A PUBLICATION OF WICHITA COUNTRY CLUB FOURTH QUARTER 2017
TRIBUTE TOJOHN TABLE TALK ROUND UP REVIEW MEET THE SMITHS
wichitacountryclub.org GM LETTER HOURS & STAFF
HOURS OF SERVICE
Thank you for Murra Room Accounting Office helping us make WCC Tuesday–Friday...... 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Friday...... 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday...... 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday...... 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Men’s Grill great every day! Tuesday–Sunday...... 11 a.m.–6 p.m. After a fun-filled summer, we are now transitioning into one of the best Auerbach Room Tuesday–Saturday...... 11 a.m.–2 p.m. times of the year at the Club. Fire up the s’mores, get ready for cooler 6 p.m.–10 p.m. weather, and enjoy all we have to offer as Wichita Country Club heads Sunday...... 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 6 p.m.–9 p.m. into the holidays! Auerbach Lounge Looking back on my first five months in the new role, I’ve learned Tuesday–Sunday...... 5 p.m.–? that things never really slow down. School of Sport just wrapped up its most successful year yet, rounds of golf are trending upward, usage at STAFF INFORMATION Tennis & Fitness continues to climb, and our F&B team is leading the way with creative ideas and nonstop events. Brian White...... General Manager Sheryl Bruce...... Controller [email protected] [email protected] Speaking of Food and Beverage, Executive Chef Kurt LeVardi and his Phillip Prude...... PGA Golf Professional Darian Tjaden...... Event Coordinator team in the kitchen have been hard at work creating a dining experience [email protected] [email protected] that offers all the things our members desire. From the amazing weekly Carlton Dove...... Director of Player Development Ace Reed...... Member Dining Manager specials to exciting happy hour appetizers, there is definitely a positive [email protected] [email protected] vibe going on in the kitchen. To top it off, our 100-percent-made-from- Chris Ryan...... Golf Course Superintendent Chris Romero...... Banquet Manager scratch desserts are off the charts. If you haven’t tried the butter cake, I [email protected] [email protected]
Rex Coad...... Head Tennis Professional highly recommend you save room next time you dine with us! Sam Pechin...... Men’s Grill & [email protected] After getting off to a slow start, the golf course has never been better. Locker Room Manager [email protected] Chris Ryan and his crew are consistently providing tournament-quality Drake Krause...... Fitness Center Evening Manager [email protected] conditions on a daily basis. Firm and fast is the goal, and so far they are Matt Hagnauer...... Beverage Manager [email protected] delivering. For as good as the summer was, the course only gets better Arin Benjamin...... Group Exercise Coordinator [email protected] Randy McVay...... Director of Aquatics in the fall! The real test of the tournament conditions was our annual [email protected] Mike Rittmueller...... Clubhouse Manager Round Up member-guest event. Once again, this was a great time to [email protected] Rebecca Ingram...... Director of Club for Kids showcase the Club for members and their guests. No worries if you [email protected] Kurt LeVardi...... Executive Chef missed it, Phillip and the rest of the pros still have plenty of events left [email protected] Ron Ross...... Chief Engineer that you don’t want to miss. [email protected] Tamara Meckstroth...... Membership Director [email protected] Not to be outdone, Tennis and Fitness continues to offer a first- Lyman Reese...... Director of Security
class experience day in and day out. Rex and his team are constantly Kelly Flynn...... Member Relations Coordinator Golf [email protected] looking for the best offerings to meet your needs. Recent additions to [email protected] the facility were two new stair climbers. After a solid eight years, the old stair climbers had all they could handle. CLUB PHONE NUMBERS
Thank you to those of you who participated in our member Main Clubhouse...... 316.634.2882 experience survey. We appreciate your thoughtful responses. This was Golf Shop...... 316.634.0412 Golf Course Maintenance...... 316.634.3910 a productive exercise for our team and we are working on action plans Tennis & Fitness Center...... 316.634.0135 to continue to make your experience the best it can be. Club Fax...... 316.634.1187 Golf Shop Fax...... 316.634.1493 In closing, thank you for your continued support of Wichita Country Club. We have a great schedule of events in the months ahead.
