Hello everyone,
What a great opening month of May this year! The weather was wonderful with just the right amount of sun and rain. The course is in great shape to kick off the summer. Many thanks to Howard and crew as they have been working tirelessly to keep up with the vibrant growing grass.
I would like to ask everyone, if you have reserved a tee time and are not going to use that time slot, please call the Golf Shop. For the online booking, when you cancel out, it will only cancel yourself, the rest of the people in the group are still on the tee sheet. This is a protection that only you can adjust your reservations.
As a reminder, the golf course closes at sunset. While we know there is still light for roughly fifteen minutes afterwards, we ask that you finish up the hole you are playing when the sun sets and come in. This allows for a safe exit off the course before darkness falls.
In addition to the golf course closing time, if you arrive and there is no staff in the clubhouse, the course is closed. This might happen if you arrive more than a half hour before the first tee time, or at the end of a rainy day. If you are on property while there is no staff, you are technically trespassing.
Starting on Monday, June 6th, we will be alternating the starting hole on Mondays only. The following Mondays we will start all play on #10.
June 6th
June 20th
July 11th
July 25th
August 8th
August 22nd
The individual and partner Match Play Cups are fast approaching. Make sure to register for it before it's too late! Check out other events coming up this month and next here at Kwiniaska.
The junior summer camps run by Steve Gonsalves begin the week of June 13 and continue through August 12th. What this means for golfers is that Monday - Friday the campers will be on the course learning the game of golf starting at 12:30pm. There are instructors with each group of kids helping to keep pace of play as well as teach them about proper etiquette.
As a reminder, we have a new billing system in place for membership charges. As last year, statements will automatically be created on the 1st of every month. The balance of the statement is due by the 15th of each month. Members will receive a statement even if you have a $0 balance. As a member, you have a few payment options. In your online portal you can save a credit card for the automatic payments. Those will draw on the 15th of the month from your preferred payment saved in your online billing portal. IF you choose to not use this payment option, you MUST pay in the Golf Shop by the 15th of the month or your account will automatically be shut off. You will need to see me to rectify the balance. Golf Shop staff will not be taking statement payments after the 15th. Failing to pay your account can result in a suspension of membership until rectified.
John and I are always around, so please reach out if you have any questions or need any help.
Be well and happy,
Club Manager
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Morning announcements before the 5th Annual Opening Member Scramble.
There were 96 players who participated in the first event of the season. A beautiful day on the course!
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2022 MEMBERSHIP
Sold out for another season! Thank you all!
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We have been unsuccessful in finding a back up cook to help give Sue a day off. The food preparation of the pub will close on Sundays at 3pm and will reopen at 4pm on Mondays. Drinks and snacks are always available through the Golf Shop.
Grill Operation Hours:
MONDAY
3pm - 9pm
TUESDAY
10am - 7pm
WEDNESDAY
10am - 9pm
THURSDAY
10am - 7pm
FRIDAY
10am - 7pm
SATURDAY
9am - 6pm
SUNDAY
9am - 3pm
Special Hours Saturday, June 4th
The grill will turn off at 1:30pm. Hot dogs, chips, and snacks will be available in the pub once the grill is off for the remainder of the day.
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Lightning is arbitrary, random and unpredictable. Did you know that some five percent of annual USA lightning deaths and injuries happen on a golf course? All association that are involved in the game treat lightning as a serious threat. In fact, the USGA (rule 5-7) states that if a player believes there is a danger from lightning the player may discontinue play. Bad weather is not of itself a good reason for discontinuing play. A good rule of thumb is that if you see it, feel it or hear it remove yourself from the dangerous situation where every you are. We all love the game and what it represents but safety comes first. We can always play another day. Enjoy the summer and listed below are the policy’s we will follow here at the club. |
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If you have played the game over an extended period of time, you may have experienced slow play at one time or another and the frustration that can arises from that experience. Typically, a round of golf (with four players) over 18-holes should take approximately four hours or less! The following are some ways we can help our fellow golfers keep within the acceptable playing time at Kwiniaska, have a more enjoyable round of golf, and be considerate of the other groups on the course.
1) When it is your turn to play your shot, be ready. USGA guidelines state you get your clubs, analyze a shot, take a practice swing, line up a putt, and complete your shot all within 40 seconds. Time begins immediately after the previous person has hit.
2) Go directly to your ball. Golf is a social game but there is a time and a place to talk with your friends.
3) Carry an extra ball in your pocket. Errant shots do occur.
4) Score your card on the next tee. Wasting time on the green slows up play.
5) Play a provisional ball when appropriate. “Rules of Golf”
6) Sharing a cart. Drop the first person at their ball and then proceed to your ball.
7) Speak up if your group is falling behind. It’s your responsibility to stay in position on the course.
8) Play ready golf. If a player is not ready for some reason, play your shot.
9) Always be aware of your position on the course. When necessary, let a faster group play through.
Golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players. It is also your responsibility to care for the course while you are out playing. Repair your ball marks, rake the bunkers and repair your divots. This is the true spirit of the game. These simple suggestions will help improve your pace of play and make the course enjoyable for all players.
Enjoy all the game has to offer and we look forward to seeing you on the course.
