Clubhouse Master Plan vote (p. 2)
Update on golf course project (p.8) Men’s Invitational flight winners (p.5)
Download the new mobile app! (p.17)
CHIPSH TS CHIPSH TS
Summer 2025
Swing into Summer Party .....
Sunday Funday .......................
Lobster Night ...........................
Happy Hour & Tasting ..........
Sunday Funday .......................
Happy Hour & Tasting ..........
Trivia Night .............................
Caribbean Night ......................
Lobster Night ...........................
Sunday Funday .......................
Happy Hour & Tasting ..........
Sunday Funday .......................
Wine Dinner .............................
Lobster Night ...........................
Dueling Pianos .........................
Trivia Night .............................
Comedy Night ..........................
Sat., 06/21/25 Sun., 06/22/25 Thurs., 06/26/25 Fri., 06/27/25 Sun., 07/06/25 Fri., 07/11/25 Sun., 07/13/25 Fri., 07/18/25 Thurs., 07/31/25 Sun., 08/03/25 Fri., 08/15/25 Sun., 08/17/25 Sat., 08/23/25 Thurs., 09/04/25 Sat., 09/13/25 Thurs., 09/18/25 Sat., 09/20/25
Beginning July 1 the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. See page 13 for more details
2:00 PM (walking only) Tuesday - Friday 8:00 AM Saturday & Sunday 7:00 AM May 1 - June 30th st
Beginning July 1 the golf course is closed. The Golf Shop will remain open Wednesday-Sunday under limited hours
The Future is Looking Bright at St. Davids
I hope everyone has been enjoying the return of warm weather and all the recent festivities at the club! Plans for the course renovation continue to progress well, and we have an action-packedagendaofgolfthroughtheendof June when we close the course for renovation. However, the “vibe” of St. Davids will be alive and well and there are many great activities planned for all of us to enjoy as a community in thecomingmonths.
In addition to the course, we continue to keep our focus on the key elements of our long-term strategic plan, and we have hit another importantmilestonewiththepassingofthevote on our clubhouse project. With a vibrant renovated course and refreshed, modernized clubhouse, we will have taken care of the two most foundational aspects of our club. Our unique character is centered on being golfcentric and on having a close-knit vibrant community. These investments will ensure our core mission is supported for this generation and the next. My thanks to the committees, our staff,andallofusforcontinuingtobestewards of a bright and healthy club now and in the future.
Advanceitforward,staythecourse.
John Beisty President
Get ready to Swing into Summer
WhataspringithasbeensofaratSt.Davids!With our shortened season this year, our golf events have been coming fast and furiously. I want to thankourmanagementstaffandtheirteamsinall of our departments (Golf, Green, Food & Beverage) for their dedication and commitment to planning, preparing, and executing a high volume of golf andsocialeventsinashortamountoftime.While all of this is happening, planning and preparation are in full swing for the balance of our year. From reciprocal golf, to prepping summer and fall events, to scheduling our first deliveries of materialsforthecourserenovation,there’salotof work happening behind the scenes and we’re grateful to have a talented team working to make 2025asuccessfulyear!
We’re kicking off summer on June 21st with our “Swing Into Summer” member party featuring Chico’s Vibe! Our Entertainment Committee has beenworkinghardplanningaveryspecialevening forthemembership.Youwon’twanttomissit!
But that’s not it! Join us on Friday June 27th for Happy Hour featuring a Sierra Nevada beer tasting and a live music duo featuring Mike Caroto!
Pleasenotethe Club will be closed on Friday, July 4th duetothecourserenovationandclosure.
Be sure to check our weekly updates for more diningandsocialevents!
Speaking of events, if you’re thinking about a specialeventforyourfamilyorbusiness,St.
Davids is ready, willing, and able to make your ent stand out for your important guests. Our Private Events Coordinator, Emily Turnwald, will guide you through the planning process complete with a custom menu for food and beverage, and to make your day a success. , to begin
Hopefully everyone has had a chance to update the St. Davids mobile app to the latest version! If you have an iPhone and you had the previous mobile app, make sure to go to the App Store on your device, search for St. Davids GC, or click this link. If you see “Update” next to the St. Davids mobile app, click the button and allow the new mobileapptobedownloadedtoyourdevice.Head topage18tolearnmore.
