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Current Membership Information
We have 385 active members
including
9 pending surrenders
6 on LOA
18 Surviving Spouse/Champion memberships
14 Flex members
20 Non Resident members
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| TVGC Board Meeting Dates |
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February 5
February 26
April 2
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Tonto Verde Golf Club
Financial Report | | |
September 30, 2014
financial report.
Click Here to view the Independent Auditors Report on the Financial Statements
from McGladrey for the year ended June 30, 2014
2014-2015 budget.
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Golf Shop Hours
The Golf Shop Hours are
7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p,m. seven days a week.
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Upcoming Events
January 14
MGA Match Play
January 19
NDA Golf Clinic
January 20
WGA Tonto Rio Mixer
Mixed Member/Member
January 28
MGA Verdes Cup
February 3
WGA Four Member
February 4
MGA Golf, Dinner & Mtg
February 9
MGA One Day Guest Day
February 11
MGA Spring Best Ball
February 15
Couples Valentine Surprise
February 23
MGA Member/Member
March 5
Charity Roundup
March 10
NDA Saguaro Soiree
March 18
WGA Hohokam
April 9
MGA Desert Classic
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| Divot Digest Archive | | Interested in reviewing a previous Divot Digest? Click Here to access the Divot Digest Archive. | |
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| Accessing The Golf Event Calendar | | |
When you click any of the links that take you to the Golf Event Section on ForeTees you will see a login page. For this you will need your ForeTees login and password. If you have forgotten your ForeTees info you can contact the Golf Shop for assistance.
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Prime time reminders. As we approach the busiest time of the year here are a few items that will keep our courses both looking good and moving at an acceptable pace.
- Be on time for your starting time.
- Focus on your pace of play - playing "Ready Golf" always helps.
- Sand divots in the fairways.
- Repair ball marks on greens - yours and one or two others.
Be a great club member. Dress appropriately, record your scores promptly and accurately and most of all enjoy this special place that we share.
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 | From The President | 
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors was held on January 8th. Board reports and actions included:
Reports:
- Working Together for Community Success: A report was made as to the progress of the task force and an update was sent to the community on January 8th. Many ideas are being discussed and a set of recommendations should be available in March.
- Nominating Committee: Mike Morehouse reported that a recommended list of candidates should be presented to the Board in February.
- Branding Task Force: The task force will be interviewing realtors and members gathering input. Member Joe Duffy will be assisting the task force as it develops a set of messages we will use to distinguish our brand.
- Electric Carts: Dave Burns and I will make a presentation to the TVA Board on January 13th for a formal approval of a location for an electric cart storage facility.
Action Items:
- Desert Tree Trimming Violation: The President recommended a two month suspension of golf privileges for a member who violated the trimming policy. Approved.
- Dress Code: The Golf Committee recommended slight wording changes. Approved. (See Player's Handbook on the website for the revised policy).
Other Events:
The major item of the week was the surprising news of the resignation of our Golf Course Superintendent, Dean Hall. We wish Dean and Suzanne the best of luck as they transition to a new job and location. Dean will complete his employment at the end of January and we will be making contingent plans to insure the golf courses are maintained to our playing standards until a replacement is in place.
I will be appointing a search committee shortly. The leadership of our Green Committee, Jay Simons and Jim Uffelman, will assist me in this effort. The process will involve identifying potential candidates, screening those candidates for further interest, interviewing candidates, checking references and making a final selection. We will involve additional members in the process as needed.
There is already significant interest in this position. I will keep the membership updated as this search progresses
Tonto Verde Golf Club
Scott Thiss
President
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| Notes From Your Pro |  Greetings golf members. The eyes of the sporting world are about to descend upon the Valley this month with the PGA Tour and the Super Bowl set to take place in the same weekend. Snow birds and vacationers alike will be looking to hit the links for some fun in the sun. It's a time when we can truly appreciate the golf and lifestyle that Tonto Verde has to offer while the majority of the country struggles through the pitfalls of winter.
