platinum clubs of america 2027-2028 submission
Highlights MISSION, VISION, & CORE VALUES
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UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION
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EXCELLENCE IN AMENITIES
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CALIBER OF STAFF
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ENGAGEMENT & COMMITMENT
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GOVERNANCE & FISCAL MANAGEMENT 20 ADAPTING TO CHANGING TIMES
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THE EXPERIENCE
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STATEMENTS & CORE VALUES
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Mission As stewards of Rehoboth Beach Country Club, we ensure our multi-generational Members a stronger future through encouraging enduring friendship, maintaining sound fiscal management, celebrating old and new traditions and inspiring innovation. We deliver the must-have membership experience at the most desired waterfront destination.
Vision With our Members first, RBCC will always strive to be the foremost private country club on the Delmarva Peninsula. We are committed to providing a welcoming environment while enjoying our scenic location, amenities and programs. We show appreciation and support to the dedicated Talon Tribe members that are second to none and aspire to be the employer of choice.
Core Values STEWARDSHIP. CARING. COMMUNITY. VISION. 5
UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION
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Accolades PLATINUM CLUB OF AMERICA 2021-2022 | 2023-2024 | 2025-2026
RBCC was awarded its first Platinum Status in 2021 in the category of Country Clubs. Since then, RBCC has taken many steps to improve that are consistent with the Seven Selection Criteria.
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE LADY BLUE HENS INVITATIONAL HOST 2013-CURRENT
RBCC has held the honor of hosting the Division 1 Lady Blue Hen’s Invitational for 12 years. The 2026 tournament will be held in October and will mark the 13th year as the host club.
CLUB RESORT + BUSINESS TOP RANKED CLUBHOUSES 2022
Following an $11M renovation of the Clubhouse, Driving Range, and Pool Facility, RBCC was named in the Top Ranked Clubhouses.
WILLIAMSON CUP HOST 2024
RBCC was selected to host the 2024 Williamson Cup.
BICYCLE CHAUTAUQUA REGIONAL HOST
AUDUBON CERTIFIED
2024
RBCC was the first golf course to be Audubon Certified in the state of Delaware. The Club is committed to increasing and maintaining wildlife habitats and allowing for more pollinators.
Led by Gregg Patterson, the Bicycle Chautauqua delivers “the big three:” physical health, mental health and emotional health. Chautauqua members gather for a reflective opportunity to think deeply about club management in a physical social setting, cycling. RBCC enjoyed hosting the Chautauquans in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on October 17 - October 20 for deep conversations, growth and cycling.
AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION (AJGA) PREVIEW EVENT HOST & JUNIOR ALL-STAR INVITATIONAL 2024, 2026
CURRENT
DELAWARE AMATEUR 2026 We are incredibly humbled to have hosted the Delaware Amateur Championship. The positive feedback from the players and the G.A.P. about our facilities and course conditions has been truly rewarding.
TOP 5 GOLF COURSES IN DELAWARE 2026
RBCC hosted the 2024 AJGA Preview Event and the 2026 AJGA Junior All Star Invitational.
It was an honor to showcase our beautiful property on Rehoboth Bay, and we're proud to also be recognized as one of the top five golf courses in Delaware.
NATIONAL CLUB ASSOCIATION (NCA) MEMBER
GAP RECOGNIZED GREENS
CURRENT
RBCC is a member of the NCA where the RBCC Board and Leadership Team Members utilize best practices and attend on-going education to enhance the Club.
2026
The Golf Course Maintenance team received recognition from the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) for their expertise and seamless relationship with GAP.
