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2. golf

Blackthorn Club ~ More Than A Great Golf Club . . .
A Great Club For The Entire Family, Where Everyone Feels At Home!
December, 2014
Let me start this month‟s article by saying
“Thank You” for your continued generosity
regarding donations to the Employee
Christmas Fund. I have worked in 9 private
country clubs throughout my career and
am continually amazed at how willing the
vast majority of Member‟s embrace this
voluntary contribution … Again, on behalf
of the entire Blackthorn Club Team, Thank
You!
priority over members who “walk-in” the entire month and especially for New
without reservations. Your cooperation Years Eve, as soon as possible.
with reservations will be greatly appreciated. Reservations for this years New Year‟s Eve
I would also like to take a moment and Celebration is limited to the first 120/130
answer two very prominent questions we Members (and their guests). We fully expect
have been getting concerning New Year‟s for this event to be a SELL OUT so don’t
Eve 2014, here at Blackthorn Club:
delay … As of writing this article we are
Q: “Are Non-Members allowed to make over 30% full already with inquiries starting
to come in on a daily basis. Please do not
reservations and attend this event?”
hesitate and chance being left out of this
A:
Blackthorn
Club
Members
will
have
the
December 2014 is looking to be one of the
great event! Call Jason or Jenn today for
best we have had in many years here at exclusive right to make reservations your reservation! 423-913-2321.
Blackthorn Club. As of writing this article through Saturday, December 20, 2014 As always, I look forward
Blackthorn Club has just a few dates that and are always allowed to invite guests to to seeing you at your
banquet space is available for booking a join them ... A NON-Member wishing to Blackthorn Club.
private holiday gathering for you, your attend the event without a member in their
family or business … if you have a need for party will not to be allowed to make a Shane L. Honaker, CCM
a place to host a private event please call us reservation until Sunday, December 21, General Manager
and check prior to booking elsewhere ... we 2014.
may have events to cancel or reduce in size This means if you, as a Blackthorn Club Member,
so there is a chance we can still wait to make a reservation on or after Sunday,
accommodate your event.
December 21, 2014, you may be told
Blackthorn Club
Welcome
With the amount of private events we have
scheduled throughout December it is
VERY IMPORTANT for ALL members to
remember to make dining reservations
(lunch & dinner) with as much notice as
possible vs. showing up without a
reservation and expecting to be seated right
away. We always allocate space for member
dining but with the amount of private
events being held during the holidays, the
normal amount of free space for “walk-in”
dining will be limited. Please understand,
Members with reservations will be given
“Sorry, we are SOLD OUT!”
Q: “Is alcohol included in the ticket price for this
event?”
A: Simply put, Yes! Both packages offered include
the cost of “House” brand cocktails.
On the following pages of this newsletter
you will find additional information about
New Year‟s Eve and the happenings of the
evening … Please do not hesitate to call us
if you find you have further questions.
In closing I just want to reiterate to each of
you to make your reservations throughout
New Members
Thomas & Camille Burwell
Charles & Shannon Hensley
Rich Holder & Crystal Battle
William & Robin Kelly
Jeff & Kathy Manzagol
Roy & Jan Middleton
Tim & Christina Morgan
Todd & Carolyn Mussard
Gail Nixon & Tamara Rivera
Michael & Melody Trimble
Chef’s Corner,
It‟s that time of the year again when
snow starts to fall (hopefully) and the
eggnog craving kicks in. After all of
the snowball fights and shopping,
come on down to the club to satisfy
those appetites and see whats cooking
at Blackthorn Grille.
Brunch with Santa will be held each
Sunday in December beginning on the
7th. Each week you and your family will
see a plethora of goodies both hot and
cold. House Smoked Salmon with a
Grilled Apple Cream Cheese, Hoisin
Marinated Ahi Tuna accompanied by
Seaweed Salad, Southern Fried
Chicken, Boursin Mashed Potatoes,
Apple Smoked Bacon, Waffles and
Pancakes to name a few items. The Big
Guy himself (I‟m not talking about
Paul Prudhomme) will be here for
photos so be sure to bring your
cameras and snap a picture with him.
