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Apawamis NowThe Seasonal Newsletter for Apawamis Club Members
Fall 2016
A Message from the PresidentIt is mid-October as I am writing this–our fiscal year ends on October 31, and we will soon be into the Thanksgiving and Christmas Season.
It has been a great pleasure to serve as president this year and I look forward to my second year. One of the special things about being president is getting to know our employees, learning and appreciating what they do, how hard they work and how much they care about the members of Apawamis.
It is my impression that we currently have the finest staff assembled since I became a member 17 years ago. Led by Rory Godfrey, our CEO and general manager, we have Kyle Schutte-Bell, newly promoted to assistant general manager; our fantastic professionals—James Ondo, Stjepan Beg, Peter Briggs, Harry Walsh, Alex Dias—and their fine assistant pros; Diana Bonsignore, running special events; Jorge and Javier behind the bar; Brandon, Luis, Beata, Francisco and the rest of our professional wait staff; Fran and Cecile behind the front desk; Benny and Santos in the locker room; Moises and the building maintenance staff; Tom, our caddie master, and all of our great caddies; Chef Chris and the kitchen staff; Bill Perlee and his greens staff; Francisco at the Halfway House; Shawn in Communications; and Donna and her staff in accounting. I could go on and on because we truly have a team of impressive staff members behind the scenes and running each department.
Our staff is family at Apawamis. I greatly appreciate their hard work and devotion and I know you all do as well. As you read this, you will likely have already received a letter from me requesting that you contribute to the Employee Christmas Fund. It is our way to show how much we appreciate all they do for us. Please continue to show your appreciation and support by contributing generously to the fund.
Speaking of great employees, Bill Perlee, our head golf course superintendent, is retiring after 20 years of service to the Club. Bill has been an outstanding superintendent; he is a strong leader and a true gentleman. We will all miss him greatly. Bill is being succeeded by Michael McCormick, who comes from Oakmont Country Club, of US Open fame. Bill will be around until the end of the year as he helps Michael transition to his new position. Please join me in wishing Bill all the best in his retirement and a warm welcome to Michael as he begins his career at Apawamis.
Best to all,
Bill Henderson
Photos courtesy of Marilyn Gerrish, Annette Cosme and staff submissions.
Bill Henderson, President
THE APAWAMIS CLUBwww.apawamis.org
Club OfficersWilliam T. Henderson PresidentRobert A. Doto Vice PresidentStephen J. Furnary Vice PresidentEliza S. Bock SecretaryChristopher R. Manning Treasurer
Board of GovernorsRussell E. Boyle
Donald C. CacciapagliaMatthew D. Casey
Robert Gonzalez-MolinaPaul J. Ingrassia
Lori W. Kost
Paul D. MurphyNancy D. Rees
Howard A. Seitz IIHunter Serenbetz (Junior Advisor)
Club Management StaffGeneral Manager/CEO
Rory Godfrey, [email protected]
Assistant General ManagerKyle Schute-Bell
ControllerDonna Gallo, CHAE
Executive ChefChris Reveron
Director of Special EventsDiana Bonsignore
Dining Room ManagerBrandon Fitzgerald
Food and Beverage ManagerLuis Javier
Head Golf ProfessionalJames Ondo
Golf Course SuperintendentsBill Perlee and Michael McCormick
Director of Racquets/Head Squash Pro.Peter Briggs
Director of TennisStjepan Beg
Director of PaddleAlex Dias and Harry Walsh
Aquatic DirectorJeff Stumpo
Fitness DirectorMario Guaglianone
Director of Communications/MarketingShawn Rowley
Main Phone NumbersClubhouse (914) 967-2100Squash (914) 967-1253Tennis (914) 967-5140Golf (914) 967-2209
A Note from Our General Manager
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Rory Godfrey, General Manager
Dear Members,
What a year so far! While we have finished all of our planned Clubhouse renovations, we have already begun working closely with two architects for the bunkers and Halfway House upgrades.
As you have all heard, after nearly two decades, Bill Perlee, our golf course superintendent, is retiring. On October 26, we celebrated his time with us and toasted to his next chapter, post-Apawamis. I would like to personally thank Bill for his amazing support, his dedication to the Club, and his extraordinarily kind nature. Bill, you are an amazing guy and I am very fortunate to have met you and your family. Thank you for everything; we are all going to miss you and wish you the best of luck for the future!
As we recently announced, Michael McCormick will be taking over the helm as head golf course superintendent. What an unbelievable process it has been to find Michael! I couldn’t believe the caliber of applicants we interviewed, the vision, the foresight, the knowledge (both technical and experience) and the dedication and passion the candidates possessed. Going through this search process and spending time with the applicants here and at their own courses was a memorable opportunity. Many candidates were exemplary, yet Michael proved worthy of taking over the reins. Michael, welcome to Apawamis and congratulations. We are lucky to have you and we wish you the very best in your new position.
We have been focusing on our upcoming fall and winter activities. Thanksgiving is just around the corner; please join us on November 24 for our Thanksgiving Luncheon. We hope you will celebrate the holidays with us at our annual Children’s Christmas Party on December 4 and the Christmas Gala on December 10. Please also mark your calendars for our Annual Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on December 10.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate Kyle Schutte-Bell, who joined us in 2013 as our dining room manager and began the transition to assistant general manager last year. At our September meeting, the board and I unanimously decided to promote Kyle to the position of assistant general manager. Kyle, congratulations. Thank you for your support and I know you will be successful in your new position.
