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THE S C O O P FEBRUARY 2021

THE S C O O P ON WHAT’S HAPPENING AT TAMARISK

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL SCOBY

10-11

CLUBHOUSE AND FOOD & BEVERAGE

CHRISTIAN PITA , PETER STAU & STEVE SANTANA

GENERAL MANAGER

RACQUET CLUB SPORTS

MEMBERSHIP

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

A LETTER FROM CHAD JOHNSON

AN UPDATE FROM SARAH SCHMOLKE

LISA SCHREIBER

S T E P H A N I E G R A N I K - N E E LY

6-7

G O L F U PDAT E S

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

8-9

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

K Y L E K E L LY A N D B E N V A N N

JASON, KRISTINA & SAM CANTELLI

C E R V A N T E S F A M I LY

FEBRUARY

SAVE THE DATE VIRTUAL WINEMAKER DINNER

SILVER OAK SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY

Michael Scoby President

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Betwixt and Between. I am not sure any of us know what’s coming next … a worse patch of infections in the very near future or light from the tunnel upon us. Maybe a combination of both. But with so many of our members qualifying for the vaccines, I would think we will achieve Tamarisk herd immunity very soon, if there is such a thing.

“Please

continue to be safe and enjoy those things we are still able to do”.

I have to believe in the recent months our membership has rediscovered their kitchens and dormant cooking skills or at least how to contact Grubhub. And they now realize one of the most important pieces of equipment in their house is the dishwasher. We need to be grateful that while we spend our time in quarantine, we have the luxury of living in this beautiful valley and occasionally waking up to spectacular white mountains after bouts of winter rain. I did have lunch the other day on the Snack Shop Patio and sitting there eating in the warmth of the sun was wonderful. I suggest you try it. Please continue to be safe and enjoy those things we are still able to do, golf, tennis, outdoor fitness, and on-line cards among them. We hope and anticipate some version of normalness will resume soon and we can get back to the camaraderie that we have come to expect at Tamarisk. I am always available to answer questions or concerns. Respectfully, Michael Scoby

Chad Johnson Chief Operating Officer

A MESSAGE FROM THE COO As the Winter Season is coming to an end, and we begin to move into Spring and warmer temperatures in the Desert, I remain encouraged that we will soon have the ability to offer more amenities and services to our members. Over the fall and winter seasons, our golf rounds increased by over 60%! Even with the significant increase in play, and the fact that we have tripled our cart traffic when compared to previous years, Ben, Mike and the entire maintenance team have kept our course in fabulous condition. I would like to sincerely thank Ben, Mike and the entire Golf Maintenance Team for their outstanding work! I would also like to recognize and thank all our Preview Members for being with us over the course of the 2020/2021 season. We are so excited to have you at Tamarisk and to have the opportunity to get to know you, and for you to meet our membership. Our members are truly what makes Tamarisk such a special place and as you get to know them, I’m certain the relationships you form will enrich your lives for years to come. In addition, as you know, we have a tremendous staff here at Tamarisk and their dedication to our members experience never waivers. I work with them behind the scenes and they are always trying to improve our services while putting a strong emphasis on safety. Our staff continues to do an excellent job in difficult circumstances and I am very thankful for each one of them and all that they do for our members. Finally, we had a couple guests play golf in late January and this is how they described their experience to me: “Tamarisk has a special golf experience. The conditions are immaculate and you offer great service throughout the Club.” They went on to thank me and express how much they enjoyed their experience. These gentlemen were from a nationally renowned company that specializes in luxury Private Club operational and financial consulting. They visit hundreds of Clubs every year. They reinforced what I already knew….. Tamarisk is indeed a special place. I wish you all the best in the Spring season ahead and look forward to seeing you at the Club! Chad Johnson

Sarah Schmolke Membership Director

“MEMBERSHIP MOMENTUM” Our Members are thrilled to have a safe place to enjoy while spending time outdoors with their family and friends. This pandemic has been incredible for showing us what is important; letting us focus on what we do have and has made us shift our priorites and a adopt a slower pace. Membership is active and I apprecite helping peopling find where they fit in. Our Membership is diverse, authentic, and welcoming. Our Preview Program is a testment of that. Each experience and testimonial of Tamarisk speaks volumes to the quality of our Membership. Continue to do what you do - What may seem like a small action and comes naturally for the majority of our Members over time creates a temendous ripple effect making this the warm and welcoming atmosphere that our Prospective Members easily gravitate toward. A subtle welcome gesture, such as inviting someone to play a round of golf, setting up games on the Pickleball court, or extending an invite or introduction to connect one another with their interest, all provide ease and comforts that prospects are looking for. In my daily encounters with Members and staff I see it and hear it repeatedly. We all share a positive mindset with gratitude holding space at the top of everyone’s list.