John Paul, PGA
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This month we have the following events scheduled:
Director of Golf, John Paul, is hosting two Member Clinics at the Kwiniaska practice green (next to #6 tee) on June 9th: Fundamentals of Putting and Green Reading, and then on June 23rd: Chipping and Pitching.
Monday, June 13th, the course will open at 12pm.
The Big 3 is a 9am shot-gun start on Sunday, June 26th.
Men's League is every Wednesday starting at 4pm off both #1 and #10; therefore, the course is closed for the evening for those who are not participating in league.
Your member account will be charged for the registration fee at the time of registration unless you use another form of payment.
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Most days on a golf course, there is always the constant hum of engines that permeate the property, a low growl that after a while is lost as just the white noise of our daily existence. There are those few moments, however, early in the morning, just as the sun rises, that most superintendents would agree are their favorite times on the golf course and the reason we continue to do what we do. These moments are truly magical and remind you that this is definitely not a bad office to come to. At Jay Peak, these moments were more numerous as the property was immense, hundreds of acres with 600’ of elevation change and 6 miles of cart path to get lost on. It was easy to find those precious nooks away from the din, although it might take you more than a few minutes to get there. All superintendents have their favorite spots. Moose, deer, the hoot of a bear, and all the sights and sounds of nature would often greet me and steal the breath of those moments, their appearance as silent as that stolen breath. In that quiet space, for 12 and a half years, were the the most spectacular sunrises I have been fortunate to witness. |
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Here at Kwiniaska, there are those same moments, though not as majestic, yet they still invoke the same feelings of awe. Here it may be a cormorant diving in the pond, a white egret along the edge, the distant sound of the barred owl off the 11th hole or admiring the overnight engineering of the beavers. These days those moments are unbroken as it is often because I am the only one on the golf course, welcoming the sunrise.
Sadly, these moments are a mixed blessing now, as I realize how despite not minding being the only person on the golf course, this is not how it is supposed to be. There should be more of us to witness this grace, more of us to start the day with this gift.
As I close out my third year here, it got me thinking however about the contrast of the chaos I walked into, the ensuing calamities in the world in the years to come and the moments without the noise. Within two weeks of my arrival here at Kwini, the constant backup beep of construction vehicles and trucks delivering materials filled the air, punctuated by the occasional slamming of the tail gate of a dump truck or the low rumble of dozer tracks. I love the hum of things happening, as much as I enjoy those moments without so much as a thought. Both are places I gravitate to, the silence and the noise.
In those three years, we have seen remarkable changes in the golf course, all for the better, and a testament to the dedication of the staff and support of Mr. and Mrs. Nappi. It seems there has always been something going on that the membership needed to be aware of, and amongst the staff, this was supposed to be the year that we got a chance to take a breath, hit the pause button and focus on the smaller details as the heavy lifting subsides. As the saying goes however, “Want to see God laugh? Make a plan.”
The pandemic, loss, war and just the everyday challenges have been difficult to navigate. The world is in turmoil and it will never go back to what it was and perhaps that is a good thing. As long as momentum moves forward and not back, that is the definition of progress. Life is not to be lived in the rearview mirror, which is why I always push forward and have little use for who those who does not embrace change and yearn for a time that is gone. Sometimes however, on the path forward, the world pushes back a little bit harder than expected and we are living in that time now. The silence that we cherish is unfortunately the lack of staff, the noise is the never-ending scramble to continue to do the bare minimum despite having one hand tied behind our back, a leg in a cast, an eyepatch and a case of COVID for good measure. The breath that we had hoped to take will not come, the small details, now loom larger. We wait for reinforcements, who have decided that they don’t want to be part of the battle, even as the skirmishes probe our weaknesses and the bombs continue to fall. These are the challenges of this moment in time, continuing to make progress, despite our limitations, in the face on never diminishing expectations. In this, we are not alone, as staffing is the #1 issue for all businesses in Vermont and that issue does not look to be going away any time soon. Please know that we will continue in the trenches, hoping for our V-Day.
In the spirit of honoring those who continue to fight the good fight, I commend my staff and those in other departments for the dedication, commitment and hours they have put in in the recent months to try and continually provide the conditions we strive to achieve. Some of us have been 7 days a week for some time now and that type of work ethic is rare and impossible to find in this time of opportunity in the workforce. Kwiniaska is lucky to have the core of folks who keep the lights on and the ball rolling for our membership and general public. Please keep in mind in your expectations that we are doing our best and everyone is working far more than is healthy or sustainable.
With that, much as I love to be the harbinger of Darkness, I’ll instead focus on some of the positives.
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Every Spring some parts of the world turn yellow, and here at Kwini, that was just a given. If dandelion season was a harvest, then the stories I’ve heard from the past tell a tale of bounty. I never have been able to get a definitive answer from people on whether they provided a better or worse lie, but if you’ve looked around this Spring, at least in the primary playing areas, there’s more green than yellow and I haven’t figured out if that is good or bad either.
