucker Chair, Paddle Committee
MEMBERSHIP Welcome, New Members! St. Davids Golf Club would like to welcome our new members to the Club. We look forward to seeing you and your family on the course and around the clubhouse! James & Ashley Beach
Matt & Diana Swaback
Wayne, PA
Philadelphia, PA
House Waiting
Intermediate
Dan & Alexandra Loucks
John & Gail Bergman
Wayne, PA
Devon, PA
House Waiting
House Waiting
Tom & Christina Nagel
Congratulations!
Wayne, PA House Waiting
Heath Ochroch
Meredith and Joe Visalli welcomed
King of Prussia, PA
Dorothy “Dot” Lois Visalli on Juy 24, 2026
House Waiting
Monica Rezk & Bill Hudson welcomed
Henry William Hudson VI on September 3, 2026
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CLUB HISTORY
It Wasn’t Always This Good at SDGC In the last 30 years St. Davids Golf Club has had three renovations of the golf course, a new clubhouse, and a renovation of the clubhouse along with a new and enlarged golf course maintenance building.
of Brown’s effort, Provident Mutual agreed to forgive the unpaid interest on the mortgage and reduced the interest rate from 6% to 4%. (Some years later McLear would relate “The good ship SDGC was on the rocks.”)
Two years after the Club had moved from Lancaster Pike to Radnor Street Road in 1927, the Great Depression arrived. With businesses failing, private clubs were losing members by the handful every month. Just as the economy was showing some improvement, there was World War II. From a membership of 300 in 1927, there were only 120 SDGC members by the early 1940s. For 15 years the Club was trying to make it from one year to the next.
By 1944, with BoWorld War II brought gas rationing. Driving to your golf club was considered joy riding. With the rationing of gasoline, SDGC’s monthly Board of Director meetings were held in the city at the Union League. That worked because most of the Board members worked in the city and Archie Swift, SDGC president from 1941-1943, was also president of the Union League. With its meetings being held at the Union League, the Club even missed out on having 15 board members come to the Club for dinner each month. The future of SDGC was in question, and there was talk of selling the property to Valley Forge Military Academy. That is when Bill McLear, George Brown and five other “younger” Club members who called themselves the “Young Turks” formed a committee to save the Club in 1943. The mortgage was in default. One of the committee’s first moves was to send George Brown, a young banker, to meet with the Club’s mortgage holder, the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company. As a result
ard resignations and the Club election, all seven “Young Turks” were on the Board, with McLear as president. Mr. Brown once told me the Club paid a consulting firm to assess the future of SDGC. The report that came back to the Club stated there would never be enough people living near SDGC to support a private golf club. But, the “Young Turks” would not give up. What was an individual competition that evolved into two-man teams and now known as the Donald Ross tournament was then called the St. Davids Sweepstakes. Two of those were held each year in 1944 and 1945, with a percentage of the proceeds from the Calcutta auction at those events earmarked for reduction of the club’s mortgage. Sed Duke, one of the “Young Turks” and a future SDGC president, sat on the front row and bid up every Calcutta auction sale of the individual players. While all this was going on, the Club’s golf course Super-
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CLUB HISTORY CONT. intendent George McKenzie was doing his best to provide good playing conditions. Along with little money there was a shortage of manpower. Able bodied men not holding down vital jobs were in the armed services or working in defense plants. McKenzie, a Scot who had helped Donald Ross build The Country Club of York in 1927, was great but could not do the work by himself. With that members were recruited to mow greens and rake bunkers. The members were willing to do everything they could to save their Club. In later years some members recalled weeding greens on Saturday mornings. McKenzie, “Mr. Mac,” who played golf with the members, said “maybe a close study of certain greens would help their games.”
Peter Trenham Club Historian
Clubhouse Conversations FALL SPEAKER SERIES
Join Dennis McAndrews on Wednesday, October 7 The Successful Prosecution of America's Wealthiest Murderer: John Eleuthère DuPont's Insanity Defense Rejected.
& Scott Snyder on Thursday, November 5 Unlocking Your AI Superpower Beginning at 7:00 pm. $30 per person, including light bites, desserts, coffee and tea
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CLUB CONTACTS Board of Directors President John Beisty
First Vice President Jay Mutchler
Second Vice President Chris Albany
Secretary Gregory McShea
Treasurer/Finance Mike Marciano
Entertainment Harriette Waldron
Golf Mike Conway
Green Dan Dressel
House Jay Mutchler
Membership Development Mike Peck
Clubhouse Refresh Mark Pulos
Membership Mindy Aldridge
Chuck Chupein
Roy McGillis
Staff Directory Dean Kandle, General Manager (610) 688-2010 x 206 Dean@stdavidsgc.com
Jill Pacholek, Office Manager (610) 688-2010 x 201 Jill@stdavidsgc.com
Bethany Jones, Controller (610) 688-2010 x 203 Bjones@stdavidsgc.com
Kelly Iorio, Accounts Payable (610) 688-2010 x 202 Kiorio@stdavidsgc.com
Tyler Santacroce, Head Golf Professional
(610) 688-2010 x 209 Tyler@stdavidsgc.com
Collin Harley, Greens Superintendent Charley@stdavidsgc.com
Angela Hummel, Clubhouse Manager (610) 688-2010 x 206 Angela@stdavidsgc.com
Emily Turnwald, Private Events Coordinator Emily@stdavidsgc.com
Ali Pierce, Communications Manager Alison@stdavidsgc.com
Giuseppe Napoli, Interim Executive Chef Giuseppe@stdavidsgc.com
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St. Davids
Golf Club
connect with us
845 Radnor Street Road
info@stdavidsgc.com
(610) 688-2010
www.stdavidsgc.com
@stdavidsgolfclub