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EXCELLENCE IN AMENITIES & FACILITIES
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Amenities & Facilities ENHANCED AMENITY OFFERINGS Over the last two years, RBCC has thoughtfully expanded its amenity offerings to enhance the overall member experience. This includes the addition of a wider range of golf and racquets clinics, continued growth of the swim team, and an increase in family programming and youth activities. Wellness initiatives have also been introduced, including nutrition programming and a member speaker series. Social and travel opportunities have grown with the addition of wine and golf trips, as well as new groups such as the wine club, veterans' group, beginner and open play mahjong, and garden tours. Additionally, food and beverage offerings have been elevated with the introduction of a full-service menu on the pool deck, complete with convenient service flags for Members. Enhancements by the numbers: 50 swimmers on the RBCC Dolphin’s Swim Team (increased by 20 swimmers in 2025) Updated native landscaping around the entire Club property Successful garden tours with RBCC’s Horticulturist, Courtney
12 Speaker Series implemented discussing nutrition, overall health and wellness Planned wine trip to Portugal and golf trips overseas Newly launched Veterans’ Group with 48 Members
200 Mahjong players with beginner lessons and open play groups Increased nutritional offerings in the Fitness Center and Halfway House with protein balls, protein bark, and healthy grab and go options New Member Passport Program
FACILITIES State-of-the-art 44,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse (renovated in 2021) 5 dining rooms with 3 bars, 2 outdoor dining patios, 1 outdoor bar Men’s and Ladies’ Locker Rooms with saunas Club kitchen, banquet kitchen, and pastry kitchen Banquet facility Spa room Admin office suite 18-Hole Golf Course Turn Bar featuring grab-and-go and quick menu items, full bar and restrooms Driving Range and short game area (renovated 2021) Golf Shop Teaching Facility Simulator Room (2024) 9-hole Mini Putt Course
Racquet’s Facility (renovated in 2022) 5 Har-Tru tennis courts 4 pickleball courts A hitting wall area 2 deck viewing areas Racquets Shop Fitness Center with 3 personal trainers and 9 different fitness classes Aquatics Facility (renovated 2021) 6 lap lanes diving board new pool furniture for 150 The Upper Deck Sweets & Snacks Shop with cocktail service
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CALIBER OF STAFF & SERVICE & SERVICE LEVELS LEVELS
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The Caliber 4-year average tenure for full-time, year-round staff including 9 employees with 10 years of tenure or more 215 Tribe Members in season with 105 seasonal employees and 110 year-round staff 6 CMAA Members with 2 actively pursuing their CCM certifications
HEAR IT FROM
the Members
3 PGA certified Golf Professionals with 2 additional Tribe Members who are PGA on staff Member of the Golf Business Network (GBN) Golf Course Superintendents of America Association (GCSAA) Member Manager-in-Training program available Employee Passport program for young professionals who want to experience all departments An employee mission and vision statement and core values that align with the Club’s future An updated Club Vision Statement that the Strategic Planning Committee and Board decided to include “aspiring to be the employer of choice” Continued on-going education with associations such as CMAA, PCMA, NCA, Lumina Spark Yearly Leadership Retreats with the Club’s executive leadership team
INDIVIDUAL TRIBE MEMBER SHOUT OUTS
AGM Spaska Ivanov received her CCM certification in November 2024 and is an active participant on the CMAA Corporate Relations Committee. Golf Course Superintendent Alan FitzGerald is a Master Greenkeeper (MG) and Certified Golf Course Superintendent. He was the 34th person awarded both accreditations. Alan FitzGerald spoke at the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) conference in 2025, numerous GCSAA conferencdes, and will be speaking at the Eastern Shore GCSA conference in November. Fitness Specialist Colleen Beck is Titleist Performance Certified (TPI). Lead Golf Instructor Chris Gray is Capto Putting certified. Director of Membership and Communications Bethany Ackerman Williams spoke on an education panel at the PGA Show in both 2025 and 2026. Executive Chef Carolyn Torres was honored for being in Club Resort + Business 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. F&B Manager Cosi Dalalau and Bar Manager Kye Morris are both Intro Level Sommeliers through the Court of Master Sommeliers America. Both are studying to be certified now with Kyle Morris testing on September 20, 2026.
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WHO IS THE
Employee Newsletter
Talon Tribe “We are well-trained, friendly professionals who together share a common culture and create memorable experiences for all at Rehoboth Beach Country Club.”
WE ARE THE TALON TRIBE.
Employee Instagram
Employee Events Annual Events Season Kickoff Party End of Season Party Pool Party Beach Bonfire Holiday Party Employee Appreciation Week
Quarterly Events Employee Awards Luncheon Competitive Fun Employee Golf Tournament Fantasy Football World Cup Bracket Challenge by Department Ping Pong Tournament Pickleball and Tennis Clinics
Employee Recognition Work Anniversaries Employee of the Quarter Supervisor of the Year
TURKEY TROT TALK WITH COLLEEN
BLACK FRIDAY SALE WITH MAKAELA & PAT
Annual Employee Satisfaction Survey “Tribe Vibes” - Submissions given to HR from any employee recognizing Tribe members and the good they are doing
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ENGAGEMENT & COMMITMENT OF MEMBERSHIP
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The Comittment 1,001 memberships with a 2.5 year waiting list for the Full Regular Golf Membership Attrition rate of 2% 148 memberships with over 30 years of membership 26 memberships with over 50 years of membership New membership category offered called “Golden Eagle” to honor those who are 85 years of age and have 35 years of membership with 12 Members 55 is the average age of the primary member in the last 5 years $110,000 donated to the Talon Tribe Holiday Gift Fund from the membership New Legacy Dinner for Members who are Golden Eagles and those who have 50 years of membership 64 Members participate on Club Committees with additional Members participating on Ad-Hoc Committees Committees meet once per month with some committees meeting additionally Membership Committee conducts interviews two days out of each month Increased membership vetting and application process (i.e. inclusion of a background check, required membership orientation, and social reception)
1925 Eagle Foundation
Established in January 2024, a tax-exempt organization independent of the Board whose mission is to administer support through grants to the Talon Tribe members in times of need, for educational scholarships, assist local charities and oversee donations of art to RBCC. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised $422,000 and given $32,000 to scholarships, $6,400 grants in aid, and $50,000 to local charities.
