CLUBS & MEMBERS: TOP OF THE LINE
Revving and willing … Solid Constitution ... Silver screenings ... Horsing around.
CYCLE OF LIFE
Beth Owens pauses at the end of a row of 10 gleaming motorcycles on the
factory floor of American IronHorse Motorcycle Co. in Fort Worth, Texas.
Each cycle is unique because of its colorful paint job, wheel design,
profile, or seating for one or two passengers. “The detail is amazing,” she
says, admiring the hand-applied paint scheme on a bike as if seeing it for
the first time. But Owens, a member of Shady
Valley Golf Club near Dallas, has watched the custom motorcycles
being built since the company was founded in 1995. As vice president of
sales and marketing and an officer of the corporation, she has done
everything from leading factory tours on Friday afternoons to acting on the
behalf of the president and CEO during their absences to attend at least
eight industry trade shows each year. In 2001, American IronHorse
manufactured 1,100 motorcycles with price tags ranging from $21,900 to
$33,500 for a clientele that’s mostly male and educated. She says the
company’s clients express their individualism with “design, performance, and
great paint.” A San Antonio lottery winner was so impressed with the
company’s workmanship that he ordered five bikes. And, Owens says, American
IronHorse will do whatever it takes to meet clients’ wishes. For a live
auction at a recent Cattle Baron’s Ball in Dallas, the company was
commissioned to manufacture his-and-hers cycles with ostrich upholstery. The
winning bid: $72,000. Owens lives within walking distance of her club with
her husband, physician Joe Owens, and their 3-year-old son, who, she says,
“already recognizes Mommy’s motorcycles.” —
Pennie Boyett
Photography by Lisa Means.
WE THE PEOPLE
Although retired for three years from the Morgan, Lewis & Bockius law
firm in Philadelphia, Alan Reed still finds himself arguing his case daily.
This particular case is a cause of his own choosing, and his courtroom is
the entire country. As vice chairman of the National Constitution Center,
Reed, a member of the Pyramid Club in
Philadelphia, is in charge of raising private funds for the museum and
educational center. The center, which is under construction on the city’s
Independence Mall, is slated to open July 4, 2003. “I’m not a Constitutional
scholar, but I can see how important [the Center] is to our country,” he
says. “People take the Constitution for granted. They really don’t know what
it says and what it means. This idea is to educate our citizens about the
tremendous impact it has on a daily basis.” Governmental funding will cover
construction of the Center, which will face the Liberty Bell and
Independence Hall. Private donations will fund an endowment, additional
construction, and outreach programs. After three years’ work, Reed has
raised slightly more than half of the $80 million goal. “We want people to
realize they can participate in a lifetime opportunity and have their name
associated with the Center,” he says. — Steve
Wilson
Photography by Bill Cramer.
IT’S OSCAR TIME
If Leah Rozen had her way, she’d never have to give a movie a bad
review. But Hollywood doesn’t always cooperate. Rozen, a member of the
Athletic & Swim Club at Equitable Center
in New York, is People magazine’s
movie critic, and she starts out as an optimist at every one of her five to
10 screenings each week. “You’re always hopeful when the lights go down, but
you don’t get to see just the good ones,” she says. “You also have to see
the bad ones.” Rosen joined the staff of
People in 1983 and is a founding editor of the
People spin-off
In Style magazine. She also appears
twice a week on ABC’s World News Now.
The ingredients for a good movie, she says, are characters you care about
and a story that interests you. That’s what she liked about
Shrek, a movie she says deserves some
attention on Oscar night, March 24, but the Oscars are always tricky. “The
key to happiness is to pay off your mortgage and don’t care at all about the
Oscars, because the Oscars will break your heart,” she says. “But as much
fun as we [critics] make [of the show], as many problems as we have with it,
come Oscar night, I’ll be in front of my television set with the rest of
America.” An admitted “sucker for romantic comedy,” her favorite movie is
1940’s The Shop Around the Corner,
which was remade as You’ve Got Mail in
1998. And she was one of a few critics who liked
Hope Floats. “There’s a joke among
critics,” she says, “that we’re all allowed one of those a year — one we
like but every other critic says, ‘What was she thinking?’ ” —
Will Pry
LIFE LESSONS
The enduring spirit of courage and of survival against all odds is
embodied in triplicate in Joan Anderson. In the past 40 years, Anderson, a
member of Desert Falls Country Club
near Palm Springs, California, has survived three types of cancer, the first
when she was 23. Yet, undaunted by the ravaging effects of her illnesses,
she donates her energies to raising awareness and funds for cancer research.
