SPRING April - June 2026
2026-2027 Suntree Board Update
Please
Staff Contact Information
Robert A. Stone, Jr., CCM, CCE, CAM General Manager/COO
Amy Barati CFO
Austin Lane Head Golf Professional
Ryan Williams Director of Golf
Anna Collins Director of Membership
Nick Garibay Director of Agronomy
Jim Tills Food & Beverage Director
Trent Hoare Assistant Food & Beverage Director
Emma Justice Dining Room Manager
Lucy Paulson Director of Events
Jes Akey Assistant Events Director
Paul Davis Director of Racquet Sports
Ian Kalman Head Pickleball Pro
Claudia Santos Tennis Facilities Manager
Katie Holley Communications Manager
Charlotte Pinabell Accounts Receivable
Dave Drenga Facilities Maintenance Manager
300 Country Club Dr., Melbourne Fl 32940
rob.stone@suntree.com amy.barati@suntree.com austin.lane@suntree.com ryan.williams@suntree.com anna.collins@suntree.com nick.garibay@suntree.com jim.tills@suntree.com trent.hoare@suntree.com emma.justice@suntree lucy.paulson@suntree.com jes.akey@suntree.com paul.davis@suntree.com ian.kalman@suntree.com claudia.santos@suntree.com katie.holley@suntree.com charlotte.pinabell@suntree.com dave.drenga@suntree.com
webmaster@suntree.com
Scott Miller C LUB P RESIDENT
We thank everyone for taking the time to vote for new members to join the Suntree Board of Directors. In coordination with that, our committees will be turning over and gaining fresh perspectives as we work to ensure that everyone who wants to be part of the process has an opportunity to serve. This has been a very exciting year for Suntree Country Club, and the Board has worked very hard to deliver on our Club’s mission and vision. Through thoughtful hiring, improved programming, and attention to detail, Suntree Country Club truly is thriving.
I was very excited to see so many spectators at the Moon Golf Invitational women’s collegiate golf event. The number of Suntree members walking the course and assisting with the tournament reflected very well on our membership. Various coaches and players took the time to comment on the course and the hospitality, which was wonderful to hear. A special thank you to the committee that helped with the logistics.
Our work with ELM has begun in earnest, and we were pleased to see the number of respondents to the initial survey in January. The group has compiled all of that information, and we are now preparing for focus groups. These groups will meet within the next month and will help guide our campus efforts. Please keep an eye out for signups.
I recently had the pleasure of working with the Search Committee tasked with choosing our next Director of Golf. Using Kopplin, Kuebler & Wallace in the search process, we ended up with a large pool of candidates to evaluate. When the process was complete, we were very excited that Ryan Williams, PGA, decided to join us. His many years of experience will be a great asset to Suntree. His start date is June 1, but if you see him on campus before then, be sure to introduce yourself.
As always, thanks for letting me be a part of Suntree Country Club. Reach out to me with questions, concerns or compliments. I’ve always got time to talk.
Thank You,
Scott Miller President, BOD
MESSAGE from the GENERAL MANAGER
Dear Members,
We are looking forward to welcoming our new Director of Golf, Ryan Williams, on June 1, 2026. Ryan has a tremendous background in golf operations management, is a well-respected teacher and team builder, and I am excited for him to start working with our staff and getting to know our members. There will be more information forthcoming on Ryan’s arrival, and I look forward to all of you giving him a warm Suntree welcome.
The tennis and racquets department is getting very busy with operational projects such as repainting the hard courts, resurfacing clay courts #1 & #2, installing a new ice/water machine that will be placed in the center/intersection of the tennis courts, fencing and windscreen upgrades, as well as repairs to the tennis building. All our tennis and pickleball teams are having an enjoyable season, and it is great seeing all the activity on the courts throughout the day and the evening.