The Engagement Well attended focus group sessions for strategic initiatives Ad-Hoc Art Committee works with local artists, including RBCC Members, to showcase artwork in the Clubhouse and host “Meet the Artist” events The Membership is engaged with all social events, with the largest event of the year, July 4th, hosting 1,700 Members and guests RBCC is host to many local charity events with Member attendance as well as volunteer support including Beebe Medical Foundation, Harry K Foundation, Food Bank of Delaware, and the Rehoboth Beach Community Resource Center.
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The Centennial THE CENTENNIAL BOOK The Centennial Book celebrates 100 years of Rehoboth Beach Country Club and the people, stories, and moments that have shaped its history. Organized by decade, the book explores the evolution of the Club alongside the history of Rehoboth Beach and significant moments in American history. Through interviews with more than 50 Members and staff, historical research, photographs, and personal recollections, the book brings each era to life and captures both the milestones and challenges that have shaped the Club. It also highlights the memorable events of the Centennial year, including the Centennial Gala and Frances Tiafoe Pro-Am and Exhibition. At its heart, the book celebrates what has remained constant throughout the Club’s 100-year history: connection. From golf and racquets to dining, social gatherings, and family activities, Rehoboth Beach Country Club has always been a place where people come together, build friendships, create memories, and share a sense of community. The Centennial Book honors that remarkable history while looking ahead to the stories and memories still to come.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CENTENNIAL LOGO
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THE CENTENNIAL GALA
SOARING THROUGH THE DECADES
Rehoboth Beach Country Club celebrated 100 years on Saturday, August 2. The Centennial Gala was a memorable evening that transported Members and guests through the Club’s rich history. The event featured a series of themed dining and entertainment experiences, with each room representing different decades. From a 1920s speakeasy to 1980s-inspired fare, all culminating in a lively Ballroom celebration with music and dessert. The night concluded with a spectacular drone and fireworks show over the 19th hole, highlighting iconic moments and milestones from the Club’s 100-year history in a breathtaking, music-synchronized display. The Club launched “Soaring Through the Decades,” a bi-monthly newsletter starting in
MEMBER HANDOUT WITH ROOMS & SCHEDULE
1925 focusing on two decades at a time for each issue reliving the moments, memories, and milestones that have shaped RBCC’s history. This special centennial publication, “Soaring Through the Decades” brings together a collection of images, memorabilia, pull quotes, history, and stories from across the years and the Centennial Book written by local author Elise Seyfried, offering a look at where RBCC began and how far the Club has come.
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FRANCES TIAFOE PRO-AM & EXHIBITION In July 2025, the Club was honored to welcome world-ranked tennis professional Frances Tiafoe, at the time ranked No. 16 in the world. A July 17 reception featured a heartfelt conversation between the now retired Racquets Director, Terri Gaskill and Frances’ father, Constant, highlighting their longstanding friendship and the remarkable journey that helped launch Frances’ tennis career. Constant, an immigrant from Sierra Leone, came to the Junior Tennis Champions Center with his young twin sons, where Terri provided him with employment and housing and helped introduce the boys to tennis. Frances went on to achieve success on the world stage, including at Wimbledon and the US Open, and was recognized with the 2020 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for his commitment to giving back. The evening included a Q&A focused on developing discipline and dedication in young athletes, as well as the Tiafoe family’s work through the Frances Tiafoe Fund to support youth tennis programs across the country. The celebration continued the following day with a sold-out Pro-Am and exhibition featuring Frances.