Brian White wichitacountryclub.org
2 General Manager WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Nicholas Bonavia (Regular) Sue Michaelis (Associate, Legacy) SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY Brandon Haag & Mike Ward M.D. Michaelis & John Cooper
John & Susan Cantele (Non-Resident) James & Diane Pennoyer (Corporate), SPONSORED BY James Pennoyer IV (22) and Olivia (19) Steve Gebert & Rolf Gunderson SPONSORED BY Russell Meyer, Charles Chandler & David Urban Jim & Tricia Faith (Corporate), Marcus Baysinger (23) William Raymond (Regular) SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY M.D. Michaelis & David Urban Stephen Dunne & Steven Meadows
Michael & Teresa Grier (Regular, Legacy) Rob & Elyse Scholl (Corporate), SPONSORED BY Marisa (10) and Nate (7) John Shawver & Scott Hatchett SPONSORED BY Russell Meyer, Charles Chandler & David Urban Derrick & Courtney Idbeis (Regular, Legacy), Charlie (5), Jones (4) and Bennett (1) Rob & Hallie Stewart (Regular), SPONSORED BY Braylon (6) and Cameron (5) Dr. Badr Idbeis & W.G. Farha SPONSORED BY Ben Brophy & Rolf Gunderson Dr. Aziz & Mirna Maksoud (Corporate, Associate), Patrick (19), Joseph (16) and Liana (11) Jordan Swan (Associate) SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY Dr. Gregory Byrd & Dr. Tim Richardson Dave Binter & Mike O’Shaughnessy
3 Cheers to the holidays! Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? It has been members under its wings, and it truly pleases me to watch friendships quite the action-packed year and we still have so much to come. This develop and bonds strengthen. As we enter the holiday months, keep an issue will tug on the heartstrings and we hope you enjoy and appreciate eye out for even more Club enhancements, fresh member experiences every detail. The longer I work at WCC, the more evident it is to me and above-and-beyond events. If you haven’t given Brian White an that this place is truly one big, extended family. Specifically looking at enthusiastic high five for rolling into GM like an absolute rock star, I’ll the new families joining, I can’t help but feel connected to them as they tell you where you can find him. The Club has more excitement than enter life at the Club. I feel a sort of obligation to make sure they are I’ve ever seen and I am so happy each and every one of you is a member. aware of the fitness center hours, know they can place to-go orders, understand to take caution after Terrance makes two Club Specials and, Tamara Meckstroth most importantly, I simply want them to feel welcomed. The best news? My mind is at ease. This big, happy family opens arms and takes new Membership Director
Penelope, Crew and Greyson Wasinger with Santa, 2016.
