Ramsey Golf & Country Club
Clublines Fall & winter 2019
Dear Members – With our successful Family Oktoberfest event this past Sunday, we are now officially in the Fall season, even though Mother Nature would have us think otherwise with the sunny, dry, 80-degree weather we’ve been having!! Let’s hope that it will stretch into late October early November so that we may stretch our golfing season all that much more! With Fall upon us, with the warmer days and cooler nights – this is certainly one of the best times of the year to golf and enjoy the spectacular golfing experience that we have been able to provide throughout this year. Although we had somewhat of a wet summer and ran the risk of turf disease due to high humidity and standing water, our Golf Course Superintendent, Jason Struss and his team of Greenskeepers have done an outstanding job in maintaining the health and conditioning of our course. Kudos go to our PGA Head Golf Professional, Noah Bodt and his team of professionals as well, for the many challenging and competitive tournament play events, amenities, Golf Shop offerings and instructional programs! Thank you! While our Pool & Beach season has now come to an end, the Paddle Hut is starting to come alive with activity and the courts are beginning to book up. Our Pickleball program was a great success this first season with more than 80 participants enjoying all that Pickleball has to offer. Having said that, we are excited about some new initiatives to grow our Paddle Tennis program. Some of these initiatives include but are not limited to: Resident First Time Paddle Player 50% paddle dues discount as well as a Club engaged Paddle Professional to provide clinics and such. We look for-
ward to seeing everyone on Friday, November 1st for our Newcomers and Current Paddle Mixer Player Social! In the Lakeside Grille & Bar, the menus will be changing to more Fall inspired dishes and cocktail selections. Please remember to peruse the website or simply see our Restaurant Manager, Liz if you’re looking to book small and intimate family affairs in the Lakeside Atrium and Bradford Room. Needless to say, for larger events, our Catering Director, Michael and his staff are at the ready with the planning and execution of superlative family reunions and upcoming Holiday events! Our Wine Dinner Series program continues to remain more popular than ever, with each dinner selling out well in advance! We are excited about our Rodney Strong Reserve Wine Dinner on Thursday, October 24th, our Scotch & Cigar Dinner on Thursday, November 21st and our culminating event of the year the traditional Champagne Dinner on Thursday, December 19th!! The year is certainly quickly passing by when you’re having fun, Thanksgiving is fast approaching and please stay tuned, check our Club Website and peruse our Club E-mails as we will have even more events coming up!! I am proud to share that we’ve become known to be one of the most socially active and family oriented Club in Bergen County , if not the state! RG&CC truly is a place that’s all about enjoying life the way you like, where the possibilities to enrich your lifestyle are truly endless! With Warm Wishes – Aurelian A. General Manager
Welcome
New Members
Krista Cordovano RuthAnne Dreisbach Gregg & Tina Geider John & Stacey Gilmartin Greg Hagopian James & Sarah Keenan David Lamere
Dear MembersWe have had yet another fantastic summer here at the club, with the favored Sounds of Summer, our ever popular al fresco Wine Dinners and some new events such as the Hawaiian Luau on the Beach! Thank you to all of you who continue to join us year after year and to new members, we hope you’ve enjoyed your first summer here and I hope to see you at some of our Fall and Winter events! As the days get shorter and the nights grow longer, a chill creeps into the air– it’s an unmistakable sign– Autumn is here! Those of you who think that the game is best played in a sweater will most certainly enjoy this Fall Season! After all, cool weather does not mean you have to let your golf game hibernate, especially if we get a Fall/Winter like we had last year — golfing on New Years Eve is the best way I can think of to welcome in the New Year! Fall is also the beginning of our Paddle Tennis Program here at the Club. All of you should have received the enrollment paddle tennis forms by now. If that is not the case, feel free to reach out to me at mjohnson@ramseycountryclub.com and I will be more than happy to send them to you. Paddle Tennis is a great sport for beginners, so if you are not familiar with the game but are looking to stay fit in the cooler months, this is the sport for you! In addition, please always keep in mind our referral program for new Associate Golf members. We’ve got a great promotion in place and what better way to spend your day at the club but with a Friend or Family member. So if you have anyone in mind with questions or interest please feel free to reach out to me! Looking forward to a wonderful Fall Season and seeing you all around the Clubhouse! Warm Regards,
Matthew & Catherine Savery
Maggie Johnson Membership & Marketing Coordinator
Irena Shea Zachery Tweddell & Amy Kearns Kathy Vaccaro David Viganola
Ramsey Golf & Country Club Member Club 2019-2020
you’re invited! Wine Locke Social Join us in the Atrium on November 7th from 6:00 to 9:00 with some of your fellow Wine Locker Members to sample new wines while hearing about them from wine experts! Wine Locker Members are allowed to bring up to 4 guests! For reservations please call 201-327-0009 ext. 321 or email Maggie at mjohnson@ramseycountryclub.com.
