2014 Year in Review

update

in this 2015 issue >>>

In the Spotlight...

Congratulations to our tournament winners in 2014

2014 Year in Review

Looking ahead to Spring 2015

Ryan’s Rants & Get a Grip (Pro Tips & Club Repair)

Turf Talk

Special Events at Hawks Ridge

Men’s Member/Member: Scott Marshall & Brian McGeary

Ladies’ Member/Member: Tari Gibson & Donna Ziegelbauer

Men’s Member/Guest: Joe Peluso & Jason Oyler

Ladies’ Member/Guest:

Gross: Teresa Gibson, Michelle Joyce, Donna Ziegelbauer, Amy Kirouach

Net: Dee Nixon, LeeAnne Swift, Suzette MacInnis, Katherine Chiucchin

Couples Member/Guest:

Gross: Mike & Dee Nixon with Mary & Dick Sander

Net: Jerry & Cas Boles with Mike & Tracie O’Shea

Sr. Club Champion: Donny Phillips

Men’s Club Champion: Jarod Trammell

Ladies’ Club Champion: Tari Gibson

Junior Club Champion: Patrick McGeary

Hawks Ridge Cup Champion: Team Nixon

Big Bertha Cup Champion: Team West

Parent/Child Tournament:

18-Hole: Erik & Davis Bagwell / 9-Hole: Gary & Maya Handler

Tradition Match Play Champions: Tim Sims & Sanjay Athavale

2015 Hawks Ridge

A Quarterly Update from Hawks Ridge Golf Club

We appreciate all of your referrals over the past

year. One of the best parts of belonging to a great

club is the great friends you meet along the way. If

you know someone who may be interested in join-

ing, please contact Glenn Sheeley at 770-205-6889

ext. 1142 or glennsheeley@hawksridge.com.

Hawks Ridge Welcomes Our Newest Members!

2014 Ladies Kickoff Luncheon

Executive Offices / 770.205.6889

Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm /Closed Sat-Sun

General Manager / Jennifer Oliff ext. 1118

Events / Jennifer Oliff ext. 1118

Accounting / Tricia Bobo ext. 1120

Dr. Newell Falkinburg

Jason Fritz

Chandler Mason

Stefen Shibley

Bryan Wilson

Tyler Wilson

Issue 01

Spring 2015

Ladies’ Member-Guest

Hawks Ridge Golf Club is pleased to announce that Glenn Sheeley was hired as Membership Director in the beginning of February. Sheeley most recently served as Managing Partner at O'Brien-Sheeley Consulting & Communications following

nine years at The Golf Club of Georgia as Director of Membership & Communications.

Formerly an award-winning Golf Writer with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sheeley also appeared frequently on the Golf Channel and co-hosted a golf show on CNN. A graduate of Penn State and native of Hershey, PA, Sheeley lives in Alpharetta with his wife, Nora.

For more information about Memberships at Hawks Ridge, or to welcome Glenn the next time you’re in, please feel free to contact him at 770-205-6889 ext. 1142. He can also be reached at glenn-sheeley@hawksridge.com.

Men’s Member-Guest

US Open Qualifier on June 8, 2015

Is back again at Hawks Ridge!

Hawks Ridge has been a sectional site in five of the last nine years, chosen from a list of 1000’s!

spring hours of operation>>>

Beginning Monday, March 23rd

Professional Shop 7:00 am—6:00 pm (Tue-Sun)

Tee Times begin at 8:00 am

Clubhouse 7:30 am—8:00 pm (Tue-Thurs)

(Dinner Reservations until 7:00pm)

7:30 am—9:00 pm (Fri-Sun)

(Dinner Reservations until 8:00pm)