As always, your suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or call me to speak in person: (914) 967-2100.
I hope to see you soon around at the Club.
Yours truly,
Rory Godfrey
Rory Godfrey, General Manager
Chef’s CornerChris Reveron, Executive Chef
From opening night to our Fourth of July spectacle to Halloween, I want to say thank you to our Club’s membership for a great season so far. My staff and I are excited for the fun and festive upcoming holiday season.
The Communications and Accounting Departments recently upgraded our online dining and event reservation system and it has certainly helped us with our planning. When members make their dining reservations online, I can manage and see how many diners we will have, the time of the reservation, and if members have noted any dietary restrictions, allergies or special requests. Knowing what the evening is bringing us, we can better prepare and be much more consistent with service. Thank you to those who currently make online reservations. We encourage those who do not use the online system, to give it a try.
As autumn approaches, it signals that our seasonal staff is about to complete their time with us. What an amazing team we have had this season. Servicing members at the Club is all encompassing, but having a dedicated, professional, and hard-working seasonal staff makes the daily tasks more manageable and helps with production. I want to personally thank the
seasonal staff members who joined our team this summer; they were terrific.
What to look for in the new Club Room menu offerings this fall? In addition to the traditional á la carte menu we currently offer, where guests can pick an entrée, a sauce and two side dishes, we are also offering what I refer to as a “pre-set menu.” These “pre-set dishes” provide suggestions of a dinner, complete with entrée, sauces, garnishes and complementary sides dishes. In short, they are simply the chef’s suggestions for a delicious and balanced composed meal.
We continue to try new things and offer new items and combinations. Please provide any feedback you may have; if we don’t hear from you, we won’t know if you like the items we are testing. Feedback lets us know whether we are moving in the right direction and what changes need to be made. Feel free to stop by or send me an email at [email protected] with your comments, questions or concerns. I wish everyone a fruitful holiday season and many blessings.
If you are looking for kids to agree on something, just ask, “Who wants a marshmallow?” This year’s Family Camping Night at Apawamis featured an intense match of nukem, a free-for-all on the soccer pitch, and a back-bending round of limbo. As the sun began to set and the fires came to life, clusters of children could be found gathering around the s’mores station to refuel after their afternoon antics. Campers saw a screening of Zootopia under the stars and, after an eventful evening, the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of a tent served as the only remaining remnants of the festivities that had occurred. With dawn just a few hours ahead, the course would once again come alive as the breakfast bash began. Being able to enjoy the celebration alongside such a charming collection of campers is a pleasure. I look forward to a joyous holiday season and I await the next night out on the course.
Family Camping NightRowan Reddy, Head Lifeguard and Kids’ Zone Instructor
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As a high school senior, “Nat” will soon be announcing her Division 1 college program commitment. Nathalie, daughter of Fran and Alison Rodilosso, the oldest of four siblings, has had a goal of playing in a highly competitive college program since an early age. Over the years, her talent and dedication earned her numerous accolades and a reputation as one of the most recruitable tennis college prospects in the Northeast.
For years, Nathalie has been traveling all over the United States, averaging over 25 regional and national tennis tournaments each year. She has consistently been a highly-ranked tennis player in both the USTA Eastern section and nationally. Throughout the years, she has won numerous sectional singles and doubles titles and has had strong performances at national tournaments. After school, Nathalie commutes to Randall’s Island to participate in the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, a program for developing nationally and internationally competitive juniors.
Nathalie’s tennis abilities are indisputable as are her off-court successes: Nathalie is a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship Program, inducted in the National Honor Society, and a recipient of Rye High School’s UVA Book Award. Nathalie places a lot of importance on giving back. As part of the over 130 hours of volunteering activities during high school, she has taught tennis to local underserved kids, performed research of how to fund tennis charity programs, participated in Don Bosco’s Read-A-Loud program, and helped socialize puppies for the Guiding Eye program.
Apawamis is proud to have such a standout amongst us. We have no doubt that Nathalie will continue to be a star both in the classroom and on the courts during her college years.
Peter Briggs noted that when his father dropped him off at college for his freshman year nearly 50 years ago, his father offered some important advice: He told Peter to “pay little attention to the people who talk about themselves all the time and to pay close attention to the ones who don’t say much.” Peter has never forgotten his father’s advice. “Actions certainly speak louder than words“ which is why Peter chose Jack McCordick to profile this season as Jack embodies that mantra.
Ranked in the top 50 junior squash players in the U19s division, Jack commutes from Rye each day to NYC where he won a full scholarship to the prestigious Regis High School, one of the top private all-boys Catholic high schools in the country. Jack is not only a top flight student and academic, but he is also the anchor on their nationally acclaimed debate team. Jack travels the country on the weekends either competing in squash tournaments or debating the issues of the day. Over the last two years, Jack has applied for and been awarded with internships to Politico and to the New York Historical Society, where he has done extensive research and been published on both occasions. This past summer, Jack applied for a grant to a
program sponsored by the U.S. State Department called the National Security Language Initiative for Youth Student Exchange and was awarded a prestigious merit-based, six-week language scholarship to study Russian in Moscow.
