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Member Newsletter

September/October 2026

Celebrating 20 Years

Don’t Miss Pink & Prosecco Thursday, 10/1

Oktoberfest Friday, 10/2

Cigar & Bourbon Dinner Wednesday, 10/7

of Table Contents 4. AGMLetter From The

6. Golf

A Letter From The Superintendent

Racquets

11.

Fitness

12.

HWCC Signature Events

14.

Calendar of Events

15.

Save The Date 2

CLUB LEADERSHIP Patrick O’Donoghue, General Manager 847-847-3255 | podonoghue@hwccgolf.com

Tina Grunauer, Clubhouse Manager 847-847-3256 | tgrunauer@hwccgolf.com

Greg Roberts, Head Golf Professional 847-847-3258 | groberts@hwccgolf.com

Sarah Bennett, Banquet and Events Manager 847-847-3272 | sbennett@hwccgolf.com

Sara Gilmore, Membership Director 847- 847-3253 | sgilmore@hwccgolf.com

Richard Fox, Assistant Food & Beverage Manager rfox@hwccgolf.com

Mark Brown, Controller 847-847-3254 | mbrown@hwccgolf.com

Troy Deal, Executive Chef 847-847-3257 | tdeal@hwccgolf.com

Kendall Vagle, Member Experiences and Communications Director 847-847-3251 | kvagle@hwccgolf.com

Michelle Jackson, Fitness Director 847-847-3264 | mjackson@hwccgolf.com

Scott Hillyard, Grounds Superintendent 847-540-1976 | shillyard@hwccgolf.com

Cris Rodriguez, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor crodriguez@hwccgolf.com Matt Pierson & Christian Breuker | Racquets racquets@hwccgolf.com

GOLF SHOP September: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM October: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM *Hours are subject to change based on available daylight. PRACTICE RANGE Hours: 1 Hour Prior to 1st Tee Time - DUSK *Practice Range closes 30 minutes before sunset

A Message from the General Manager Dear Member, As we head into September and October, I want to thank everyone who made this another busy and memorable summer at Hawthorn Woods. From golf and the pool to bocce, dining, and our many events, it was great to see so many members and families enjoying the Club. A special thank-you goes to our entire team for their hard work throughout our busiest season. We also appreciate our seasonal team members who are heading back to school and wish them a great year ahead. Mother Nature kept us on our toes with extreme heat, storms, and a very wet August. Thank you for your flexibility when plans had to change, and to our team for always finding ways to keep the fun going, even when the weather doesn't cooperate. It was another great summer for golf and bocce, with more than 200 members participating in our Tuesday and Thursday Bocce Leagues, which continue to be some of my favorite nights at the Club. Our golf calendar was full of leagues, tournaments, outings, and member events, while Scott Hillyard and the Course and Grounds team did an outstanding job keeping the course in great shape despite some challenging weather. We are also excited about the next chapter of our racquets program. Matt Pierson, Christian Breuker, and our new racquets team are getting started, and I am looking forward to having professional leadership in place as we head into paddle season. We know how important the racquets program is to many of our members, and we are excited about the energy and new ideas this team will bring. Fall brings plenty to look forward to, including new events such as Oktoberfest and a Cigar & Bourbon Dinner, plus the Folds of Honor Golf Marathon and concert. We will also continue traditional favorites such as Pumpkin Patch and Wine Wholesale Night. As always, please keep the feedback coming. Your ideas and suggestions help us continue improving Hawthorn Woods and creating the best possible experience for our members. Thank you again for a great summer and for your continued support of the Club and our team. We have a lot to look forward to this fall, and I hope to see everyone around Hawthorn Woods in the weeks ahead. Best,

Patrick O’Donoghue

Patrick O’Donoghue General Manager

GOLF 2026 Golf Event Results

MEN’S MEMBER/MEMBER “THE SCHU”

MEN’S MEMBER/GUEST “THE CROWN”

Don & Eric Swanson

Frank & Nick Lollino

LADIES MEMBER/MEMBER FLIGHT 1

LADIES MEMBER/MEMBER FLIGHT 2

SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONS Men’s Senior Club Champion