An exciting new feature of the app is a photo album. From the menu in the bottom right corner, you will find a link to a photoalbumthatwillbecomea library of photos from some of our larger events. Be sure to check back and see photos of you, your family, and friends
St. Davids Social Media
Be sure to follow along to see highlights from golf and social events and stay connected to St. Davids while away from the club! You can find us on Instagram,Facebook,andLinkedIn!
Dean Kandle General Manager
Staying on Track
IthasbeenawhilesincemylastChipshotsupdate, soI’dliketofirsthighlightsomeaccomplishments the Finance Committee has made during the previousfewmonths:
With the Board’s approval, we increased the initiation fee to $50k for a full privilege member. We compared fees with other golf clubs and determined that this increase properly reflects the value this club and a newlyrestoredgolfcoursewilloffer.
We received member approval to increase the capital expenditure limit to $500k – its first update in 20 years. While we will always be mindful stewards regarding funding investments in this club, the increased limit is more in line with today’s costs for goods and services.
With the golf course work about to commence, we are closely partnering with the Board to driveanenhancedcapitalstrategyprocess.
Closing out last year, our external auditors met with the Finance Committee on May 13 to present the audited financial statements and comparative statistics with Mid-Atlantic golf and country clubs. While receiving a clean audit opinion,otherkeytakeawayswere: th
We are in a strong liquidity position with a current asset/current liability ratio of 1.85:1 (1.25:1isstandard).
As we wind down payments for the Clubhouse and hit a low point in our debt cycle, it was no surprisethatourclubhadacomparativelylow debt: member valuation of $1,800 vs $6,800 average.
The auditors commented that responsibly managed clubs get to our debt levels and then proceed to start new large investments, which iswhatweareembarkingon.
Pivotingtothisyear,ourAprilyear-to-dateresults are better than budget by $59K, from revenues of $1.6M (.3% variance). All SDGC’s departments are firing on all cylinders as we see a large volume of special events, daily dining, and golf activity. Further, all departments and committees are planning a host of special events during the limited access period to keep members engaged withwhatishappeningatSDGC.
Bill Henderson Chair, Finance Committee
Congratulations are in Order!
It has been an action-packed start to the year with the compressed golf calendar this season! We look forward to hosting several of our major championships and continuing many of our club’s traditions in June. Champions will be crowned for the Women’s Member-Guest, DonaldRoss,Women’sMember-Memberandthe Men’s, Women’s, and Junior Club Championships before the course closes! For more information on any of these events or to registertoparticipate,pleasevisittheteesheet.
Aswelookbackat the start of the season, we’d like to congratulate this past month’s champions.
Congratulations to our nine-time Club Champion Beth Downey for her net victory at the 104th Nancy Wilbur Tournament!
The Nancy Wilbur attracts some of the best playersfromtheWGAPtocompeteatSt.Davids annually and was first played at St. Davids in 1921. Ms. Downey also finished tied for 2nd place in the gross competition with a score of 80.
Our Men’s Two-Day Invitational was contested inMay,andtheteamofChuckChupeinandDan Agogliawereabletoclaimthetitlebysurviving the11-teamshootoutanddefeatingtheteamof Doug Wheeler and Michael Zurcher by a single stroke on hole 18. See our flight winners on pagefive.
Congratulations are also in order for several of ourClubChampionsthisyear!!InourWomen’s events, Beth Downey was victorious in the Senior Club Championship while Tina Tritton andAnneSlywerealsoabletocapturethetitles of Super Senior Club Champion and Super SuperSeniorClubChampion,respectively.
Two Men’s events were contested as well with John Guillaume successfully defending his 2024 Senior Club Championship with a repeat performance this year. Dan Dressel was able to ecurethe2025Men’sSuperSeniorClubChamp-
May 8 - Beth Downey (right) with partner Ronnie Beth Stanley (middle) and their caddie Shaun Rennie. Beth won low net with a net 65.
May 17 - Men’s Invitational Champions Chuck Chupein (right) and his guest Dan Agoglia (left)
-ionship with an impressive performance of +4 (74) throughout a challenging day of weather and wind. Congratulations to all our recently crownedClubChampions!