Now home in Rye, Jack is enjoying his senior year at Regis and preparing for the squash and debate season while putting together his college applications. He is a young man who embodies the best qualities of the Apawamis Squash Program. Jack has a dry sense of humor, a quiet confidence and modest demeanor; he has a drive, compassion and intellect that coaches, students and friends admire. We wish him well as he applies to college this fall and continues to pursue his varied passions.
Faces of the ClubStories by: Kim Adams, James Ondo, Stjepan Beg and Peter Briggs
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We all know each other's faces, sometimes not always remembering a name. The Club is filled with talented members, whether their interest is in tennis, squash, golf or another sport they enjoy outside the Club. With so much talent in our midst, what better way to know the names that go with the faces than by showcasing and highlighting our members’ athletic achievements and endeavors. This news spotlight is called “Faces of the Club.” Please feel free to submit suggestions of members or juniors who you think worthy of this recognition. We hope you'll enjoy this new section and get to know even better many of the talented members of our Apawamis family. Submit suggestions to Shawn Rowley in the Communications Department at [email protected].
Nathalie Rodilosso > Tennis
Jack McCordick > Squash
In August, Allie Reid continued to keep the bar high for Apawamis when he qualified for the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Stonewall Links in Elverson, PA. While Apawamis has a remarkable list of members who have played in USGA National Championships, only members George Zahringer and Mark Mulvoy have accomplished this feat in recent years. Allie qualified for the 264-player field by shooting 69 at Schuyler Meadows in Loudonville, NY. His score of 32 on the back nine included two birdies on 17 and 18 to finish his round.
For The U.S. Mid-Amateur, September 10–15, Allie took our own Craig Stewart to caddie for him during the week. His scores of 83-83 were impressive for Allie’s first USGA National Championship experience. Of his experience at Stonewall, Allie noted that, “Playing in a USGA event is like nothing I have ever experienced before. I proudly wore the Apawamis logo and was excited to represent our Club. I was surprised at the number of participants in this tournament who have played at Apawamis. They all speak fondly of the Club and course, especially ‘Eleanor's Teeth’.” With Allie’s combination of skill and drive, we have no question he will continue to represent Apawamis on the national stage for many years to come. Congratulations, Allie!
At just eight years old, Apawamis member Ella Erickson had one of the most successful swim seasons in team history. Ella set new team records in every event she competed in this summer: 8 & Under 25-yard freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. In the five dual meets, Ella was a triple event winner twice and a double event winner twice.
She followed up her strong regular season with an outstanding performance at the Westchester County Swim Conference Championships at Westchester Country Club. Out of approximately 60 of the top 8 & Under swimmers in the county, Ella qualified for the Finals (top 8 swimmers) in all three of her individual events. She placed fifth overall in freestyle and sixth overall in backstroke and butterfly.
Ella was also the anchor on the 8 & Under girls relay team of Daphne Fallon, Chloe Forte and Skylar van Eck that placed fourth overall at the championships.
Ella is the daughter of Callie and Stuart Erickson and is a fourth grader at Osborn Elementary School. In addition to swimming, Ella also enjoys soccer, squash, golf, dance, gymnastics, painting, reading and skiing. Swimming talent appears to run in the family as her younger brother Graham placed fourth at the Conference Championships in the 6 & under freestyle. We imagine her four-year-old sister Brooke will soon be making a splash as well!
Ella Erickson > Swimming
Allie Reid > Golf
Letter from the Golf ProJames Ondo, PGA, Head Golf Professional
It is hard to believe that it is fall already and that the golf season is slowly coming to an end. It has been a banner year for the golf program in so many ways. Tournament participation has increased, clinic attendance has grown, junior golf is at an all-time high, and we’ve had two of our assistant professionals get married this summer. Congratulations to Anthony and Lauren and Christina and Cody!
I am very proud of the performance of our professional staff again this season. Monique has done a remarkable job with all of our learning programs, building the ladies’ and junior instructional programs. We were able to bring many new players to the game through our informal “Newbie Tuesday” events. Rob Jamison did a phenomenal job administering well over one hundred events that we have on the calendar, along with managing our successful club-fitting program. Anthony Rosafort significantly increased our junior golf participation through our two PGA Junior League teams and interclub squads. Parker Brandt has grown immensely in his third season at Apawamis and is becoming quite a competitive player representing Apawamis. Christina did an amazing job again this year in the Golf Shop, creating what I think is one of the most attractive golf shops in the area. Tom McKevitt did a wonderful job leading the outside staff and our exceptional group of caddies in his first season as Caddie Master. Along with Dave Mollica and Chris Dempsey, our outside services team has become much more efficient and more service oriented. We are very lucky to have such a talented and dedicated group of professionals!
Congratulations to Monique Thoresz, our director of instruction, who recently won the Met PGA Women’s Match Play tournament. Monique beat Kammy Maxfeldt from Birchwood in 20 holes in her first round match, then dispatched Wendy Modic from Fenway, 1up, in her semi-finals match. Monique never trailed in any of her matches, ultimately beating CJ Reeves from Century, 1up, during their final match on Winged Foot’s East course. Congratulations, Monique!
