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The Oakwoodian JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER

9800 Grandview Road. Kansas City, MO 64137

(816) 761-5501

oakwoodcountryclub.org

From the General Manager DEAR OAKWOOD MEMBERS, As we close out 2025 and b4gin 2026, I want to take a moment to thank you for a truly exceptional year at Oakwood. From packed tournaments to laughterfilled events on the patio, this season was one of record participation, connection, and fun. This year also brought the launch of our holiday popup bar for the first time, and we are grateful to our members for making it such a success. We look forward to growing this concept and making it even better next year.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

Full Golf – 279 Weekday – 63 Executive – 16 National – 41 Clubhouse Associate – 34

Total – 433

Looking ahead, we are excited about what’s on the horizon. Construction is underway on our new gated entrance, and we also have the upstairs loft renovation to look forward to—both projects that will continue to enhance the Oakwood experience for our members. On behalf of the entire Oakwood team, thank you for your continued support, spirit, and enthusiasm. We look forward to celebrating another year with you! Warmly,

From the Head Golf Pro CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025 CHAMPS 1881 Cup: Blake Cooper & Trevor Taylor The Acorn Classic: Acorn Flight: Lynn Poskin + Amy McAnarney + Deborah Quirk + Abby Henke Oakwood Flight: Carol Freirich + Susan Rouse + Jill Shapiro + Kathy Shapiro The Knickerbocker: Bill Krueger + Matt Murphey Couples 4-Ball Match Play Champions: Ben and Kelley Hotaling Men’s Net Match Play Club Champion: Mike Ellis Men’s Club Championship Match Play: Curtis Yonke Men’s Stroke Play Club Champion: Ben Hotaling Men’s Stroke Play NET Club Champion: Jim Sheridan Men’s Senior Club Champion: Mike Ellis Men’s Fourball Match Play Club Champion: Nick Curry & Kaleb Smith Ladies Club Champion: Lisa Block We eagerly await your return in 2026, prepared to defend your titles. Please keep an eye out for the 2026 Golf Guide, which will highlight all the exciting events we have planned in the upcoming year. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Happy New Year, Hunter Hayes, PGA Head Golf Professional Oakwood Country Club

From the Director of Instruction Oakwood Performance Center Hours & Access Conference Season & Continuing to Learn—For You The offseason is conference season in our industry, and it’s one of my favorite times of the year to learn, connect, and bring fresh ideas back to Oakwood. In December, I traveled to Pinehurst for the PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year Conference after being honored as 2024 Midwest PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year. The event brought together section award winners from across the country and featured three National Teachers of the Year leading small-group, in-depth sessions focused on player development and coaching excellence. I then headed to Cabot Citrus Farms for the GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teachers Summit, two full days of education with 12 Top 100 instructors and more than 130 elite coaches in attendance. I was also honored to be asked to film instructional content for GOLF.com during the summit. With the annual PGA Trade Show coming up in January, conference season is still in full swing. I truly love this part of my profession—continuing to learn, staying curious, and returning home inspired to implement new ideas, technology, and best practices that elevate the experience and instruction here at Oakwood. A growth mindset isn’t just something I teach—it’s how I coach, lead, and learn.

Why the Off-Season Is the Best Time to Improve Your Swing With fewer rounds and less pressure to perform every time you play, you have more space to learn. That freedom allows you to slow things down, understand new movements, and build better habits without feeling rushed to make everything work immediately. Off-season lessons are ideal for: Repetition and patience, which are essential for lasting change Improving fundamentals and efficiency Working on areas often put off during the busy season Even if you’re still playing on nice winter days or traveling for golf, this time of year creates a perfect balance—enough play to stay sharp, with the flexibility to actually improve. Put the work in now, and you’ll head into the season ahead confident, prepared, and ahead of schedule.

