April 2024 Newsletter

THE WESTWOOD WAY

April 2024

Club Hours of Operation

Clubhouse Dining

Monday: Closed

Lunch

Tuesday - Friday 11am- 2pm

Dinner:

Tuesday - Saturday 5pm- 9pm

Sunday Brunch 11am- 2pm

Huck’s Lounge

Monday Closed

Tuesday - Thursday 11am- 10pm

Friday 11am- 11pm

Saturday 3pm- 11pm

Sunday 11am- 2pm

Fitness Center: 5am- 9:30pm

Monday - Friday 5am- 9:30pm

Saturday - Sunday 6am- 9pm

Court 7 Grill:

Monday - Saturday 8am- 10pm

Sunday 9am- 10pm

Taylor Tennis Center:

Monday - Saturday 8am- 10pm

Sunday 9am- 10pm

Lap Swim

Monday-Sunday 6am- 9pm

Recreation Swim: Opens April 5th (weekends)

Monday- Thursday Closed

Friday 4pm- 8pm

Saturday & Sunday 12pm- 8pm

LakeView Cafe: Closed for the season

Business Office:

Monday - Friday 9am- 5pm

Direct Phone Numbers

Main Club Number 512-453-7246

Main Dining Reservations 512-610-0433

Court 7 Grill 512-610-0445

Lakeview Cafe 512-610-0473

Taylor Tennis Center 512-453-7249

Fitness 512-610-0498

Aquatics 512-610-0499

Pool Desk 512-610-0436

Events/Catering Office 512-610-0462

Business Office 512-610-0504

Membership 512-610-0418

Billing Inquiries 512-610-0411

Have a comment or question about your club?

Email us: Feedback@westwoodcountryclub.com

Email the Board: Board@Westwoodcountryclub.com

Nautical Boat Club

Enjoy the cooler breezes with Nautical Boat Club! Go cruising with your friends on a tritoon or enjoy surfing the calmer water this spring. Whatever your boating needs, we're here for you.

Call 512-257-2628 Ext 3 for more information today!

Centre Court

The tennis center came alive for the second ATX Open and what an event it was. Fantastic tennis and great crowds highlighted an amazing week at Westwood Country Club. An historic final was at hand as Yue Yuan faced countrywoman Wang Xiyu in the first WTA Tour final in North America among two Chinese players. Yue Yuan prevailed in a thrilling finale capturing her first WTA title. This marks the second year our ATX Open champion earned her first tour title.

The doubles team of Olivia Gadecki and Olivia Nicholls rounded out the finals Sunday garnering the doubles title in their first tournament together with a straight sets victory.

Thank you for supporting the tournament and welcoming these outstanding players from all over the world and the wonderful fans from throughout Texas to Westwood for this special event.

Van Barry- General Manager/COO

Ladies’ Court

Julie Cas s, Director of Women’s Tennis: juliec@westwoodcountryclub.com

Upcoming Events:

Women's Advanced Beginner and Novice Evening Classes begin April 3

Member/Guest May 3 & 4

Women’s Shots and Ladder Evening Doubles League begins May 22

Ladies Lawn Chair Tennis Night

Wednesday, April 17 6:30 to 9:00 pm $25 per person

Make your own team or sign up on the Westwood team, which is open to all full members! There will be a maximum of 6 teams allowed and teams will be 10 to 12 players each. Once you have formed a team contact Julie with your team’s name and she will open your team up for sign ups. Registration begins April 3rd.

2024 Member/Guest Tournament and Derby Party

May 3 - 4

Men’s and Women’s 5.0 – 5.5 (all combined levels) 6.0 – 6.5

7.0 – 7.5

8.0 – 8.5

Men’s Open

Play will commence for the ladies beginning Friday morning and for the men, Friday late afternoon. Both will play Saturday morning and early afternoon.

Derby Party: 3:30pm – 8 pm

“The fastest two minutes in sports.”

