Vintage

The golf shop is beginning to slow down but will remain open under limited hours throughout the off-season.

With the golf course remaining open until the first week of November, the driving range will close on October 25th. I am asking all members with range tokens to return the tokens to the golf shop after October 25th as the new token receiver will be placed in the range machine and all tokens from this season will not work in the machine. Although we are not requiring members to spend their merchandise credits we are encouraging all members to utilize them after November 1st. There will be a number of items on sale after November 1st and members using their credits will be entered into a drawing for range passes for the 2010 season.

With the weather getting colder and colder each day it is often difficult to think golf but there is no time like now to start thinking about what you can do to improve your game. The following are a few suggestions:

1. Check the condition of the golf grips on your clubs; if they are worn, slippery or hard feeling you should change them out by bringing them to the golf shop during the winter months. This change alone can save you as many as 1-8 strokes per 18 holes and even change the condition of your clubs to the day they were first purchased.

2. Start a small workout program to increase your bodies ability to play, start walking a mile a day, working on a treadmill or stationary bike and most importantly start working on a few golf stretches to add flexibility to your body. All of these can not only help in your golf game it will make you feel year's younger and add a few extra yards to your shots.

3. Evaluate your golf clubs; is there a club you don't have or maybe need this season. You are allowed by the rules of golf to carry 14 clubs and if you don't have that number you can add a couple of game improvement clubs like a new wedge or a new hybrid golf club. If your clubs are older than 10 years! the improvements made to equipment over that time have been tremendous. Clubs built in 2008-2009 are much easier to hit and more forgiving. Remember, new clubs make your misses better; so if you are hitting it absolutely perfect then don't worry about new clubs.

4. Sign up for a golf lesson early in the season before you start playing a lot of golf and set some time aside each week to practice your game. This means putting, chipping, hitting wedge shots, hitting irons and hitting woods. Limit your practice time on the golf course and concentrate on the practice areas where you'll get a lot more quantity of shots. A lesson on your weakest part of the game will go along w! ay to improve your scores this year.

The golf shop will have a few new clothing items arriving in the shop during the winter months. This month's new arrival is Bobcat-Grizzly apparel and accessories. If you know or are a fan we have something new in the golf shop for you. Members with merchandise credits are encouraged to stop by the shop and spend those credits on discounted merchandise before year end. Right now the selection of sizes is very good but will quickly go down as we head into the holidays. We have a number of skycaddy units available for those that want more measured precision in your game as well as all the latest in golf balls. At the current time we have both Taylor Made and Nike golf balls at 2 Dozen for the price of 1 dozen while supplies last. Range plans purchased before January 1st, 2010 will be at the 2009 prices so if you are wanting to practice a little more, now is the time to sign up for a range plan. In conclusion everyone should set a goal for this upcoming season in relationship to your golf game and do at least one thing to achieve your goal. Just hoping to improve will generally never work unless maybe you are Tiger Woods. Stop by the golf shop and spend a few moments with the pro who will help you address all of the above ideas to improve your score. Should you want a free evaluation on your equipment or grip condition please bring your clubs in the shop. We'll see you at the course.

From the Clubhouse:

With "The Fringe" our new clubhouse restaurant now open for lunch and dinners weekly we are encouraging our members to utilize our new hours of operation. We are remaining open throughout the winter months (Monday through Friday) for lunch service from 11 – 2 PM with a new and expanded lunch menu. Tim Barney the club's new Executive Chef and clubhouse manager has created a menu that will have something for everyone. With new and tasty soups and a "quicker" lunch service we are encouraging everyone to stop by and try out the Fringe's new lunch menu. If you have a tight time limit for lunch we have lunch service for you and we can also take phone in orders for those that want to eat on the go or on the run. Dinners are also now being served on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the year. We have expanded and created a new dinner menu and members are encouraged to make reservations during the dinner hours of 5-9 on Friday and Saturday evenings. Also new, we are now open on Monday evenings at 5 PM for Monday Night Football with a new "Football Menu" and big screen TV's to watch the game. Stop out at the Fringe for lunch, dinner or Monday night football. During the month of December and occasionally the clubhouse will be closed for private parties on evenings and by calling for reservations you will be informed of these closings. The management will limit the n! umber of closings monthly so members will have plenty of options to have a first class meal. It is our goal to open the restaurant up more to members and the general public and to offer a "high quality" food option for the town of Sidney. Please recommend to your friends the clubhouse as a meal choice even if you can't be there with them.