4 Best place to gather this season!
Every Friday Evening
Unwind after shopping Gourmet appetizers
Specialty cocktails Extensive wine list
“ Now that summer is over, having happy hour at various locations inside the Club is exciting and gives us something to look forward to! ” CYNDRA WHIDDON, MEMBER
5 HOMAGE TO MY BUDDY JOHN CLEVENGER BY BRANDON HAAG
I love the game of golf. I love playing, watching, reading and talking about it. It’s my friend, psychologist, adversary and bartender. Most of all, I love the game of golf at WCC. My parents joined the Club in 1983 and that’s when I really started to play. Like many of the kids who participated in School of Sport the past two years, I would practice in the morning, have lunch at the pool and then head back to the course in the afternoon to play nine or 18. Hanging with my buddies, watching the “big” kids go off the high dive and smashing onion 6 GOLF
rings on my cheeseburger are a few of my fondest summer memories. “ My favorite memory, however, of being a kid at WCC is playing evening golf with my dad. I loved spending time walking and talking with him. As I got a little older, I remember how There are two our evening nine-hole matches became more “meaningful” to both of us. I think this is a feeling that’s become well known things you can do to many of us in recent years. But most of all, I loved how golf brought us close to one another. To this day, I can’t help but with your head still feel his warmth as the sun sets and the whole course lights up like a sanctuary. There are two things you can do with your head down — play down—play golf golf and pray. ~Lee Trevino Ironically, I was playing golf and walking off #11 green when and pray. I heard the news John Clevenger had passed away. My playing partner that day, A.J. Gebert, and I tried to collect ourselves for ” a moment at the halfway house before we simply were overcome —LEE TREVINO with grief. We gathered each other up and headed back to the clubhouse before racing home to be with our families. We have those brief flashes in our lives we always remember and that moment is certainly one we’ll never forget. My thoughts that day quickly turned to the Clevenger family and how we might be able to help them. Knowing they had a wonderful support system around them, we did our best to try and lift them up with thoughts and prayers. On Sunday afternoon, Brian White, Allan Dunne, Ben Brophy and I went over to see Kristen and the kids. The opportunity to grieve, hug and share a brief story helped reduce some of the weight on my shoulders. Eventually, the conversation in the kitchen turned to golf. Jason Searl and John’s brother, Chris, mentioned they might have time on Tuesday morning to get in a round of golf. We said our goodbyes and tentatively planned to see each other CLEVENGER early that morning. As we were leaving the house and returning to the Club, Brad Elliott asked me if I would grab something out of John’s golf bag from a round they had played together the previous weekend. In my opinion, there are few items more personal to someone than their golf clubs. We talk to them, hold them, know just how far each one will go and they’re wrapped like a Christmas present every time we see them. We do not share them; they’re ours. When we returned to WCC, Charles brought out John’s golf bag for me. There they were, there he was. Overcome with heartache, I couldn’t help but want something tangible and personal of John’s. I opened his pocket of golf balls and grabbed one of his brand new, personalized Titleists. On the side of this 7 bright white #76 Titleist was his personalized tag, “CLVDG.” I We stepped up on #17 tee with a slight breeze at our backs. was able to crack a smile reading this as I thought of my good Nothing too severe, maybe a half-club help. It was my honor friend and his self-proclaimed moniker written in cryptic text. and I lasered the distance at 185 yards. The pin was almost CLEV DOG! halfway up into the green or about 40 feet from the front collar. Teeing it up early that Tuesday morning, we all needed the It was positioned right of middle and just before the green falls game of golf to be a brief respite from everything happening off to the far back-right portion. outside our white walls. Out first, I played with Chris Clevenger, I grabbed a 6 iron and hit a slight cut. The pin was Allan Dunne and Ben Brophy. Behind us were Brad Elliott, approachable from the left side, so this shot shape seemed Doug Malone, Jason Searl and John’s Dad, Tom Clevenger. As like the best way to get it close. The ball looked good in the we strolled those first several holes, we told a few stories, but air, but there were no proclamations or statements made. We mostly it was a time of reflection. Golf is predominately a game respectfully watched and waited. My ball landed about 15 feet comprised of self-thought wrapped around a few seconds of short of the