Let’s party and celebrate at Huck’s Lounge in our Derby best. Cash wagering for win, place and show. Post time approx.. 5:45pm

Competitive Juniors

WCC Summer Competitive Junior Tennis Clinics

14 Teens’ group meets Monday and Wednesday evenings weekly 5:30-7pm Price per clinic ($40)

High School, and strong USTA level 6 and 5 Tournament players

June 10th – August 2nd – email Gary weekly if attending.

email GaryS@Westwoodcounrtyclub.com for more information.

2024 ATX Open

Gary Scanlon, Director of Competitive Juniors garys@westwoodcountryclub.com

Patrick Daly represented Westwood and was the flag berrer for the all Chinese final during the ATX Open

ATX Open ball runners did a great job and the Westwood kids represented us well.

Reese, Lauren, and Rhodes Reaud were all set for the finlas with giant tennis balls and great smiles.

Stuff Men’s

Spring Draft League

Andrew Merritt, Director of Men’s Programs andrewm@westwoodcountryclub.com

Spring Draft League is under way! Below are the teams this season. If you’re not playing but would like to receive updates, email Andrew Merritt at andrewm@westwoodcountryclub.com.

Advanced League:

Hookers: captains Bill Davenport & Michael Plaisance

I’d Hit That: captains Greg Connor & Mark Werner (defending champs)

Overserved: captains Jonathan Friday & John Schlesinger

Servezas: captains James Gonin & Landon Hertel

Intermediate League:

Bee Gees: captains Bob Grim & Bart Gunkel

Sultans of Swing: captains Nichoals Miller & James Speer

TBD: captains Coe Schlicher & Brad Wilson

Tequila Drop Shots: captains Matt Trevena & Randy Werhane (defending champs)

Member/Guest Tournament:

The annual Westwood Adult Member/Guest Tournament is coming up on May 3-5. For the men, play will begin Friday evening and should conclude Saturday afternoon, with Sunday as a rain date. We’ll have food & drink, prizes for the winners, and a party Saturday night. For more information or to sign up, email Andrew Merritt at andrewm@westwoodcountryclub.com.

Singles Challenge Ladder:

The singles challenge ladder has begun and will run through August 31st. Players may get on or drop off the ladder throughout the year. The standings at the end of the year form the draws for the Singles Club Championship. For more information or to sign up, email Andrew at andrewm@westwoodcountryclub.com. Cost is $35 for the year.

2024 Men’s Tennis Calendar:

MARCH 19- SPRING INTERMEDIATE DRAFT LEAGUE BEGINS (Tuesdays)

MARCH 21- SPRING ADVANCED DRAFT LEAGUE BEGINS (Thursdays)

MAY 3-4- MEMBER/GUEST TOURNAMENT

MAY 23-27- WESTWOOD SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

JUNE 13- SUMMER DRAFT LEAGUE BEGINS (Thursdays; Finals 8/8)

JUNE 22- SUMMER 111 TOURNAMENT

Aquatics

Aquatics News April 2024!

Westwood Waves….”All or Nothing”

The Westwood Waves have “jumped” back into our competitive pool to work hard in our first stroke clinic so they can “splash” the competition in our swim meets in May-June. Our clinics work strictly on stroke technique and racing strategy to have our team swim fast, race hard and learn winning ways to beat the competition. Judging from the enthusiasm and team cheers we are already doing during the first clinic, the coaches think we are off to an incredible start. Clinic B (April 1-11), still has limited space available; the registration deadline is March 27th! The fee is $135 per child; call Trey to register.

Those who have not signed up for swim team can still sign up; on the club website at the Waves Summer League Page. The link is on the middle of the page underneath the team photo. Remember, we accept social members in the Waves program with a 40% service fee added.

The Waves, remember, is for all levels of abilities. This program is fantastic spring and summer fun.

Westwood Members should mark their calendars; below is the Waves programming dates where the pool will be extremely crowded.