Holiday Cookie Decorating As Christmas is creeping closer and closer , it’s getting to be time to prepare for this holiday associated with so many traditions. One of those traditions is cookie decorating! Cookie Decorating Day is here to help all children get as much fun out of the season as possible! This event is complimentary to all members. More information to come!
Holiday High Tea Stone walls, white blankets of snow and a cozy fireplace. Yep, our Abbey dining room creates the perfect backdrop for a holiday tea to remember. Whether you are celebrating the season, a birthday or just looking for an excuse to get together with family and friends, this elegant affair offers a variety of menu items sure to hit even the pickiest of taste buds. More information to come!
Champagne Dinner What better way to toast to a great year than with some bubbly! Come celebrate with us Thursday, December 19th at our yearly champagne dinner! Come and raise a flute at RG&CC. It’s bound to be our finest celebration yet. $95.00 per person plus tax and gratuity.
eat, drink and be merry WITH JAMES BURNETT | ELIZABETH ADAMSKI EXECUTIVE CHEF | RESTAURANT MANAGER
Live Entertainment Thursdays at 7:00pm Thursday, October 3rd Anthony Caggiano Thursday, October 10th Longchamp Thursday, October 17th Rick Oberson Thursday, October 24th Pete Barba Thursday, October 31st On the Rocks Thursday, November 7th Soular Rythm Thursday, November 14th The Kootz Thursday, November 21st JP Conques Wednesday, November 27th Donny and the Divas Thursday, December 5th J Mickens Thursday, December 12th Rich Goldberg Thursday, December 19th Eric Escofery Thursday, December 26th Ray Longchamp
FALL INTO FLAVOR The leaves are turning and slowly falling reminding us it is time for gathering! Join us at the Lakeside Grille for seasonal cuisine and festive cocktails including smoked cinnamon and hard cider. October will boast our annual Halloween costume contest in the Bar! Come before or after your Party and attempt to win our Complimentary Dinner for two Certificate if you win best dressed on Halloween Night! Before the trees get too bare and the days begin to chill, we will have hot apple cider in the Lakeside Grille Lobby for everyone to enjoy. Donny and the Divas will help us bring in the thankful season with our Wednesday Bash before Thanksgiving Day- full band LIVE in the Grille Room. Remember to RSVP in the Abbey dining room for an “at-home” experience complete with family -style service, full bar, and all the take-home cuisine you can need! Everyone knows the holidays come quick and fast! Our holiday events are booking up as we speak! If you are interested in booking an event for small gatherings up to 25 people, reach out as soon as possible! From luncheons to sit-down dinners and sociable cocktail hours, we can assist your gathering in our Atrium! Another seasonal perk is our Holiday Carolers singing traditional Christmas Songs throughout our dining rooms every Friday and Saturday in December until Christmas Day. The hot summer nights come and go each year, but the togetherness of the holiday season always brings our Club community together, creating our special atmosphere we hold here at “Ramsey’s little secret.” We look forward to seeing you at this lovely time of year, with your family and loved ones alike!
Elizabeth Adamski Restaurant Manager
it’s time to celebrate WITH MICHAEL TREIBLE DIRECTOR OF CATERING
Thanksgiving
If you are looking for a unique setting for your special event, then look no further! As we get into the holiday season, be sure to consider the club when making arrangements to celebrate your special event. Whether you are planning an intimate celebration or a party of 200 of your family and friends we are dedicated to helping you plan the perfect event. Our indoor and outdoor venues offer the perfect backdrop to make your event truly oneof-a-kind. We pride ourselves on making your event the best it can be and as seamless as possible. Between end of the year dinners, showers, holiday parties and, of course, weddings, our catering department is busier than ever with events taking place nearly every day. While limited 2019 dates remain we encourage you to start planning for 2020 as we are already booking up!