hole and started rolling up the green toward the activity. We made our way around the golf course enjoying each flag. This time, however, the ball didn’t stop short or clank off other’s company and thinking about John. He’s what brought the pin. It went in. We strained our eyes looking for the ball to us together that Tuesday morning, playing the game we love at be behind the pin or sitting in a low portion of the green, but the place we treasure. it was gone. This was my first hole-in-one and honestly, I’m not Nothing golf-related was inherently memorable that morning. sure I had anything to do with it. We weren’t there to play golf. We were there because we all I wish I could elevate this story one more level and tell you loved John and this was the closest we could get to him at that I hit the CLVDG golf ball, but I didn’t dare scuff it up or lose moment on that day. it. However, as we walked up to the green, eyes full of tears, My group played the black tees, walked and carried our own all of us were with John and he was with us at that moment bags. These facts are only important to share because John was on that day. a purist and he would have wanted it this way. I share with To our dear friend, Clev, thanks for playing a round of golf absolute certainty that if John wanted something done a specific with us, one more time. way, it was best to move in that direction. Miss you buddy. 8 GOLF
EDITOR’S NOTE: A WCC board member for a second term at the time of his passing this summer, John Clevenger first served on the board of directors from 2009- 2011 and was Club president in 2011. Most recently, he led our capital planning committee and co-chaired the pool and golf course renovations. John was extremely passionate about the Club and its future growth and well being. He will be greatly missed. 9 HOTTESTTABLE TOWN
10 HOTTESTTABLE TOWN
11 A new season is in full swing and here at Wichita Country Club that The Chef Committee acts as a sounding board for Chef ’s culinary means freshening things up with a new fall menu. Executive Chef Kurt visions. One of the first dishes committee members were introduced to LeVardi and his culinary team have crafted a menu based on seasonal is Chef ’s adventurous revival of veal liver and slab bacon. Chef quickly influence, Club favorites and local pride. Arriving at a new menu is made them believers, as the slab bacon is smoked in-house, creating a a road Chef has traveled, and this season he had a Chef Committee sweet smoky dance outside the kitchen doors. along for the ride. House-smoked bacon. House-cut, local Creekstone beef. The Chef Committee was built to be a voice of the Membership Handcrafted desserts. These are just a few of the extraordinary things here at WCC. “It’s very apparent a lot of thought was given to the that set the Club’s kitchen above others. “I enjoy food and wine and demographics of the committee” notes Jeff Kice, a member of the would like to see WCC be the dining destination in Wichita,” says committee. “I believe the membership was well represented by everyone Michael Reilly, a member of the WCC Chef Committee. “It should be on the committee. It has been a great group to be a part of with everyone the place to see and be seen. My dream is to have people joining the having the best interest of the Club and Membership in mind.” Club for the food first.” 12 FOOD & BEVERAGE
Another standout dish this season is the chicken & shrimp Elisabeth. Unchanged on the new menu is a choice selection of your Club It’s hard not to love pasta that’s brimming with slow-roasted peppers, favorites. Continue enjoying our harvest protein salad, smoked turkey vibrant broccoli crowns, ribbons of fresh basil and shaved Parmesan sandwich and the mini mignons, just to name a few. The perfect cheese. This perfectly balanced pasta is an invitation to Club diners to symphony of Club classics and new innovations are what really make gather their loved ones around the tables of WCC and be comforted by this menu shine. the stellar concoctions coming out of the Club kitchen. Whether you choose to visit the Club’s dining rooms for some light “As a member of the committee, I’ve appreciated the opportunity, bites or a hearty autumn meal, we hope you’ll try the new menu. “Chef along with other committee members, to develop ideas to innovate the Kurt and his team are making strides in the kitchen,” notes Reilly, “and WCC dining experience,” says Raffaele Fazio, “and the food tastings are I hope we can keep that exciting momentum so members will think of a bonus too.” Included in these coveted samplings have been colorful WCC as the hottest table in town.” It’s a table we’re sure you’ll leave full vegetables like candy-striped beets, heirloom cherry tomatoes and and with every last taste bud satisfied. squash scattered throughout the menu, along with pops of pumpkin and specials every week that keep Membership on their toes.
