Indianola Country Club

June 2003 Newsletter

DEAR CLUB MEMBERS,

     Work continues on the new nine as weather conditions allow. Since it has been dry for awhile, the west end of the c ourse is starting to take shape. For those of you who occasionally check the progress, please do NOT drive off the end of Orchard Drive or Trail Ridge. Access is available by using Scenic Valley Drive and the established dirt trail. Please stay on the trail and do not drive on the grass. Thanks.

     Rita Bunting, the Indianola High School Girls Golf Coach, will be running junior golf again this year. Junior golf will start on June 3rd ( a week earlier than in the calendar) and be held from 8:30 am-11:00am every Tuesday until July 15th. Some of the dates were incorrect on the sheet I sent out in the last newsletter. I apologize for any confusion. Please sign up in advance if you have not done so yet. Also, volunteers to help out are always needed. Contact Rita if you can help.

     Two of our former junior golfers, Steph Schenfeld and Kyle Matzen both played in the NCAA Division III National Championship golf tournaments this spring. Steph led the Simpson Storm womens team to a 9th place finish and finished 20th individually. Kyle led the Central Dutch team to an 11th place finish and placed 39th in the mens championship. They are also our current women’s and men’s club champions. This says a lot for both their hard work and our junior golf program. Congratulations Steph and Kyle.

     To those of you who have a cart in one of the sheds: Please close the doors after taking your cart out or putting it back. This takes very little time and will help to keep birds and wasp nests out of the sheds. When people do not close the doors, they are sometimes left open over night. To keep your cart secure, please close the door. Thanks.

     We are a member run club and we rely on the members to both obey and enforce club rules and policies. Since the season is well under way and the course is getting lots of play, I thought it might be a good idea to remind everyone of a few areas that are of occasional concern. Everyone should
     * Sign in and pay guest fees - Everyone is expected to sign in before playing. This includes signing in guests and paying guest fees. Make sure you have your current bag tag and that your guests get a guest tag.
     * Start on the 1st tee - All play should start on the 1st tee. The maintenance staff must do most of their work while the course is open for play. They watch the first tee so they can plan how to best complete their work with a minimum of interference. If you start elsewhere it can create problems for them and other players.

     * Use the ball rack - This is a must to get groups off the tee in a fair and efficient manner without a starter. Put your ball in the rack after all of your group is present or after you have finished #9. Alternate between the front and back nine ball racks. Singles and twosomes should always try to pair up to make threesomes or foursomes. This will help get everyone off the tee as quickly as possible.
     * Drive your carts wisely - Keep the cart on the path as much as possible, use the 90 degree rule, and obey the go to path signs. Do NOT drive in the edge of the rough parallel to the fairway. This creates worn compacted areas like those that can be found on the right of #1 the left of #5 and the right of #6. Use only as many carts as your group needs: 1 cart for a twosome and 2 carts for a threesome or foursome.
     * Obey the dress code - Please make sure that you and your guests dress appropriately. The goal is to allow casual dress, but still have a neat appearance. No tank tops or muscle shirts are allowed. Collared golf shirts are preferred.
     * Play during appropriate times - Remember that men playing on Wednesday must be finished with their rounds before noon for Ladies’ Day and women must be off the course by noon on Thursday for Men’s Day. The clubhouse is open to all until 2:00 pm for lunch. Juniors have some restricted times as detailed in the calendar. The most frequent violation here is that on weekends NO juniors, even those playing with an adult, can tee off before noon.
If you notice that some of your fellow members have forgotten about these rules please remind them politely.

     The May Day Celebration was attended by over 80 people and a good time was had by all. Thank you to Steve and Geri Hoover and their committee for a job well done. The club needs more events like this. If you have an idea for an event and would be willing to put together a committee to plan and run it, let me know. A fall dance is one possibility.

     Some reminders: Cart fees are now past due. If you have not yet paid your cart fee, please do so ASAP. For those of you who have lockers, remember that your locker fees should be paid to the Men’s or Women’s Golf Associations. You should also pick up your bag tags if you have not done so yet.

     We have received a resignation from Pat Meyer. Welcome new members Jeff and Lori Smith and Mike and Dala Scoblic. We now have 273 golf and 10 social memberships.

See you at the club,

WERNER