Swim Team Practice after school April 15th - May 24th (no lap lane space available for adults)

Age 5 – 3:30-4:00

Age 6-7 – 4:00-4:45

Age 7-8 – 4:45-5:30

Age 9-10 – 5:30-6:15

Age 11 & up – 6:15-7:15

Aquatics Director:Trey Kohlhausen treyk@westwoodcountryclub.com

Assistant Aquatics Director: Sean Murray seanm@westwoodcountryclub.com

Swim Meet Schedule (pool closed during the home meets)

April 25th, Intrasquad (Home) Thursday, afternoon

May 1st, Rollingwood (Home) Wednesday, afternoon

May 10th, BCCC (Away) Friday, afternoon

May 18th, Austin CC & BCCC (Home) Saturday, morning

May 23rd, WLCC Relay meet (Away) Thursday, afternoon.

May 30th, WLCC & Hills of L WCC (Home) Thursday, after noon

June 7th, BCCC & WLCC (Away BCCC) Friday, afternoon

June 11th, Grand Prix League Champs 8&Un (Home) Tuesday, afternoon

June 13th, Grand Prix League Champs 9&up (Home) Thurs day, afternoon

Spring Swim Lessons

Beginner Group Swim Lessons (ages 3-6) will be offered for $195 per 2 week session, M-Th (2-2:30 – ages 3-4, 2:30-3 – ages 4-5. Register on the club website or call Trey to register. All 4 year olds interested in Waves should sign up for the 2:30-3 group classes.

Social members may register; 40% service fee applied

Session II – April 1-11

Session III – April 22-May 2

Session IV – May 6-16

Parent/child Swim Lessons this SPRING!!! Cost $195 per 2 week session & $97.50 per 1 week session, M-TH! Ages 1-3 years old. 40% service fee applied for social members.

Session I – April 1-11 (1:30-2 pm)

Session II – April 15-18 (10:15-10:45 am)

Session III – May 6-16 (1:30-2 pm)

Session IV – May 20-23 (10:15-10:45 am)

Summer Swim Lessons

Summer swim lessons available are for members of all ages and abilities. Class sessions run for 2 weeks as the spring lessons, M-TH of each week.

Sessions this summer, after the spring lessons wrap up are June 3-13, June 17-27, July 8-18 and July 22- August 1.

Groups and semi-private lessons are available in 30 minute time slots. The cost is $195 per session for group instruction and $220 per session for semi-private instruction. Private lessons may be arranged in 15 or 30 minute time slots for a charge of $400 or $200 per session. Register on the club website or Call Trey at 512-610-0446 to register for one of these sessions.

Diving Camp & Tumbling camp

Join our dive coaches for 4 weeks of camp this summer to learn diving or work on more advanced diving. All abilities welcome and juniors 6 and up. $350 per child per session! 9-1, Monday-Thursday. Register on the club calendar on the club website. Social members may register; 40% service fee applied.

• Forward approaches

• Forward basic front dives

• Back dives

• Beginner flips

• Tumbling and work on land in Gymnastics to help teach diving on the board.

Summer Dates are: Session A – May 28-31 Session B –June 3-6, Session C – June 17-20, Session D – August 12-15

Adult Programs (Social members welcome; service fee added)

** Come jump back in the water with one of our adult programs. No experience necessary and find a program that will give you a total body workout. Maybe even participate in both programs for a total body workout.

Westwood Hydro-Fit $80/month or $15/class or $100/ month for unlimited swim/fitness classes.

Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 8-9 am

Adult Swim Fit $80/month or $15/class or $100/month for unlimited swim/fitness classes.

ADULT Events in the spring! Come one, Come all!

1. April 13th – Open Water Swim – 9 am start

2. May 11th - Masters Swim Meet 9 am start

Email Coach Sean for details on these events. (Seanm@westwoodcountryclub.com)

Workout Schedule:

Monday-Friday 9-10:00 am

Tuesday & Thursday 6-7 am

Adult Aqua Jogging $80/month or $15/class or $100/month for unlimited swim/fitness classes

Schedule: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9-10 am

April Pool Hours

The pool opens April 5th. for recreational swim on weekends. Come hang out and enjoy your pool. Hours will be as follows:

Fridays: 4:00-8:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday: 12:00-8:00 PM

During the week, outside of Rec Swim, adult lap swimmers should always remember to SIGN IN when a lifeguard is not on duty. Walk into the fitness area/desk and check in. Just important, for SAFETY and to help us track usage in the pool area.