Special thanks to members Lori Bowlin, Sheryl Cooper, Raffaele Fazio, Jeff Kice and Mike Reilly for the time you gave to our deep dive into the world of WCC F&B! You made a great Chef’s Committee! 13 made 14 scratch “ My passion stems from making people happy through food. If I can put a smile on faces from my baked goods, I’ll open the oven every single day. ”
-Pastry Chef Shelby
15 FOOD & BEVERAGE
Shelby Wade Pastry Chef
16 We can’t blame you if you’ve suddenly become obsessed with what exciting twist in Shelby’s culinary world. She was inspired. “Spending comes after the main course at dinner hour. Chef Shelby Wade is time equally on the line and in the bakery gave me inspiration on both absolutely conquering our baked goods. Kentucky bourbon pecan pie, sides to create new and exciting treats.” in-house whipped cream and infamous gooey butter cake, just to name Pulling inspiration from anywhere she can, a specific Club favorite a few, our house-made desserts have been elevated to a new level. Sweet came from her best English-born “mate” and mentor, Victoria. Our tooths rejoice! sticky toffee pudding is a decadent English dessert Chef Shelby Chef Shelby has occupied the world of ovens and sauté pans since perfected after working closely with Victoria. And oh, are we thankful 2010 when she graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School for this perfection! Sweet deglet nor date cake topped with butterscotch in St. Louis. But her kitchen adventures didn’t start there. Always ice cream and smothered—oops, finished, with a warm brown sugar finding herself playing sous chef in her younger years, Shelby says her and butter sauce. Gasp. grandmother and father were huge influencers who encouraged her to If you have the opportunity to meet Shelby, ask for a taste of follow her passion. whatever she is creating at the moment. She is continuously whipping Starting an internship with Ritz-Carlton straight out of culinary up a new creation to sample and, thankfully, there are plenty of taste school, Chef Shelby was quickly hired on as a fulltime baker under the testers at the Club to assist with feedback, not that she needs it. As executive pastry chef there. Meet ooey gooey, soft and chewy butter sweet as the treats themselves, Chef Shelby is kind and a joy to be cake. Transformed and perfected since 2011, let us just take a moment around. We are looking forward to tasting what the new seasons spark to say if you have not yet experienced the sensation that is butter cake, in her Kitchen-Aid and don’t blame you if you double up on desserts grab the car keys and call Izzy to put in your order. this holiday season. Two years later, Shelby found an opportunity she couldn’t resist in “My passion stems from making people happy through food. If I Branson, Missouri. Big Cedar Lodge placed her both in the kitchen and can put a smile on faces from my baked goods, I’ll open the oven every the bakery. A change of environment, fast pace and fresh recipes put an single day.”—Pastry Chef Shelby 17 TAMARA MECKSTROTH MEETS THE SMITHS.
With a lifestyle more active than most, Shelby and Betty Smith are Chatting it up with Darian before sitting down to talk about life nothing short of impressive. If you haven’t had the pleasure of talking at WCC, Betty turns and greets me with a sparkly flower box full of with them, you can catch them in the Murra room, down by the pool, Russell Stover chocolates and a quick story about her friend from high in the fitness center or out on the tennis courts. They’ve been married school from the Stover family who, can you believe it, hates chocolate. for 65 years, have 12 grandkids and still find time for each other. The Through the door quicker than I could respond, she meets calm and Club has been a part of their lives for 36 years. collected Shelby in the living room where we pick our spot to chat. 18 LIFESTYLE
Both dressed to the nines, the Smiths are so in sync and you can’t help but admire that they’ve been together for more than 65 years. Before I could ask one question, Betty proudly shares Shelby’s amazing career with me. Right out of college at KU and after the war, he worked for “ the FBI for eight years. The Smiths married in 1951 as soon as Betty The Club graduated college and didn’t even have time for a honeymoon. Shelby had his first case with the FBI in Atlanta and from there they moved to became and New York. Shelby received his master’s degree in banking and finance from NYU and they welcomed three beautiful children, Leslie, Liz and continues to be Skip, into their lives. Shelby’s journey with the FBI ended when he received a phone call an extension of from Boeing Wichita. They were looking for an FBI agent to head security for the company. This was