I would like to thank Rory Godfrey for his help and support this season. Rory and his staff work around the clock to orchestrate the many events and functions throughout all departments here at Apawamis. I would like to recognize my friend, Bill Perlee, who is retiring after twenty years of loyal service to Apawamis. It was a treat to work with Bill on a daily basis. I will miss having Bill around, but at the same time, I am looking forward to working with our new Superintendent, Mike McCormick. Mike’s pedigree and experience will certainly help take our golf course to the next level. Thank you to Bob Doto and Andy Seitz and their Green Committee for all of their efforts throughout the season. We are certainly excited about the work that will be completed next fall during the bunker renovation project. I would also like to thank our Golf Committees and our Chairpersons, Matt Casey and Kim Dean. The Men’s and Ladies’ Committee Members put in many thankless hours in an effort to provide the best golf experience possible. Lastly, I would like to thank the membership for all of your support this season. I truly appreciate the way you have embraced my staff and me, along with our programs and ideas, again this year.
The Club Championships were a lot of fun this year. Christian Ostberg won his second Men’s Club Championship over our seven-time champion, Matt Casey. Dana Pike won his first Men’s Senior Club Championship by beating Chip Otness in the final match. Caroline Davis won the Net Division and Jean Serenbetz won the Gross Division of the Ladies’ Senior Club Championship. Happy Daily is once again our champion after defeating Natalie Grainger in the final match of the 96th Ladies’ Club Championship to win her seventh title in nine years. Thirteen-year old Thomas Ostberg is following in his brother’s footsteps by collecting trophies at Apawamis, including this year’s Junior Club Championship. Gabi Jolly also repeated as our Junior Girls’ Champion this year. Congratulations to all of you!
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Christina and Cody Smith
After nearly 15 years of serving as an Apawamis representative on the board of the Interclub Seniors of Westchester, Bill Mauritz has decided to step down.
Founded by Henry Jaeger of Westchester Country Club and Bill Young of Knollwood Country Club in 1991, The Interclub Seniors is an association of six clubs–Apawamis, Blind Brook, Knollwood, Mt. Kisco, Westchester, and Wykagyl Country Club. The ISW sponsors the Henry Jaeger Golf Tournament, a season-long men’s match play event. Four teams of two seniors—defined as age 55 or older—of different ability levels from each club play a round robin at five of the clubs, followed by a championship contest in October at the course of the past year’s champion.
Over 26 seasons, Apawamis has won the championship six times; only Mt. Kisco Country Club with seven championships has won more. Bill has had a hand in each of the Apawamis victories, as a player for many years and then as a “manager/coach.” Since Bill took over the
representative role from the late Mike Marshall in 2002, Apawamis has won the championship three times, most recently in 2014.
Since 2010, Peter Norton has also served as an ISW representative and, more recently, John Curtis has joined in the effort.
Many Apawamis seniors over the years have enjoyed the company and competition of the ISW tournament which, of course, involves extensive discussion of how certain handicaps from other clubs can perform so well!
Thanks and congratulations to Bill for all his work and success in the Interclub Seniors of Westchester over the years.
Thank you, Bill Mauritz!John Curtis, Senior Interclub Board Member
Bob Dunn, Peter Norton, James Ondo, Bill Mauritz, Peter Sinnott III
Dana Pike and James Ondo
I am incredibly proud of how some of our players represented Apawamis on the regional and national golf scene. Christian Ostberg, now a freshman at Stanford, capped off his high school career in style. He finished third in the Connecticut High School Championship and sixth in the New England High School Championship. Allie Reid qualified for the 2016 USGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Stonewall Links in Elverson, PA.
All of us in the Golf Shop look forward to a great fall season and hopefully a mild winter. We will still be around, teaching at the Golf Performance Center and preparing for the 2017 season. The Golf Committees and the professional staff will be hard at work all winter long in an effort to make 2017 the best season ever at Apawamis. We wish you and your family a great winter and an even better holiday season.
Happy Daily and Natalie Grainger
Christian Ostberg and Matt Casey
Anthony and Lauren Rosafort
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Monique at Met PGA Women’s Match Play
Welcome Michael McCormickAndy Seitz, Green Committee Chairman
If you’ve been out on the course recently, you may have run into our new Head Golf Course Superintendent, Michael McCormick. Michael replaces Bill Perlee, who is retiring after 20 years of dedicated service to Apawamis. When you see Michael on the property, please introduce yourself. He will be happy to let you know what’s happening out on the course.
Michael was selected by the Search Committee after a fifteen-week process that started with 90 initial applicants from virtually every top golf club in the Northeast. The field was narrowed down to ten, then five candidates, all with outstanding credentials. The Search Committee had the opportunity to assess the final five candidates in interviews, spending significant time with them on the golf course. There were visits to many of the candidates’ golf clubs. Numerous references were sought and provided. Thank you to the many members who assisted throughout the process.
Michael was raised in Sudbury, MA, and is a graduate of the highly respected Turf Grass & Science Management Program at the University of Massachusetts. Since 2010, Michael has worked at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA. Oakmont is a storied club that this year hosted its ninth US Open Championship; its golf course is consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the US and is renowned for its superior playing conditions. Working
under Head Green Superintendent John Zimmers, one of the most highly respected green superintendents in America, Michael rose to the position of First Assistant Superintendent at Oakmont. In addition to his work growing poa annua and bent grasses, Michael has been involved in the planning, management, and execution of projects related to green expansion, bunker renovation, drainage, and tee construction.