“When you are well, you take so much for granted,” she says. “Then when you
are sick, you find courage, help, and love from other people. Now I want to
help people get better.” Her most recent bout with cancer resulted in a
laryngectomy followed by a series of difficult postoperative treatments.
Now, Anderson, an ex-smoker, speaks to junior high school students about the
dangers of smoking. She counsels laryngectomy patients and participates in
numerous American Cancer Society fund-raisers, including a recent 24-hour
relay marathon in which she walked the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. leg. She is also, to
her joy, playing golf again. “Every day I wake and thank God for this
beautiful day,” she says. — Diane S. Dickinson
Photography by Marc Glassman.
A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR
Horses have always been Karl McMillan’s passion. He grew up showing
them, playing polo, and fox hunting. So it’s appropriate that he’s succeeded
at making horses his business, too. “I’m very fortunate,” says McMillan, the
race director of the Charleston Cup, a nationally sanctioned steeplechase
race held annually in South Carolina. A charter member of the
Harbour Club in Charleston, South
Carolina, McMillan created the race in 1986 as a marketing opportunity for
the Plantation at Stono Ferry, a residential golf community. “But it really
has a life of its own now,” he says. Since those early years, attendance has
nearly doubled to more than 12,000. A two-hour event has grown into a week
of social activities in the tradition of antebellum Charleston. “There’s
everything from barbecues with bluegrass to lavish cocktail parties with
bartenders, sterling silver, and jazz,” McMillan says. Polo matches, a golf
tournament, and a black-tie gala round out the pre-race events. “We’re
celebrating a time when local horse racing was at its most prestigious, when
racing went hand in hand with social functions,” he says. “My aim is that
the Cup will continue to grow and strengthen local horse racing. After all,
South Carolinians have a long-standing bond with the horse world.” —
Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Jeff Dodge.
TOUGH NUT TO CRACK
When it comes to being nutty about golf, Tom Jewell has raised the bar.
Jewell, a retired J.C. Penney Co. executive and member of
East Lake Woodlands Country Club near
Clearwater, Florida, chronicles his experiences on the course in a new book,
Having a Ball With Golf: Memories of a Golf
Nut. His nutty activities began 45 years ago on the first day of
his honeymoon, when he took his bride to the golf course he had played on as
a youth in Rochester, New York. “It was 35 degrees with snow on the ground,”
Jewell says. “I played 18 holes and Lavon [his wife] walked all 18 with me.”
Before retiring to Florida, Jewell lived in New Jersey, and no matter what
the weather, he was first on the course each New Year’s Day. “One year, I
golfed and the wind chill was negative-22 degrees,” he says. Not
surprisingly, Jewell’s golf-at-all-costs attitude caught the attention of
the Golf Nuts Society, which named him Golf Nut of the Year in 1997. —
Diane S. Dickinson
Illustration by Jonny Mendelsson.
EXPERIENCING GREYSTONE
Having “too many cooks in one kitchen” usually means that nothing
constructive will get done. But that wasn’t the case at the Greystone
Experience, an annual weeklong brainstorming and educational event for 20
Associate Club chefs held at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
in California’s Napa Valley. During many hours in test kitchens, the chefs
were given the opportunity to collaborate with their peers in order to
enhance their culinary skills and to return home with fresh, new recipes to
use in their club dining rooms — such as seared sea bass with seafood
cioppino. — Anne Clarrissimeaux
PARTICIPATING CHEFS FOR 2001 GREYSTONE EXPERIENCE
Cris Carter, Rivers Club, Pittsburgh.