Start a new family tradition or continue an old one this Thanksgiving and celebrate the holiday with family and friends in our most elegant dining room. The Abbey will host a family-style Thanksgiving dinner with seating at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. $58.00 per adult | $29.00 per child
Perfect for families both large and small, our buffet feast in the Grand Ballroom is a great setting for your Thanksgiving holiday. Seating in the Ballroom is scheduled for 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 3:00pm and 3:30pm. $52.00 per adult | $26.00 per child
Thanksgiving Day At-Home packages are also available. Our offering feeds up to 10 people and include all of the traditional fixings including dessert and is available for pick-up or delivery to resident members on Thanksgiving Day. $450 per package plus tax
The holiday season is upon us and the New Year is right around the corner! It’s never too early to get a jump start on your corporate or social gathering. Whether it be in our beautiful stone walled Abbey featuring a baby grand piano and private outdoor terrace, or our spacious Grand Ballroom with an expansive dance floor and magnificent views of our club grounds, we guarantee the perfect space for your special event. Our friendly and professional staff is at your service to take care of every little detail to make your event unforgettable. Our culinary team offers creative selections and will be happy to customize your menu choices to exceed your expectations. Michael Treible Director of Catering
from the golf shop WITH NOAH BODT PGA HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Dear MembersWith the arrival of Fall, we see some of the nicest playing conditions and scenery. Along with that is frost, so please look for notes on the tee sheet and support the superintendent’s decision to delay play when necessary. In the golf shop there are dozens of new fall apparel deliveries in men's and ladies so come and check it out. If you have been considering a club purchase remember not to wait too long as the season changes over soon and demo clubs need to be returned. Finally, for anyone with golf shop credit book, the credits need to be used up annually so whether it's something for you, or an early jump on holiday shopping, please work to spend away the credit as soon as possible. Hope to see everyone get as much of a chance to play while we wind down a great season of golf!
Noah Bodt PGA Head Golf Professional
Junior Golf The PGA Jr. League Bergen All-Star Team coached by David Plarre consisted of 10 players 6 of them from Ramsey. They qualified 2nd out of 14 All-Star teams at Flanders Valley with one 2 man team (Michael Asselta (Ramsey) & Jack Beard (Tuxedo)) shooting 8 under par. They went to the Final 4 Sectional Championship at Toms River Country Club. They won their first match 8 to 4 and then faced the Del Val team in the afternoon finals. The Del Val team had a little more fire power and won the match to move on to the Regional Championship. Congratulations to the Bergen team that finished 2nd in their section!
to out on the course WITH JASON STRUSS GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
Dear Golfers – After successfully weathering the extensive and challenging conditions this Summer, with Fall upon us we are now beginning to focus on additional work and improvements which are sure to increase even more everyone’s enjoyment out on the course. We are proud to have completed the expansion of our #4th Back Tee, which will be playable next Spring. We are continuing work on #10th Fairway, #14th Approach and Fairway areas as well as the #4th and #5th Fairways to help improve the drainage issues once and for all. In addition we are looking to establish more Native Fescue Grasses around the course as well which will make for even more of a visual appeal than what our parkland course has to offer. Given our parkland conditions, tree maintenance work will continue as needed and as deemed necessary by the Greens Committee. The aeration of our Greens, Fairways and Tees is a continuing effort, at times more invasive and at other times less so, all based on the current conditions and needs at hand. Topdressing will continue for the foreseeable future, to ensure improved firmness and increased speed of our Greens – most importantly of which – on a consistent basis! My team and I are proud of what we have achieved at our Club, we are even more proud of the consistency of our results and with the continued direction an support of the Greens Committee and you, our very own members, we strongly believe that each upcoming season will continue to be better than the previous one!
Jason Struss Golf Course Superintendent
Holiday
Luminaries
Last year we were able to use real candles again! The bags may have been a bit too small but not to worry — our regular sized bags are back for this year! As always if you are interested in being a street caption please reach out to the our Head of Luminaries Lindsay Rubin or Maggie Johnson in the Clubhouse.
RG&CC
memories...
Hey remember the 80’s?