John F. Moriarty III

Ryan’s Rants >>> What to do for cool weather golf: So, for us, the golf season never really ends, but it’s tough to get outside to work on those long drives or 4-footers. There are some things you have to accept about cold weather golf to give yourself the best chance to walk away satisfied with your score at the end of the round. Here are some thoughts and a few preparations you can make before you head to the course to help you play your best. Cold weather golf can be a lot of fun and a great way to shake off the cabin fever after winter. Make sure you come prepared and I’m sure you’ll have a great time. At all costs, keep your hands warm Cold weather players know that once cold seeps into their hands, the feel for the club and rhythm are lost. If you’re going to spend money on anything this winter, a pair of cart mitts with chemical hand-warmer packets goes a long way to keeping you in the game. If you put the hand warmers in your pants pockets, the heat escapes and they quickly become worthless. It’s also hard to drive a cart with your hands in your pockets. I’ve always thought walking is better for keeping warm (and probably for playing your best generally), but our course has lots of elevation changes and is a tough walk. Play the right ball To offset the cold, you can play a softer compression golf ball to avoid losing lots of distance. Luckily, there are more options for the cold weather golfer now than ever. I’m a Titleist Golf professional, and the NXT Tour S is easily the best cold weather ball I’ve ever played. When I make a good swing in 45-degree weather and hit the middle of the club face, the NXT Tour S goes only a few yards shorter than my ProV1x in the summertime. If you have your hand warmers, it’ll be easier to find

the middle of the club face than when your hands are frozen. Wear the right clothes Modern compression clothing from companies like FootJoy, Nike and Adidas make cold-weather golf a lot more fun than it used to be. Staying warm without a lot of bulky clothes that impede your swing used to be much harder. If the temps are above 40 degrees, I can play in a compression shirt, a golf shirt and a wind vest and make a pretty free move at the ball. If you keep your head and hands warm, you can also usually get away with wearing less on the rest of your body. You want to layer and make sure none of the base layers (next to your skin) are made out of cotton, because it doesn’t wick perspiration and can cause to you to feel even colder. Make simple, rhythmic swings and club up Because you’re wearing more clothes, your swing will be shorter and timing it properly will be harder. You have to accept that you won’t hit the ball as far with any of your clubs as you do in the middle of the summer. Remember that you’ll pick up some distance from that low compression ball you’re playing, and just focus on smooth swings and catching the ball in the middle of the club face. Warming up with a short run or on a stationary bike and stretching before a round in cold weather can help a lot too. For more information, contact Ryan Joyce at 770-205-6886 or rjoyce@hawksridge.com.

The Golf Training Center at Hawks Ridge is a state-of-the-art facility that can help you improve your game even during those cool spring days. Lessons are available by our

PGA professionals.

Turf Talk

Weddings I get asked all the time, “Do you do weddings at Hawks Ridge?” and my answer is always, “Of course!” I can’t think of a more unique and special location in this area to host a wedding. We all know what a spectacular back-drop the course is for a great round, but why not for a wedding? The options are literally endless and no request is out of the question. Add a round of golf on Friday for the groomsmen or use our guest cottages for private suites for the bridal parties on the big day.

Planning any type of special event can be a daunting and overwhelming task, whether it is an upcoming wedding, baby shower, or a golf outing. Our entire service team here at the Club can work closely with you or your group to ensure your event is personalized and that every detail is taken care of. Our goal is to take the worry out of planning!

Golf Course Maintenance performed aerification of the greens in the

spring. The goal is to remove the top inch of organic matter. It also

allows oxygen into the root zone to ensure the bent grass plant is at

peak health as we head into the hot summer months. Then we are

fertilized to greatly aid in recovery. The greens will be in good

condition again in approx. 2-3 weeks.

Mid-spring we assess the bermuda grass for winter damage. With

considerable cold this winter, some sod work will be done on our north

facing slopes. I do not expect we’ll have to lay as much as last year,

which totaled 13 loads.

Another project will be touching up landscape beds. This winter we

cleaned many beds out and pruned virtually all plant material. First we’ll

concentrate our efforts around the greens and tees, then add annual

flowers all around the clubhouse and at the guardhouse.

Jerry White, my long time Assistant Superintendent has accepted a

Superintendent position in North Georgia. Ken Holloway has replaced

him. Ken has considerable golf course

experience in California and Florida.

Hopefully, you will get to meet him soon.

He is a great addition to our turf team.

