FROM YOUR BOARD
The Stonehedges Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, October 14. Along with reports from the managers and committee chairs, a financial report was distributed and reviewed. Also discussed was NO increase in membership fees and cart space rental rates for 2008.
We had one Director who chose not to run for re-election.
With the resignation of Kent Eldred and Mike Henry, there were four (4) seats available for the Board of Directors. The member elected nominees running for these open seats of three-year terms were Donna Deering (welcome back Donna), Rick DeForest, Eric Hicks and
To you and yours, have a safe and healthy winter. We’ll see you in the spring!
Rosemary French
News from the Clubhouse
Greetings Stonehedges Family,
More Members Means Lower Rates!
In 2008 you will notice no price increase for membership fees. Membership golf is the driving force of Stonehedges and this decision is a calculated risk. If the number of members does not increase while operating expenses continue to rise, we will be operating unsuitably to these economic conditions.
What Do We Do?
Let’s get more members, more members, more members! Spread the word! Other area courses are raising prices while Stonehedges remains a great value. You would be hard pressed to find a better deal than Stonehedges.
Looking Forward To 2008
I recently met with the Tournament/Golf Services Committee and we will be introducing “Stag Days” in 2008 (Doe days for women). On these special days a member can bring a guest to Stonehedges for free.
Check out our website at Stonehedgesgolfcourse.com. Sometimes the host server goes down, but you can also access our website from golfstonehedges.com. At this site, you can learn about our history, see tournament dates, download membership applications, and get 19 hole event announcements.
eMail Mailing List
We will be building an eMail mailing list for the Golf Course. We will be sending you information on membership, tournaments, and events. Send your email to news@golfstonehedges.com. Please put this address in your PC address book to avoid mail going into your bulk or spam box.
Seasons Greetings to all!
Message from…
The Grounds Department
Well, this season has past and winter is soon upon us. I look forward to maintaining your golf course again next season. I am excited to utilize some new equipment that was purchased late this fall. We purchased a new rotary rough mower that will be used as an intermediate mower around the fairways and greens. This mower will provide a great consistent cut to the rough that you all will appreciate. Also, we traded in our fairway mower and upgraded to a brand new one. This year we also purchased 20 Yamaha golf carts from our existing lease. Also, I am excited to work with the greens next season after we deep tine aerated them. They should provide a more consistent shot holding capacity than has been seen before.
I would like to thank my staff for the wonderful job they did this season. I would also like to thank some members who came and donated their time at volunteer weekend; Terry Walpole and his wife Becky, Roland Knowlton, Steve Sovocool, and Roger Proulx. These volunteers worked very hard to clear hedgerows. I would especially like to thank Terry for organizing this event. It would be great to see this volunteer weekend grow!
This winter we are again going to plan pitch tournaments every other Saturday starting in January. Hope to see you all again throughout the winter.
Sincerely,
B. J. Robison
2008 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
A 2008 Membership Application is enclosed with this newsletter. Applications are also available in a MEMBERSHIP mailbox, near the Clubhouse entrance and on our website.
There are many new golfers who took advantage of paying $200.00 and playing for the remainder of the 2007 season. When completing your 2008 Membership Application, please deduct the $200.00 from the applicable membership fee.
To get the early bird/discounted rate, fill out your Membership Application and send it with payment by
For your convenience and new this year, is the three (3) payment plan via your Credit Card. On the 10th of the month in February, March and April 2008, a payment will be automatically deducted from your credit card account.
Also, if you are leaving for the winter, be sure that we have your winter address. Please call the Clubhouse with the information. Thank you.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AND INCENTIVE
Stonehedges 2008 Membership rates remain identical to last year! Although expenses continue to rise, your Board of Directors decided to keep the rates the same. In an effort to encourage new members to Stonehedges, we are offering existing members, who bring in a new member for the 2008 season, the 2008 “early bird” rate for the 2009 golf season. One may stop by the Clubhouse, visit our website, as well as call or write for additional applications and they will be sent. Just have your new member indicate your name as “referred by” on the application.