Jerry White

Ladies Senior Club Champion

Jenny Prescia

CLUB CHAMPIONS Men’s Club Champion

Ladies Club Champion

Kris Valin & RaeAnn Stuart Sherry Romer & Joan Sheldon

Eric Swanson

Kelly Cocat

COUPLES CHAMPIONSHIP Stableford Gross Champions

LADIES MEMBER/GUEST

Stableford Net Champions

Nancy Kontney, Lynne Cummings, Ann Park & Misun Lee

Kelly & Sean Cocat

Jenny & Joe Prescia

UPCOMING EVENTS

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Scott Hillyard

It’s September, and turfgrass is pretty happy about that. The days are getting shorter, the nights are cooler, and after the season we have had, that feels like a reward. If I had to describe the 2026 growing season in one phrase, it would be moisture extremes. I speak often about Mother Nature, and this year she has given us plenty to talk about. April brought 7.78 inches of rain, leaving us to manage saturated soils and excess water early in the season. May then flipped almost completely. We received only 1.07 inches for the month, with most of it arriving in one event near the end of May. In a matter of weeks, we went from trying to get water off the golf course to depending heavily on irrigation. June changed the pattern again with nearly 7 inches of rain, and by the end of the month, the humid air arrived with it. July added another 3.73 inches of rain. That total by itself was manageable, but the atmosphere became a different challenge. Dew points regularly climbed above 70 degrees, and tropical-feeling stretches returned again and again. August has taken that challenge another step. We are approaching 5 inches of rain already, with dew points repeatedly reaching the oppressive 75-degree range. At times, it has felt more like a jungle than northern Illinois. Turf has stayed softer, drying opportunities have been limited, and every chance to regain firmness has seemed short-lived. Based on the combined effects of rainfall, drought, heat, and humidity, this season is tracking as one of the three most difficult growing seasons we have experienced since 2010. What makes it memorable is not record heat or simply record rainfall; it is the constant change. Wet became dry, dry became wet, and heavy rain gave way to oppressive humidity. Every time the golf course seemed ready to settle into a pattern, the pattern changed. Through all of it, the golf course has fared very well. During the dry spring stretch, it played as well as it ever has. The humid summer has kept us somewhat softer and made our desired green speeds more difficult to maintain, but the turfgrass has remained healthy, and blemishes have been minimal. That consistency comes from years of adjusting our maintenance practices to limit how much the golf course changes with the weather. Our job is to keep the turf healthy through difficult stretches and ready to respond when better weather arrives. This season has tested that approach as much as any, and I am proud of how well it has held up. Now the better grass-growing days of late summer and early fall are arriving, and we are in a good position to take advantage of them. On Tuesday and Wednesday following Labor Day, we will core aerify the greens. I poke a whole lot of holes during the season, but this is the most important aerification of the year. Immediately afterward, we will begin our standard aerification practices on approaches, tees, and fairways. Turfgrass health remains priority number one, and this work is a major part of preparing the golf course for next season. We will also turn our attention to drainage. The No. 6 fairway has received a significant amount of runoff from the new construction, so after Labor Day, we will install drainage to move that water properly and clean up the area. Several other locations around the new construction will need similar attention. We will also begin mowing down native areas and making fall herbicide applications in the native areas and rough. Additional projects will be addressed as time allows, alongside the daily work required to maintain the golf course. Fall is as busy as any time of year, but after everything Mother Nature has asked of us this season, I think we have earned a few weeks of cooperation. Let’s hope she agrees. Best,

Scott Hillyard

Scott Hillyard Golf Course Superintendent

RACQUETS 2026 Racquet Event Results PICKLEBALL CLUB CHAMPIONS Men’s Club Champions

Ladies Club Champions

Mixed Club Champions

Noah Seidenberg & Eric Schulman

Diane Svanson & Jill Mark

Evan & Nora Villinski

FOX VALLEY TENNIS SUMMER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS | B DIVISION

Paula Armstrong • Demeke Carreathers • Kathleen Charo • Becky Koenigsknecht • Jill Mark Ann Park • Tessa Skupien • Gabriella Whipple • Janet Williams

RACQUETS FALL RACQUETS PADDLE SEASON | SEPTEMBER–MARCH $475 for the Season Get ready for paddle season at HWCC! Your season fee includes: League Fees | Balls for the Season | Volley Machine Access | 3 Complimentary Drills Admission to the Paddle Season Kickoff

PADDLE PROGRAMMING Paddle Pro Led Play Mondays | 6:00–7:30 PM Beginning September 14 $40 per session

Paddle Match Play Saturdays | 9:00–11:00 AM Beginning September 12 Organized match play | $20

PADDLE SEASON KICKOFF Wednesday, September 9 | 7:00–10:00 PM All Members Welcome! Kick off the season with an evening of paddle featuring some of the top paddle pros in Illinois! Enjoy on-court drilling, food and drinks, plus the start of the NFL season on the TVs in the Paddle Hut. Included with Paddle Season Registration PICKLEBALL Pro Led Play & Open Play | September & October Wednesday’s | 5:45 - 7:15 PM

TENNIS Interested in continuing drills this fall? Help the Racquets Team determine the best available times for fall tennis programming. Contact: racquets@hwccgolf.com

YOUR RACQUET SPORTS HUB Find your next way to play! Scan to explore all current Racquet Sports programming, register for upcoming opportunities, and see what’s happening on the courts.

VIEW ALL RACQUET SPORTS PROGRAMMING Check back throughout the season for new ways to get on the court!

Contact Matt & Christian at racquets@hwccgolf.com

FITNESS

Monthly Group Fitness

Personal Training

CLASS FEES

30-, 45-, or 60-minute personal training sessions available. Goal-focused coaching Flexible scheduling Beginner to advanced support 1 FREE session with any 10 pack purchase. Available till end of October.

$15 | Single Class $60 | Monthly Unlimited Scan Here for the Schedule

Contact Michelle at mjackson@hwccgolf.com for more info 11

UPCOMING EVENTS

FOR ALL EVENT RESERVATIONS: CLICK HERE 14

Celebrating 20 Years

Hawthorn Woods Country Club 1 Tournament Drive N | Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047