Michael started work at Apawamis on October 1. He is working with Bill Perlee during a transition period until the end of the year. We thank Bill for his work on the Search Committee, his assistance in the transition, and, most importantly, for his long service to the Club. We wish Bill a long, healthy and successful retirement.
Please join with us in welcoming Michael and wishing him a long and successful career as the new Head Golf Course Superintendent at Apawamis.
Michael A. McCormick
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Mastering the GripMonique Thoresz, PGA, Director of Instruction
Figure A Figure B
thumb, and the right thumb will sit on the opposite side of the shaft at approximately the 11:00 position (figure B). I recommend either an overlapping or an interlocking grip for most adults and children over 12 years old. Both of these styles are mechanically correct. For junior golfers, the rules on gripping are much less stringent, but I urge you to ask someone on the professional staff if you have any questions.
Again, I would challenge you to spend some time this winter making your grip a little bit closer to “perfect” than it is right now. All of the best players in the game work on their grip constantly under the watchful eye of an instructor so that they don’t slip into bad habits. Keep an extra club in your home and practice gripping it for 2-3 minutes each day… and, by the time spring is here, you will be that much further down the road with your golf game.
It may not sound like the most exciting way to spend your off-season, but I would like to challenge each of you to work on improving your grip in the coming winter months. Most golfers have undoubtedly read about or heard that a great golf swing starts with a great grip. Well, it’s true.
Think about it this way. Essentially, golf is a game in which we swing an instrument (a lightweight stick, either graphite or steel) with a piece of metal on the end of it (clubhead) at a very small ball. Whenever we swing that instrument, the laws of physics apply, which result in various forces and torques being applied to the club during the backswing and forward swing. The only way that the player can control those forces is with an effective grip. When the hands are in the correct position on the club, the player can support the club during the swing and use those forces and torques to his or her advantage. If the hands are not in the correct position, the player will not be able to control the club and, therefore, will not be able to control the ball.
A proper grip must have the heel pad of the lead hand (left hand for right handed golfers) on the top of the club grip, and the shaft of the club must be in fingers of that hand (not in the palm). The left thumb will sit on the side of the shaft at approximately the 1:00 location (figure A). The lifeline of the trail hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) must cover the left
Apawamis proudly traveled to The Misquamicut Club in Watch Hill, RI, for the 25th Julian W. Curtiss Cup, held on September 30 and October 1. The Curtiss Cup matches are held exclusively between clubs that are over 100 years old, including Dorset Field Club, the Chevy Chase Club, Wee Burn, and eight other fine clubs in the United States. Team members consisted of Bill Henderson, Andy Seitz, John Dudzik, Robert Gonzalez-Molina, Doug Casey, Paul Murphy, and James Ondo. The weather was blustery and wet, but Apawamis represented well and finished fifth in the team competition.
On Thursday, August 18, the team of Charles Jolly, Sebastian Jolly, Kenny Nixon and Anthony Rosafort competed in the Annual Pro-Junior Tournament at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. This tournament is held annually at some of the finest clubs in the Metropolitan area. In the net portion of the event, the team finished in third place overall. Anthony said, "This was a great way to cap off an awesome summer of junior interclub golf. I'm proud of how the team played, and I am very impressed with their ability at their respective ages."
John Dudzik, James Ondo, Bill Henderson, Robert Gonzalez-Molina, Andy SeitzPaul Murphy, Holly Sonders of Fox Sports, Doug Casey
Kenny Nixon, Anthony Rosafort, Charles Jolly, Sebastian Jolly
Pro-Junior TournamentAnthony Rosafort, PGA, Assistant Profesional
Julian W. Curtiss CupJames Ondo, PGA, Head Golf Professional
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Squash ReportPeter Briggs, Director of Racquets and Head Squash Professional
Peter Briggs knows his junior squash players spend a lot of time in the Athletic Facility by the squash courts. To make sure his players stay sharp on the courts and off, he regularly posts S.A.T. words for his junior players to review.
Peter chose “sagacious” as his “word of the season.” The Apawamis junior players are known to be extremely sagacious as they plan their playing strategy against their opponents.
Sagacious (adj): shrewd, of keen mind.
Peter’s S.A.T. Word of the Season
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The Apawamis Squash 2016–17 season is in full swing as this newsletter is being written. After-school clinics have begun and 16 of our top juniors competed in the Arlen Specter JCT down at University of Pennsylvania the weekend of October 7-10. The junior program is off to a great start!
The annual “Dust off the Rust” Handicap Doubles Tournament for all levels of players was on October 15 and 16. We had a full draw of all levels and many hotly contested matches. The tournament was won by Lucien Burnett and Scott MacKenzie 3–1 over Charlie Parkhurst and David Greenhouse. Congratulations! We are currently preparing for the upcoming 27th Morris Invitational Doubles Tournament on December 9–12.
You can now register online on the newly-redesigned Squash web page on apawamis.org for all After-School Junior Clinics, Men’s Night, Ladies’ Clinics and tournaments.