Pool Reminders:

• Children need to be 10 years of age and be able to pass the facility swim test in order to come to the pool unaccompanied by an adult

• Always sign in for yourself and your guests as you enter the pool area. This rule applies for party groups as well as regular pool visitors. The guest fee is $10.00 per adult and junior (18

• years and under) Social Members may be guests of Full Members two times per month.

• The baby/wading pool is strictly for children 6 & under and all children in the baby pool MUST be supervised by an adult

• Children under age 2 must wear swim diapers

• All parties must be planned through the Catering and Events Department (512-610-0462)

• Please place dirty towels in the dirty laundry bins on and around the pool deck and dispose of trash in the designated waste cans

Shoes and dry clothing are required for clubhouse entry.

House & Grounds

Outdoors at Westwood: Yellow is for Tennis!

Spring has sprung and the Tennis Center landscape is starting its second year!

The Tennis Center enjoyed a new and improved landscape installation in early 2023 and was one of the first projects in an upgrade of the grounds at Westwood. As part of the overall design, it needed to reflect the sense of place associated with Westwood, as well as the character of not just Austin but an overall Texas feel, too!

There are several distinct characteristics and challenges in designing the Tennis Center. The casual landscape has some very sunny areas, and lies along a big, downward slope interrupted by tennis courts. The areas are characterized by very long and distinctive limestone-wall planting beds. The ramped sidewalk on the side of the building were in dire need of an upgrade from a maintenance access appearance to a true entrance to the courts. The front of the building called for an improved emphasis by planting new plants and removing some existing, stressed plants.

A new challenge emerged as well: although it is a given that Westwood’s landscape needs to look lovely year-round, the club now hosts the ATX Open event, and it has to be beautifully welcoming in late February! Spring is a special time in Texas, and the signature “look” for the ATX Open was themed as “the emergence of Spring”.

Because of the sunny nature of the site, native plants were used wherever possible. It seemed natural to choose yellow as the dominate color used in the Tennis Center landscape. Fortunately, there are a large number of native Texas plants that are yellow and bloom during different seasons of the year. White is also a tennis classic and is used extensively, along with pops of purple, blue, and pink.

The most consistently used plant in the design was Four Nerve Daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa), which blooms throughout the year. It is an evergreen, characterized by its clumping grass bottom with cheery yellow blooms on long stems. When massed, this normally small wildflower is eye-catching. It is used repetitively and can be seen in most of the sunny beds. An excellent example is the tennis ball bed at the top of the entrance ramp. Last spring, but time constraints meant that non-native annuals had to be planted in that bed. One goal, however, is to reduce the maintenance involved in repetitively replacing annuals, so the tennis ball bed now consists of Four Nerve Daisies, surrounded by a spring display of Texas Bluebonnets. As the bed matures, the daisies will spread to cover the surface of the “ball” and be a welcoming display all year.

The ramp sidewalk and accompanying landscaping was designed to create an entrance walk sequence, to be enjoyed with the tennis ball bed as its destination. The plantings are linear and are intended to lead the eye past the maintenance areas associated with the Tennis Center building. The tall hedge along the court side also serves to break up the expanse of the large windscreens.

The Anacacho Orchid (Bauhinia Lunariodides) is a deciduous tree that remains green during mild winters. It is a performer, and can be pruned to form a tall, loose hedge, or it can be trimmed to form a graceful canopy, creating a tree profile. In early Spring, the new leaves of the Anacacho Orchid start to bud out and an explosion of white flowers soon follows. Also, several specimens have also been planted in front of the building.

The long planting beds are challenging because lighting and other conditions change over its length and even during the progression of a single day. A repetition of mostly evergreen plants used throughout the Westwood grounds provide structure. Some of these plants include Twistleaf and Paleleaf Yuccas, Red Yucca, Esperanza, Spineless Prickly Pear and Texas Sage.