We will begin the spring aerifications of both golf courses in early May. We will be utilizing the same process as we had last year, with deep tine aerification as well as standard aerification and heavy top dressing of the greens and trees. Additionally, we will begin, at the same time, the replacement of all the irrigation heads on the Classic Course, as well as replacing all the bulkheading on Classic #9. While the Challenge Course is being aerified, we will be adding
Robert A. Stone, Jr., CCM, CCE, LCAM
G ENERAL M ANAGER/ COO
irrigation in areas that need additional work to improve the turf and playing conditions. Additionally, we will be replacing the bulkheading on Challenge #12 and will continue through the length of Challenge #13 until we reopen. We anticipate, due to the amount of bulkheading, that the bulkheads will be completed during the fall aerification so we do not interrupt member play. At the same time, we will be upgrading all the landscaping along Challenge #1, from the putting green to the property line behind the green on Challenge #1.
Club events continue to expand, and the attendance at our events and our increased cover counts in the restaurant are impressive. The service and food in the Palm Restaurant continue to meet and exceed expectations, and the feedback has been supportive of the direction that Jim Tills, Trent Hoare, Chef Edgar, Lucy Paulson, and Jes Akey are taking. The new menus were redesigned to address half portions, as requested by the members, along with bringing back member favorites and adjusting some selling prices. I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out for ALL of you to attend our Pirate Party in April! Lucy, Jes, and the department have a great family event planned for everyone that will include a full fireworks show to culminate the evening.
Our golf events continue to fill to capacity and, in some cases, far exceed their attendance numbers from last year. The golf staff is doing a great job managing our members’ expectations for those events and overseeing many largeformat events.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Stone, Jr., CCM, CCE, LCAM
On March 24th, I had the privilege of celebrating my anniversary at Suntree Country Club. This milestone provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the significant progress we have achieved together over the past year. The collective efforts of our agronomy team have resulted in noticeable and impactful improvements across both golf courses.
Among the many enhancements, we have successfully implemented a comprehensive foliar nutrition program across all playing surfaces, strengthened course definition and presentation, elevated the quality of our practice facilities, improved bunker aesthetics, and delivered more consistent playing conditions for the membership. These initiatives have contributed to a higher standard of conditioning and overall course experience.
Nick Garibay D IRECTOR OF A GRONOMY
I am extremely proud of the dedicated team we continue to build. Their professionalism, commitment, and attention to detail are the driving forces behind our success. Recent additions to both our staff and equipment fleet will further position us to maintain and enhance course conditions at the highest level.
The year began with several historic cold weather events that temporarily slowed turf growth and recovery. However, we are pleased to report that the golf courses have responded well and are returning to optimal seasonal conditions.
As we look ahead, preparations are already underway for several strategic improvement projects planned for 2026. We are excited about the long-term benefits these initiatives will bring and look forward to sharing the results with you.
Thank you for your continued support and trust as we strive to enhance the golf experience at Suntree Country Club.
Sincerely,
Nick Garibay, Director of Agronomy
EVENT AND CATERING News
Hello Members,
Spring has arrived, and we have some wonderful events coming up. Be sure to mark your calendars!
April 4 – Our annual Easter Egg Hunt featuring lawn games, kids’ activities, and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
April 5 – Easter Brunch from 10am–2pm, followed by a special Easter dinner menu in the Palm Restaurant.
April 24 – Ahoy, mateys! Join us for a Pirate Party poolside at 6pm featuring a pirate show and mermaids. Fireworks to follow at 9:15pm.
May 10 – Mother’s Day – Treat Mom to brunch or a special dinner in the Palm Restaurant.
May 23 – Here Comes Summer! A Jimmy Buffett tribute band poolside at 6pm, with cheeseburgers and margaritas on tap.
May 25 – Memorial Day Pool Party featuring a DJ, waterslides, and great food.
May 27 – Wine Dinner in the Suntree Room with Chef Edgar.
June 4 – Trivia Night in the Magnolia Room. Gather your team and come play!
June 13 – Tea Party at 11am in the Heritage Room. Limited seating—please sign up early.
Contact the Events Department to help plan your next special occasion! We can’t wait to see you around!