N JA

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W E L C O M E O U R P R E V I E W P R O G R A M PA R T I C I PA N T S NEW PREMIER GOLF MEMBERS

NEW PREMIER GOLF MEMBERS

Mitch & Nanci KANTOR

Joel BRAUN & Randi HEINE

N. A

22 - MAR.

Katherine & Scott SMALL

Bob & Jane CLARK

B. 1 E F

- MAR .3

15 - MAR .1

. AN

Jane ZALUTSKY & Mark KANTOR

Steve & Barbara WOLF

Kyle Kelly Head Golf Professional

G O L F U PDAT E S As we turn the calendar to the month of February, we have truly redefined the “busy season” here at Tamarisk! Rounds are up over 75% and everyone is loving being out on our beautiful golf course.

We have some great events coming up…. MARK YOUR CALENDARS JoFit Trunk Show

Update your Women’s Golf Attire with JoFit. Classic Golf, Sport & Athleisure attire for women designed to fit your life. Saturday, February 13th

Golf Demo Day featuring XXIO and Ping Saturday, February 20th Both XXIO and Ping have new lines of irons and woods. and they look great; make an appointment to come test them out!

Mixed Couples Golf - Ben’s Revenge

Saturday, February 21st One of our signature couples golf events of the season; we turn Superintendent Ben Vann loose to make the rules and set up the course…it’s truly golf like you’ve never experienced, and a ton of fun!

King for a Day

Tuesday, March 2nd King for a day has been a Tamarisk tradition for years… Three ladies invite one “King” to join them for a fun morning of golf followed by lunch.

GOLF UPDATES TO NOTE

■ Unfortunately, due to COVID protocols and the uncertainty of what lies ahead, we have made the difficult decision to CANCEL The Main Event Men’s Invitational this season. However, we added a Men’s Guest Day on Wednesday, March 24th. More details to follow. ■ The Men’s Club Championships are Tuesday, April 13 & Thursday, April 15. All divisions will compete in 36 holes of stroke play, including the Open Division, Senior Division and Super Senior Division.

NEED NEW GOLF EQUIPMENT?

PROBLEM! Test demo clubs from our top equipment companies; see Ran or Kyle to take these new toys out for a test drive!

CALLAWAY | COBRA | TAYLORMADE | XXIO

E N J O Y T A M A R I S K I N E V E R Y W AY

As the days get longer we can look forward to the great weather we are accustomed to in the Coachella valley.

Ben Vann Director of Agronomy

The recent warm weather has allowed the overseeded grass to mature, making it possible for us to remove the ropes on the golf course for the first time. It is important to remember that the ropes are there to keep the course in great condition in high traffic areas. We will be putting ropes and stakes back out as needed depending on how the turf stands up to the cart traffic. Please use the cart paths around greens and tees to reduce the amount of rope needed. Remember to sand and seed your divots and fix balls marks as it is so helpful in keeping our course in its outstanding condition. Below is an diagram from the USGA as a friendly reminder.

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Why we have more ball marks in cooler weather? Every day before cutting the greens we put a pinch of seed on unfixed ball marks. When the days are short and the weather is cold the seed takes up to a month to germinate, which is why we have more ball marks in the cooler weather months. The same goes for divots filled with sand and seed. When the weather warms the germination process is only about two weeks.

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT across Massachusetts, New York and California. We’ve taken adventures to Austria, Germany, France, England, Ireland, China, Iceland, and Mexico - where we survived a 3 day stretch with no electricity in the heat of the summer and a scorpion bite. It’s amazing to think about what the next ten years will bring. Describe a typical day in your life. Like all of us, the current challenging times have upended our routines. Instead of managing school drop off and two commutes, we’ve set up three home offices for school and work. We spend most days racing between conference calls and managing internet bandwidth, but while challenging times, it’s been nice to find time for family walks and meals together that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.

