An electronic update for our members and friends
July 31st, 2012
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS
We are one day away from having had the warmest and driest July in the
history of SD. Similar records are being set around the country and it has been
putting a great deal of stress on the crops in the area and to some extent our
golf course and hunting ground. It does not look like much relief is in sight in
the short term so if anyone knows how to make it rain, please do your best to
have it rain soon!
MEMBER/GUEST
We just completed the member/guest this past week.
It was a rousing success with 24 two-man teams
competing. The first day was a glorious day with sun
and only 5mph winds. On Thursday the real teeth of
Sutton Bay showed with a NW wind blowing 25-30mph
while it was 90 degrees. The competition was a
quota point system and over half of the teams
finished over their quota on Wednesday. On Thursday
no teams reached their quota and everyone realized the challenges of links
golf. The winner of the 2012 Member/Guest was the brother duo, member
John Hamerly and his brother Mike. Congratulations to John and Mike and
thanks to all of the members who played in the event!
GOLF COURSE
We have now opened the new front nine and the members and guests who have
played have enjoyed the experience very much. I have heard comments like
fun, fair, somewhat forgiving, more room, challenging yet fair, fun greens to
putt, and many others. I have played a number of rounds and I believe all of
those things are correct. There is plenty of challenge for golfers of all skill
levels but at the same time it seems to be more forgiving than the old course.
My belief is that this feeling is due to the fact that the tees are not as elevated
and the landing areas are not as slopped, which allows the ball to bounce more
straight. The green complexes are challenging and fun to play because the ball
bounces and rolls in many directions. There are more humps and bumps in the
greens but they were built on a relatively flat surface so for the most part the
putts break exactly like they read. You will have to remember that when
putting toward the water it is NOT downhill like with the old course.
The grass in the fairways is filling in but this heat has caused that process to
slow down. Over the past month the grass has just been trying to stay alive
and it will not thrive again until the weather cools down some. Our staff has
done a great job keeping water on the course and improving the conditions
each day. The heat has also slowed down the maturation of the native grasses
but many of them are cool season grasses and they will start to grow again in
the fall of this year. Overall we are very happy where things are right now on
the front nine and at the same time we recognize there are many things left to
do. As I have stated before, this course will take 3-5 years to mature and
round into the shape we ultimately want it to be.
The back nine is all seeded and growing. We are now mowing all of the greens
on the back nine and, as you will see, many of them are looking very good. We
will continue to evaluate how this nine is progressing as we go through August
and if we can get some of the holes on the back nine open we will do so. Our
workers will continue to be doing some sod work and topdressing on the front
nine during the rest of the season so we would ask that you have patience with
them. The goal is to make sure we have the course in as good of shape as
possible going into winter, which will allow us to come out of winter in good
shape.
We will be happy to give you a tour of the back nine if you would like to see
the holes close up. As before, please do not take this tour yourself, allow us to
give you the tour so we can make sure we are keeping the traffic to places that
can tolerate it.
SWAMPY’S SHACK
The new “Swampy’s Shack” is up and running and
people have been very impressed so far with the
new facility. It has a great feel, wonderful views,
expanded cooking options, a fireplace, an ice
machine, and two clean bathrooms! We will be able
to seat 28 people inside and 16-24 people on the
covered patio. We will operate Swampy’s as we have in the past. It will be
staffed for an expanded amount of hours when we are busy and if we are slow
it will be on the honor system as it has always been.
There will be simple mixed drinks available only when it is
staffed and there will be cold beer, pop, Gatorade, and
other drinks in the reach in cooler. Please treat Swampy’s
as you would your home, shut the door when entering or
leaving (lots of flies) and make sure the cooler doors are
shut after you help yourself to a cold drink. When you are
done please throw your trash in the appropriate place and
if you are the last one out shut off the lights.
PUTTING COURSE
The new putting course is completed and has been sodded using the sod from
the greens of old #8 and #12. The guys did an amazing job on this and I can
hardly wait until it is ready to play. The green will need to be top dressed a
few times and will take 3-4 weeks to knit together. Our goal is to have it ready
by the end of August or before. I would suggest everyone come with a few
extra dollars in their pockets because I predict there will be a few wagers
placed throughout the evenings.
FISHING REPORT
The fishing has continued to be pretty strong on Lake
Oahe. The bite has slowed down some since earlier
this year but many groups are still catching their
limit. Our guides are always ready to take you out
for a day on the lake so let us know if that is
something you want to do when you are at the club.
RESERVATIONS
As I wrote last month, our reservations are strong throughout September,
October, and November. We still have many rooms available throughout many
parts of August. This does not mean we do not have rooms available but I
would encourage you to get your plans pulled to together and send us an email
or give us a call soon. Mandy, Tammy, Tracy, and Teresa work very hard to try
and make every request work but that will be impossible at times. If you want
to book a trip and it is not possible we will certainly search for times that your
group could come. Flexibility in the type of lodging you use sometimes makes
the difference in whether we can get you in or not.
HUNTING
I would like to take a few lines to discuss our hunting operation and how we
book groups etc. As you know, we do not require groups to hunt together if
they do not want to. We believe this enhances your groups experience and at
the same time this policy limits the number of groups we can handle. We only
have so many guides and so many places on the ranch to hunt. I bring this up
so you understand why there are times when we actually have rooms open but
we cannot accommodate any more hunters or groups in a given day. Many of
you book your activities and say you would like to hunt on a given day but we
do not know if you want to hunt just a half day or the whole day. What if you
shoot your limit by noon, do you want to go back out and shoot another limit in
the afternoon or do something else? These are important distinctions, as it will
allow us to take care of as many people as possible in a day. This is why our
reservation department asks you all of the questions that they do, we are just
trying to understand what you want your group to do and also are trying to help
others get their activities in as well.
MARK’S MESSAGE
Teamwork is the most effective way to get things done. Our team works to
maintain the course, clean the rooms, cook the food, serve you food and
drinks, organize events, transport you to and from the airport, take you
hunting and fishing, and do all the little things that make your stays special.
Each of you, as members, works to keep the club viable by bringing your family
and friends to Sutton Bay, you sponsor guests to come when you cannot join
them, and you encourage friends to become members.
One thing I would ask of all of you, which will help the entire Sutton Bay team,
is to pay your bill promptly. A couple of years ago we made the change and
decided to send you your bill soon after your stay rather than once a month.
This was done so that you could review your bill while still fresh in your mind
and it was also done in hopes it would shorten the time before we were paid.
We have a significant number of expenditures on a regular basis to keep the
club rolling along and I would ask you to please help us keep the cash flow
positive by paying your bill promptly. I think it is fair to ask that you pay your
bill within 15 days of the time you receive it. If there are questions you are
encouraged to call Teresa right away so they can be dealt with immediately.
A good friend of mine once told me, after I lost money to him on the golf
course; fast pay makes fast friends! I know each of you expects us to have
food, drinks, clean rooms, mowed grass, properly running shuttles, birds in the
field, and guides with boats for you when you come to Sutton Bay. Seriously,
we do need your help and cooperation on this issue. There have been too
many members who have let their bills get 45-60 days out from the time of
their visit and this just is not acceptable. Thanks in advance for your
cooperation in this important matter.
Come soon, come often, and bring your friends.
Mark and Staff