As we enter tournament season, I'm going to utilize this platform to clarify some of the commonly misinterpreted rulings on our golf courses. This month I'll cover the notorious situation dealing with abnormal ground conditions including burrowing animal holes and specifically when you actually qualify for the free relief. An "abnormal ground condition" is any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or runway on the course made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird. A "burrowing animal" is an animal (other than a worm, insect or the like) that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher or salamander. Interference by an abnormal ground condition occurs when a ball lies in or touches the condition or when the condition interferes with the player's stance or the area of his intended swing. A player may not take relief under this Rule if (a) interference by anything other than an abnormal ground condition makes the stroke clearly impracticable or (b) interference by an abnormal ground condition would occur only through the use of a clearly unreasonable stroke or an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play. As you know many of these burrowing animal holes are found at the base of bushes and other vegetation. Don't be that golfer that tries to take advantageous relief that you don't clearly qualify for. Avoiding the appearance of impropriety will benefit you much more in the long run than a sketchy effort to avoid a penalty stroke. The following are some other random but noteworthy items that I'd like to share: - Cobra Golf will be conducting a ladies only club fitting day this Friday, January 16th. Sign up for an appointment in the golf shop if you'd like to take advantage of this opportunity. Cobra will also be coming back out on February 12th along with TaylorMade and Callaway for a regular demo day open to all members and guests.
- Our golf staff will continue to teach clinics every Thursday afternoon from 3-4pm. For $20/hour these clinics are a true bargain for anyone seeking to expedite their improvement process.
- Keep in mind that long practice sessions are best suited for the North Driving Range as this will leave space for warm ups on the south tee while also assisting with our turf preservation effort.
- When on either end of the range, we strongly encourage you to utilize the "strip" divot pattern rather than carving out a "box". The turf will grow back faster and our range will benefit from more golfers following this simple guideline.
- The University of Minnesota Women's Golf Team will be playing at Tonto Verde this coming Sunday, January 18th and there are opportunities to play with them. Contact the golf shop for more details. If you're interested in joining the team for a dinner/reception please contact Dave Mooty.
- Aubrie Nelson has been named our employee of the month for January. Aubrie sets the tone on a daily basis for our staff with her consistent work ethic and positive attitude. She has been a great asset to the Lady Putters and will continue to play an important role on our team as we head into the busiest of times.
Until next time, keep em flying long and straight! Jeff Ostlund Head Golf Professional |
| From The Golf Committee |
Just a reminder that the area left of the fairway on Ranch #9 is no longer considered a hazard (the red lines have been painted a grey to match to cart path). Free relief is granted from any area of "prepared rock" such as drainage or rock walls by taking your stance plus a club length and dropping a ball. You may also replay your shot from the original spot (tee or otherwise) taking a one shot penalty.
Please also remember if you or your guests are practicing only (and not warming up for a round), please use the north range.
Also, the Tonto Verde Golf Club and the Golf Committee are reminding all golfers and all homeowners of the following:
Property damage or injury caused by errant golf shots is of concern to the golf club and home owners association. There are inherent risks associated with living adjacent to a golf course, as well as inherent risks associated with hitting a golf ball. We hope that any golfer causing damage or injury would take responsibility for the results of their errant golf shot.
It is quite possible that a golfer's homeowner's policy may pick up the tab for damages caused by hitting an errant golf shot. Typically there is no deductible for this type of liability payment. Homeowners' policies also typically pay for repairs if you are on the receiving end of an errant golf shot. The loss, however, is likely to be subject to your deductible. Please review your own policies for specific provisions and details.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Tonto Verde Golf Committee
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| From The Green Committee | |
Most of you have probably noticed by now the work being done to significantly improve the washes affecting the golf courses. Gordon and his committee along with Steve P. have consulted with engineers and have contracted with two different organizations who are doing a quality job to implement long-term solutions to many sites on our courses. Thanks! For any of you that have hit your ball into the wash on #11 Ranch you will notice we now have steps to make it easier to go into and out of that wash since it has become more severe overtime. We also have constructed two new bridges on #17 Ranch and while members like the look, the surface on the west bridge is more uneven that we expected. We are working with the contractor on options to remedy that situation and make it user-friendlier. Stand by.
In accordance with the Master Plan, the Green Committee has developed and presented both an irrigation plan and the draft of a bunker renovation plan to the Golf Board. We will continue to revise these plans and work with the Long-Range Planning group and the Finance Committee to move these priorities forward. Thanks for filling your divots and fixing your ball marks and please make the effort to only drive in the rough to enter and exit the fairway. PLAY WELL, PLAY FAIR, and PLAY FAST.
