Dear Members,

Happy December! It’s hard to believe the end of the year is already around the corner, but there’s still much fun to be had before we flip those calendars over to 2024.

We started with the amazing Holiday Stroll this past weekend. A big “thank you” goes out to Suzanne Koehmstedt and all of the volunteers who helped make it such a great event. We have a month filled with holiday joy, community spirit, and memorable experiences at Encanterra Country Club. Let’s get to the updates and holiday happenings:

Member Satisfaction Survey Results 

Thank you to the 651 Members who took the time to submit their feedback in the annual Member Satisfaction Survey in November. An overview of our scores is below:

The management team is reviewing the scores and verbatim comments now. From there, each department leader will be submitting action plans to ensure improvement in their respective area. Your comments are instrumental in helping us pinpoint exactly where we can improve as well as what is important to you. So thank you again to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts.

Golf Operations 
With Damian Lane Lehew, Director of Golf 

Firstly, I’d like to share my “Congratulations” to our Overall Ladies Member-Member Champions: Amy Lathrop and Kristin Nelson-Sick!

Golf season is in full swing, and we have an exciting month of events coming your way throughout December. Save the date and stay tuned on upcoming details:

• December 11th | 9 Hole Glow Golf Event – Open Now
  60 current sign ups (Waitlist)
• December 12th | Open Play Shotgun 8:30am – Open Now for Members and Guests
• December 12th | EWGA Shotgun and Ladies 9 Hole 12:30pm – Open Now
• December 13th | Open Play Shotgun 8:30am – Opens Now for Members and Guests
• December 13th | EML Shotgun 12:30pm – Open Now
  Men’s Member-Guest Live Drawing at 5:00pm
• December 14th | Holiday Social
• December 16th | Saturday Skins – Open Now
• December 18th | Mixed 9 & Dine – Open Now
• December 24th | Christmas Eve Shotgun – Opens December 10th at 4:00pm
• December 25th | All Facilities Closed for Christmas
• January 12th, 2024 | Presidents Cup Match Play – Opens December 12th at 4:00pm (More information to follow)
• January 26th, 2024 | Encanterra Cup – Open Now
  We kindly ask all players to sign up, even if you played last year.

Golf Course Conditions
With Alex Ward, Golf Course Superintendent

The holiday season is upon us, and the golf course is thriving. This year’s overseed came in particularly good, and although there are a few thin areas in some of the fairways, the roughs are thriving and growing rapidly. The staff will continue to spot seed the fairways and many areas are already filling in. We are also rotating two cart path only holes each week to give the turf a break from cart traffic. With the cooler weather coming, growth in the rough will slow down, so we will also be spraying the rough to help control the growth.

Healthy Turf

Thin Turf on Hole 3 Fairway

Frost Information and Reminders
What is frost? Frost is frozen dew that crystalizes on the grass, making it hard and brittle to touch.  Blades of grass consist of 90 percent water, which is why it freezes so easily. If someone were to walk on or something was rolled across the frozen grass, this would cause the plant to break and the grass cell walls to rupture thereby hindering the grass from growing normally.

You may think that it needs to be freezing to create frost; however, this is not the case. Frost may occur overnight, but it often occurs at sunrise before the temperature begins to rise. Grass absorbs the sunlight and heat during the day and then loses the heat when the sun goes down. The results of this could cause the temperature of the ground and grass to be cooler than the air temperature.

Frost begins to form at 39°F (4°C) or lower. It does not have to be below freezing. If the sky is clear, there is a greater chance of frost. When there is cloud cover, the air and ground tend to be warmer with the cloud cover acting as a blanket. As golf enthusiasts ourselves, superintendents do not like to delay play, but we are more concerned about turf damage and the quality of conditions for the golfer so we will do what needs to be done.

Frost also creates a hardship on our staff, as all course preparations are halted until thawing occurs. Golf carts can cause considerable damage; therefore, personnel cannot maneuver around the course to mow, change cup positions, rake bunkers, etc.

Whenever there are frost delays this season, we kindly ask for your patience and understanding. Thank you.

Food & Beverage
With Cornelius Cover, Director of Food & Beverage

From all of us in Food & Beverage, we wish you a very happy holidays! We had a great time with you during the Holiday Stroll and were impressed with the decorations as well as your generosity in supporting Toys for Tots.