The 80’s
Golf In 1981, after years of separate tournament titles and championships, it was decided that there would be one “Championship Day”. A day where the men and women’s groups along with the flights and junior golf groups would play for their individual championships. On this particular August day the first tee was decorated with ribbons, bows and balloons all red, white and blue. The golf course was covered by walkie talkies to give updates for the scoreboard back at the pro shop. Some members took pictures of the action while a VHS camcorder recorded tee shots off the first tee. The championship had changed from match to medal and with many more golfers on the course, everyone could now say… “I played on Championship Day!” In 1983 the club reestablished the “Associates Program” whereby while not living inside the Ramsey Country Club Estates, you could still be a member of RGCC with all privileges and amenities offered by the club however, without shareholder voting rights. Also, in 1988 we said farewell to our golf professional George Sauer after 16 years and welcomed Mark Mitchell who would be our head golf pro for the next 17.
Pro Shop In the early 80’s it was decided that a new golf pro shop was a necessity. Our small pro shop which was part of the existing club house structure was simply too small. So, once again with the help of the membership everyone “chipped in” from electrical to carpentry. What was once a 2-lane bowling alley became our current golf pro shop. There was much more space and room for our pro staff, retail sales and club storage. Years later, a portion of this structure was refurbished to accommodate our members who enjoyed playing paddle tennis with seating, restrooms and other amenities.
45Th Anniversary of Ramsey Golf & Country Club The club continued to grow and great plans lied ahead. On July 4, 1985 a special celebration for RGCC’s 45th Anniversary took place. There was a 7am flag raising ceremony, lunch on the veranda with hamburgers, hotdogs, soda and beer all set at 1940 prices! Later a 2:30 pm, a shotgun scotch foursome golf tournament was held followed by the release of 100 helium balloons over Mirror Lake. A dinner dance was held that evening with over 200 members, the Mayor of Ramsey and the town council all in attendance. At this point in time everything looked so promising for the club. There was a $750,000 expansion plan in place whereby the bar area would be refurbished and expanded out towards the Wishing Well. Yes, everything was moving in the right direction for RGCC, or at least so it seemed…..
The RGCC Clubhouse Burns to the Ground Some call it the day the club burned to the ground and others call it the St Valentine’s Day Massacre. On the morning of February 14, 1986 at 3:45 am on Valentine’s Day, a Ramsey Borough police officer was patrolling the Main Street/Franklin Turnpike area when he smelled smoke from the country club’s vicinity. A drive up Lakeside Drive proved an awful reality — the Clubhouse was on fire. The devastating fire brought in fire fighters from six neighboring towns as they fought in vain to save the structure however, the fire gutted the club. RGCC’s clubhouse was destroyed. Many members awoke that evening and walked nearby to witness in total disbelief. Many took pictures of the devastating event. Our club, our home was gone. The fire engulfed the entire club and nothing was left except for the building’s stone foundation. (The tower was saved with most of the club’s records however.) It was later found that the source of the fire was an oil burner in the Clubhouse Basement.
The club members were devastated by this event. However, later some would say this might have been a blessing in disguise. The old Clubhouse along with its wiring, piping, kitchen fixtures and more was so old and outdated. Yes, the Clubhouse was gone but, certainly not the member’s spirit. Once again, it was the membership that stepped up and all pitched in. The TEE ROOM: RGCC’s members acted immediately along with the township of Ramsey. A temporary facility was built which today is currently our maintenance building next to the pro shop. A club wide competition was held to name the new facility. RGCC’s new home was named “The Tee Room”. Facing the 9th hole and Mirror Lake, this was our temporary home for about a year and a half. The Tee Room had a bar which was a special allowance from the Borough of Ramsey with the transfer of a liquor license, a kitchen which served hot and cold sandwiches but, most importantly the camaraderie of our membership and staff. Additionally, trailers were set up in the parking lot to be used as our temporary business operating facilities.