the perfect opportunity for their home. circle of five to head back to friends and family in Kansas. Shelby returned first and purchased their Kansas home right away. He called ” Betty and said, “Betty, I bought a house and it was $13,500.” Betty responded, “That’s it? I’m not going to live there.” Shelby spent 18 -Betty Smith years with Boeing before serving as Lieutenant Governor of Kansas for four years. Today, two more children and 60 years later, they still call that $13,500 house in College Hill their home. As the children grew and sports became a family focus, the Smiths joined the Wichita Country Club. Sons Skip, Kent and Stratton were aces on the tennis courts. They were state tennis champions in high school and attended college on tennis scholarship at Colorado University. Summer pool days were constant and Sunday-night chicken dinners created endless memories. Many, many birthdays, anniversaries and holidays were spent at the Club and they say they couldn’t imagine life any other way. Now in a different season, the Smiths frequent WCC multiple times a month. Betty, who seems, with her fast pace and drive, as if she could run a marathon, enjoys “putt-putt golf ” every other Tuesday with her lady friends and Shelby frequents the fitness center. When our conversation switched to dining Betty piped in about how much she loves the new pools. “The diaper crowd is really booming down there!” She explains it’s wonderful to see so many young families joining the Club because several of them are children and grandchildren of her close friends. Sitting close, Shelby and Betty shared many memories and smiled about all the friends they’ve made over the years. I asked if there was anything else they would like to share with me and Shelby was quick to respond, “Have I really had anything to say?” If you know these two, you’ll chuckle just as I did.
19 Congratulations to our winners, Matt Lazzo and his guest, John Schierbaum.
20 21 Seven years ago a group of WCC ladies decided it would be fun to begin a new activity together. They settled on tennis. With little to no experience, they came to WCC Head Tennis Professional Rex Coad with a mission: to have fun and enjoy learning something new. Little did they know how much their hard work would pay off. Determined to grow to a level where their team could be competitive, lessons continued and they practiced often. But it wasn’t simply their game that grew over the years. Co-Captain Shawna Geist shares, “Our group of ladies all genuinely love and support each other. We’d all do anything for one another, on or off the court. We truly enjoy being with each other.” 22 TENNIS & FITNESS
Fast forward to 2017, team “316” set a goal to make it to a national They persevered. Team “316” is heading to nationals. competition and their perseverance and hard work brought them to Talk about a success story! “Excitement is an understatement,” Mindi sectionals. “We have such an amazing, supportive team. It’s not about explains. “In the finals, our last two courts finished at about the same the individuals…the ladies all put the team first and cheer on whomever time. We had no idea we’d won sectionals until the entire rest of the happens to be on the court,” explains Co-Captain Mindi Chance. team came running out onto the courts! It was an amazing moment! Competing at the 3.5 level, the ladies knew they had to give it their We might all still be in shock!” all. There were two pools of four teams. In the first match they found This incredible group of women has grown on the court and as themselves down love-40 in the fourth game. They lost the first two friends and they now head to Surprise, Arizona, October 6-8 to matches but giving up was not an option. Determined to go to nationals compete at the 3.5 level. Be sure to congratulate them as they prepare Mindi and Shawna pushed and rallied the team and friends and family for a once-in-a lifetime experience. back home eagerly awaited the results.
23 8501 E. 13th Street North Prsrt Std Wichita, Kansas 67206 US Postage PAID Wichita KS Permit #411
MEET AT THE MURAL Step aside members. Your Club staff had to get in on the action of meeting at the mural. Featuring local pride are Chris Ryan, Tamara Meckstroth, Kelly Flynn, Mike Ritmueller, Ron Ross, Brian White, Kurt LeVardi, Phillip Prude, Darian Tjaden and Sheryl Bruce.
STAY CONNECTED WITH WCC. IN LOVING MEMORY.
Like us on Facebook at Wichita Country Club, follow us on Twitter @TheWichitaCC, Mr. John Clevenger, find us on Instagram at wichitacountryclub, and check out our website for information Mr. Jay Decker, about upcoming events, daily specials and everything in between. Mr. Jack Griggs
Wichita Country Club @TheWichitaCC wichitacountryclub wichitacountryclub.org