To kick off in style, Brunch with Santa,
James Allen, CEC
I will be preparing the Annual Cajun
Turducken. That‟s right, a Turkey
stuffed with a Duck stuffed with a
Chicken stuffed with Boudin Sausage,
with each layer wrapped in Bacon. If
you remember this beast from last year,
it‟s a sight (and a mouthful) not to be
missed so be sure to make plans to join
us December 7th for the Kick-Off to
December Brunch with Santa.
Gingerbread House Decorating will be
on Saturday, December 20th. Bring
down the little architects and let them
go wild on these all ready built, edible
houses with Sweet Tarts, Icing,
Gumdrops and the likes. The fun
starts at 5:00 p.m. with an Adult Buffet
and Kid‟s Buffet. Reservations for
the Gingerbread House Decorating
are a MUST so call today.
On Saturday 27th, let the kids stay up
late and party „til the balloons drop!!!
For those worried about turning the
kids into Night Owls, the balloons
drop at 7:30 p.m. A Kid and Adult
Friendly Buffet will be available as well
as the All-day Menu so make your
reservations and come on down to
help the little ones ring in the new year.
New Year‟s Eve at Blackthorn is a
great way to ring in the New Year.
This year we have changed up the
venue slightly by offering a First Class
Plated Dinner before the party begins.
Filet Au Poivre, Lobster Tail, Truffled
Mashed Potatoes, as well as appetizers
before and late night. With a Chef
Carved Shot Luge, all this great food,
and The Spirit of Soul Band, it‟s sure to
start 2015 off on the
right foot!!!
See you at the club.
Eat Well,
Chef James Allen, CEC
2014 New Year’s Eve Celebration
Reservations & General Information
RESERVATIONS:

Blackthorn Club Members will have the exclusive right to make reservation for New Year’s Eve through Saturday, December 20,
2014. Seating is limited to the first 120 attendees who call … so call immediately to ensure you have a spot reserved! Blackthorn
Club’s Event Cancelation Policy is in affect for this event as outlined below
If Blackthorn Club Members have not reserved all available seating by
Saturday, December 20, 2014, the following will take place:

Starting on Sunday, December 21, 2014, NON Blackthorn Club Members will be allowed to make a reservation for NYE. A NONMember MUST provide a valid credit card at the time of making a reservation and is also accountable to Blackthorn Club’s Event
Cancelation Policy as outlined below
GENERAL INFORMATION:

Attendees with reservations for dinner ($99.00 Dinner & Entertainment Ticket) are requested to arrive for this event starting at 7:00 p.m.
and sit for dinner at their leisure any time between 7:30 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.

Attendees (Members and Non-Members) who purchase a $55.00 ―Entertainment Only Ticket‖ are asked to arrive at the event AFTER
9:00 p.m. Those with this package who arrive prior to 9:00 pm will be charged for all food & beverages consumed prior to 9:00 pm

Event Attendees (Members and Non-Members) who purchase a $55.00 ―Entertainment Only Ticket‖ will be provided a seat/table in the
Pavilion where the entertainment is provided
Reservation Cancelation Policy for New Year’s Eve, 2014
Reservations canceled with less than 72 hours notice from the scheduled start of the event
will be billed at full price to the Member whose name the reservation is made under or
to the credit card provided by a Non-Member
Clubhouse Corner,
Jason Wendt
Holiday goodies have come
early to Blackthorn Club. With
the new fall and winter wine list
now being offered, excess wine
selections from the old list will
be on sale. Another opportunity
for members to fill their personal
cellar, or the perfect gift or cordial passing at
the holiday party.
Brunch with Santa
The new wine list promotes a much worldlier
offering. Varietals from Spain, France, Italy,
Austria and South Africa. On the home front,
tastes from California and Washington state are
sure to get your attention.
Blackthorn Club!
Happy Holidays and Cheers,
Jason Wendt
Clubhouse Manager
Sunday, December
7th, 14th, & 21st
11 am - 2 pm
Santa will be waiting for you at
Santa Brunch Buffet
BRING YOUR CAMERA!
