February 2021 Newsletter

February 1, 2021 by The WildeWood Club in Course Newsletter

NEWSLETTER by Bart Wolfe, PGA General Manager on February 1, 2021

Dear WildeWood Club Members,

ADMIN REPORT

2% DUES INCREASE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Effective February 1, 2021 there will be a nominal 2% Dues increase for our Full, Tennis, & Non HOA Social Members. This 2% Dues increase will allow the club to cover the cost of living payroll increases for our salaried personnel.

2021 SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The WildeWood Club is exploring the idea of adding a Social Committee. We are seeking individuals that want to be a part of creating events but also helping with the planning and running of the events. If you are interested in joining our Social Committee, please send an email to Bart@thewildewoodclub.com.

SPLASHPAD

Great Southern Recreation will start on our Splashpad next week. We may need to close the playground for a few days while the Demolition work is being completed. I will send out a separate email once the work begins.

DRIVING RANGE PROJECT

We are filtering through several vendors and plans for our driving range project. Once we have our final plan in place, we will send out the details.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

If you have not had the opportunity to meet our new Chef Latonya Lavant, please step into The Grille and introduce yourself. We have a revamped menu fresh soup is available daily during these cold winter months.

GIFT CARDS

You may now purchase The WildeWood Club gift cards in the pro shop. The gift cards may be redeemed for Pro Shop merchandise, guest fees, Food & Beverage, and Golf/Tennis lessons.

GOLF REPORT

THE WILDEWOOD CLUB GOLF HOURS OF OPERATION FOR FEBRUARY 2021:

Golf Hours of Operation for Tuesday to Sunday for FEBRUARY 2021:

• Pro Shop: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tee Times: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (Carts must be in by 6:00 pm)
• Range: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

These are the DAILY GROUP PLAY TIMES for the month of FEBRUARY. You can sign up online or by calling the golf shop. DAILY GROUP PLAY is a SHOTGUN START at the times listed below:

• Tuesdays: Seniors Play Day – 10:00 am/ Ladies Play Day – 10:00 am
• Wednesdays: Wednesday Morning Group – 10:00 am
• Thursdays: Seniors Play Day – 10:00 am/ Ladies Play Day – 10:00 am
• Fridays: Friday Morning Group – 10:00 am
• Saturdays: Catfight – 9:40 am/ Dogfight – 9:50 am
• Sundays: Blitz – 9:50 am

*These times may change during the month due to weather conditions.

Please call the golf shop or go online if you like to sign up for any GROUP PLAY times. Please remember to sign up for GROUP PLAY on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays AT LEAST 1 HOUR PRIOR to the start time so that scorecards can be made by the pro shop staff.

SPRING IS 1 MONTH AWAY!

February is a great time to install new grips, new cleats on your golf shoes or upgrade to a new pair of golf shoes ahead of the spring season. Please see one of our golf staff members for these services.

CLUB FITTING DAYS (MIZUNO, PING, CALLAWAY, TAYLORMADE)

Here are the upcoming FITTING DAYS scheduled at The WildeWood Club:

• Mizuno Golf: March 4^th – 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
• Ping Golf: March 10^th – 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Callaway Golf: March 18^th – 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• TaylorMade Golf: March 25^th – 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
• Callaway Golf: May 6^th – 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Please email Bart Wolfe at bart@thewildewoodclub.com to book a fitting time.

The pro shop has new MIZUNO IRONS and PING WOODS available to demo. Please stop by the pro shop to try out these new products.

RANGE ETIQUETTE

As our range usage has increased dramatically over the past year, we would like to send this reminder out on range etiquette. Please click the link below to check to see if you are following range etiquette for the enjoyment of your fellow members. 

https://golf.com/instruction/5-driving-range-etiquette-rules-nobody-tells-you/

GOLF TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

The following members have agreed to serve on our golf tournament committee for 2021. (Tyler Forbes, Stan Luallin, Bruce Williams, Pete Clough, Dick Willis, Sue Keaney, Suzann Bartley, and Suzy Ellison)

Our plan is to publish the 2021 tournament schedule by late February.

REMINDERS TO ALL GOLFERS

We strive to keep all members safe and healthy. The golf staff will do our utmost to provide single carts to members when needed. However, we cannot guarantee that single carts will always be available (especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays). We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are making our best effort to accommodate all members that wish to play.