Ciaran Devlin, The Tower Club Tysons Corner,
Vienna, Virginia.
Robert Dickinson, Indian Wells Country Club,
near Palm Springs, California.
Mike Galvan, Diamante,
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
David Giarmona, Glen Oaks Country Club,
near Des Moines, Iowa.
Kevin Grafton, Hackberry Creek Country Club,
near Dallas.
Bill Grodznik, DeBary Golf & Country Club,
near Orlando, Florida.
Jon Hebert, Houston City Club,
Houston.
Brian Lennon, City Club of San Francisco,
San Francisco.
Bob Malone, Treesdale Golf & Country Club,
near Pittsburgh.
Matt McNutt, Trophy Club Country Club,
near Dallas, Texas.
Gene Miller, Spring Valley Lake Country Club,
near San Bernardino, California.
Stephen Morris, Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club,
San Antonio, Texas.
William Pfersching, Canyon Gate Country Club,
Las Vegas.
Charles Phillips, Tower Club of Charlotte,
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ed Romano, Country Club of Hilton Head,
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Bruce Ross, Bay Oaks Country Club,
Houston.
Don Sanders, Pyramid Club,
Philadelphia.
Jerry Snider, Countryside Country Club,
Clearwater, Florida.
Eric Whyard, Silver Lake Country Club,
near Akron, Ohio.
FREEDOM FIGHTER
Even before current events opened the world’s eyes to the plight of
women living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Victoria Collins was devoted
to the advancement and achievement of women. “The war has shined the
spotlight on a problem that’s been around for years,” says Collins, a member
of Center Club in Costa Mesa,
California. Along with her work with relief groups, she currently is
organizing a spring luncheon that will benefit Women of Vision, an arm of
World Vision that will help Afghan women with loans to help them start their
own businesses. Collins, executive vice president of Keller Group Investment
Management in Irvine, California, and author of six books on financial
planning, has never been to Afghanistan. But she sees her efforts as a way
to help women like Farzana, an escaped Afghan woman who was arrested and
jailed by the Taliban for acting as a translator for independent filmmaker
Cindy Spies. Collins first met Spies last summer at a fund-raiser for three
women who had escaped from Afghanistan and were coming to Los Angeles. Spies
needed funding to complete a documentary on Afghanistan, so Collins stepped
in, paying to send a coworker of Spies’ back to Afghanistan to film. Since
then, Collins has organized other events to raise funds for and increase
awareness about the plight of Afghan women. “I’m absolutely passionate about
what women can do in this world, in these undeveloped countries, if given
half the chance,” she says. — Janet Mefferd
Photography by Jason Reed/Timepix.
SEND IN THE CLOWN
Most golfers try their hardest not to look like clowns when they play.
Ron Miller does it on purpose. Miller, director of instruction and
tournaments at the Clubs of Lakeway
in Austin, Texas, has gained a following as Bogey the Clown, trick-shot
artist and goofy golfer extraordinaire. Since he first slapped on the face
paint and floppy shoes in 1992, Miller has entertained audiences at kids’
clinics and other events with his wacky clubs (including a 6-foot driver),
corny bits (hitting a 27-inch driver with the ball teed on his foot), and
love of the game. “I just try to go out and lighten the mood by dressing up,
hitting some trick shots, and acting a little stupid,” he says. Miller
started his life as a clown to help promote the game — especially at junior
clinics and pro tournaments. But even when he’s teaching in his everyday
attire, Miller uses a little of Bogey’s routine with his pupils. “It gives
them something to think about other than being so serious, and trying to be
Tiger Woods,” he says. “Golf is supposed to be fun.” —
Will Pry
A DYNASTY IN THE MAKING
David and Lisa Jones introduced their children to golf because, as
David explains, “it’s a tremendous game they can play for the rest of their
lives, and it teaches great character as far as self-control, honesty,
integrity, and great manners.” In a remarkably short time, the children,
blessed with natural talent and a love for the game, have met and far
exceeded their parents’ expectations. Josh, 12; Sara, 10; Matthew, 7;
Jonathan, 5; and, quite possibly Joseph, who is not yet 2 but already is
honing his putting stroke, comprise nothing short of a burgeoning dynasty in