CANTELLI FAMILY Jason, Kristina and Sam What made you join the Tamarisk Family? When we purchased our home in Rancho Mirage 7 years ago we were enthralled with the history of the Tamarisk area and felt a connection. We will tell anyone who will listen about the history of the club, the architecture and stories of the past… and we’re always asking for others’ stories, so please share them! At the time our primary residence was Hermosa Beach, and then life quickly took a turn and we moved to Brooklyn NY… but we always talked about “someday”. While we loved our time in Brooklyn and the adventures we were afforded through moving coast to coast, (several times) it made us fully realize we’re happiest when we’re able to live an active life, be outdoors, and feel rooted in a community that shares our values. We really felt like Tamarisk could be that linchpin. We hoped to someday join Tamarisk when life would bring us back to Southern California and we could spend more time in the desert. We moved back to Southern California about a year ago and saw the silver lining of life suddenly turning remote and realized we were able to make our dream a reality much sooner than expected. What are some fun facts about your family? As a family we’ve been on an amazing adventure. In the last ten years, we have lived 7 different places

How did you become connected to the Desert? We first came to the desert in 2013 on a whim having no idea what to expect. We rented a small house in Joshua Tree and unexpectedly discovered the peace and tranquility, the colors, and drama of the landscape. It was a new totally foreign environment for both of us being from Michigan and Massachusetts. We make pretty quick decisions in life and within three months we had purchased a home in Rancho Mirage. Tell us about your occupations? Kristina has an expertise in brand strategy and market research. She has worked for 5 agencies across her career and is currently the group director of strategy at Hawke Media in Santa Monica. She worked in vast areas of industry from consumer goods to tech to healthcare. Jason currently leads new business development for Red Bull. In 12 years with Red Bull he has led teams in sales, marketing, and distribution. He doesn’t drive the mini cooper with the can on top, but has had some amazing adventures across the many playgrounds that Red Bull is involved with in sport, art, and music. Sam is a professional 6th grader. What are some of your favorite things? Sam is a Star Wars expert and, when not taking tennis lessons with Alvi, does enjoy the occasional video game session. Kristina enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and puzzles. Jason has recently transitioned a motorcycle hobby

into an interest in pinball machines; it seemed safer. He really appreciates Kristina currently allowing him to have 7 pinball machines filling up the house!

proper commitment. December was an amazing month; I think we were at Taramisk 20+ days over the month.

Do have favorite sports or sports teams? While both us grew up as sports fans of our local Detroit and Boston teams, it’s more a nostalgic touch point for us now. We’ve found more interests in being active with golf, tennis, paddling and surfing.

What is your favorite family tradition? It’s been hard to establish family traditions with all the moving the last 10 years, but the most consistent tradition has been visiting the Holiday Lights at the Living Desert Zoo for the last 7 years!

Who inspires you? s a family we’re continually inspired by people whose priorities and focus is on doing better for people in our communities. In recent years we’ve been drawn towards the artist communities in New York City and the Desert; finding areas we can support and also just enjoy! We are very much looking forward to the return of Desert X this year! It comes at a time when we think everyone can use some inspiration! How often do you play golf? Have you always played? Sam is completely new to golf and tennis, and loving lessons with Alvi! Kristina played tennis growing up but is new to golf and enjoying it when not totally humiliated by the steep learning curve. Jason played golf competitively in high school, but is really just getting back to the game now with a

How do you best occupy your free time? What free time? I don’t think we honestly have free time at this stage in our life. We don’t watch much TV and wish we had more time to read, but for now it’s all about work, school, and play. What do you enjoy most about Tamarisk? The entire staff team has been amazing! We completely underestimated the care and sense of community at Tamarisk. We’ve really enjoyed making new friends which is something we hadn’t found in the Desert as we’ve moved around so much. The course and courts have been outstanding daily attractions, and the extra attention to programming in events and the F&B offerings have enthralled us. We don’t want to miss anything!

Christian Pita Clubhouse Manager

AROUND THE CLUBHOUSE Over the past two months the Club has had to temporarily close due to confirmed positive COVID tests from a member or staff member on our Tamarisk campus. I wanted to explain to our members the reasoning behind it and the positive effect we beleive it has had in our Tamarisk community. Club Closure for 3 days or 72 hours When the Club is notified of a COVID positive person, we contact trace our campus and activate our spread prevention protocol. The first step is to properly close down each area to maintain health and sanitation practices. Second, we review schedules and work flow to determine who may have been at risk of exposure. We evaluate two criteria for exposure, proximity and duration. (Did these employees or members interact within 6 feet of each other at anytime and did these individuals interact for 15 minutes or longer in a shared space). Once we determine the extent of the exposure we make a decision if any of our Members or Staff need to be tested or quarantined. The CDC recommends waiting for 72 hours after exposure to allow the virus to build up in a person’s system and for the person to start exhibiting symptoms. This timeframe also allows time to monitor our staff and make sure no one else is sick. Once we confirm no additional team members are exhibiting symptoms we schedule our staff to return and deep clean the facility using our hospital grade sanitizers and disinfecting solutions provided to us by Ecolab. We are extremely proud of the fact that, if you review our contact tracing for each COVID positive, we have yet to have a confirmed transmission from one employee or member to another. We cannot control the environment outside of our Tamarisk community but our strict rules regarding the wearing of masks and gloves, the social distancing modification we have made within work spaces, state of the art cleaning and sanitizing products, and the 72-hour closure protocol have created a safe environment we can all enjoy and feel safe within. Is my food compromised because someone tested positive in our kitchen? Per the WHO (World Health Organization) “there is currently no evidence that people can catch COVID-19 from food, including fruits and vegetables.” Also, the WHO addresses the surface of food packaging as follows, “Coronaviruses need a live animal or human host to multiply and survive and cannot multiply on the surface of food packages. It is not necessary to disinfect food packaging materials, but hands should be properly washed after handling food packages and before eating.” Everyone has there own comfort level but we have received numerous calls from members regarding this question and I thought it would be helpful to share these points.