Please call 913-2321 to reserve your seat!
Reservations encouraged!
Children’s New Year’s Eve Celebration
Saturday, December 27, 2014
5 PM to 8 PM
Buffet Dinner Includes
Traditional Salad Bar
Adult Buffet
Blackened Beef Tenderloin
with Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce
Roasted Pork Loin
with a Tasso and Black-Eyed Pea Hash
Twice Baked Potatoes
Green Bean Almandine
Blackthorn Club’s Annual
Gingerbread House
Decorating Party
Saturday, December 20th
5 pm—8 pm
Children’s Buffet
Fried Chicken Tenders
with BBQ & Honey Mustard
Mini corndogs
with Mustard & Ketchup
Individual Pizza (Cheese & Pepperoni)
Dessert Display

Buffet Dinner Available on this night
Party Favors
D.J. Larry Brooks
 Balloon Drop at ―Midnight‖ (about 7:30 PM!!!)
The cost will include dinner and entertainment.
Seating is limited, so make your reservations early
by calling 913-2321
Kids 7 & Under Eat FREE!
Kids 7 & Under Eat FREE
Children: $8++ ~ Adults: $15++
Adults: $17++ ~ Children: $10++
25.00 ++ per Gingerbread House
(House & all decorations provided)
―Gingerbread House‖ Reservations Required

Tee to Green,
Golf Operations
Ball Mark Repair
My tip for the month is less about instruction but
will still improve how much fun you and those
around you have during the course of a round. As
we get into the season the topics I cover in the
following article are the ―fundamentals‖ of etiquette
that players of all skill levels should review and
revisit every year. The number one thing that
people mention and notice on the course are the
number of old ball marks on the greens. Please,
make sure to always fix your ball marks, and at
least one other. Just think if everyone didn’t take
the time to fix their ball marks, there would be over
10,000 ball marks on some greens!!
As important as taking the time to
fix your ball marks is making sure
that they are fixed properly.
Using a divot tool or tee, push the
outer edges of the ball mark in
towards the ―crater‖ left by the ball
(as pictured below.) DO NOT use
the tee or divot tool to pull the crater up from the
roots. This manner of fixing ball marks actually
damages the greens system worse than not fixing
them at all! If you are unsure of how to do it please
feel free to ask any staff member for a
demonstration. It is nothing to be embarrassed
about, some of the most skilled golfers do not
understand or put into practice the proper way to fix
ball marks.
Graham Enloe
allows our locker room attendant to clean them
after each use. The lockers are even more
convenient in the summer time when you can keep
a pair of swim trunks and/or extra towels in your
locker in case you want to stop by the pool after
golf. The fee for a locker is only $125+ a year and
we only have about 10 available so make sure and
get yours soon!
Pro-Am
in
Las
Vegas:
Each year the
Tennessee section of the PGA holds a Pro-Am in
Las Vegas, taking 20 teams from the state. In
2014 team Blackthorn earned the title of 2014
Tennessee PGA Vegas Pro-Am Champions! The
team of Mike Freeman, Charles Byrne, Rab
Summers, Tommy Burleson, and Graham Enloe
took the lead on day 1 and never looked
back! They also won the second day and finished
fourth the third day shooting a total of 64 under
par. With matching team outfits each day we were
also the self proclaimed best dressed!
Locker Rentals: For those of you that are not
aware we offer lockers for our members here at
Blackthorn Club.
These lockers are a great
convenience; they allow you to keep a change of
clothes at the club in case you are able to get away
from work early but don’t have time to swing by the
house to get your golf clothes. Some people keep
all of their golf shoes in their lockers so that they do
not have to carry them to and from the golf
course. Storing your shoes in your locker also
Rab
Summers
Tommy
Burleson
Graham
Enloe
Charles
Mike
Byrne Freeman
Congratulations Gentlemen!
Golf Maintenance,
I hope everyone is having a great fall.
The leaves have been falling and the
maintenance staff has been doing our
best to keep the course clean and in
the best shape possible. There have
been a lot of great golfing days out on
the course and I hope everyone has
been taking advantage. The official
start of winter is just a few weeks away
and it is probably an appropriate time
to review some of our winter policies and maintenance
guidelines.