Jim Dusch, CGCS

678-947-9917

maintenance@hawksridge.com

special events >>>

Planning special events made easy at Hawks Ridge

Golf Outings

A charity or corporate golf outing is definitely a time consuming and stressful event to plan, but with lots of experience under our belt, Hawks Ridge has our system down to a science. Golf outings can be hard to fill up in this economy, but we are finding that many of our groups can have a record number of attendees depending on their choice of venue. I think that if a golfer has a choice of a course they have played a hundred times or coming to Hawks Ridge, the answer is easy. I would love to help with your next event!

Jennifer Oliff. General Manager, 770.205.6889 ext. 1118, jennifer@hawksridge.com

Looking ahead to Spring 2015 We are looking forward to another fantastic golf sea-

son as we head into the new year. We know many of

you are anxious to start planning your golf

calendar for the upcoming season and we are pleased

to announce the tournament and events schedule

below. This calendar is available on our website, as

well as weekly emails to keep you up to date on any

changes.

2 0 1 5 T o u r n a m e n t & E v e n t s S c h e d u l e April 5 Easter Brunch April 18 Opening Day Tournament April 24 Pros’ Gauntlet April 26 Couples Twilight April 29 Men’s 1-Day Member-Guest May 6-7 Ladies’ Member-Member May 10 Mothers Day Brunch May 15 Annual Membership Meeting May 15-16 Member/Member Tournament May 22 Pros’ Gauntlet May 25 Club Open/Memorial Day May 26 Club Closed/Tuesday June 11-13 Men’s Member/Guest June 16 Homeowners Social June 16-19 Jr. Golf Camp June 24-25 Ladies Member/Guest June 28 Couples Twilight Golf July 4 Club Open/ Independence Day July 7-10 Jr. Golf Camp

July 18 Men’s 1-Day Member-Guest July 24-25 Couples Member-Guest August 1-2 Jr. Club Championship August 18-21 Hawks Ridge Invitational August 28-29 Hawks Ridge Cup September 2-3 Big Bertha Cup September 7 Club Open/Labor Day September 8-10 Aerification: All facilities will be closed September 22 Homeowners Social October 1-2 Sr. Club Championship October 7-8 Ladies’ Club Championship October 23-24 Men’s Club Championship November 8 Fall Classic| November 11 Ladies’ 1-Day Member-Guest November 15 Parent-Child Tournament November 21 Men’s 1-Day Member-Guest December 6 Santa Brunch

Chef Notes: Cuban Black Bean Soup

METHOD:

Heat oil in a pot; add onions, peppers, garlic, sausage & cumin. Drain black beans, then add to pot, & add chicken stock. Bring to a boil.

Add tomato puree & cook until beans are tender.

Add vinegar, cilantro, salt & pepper. Serve Hot.

1 pt Black Beans Soaked Overnight 2 pt. Diced Onions 2 cups Diced Green & Red Bell Peppers 2 cups Diced Andouille Sausage 2 cups Chopped Garlic 1/4 cup Olive Oil 2 tbsp. Cumin 1 1/2 cup Tomato Puree 2 qt. Chicken Stock 2 tbsp. Chopped Cilantro 2 tbsp. Sherry Vinegar 1 7/8 tbsp. Black Pepper 1 1/8 tsp. Kosher Salt

Get A GRIP!

Hawks Ridge Golf Club is proud to offer re-gripping and club repair services. If you’re interested in having your grips changed at the club, ask for details in the Professional Shop. You can also give us a call at 770-205-6886. We can have them done the next day. We carry many popular brands and styles, and if we do not have it, most grips can be shipped overnight. Give us a try.

Here are some signs that it’s time to re-grip your clubs:

· The grips are worn and cracking · The grips are slick to the touch · The grips are leaving residue on your golf gloves

These conditions can cause you to squeeze the club, which can inhibit backswing, diminishing speed and consistency. A grip’s lifespan can be abbreviated by weather conditions, frequency of play, rings on your fingers, and how tightly you hold the club.

Time to Get Fit – for your clubs!

Hawks Ridge Golf Club has expanded our club fitting for 2015 with a new Titleist Fit Bag, Trial Sets and Launch Flight Scope Monitor and Lie/Loft Machine. Come see what a new fit can do for you or check what your old clubs are doing to get ready for the new season.