Lucy Paulson Director of Events
Lucy Paulson D IRECTOR OF E VENTS
As we move past the historically cold winter, the promise of spring is in the air at Suntree Country Club! Golfers are gearing up for an exciting season, and April brings some highly anticipated events: The Magnolia Invitational, our newest men’s member-guest tournament, along with the Men’s and Ladies Club Championships.
The start of 2026 has also brought some exciting updates around the Club. Our new EzLocator system now provides daily pin sheets—paper copies will be available with the starter on the 1st tee, or you can access them conveniently
Austin Lane H EAD G OLF P ROFESSIONAL
on your phone via the app. For those looking to freshen up their wardrobe, the Golf Shop is fully stocked—stop in to see what’s new!
We look forward to a season full of great golf, camaraderie, and memorable moments at Suntree.
TOURNAMENT Results
2026 Couples Championship
Overall Net ChampiON: Kristin Moore & Kerry Stinson
Overall GrOss ChampiON: Patricia & Paul Weiss
FliGht 1 ChampiONs: Kelly & Steve Wind
FliGht 2 ChampiONs: Andi & Dave Munson
FliGht 3 ChampiONs: Jean & Keith Osthus
FliGht 4 ChampiONs:
Lesley & Michael Lewis
TOURNAMENT Results
Ladies Suntree Cup
Overall ChampiONs:
Darien Lawrence & Patricia Weiss
GrOss ChampiONs:
Shelley Ivers & Lisa Stirtzinger
FliGht 1 ChampiONs:
Ann Pierce & Debra Romanos
FliGht 2 ChampiONs:
Lois Heuchert & Taylor Malishenko
FliGht 3 ChampiONs:
Stacey Kouzelos & Kelly Wind
FliGht 4 ChampiONs:
Liz Camp & Beth Shorr
Men’s Suntree Cup
Overall ChampiONs:
Jim Curley & Ray Rodriguez
FliGht 1 ChampiONs:
Ken Dawson & Scott Stewart
FliGht 2 ChampiONs:
Robert Gatto & Robert Lattig
FliGht 3 ChampiONs: Gordon Franza & Bob Maust
FliGht 4 ChampiONs:
Daniel Lundquist & Taylor Matheny
FliGht 5 ChampiONs:
Matthew Billings & Dick Rossetti
FliGht 6 ChampiONs:
Tom Baptiste & Dennis Moore
FliGht 7 ChampiONs:
Terry Geraghty & David Lewis
FliGht 8 ChampiONs:
Jim Curley & Ray Rodriguez
FliGht 9 ChampiONs:
Dale Bottom & Bryan Holm
FliGht 10 ChampiONs: Mike Dickun & Dave Pruiett
Overall ChampiONs:
Lea Anne Richard & Lainy McKain
GrOss ChampiONs:
Patricia Weiss & Helga Lind
FliGht 1 ChampiONs:
Maureen Koerwer & Kelly Gregor
FliGht 2 ChampiONs:
Lisa Stirtzinger & Lisa Lewis
Upcoming Events: Ladies Member-Guest
FliGht 3 ChampiONs:
Carolyn Hough & Pam Howell
FliGht 4 ChampiONs:
Brenda Hyde & Andrea Karlin
FliGht 5 ChampiONs:
Pat Matthews & Jan Eavenson
FliGht 6 ChampiONs:
Patty Sollitto & Patti Coggins
April 9-11
Magnolia Invitational
April 16
Awards Happy Hour & Putting Championship
April 18,19, 25, 26
Men’s Club Championship
April 24-26
Ladies Club Championship
May 1-3
Suntree Challenge
May 25 Memorial Day Golf Event
July 4
The 4th Golf Event
July 11
Super-Intendents Revenge
RACQUET CENTER News
Members, Spring is in the air, and we have an action-packed quarter ahead of us here at the Racquets facility! It’s a beautiful time of year to be out on the courts, and we have plenty happening out there!