The Club House Reconstruction: As the Tee Room was prepared and constructed within 2 months as a temporary facility and home for the membership, plans were already in place for the reconstruction of RGCC’s Clubhouse. As always, the membership responded and stepped forward to rebuild the Clubhouse. It took many meetings with the board of directors, the membership along with the involvement of Ramsey town officials to create and rebuild the clubhouse as we now know it today. Our club was rebuilt in an amazing 1 ½ years! The original stone structure was saved and upgraded thanks to a member who was a mason by trade. Also, as was previously noted, possibly as a blessing in disguise, the club house size was increased from 12,000 to approximately 20,000 square feet! Now there was a larger bar area with a beautiful red cherry bar. The Grille Room expanded to its current size and there was an outdoor patio at the time, which today is the Atrium. The new entry to the New Club originally had an entrance for the bar area to the right and then a separate entrance for the Grille Room to the left. The Abbey was our fine dining area where you would arrive to dine in jacket and tie. There was also a much larger ball room downstairs to accommodate more wedding and parties. We also had more locker room space downstairs for the men and woman golfers. There was a grand reopening to RGCC on August 1, 1987 with a special presentation, waiters in tuxedos and appetizers for club members to enjoy! RGCC was back again and, the membership could rejoice. Yes, Ramsey Golf & Country Club was back, and with many thanks to all the members involved in the restoration of our club!
The Pool: As if the club hadn’t been through enough, a decision was made to build a pool on the beach at Crystal Lake. Kids were often coming up with a rash after swimming in Crystal Lake due to the lake being laden with bacteria. Thanks to so many club member’s efforts and support in August of 1989, The RGCC Pool at Crystal Springs Lake was officially opened. A new beautiful pool facility with a snack bar, canopy and still a little bit of the beach left for sailing and some night time Luau parties, our beach at Ramsey golf & Country Club was back again! Thanks so much to everyone involved in the project. We could now swim, sail and enjoy! What a wonderful facility to take the kids in summer time! We hope you have enjoyed reading and learning about the history and memories of RGCC, the 80’s. In this continuing series, our next session and article will focus on major changes at our club during the 90’s and 2000 through 2020. We will send out invitations to many club members to contribute to the memories of RGCC however, always remember if you would like to participate in the next session this coming November, please contact Maggie Johnson at the club.
Contributing Members & Former Members: Alex Ghiz, Bob Harnett, Sue & Jim Feeney, Peggy & Joe Russo, Larry Silverman, Steve Hitman, Gerry Bergoch, Brendan Murray, Julie Cleary, Bob Young & Dobi Burgio Author of Ramsey Memories: Tim Driscoll
WEEKLY HAPPENINGS SOCIAL
October SUN
MON
TUE
WED 1
LIVE MUSIC
THU 2
EVERY THURSDAY 7:00PM-10:00PM
3 Live Music
FRI
SAT
4 Happy Hour
5
Hello Fall Social 6:00pm
DINING HAPPY HOUR EVERY FRIDAY 4:00PM-6:00PM
THEMED NIGHTS
6
TITO’S TUESDAY ITALIAN WEDNESDAY BREWS & BURGERS THURSDAY FRESH CATCH FRIDAY STEAKHOUSE SATURDAY SUNDAY BRUNCH
7 Men’s Paddle Social
8 Yom Kippur Begins
9 Yom Kippur Ends
10 Live Music
11 Happy Hour
12
16
17 Live Music
18 Happy Hour
19
Ladies Paddle Social
Club Closed
GOLF LADIES 9-HOLE TUESDAY 7:15AM-10:15AM