Many fitters believe it's worth measuring launch conditions once a year, like going to the doctor for a checkup. You likely won't need new irons, but if your swing has evolved significantly, the specifications might need to be tweaked.

Information about fitting:

1. "I'm not good enough to get custom-fit" is the refrain of so many golfers who buy their irons off the rack. Convinced their swing inconsistencies override the potential benefits of clubs built just for them, these modest souls don't allow that sometimes the chicken came before the egg. Fitters say the reason a lot of people hit it sideways is because they haven't been custom-fit. Trying to figure out the swing with clubs whose length, weight, lie angle, shaft flex or grip size don't match the body encourages players to make unnatural compensations that prevent them from developing proper mechanics.

2. "If a shaft is too stiff for a player, he'll hang back on his right side to get the ball airborne," says Randy Henry, co-founder of Henry-Griffitts, a pioneer of interchangeable head-shaft fitting systems. "And if the length and lie angle are off, then their posture is doomed from the start."

3. "The higher the handicap, the more necessary it is for that player to get fit."

4. During a complete fitting, factors such as face angle, launch angle, spin rate, ball speed, attack angle and club path are scrutinized to discover the head-shaft combination that optimizes distance and consistency. Plus, an experienced fitter will likely recognize swing flaws stemming from ill-fitted equipment and consider intangibles like a player's level of fitness and tempo. 5. "When I fit, I use the launch monitor to get the person into the mix of irons, hybrids and fairway woods that gives them the exact right distance gaps. Sometimes getting custom-fit can be cheaper because I won't sell people long irons they don't need."

Call the Professional Shop for an appointment today, 770-205-6886.

Demo Day – April 18

Along with the opening day tournament; teeing off at 9:30 am we will be hosting our annual demo day from 1:00 pm -5:00 pm on the driving range. Bring the whole family for some food and fun. There will be lots to do with trying new clubs, jump house for the kids and Chef putting together some food and

refreshments for all of our membership.

Junior Golf Camps June 16-19 and July 7-10

Four-Day Golf School 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Space is Limited to 12 Students $375 per student includes: Lunch Each Day,

Awards and Daily Prizes. Call the Professional Shop about getting your

youngsters started in golf.

Chef Steve Varano, Executive Chef

Finding An Agent That’s Right For You

1100 Hawks Club Drive

Ball Ground, GA 30107

Clubhouse / 770.205.6889

Spring Hours: Effective Starting March 23

Monday Closed / Tue-Thurs: 7:30 am - 8:00 pm

Dinner Reservations until 7:00 pm

Fri-Sun: 7:30 am - 9:00 pm

Dinner Reservations until 8:00 pm

Food & Beverage/Manager on Duty ext. 1134

Executive Chef / Steve Varano ext. 1109

Locker Room / Dave Belanger ext. 1137

Maintenance / Neal Day ext. 1131

Housekeeping ext. 1127

In the next issue>>>

July, August, September:

Golf season in full swing

2015 Summer Events

Ryan’s Rants

Turf Talk

Hawks Ridge Golf Club Phone: 770.205.6889

1100 Hawks Club Drive Fax: 770.205.6882

Ball Ground, GA 30107 www.hawksridge.com

information... contact

Contact us at 770-205-6889 www.hawksridge.com

Golf Pro Shop / 770.205.6886

Spring Hours: Effective March 23

Monday Closed / Tue-Sun: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Tee times begin at 8:00 am

Head Professional / Ryan Joyce ext. 1123

Asst. Golf Pro./ Will Bartram ext. 1121

Caddie Master / Chadd Rogers ext. 1129

Golf Course Maintenance / 678.947.9917

Superintendent / Jim Dusch

Assistant Superintendent / Bryan Holshouser

Assistant Superintendent / Ken Holloway

Security / 770.886.6104

Executive Offices / 770.205.6889 Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm /Closed Sat-Sun General Manager / Jennifer Oliff ext. 1118 Events / Jennifer Oliff ext. 1118 Accounting / Tricia Bobo ext. 1120 Membership Director / Glenn Sheeley ext. 1142 Real Estate / 678.947.1381 Director of Real Estate / Paulette Pond Call anytime / Cell 770.855.0566