All members that use the GHIN system should make sure to sign in to www.ghin.com and use the icon on the main page to create their Digital Profile (if they have not done so). It can be created in a few easy steps using the email address associated with their GHIN account. Any golfers having issues setting up their profile please email rj@thewildewoodclub.com for help. GHIN billing for the 2021 season will be processed on 2/28/2021. If you no longer would like to be on the GHIN system, let RJ know before 2/28/21.

PLEASE DISREGARD ANY EMAILS YOU MAY RECEIVE WHEN BOOKING TEE TIMES ABOUT COST/PRICE. MEMBERS’ ACCOUNTS ARE NOT CHARGED IN ANY WAY UNTIL THEY CHECK IN FOR THEIR TEE TIME.

FROST DELAY and CART PATH ONLY daily updates are sent by email. Please make sure to check the email associated with your member account on cold/wet days for these updates. We aim to send these emails out by 7:30 am when necessary.

We politely request that all golfers make a tee time before coming to the club to play. As we have over 300 full golf members, tee times cannot be guaranteed for walk-ins. This also helps the golf staff to maintain a steady pace of play for all golfers.

Please make sure to be ON TIME and CHECK-IN for your tee time before going out to play.

Jeans, gym shorts, sweatpants, work out shirts, cut off shirts, and sandals are not allowed at any time on the WildeWood golf course or practice facilities. All shirts must have a collar. Members are responsible for informing their guests of our dress code policies.

We politely ask that golfers (and their guests) do not take the green towels that are provided in each cart. Please leave them in your cart following the completion of play.

Please return cart to the path near TEE BOXES and 30 YARDS FROM THE GREEN. Carts must also remain on the path on ALL PAR 3’S.

REMINDERS TO ALL DOG WALKERS

Please do not allow your dog to walk near any TEES, GREENS, OR BUNKERS. This helps to prevent any unnecessary damage to the golf course.

State law requires all pets must be on a leash when walking on the golf course or in the WildeWood neighborhood.

WALKERS AND DOG WALKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE WILDEWOOD GOLF COURSE FROM 8:30 AM TO 4:30 PM.

RJ Catarino
Director of Golf Operations
rj@thewildewoodclub.com

TENNIS REPORT

ADULT TENNIS

• Please wear face masks while inside the tennis center. Once downstairs, you may take it off to play tennis.
• Please remember to sign in and pay for all guests BEFORE you go on court.
• Please sign in when playing indoors, and as always be respectful of ending your session promptly when others are waiting for their court!

COURT RESERVATION SYSTEM

If you need any help setting up your account or are having trouble logging in, please review the following instructions:

To access the new system, you go to https://login.reservemycourt.com.  Once there, login with the same username and password you have always used.  This will start a setup wizard that will guide you through transferring your account over to the new system.  This will include setting up a new password.  Your NEW password must be 10 characters long, contain 1 uppercase letter and 1 symbol.  Your username for the new system will be your email address.

For those who do not have an account yet, or cannot recover their password or username, you are able to create a new account with a new email address.  When going to the website indicated above, select Create an Account.  Fill out all necessary information on the first page.

To make reservations on the new system:

1. Click on Club Schedule under the Club’s Name on the left side of your screen.
2. Click on the date near the top of the page to select the day you would like to make the reservation.
3. Click and hold the mouse button on the time you would like the reservation to start, drag your mouse down to the time you would like the reservation to end and let go of the mouse button.
4. Complete the reservation wizard to make your reservation. Please be aware that all users may have reasonable limits on the length of reservations or on how far in advance they can reserve courts.  If your reservation violates any of the reservation rules for your club, you will not be able to complete your reservation.

Note:  Using the web browser works the best when using Google Chrome from a laptop or computer.  Using an IPad or Cell Phone it is best to use the RMC2020 app.  You can not create a new account on the app and you are not able to sign up for clinics through the app.