Jim Uffelman
Chair - Green Committee
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| From The Membership Committee | |
We would like you to welcome our new members: Dennis and Georgia Munderloh from Pendergraft Ne., Richard and Marie Gallant Calgary AB Canada, Geri and Andrew Cox Hawthorn Woods IL., David and Nancy Larson Boulder CO. Ray Hines Summit MO and David and Elliott (son) from Wisconsin/ Rio Verde.
We also have additional Temporary Members joining us for the spring season: Robert and Sally Schneider, Tonka Bay MN., Donald and Lori Mc Cormick Prior Lake MN., Greg and Lori O'Hara Ankeny IA.
The membership committee is often asked about what we are doing to attract members from outside play. We are able to track emails of all players who book their tee times on our website which allows us to contact them with promotional offers, and in all of our rental carts have our membership offerings on display. Our staff in the pro shop and outside service are our community's best sales people! They greet all of our outside players, help with any questions and make everyone who enters the pro shop feel like members for the day! So if you were wondering how we reach out to outside play I hope this answers your questions.
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From The MGA
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January 14 - Match Play Tournament Begins
We have a full field for this year's Match Play. Your first match is Wednesday, January 14th flights and pairings come from the Golf Shop, expect to receive a Foretees email notification Monday evening. Win your 1st match and the 2nd match will be January 21st. Win your second match and schedule the 3rd match any day the week of January 26th. Receive a MGA Cup Point for Playing and another for Winning your Flight.
January 28 - Verdes Cup Revenge
Sign up closes January 19th, currently there are 72 members signed up. The lottery takes place Monday January 19th, at which time 48 players will be selected. If you are selected, you'll receive ForeTees email notification by Wednesday January 21st. If you get IN and can't make the January 28th 1:00PM Shotgun, please Notify the Golf Shop.
February 4 - Monthly MGA Meeting
Please remember and Click Here to sign for the MGA Golf, Dinner and Meeting February 4th.
February 9 - MGA Guest Day - Men's One Day Member Guest
Invite a guest and have fun at the One Day Member Guest event. Two man team 11:00 Registration, 12:30 Shotgun, Game-One Net Ball per Hole, 5:30 Complimentary Keg and Cash Bar, 6:30 Dinner and Flight Payout. Click Here to sign up.
February 11 - Spring Best Ball Starts
Click Here to sign up for the MGA Spring Best Ball. Two Man Teams, usual Format, Match 1 - Wednesday, February 11th; Match 2 - Wednesday, February 18th; Match 3 - Wednesday, March 11th; Match 4 - Monday, March 16th; Match 5 - Wednesday, March 25th. Sign up with a partner, a single (the Pro Staff will help find a partner), or sign up as a sub.
Did You Know
Dean Knuth, former USGA senior director of handicapping says, "About 1 to 2 percent of golfers are sandbaggers, and about 10 percent fall into the vanity-handicap category (also called "reverse sandbaggers"). Sandbaggers typically post very few scores -- only their worst rounds -- or add strokes to their score or intentionally play a few bad holes near the end of a round. They usually play better than their handicaps in tournaments. Vanity handicappers, on the other hand, typically post only their best scores or, scores better than what they actually shot".
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From The WGA
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WGA Members may now register for the following Events:
- Verdes Mixer 12 noon shotgun on January 20th. This event is full and has a wait list.
- Match Play Round 1 begins with a 12 noon shotgun on January 27th (or get it in by February 10) Round 2 to be played by February 24 and Round 3 by March 10.
- Four Member Tournament on February 3rd, 12:00 shotgun and February 5th, 12:30 shotgun. This event is full and has a wait list.
- Registration begins Thursday, January 15th for The Hohokam Classic (Member/Guest) "Another Day in Paradise" March 17, 18 and 19. Note: Tee times for the practice round can be made one month in advance and can be played on March 15, 16 or 17.
UPDATES FOR MATCH PLAY & FOUR-MEMBER TOURNAMENTS - News from our Tournament Chair, Chris Hardy:
- MATCH PLAY We have added a Consolation bracket within each flight. So, if you lose your first match, you go into the Consolation bracket within your flight. We will award 3 places in each flight: 1st & 2nd Awards and 1st in the Consolation bracket (that's 3 out of 8 winners in each flight!) This will allow everyone to play at least two matches. Sign up ends January 24 at noon.