Lookingaheadasweapproachcourseclosure,we are excited to share with you the details of the recentlyestablishedreciprocalprogram.Youcan expect to see the program officially introduced, initsentirety,withinthefirsttwoweeksofJune. Clubs are still replying positively to our initial inquiry, which was sent last August and our list of opportunities to play is still growing! We are proudofwhatwehavebeenabletoputtogether for you to utilize throughout the course closure and we appreciate your support by serving as graciousguestswhenvisitingclubsinthearea.
Tyler Santacroce Head Golf Professional
Congrats to those who recently recorded a hole-in-one at St. Davids! Aces in April
Bill Henderson (4/19)
134 yards on hole 6 with an 8 iron
Bruce Silfies (4/29)
155 yards on hole 14 with a 9 wood
Greg Jeffrey (4/29)
126 yards on hole 6 with a pitching wedge
Defending Senior Club Champion John Guillaume
Super Senior Club Champion Dan Dressel
May 8 - WGAP end-of-season party held at the Mordy’s home. Suzanne Betts was named player of the year!
May 8–11 – Carol Dressel, Craig Standen, Dan Dressel, and Bill Fagan volunteered at the Truist Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club
Men’s Invitational Flight Winners
Not Photographed: Oakmont Flight Winners Brian and Matt Orr
Augusta National
Mark Pulos and Jack Dandrea
LACC
Lee Cox and Julian Sur
Sand Hills
Champions Chuck Chupein & Dan Agoglia
Fishers Island
John Cooper (right) and Al Vasile
Shinnecock Hills
Joe Lopresti & Pat O’Brien
National Golf Links
Bob Andreola (right) and Mike Moonan
Pine Valley
Runners Up Douglas Wheeler & Michael Zurcher
Addressing your Frequently asked Questions
TheSt.DavidsGreenDepartmentisenjoyingthe weather that Mother Nature has provided this spring.Withtimely,soakingrainsandmoderate temperatures,ithasbeenfunsettingupthegolf course and pushing playing conditions on a dailybasis.
The weather certainly has the golf course growing! There seems to be a light switch t flips every season and growth explodes overnight. All of our playing surfaces are receiving routine mowing now that they are actively growing. One question I have been receiving regards the drill and fill holes from our fall aeration. These holes typically do not heal until the end of May and are much more noticeablethisyearbecausewedidnotaeratein the spring. I am confident that the holes will be healed-in by the time you are reading this article.
Another frequently asked question is about the bunches of tall, golden grasses that are growing in the native areas. This grass is called broomsedgeandisnativetotheNortheast.Itisa very aesthetic plant, but can create a challenging golf shot. In effort to minimize it spreading, we did not mow these grasses down in the fall. The thought process is, if we do not mowthegrassandspreaditsseed,wewillstopit from taking over native areas. havesmall,segregatedbunchesofbroomsedge
toofferanicecontrastonthegolfcourse.
While the rain has been plentiful this May, we have to assume that we will reach a point of prolonged periods without it. During these periods of no rain, managing pond heights on the 11th hole is a daily task. Here is a quick breakdown of how our irrigation system works andhowwemoveirrigationwater:
Irrigation water is pumped directly out of the bottom pond on hole 11 out to the golf course.
The upper pond is used to store water and fillthebottompondasneeded.
We can fill the ponds by pumping from the wellonhole13orcitywaterfromAqua. Thewellpermitallowsustopumpatadaily rateof75GPM,2.25milliongallonsamonth and10milliongallonsannually.
A typical irrigation program in the summeris150,000-200,000gallons. We are only allowed to pump when the stream on holes 12 and 13 are at an appropriateheight.
When the stream falls below the permitted height,wearenolongerabletopumpuntil
the aquifer recharges (regardless of total gallonspumped).
We measure the stream height using the staff gauge on the concreateheadwall athole12.
When we can no longer pump from the well, we then utilize citywater.
Understanding that the grow-in phase of the project will require frequent irrigating of newly seeded greens and fairways, we will be limiting our irrigation for the remainder of this season to recharge the well and save our total gallons used. With that said, if we do experience a prolonged dry period between now and the closure,thegolfcoursemayappearalittlemore discoloredthannormalduetowilting.