It has been fantastic to finally have some cooler weather and thank you all for joining us at the Club to support the F&B operations. Here are some updates to keep you up to speed on what’s going on in the world of food & beverage:

Barrel Masters
As we approach the new year, our Barrel Masters program is continuing to grow and expand. We are currently planning multiple events each month, aggressively researching deals through our MyClubWine partnership, and working to improve the overall experience for everyone. This includes exclusive events for all levels and improved systems for those with private wine lockers. As we find new ways to enhance your Membership, we will be increasing the annual fee by $50 for 2024 and will be billed on December 31st.

Bodega
Our newest concept, Bodega, is fully up and running and it has been a pleasure to see Members enjoying the space for coffee, appetizers, and wine. The newly decorated space feels warm and inviting and we hope you take the opportunity to check it out soon if you haven’t already.

In the spirit of the holidays, we will be offering a happy hour on all wines at Bodega during our normal happy hour time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm. All wines will be half off! Additionally, be on the lookout for some awesome holiday events hosted in Bodega with Sydney, like ornament making, wine glass decorating, and game night. These events can be found on MTL here and will be a great way to spend time at Bodega with a cup of good cheer!

Pasta Night Continues in December
Pasta Night will continue throughout December on Mondays. Enjoy this “choose your own pasta” adventure by ordering from an Encanterra Culinarian.

Solaz Reminder
Don’t forget the operation down at Solaz where we have made the adjustment to offer the Palma menu, providing more options while being more consistent. We have also added more snacks, candies, and grab and go deli sandwiches to accommodate those that are looking for quicker items. If there are additional items you would like to see, please feel free to reach out to me anytime via email at cornelius.cover@encanterra.com.

We hope you all have great times with those closest to you and have a wonderful holiday season. See you around the Club!

Lifestyle
With Gail Zigler, Lifestyle Director 

December is a busy month with tons of activities coming your way. Below are just a few events we want to highlight. All events are listed on MTL’s Events Calendar with more information.

• December 12 – Brushing Up with Shaun and Sangria
• December 13 – Christmas Carol at Hale Theater
• December 14 – Thursday Night Social
• December 15 – Mixology Demonstration
• December 17 – Arizona Cardinals vs. 49ers
• December 20 – Gingerbread House Building Competition – All Day Voting
• December 21 – A Capella Holiday Concert

Before we know it, we will be ringing in the new year at the Denim and Diamonds New Year’s Eve Party! We have opened tickets to guests. If you are interested in adding guests, please reach out to the Lifestyle Team at gail.zigler@encanterra.com or brittany.burke@encanterra.com. We cannot wait to see your best outfits and celebrate another wonderful year of the Good Life at Encanterra! If you are not a night owl, we will also be hosting an Early Bird New Year’s Eve Party at in Santorini’s Studio at The Algarve. More details are on MTL here!

We are excited to create memories with you this December!

Spa and Fitness
With Tabalyn Dosier, Wellness Director

As we embrace the enchanting month of December, we invite you to indulge in moments of serenity and self-care at Alvea Spa!

Click here to view the December Movement Calendar.

December’s Featured Class: Gentle Yoga Flow with Susan | Wednesdays at 6:00pm
A combination of meditation, breath work, stretching, and flow sequencing are utilized to revitalize the body and calm the mind. This progressive asana practice will help you feel grounded, peaceful, and calm while building strength, balance, and flexibility. Take your first step in developing a consistent routine towards healthy body/healthy mind; available for all levels as modifications will be provided.

Spa Specials
We’ve got exciting new spa specials tailored to bring warmth and relaxation to you. From soothing massages to nourishing facials, we’ve got something for everyone. Click herefor the new spa specials.

We look forward to seeing you at Alvea Spa! Happy Holidays.

Facilities Maintenance
With Mark Alexander, Facilities Director

The renovation of the salon has begun. We are excited for this process and will keep you updated as the project progresses. The parking lot resealing project was a success and is now complete.

As always if you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out at mark.alexander@encanterra.com.

Thank you all for your support of the Club and our team this year. From all of us to you, we hope you have a very happy holiday season with your friends, loved ones, and fellow Members.

Sincerely,

Trish Huff
General Manager, Encanterra Country Club
BlueStar Resort & Golf