From the Grounds:

With the golf course slowly starting to go to sleep it is now time to get ready for winter. We have begun applying fungicides to the greens and we have set the date of Saturday, November 7th to cover the greens. We are asking everyone who helped in the previous year to come back and help with the greens covers. This season the time to cover the greens should be a lot less due to the fact we will not have to place tabs, cut and place the covers. Anyone wishing to volunteer and those groups that adopted a green should be aware that the date is November 7th and we will start at 10 AM Saturday morning. All adopt-a-green crews should contact their team-members ! and anyone else interested in lending a hand will make the process go a lot quicker. The club will provide a free meal and drinks after the completion of the greens covers.... Have a great winter this season and keep thinking golf throughout the year.

SIDNEY COUNTRY CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S MEETING

SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

Directors Present: Craig Averett, John Beagle, Loretta Berry, Frank DiFonzo, Randy Johnson, John Seitz and Terry Verhasselt Employees Present: Jay Frank, Diane Ford, Jason Lamb and Tim Barney

President Frank called the meeting to order at 5:15 PM.

A quorum was present.

Minutes: Craig made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 19, 2009 meeting and the motion was 2nd by Terry. Motion carried. Loretta made a motion that was 2nd by John S. that the minutes of the Executive Session meeting of August 19, 2009 be approved. Motion carried.

Financial Report: Diane reported that the conversion to the Quickbooks accounting system is now complete. President Frank asked about the possibility of mailing, or emailing, the financials to board members prior to meetings to give the board more time to review the reports. Diane felt that this could be done if we kept our meetings around the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Diane is still working on the "clearing accounts". She opened a gratuity and gift certificates payable account under the restaurant.

Diane brought up the discussion of "charging-off" certain "old" merchandise in the Pro-Shop. She stated that there was approximately $2,700.00 in old merchandise that should/could be charged-off. John B. made a motion to write off $2,738.80 in old merchandise in the Pro-Shop. Motion 2nd by John S. Discussion followed. Motion carried.

Diane brought up a discussion of a member who is considerably past due on his account with the Pro-Shop. The board discussed this situation and possible solutions. Jay will talk to the members employer to see if he has any ideas on how to bring this account current.

House Committee Report: Loretta stated that the exterior door and the time clock room door were fixed thanks to Big Sky Siding and Windows. Covers have been installed on all thermostats to prevent unauthorized adjustments. Loretta stated that the clubhouse would begin weekend dining to the members, and public, starting this Friday, September 18, 2009.

Tim reported that he has ordered a 20-quart mixer for $2,180.00. This purchase was made possible by a very generous donation from Walt McNutt (Tri-County Implement). The mixer should be arriving the same time as the Char-Broiler that is discussed in the attached committee minutes.

Water Heater problems were discussed again. A new large commercial water heater has been ordered from Path and is in route. It should (hopefully) be installed within the next couple of weeks.

Grounds Committee: (See attached minutes of September 8, 2009) Craig reported that the materials price for a building to be erected on the new wash bay slab would be approximately $17,000. No action taken at this time.

Jason stated that the verta-cutters have been sold and he also wanted to thank Terry V. (and other members which he named) for helping the work crew when the greens were aerated.

He also reported that water and a drain had now been hooked up at the new wash pad.

Pro-Shop Committee: John S. reported that he had made some calls to golf courses concerning tournament packages.

General Manager's Report: Jay discussed changing our mobile phone plan. Adding another phone (and plan) would cost the club between $100.00 and $120.00 per month. A group plan involving 3 phones would be better and cheaper. Jay will look into this.

The staff gratuity letter is currently being drafted by Jay. He suggested that we not insert an area where members could specify a donation to a specific individual. Instead he plans on stating that if a member wishes to give a gratuity to a specific employee that the members deal with that employee on an individual basis (person to person).

New Business: Discussion was held on clubhouse hours and days of operation. After discussion Terry made a motion that the restaurant be closed year around on Mondays. After more discussion, Terry withdrew his motion. The board discussed a policy for the rental of the club facilities. Jay stated that he would review similar policies at other facilities and write a policy to be reviewed and approved by the board.

A new name for the restaurant was discussed. An email had been sent earlier to all members announcing that we would be renaming the restaurant and invited members to help in this effort through a contest. Approximately 30-40 suggested new names were received from members. The House Committee narrowed this list down to 7 names and these were presented to the board at this meeting. These 7 names were ranked according to their favorites, by all board members and employees present and the list of names was reduced to 3 based on the ranking. These 3 names were then ranked and the new name chosen for the restaurant was "THE FRINGE". A motion was made by Craig and 2nd by Randy to name the restaurant "The Fringe". Motion carried. Gordy and Margene Rambur were the members who submitted this winning name.

New Membership Approval: John S. made a motion, 2nd by Terry, that Dennis Taylor and family are approved for membership. Motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 PM