LookingaheadtothestartoftheprojectonJune 30 , we are in a really good position. As it quickly approaches, you can expect to start seeing material deliveries in late May through late June. The majority of these materials will consist of irrigation components, drainage pipe, rootzone mix/gravel, and bunker sand. To avoid disruption to play and our parking situation, mostofthesematerialswillbestagedalongthe th
fencelineonholesevenandfencelineleftofthe 11thtee.Aboutoneweekpriortoclosure,wewill start staging large amounts of rootzone mix, sand and gravel in the bottom third of the parking lot. We thank you in advance for your patienceandunderstandingwhilewetakethese deliveriespriortotheprojectstart.
We held a very productive pre-construction meeting on April 11 with everyone involved with the renovation. The group consisted of the SDGC Team, Tyler Rae (Architect), Geoff Mack (ISIIrrigation),BrettNagy(MottinGolf),Thomas Campbell (C-Tech Irrigation Consultant) and SteveMcDonald(ProjectConsultant).Duringthis meeting we discussed the logistics regarding topics like material, equipment and employee staging, haul roads and disturbance areas, the rolesofeachteam,andmostimportantly,where wearegoingtostart. th
There were a couple different suggestions on howweshouldflowthroughthegolfcourse.The group unanimously agreed that we should start workinthefarcorneratsixgreenandworkour way toward the clubhouse, out to one and then across the street to 11-16. This not only makes the most sense logistically, with the majority of materials being staged in the parking lot, but will also showcase the work and progress to the membershipastheyarecomingtotheClub.
Meet the Team
PleasemeetJoseMayorga!Josehasbeena
seasonalemployeeoftheGreenDepartmentfor four years. Native to Honduras, Jose brings an eclectic skillset, positive attitude and tremendous work ethic to our operation every day. We are fortunate to have Jose as a part of ourteamandlookforwardtomakingSt.Davids hishomeformanyyearstocome.IfyouseeJose out on the course, please give a wave and say hello!
Collin Harley Golf Course Superintendent
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 aroundtheclubhouse!
Mark Anderson
Berwyn, PA
Intermediate
Douglas & Jill
Knight
Bryn Mawr, PA
House waiting for Certificate
The Waldron Family is thrilled to introduce the newest and cutest addition to the family, John MichaelKappy.
th
John was born on May 6 , 2025 to parents Ryan KappyandKellyWaldronKappy.
Proud grandparents Kevin and Hariette Waldron areelated,andsuggestedhebenamed DonaldRoss!
Welcome to the Green Team, Jose!
Saturday, September 20th
Thursday, June 26th
Thursday, July 31st Registration opens June 10
Thursday, September 4 Registration opens July 15 th
Harry Caslowitz
Chances are you’ve crossed paths with Harry Caslowitz, he’s usually one of the first people to greet you in the Golf Shop. Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Harry brings nearly a decade of golf industry experiencetoourteam.
Harry got his start in golf as a college caddie at Ledgemont Country Club while studying Business Management at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts. From there, his journey took him to severalesteemedclubs,includingSakonnetGolfClubin LittleCompton,RI,andTheCountryClubinBoston,MA, where he first worked alongside our own Head Golf Professional, Tyler Santacroce. He also held seasonal positions at Mountain Lake in Lake Wales, Florida, and SanctuaryGolfClubonSanibelIsland,Florida.
Now a proud resident of Rittenhouse Square with his girlfriend Sydney and their dog Oswald, Harry has grownfondof Philadelphia,eventhoughneitherof
them are native to the city. In their free time, they enjoy exploring Philly’s dynamic food scene, with TrattoriaCarina,acozyItalianBYOB,toppingHarry’slistoffavorites.
A lifelong New Englander (we won’t hold it against him), Harry had a moment of Philly pride when Member Auster Dunlap spotted him on Broad Street in an Eagles jersey after the birds Super Bowl LIX victory.Let’sjustsay...he might beoneofusnow!
As St. Davids embarks on its exciting golf course renovation, Harry is looking forward to what’s ahead andcontinuingtobepartoftheclub’sevolution.