Last Fall, in one of the previous newsletters, which are archived on our website, I described how we would gradually extend our sphere of influence out from the fairway edges into the rough. Even I couldn’t help but take a moment to realize the success of this preliminary step out to the edges when I was out mowing this Spring. Much like the great Knotweed Eradication of 2020 in fairways, seeing the results is one of those small steps forward in what seems like so many steps back with labor. So unfortunately, this Spring, Kwiniaska’s contribution to the harvest of dandelions for Vermont’s hippie infused Dandelion Wine Festival was less than what they had hoped for. Again, for those of you who play the majority of your game from the rough, I’m not sure whether to apologize or not for your lie. Take solace though if you counted on a ball teed up on a dandelion as there are still many more further out on the perimeter. I’m not sure hitting it further away toward the woods is a good strategy though.
Open for Business
A few of the last products of the years of chaos and the efforts of Agri-Scape (now working at National), is the opening of the new tees on #1, #3, #5, #8, and #11 as well as the redone surrounds on #14. Last Fall we finished 3 years of construction improvements and we hope these additions add variety, playability and consistency to our overall efforts here at Kwini. Obviously, they still need some time to grow in and mature, but as you have seen on #9 and #17 approaches and all of the new tees of the last few years, the low mow bluegrass is a highly desirable playing surface. As #14 in particular matures, I foresee a greater variety of shot options for this hard to hold green. During this process, tee placements may move around due to wear and abuse. #5 tee has already shown signs of needing to be rotated out as it matures and recovers from play. The old, small, unlevel tees that were forward tees on #1, #3 and #8 will be abandoned.
Color is Not Law and Color is Not Ego
This need to move tees during this process of maturity, brings up the subject, again, of enjoying the game of golf. I’ve spoken before on the subject of playing from the proper tee for your skill level and the role of ego that leads people to play from tees that are beyond their abilities, thus resulting in a less than enjoyable experience. The color red has been removed as a color from a lot of golf course tee rotations because of the stigma some men attached to it and their inability to jump a mental manhood hurdle to play from a tee that is more in line with their skill level. The same goes for the other end of the spectrum and the black tees. i.e., #12!
During this renovation, we have created holes with a number of tees which exceeds the 3 colors we have as tee positions. In the process of distributing wear and providing variety, it is necessary to move tees around to some that are beyond your skill level. Color is not law and unless you’re a stickler for your handicap, HIT FROM THE TEE YOU’RE COMFORTABLE WITH. #5, #7 and #12 and #17 are the examples that come to mind. Just because the marker is not where you’re comfortable with doesn’t mean you can’t hit from there. If you feel that a tee moved forward is not a true par 5 yardage, don’t hit from there. Once again, it’s about enjoying the game of golf, abuse and a level of maturity.
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Flavor Ice, Addiction and Their Role in Staying Young |
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It’s only the unofficial kick off of Summer and if the early indicators portend anything, it’s that it’s going to be a long, difficult Summer. As the heat of Summer takes its grip of the minds and bodies of us here in the maintenance department, we are always looking for a way to stay cool and stay young. It’s always a tenuous balance, but a couple years back, I was walking through the grocery store and saw the big bins of Flavor Ice (or generics). You know, the bags of slender packets of colored, flavored sugar water. On a whim, I bought a couple bags, brought them in and put them in the freezer, not knowing that I was like the Sackler family providing opioids. Soon after, most of the young crew was hooked, some consuming several at both break and lunch, and taking one for the ride home. Something akin to a “road soda.” The plastic sleeves were everywhere, in the carts and blowing around the golf course, which did provide some level of irritation. Damn kids! Jokes of addiction and 12 step programs were also everywhere.
The funniest part of this epidemic was some of the older members of the crew and their reaction to this long-forgotten drug. Watching them constantly opening the freezer to see if they were ready yet led me to put a sign on the door which read, “a watched flavor-ice does not freeze!” It was fascinating to me how something so simple provided such joy and levity to the crew at times when just being out in the heat and sun was a chore. It was interesting to see how all the cool colors disappeared first, often leaving just red and purple for me long after everyone went home. Needless to say Flavor-Ice is still a component of our department and has already provided relief and laughs on some premature hot Spring days. The jokes of the long Winter’s withdrawal process are now replaced with the acceptance of being a junkie.
So, my suggestion… It’s a crazy world out there and sometimes the stress and overwhelming negativity in the world can get you down. When that happens, remember the joyful childhood days of Summer. Hit up the ice cream man and get a bomb pop, buy a Slip-n-Slide, ride your bike to get a banana split, do a cannonball into the pool or just grab a Flavor-Ice and chill!!
Cheers,
Howie
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Many golfers ask about GPS and apps they can use. There were only a few apps that had the updated version of the new Kwiniaska Golf Club. Google Earth has now update our course in their system; therefore, more of the apps people use should be updated.
Did you know the GHIN app has GPS available as well?
The Golf Shop has also received a supply of Bushnell products from the Phantom 2, Ion Edge Watch, Tour V5 and the Wingman Speaker. Remember, members receive a 10% discount on in-stock purchases in the shop!
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Kwiniaska Golf Club
August 13th, 2020
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Photo by Greg Carter, Civil Engineering Associates |
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Howard Nosek, Course Superintendent
Robert Nappi, Owner
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