Take advantage of this INCENTIVE by encouraging new members to join our course. “Stonehedges Golf Course in Groton, NY is value golf at its best!”
STONEHEDGES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The following people are currently serving as your Board:
Marie Bancroft, Treasurer
Rick DeForest
Donna Deering
Rose French, President
John Payne
Dan Shipos
Ed Volpicelli, Vice-President
Frank Yager
REMEMBER… The member-owned carts in the outside cart spaces must be removed from the course prior to the snow flying. If you need inside storage space for the winter, contact the Clubhouse for more details. Also, please keep in mind that Stonehedges is not responsible for the security of privately owned carts.
2007 GALLAGHER CUP
The 10th Annual Gallagher Cup, created in honor of Tom Gallagher Sr., a longtime member and avid golfer here at Stonehedges, took place this year on Friday thru Sunday, October 5th, 6th and 7th between Stonehedges, Newman, and Elm Tree men. The first round started at Stonehedges on Friday afternoon and ended at Elm Tree, the host course. The defending champion, Newman, captured the trophy at 36½ points with Stonehedges at 26, and then Elm Tree at 21 ½ points. The 14-member team played in a Ryder Cup-style format of Best Ball, Alternate Shot and Individual Match play.
The Stonehedges members participating on the team were Jim Aloi, Doug Boles, Marty Conner,
The best of luck in 2008, guys.
The Frosty Open
On Saturday, October 13th, twenty-one teams participated in the annual Frosty Open. It sure was a “frosty” day with temperature in the fifties!
Fallback Tourney
Twenty-eight teams golfed in the annual and chilly Fallback Tourney on Sunday, October 28th. Congratulations to all the diehards who were challenged by both their game and keeping warm!
“If you hit a bad shot, just tell yourself it is great to be alive, relaxing and walking around a beautiful golf course. The next shot will be better.” –Al Geiberger
HOLE-IN-ONE
If you know of anyone who has achieved a hole-in-one this season at Stonehedges, please let us know.
Their names, along with others with this same outstanding achievement, will be inscribed on a nameplate and placed on the Hole-in-One plaque in the dining room.
Cory Stelick at IUP
IUP (
The IUP Crimson Hawks won its first PSAC golf championship since 2004 and seventh in the past 11 years, taking an eight-shot win over the California women's team at the conference tournament held at the Wrendale Golf Club in Hummelstown, PA.
Golf is the only sport in the PSAC in which men and women compete for the same conference championship.
IUP also won 1st place in three of the five tournaments played this fall.
The IUP golf season will resume in the spring, with the schedule including the NCAA East Region and national tournaments.
Great accomplishment, Cory!
Remember, if you have any Suggestions or Comments for the Board, they can be written, signed and then placed in the Suggestion Box located by the Clubhouse entrance and exit doors. If appropriate, there will be a written response back to you. Thank you.
A BRIEF OVERVIEW
The Groton Golf and Recreation Association was incorporated in the summer of 1964 as a non-profit organization largely as a result of the efforts of the employees of Smith Corona to provide a family recreation center in the Cortland-Groton area. The project, which evolved through the years into an 18-hole golf course, with tennis courts, a swimming pool and club house, was funded with a loan from the federal government’s Farmer’s Home Administration. In addition, the SCM’s Employee Club donated $25,000. to the project. The 18-hole course opened for play in the spring of 1967. In the following years, with construction of tennis courts and a swimming pool, the organization ran into financial trouble.
In 1983, the association was able to renegotiate a new FmHA loan with a renewed commitment to operate the club as an affordable golf course for rural residents on a financially sound basis. The tennis courts and swimming pool were eliminated.
Over the past few years, club memberships have averaged 307. The memberships provide the club with revenue in annual fees, golf cart parking and storage. Other key revenues include greens fees and cart rentals from the general public as well as sales from the restaurant, bar and pro shop.
~~ REMINDERS ~~
- To get the early bird/discounted rate, fill out your membership application and send it with payment by
January 15, 2008 .
- Get new members to join for the
Membership Drive
- Stonehedges Gift Certificates are available in the Pro Shop.