“TheseareexcitingtimesaheadforSt.Davids.Ican’temphasizeenoughhowgreatthingsaregoingto get in the next couple of years…the excitement of a new golf course and new designs are going to be greatlong-termforthisclub.”SaidHarry.
We'reluckytohaveHarry’spassion,professionalism,andgoodhumorontheteam!Thismonth’sStaff SpotlightwasselectedbyGeneralManagerDeanKandle.
Marmalades and Margaritas
Thank you for the wonderful spring season so far! It’s great to see members dining and enjoying what theF&Bteamhasbeenputtingtogether.
Wesawagreatturnoutforourfirstwinetastingof the year. We hosted our second tasting with Mount Gay Barbados Rum. See details below for our next tastinginJune.
Are you enjoying the spring dinner menu? Our culinaryteamhasampeduptheirpresentationand qualityoffood.Westriveforfreshnessandquality. Pictured to the right is our preserved citrus marmaladeinthemaking,alongwithfreshgnocchi madebyChefDamain.
What’s Angela drinking this summer? I’m loving the mocktail trend! I really enjoy the Lyre’s Margarita made with Zero Proof Agave Blanco Spirit,ZeroProofTripleSec,limejuice,andasplash ofagave.However,noonecanresistaglassofwine, so on occasion, I enjoy our current wine feature: Decoy Featherweight Chardonnay. This wine is lowerincaloriesandalcohol.Perfecttoenjoyonthe patio!
Wehopeyouarekeepingupwithourbusycalendar thissummer:
June15 :Father’sDayDinnerth
June22 :FirstSundayFundayoftheseason!nd
June26 :FirstLobsterNightoftheseason!th
June27 :LiveMusic&BeerTastingth
Angela Hummel Director of Food & Beverage
Hours of Operation
Now - June 30th
Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00AM–3:00PM Wednesday – Sunday 11:00AM–9:00PM
Beginning July 1st
Monday & Tuesday
Closed Wednesday
Bar:10AM–9PM|BistroMenu:3–9PM
Thursday – Sunday
Bar:10AM–9PM|Lunch:11AM–5PM|Dinner:5–9PM
family fun at the MEMORIAL DAY barbecue
Let’s Keep the Vibe Going!
As we all know, our beloved St. Davids golf course is getting a fresh new look! While we’re giving the greens and fairways the care they deserve, the good times at St. Davids are not on pause. Your Entertainment Committee is working hard to turn up theenergyattheClubhouse!
Here’s what you can look forward to from July 1st untilweopenournew,fantasticgolfcoursein2026.
Themed Dinners & Chef’s Specials – From BBQ nights to wine pairings, our chef and kitchen are readytoimpress.
Trivia, Bingo & Bistro Nights – Grab your friends and test your wits or just enjoy a casual evening out.
Happy Hour Specials & Live Entertainment –Toast to our golf course progress with some tunes on the patio, rotating seasonal cocktails and winetastingevents.
CornHoleTournaments -Getateamtogetherand funnel that golf-competition energy into corn hole!Lookfordatesandmoreinformationsoon!
NewEvents –InSeptemberwewillturnSt.Davids into a comedy club, featuring Joe Conklin and his band of comedians. If you are unfamiliar with Joe Conklinandhismany"voices"youareinforareal treat! In October, the Club becomes the place to go forDinnerTheaterwitha"onemanshow"thatwill putyoubackinthesixtieswhenJFKwasPresident. We will feature special dining features to showcasetheseevents!
Influencer Speaker Series - Beginning this fall, attend a guest speaker presentation on topics that range from "inside the FBI” to a history of the Mainlineanditsmansions.Thiswillbefollowedby dinner and further discussion with our esteemed speakers(guestsareinvited)!
OldiesbutGoodies -Allyourfavoritesthatoccur in fall and winter are still going to take place--Fall Fest, Thanksgiving Take-Out, Ladies Shopping Night and our highly attended ChristmasParty!
We may be saying “see you soon” to the golf course, but there’s still every reason to stop by and soak up theclubatmosphereandbewithyourfriends.