An addition to this list was the Skeletonleaf Goldeneye (Viquiera stenoloba). This sun-loving and semi-evergreen shrub with yellow flowers has a naturally rounded shape reminiscent of a tennis ball!

Around this “structure”, a variety of plants grow in the specific conditions of that particular section of the bed. Included are yellow and white flowering plants such as Autumn Sage, Guara, Blackfoot Daisy, Damianita and of course, Four Nerve Daisy. Despite an exceptionally long hot summer, the natives in this bed bloomed continuously!

During the ATX Open this year, a new grandstand layout covered the bed behind Lusson Court. The plants in that bed were transferred to other locations around Westwood and a new design for that bed is being implemented. It is just an unusual reminder that a “gardener’s work is never done!”

The front of the Tennis Center building had many nice plantings, but some had overgrown their original space or failed to flourish as plants and trees matured. The lovely white blooming crepe myrtles and palms were trimmed, and several overgrown plants were removed.

Plants were added that could thrive in the increased shade. This included yellow-blooming Lanceleaf Coreopsis and Engleman’s Daisy. Purple Iris flanks the front entrance with early spring blooms and its evergreen structural leaves. Although not native, Iris are well-adapted and add interest to this tight area.

A fun addition is a charming native of the Texas Edwards Plateau called the Goldenball Leadtree (Leucaena retusa), a small understory tree which has brilliant yellow puffball blooms resembling tennis balls. There are two of these smaller trees, planted on each side of the front.

This area is highly visible and sees a lot of traffic, both cars and people! Small boulders were placed and the area immediately surrounding the entrance was more thickly planted to mitigate the impact.

The next exciting improvement around the Tennis Center will be the landscaping of the area around the pickleball courts. It will be a welcoming venue for this increasingly popular sport!

Please share your ideas with these Westwood members: Kristi Moriarty, Carol Fancher, David DiRe, Ceecy Robinson, Cissy Warner and Sara Alexander.

Fitness News

Rob Smith, Fitness Director robs@westwoodcountryclub.com

I have a soft spot for April, as it marks my 39th journey around the sun. Since turning 21, it's been tradition for me to gather all my closest friends at Salt Lick for a feast. April also marks a delightful time of year – with Bluebonnets painting the landscape, the weather turning warmer, and nature putting on a splendid show. It's a gentle reminder that summer is on its way, urging us to relish outdoor workouts while we can. Of course, if you prefer a climate-controlled space set at a cozy 69 degrees, you're always welcome to join us!

Exciting news for the summer: Wakeboard Camps are back with Greg Lawrence from Lakelessons. Sessions will run from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm Monday through Thursday. Social members can secure their spots two weeks before the camp starts, provided there are openings. Sign up online or drop me an email for more details.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming camps:

May 28-31

June 24-27

June 10-13

July 8-11

July 22-25 August 5-8

Fitness Anniversaries

Bill Wilson – 5 Years with Rich McIver

Cissy Warner – 1 Year with Diana Granda

Margie Gaudin – 1 Year with Rich McIver

Beth McKay – 1 Year with Diana Granda

Henley Sims – 1 Year with Rich

Larry McPhail – 1 Year with Rich McIver

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to me at robs@westwoodcountryclub.com.

As we anticipate the arrival of our four-month-old, I'm eagerly awaiting the return of a regular sleep routine. Meanwhile, Ryder has taken to her new role of big sister with boundless love and affection!

Pickleball News

Tosha Smith, Director of Pickleball toshas@westwoodcountryclub.com

Tuesdays- 10:00am- 11:00am- Novice

Fridays- 10:00am- 11:00am- Intermediate

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kid’s Corner Family Night 5:00pm-9:00pm

Join us for a month of family-friendly buffets! Parents can savor à la carte dining while kids enjoy themed buffets and creative crafts with Gisela. A delightful blend of culinary treats and family adventures awaits throughout the month.