North Texas. Last summer, the four oldest children finished in the top three
of their age brackets at the state qualifier for the 2001 U.S. Kids Golf
World Championship. And, in the fall, they dominated their club championship
at Oakmont Country Club near Dallas,
by claiming three firsts and a second when Matthew bested Jonathan in the
7-and-under division. Such success belies their experience. In just his
second year of competitive golf, Josh won six of 14 events in the Northern
Texas Section of the PGA of America, and Sara, then 9, bagged 10 victories
competing against 10- and 11-year-olds. “All of them have natural swings,”
David Jones says, “but I think it’s the environment you create around
children — if you make it fun and challenge them to see rewards and levels
of excellence they can achieve. Kids are amazing. They like a challenge, in
academics, in golf, in anything.” — Steve
Wilson
OVER THE RAINBOW
Almost 20 years ago, Suzy Yehl Marta went through a divorce and
recognized the resulting sadness and anger in her young children. When she
searched for support for them and found none, she took action. Marta, a
member of the 410 Club and Conference Center
in Chicago, founded Rainbows, an international not-for-profit grief
support organization designed to assist children, adolescents, and adults
through traumatic times. “Life-altering events including death, divorce,
abandonment, terrorist attacks — whatever they might be,” she explains.
Thousands of trained Rainbows volunteers offer activities, games, and
discussions free of charge at 6,000 sites in the United States and 3,000
sites in 17 other countries. “We give the children a voice, surround them
with mentors,” she says. “We aim to sensitize adults to the fact that all
children grieve — they just don’t know how to articulate it.” Parents and
grandparents can help: Be aware when a child is grieving, Marta advises, and
provide opportunities for the child to talk about how he or she is feeling.
Ask the child about his or her needs. She encourages parents to “put on the
skin” of your children and try seeing things through their eyes. In 19
years, Rainbows has reached out to almost 1 million children. “But,” Marta
says, “that’s less than 1 percent of those who need us. I have a lot of work
to do.” — Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Alan Klehr.
MAGIC MOMENTS
RESORTS
The readers of Travel and Leisure
Family have ranked
The Homestead
in Hot Springs, Virginia, as one of
the top four family resorts in the continental United States, Canada, and
the Caribbean. “We are pleased to hear that the readers of one of the top
family travel magazines in the industry have recognized us for our
outstanding family offerings,” says Gary K. Rosenberg, president and CEO of
The Homestead. “With our remarkable facilities, first-class programming, and
dynamic schedule of special events, The Homestead is famous for creating the
kinds of magical moments that become classic family memories.”
ANNIVERSARIES
The Center Club
in Costa Mesa, California, celebrated its 15th anniversary with an evening
of music and global cuisine. During the celebration, general manager John
Perrine announced that the Center Club would expand services to meet the
growing needs of business people as the area’s theater district adds 1.5
million square feet of new office space during the next several years. More
than 100 members and guests attended the event, which highlighted a
membership campaign and expansion of club services. Members of each of the
club’s 11 committees and “clubs within the club” were presented with
plaques. Those committees consist of the Public Affairs Committee; Executive
Women’s Council; Funds and Friends Men’s Investment Club; Executive
Committee; Ben Franklin Forum; Food and Wine Committee; Garden Circle Club;
House and Rules Committee; Membership Development Committee; Women on Wall
Street; and the Bulls, Bears and Ladies Club.
CHARITIES
The “Swinging into Action” golf tournament at
Morgan Run Resort & Club
near San Diego raised more than $20,000 for the American Red Cross Relief
Fund. The club attributes much of the success of the event to the team of
Tracy Apodaca, private event director; Jamie Schaible, member relations
director; and Gary Sowinski, head golf pro.
KUDOS
Sous chef Jim Palmeriello of Ipswich
Country Club near Boston received
a gold medal in the 2001 New Hampshire Culinary Classic and a silver medal
in the Southern Tier Chef Association culinary competition.