The following is an update to our captains list for the upcoming season: Caroline Baldwin - Rye High School, Haley Davis - Convent Sacred Heart, Dan Finnegan - Deerfield Academy and J.R. Schuck - Williams College. Also, Caroline Baldwin and Emme Leonard were both named 2015-2016 High School All-Americans by US Squash. Congratulations!
Charlie Parkhurst, David Greenhouse, Lucien Burnett, Scott MacKenzie
You should treat a tournament match, a school practice session, and a private lesson or clinic with equal care and preparation.
Arrive 15 minutes beforehand having already stretched; ride the bike to warm up or hit some balls solo. Jog in place to get warm.
Eat food and hydrate at least two hours before a workout session or match. It takes time for your body to digest.
Don’t hang around the courts after you finish a match. Get out of the venue. Watching squash tires your eyes out. Change clothes.
Keep some saltines, power bars, oranges or bananas in your bag along with a drink for maintenance during, before and after a match.
Do preventative stretching before a match and positive stretching after a match when your muscles are warm and pliant. Especially stretch calf muscles, hamstrings and groin muscles.
Prepare mentally before a match. Have a plan of play when you go into the court. Stick to the plan if it’s working and change it if it’s not.
Visualize yourself before the match hitting the ball and your shots correctly. Sit in a quiet place for a few minutes and close your eyes, breathe, relax and visualize.
Always respect your opponent; never take any match lightly and play every point as though it was your last. “Precious drops of water to a thirsty man in the desert.”
Vision is a big deal. When you have an early morning match, get up at least two hours ahead of match time. You have to adjust your vision and your body into thinking the match is later than it is.
8:00 a.m. match – get up at 6:00 a.m. Eat. Prepare. Arrive at courts 15 minutes before match. Find a place to run a bit and warm up. Stretch.
For the first 5 points of the match, hit every ball deep. Aim at the middle red line. No errors. Get a sweat going and get into the match.
Ten points for match preparation and winning squashTips from the Squash Pro...
2016 Junior Squash Season AwardsMost ImprovedCaroline BaldwinSophie BarberWill BurkeTaylor ClaytonAndy DabinettBennett KleinLucy Stephenson
Coach’s AwardEllie BurkeSpencer HuntJack McCordickIndia Stephenson
Most Valuable PlayerClaire AubeHaley AubeCarl William Shuck
Best Match of the SeasonCarl William Shuck
Achievement AwardAshley Manning
2016 Junior Squash Sports AwardsMost Improved Tyler BurkeHollis DailyMiles DingerShannon KaplanMegan LaForge
SportsmanshipBeatrice FlynnJake Paparella
Coach’s AwardJack ConnollyElla EricksonDaphne FallonTy GreenElizabeth Kavanagh
Squash Junior Club Champions Ellie Burke
Jamie McCutheonParkin OverbayNick SmithOllie SmithSkylar van Eck
Paige LaForgeAvery Smith
With more social and competitive events than ever, our members remained excited to come out and enjoy the Parent/Child Tournament, adult themed nights and Men’s Steak Nights. All were well-attended social gatherings. There was also increased participation in competitive events, including The Annual Mixed Doubles Alana Dupont tournament, where players of all age groups competed in two flights. This year, the following teams in the final round included:
Green Flight White FlightLilly Kimbell/Paul Chmiel (Winners) Heather Sweeny/Tin Ostojic (Winners)Kerry Hatch/Pete Mcnee (Finalists) Avery Wagman/Darren Fogel (Finalists)
Women’s Doubles Club Championships, which take place over several weeks, had tremendous support and member participation. The final match included Christie Manning/Loren Dinger (Winners) and Mary Bouton/Carolina Johnson (Finalists). Although the Women’s Singles Club Championships were played late in the season, the match was the highlight of our competitive events. With over three hours of great quality tennis, Christie Manning (Winner) was able to clinch and close three set wins against Wendy Schultz (Finalist). Congratulations to all of our Women’s Club Champions and Finalists.
We added an additional women’s team this season, 50 Love. The 50 Love MITL team allowed our female players to continue playing official matches until mid-August. Under our new fabulous leader, Ann Haynes, the team won the entire division and is eager to continue next season in a higher flight.
When it comes to Women’s MITL teams, we want to congratulate and thank all of our team captains for leading their respective teams for what proved to be one of our most competitive seasons yet. Mary Bouton, Loren Dinger, Calvine Dunnan, Hilary Ward-Murphy, Michele Showers, Heather Cady, Kelly Mangan and Ann Haynes truly did a fantastic job. Fruits of their labor can certainly be seen not only by our end-of-year ladder results, but more importantly by the way all of our players always came together as a team. I am always proud to say that camaraderie within our teams is truly one of a kind.
