Cliff Notes Sept/Oct by The Ledges

Cliff Notes

THE LEDGES SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2023

HOURS OF OPERATION

DINING

Monday: Closed

Tuesday - Friday: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Saturday: 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

PRO-SHOP

Monday: Closed Tuesday - Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - dark

POOL

Closes for the season after Labor Day

THE TWENTY-TWO Closes for the season after Labor Day

STAY CONNECTED

A great way to stay informed is to subscribe to our email list. Email kmartin@theledges.com if you need to be added to the list.

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The Ledges Cliff Notes Newsletter

32 CONTACT INFORMATION

Clubhouse 256-883-0860

Pro-Shop 256-883-4191

Jim Ausley Chief Operating Officer jausley@theledges.com

Craig Bocking Director of Instruction cbocking@theledges.com

Rob Clark Director of Golf rclark@theledges.com

Phillip Collier Executive Chef pcollier@theledges.com

Jordan DeBonis Head Golf Professional jdebonis@theledges.com

Leigh Ann Club Administrator leighann@theledges.com

Jim Howell Director of Agronomy jhowell@theledges.com

Guard House 256-883-1901

The Twenty-Two 256-469-7753

Dave Lux Director of Food & Beverage dlux@theledges.com

Bailey Carr Director of Communications bcarr@theledges.com

Sarah Melendez Member Relations Coordinator smelendez@theledges.com

Zach Weaver Lead Golf Professional zweaver@theledges.com

Terry Wilbanks Director of Membership twilbanks@theledges.com

Arlene Zanlunghi Events Coordinator azanlunghi@theledges.com

Castle Down Drive Huntsville, AL 35802

• • • • • • • •

Best in State

THE LEDGES RATED TOP 3 COURSES IN ALABAMA

Golf Digest recently released their 2023-2024 Best in State rankings. The Ledges was rated as one of the top three golf courses in the state of Alabama. As members, we know The Ledges is a special and unique place. However, it is also nice to receive recognition and praise from the golf community confirming what a magnificent golf course we get to play on every day.

Jim Howell and the Agronomy team deserve a resounding round of applause for their hard work in continually maintaining the course at such a high caliber. Special thank you's also go to Rob Clark for lining up the all important course raters and to The Ledges ownership for their commitment to making The Ledges one of the best courses in the state of Alabama. With boundless pride and enthusiasm, let's continue to conquer this awe-inspiring course and cherish every unforgettable moment spent on its marvelous grounds.

With gratitude, Jim Ausley

Rob Clark's GOLF UPDATE

So far, 2023, has been a great year for golf at The Ledges. The total rounds of golf are slightly higher than our 2022 numbers and member participation in golf events is at an all club high. Our campaign for player responsibility is producing results. We are seeing less footprints in the bunkers, fewer ball marks on greens, and more fairway divots filled with sand. I want to take this time to thank everyone for their effort and cooperation. Many of us have had the opportunity to play different courses throughout the country and in some cases all over the world. It is always nice to come home and recognize how special the Ledges is. Let’s keep our commitment to help maintain this course and always have the mindset to make the course better for the people playing behind you.

As a PGA Golf Professional, we are tasked to promote the game of golf for everyone. We are very fortunate in the fact we love our job, and it is such a great sense of pride when we can expose people to golf. This past summer was our third year to offer a golf camp at Lincoln Village Ministries. We have thoroughly enjoyed this time with the kids and are enthusiastic to say that we have found some future golfers. Our staff will continue to teach golf and valuable life lessons to these kids, and we ask that you continue to support this great cause.

Fall is a great time to check your equipment. If you have a need or just want to figure out what each of your clubs do in terms of carry distance, sign up for a golf club evaluation with one of our pro staff. We will do an involved assessment that will give you lies and lofts of all your clubs and the carry and total distances to make sure there are no gaps. If there are gaps, we will find the best solution. Also, Fall is when many of the club manufacturers introduce their new products. I know Callaway and Titleist will be introducing some new equipment, so be on the look-out.

Regards,

Rob Clark

Jim Howell's COURSE UPDATE

The fall season will be arriving soon and along with it will be some of the best weather for playing golf and of course, watching football.

Our Fall Agronomy schedule will consist of the continued grooming of the golf course along with the preparation of all turf stands for the winter season. Traditionally, we have completed the Dry-Ject Aerification process along with the normal small core tine aerification in late fall. However, the greens never seemed to fully heal in time for Spring, so we decided to move that process up to late Summer. We feel this change will greatly improve our greens program and put us in a better position heading into Spring.

