Club News - March 2009
Canebrake Connections, March 2009
March came in like a lion! The golf course was covered with snow on Sunday, March 1. Maybe that was winter’s last gasp, I certainly hope so. The Bradford pear trees are beginning to blossom and that is a welcome sight.
With the advent of spring and daylight savings time, golf and tennis will move to the forefront. Josh has planned a lot of competitive and instructional opportunities for you. Coach Craig has been working to get the courts back in good playing condition.
Anna is doing a great job as our events planner and is hoping to entice you to come back out to the club. She is training an additional bartender in order to expand our hours of operation. When in doubt, check out our online calendar. Chef Ron has moved a few of his dining events to Friday night at the request of some members. He is planning an extra special seafood buffet this month.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- # Friday, March 13, Richie and Deemer at The Lodge
- Saturday, March 14, Par Three Challenge POSTPONED
- Monday, March 16, Athens High School Golden Eagle Invitational
- Thursday, March 19, Steak Night
- Saturday, March 21, Margaret’s Breakfast Buffet 7:30-10:00am
- Friday, March 27, Ron’s Spectacular Seafood Buffet
Along with these items, there is much going on around the club. Josh and Cari are working hard to improve the Pro Shop as a resource for members; Shawn is making some great improvements around the golf course (See below) and with Spring come more of the great outdoor activities that make living in North Alabama such a wonderful experience. Tennis is beginning to ramp up, the golf is great and swimming is just around the corner. So enjoy your March in Canebrake style!
I'll See You 'Round the Club,
Jack Sauers
SPRING COURSE UPDATE
This month we will be wrapping up some of the winter projects we have been working on. You may have noticed the tree removal we have done on #6 and #11. This is going to allow us to re-sod and maintain healthy turf in these high wear areas. We also will be working on some of our bunkers. We will be removing one of the greenside traps under the tree on #12. This will create a small apron area in front of this green. The trap at the green on #7 will also receive a face lift this spring. It will make the hole more playable, by adding some landing area short of the green. We will be seeding a heat tolerant bluegrass into our mowed fescue areas. We have done some tests with this turf in the area behind #3 green to the parkway, and it has performed well thru the summer months with no irrigation. These changes will make our course more enjoyable for all of us this season.
Come out to the course and check out what we have been working on this winter.
Shawn Hollis G.C.S.A.A.
The 2009 SPRING PREVIEW A BIG SUCCESS
The Canebrake 2009 Golf Preview was a great success. Thanks to all of you who attended and participated... especially to all the speakers, including MGA President Ray Neese and Golf Professional Josh Gardner, Events Planner Anna Kennemer, Shop Merchandiser Cari Bledsoe and Membership Director Alice Dunnavant. We also appreciate sales reps Tom Brown of Bionic Glove, Ecco Shoe, AM&E and Power-Bilt and Callaway Golf's Doug Shoerke for their efforts.
A very special "Thank you" goes out to our guest speaker, Golf DIgest Top 50 Instructor and my friend, Mr. Hank Johnson. Besides working with several PGA and LPGA Tour Players, Hank is the Master Instructor for Hank JohnsonSchool of Golf which operates at Greystone in Birmingham and the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club in Destin, Florida.
Professional Josh Gardner covered a littany of items in the golf area. Then Hank gave his very enlightening talk aimed at helping our members better understand their golf goals and how to achieve them.
Over sixty members attended and the lucky prize winners were:
- 1st Raffle Winner - Jan Boswell, Golf Buddy GPS
- 2nd Raffle Winner - Perry Michael, 1 pair of Ecco Golf Shoes
- 3rd Raffle Winner - Billy Christopher, Callaway FT-iQ Driver (Billy was nice enough to donate the driver to the Men's Golf Association).
- 4th Raffle Winner - Jimmy McDole, AM&E Headcover set.
- 5th Raffle Winner - Taz Morell, 1 dozen Callaway Tour I's and Callaway ball variety pack.
- 6th Raffle Winner - Steve Meagher, 3 Kasco Gloves featuring the Canebrake logo.
We could go on endlessly telling of the shenanigans and regalia of the evening, but the pictures will tell you more than we could ever relate.