Bringing the ART of Clay to Tamarisk

Pinch Pots | February 18 Luminaries | March 18 Organic Bowl | April 22 Each session is $50 per person. Limited to the first 10 participants. RSVP to Sarah sarah@tamariskcc.com

We are excited to have the patio open and we continue to strive to provide the best possible dining experience for our members. We are listening and providing healthy and sustainable items on our new menus. Check out this new recipe for Vegetarian Chili! VEGETARIAN CHILI Ingredients: 2 tbs 1.5 cups 1 cup 2 tbs 2 ea 1 ea 2 cups 1.5# 2 tbs 1 tbs 1 ¼ tsp ¼ tsp 4 ea 3 cups 1 ea 1 cup ¼ cup

Peter Stau Executive Chef

Canola Oil chopped yellow onion chopped red bell peppers minced garlic serrano peppers, stemmed, seeded, diced zucchini, diced fresh corn kernels (can substitute frozen) diced Portobello mushroom, stems removed, wiped clean chili powder cumin salt cayenne (to taste) large tomatoes, seeded and chopped canned black beans (2 ea 15oz cans), rinsed and drained 15 oz can tomato sauce vegetable broth or water cilantro leaves chopped (optional)

Heat Canola Oil in a large stock pot. Add onions and cook until translucent. Next, add red bell peppers, serrano peppers and minced garlic; cook until soft. Add zucchini, corn, and mushrooms; continue to cook, stirring until all the vegetables are soft. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt and cayenne. Continue to cook, stirring often. After one minute, add the tomatoes, beans, tomato sauce and vegetable stock, bring to a slow boil. Simmer stirring often, for about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add cilantro if desired. Garnish with fresh diced avocado and chopped green onions.

Steve Santana Food & Beverage Manager

FOOD & BEVERAGE HAPPENINGS Thank you to those who attended our first Virtual “Winemaker Dinner”. It was a pleasure getting to spend some time with David and Susan Tate from Barnett Vineyards. It felt like we were on a Napa Valley adventure yet experiecing it from the comfort of our own homes. Our next Virtual Winemaker Dinner is February 27 and will featuring one of Napa’s premier wineries, Silver Oak and Twomey. PLAN ADHEAD FOR DINNER NIGHTS ■ Thursday - Casual Fair, Artisan Pizzas & Appetizers ■ Fridays - Party on the Patio! New Special feature each week. ■ Saturdays - Clubhouse Dinner featuring Meats, Seafood & More!

Lisa Schreiber Director of Tennis

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF TENNIS The Racquet Sports at Tamarisk continue to gain in popularity! The courts are busier than ever. TAMARISK PICKLEBALL is a crowd pleaser. It emcompasses a wide range of skill levels and is easier to play than tennis or badminton. Pickleball utilizes shorter paddles and the underhand swing style is easier on the joints, and the shortened court translates to less distance traveled. Because the perforated ball travels at one-third of the average speed of a tennis ball, rallies tend to last longer in-turn making the sport alot of fun! TAMARISK TENNIS offers options for the classic racquet sport. We have 4 state of the art clay courts and 1 hard court. You can practice with the ball machine, or get involved with our Pros, who are always available for instruction and play.