TENNIS News
Space Coast Tennis League
Women: Thursdays 9:00am
Mixed Doubles: Tuesdays 7:00pm
Senior Women: Mondays 9:30 and 11:00am
USTA Teams: There are a number of Women’s, Men’s, and Mixed teams that will be forming for the summer, so please contact Claudia to find out more details at Claudia.santos@ suntree.com.
Social Play: Senior men have a group that plays on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. We have a working women’s group that plays on Saturday mornings at 9:30am. Men’s groups are playing on Monday nights as well as Friday and Sunday mornings. If these times fit your schedule, please contact us and we will put you in touch with the organizers of those groups.
Junior Program: Our junior program will be in full force with all levels included.
10 & Under: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30–5:30pm & 5:30–6:30pm (age dependent)
Green Ball Tennis: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30–5:30pm Junior Elite: Mondays–Thursdays 5:30–7:00pm
Please schedule a time with our Junior Director, Tom Knights (tom.knights@suntree.com), to find the right class for your child.
Cardio with Claudia: Claudia hosts a fast-paced cardio class every Saturday morning from 8:00–9:30am. Contact her for more information or if you wish to sign up! (Claudia.santos@ suntree.com)
Events: Men’s & Women’s Singles Tennis Club Championships May 29 & 30. We are looking forward to a great turnout! There will be a courtside bar for the Friday night matches and a celebration after the event on the Veranda with a pasta and pizza buffet.
Suntree Tri-Sport Challenge: Grab a couple of friends and sign up for this weekend of Tennis, Golf, and Pickleball! A team of two or three players competes against each other to see who is the best Tri-Sport team here at the Club! This event is planned for the weekend of June 26th–28th.
Men’s Intraclub League: We usually have four teams of 10–14 guys that play on Thursday nights over a 10-week period. It’s all played here on site. This has been a popular tradition over the last few years.
Paul Davis D IRECTOR OF R ACQUET S PORTS
Memorial Day Mixer May 25: Contact Claudia to sign up early! Claudia.santos@suntree.com
We hold quarterly exhibition matches, so keep an eye out on your Club calendars and Racquet Sports E-News to see when the next one will be held.
We have the beverage cart out Tuesday–Friday evenings, so even if you are not playing, come on out and have a beverage and enjoy some tennis or pickleball!
Racquet stringing available! Remember, a good rule of thumb is you need to re-string as many times a year as you play per week. So if you play three (3) times per week, then you should re-string three (3) times per year, or every four (4) months.
PICKLEBALL News
The action has been picking up at the pickleball courts! We have competitive women’s league play on Wednesday mornings and mixed league play on Friday nights.
XGlosive Pickleball is back! May 16th, Suntree will be hosting XGlosive Pickleball. It’s a fast-moving night of play with a DJ and mobile bar, so don’t miss this event!
For those of you interested in social play, we have a guy’s group on Monday nights and a mixed group on Wednesday nights.
New programming like Pickleball Cardio and Luck-of-theDraw nights will be implemented by our new Pickleball Professional, Ian Kalman. So don’t hesitate to reach out to Ian for information on what’s going on here at the Club or to schedule a lesson to improve your skills!
Important Contact Information
Pro Shop 321.242.6242
Paul Davis Director of Racquet Sports paul.davis@suntree.com
Claudia Santos Facilities Manager and Assistant Tennis Professional claudia.santos@suntree.com
Tom Knights Director of Junior Tennis tom.knights@suntree.com
Ian Kalman Head Pickleball Professional Ian.kalman@suntree.com
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Ian Kalman
Hello Members!
I’m incredibly excited for the spring season here at Suntree Country Club. From day one, the members have made me feel right at home, and I’m truly grateful for the warm welcome into the Suntree family. The energy and enthusiasm for pickleball throughout the Club have been amazing to see, and it’s been a joy getting to know so many players on and off the courts. Spring is always a special time for growth, improvement, and connection, and I couldn’t be more excited to experience it together.