ADULT CLINIC SCHEDULE

Please find below the Ladies clinic schedule:

Cardio Tennis (Men and Women)

• Tuesday 12-1pm
• Thursday 12-1pm
• Saturday 8-9am

2.5 Ladies

• Tuesday 10-11:30
• Saturday 10-11:00

3.0/3.5 Ladies

• Friday 9-10:30
• Saturday 9-10:00

4.0 Ladies

• Wednesday 9-13:30
• Thursday  9-10:30

*These Clinics are open to all Tennis and Golf Members, however you must be rated at the same level of the clinic that you attend or play on a WildeWood team at the same level of the clinic that you attend.

JUNIOR TENNIS

If you would like to be on the junior tennis email list (typically regarding changes to clinic times or cancellations) Please email Adam Elliget at Adam@thewildewoodclub.com

First of all, we want to thank all of the parents, grandparents, and kids for participating in our afterschool tennis program. We have had great success with our 3-12-year-old groups.  With this practice, we would like to incorporate competition in a fun team-oriented way!  This year to facilitate match-play, we will be participating in Junior Team Tennis.  Here is a little more information regarding JTT.

Junior Team Tennis – Spring 2021
March 7 – May 2, 2021

SUNDAY AFTERNOON MATCHES

• First Match: March 7, 2021
• No matches on Easter
• Last Match: April 18, 2021
• Rain Make-up: April 25 and May 1
• End of Season Celebration: May 2

Junior Team Tennis is a competitive, level-based environment that promotes individual growth, social growth, and life skills.  With Junior Team Tennis, players will learn about unity, sportsmanship and how to work together to achieve success.  Players will also learn that success is not just about winning; it is about how you play the game and respond to challenges.

Columbia Tennis Leagues Junior Team Tennis Spring Season will offer divisions for players ranging from 6-18 years old.  Registration will begin February 1.

JUNIOR CLINICS – After School Kids Clinics

Yellow Ball Clinic (Ages 13-16): 

• Monday 4:30-6:00
• Wednesday 4:30-6:00
• Friday 4:00-5:30

Green Dot Clinic (Ages 11-12): 

• Tuesday 4:30-5:30
• Thursday 4:30-5:30

Orange Ball Clinic (ages 8-10): 

• Tuesday 3:30-4:30
• Thursday 3:30-4:30

Red Ball Clinic 1 (Ages 6-8): 

• Monday 4:00-4:30
• Wednesday 4:00-4:30

Red Ball clinic 2 (Ages 3-6): 

• Monday 3:30-4:00
• Wednesday 3:30-4:00

*Age and ability level will also help us determine which clinic your child should be in.

Bill Simpson
The WildeWood Club
90 Mallet Hill Road
Columbia, SC 29223
bill@thewildewoodclub.com
(c) 803.622.8813  (o) 803.699.2446

MAINTANENCE REPORT

January was a very productive month for us down in the maintenance shed. We were able to knock out roughly 90% of the brush along the property lines. We will go back thru and clean up a few more small areas in early February.  Our post-emergent application of roundup to the course has killed or is killing the majority of the Poa and our second application of paint is still giving us that definition along tees and fairways.  We also started our in-house bunker projects, prepping and/or sodding 5 of the 12 bunkers we targeted for this winter.

February is another project heavy month for us as we will look to finish the touch up work on the brush, prep and sod the remaining bunkers, begin root pruning the edges of the course and cart paths, as well as applying our Spring pre-emergent to the entire course and third coat of paint to tees and fairways.  We have fallen well behind on the never-ending pinecone cleanup so hopefully we will be able to turn our brush crew around and start playing catch-up by the middle of the month.

Another huge issue for us this winter has been the driving range teeing surface.  Even though we continue to seed and fertilize every Monday, we cannot stay ahead of the mass amounts of usage.  We have started tarping sections at a time to help keep the soil and grass warmer enabling faster seed germination, but I would also like to share this article from the USGA about proper divot patterns. 

https://www.usga.org/course-care/2014/09/does-your-divot-pattern-help-or-hurt-the-golf-course-21474873114.html#:~:text=The%20linear%20divot%20pattern%20involves,a%20new%20line%20of%20divots.

I look forward to seeing you all on the course and if there are ever any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Grayson Clark
GCSSA
Grayson@thewildewoodclub.com

We thank you for your support of our club and we are excited about the upcoming 2021 season!

Bart Wolfe
PGA General Manager
(803) 788-8000 Option 3
bart@thewildewoodclub.com