“Racquet Sports at Tamarisk continue to gain in popularity”

BOOK EARLY! LESSONS, COURT TIMES OR QUESTIONS? CALL 760-324-1100

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GET IN ON THE ACTION! Beginning Pickleball Clinics Saturdays, 9 am - $20 To sign up, call 760-324-1100 or email lisa@tamariskcc.com

YOU know

You can also use our TCC App to book courts and the ball machine

Stephanie Granik-Neely Spa & Fitness Director

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that we are to live each day with intention and that all of our actions big and small have an impact on the world around us. With this in mind, the actions we take every day to ensure our own physical and emotional health have never been more important. Practice the top three tips to continue being strong and be well! 1. MASTER THE MIND Focus on the present moment to clear brain fog, negative thinking and information overload through meditation... breathing better and music matter. Gratefulness heals the heart. Laughter is still the best medicine. Apps like “Headspace” or “Calm” are a great way to get started. 2. OUTDOOR ACTIVITY Air quality and movement matters. Physical activity can reduce stress and improve your mood. Can’t beat the fresh air and our sunny Palm Springs sunshine. 3. SOCIAL INTERACTION Connecting with family and friends can help take your mind off stressful situations. Join Tamarisk Group classes to interact with others that have similar interests. Engaging in activities we enjoy can release “happy hormones” to keep us healthy.

VALENTINE’S SPA SPECIAL

The Spa & Fitness Center HOURS OF OPERATION Monday - Sunday 8 am to 3 pm Group classes are $10 per session RSVP to The Fitness Center 24 hrs. in advance as class availability may be limited and subject to change. The Spa & Fitness Center Front Desk 760-328-3710 stephanie@tamariskcc.com

From February 13 - 28, Enjoy any 1 hour spa treatment, massage or facial, for $99. 13

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

THE CERVANTES FAMILY

When you visit Tamarisk there is a high probability your personal experience has been touched by this husband/wife duo. Their work takes place behind the scenes and their jobs are very different, but they both take great pride in Tamarisk and doing a job they love.

Angelica is in her fourth season in housekeeping and appreciates seeing the Club sparkle and show its best. She believes in order and everything having a place. Her husband Oscar has been the Pastry Chef at Tamarisk for the past 10 years. He loves his craft and is continuously inspired by the reactions from our Members and guests consuming one of his delectable desserts; it makes his day. Oscar and Angelica have a beautiful love story. Having met in High School. They both attended our local Palm Springs High. They later came to realize their families grew up in proximity in Mexico. Oscar from Sinola Mexico and Angelica from Mazatlán. They later married and had two sons, Alexis and AB. Recently, the Cervantes family has been tested. In April of 2019, Oscar had a health scare experiencing a heart attack at the age of forty-six. A month later, his 28-year-old son, Alexis, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. While going for his second surgery, Alexis contracted COVID. Through it all, Oscar and Angelica remain extremely optimistic. They view Oscar’s heart attack as a blessing; without it, they would not have uncovered Alexis’ cancer. They appreciate each day and their family motto is to “Live in the Moment.” Alexis is now fully recovered, residing in Los Angeles and working at UCLA. Oscar and Angelica are forever grateful for their Tamarisk family. They feel Tamarisk has enriched their lives and provided great opportunities. Both of their sons have both been recipients of Tamarisk’s scholarships. Through all these recent tribulations they have experienced nothing but support from our Members and staff. Unwaveringly their pride and appreciation of our Tamarisk family holds strong. ■

A FAMILY WHOSE MOTTO IS TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT

SUN

FEBRUARY

MON

TUE

Women’s Guest Day

WED

THU

AM Golf

Women’s Golf Clininc

BINGO 3 pm

Men’s Golf Clinic

1 Super Bowl Sunday Tailgate Boxes Dinner 5:30pm

FRI

Dinner 5:30 pm

SAT Pickleball Clinic, 9 am Dinner 5:30 pm

Women’s “Eclectic” Tournament Round 1

Women’s Golf Clinic

Pickleball Clinic, 9:30 am

AM Golf

Pickleball Clinic, 9 am

Dinner 5:30 pm

Men’s Golf Clinic

BINGO 3 pm Dinner 5:30 pm

JoFit Trunk Show Dinner 5:30 pm

Valentine’s Day

President’s Day

Women’s “Eclectic” Tournament Final Round

Women’s Golf Clininc

Pickleball Clinic, 9:30 am

AM Golf

Pickleball Clinic, 9 am

Valentine’s Day Dinner 6 pm

ART of Clay 3 pm

Men’s Golf Clinic

Mixed Couples Golf - “Ben’s Revenge”

Dinner 5:30 pm

Golf Demo Day Dinner 5:30 pm

Women’s “Pick Your Own Poison” Tournament

Women’s Golf Clinic

Board of Directors Meeting 1:30 pm

AM Golf

Pickleball Clinic, 9 am

BINGO 3 pm

Virtual Wine Maker Dinner

Dinner 5:30 pm

Men’s Golf Clinic

BINGO 3 pm

Silver Oak & Twomey

Dinner 5:30 pm

THE S C O O P

70-240 Frank Sinatra Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 Phone: 760.328.2141 Fax: 760.324.6794 Tamariskcc.com