As we head into the season, I’m looking forward to expanding our pickleball programming with more weekly clinics designed to help players of all levels improve their skills and confidence. I’m also excited to see continued growth in our open play groups, especially with more members joining our Men’s Open Play on Monday nights, as well as our Wednesday Mixed Doubles Open Play nights. These sessions are a great way to have fun, learn, and build community, and I can’t wait to keep creating fun, competitive, and welcoming opportunities for everyone this Spring!
We are excited to see our members utilizing the Club and bringing their friends and family as guests to see just why Suntree Country Club is the place to be!
We had a wonderful time in March at our New Member Welcome Reception. We host this event quarterly and it is a great opportunity for new members to meet not only other new members, but our Directors, Board Members, and some Committee Members as well! We are excited to see so many new faces around the Club – please help me in making our new members feel welcomed!
Anna Collins
D IRECTOR OF M EMBERSHIP
As a reminder to all new and long-time members, please take a moment to review the Club’s Rules and Regulations and Bylaws that you have agreed to uphold. These can be found on the Member Website under “My Club” then “Club Resources”. The guest policies & dress code are the areas we receive the most questions.
Wanting to know what events might be happening next at the Club? Make sure to check your email for the weekly E-News publications that highlight weekly food & beverage specials, upcoming events, important announcements and more. Three publications are distributed weekly, and you can select which ones you may/may not want to receive under your profile settings on the Member Portal. In addition to these weekly periodicals, be on the lookout for the monthly Membership Matters newsletter. In this monthly email update, I post the new applicants pending approval, welcome the newest members, highlight member referrals and more!
Your Club experience is truly what you make of it. The more you engage, the more rewarding it becomes. We’d love to see you at upcoming events, host celebrations in our banquet spaces, and enjoy our weekly dining features. Get involved, make memories, and make the most of your membership, and if you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Thank You,
Anna Collins Director of Membership
Mon. – Fri. 9am-5pm | anna.collins@suntree.com 321-242-6252
AROUND THE CLUB Photos
FOOD & BEVERAGE News
The Food & Beverage Team appreciates the continued patronage of the Membership and is always delighted to see you join us here at the Club for lunch or dinner, or while attending one of our many events. We so look forward to the fabulous weather associated with the Spring season and welcoming back our diners who prefer to sit outside on the Veranda or at the pool bar and pavilion locations.
If you have not done so lately, we would love to have you enjoy lunch or dinner here at the Club. Our Executive Sous Chef, Edgar Lopez, recently implemented new lunch and dinner menus with some great variety. He and his leadership team continue to craft creative features each week. We have also added a new PUB menu that offers fun, shareable appetizers that you will certainly enjoy at the bar.
While certainly not required, we continue to encourage reservations for dining at the Clubhouse so we may ensure we can accommodate you upon arrival. We plan our staffing daily according to reservations so that we are neither understaffed nor overstaffed. Impromptu diners are always welcome, but you may be asked to start your evening in the bar as we arrange for our team to deliver an exceptional service experience. We will seat you as soon as possible should that occur. We offer reservations for dinner through 9:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday, which may be made by calling the Clubhouse, online, or through the app.
Jim Tills
F OOD & B EVERAGE D IRECTOR
In addition, if you are planning a large gathering at your table, you may want to consider requesting two tables next to each other to accommodate you and your guests. You will find it easier to have conversations and receive more prompt service for both your table while also helping to mitigate any impact on other Members dining with us that evening. If not, that is perfectly fine; however, if so, please note that request in your reservation and we will be happy to accommodate you.
We are finalizing several fun events to complement your à la carte dining experiences, so please keep an eye out for our weekly Social e-News email sent out on Mondays for more information and instructions on how to make reservations for the events you would like to participate in. Some of the highlights include our traditional brunches and dinners celebrating Easter and Mother’s Day, as well as BINGO!, wine tastings, a wine dinner, and a fun, not-to-be-missed Pirate Party.
Thank you again for your participation with the Club, and we continue to strive to deliver a great experience for you each time you are here. We look forward to seeing you at the Club. Thank You, Jim Tills Director of Food & Beverage
