Clubs
& Members: Part of the Team
Grape
expectations ... A shot of whiskey ... Animal behavior ... Swinging celebs.
A
Stompin’ Good Time
How do you build a winning team? Jump in with both feet. That’s what managers
of city and city/athletic Associate Clubs did during their recent national
meeting at Barton Creek
in Austin, Texas.
A variety of team-building exercises, including the pictured grape stomping,
were just part of the two-day program that focused on leadership, future
planning for clubs, and ideas to enhance member services. Other strategies for
building winning teams came from Coach Darrell Royal, who had more than two
decades of winning football seasons at the University of Texas at Austin, and
Robert H. Dedman Sr., founder and chairman of ClubCorp.
Single-Minded
As the faint skirl of bagpipes approaches, members of the Wee Dram Society at
the Heritage Club
in Huntsville, Alabama,
prepare their gullets for a tasting of single malt whiskeys. Since February
1995, the Society thus commences its bimonthly meetings, a tribute to the
fanfare and fun of this Scottish tradition. Presided over by “convener” Jack
Montgomery, the Society has a goal of tasting all of the single malt Scotch
whiskys made available in America by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Leith,
Scotland. Of the 112 single malt whiskeys available, the Society finished its
third year with 43 bottles under its belt. “At the current rate of tasting,”
Montgomery says, “it’s anticipated that our quest will be concluded by 7:30
p.m. on November 18th in the year of 2001.”
Because
these whiskeys are rather rare, and therefore expensive, the Wee Dram Society
limits tastings to three bottles per convening, with each participant getting a
full ounce from each bottle. Only problem is a 750 ml bottle translates into
about 25 ounces. Therefore, tastings are limited to 25 members. With about 175
members on the roster, that makes these first-come, first-served events a hot
ticket. The Society meetings are not just about downing whiskey shots, however.
They are about education and heritage. Three “presenters” inform the
participants of the flavor, aroma, and appearance of their respective whiskey.
They also provide a description of the countryside and history of the distillery
where their particular whiskey was produced. A board of five members determines
the liquors to be tasted and makes sure the three selected offer a balance of
distilleries, flavors, etc., and keeps a checklist of the whiskeys that have
been and will be tasted. Only one time have we retasted [a whiskey],”
Montgomery says, “and it was so good no one complained.” —
Louis Marroquin
Animal
Magnetism
Dr. Greg and Mary Beth Dimijian, members of Brookhaven
Heart Healthy Fitness Center in Dallas,
made their first journey to Africa more than 25 years ago. During that monthlong
photo trip (maybe it was after the close encounter in the tall grass with the
roaring lion), the Dimijians discovered what would become their new careers.
Since then, their summers have found them studying and recording animal behavior
in such far-flung places as East and South Africa, Peru, Costa Rica, and
Antarctica. Greg’s background as a psychiatrist and Mary Beth’s as a teacher
led them to collaborate on the 1996 book, AnimalWatch:
Behavior, Biology, and Beauty,
a collection of 80 photographs paired with essays on their research. The work
contains a foreword by Jane Goodall, who calls the couple “kindred spirits,
fellow travelers.” The Dimijians are frequent lecturers on the importance of
conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat. Among the reasons, as Greg notes:
“Studying how animal behavior is adapted by environment has led us to think
that humans, with our large, complex brain and culture, have a much greater
ability to learn, and more aptitude for reversing inherited behavioral
dispositions.” —
Linda Thornton
Swinging
With the Stars
Although El Niño directed its rainy wrath upon the 1998 Nabisco Dinah
Shore Celebrity Pro-Am in March, the more than 100 pros and 35 celebs on hand
refused to let weather douse their golf-playing enthusiasm (as these photos
attest). Stars from stage, screen, and sports mingled with pros at Mission
Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage,
California, for the 27th edition of this annual event. “As in the past,
we were delighted to be part of this ongoing event,” says Terry Wilcox,
tournament director. “All of our guests had a wonderful time despite the
weather. This event continues to be one of the premier events on the LPGA Tour
and in the Southern California area.”
Sweet
Taste of Success
Fifteen years ago, Michele Hoskins, now a member of the Monroe
Club in Chicago, was recently divorced, raising three daughters, and
bringing home the bacon by teaching English and psychology part time at a local
high school. At the time, she had no idea that the breakfast served with that
bacon would be her key to a better life for her and her girls. For years,
Hoskins had been whipping up a honey cream syrup recipe passed down from her
great-grandmother, and serving it to her family and friends. After hearing
enough raves about her syrup from those gathered around her table, she got the
incentive to market it. With no business background and little startup capital,
Hoskins established Michele Foods and christened the recipe Michele’s Honey
Creme Syrup. She sold all her possessions but the essentials and moved her
family into her mother’s attic. It was in her mother’s basement that she
would fill bottles from 55-gallon drums of syrup, and then sell them, initially,
to ethnic supermarkets in the neighborhood. Sure, there were some lean years,
but under Hoskins’ watchful eye Michele Foods has evolved from a one-woman
operation to a multimillion dollar company. In 1997 alone, Michele Foods boasted
estimated sales of $7.5 million. Today, her line of syrups can be found in
Kroger grocery stores, some Winn-Dixies, Bi-Los, and all Super Wal-Mart stores,
and as always Hoskins shows no signs of slowing down, whether working on new
product lines or touring the country speaking to groups about her
entrepreneurial spirit. “When I started I didn’t have a bank loan or a
business plan,” Hoskins says. “I just had the syrup and the notion — and
it was all that I needed.”