13
14 Columbus Day Men’s Paddle Social
LADIES 18-HOLE THURSDAY 7:15AM-10:15AM
15
Ladies Paddle Social
MTG Closing Dinner
Club Closed
MEN’S MTG SAT. & SUN. 7:00AM-11:00AM
20
PADDLE TENNIS
21
MEN’S SOCIAL
Men’s Paddle Social
EVERY MONDAY 7:0OM-11:00PM
Club Closed
22
23
Ladies Paddle Social
24 Live Music Wine Dinner 7:00pm
25 Happy Hour
26 Children’s Halloween Parade 11:00am
WOMEN’S SOCIAL EVERY TUESDAY 7:00PM-11:00PM
TEAM PRACTICE
27
EVERY FRIDAY 9:00AM-11:00AM
28 Men’s Paddle Social
29 Ladies Paddle Social
30
31 Halloween Live Music 7:00pm
Club Closed
social
golf
dining
paddle tennis
WEEKLY HAPPENINGS SOCIAL
November SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
LIVE MUSIC
Live Music
EVERY THURSDAY 7:00PM-10:00PM
FRI
SAT
1 Happy Hour
2
Newcomers Paddle Social 7:00pm
DINING HAPPY HOUR EVERY FRIDAY 4:00PM-6:00PM
THEMED NIGHTS ITALIAN WEDNESDAY BREWS & BURGERS THURSDAY FRESH CATCH FRIDAY STEAKHOUSE SATURDAY SUNDAY BRUNCH
3 Daylight Savings
4 Men’s Paddle Social
5
6
Ladies Paddle Social
7 Live Music
8 Happy Hour
9
Wine Locker Social
Club Closed Club Closed
Golf Course Open
PADDLE TENNIS MEN’S SOCIAL EVERY MONDAY 7:0OM-11:00PM
10
11 Veteran’s Day
EVERY TUESDAY 7:00PM-11:00PM
13
14 Live Music
15 Happy Hour
16
20
21 Live Music
22 Happy Hour
23
29 Happy Hour
30
Ladies Paddle Social
Men’s Paddle Social
WOMEN’S SOCIAL
12
Club Closed Club Closed Golf Course Open
TEAM PRACTICE EVERY FRIDAY 9:00AM-11:00AM 17 Special Shareholders Meeting
18 Men’s Paddle Social
19 Ladies Paddle Social
Scotch Dinner
Club Closed Club Closed Golf Course Open
24 y
25 Men’s Paddle Social
26
27
Ladies Paddle Social
28 Live Music Thanksgiving Day
Club Closed Club Closed Golf Course Open
social
golf
dining
paddle tennis
WEEKLY HAPPENINGS SOCIAL
December SUN
MON
LIVE MUSIC
1
EVERY THURSDAY 7:00PM-10:00PM
DINING
TUE 2 Ladies Paddle Social
Club Closed
Club Closed
4
FRI
SAT
5 Live Music
6 Happy Hour
Holiday Cookie Decorating 6:00pm
7 Holiday Carolers
Holiday Carolers
Children’s Brunch with Santa 11:00am
Golf Course Open
FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS THROUGHOUT DECEMBER 8
HAPPY HOUR EVERY FRIDAY 4:00PM-6:00PM
9
10
Men’s Paddle Social
Ladies Paddle Social
Club Closed
Club Closed
THEMED NIGHTS
11
12 Live Music
15
PADDLE TENNIS Holiday High Tea 2:00pm
16 Ladies Paddle Social
Club Closed
Club Closed
14 Holiday Carolers
Adult Holiday Party 7:00pm
17
Men’s Paddle Social
13 Happy Hour Holiday Carolers
Golf Course Open
ITALIAN WEDNESDAY BREWS & BURGERS THURSDAY FRESH CATCH FRIDAY STEAKHOUSE SATURDAY SUNDAY BRUNCH
EVERY MONDAY 7:0OM-11:00PM
THU
3
Men’s Paddle Social
HOLIDAY CAROLERS
MEN’S SOCIAL
WED
18
19 Live Music
20
21
Happy Hour Holiday Carolers
Holiday Carolers Champagne Dinner 7:00pm
Golf Course Open
WOMEN’S SOCIAL EVERY TUESDAY 7:00PM-11:00PM 22
TEAM PRACTICE EVERY FRIDAY 9:00AM-11:00AM
Hanukah Begins
29
23
24
25
Men’s Paddle Social
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Club Closed
Club Closed
Club Closed
30
26 Live Music
Holiday Carolers
31
End of 4th Quarter
social
dining
27 Happy Hour
paddle tennis
28
CONTACT US Aurelian Anghelusiu General Manager & COO Ext: 303 Elizabeth Adamski Restaurant Manager Ext: 323 Richard Binetti Controller Ext: 305 Noah Bodt PGA Head Golf Professional 201-327-3877 James Burnett Executive Chef Ext: 309 Nancy Goodman Bookkeeper Ext: 314 Maggie Johnson Membership & Marketing Coordinator Ext: 321 Agnes Nowobilska Club Concierge Ext: 301 Jason Struss Golf Course Superintendent 201-327-0009 Michael Treible Director of Catering Ext: 302
Ramsey Golf & Country Club 105 Lakeside Drive Ramsey, NJ 07446 201-327-0009