As we all know, this year the driving range tees and a couple
fairways were littered with winter kill. Some of those areas we
sodded and some areas we tried to get good lateral growth
using a variety of maintenance practices for repair.
Unfortunately, the summer, like the previous year presented
less than ideal growing conditions, resulting in some areas not
fully recovering. These specific areas will be addressed
accordingly when the bermudagrass comes out of dormancy.
In an effort to protect and preserve what good turf we have on
the driving range tees, we have gone to a ―synthetic mats
only‖ policy for the dormancy period. Also, some of the
fairways more prone to winter kill, may have a ―cart path only‖
rule for this reason.
Over the next several months, it is extremely important that
everyone adhere to the daily cart rules. Any variance from
the rules may result in unnecessary damage to the turf,
resulting in poor playing surfaces well into Spring. I know
from my own personal experiences, coming to the course and
seeing that its cart path only is very disappointing but
unfortunately it’s a necessary evil. The fact of the matter is
dormant Bermudagrass and frozen soil just doesn’t drain like it
does ―in season‖. Areas that are usually dry and safe to cart
traffic become bad even with the slightest amount of
precipitation. Ball mark repair and divot maintenance are
equally as important in keeping our course in great shape
throughout the winter months. Our general rule of thumb on
ball mark repair during the winter is to repair them only when
the surface is completely thawed. If the mark cannot be
Member Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
The golf shop will be hosting the Annual
Blackthorn Holiday Party on December
9th 6:00 PM. Chef James will be
offering delightful appetizers along with
beer & wine specials throughout the
evening. We will have our famous spin
wheel (minus Vanna White) loaded with
special discounts and FREE items !
This will be your chance to get that
special item you have been waiting for
all year! Everything in the shop is for
sale and we will be wheeling and
dealing on EVERYTHING! This would
be a great time to cash in all the credit
Russell Lutz
repaired properly due to frozen soil conditions, I feel it is better
to leave it alone to avoid doing more damage to the area.
This makes repair of these marks imperative during thaw
periods. Keep in mind that the greens thaw at different rates
so please check each one before repairing the mark. Finally,
please remember to replace divots with sand on tees and
fairways in order maintain the best possible playing surfaces.
Remember…when people see you practicing proper etiquette
procedures, they are likely to follow suite.
December also marks the period in which routine
maintenance of the golf course becomes increasingly more
difficult due to regular freeze/thaw cycles. Because the soil in
the greens and sand in the bunkers will begin to freeze nearly
every night, it is impossible to move pin positions, mow greens
and rake bunkers on a regular basis.
Therefore, we
accomplish these tasks only as the weather permits which in
some cases can range from a few days to a few weeks. In an
effort to add some diversity to the course set up during these
periods we will once again use two flagstick locations on each
green beginning this month. Each position will correspond to
one of the six positions on the permanent flagstick location
card with a black rubber cap covering the one not in use.
When deciding how often to rotate the flagstick location, we
will evaluate the weather, the number of players from the
previous day and the number of tee times for the current day.
Once the two locations have been used for a couple times
each, we will take the next thaw day and change the positions
to the next two sequential day locations.
Finally, I want to inform everyone that once again we will be
relocating the tees on #10 to the winter tee locations following
Thanksgiving. The normal tee area is extremely shaded and
remains frozen for much of the winter season. Moving the tees
over to the winter locations removes one of the stresses put
on the turfgrass plant and has shown to be very beneficial.
All of us in golf maintenance wish you and your family a happy
and safe holiday season, and look forward to a great 2015.
See you on the course!
Russell Lutz
Golf Course Superintendent
book and Hit the Green money you
have accumulated throughout the year.
If needed, one of the Blackthorn staff
will be available to box and gift wrap
items.