Hopefully everyone has met our new Agronomy team members. Their experience, dedication and hard work has helped us maintain the golf course at a high level this season as we also dealt with the challenges from winter injury to the turf. I am very proud of this group and look forward to seeing their continued growth and the improvements they add to the course.

Regards,

Jim Howell

September 5

The golf course will be closed on Tuesday, September 5th for maintenaince.

GOLF COURSE CLOSED

NINE, WINE & DINE

Friday, September 15 & October 13

Nine, Wine and Dine is a great time enjoy an evening of golf and dinner. Couples compete in teams of four between 3 and 5 p.m., with dinner and wine will follow play. Reservations must be made by noon the day of the event. For reservations please contact the pro-shop at 256-883-4191.

The price is $60 a couple.

FALL MEMBER GUEST

October 5-6

There's nothing like Fall at The Ledges. Enjoy superb weather and great course conditions at our Fall Member Guest Tournament. Members may invite up to three guests or pair up with another member and their guests to form a team of four.

Dinner will be served after play on Thursday. Lunch and awards will be held after play on Friday.

Entry: $1,000 per team

LADIES MEMBER GUEST

October 17-18

Ladies, this one is just for you! Create any combination of a four-person member-guest team for this scramble.

Entry: $125 per person

CRAIG BOCKING EARNS PGA MASTER

PROFESSIONAL STATUS

The Ledges is honored to announce that Craig Bocking, Director of Instruction, has earned PGA Master Professional status. This prestigious accomplishment is a testament to his passion for the game of golf and his desire to make its players better. We are proud of Craig and blessed to have such a gifted instructor as a member of our Ledges team.

Bocking, a Member of the Alabama - NW Florida PGA Section, joins a special group as the 438th PGA Member who has ever earned PGA Master Professional status. He achieved his designation in Teaching and Coaching.

The PGA Master Professional Program is available to any PGA Professional with at least 10 years of PGA Membership and has achieved advanced certification through the PGA Certified Professional Program. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA Professional. PGA Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the presentation.

“Becoming a PGA Master Professional has been a lifelong dream and goal of mine, and this achievement is the culmination of over 20 years of work, research and study,” said Bocking. “Ever since I got into the business I knew what I wanted to do, and that is to help my students play their best golf and

grow the game. It’s truly an honor to be part of the inspiring group of PGA Master Professionals, and to earn this status at the Home of the PGA makes it that much more special.”

Bocking has been the PGA Director of Instruction at The Ledges since 2018 and enjoys working with students of all ability levels who are dedicated to the game and have a passion for playing their best golf. He has been the recipient of the Alabama - NW Florida PGA Section Teacher & Coach the Year Award three times (2016, ‘20, ‘21) and has been named to the Golf Digest “Best Teachers In Your State” list from 2017-2023.

An award-winning coach, Bocking has developed over 70 juniors to play at the collegiate level with dozens playing Division I golf. He has coached an SEC women's golfer to multiple collegiate wins and multiple SEC Player of the Week honors. He coaches some of the top-ranked junior & amateur golfers in the country, including the 2021-2022 Pinehurst invitational Junior Boys Champion, 2022 Alabama Junior Girls & Women’s State Amateur Champion, 2022 Alabama Boys State Junior Amateur Champion, 2023 Alabama Men’s State Amateur Champion, and the 2023 Alabama Women’s State Stroke Play Champion. He also coaches multiple high school teams and individuals that have won state championships.

Article from PGA Press Release 2023

“Becoming a PGA Master Professional has been a lifelong dream and goal of mine, and this achievement is the culmination of over 20 years of work, research and study"

-Craig Bocking PGA Press Release | Frisco, TX

OCTOBER 5-6

ENTRY: $1000 PER TEAM

FOUR-MAN TEAMS, ANY COMBINATION OF MEMBERS AND GUESTS

DINNER WILL BE SERVED AFTER PLAY ON THURSDAY. LUNCH AND AWARDS WILL BE HELD AFTER PLAY ON FRIDAY

LADIES MEMBER GUEST CREATE ANY COMBINATION OF A FOUR-PERSON MEMBER-GUEST TEAM FOR THIS SCRAMBLE. SIGN UP BY CALLING THE PRO-SHOP OCTOBER 17-18 ENTRY: $125 PER PERSON LADIES THIS ONE IS JUST FOR YOU! 256-883-4191