GOVERNANCE & FISCAL MANAGEMENT
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Governance The Club’s Board of Governors is composed of 13 volunteer members, 5 of which are Executive Committee Members, who meet on a monthly basis and liaises with one of the Club’s Committees. In 2024, the Board of Governors approved a refinement of the Club’s Committees to align with industry best practices to maximize utilization of Member skills. The Club’s Committees are divided into four categories: Strategic, Operational, Independent and Ad-Hoc. The Club’s governing documents including the Bylaws, Board Policy Manual (BPM), Committee Charters, Rules and Regulations, Operational Rules are reviewed annually and updated as needed. In 2026, the Board worked with nationally recognized attorney Robyn Stowell from Spencer Fane to update the Bylaws and then revised the Rules and Regulations, Guest Policies, and the Board Policy Manual. A Board Orientation is required for all new Board Members with a Board Retreat scheduled following the Club’s Annual Membership Meeting. A “Board Brief” is sent to the membership every month one week after the Board meeting and posted on the Member website with the Club Financials and Board Meeting Minutes. The Leadership Academy was started to assist is educating prospective Board Member candidates.
Fiscal Management The Club's combined operating and capital revenue has grown from $8M in 2020 to over $19M in 2026, increasing $3.2M since the last Platinum Clubs submission in 2024. In addition, Net Assets have doubled during those 6 years. The Club undergoes audits on an annual basis aligning with the Club’s fiscal year and shares the results with the membership on the Club website. Following each month’s Board meeting, the Club posts the financials on the Member’s website. The Club’s only outstanding Long-Term Debt is from the Clubhouse Improvement Project in 2019 and is now under $8M due. Racquets project completed without assessing the membership In 2024 the Board approved the renovation and restoration of the 19th Hole Bulkhead. In order to be fiscally responsible, the Board, Finance and Greens Committee worked with Golf Course Maintenace to complete this project in-house saving the Club roughly $325,000. In 2024, the Club presented the membership with a “Capital Needs Funding” Initiative to implement Capital Dues. After speaking with all of the Club’s Committees, hosting 7 focus groups, sending a kickoff publication and hosting Member Q&A Meetings prior to a 30-day voting period, the Board and Leadership Team are pleased to report that the Initiative successfully passed with over 63% of the shares having voted and Member approval of 70%. The Board along with board-approved committees are reviewing the membership categories to follow the Club’s Strategic Plan while also remaining fiscally responsible.
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ADAPTING TO CHANGING TIMES
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Strategic Vision BOARD INITIATIVES In hopes to be more transparent and communicate with the membership on a regular basis, the Board of Governors started implementing monthly Board Update’s to the membership featuring the top take-aways from the Boardroom. This includes updates to the Board Initiatives set forth. Some of the Board initiatives include: Capital Needs Funding Completed and Passed by Membership 2024 Committee Refinement Completed 1925 Eagle Foundation Started and In Progress Membership Category Review & Adjustment Started and In Progress Membership Caps In Progress alongside Strategic Plan update COI Restatement Completed and Passed by Membership 2025 Review of Board election process Completed 2025 Bylaws Revision Completed and Accepted by Membership 2026
STRATEGIC PLAN Strategic Planning Committee is working with GGA on updating the Club’s Strategic Plan. The Club is working with JBD JGA on a Facilities Master Plan. RBCC is working with Joel Weiman of Weiman Golf Designs, engineers, architects and local agencies on golf course drainage and improvement project. During the research phase over 150 Members participated in Focus Groups. An Annual Membership Satsifaction Survey is sent to all Members each year.
EMBRACING MODERN TECH Upgraded Cyber Security protocols, policies and increased our insurance coverages Implemented 6 Member digital boards and 3 employee digital boards with rotating graphics and updates Online shopping experience offered through Tee Commerce Online membership application submission Use of Perry Weather System Virtual fitness classes available on the Member’s website Use of drones to search for turf stress to minimize water usage Implemented use of GPS sprayers for more accurate spraying to place product only where it is needed which is more cost effective and less waste on the golf course Use of USGA GS3 ball to quantify course conditions and ensure consistency every day
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WHAT IS THE
Must-Have Membership Experience?
MEMBER-GUEST PREP
BEHIND THE LENS: RACQUETS
JULY 4TH
CREATIVE CONCEPTS
SEASONAL UPDATES
GOLFING AT RBCC
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REHOBOTH BEACH COUNTRY CLUB 221 West Side Drive
Connect with Us!
office@rehobothbeachcc.com 302-227-3811 www.rehobothbeachcc.com
Rehoboth Beach Country Club