Tohelpkeepeveryoneawareofwhatishappeningat the Clubhouse your "Vibe Tribe" is launching a new campaign at the end June. The intent is to keep the energy high and the membership engaged. It will looklikethis!
Wherever you see this logo please know that we are either highlighting the “Vibe” events of the coming weekorafeaturedeventforthemembershiptolook forward to and register for. We will be communicating to you via emails every Tuesday, increased signage around the clubhouse, and on our social media platforms. There will be lots of ways to stay informed as we turn up the energy at St. Davids!
The important thing is that we stay connected and engaged with each other as we begin this exciting time of transition into a brand-new golf course and beyond. So, Let’s keep the vibe going St. Davids — together!
The Entertainment Committee
A Day-Trip to Watch Brett Upper’s Attempt to
Qualify for the US
Brett Upper grew up playing junior golf at St. Davids Golf Club. Right out of high school Brett turned pro in 1977. After four years as an assistant pro in Pennsylvania, he decided to test his golfgameatahigh-
Open
er level. With the financial backing of SDGC memberVictorZaro,Brettheadedsouthtoplaythe professionalgolfminitours.
Then in 1983, with the help of a fourth round courserecord65,BrettfinishedsecondatthePGA Tour’s Q-School at TPC Sawgrass, and was now on thePGATour.
In early June of 1985 Upper was entered in sectional qualifying for the US Open at Montclair Golf Club in northern New Jersey. I came up with aplanforaday-triptowatchBretttrytoqualify.
IapproachedFronefield Crawford, a past president of SDGC, who was a great mentor to Brett. Many times he had taken Brett to play Pine Valley Golf Club. I laid out my plan. We would leave early for North Jersey and play golf at a course near Montclair in the morning. Then we woulddrivetoMontclairGCandrouteBretthome.
With that, Fronefield signed up Tom Agnew and Andy Harris for our excursion. Early on the first TuesdayofJunewewereonourway.Weplayed18 holes at Roxiticus Golf Club and then drove to nearby Montclair GC to watch Brett play his second round of the day, in the 36-hole qualifying competition.
OnarrivingatMontclairGC,Crawford,Harrisand Agnewretiredtotheclubhouseforlunch.Iheaded out on the golf course to catch Brett where he was intheearlyholesofhissecondeighteen.Ifollowed Brett to the end of his round, but my companions didn’tmakeitoutontothegolfcourse.
When Brett putted out on his 36th hole, it was pretty evident that he had not played well enough toqualify.(Brettdidplayinthe1986,88and92US Opens) As we approached the scoreboard to check outtheleadingscores,wefoundourSDGCmen.
After some hellos and how did you play, we learned that while having lunch and lounging around the clubhouse, Crawford, Harris and Agnew had met Yogi Berra, who was a Montclair GC member. After all of my best laid plans for the day,mostofthetalkonthewayhometoSDGCwas aboutYogiBerra.
Peter Trenham Club Historian
New Features at your Fingertip!
Enjoy easy access to club information and modulesinanew,intuitiveway!
In addition, we’ve enhanced our ability to communicate with you about important news, announcements, events, and reservations. St Davids is one of the first in the industry to have thelatestandmostmodernclubtechnology.
Hereareafewexcitingnewfeatures:
FaceID/TouchID: Should you wish to enable it, the new mobile app allows for FaceID or TouchID (depending on device) to log back intotheapp,shouldyoueverlogout.
Footer Menu: When logged into the app, no matter where you are, you can access these fivekeyareas:
Home Page - My Reservations: Onthehome page of the app once you’re logged in, you can see all of your upcoming reservations at theclub,inoneclearandaccessibleview:
Reservations Hub: OntheReservationsHub, accessible via the second icon in the footer menu, not only can you see your upcoming reservations, but you can also make a reservation via the quick links at the top of thepage:
Toaccesstheapp,youwillusethesame membernumberandpasswordyouuseto accessthewebsite.Theappwillkeepyou loggedin,soyoudon’thavetoretype informationeachtimeyouuseit.
Ifyouhaveneverusedthewebsite,please reachouttheCommunicationsManager AliPierceforassistance.
Dean
x 206
Dean@stdavidsgc.com