The Men’s Doubles Club Championships, played in September, was a great event. The morning full of great tennis play was concluded with Brian Leonard/Charlie Roberson (Winners) and Charlie Parkhurst/Larry Phillips (Finalists). In the Men’s Singles Club Championships, the quality of tennis was at a high level of play. Finals, played in September, included Charlie Roberson (Winner) and Michael Holmes (Finalist). Congratulations to all of our Men’s Club Champions and Finalists. This season we have seen more men out on the tennis courts than ever before. It seemed like every week we had more players out for our Tuesday and Saturday clinics. New social offerings were well accepted and our team seems to have included new strong additions yet again. We want to extend special thanks to our men’s tennis ambassadors and “generals,” George Whipple and Larry Phillips, for managing the troops at all times. Both George and Larry are playing a vital role in leading our men’s groups throughout the season and we certainly can’t thank them enough for their efforts and commitment.
I want to thank all of you for your support over the past five years and for allowing me to represent and be a part of the Apawamis community. I am certainly looking forward to new chapters and the journey in the years to come.
Being at the helm of the Tennis Department and concluding my fifth season at the Club, reflecting back, I can proudly say I’ve had a great run since 2012. The Tennis Department has made forward strides over the past few seasons as a main player within the Westchester and Fairfield tennis communities. I am a firm believer that recognition of and support from our members is what truly got us to where we are today. I have had the best five years of my professional career and, even more importantly, I am immensely looking forward to the next chapter here at Apawamis.
As for the 2016 season, based on feedback and participation, we have been treated to the best season yet. Once again, programs were oversubscribed and we were able to enjoy great energy around the tennis courts. The addition of new events such as the Memorial Day Weekend Pro Exhibition, Men’s Doubles Battles with Pro, Women’s Pro-AM and many other offerings added a positive spin to our already rich calendar.
We continued supplementing our junior program with fun outlets such as Pizza Party Nights, Fun Fridays and other memorable weekly activities. Plus, when it comes to our junior program, the Grand Slam Summer offering still is the core of our operation. Teaching over 80 participants this season, the Grand Slam program truly became a catalyst for our juniors to take on tennis as their primary sport. More importantly, we are proud to say that the Grand Slam Program, in its fifth year, is now producing high school
captains, regionally and nationally ranked USTA players and, very soon, scholarship Division 1 collegiate tennis players.
Year after year, we are blessed with a stronger presence in MITL junior competitions. Our 9’s, 11’s, 13’s and 16’s divisions have yet again finished in the top of the ladder. We had some memorable moments from junior tennis players Mackay Bommer and Caroline Keating. These strong, young tennis players, yet again, played in the doubles finals of the MITL tournament. This being their entry year for the 13 & Under age division, and the way these girls are performing, we are looking forward to seeing a bright future for both of them. It has been a true blessing to witness the lessons our participants have learned on and off the tennis courts that go way beyond the sport itself, shaping these youngsters into impressive individuals.
Junior Club Championships have been robust with player participation and engagement; in fact, we even added a few doubles events given the interest of our players. Below is this seasons rankings.
Girls 9 and UnderWinner: Lily SmithFinalist: Paige LaForge
Girls 9 and Under (Doubles)Winner: Lily Smith/Daphne FallonFinalist: Caroline Wade/Katie Nalepka
Boys 9 and UnderWinner: Michael NalepkaFinalist: Jaime McCutcheon
Boys 9 and Under (Doubles)Winner: Winn Metrailler/Narinn PoziosFinalist: Michael Nalepka/Jaime Showers
Girls 11 and UnderWinner: Olivia LeahyFinalist: Lily Smith
Girls 11 and Under (Doubles)Winner: Olivia Leahy/Lily SmithFinalist: Leigh Smith/Avery Smith
Boys 11 and UnderWinner: Harrison HooverFinalist: Andrew Stuart
Boys 11 and Under (Doubles)Winner: Teddy Mangan/Andrew StuartFinalist: Jack Acciavatti/Nicky Smith
Girls 13 and UnderWinner: Mackay BommerFinalist: Lindsay Showers
Girls 13 and Under (Doubles)Winner: Mackay Bommer/Julia KavanaghFinalist: Gabi Jolly/Emma Kahle
Boys 13 and UnderWinner: Michael SinnottFinalist: Freddy Manning
Boys 13 and Under (Doubles)Winner: Michael Sinnott/Malachy BeyerFinalist: Jack Acciavatti/Ben Acciavatti
Boys 16 and Under (Doubles)Winner: Charlie Mattson/Rich BurkeFinalist: Michael Sinnott/Malachy Beyer
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Tennis NewsStjepan Beg, Director of Tennis
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Kids’ Pizza Night Participants Fun Friday ParticipantsKids’ Pizza Night Participants Fun Friday Participants
Loren Dinger, Christie Manning, Carolina Johnson, Mary Bouton
Christie Manning and Wendy Schultz
Charlie Roberson and Michael Holmes
Brian Leonard, Charlie Roberson, Larry Phillips, Charlie Parkhurst
News from the PoolJeff Stumpo, Aquatic Director
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This past summer was amazing and one of our busiest in many years. Each season, our holiday events get bigger and better. This season was no different: Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends were packed with games and activities for both kids and adults. On Labor Day Weekend, we saw nearly 400 members and their guests enjoy the pool area. Throughout the summer we also offered a variety of themed days—Hawaiian, Fantasy and Rainbow, to name a few—that included fun activities like face painting, costume contests and pool games.