4/3 Puppet Making Activity

4/10 NO Kids Corner Family Night

4/17 Collage Making Activity

4/24 Playdough Creations Activity

Sunday Brunch 11:00am-2:00pm

Savor the charm of Sunday Brunch from 11 am to 2 pm at Westwood Country Club, where a delectable spread awaits amid breathtaking views of Lake Austin. Join us for an exquisite dining experience, perfectly complemented by the scenic beauty of the lake.

4/7 Jazz Birthday Brunch with Trevor Helt

4/14 Sunday Brunch

4/21 Sunday Brunch

4/28 Champagne Brunch

Westwood Book Club: Speaking the Truth with Eloquent Thunder

Join us for the Westwood Book Club on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in the Rock Room. Delight in a culinary experience featuring Coriander and Cumin Spiced Grilled Atlantic Salmon and Soft Banana Cake by Chef Michaela ($28++/Person). Engage with author Max Sherman, unravel the story of ‘Speaking the Truth with Eloquent Thunder,’ and RSVP for an evening of intellectual stimulation and thoughtful discussion.

Westwood Annual Meeting

Join us for the Westwood Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 10th, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Dive into a comprehensive discussion on financials and the overall well-being of the club. Your attendance is welcome as we share insights, address concerns, and celebrate the collective success of Westwood. See you there!

Junior Etiquette Masters: PositiviTea

Join us for PositiviTea, a sensational tea party-themed workshop designed to captivate participants aged 5-10! Immerse your children in a delightful 2 hour experience featuring scrumptious treats and carefully crafted teas from Westwood Country Club’s expert pastry chef team. Led by Reach for the Stars ATX founder Barbara Achilles Minardi, this event transcends traditional tea parties, offering hands-on activities centered around kindness and positivity. Priced at just $50.00 per child (limited to one child per family), treat your little ones to an unforgettable day of joy, learning, and a heartwarming tea service menu provided for all attendees.

Mother Son Scavenger Hunt

Gear up for an epic day at Westwood Wonders Unveiled: Mom & Son Edition! Embark on a thrilling photo scavenger hunt with your son, capturing exhilarating moments and laughter. From daring challenges to team spirit fostered by vibrant bandanas, this experience is an adrenaline-packed adventure like no other. Grab your spot now at $35 for adults and $20 for children, and create enduring memories that ignite excitement and bonding. Don’t miss out on this chance to explore, laugh, and share an adventure-packed day with your son.

Kids Corner Family Night 5- 9pm

Jazz Birthday Brunch 11am–2pm

Sunday Brunch 11am–2pm

Sunday Brunch 11am–2pm

Westwood Book Club 11:30am- 2pm

No Kids Corner Family Night

Annual Meeting 6- 8pm

Kids Corner Family Night 5-9pm

Ladies Lawn Chair Tennis 6:30- 10pm

Veranda Closed for private event- dinner service unavailable

Marina reserved for private event from 2pm- close

Veranda, Main Dining Room, West Room, & Marina Deck Closed all day for private event

Veranda & Marina reserved for private event 12pm- close

Marina reserved all day for private event

Marina reserved for club event 6am-1pm

Open Water Swim 9- 11:30am

Junior Etiquette Masters 11am- 1pm Mother/Son Scavenger Hunt- 5:30-6:30pm

Veranda, Main Dining Room, West Room, & Marina Deck Closed all day for private event

Westwood Babysitting Class 10am- 2pm

Kids’ Corner Family Night 5- 9pm

Intersquad Swim Meet 4:15- 7:30pm

Veranda reserved for a private event

Marina reserved for club event from 1pm- close

David Young

Champagne Brunch 11am- 2pm

VISION STATEMENT - Westwood Country Club is the most prestigious and sought after private, family oriented, social and athletic club in Austin.

MISSION STATEMENT - Westwood Country Club is a private member-owned family-oriented club that provides the highest quality experience for its members and their guests.

VALUES STATEMENT - Westwood Country Club values family, personal relationships, stewardship, excellence, service, teamwork, and fiscal responsibility.