| March 2011 Newsletter |
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Tax on Golf Cart Rentals – During a recent NYS audit of the Club, it was discovered that sales tax has not been charged on golf cart rentals. In response to this finding, all golf cart rates are now going to be subject to the 8.125% Dutchess County sales tax. The Board approved Dues Payments - Our Early Payment Incentvie Plan giving members “bonus rounds” for early payment of their dues was very successful this year. Over 115 members paid their dues in full before the January 31st deadline, which significantly improved our cash position for the start of the season. If you have not paid your dues yet, please forward your payment to the Club as soon as possible. All dues must be paid – or installment payments started – by April 1st. Installment Plan for Dues Payments – The first dues installment payment is due on
The Restaurant will open on Friday, April 1st! Call to make a reservation for dinner and see your friends and fellow golfers! The Opening Cocktail Party will be held on Saturday evening, April 30th. Course Maintenance
The first course Aeration dates - weather permitting –are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday – April 25th, 26th and 27th. Please check the Bulletin Board by the Pro Shop for any notices regarding changes in this project. Good Etiquette is Contagious A Message Form Your Greens Committee A new golf season is quickly approaching and all members should do their part to keep the golf course in the best possible condition. While our course continues to remain in excellent condition there are things all golfers can do to help keep it this way. The USGA has recently published some helpful suggestions. Among the suggestions are to properly repair ball marks on the greens; repairing divots on the tees and on the course; taking care of bunkers by not walking up the face unless necessary to play your ball; and avoiding areas of the course that have been previously worn down by carts. By working together we can help maintain the course while keeping costs down. Ball Marks - Fixing your ball mark and at least one more on each green will keep our greens in better shape. Divot Repair – The best option for repairing divots is to fill them with the materials provided by the maintenance staff, being careful not to overfill the hole – which results in a sand mound that can dull or damage the mowing units. Be sure to smooth the divot mix with your foot. Replacing a divot is the second best option. Sand Bunkers should be raked smooth of footprints. Shoving sand around with your foot or a club head is no substitute for raking. Also, climbing in and out of the steep side of a bunker can cause significant damage to sod on the bunker face. Entry and exit from sand traps should always be from the low side of the bunker. Golf Carts – Nothing causes more damage to golf courses than the improper use of golf carts. Golfers in carts should avoid wet areas, stay off green and tee banks, and follow all directional signs and ropes. Driving too close to the greens is particularly troublesome, since the wear and tear on the turf in this area directly affects playing quality. (Copies of the article regarding Golf Course Etiquette which was published in the USGA Greens Section Magazine can be found in the Pro Shop, Locker Room Lobby, Locker Rooms and the Office Lobby.) Upcoming Events The Opening Member’s Event – The Red, White and Blue Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 23rd. The format is teams of 4 play the best two balls of four. Each member plays 6 holes from the Blue tees, 6 holes from the White tees and 6 holes from the Red tees. Sign up in the Pro Shop to start the season and have some fun! Saturday May 14th and Sunday May 15th will be the annual Member/Member Tournament. The format is 36 holes of better ball using handicaps. The entry fee is $30.00 which includes food following Sunday’s round. Wednesday May 25th is the date for the Men’s Invitational which will be played using a modified Stableford format. Once again Red Hook will be hosting the Saturday Couples League. This will be the fourth year for this fun event. The opening night is Saturday, May 28th. The first outside tournament is the Red Hook Chamber Golf Tournament, which will be held on Wednesday, May 11th. The Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation Tournament will be held on a Friday this year – on Friday, May 20th. Details for all Club tournaments may be obtained in the Pro Shop and are listed on the Club’s web site – www.redhookgolfclub.com. - under Tournaments and Events Calendar. Members Meeting Although the golf season is just about starting, we are more than half way through the 2011 fiscal year. The Board has been at work during the winter months checking on the progress the Club is making and adjusting our lans to reflect recent occurrences. In an effort to keep the membership informed, there will be a Member’s Meeting at the Clubhouse Bar and Grill on Saturday, May 14th at 3:00 PM. The time was selected to not interfere with the Member/Member tournament being held that day, and by having the tournament on a Saturday we will be able to exchange ideas with members who do not live in the immediate area. We hope the meeting will be well attended. If you play early, come back and have an early dinner at the restaurant after the meeting. Spring Warm Up Programs! Pilates Workshops for Golfers at the Centering Studio, located at IXL Health and Fitness Club, 3752 Route 9G, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 – 845-876-5114 - www.thecenteringstudio.com. Women’s Workshops -TUESDAYS, March 1 & 8 at 6:40 PM AND March 15, 22, & 29 at 6 PM
THINK SPRING! REMEMBER THE CLUBHOUSE BAR & GRILL OPENS ON FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST! |