This summer, the Junior Sports Camp Swim Program became an authorized participant in the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program, a national program that teaches basic water safety and helping others in an emergency, in addition to stroke development
and diving skills. To properly manage the Learn-to-Swim Program, the number of staff was increased; plus, the skill level and certifications of the instructors were at their highest level in years. I am pleased to note that campers saw a great improvement in their swimming and diving abilities.
The coaching staff of the swim team did an incredible job with this season’s group of Fighting Frog swimmers. The addition of head co-coaches Kim Adams and Matteo Nisianakis were key factors in the overall development and success of the Fighting Frogs. Coach Kim took the reins for communication and development of our advanced swimmers, and Coach Matteo focused on the development of our beginner and intermediate swimmers.
Congratulations to the following swimmers who broke Fighting Frog team records this season:Daphne Fallon: 8 & Under Breaststroke (21.43)Ella Erickson: 8 & Under Freestyle (16.12), Backstroke (20.90) and Butterfly (18.77)Tommy Mangan: 10 & Under Backstroke (37.60)Emma Kahle: 12 & Under Breaststroke (36.69)Michael Sinnott: 14 & Under Backstroke (35.23)
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Achieving Your GoalsRachel Cooper, Personal Trainer
Fighting Frogs at Westchester County Championships
Even the most well-intentioned individuals may fail to achieve their personal fitness goals, typically because of a lack of time, self-discipline and determination; however, member Anne Douglas tells us how she stuck with her goals…and continues to achieve them, alongside her daughter, day by day.
Anne’s healthy lifestyle success story began in April of 2014 when she first reached out to Apawamis Trainer Rachel Cooper. Anne was interested in establishing a healthy lifestyle and reasonable workout schedule a few times each week for both her daughter, Esme, and herself. Anne admits that, at the time, neither she nor her daughter were that focused or interested in fitness and exercising, but “that working with Rachel opened our eyes to a healthier lifestyle.”
Now, more than two years later, exercise has become part of their regular routines. Anne notes that, “Rachel’s coaching inspired us to be more conscious of taking care of our bodies. Working out is now a pleasure. If you’re after a lifestyle change to optimize your overall health, Rachel will exceed your expectations!”
If you're ready to change your routine for a healthier lifestyle, getting a personal trainer is a great way to achieve your goal. We all have areas we'd like to work on and personal trainers can not only tell you realistically what to expect with each workout, but also how to optimize a session to target different muscle groups. Apawamis offers one-on-one personal training or group classes. Contact us at [email protected] to find out which personal training type is best for you.
Rachel Cooper and Anne Douglas
Club HappeningsShawn Rowley, Director of Comunications and Marketing
Summer is done and the kids are back in school which means Kids’ Zone is back at the Club. The Apawamis Kids’ Zone Program is a free service for members that provides supervised activities to entertain your child(ren) while you dine at the Club. The program is located at the Athletic Facility on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Kids' Zone is for children ages 5 through 12. (Younger or older children may be allowed with the permission of the supervisor.) Each year we try to improve not only the available activities, but also the Kids’ Zone staff. We are proud to announce that summer staff members Coach Andy, Coach Matteo, and lifeguards Rowan, Kaveri, Hannah and Spencer will be Kids’ Zone instructors.
There are many special Kids’ Zone events scheduled for this fall and winter season. Please visit apawamis.org for weekly activity details.
If the kids are back in school, that means football season is upon us too. Join us in the 20th Hole to watch the game and enjoy complimentary wings every Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
It’s also time to start thinking about the holidays. The Annual Christmas Gala, a black-tie affair, will feature a fabulous sit-down dinner, live entertainment and dancing. When making your online reservation at apawamis.org, you can add other members to your reservation to create your own table or if you register individually the Club will arrange your seating. Also, we’d be happy to accommodate your family or corporate holiday party, large or small. Please know that our spaces are filling up quickly; to arrange your party, please contact Diana Bonsignore at [email protected] or (914) 967-2100 x139.
Kids’ Zone Games
Graham Erickson Benjamin Pierog
Daphne Fallon and Chloe Forte Tommy Mangan and Liz KavanaghCameron Forbes
Welcome The Newest Members
MembershipPaul Murphy, Membership Chair
Membership remains strong with over 700 members in all categories of membership. We continue to encourage members to introduce friends to Apawamis by sponsoring them for a Two-Week Guest Membership. They may choose any two consecutive weeks. During this time, guest members may take advantage of all available amenities, including the Clubhouse, dining services, fitness center, pool, squash facilities, tennis and paddle courts. If you are interested in sponsoring someone for a two-week experience at the Club, please contact the General Manager, Rory Godfrey, by email at [email protected] or call (914) 967-2100 x121. If you are interested in proposing someone for membership, please contact Paul Murphy at [email protected]. The Junior Membership program continues to be robust and proposers should contact Hunter Serenbetz at [email protected] for information.
As I enter my last year as Membership Committee Chairman, I want to thank the Membership Committee Members, the Board and administrative staff for making the Membership Committee a pleasure to oversee the past five years. I am looking forward to a very successful 2017.
Scott and Charlotte MacKenzie Dara and Timothy O’Hara
Joyen and Gregory IngrassiaKelsey Dean
In SympathyOur condolences go out to the family and friends of the following members:
James Foster Richardson, Sr.—August 5, 2016Harold G. Williams —August 10, 2016Margaret Muccia—October 18, 2016