Just
Add Water
What started as the simple removal of a tree stump from his backyard
became a 30-foot by 35-foot wide, 6-foot deep hobby for Ron F. Docksai, a member
of the City Club of
Washington, D.C. Growing up in New York with
a fire escape serving as a backyard, Docksai, vice president of Federal
Government Relations for Bayer Corp., never had an aquarium or knew much about
fish. Yet long after the tree stump was gone, he continued digging, eventually
adding water, a waterfall, a filter, and several species of fish, such as koi.
After working with government issues during the day, Docksai finds solace in his
water garden. “At night it’s illuminated so I can sit outside and smoke a
cigar,” Docksai says. “No one bothers me; I don’t bother anyone; and the
fish don’t mind.” — Patty Jerde
Head
of the Glass
That beer and college go together is frankly as American as mom and apple
pie. But a college for brewing beer? Welcome to Brew U. Ed Lee, a member of the Houston
City Club, discovered brew-on-premises establishments in Canada. But
they were just making beer; Lee wanted to create a fuller experience. “We
wanted to be an entertainment place, a playground for beer lovers,” he says.
In June 1997, Lee, and wife Kathy, opened Brew U, a place where customers make
their own beer — a process that takes a couple of hours. There’s also the
chance to relax while imbibing homemade brews. Brew U is responding to beer’s
new wine-like status, and its upscale clientele — of whom 40 percent are women
— reflects that. If Brew U lacks accreditation, Lee says it offers a lesson
about how to enjoy life: “People are discovering flavor. It’s not just
beer.” — Todd Pitock
Early
Bird
Robert Stockard got his first job delivering papers at age 9, and he has
yet to take a break. “I always wanted to be rich,” he says, “I just
started early.” While still in college, Stockard, now a member of Ipswich
Country Club in Ipswich, Massachusetts,
was hired by Eastern Airlines, where he was promoted seven times in six years,
before moving to a job at MRI, the largest search and recruitment company in the
United States. There he not only doubled revenues in eight months, but bought
the area franchise the following year and grew the company from $300,000 to $1.2
million in revenues. Instead of resting on his laurels, Stockard and his wife,
Maria, created Sales Staffers International Inc., a company that specializes in
sales force outsourcing and management. “The client provides the product
knowledge,” Stockard says, “and we put the icing on the cake.” Keeping his
eyes on the prize, Stockard expects revenue to reach $32 million this year. —
Patty Jerde
Training
Tigers
Prior to the Tiger Revolution, junior golf guru Ray Travaglione decided
golf had to start cultivating promising young talent. “Junior golfers were
neglected,” he says. “They didn’t have the same opportunities as, say,
junior tennis players, to develop in a controlled environment.” In 1994
Travaglione, a member of the Country Club of Hilton
Head and Daufuskie Island Club &
Resort in South Carolina, established
the Golf Academy of Hilton Head Island. The 25 students (ranging in age from 12
to 19) live on site, attend one of two schools, and train to be competitive in
golf. The annual tuition, on average $32,000, is an investment, hopefully,
toward university golf scholarships and a career in golf. “A lot of kids have
talent,” Travaglione says. “What separates them is how they handle their
emotions on the course. Ultimately we teach them how to manage themselves on the
golf course.” — Todd Pitock
Winning
Traditions
• The weekly Tuesday night bingo game at Brookhaven
Country Club in Dallas turned into
one big party in March when William Pierson, father of longtime member Howard
Pierson, celebrated his 100th birthday. Pierson, who’s made many friends over
the last several years he’s been attending bingo night, was treated to cake
and singing by the staff and members on hand.
• Orange Park Country Club in Orange Park,
Florida, raised $22,000 at its 7th Annual Course Improvement Tournament
in January. Proceeds will go toward improvements to the #1 and #10 tees.
Participants included 232 golfers, 63 silver sponsors, and 26 hole sponsers. For
the first time in three years, storm clouds sucked it up and the golfers
actually were able to play all 18 holes. The 7-year-old event has now raised
$97,000 to improve the course.
• Paul Pearce, general manager of The Meadow Club in Rolling
Meadows, Illinois, recently was elected to the Board of Directors of
Chicago Tennis Patrons Inc. Pearce has been with Club Corporation of America for
more than 20 years, building, opening, and managing several clubs in Texas. As a
director of CTP, he will aid the officers, staff, and board in the selection of
public and private organizations for the funding of tennis programs, such as the
National Junior Tennis League, which serves youngsters in Chicago’s inner-city
neighborhoods.
• Bad weather may have left the golf course at Diamante Country Club in
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, too wet to play,
but that didn’t dampen a visit by LPGA Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth. The 11
members and guests in attendance just saw the silver lining and had a little
brunch. Whitworth, a guest of members Larry and Chris Strain, was in Little Rock
to attend the grand opening of Empowered Women’s Golf, a store geared strictly
to the female golfer.
Music
Man
As a youth in Tennessee, Dave Combs carried songs in his head, inspired
by the region’s guitar and mandolin and the hymns his parents played on piano.
Although he earned math and business degrees and later worked for AT&T
Corp., he left business to follow the music. Today, Combs, a member of the Piedmont
Club in Winston-Salem, North Carolina,
is a composer, producer, and has published more than 100 original works and 11
albums (sold in 50 states). Combs’ signature piece is the tranquil
“Rachel’s Song,” which he first played at his goddaughter’s christening.
He imagines it as a theme waiting for the right movie — the one they’ll play
if he ever wins a Grammy. His real accomplishment, though, is “the degree to
which my music has affected other people’s lives,” says Combs, who with his
wife, Linda, has fielded more than 30,000 testaments that his instrumental music
strikes a responsive chord. —
Michelle Medley