– Coach Mo

📧 coachmogolf@gmail.com | 📱 402-209-0501

From the Course Oakwood Agronomy Report

We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful 2025, and we look forward to the year ahead with you. This past year brought significant progress on the golf course, and in 2026 we are excited to continue building on those accomplishments. Winter conditions can be challenging for turf, particularly our warm-season grasses such as zoysia and Bermuda. The Bermuda grass tends to experience greater winter stress, as it is common Bermuda rather than an improved hybrid variety. Moving forward, we will take a more aggressive approach to eliminating Bermuda from the fairways through targeted chemical applications, while also working to limit its presence in the rough—an ongoing challenge but an important long-term goal. As we progress through winter, I will have more updates on the Bermuda in the fairways and its ability to make it through the winter. As the year has ended, the crew remained busy with several key projects across the property: New Bunker – Hole 18: The newly added bunker on Hole 18 is nearing completion and is expected to be finished within the next one to two weeks. Drainage Improvements: Drainage work is underway on multiple holes where drying issues have historically occurred, improving playability and turf health. Par 3 Walk Paths: Walk paths will be installed to all tees on the Par 3 course, with the exception of Holes 1 and 6, which are fully irrigated. Turf surrounding these paths will remain untouched and allowed to naturalize, consistent with other native areas throughout the course. 2,3,8 have been completed. The rest will be done as the weather allows. No. 16 Pond Repairs: Investigation into leaks at the No. 16 pond revealed significant undermining that has developed over several years. We will be addressing the necessary repairs in-house to ensure a proper, long-lasting solution. Stump Removal: We will continue removing remaining stumps and backfilling those areas with soil to improve aesthetics and safety. Shop & Equipment Refurbishment: Throughout the winter, equipment and course furnishings from the 2025 season are being cleaned, sanded, stained, painted, and refurbished in preparation for return to the course in March and April. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to contributing to Oakwood’s success while maintaining the high standards we strive for every day. We wish everyone a great winter and look forward to seeing you in the spring. Jacob Foster Golf Course Superintendent Oakwood Country Club

Ladies’ Luncheon

Men’s Luncheon

Santa Brunch

“I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW IMPRESSED I WAS WITH THE COTTAGE AND THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE. MY GUESTS WERE EQUALLY IMPRESSED. THE FOOD WAS OUTSTANDING AND DELIVERED BEAUTIFULLY. EVERYTHING WAS DONE PROMPTLY. ALL OF OUR REQUESTS WERE MET WITH ENTHUSIASM AND KINDNESS. THE COTTAGE IS OUTSTANDING! I LOOK FORWARD TO MY NEXT STAY AND EVENT!! I AM PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH A GREAT CLUB!” -Mike Wood Oakwood Member

“WE BOOKED ONE OF THE COTTAGES FOR A FAMILY WEEKEND AND OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN JOINED US. WE PLAYED GOLF, TOOK THE GRANDKIDS TO THE KIDS POOL AND SPLASH PAD, PLAYED PICKLEBALL AND WENT FISHING. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WAS AFTER AN EVENING ON THE PUTTING COURSE, WE TOOK A GOLF CART RIDE ALONG THE PAR 3 COURSE PATHS AND COUNTED THE LIGHTNING BUGS WE SAW! THE COTTAGES ARE PERFECT FOR A SHORT FAMILY GATHERING!” -Mike and Mary Smith Oakwood National Members

STAFF DIRECTORY STEVEN SHRAWDER, General Manager Email: steven@oakwoodcountryclub.org Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 138 Direct Line: (816) 768-8656

KATELYN LAWSON, Assistant GM and Catering Email: katelyn@oakwoodcountryclub.org Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 104 Direct Line: (816) 595-4066

DENISE WIPPERMAN, Administrative Assistant and AR Email: denise@oakwoodcountryclub.org Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 100 Direct Line: (816) 595-4063

TRAVIS NAPIER, Executive Chef Email: travis@oakwoodcountryclub.org Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 111 Phone: (816) 595-4069

TIFFANY MURPHY, Food and Beverage Director Email: tiffany@oakwoodcountryclub.org Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 106 Direct Line: (816) 595-4065

JESS EYSTAD, Director of Membership & Marketing Email: jess@oakwoodcountryclub.org Phone: (816) 595-4703

STAFF DIRECTORY HUNTER HAYES, PGA Head Golf Professional Email: hunter@oakwoodcountryclub.org Phone: (816) 761-5501 x 132 Direct Line: (816) 595-4072

MAUREEN FARRELL, PGA Director of Instruction Email: Coachmogolf@gmail.com Direct Line: (402) 209-0501

CASSIE LOWELL, PGA Lead Assistant Golf Pro Email: cassie@oakwoodcountryclub.org

JEFF LONG, Assistant Golf Pro & Tournament Director Email: jeff@oakwoodcountryclub.org Direct Line: (816) 761-3670

JUSTIN EVANS, Assistant Golf Pro Email: justin@oakwoodcountryclub.org Direct Line: (816) 761-3670

JACOB FOSTER, GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT Email: jacob@oakwoodcountryclub.org Direct Line: (816) 761- 1477