To add to this great night, there will be a
photographer available for pictures of
members and their family. There will not
be designated seat times so feel free to
swing by at your convenience. This
would be a great time to update your
photo in our Blackthorn Club photo book
or to get that special photo with the
ones you love. The photographer will be
available from 6 PM to 9 PM for
pictures. The photos will be edited and
then given back to Blackthorn Club
within 7 days in which individuals will be
emailed the rights to the prints and may
do with what they wish upon receiving. I
hope all members will join us! The
member holiday party is bound to be a
great night for wheeling & dealing and
making memories leading into a brand
new year!!!
Member Holiday Party
Tuesday,
December 9, 2014 @ 6 PM
Mark your calendars!
Tennis at Blackthorn,
John Lucchesi
With the season winding down, play
has certainly dropped off a bit.
However, I’m pleased to see that
there have still been quite a few of
you taking advantage of the pretty
days, when they occur, and booking
courts.
months. This membership allowed all Blackthorn
members an opportunity to purchase indoor tennis
court time. Unfortunately, ETSU will not be selling
indoor memberships this winter for the mini-dome.
It is my understanding that some of the mini-dome
tennis courts will be covered with the football turf
and the others will be reserved for the ETSU tennis
Currently all four of our courts remain in good teams.
shape. However, as the weather changes and we I would like to thank everyone for their support and
begin to consistently get those deep freezes at participation during this year’s 2014 season. We
night, we will lose the clay courts until springtime had many enjoyable events and I look forward to
when we can top-dress them again. With that in an even better season in 2015.
mind, please remember to check with the tennis I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday
shop regarding the status of the clay courts and the season spent with family and friends – Merry
availability of the courts in general as we will Christmas & Happy New Year!
eventually be limited to just the two hard courts.
John Lucchesi
As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, for the Director of Tennis
past several years Blackthorn Club has purchased
a mini-dome membership from ETSU for the winter
2014 Blackthorn Tennis Champions
Ladies Opening Day Tournament
Lisa Knox
Mixed Doubles Night
Spring – Tim Dell
Summer – David Reynolds
Gail Archer
Fall – Roger Cox
Ladies Member-Guest Day Tournament
Spring – Lynn Dell & Pam Smead
Summer – Gail Archer & Myra O’Dell
Fall – Erica Byrd & Kim Keith
Memorial Day Mixed Doubles Tournament
Kenny Archer
July 4th Mixed Doubles Tournament
Fred Dulin
Labor Day Mixed Doubles Tournament
Sandy Cox
Ladies League – Spring
Betty Rothwell
Ladies League – Fall
Betty Rothwell
10 & under
12 & under
14 & under
16 & under
18 & under
Junior Tournament
Boy’s
Girl’s
Dillon McReynolds Keona Fielitz
Griffen Nickels
Makenna Peterson
Taylor Stafford Rose Rosser
Peyton Palmer Ellie Pectol
Ryland Byrd
Mackenzie Lawson
Member-Guest Tournament
Men’s A
Andy Pullen & Matt Trivett
Men’s B
Jeff Moffatt & Ed Pullen
Ladies A
Cindy Reynolds & Myra O’Dell
Ladies B
Annette Clemons & Felicia Wexler
Mixed A
Gail Archer & Marcos Pavlovich
Mixed B
Fred Dulin & Christa Merkel
END OF THE SEASON TENNIS LUNCHEON
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 ~ 12 PM noon in the Bistro
Please call the tennis shop at 423-913-2378 to sign up! Thank you.
