SEPTEMBER 2020 ISSUE: 7 DRIVE THE MAGAZINE OF HIDDEN VALLEY GOLF CLUB In this month’s issue 1 BIG FLOP TOURNAMENT RESULTS BUYER BEWARE members will come to see and appreciate the From The President’s camaraderie that the golf club offers. While everything we do at HVGC orbits golf, the real Desk value many of us get is the fellowship, friendship and family aspect of our games, tournaments and social events. For me, as I am sure with many of you, I think of golf as a sport To put it mildly, this has that has gotten me through a lot been a memorable of highs and lows but when I summer at HVGC. really think about it, it's the people I am playing with that In September, I'd like to provide that support, guidance make it a point to ask and oftentimes mentorship. So everyone to take as much for our long time members, take sand as you can out onto a minute to introduce yourself to the course and fill divots. the new faces you see around the We all want the course to club in the coming weeks and be in better shape and months. They are the future of everyone has their ideas HVGC. And to the new members on how to make this all I can say is listen, learn and happen (those board most importantly participate. meetings don't go three Most of the time it might seem hours for nothing) but one like just another round of golf thing we can all do is take but after awhile you'll find that out a sand bottle or ten Eric Kranz when you need a hand, the members at and fill a fairways worth of our club are always happy to help. divots. When you get the President, HVL Golf Club You'll discover that those tournaments, fairway done, fix some skins games and emergency nines have ball marks on the greens. grown into a support system every bit If we all respect the course as strong and close as any family. we can improve the conditions without spending a dime. We all need to get back to Last bit of advice for all of our new members treating this golf course like it's our home away under 30... cash is king. No one knows what from home. Venmo is! Which reminds me of something a friend said last week during an outing. She mentioned how great it was that we had such a great group of people to enjoy a hobby with. It got me thinking about the past few weeks at Hidden Valley. We've sadly had a few deaths over the summer, held an incredibly touching memorial and dedication ceremony for Dan Stewart, seen some long time members move away and on the flip side have seen an influx of newer younger members. I hope and trust that these new 2 clubs and try new brands of balls. Use this time From The Pro Shop to venture out of your comfort zone and hone in on what works best for you. This is a perfect time to experiment with new gear, new Fall is actually a great time to play HVGC. The techniques and pick up skills you’ve been afraid golf course is usually in its best shape. It’s also a to try. perfect setting to improve your skills and prepare for DON’T FORGET TO WARM-UP next year’s season. The AND STRETCH following are some Fall The colder weather can affect golf tips that you might your game if you aren’t want to consider as you adequately warmed up and brush up on your skillset prepared for the activity. during the colder weather. Remember to take a little bit more time warming up before LAYER CLOTHING the game, focusing especially The Fall brings a variety of on your limbs. Injuries can weather conditions that happen quickly when you can change unexpectedly. aren’t properly warmed up You’ll want to be prepared and golfing injuries can take a long so you aren’t caught off- time to heal, which would really Brian Krinsky guard, especially if you’re impede your Fall golfing intentions. underdressed for the afternoon. The best PGA Pro, HVL Golf Club USE A SOFTER GOLF BALL solution for this time of Temperature can certainly affect your year is to layer your golf ball. The colder it gets, the less clothing. We still see plenty of warm feel you have. By playing with a softer ball, you afternoons, so shorts and short sleeve shirts can retain some of the feel that you are used to might be a great option, but bring a light-weight around the greens. You might not hit the ball as jacket and some long pants, just in case. Check far as normal, but you might score by retaining out the HVGC Pro Shop for some great options! your touch and feel. Check out the HVGC Pro Shop for some great choices! PLAY SHORTER GAMES MORE OFTEN With the daylight hours decreasing, it limits the CLUB UP hours you can play. If you want to make sure Cooler temperatures don’t allow for the ball to you get your practice in each week, consider travel as far, so if you are in-between-clubs on playing shorter games more often. Perhaps an approach shot, always club up so you can get playing 9-holes four days a week makes more it there. Also be aware that colder weather will sense and you’ll still get the practice time you’d firm up the course, and you will get plenty of normally get during the long days of summer. roll off of your drive - you could be playing from unfamiliar places. Just remember this TRY SHOTS YOU NORMALLY DON’T TAKE when you are approaching the green—your ball With less people on the course, you’ll have more can roll through and off the green. time possibly at each hole, less pressure to move the game along quickly. Try those shots you’ve dreamed of taking, practice with new 3 BRING HAND WARMERS, WEAR EAR WARMERS AND And finally, look around. The Fall colors here WEAR HATS are incredible. Take a deep breath of the crisp There is no need to worry about looks and fall air and remind yourself why you love living whether you will be ridiculed for using hand here. Enjoy the round—it could be your last one warmers - you are already a golf warrior for for a while. being out there. You should have hand and ear warmers in your golf bag just in case. You want to be comfortable and not think about your September Pro Shop Hours frozen ears during your back swing. Keeping your hands warm between shots is a good idea for better feel on the club. Also be sure to keep September 1 - 20: the top of your head warm and wear a hat so you won’t lose any additional stored heat in the Weekdays: Open 7.30am body. Weekends: Open 7.00am KEEP THE FEET WARM September 21 - 30: Look into acquiring waterproof leather shoes to help keep your feet dry. The sock game has Weekdays: Open 8.00am stepped up as well and should absolutely be a Weekends: Open 7.30am part of your plan. Pro tip: Double up on socks on cold or wet days to keep your feet warm and dry. WALK FROM TIME TO TIME No matter your age, staying loose in fall weather is hard to do, unless you are moving. Forget the cart and walk the golf course (if you can). It keeps the muscles limber and you will stay warm. Try to play your round during mid- day when sun is warmest. 4 cannot water everywhere so this limits our CourseTalk ability to reseed everything at the same time so please bear with us and follow the on-course instructions to avoid reseeded areas. Plenty to talk about this month as we head towards the Fall. On the topic of the irrigation system, we have either completed or we are in the process of First and perhaps the most obvious completing repairs to 24 breaks in the lines! development since last That obviously takes a lot of time and month has been the effort but more importantly, it clearing of margins around prevents the maintenance crew from the course. undertaking other work around the course. Again, please understand Thanks to the POA, we that we are all working incredibly gained the use of heavy hard to keep the quality of the course duty brush cutting as high as possible for everyone. equipment that allowed us to tackle getting some of We will be aerifying the greens on our playing areas back! October 5 and 6. Aerification of the aprons and It’s been about 20 years fairways we will since work of that scale Jason Gadd try to get done took place and we will reap in late the benefits of the work Course Superintendant September or done during August for early October. many years to come. Now my big ask to everyone who plays at It has allowed us to restore many of the original Hidden Valley. Please fix ball marks on the sight lines on the course, readjust the hazard greens and fill divots on the fairways. and OB markers back to their historical positions. Don’t just fix your own ball marks or divots, fix any that you see! Every cart is equipped with It also, importantly, improves airflow to the sand/grass seed bottles so please use them.