December 2014
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
3
4
5
6
10
11
12
13
18
19
20
Course
&
Clubhouse
Closed
7
8
9
Course
&
Clubhouse
Closed
Santa
Brunch Buffet
11 AM—2 PM
Member Holiday
Party
6 PM—9 PM
End of the Season
Tennis Luncheon
12 PM in Bistro
Photographer
Available
14
15
16
17
Gingerbread
House
Decorating
Party
5 pm ~ 8 pm
Santa
Brunch Buffet
11 AM—2 PM
21
22
23
Santa
Brunch Buffet
11 AM—2 PM
24
Christmas Eve
25
26
Golf Shop
8 AM—1 PM
Christmas Day
Food &
Beverage
Entire
Club
CLOSED
11 AM—1 PM
27
Open
Normal
Hours
Of
Operation
Children’s
New Year’s Eve
Celebration
5 PM—8 PM
Clubhouse
Closes at 1 PM
28
29
Sunday Brunch
Buffet
11 AM—2 PM
30
31
New Year’s Eve
All Day Menu
11 AM—2 PM
All F&B
(kitchen & bar)
CLOSED
2 PM—7 PM
NYE
Celebration
Starts at 7 PM
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Cancelation Policy
New Year’s Day
January 1st
Entire
Club
CLOSED
Reservations canceled with
less than 72 hours notice from
the scheduled start of the
event will be billed at full price
January 2nd
to the Member whose name
the
reservation is made under
OPEN NORMAL
or
to
the credit card provided
HOURS
by a Non-Member
Oktoberfest
Queen’s Race
David Reynolds & Jerry Matthew
Member Member
Junior Club Champion
Jack Rhea
July 4th Flag Day
Diana Storey
Memorial Day Flag Day
Randy Harkleroad
Most Improved Golfers
Men
Jack Rhea & Chris Diehl
Saturday
All Day Menu 11 AM—8 PM
Fine Dining Menu 5:30 PM—8 PM
Jerry Matthew & David Reynolds
Friday
All Day Menu 11 AM—8 PM
Fine Dining Menu 5:30 PM—8 PM
Brian Bonfardin
Thursday
All Day Menu 11 AM—8 PM
Dinner 5:30 PM—8 PM
Men’s Senior Club Champion
Wednesday
All Day Menu 11 AM—8 PM
Fine Dining Menu 5:30 PM—8 PM
Tory Davis
Tuesday
All Day Menu 11 AM—2 PM
All F&B Closes at 2 PM
Men’s Club Champion
Ext. 58
Jenn Garcia, Food & Beverage Manager - [email protected]
Russell Lutz, Golf Course Superintendent - [email protected]
913-2276
Ext. 58
Jason Wendt, Clubhouse Manager - [email protected]
Golf Course Maintenance
Ext. 60
913-2321
Ext. 45
Ext. 45
James Allen CEC, Executive Chef - [email protected]
Food & Beverage
John Lucchesi, Head Tennis Professional - [email protected]
Andy Pullen, Assistant Tennis Professional - [email protected]
913-2378
Ext. 43
Jeremy Beachner, Assistant Golf Professional - [email protected]
Tennis Shop
Ext. 43
913-3100
Graham Enloe, Head Golf Professional - [email protected]
Golf Shop
Ext. 26
Low Gross: Betsy Gordon
Low Net: Kathy Linebarger
9 Holes: Melanie Jordan
Sue Richard, Accountant - [email protected]
Bogie & Bacall Low Gross
Ext. 21
Charles Byrne
Becky Goodyear, Administrative Assistant - [email protected]
Blackthorn Masters
Ext. 41
Brandon White & Kent White
Shane L. Honaker, CCM General Manager - [email protected]
Men’s Member Guest
Putting Champions
Monday—CLOSED
Jeff Blake & Wendy Glover
Kel & Forooz Smalley
913-3164
Russell Ingram, Jr. & Bryan Sangid
Sunday
Buffet & All Day Menu 11 AM—2 PM
All F&B Closes at 2 PM
Ladies Club Championship
Administration
Rab & Nita Summers
Pat & Marti Davey
Club Staff
Bogie & Bacall Low Net
Blackthorn Grille
Hours of Operation
913-2321
2014 Golf Champions
Men’s Member Guest Overall
Marianne Cox
to walk or bring their private cart.
golfing is available to members if they wish
During days that the Club is closed
OPEN NORMAL HOURS
Friday, January 2, 2014
Entire Facility CLOSED
New Years Day
Thursday, January 1, 2015
& Reopens for the NYE Party starting at 7
pm
2 pm -7 pm All Food & Beverage closed
―All Day Menu‖ available 11 am—2 pm
Food & Beverage
New Year’s Eve
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
OPEN NORMAL HOURS
Friday, December 26, 2014
Entire Facility CLOSED
Christmas Day
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Bar Menu Only
Food & Beverage 11 am—1 pm
Golf Shop 8 am—1 pm
Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Holiday Schedule