- FOUR MEMBER Due to the popularity of this event, and since you all must have set your alarms for 6:59 Tuesday morning (we were full by 7:30!), we have expanded from 24 teams to 28 teams (112 players). This will mean two foursomes teeing off of ten holes. So please, maintain your pace of play so we all get in before sunset.
WGA Inter-club News All three teams, Roadrunner, Sonoran and Cactus, have had good starts to the season. Congratulations to Roadrunner leading the league both Gross and Net after 3 matches! Sonoran won 5 matches out of 6, Cactus won 2 matches out of 4 so far. Please Click Here for WGA Inter-club Results.
Tonto Verde WGA Interclub Teams
PLEASE WELCOME 6 new members to our WGA this month: Lori O'Hara, Nance Larson, Diane Kizewski, Tina Minarik, Lori McCormick and Jackie Smalec. This brings our total number of members to 183. Way to go, WGA!
News from the AWGA Gem Program: For the third consecutive year Tonto Verde Golf Club has been selected as one of 29 golf clubs in Arizona to receive the GEM award. This award is based upon the level of participation by the women at Tonto Verde Golf Club. Congratulations ladies!
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| From The NDA | |
From the Membership Chair: Please welcome new NDA Members: Nina Frauenfelder, Debbie Elliott and Georgia Munderloh. Our membership is now 133 strong.
Reminder: Monday, January, 19th-1:45 pm- Refresher Clinic The NDA is doing a Refresher Golf Clinic on Monday, January 19th at 2 pmon the 9th green of the Peaks course. Please sign up to attend as this event will actually be held outside on the course giving us a unique opportunity to see first hand how things should be done. NOT JUST FOR NEW GOLFERS! Click Here to sign up on the Tonto Verde website.
Calendar Reminders:
Click Here to signup for these event except for the Tonto/Rio Mixer that begins 3/15/15
February 19th (Thursday) - Couples' Event - 3:00 pm Shotgun; dinner to follow. Sign up now through 2/12/15.
March 10th (Tuesday) - Member/Guest, Saguaro Soiree. Sign up now.
March 24th (Tuesday) - Interclub at Tonto Verde, 2:00 pm shotgun. Save the Date.
March 31st ( Tuesday) - Tonto/Rio Mixer - 9:00 shotgun scramble, lunch to follow. Sign up begins 3/3/15 through 3/30/15.
DONNIELLE SAYS:
Please don't forget to come in and order a new NDA shirt if you wish. There are several styles to choose from. Come take a look! The first order has already been sent to the manufacturer; we will send one more order in a week.
TVNDA Communications
tvndacommunications@aol.com
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| Couples Golf |
After a hiatus during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Couples events will be going strong during the next few months!
Next up is the Mixed Member/Member Tournament on Jan. 25. The format is 'hit, switch and pick" and will be a 12:30 shotgun followed by dinner and awards. The pro shop will pair according to handicap. Click Here to sign up by Jan. 22 to assure a spot in one of our most popular couples events of the year.
Bring your sweetheart to the Valentine Surprise to be held on Feb. 15. You can sign up with another couple, or the pro shop will pair you. Everyone will play their own ball and discover what the event is on each hole when they arrive at the following tee! Also a 12:30 shotgun with a dinner after. Watch ForeTees for the signup starting on Jan. 20.
The next Friday Night Couples event - The Rainbow Scramble - is at 3:00 on Friday the 16th on the Peaks Course. It is a team scramble with all members teeing off from the Gold, Red and White Tees on alternating holes. The cost is $10.00 per couple for Golf with dining following off the menu. Click Here to register on ForeTees by Jan. 14.
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| From The Lady Putters |
Lady Putters are going strong. On January 21st, the Rio Lady Putters are hosting a Rio/Tonto Mixer. All Tonto Lady Putters are invited. It will be Putting followed by Lunch. The cost is $25. Sign up on Foretees. It will be on a First Come, First Serve basis.
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| Tonto Verde Charity Roundup |
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." Charles Dickens
Join us March 5, 2015 for Tonto Verde's biggest charity event of the year benefiting Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, disabled American Veterans, Sunshine Acres Children's Home, and VerdeCares.
Golf with a Morning Scramble and Afternoon Best Ball plus a Putting Tournament
Dinner - Live and Silent Auction - Raffle
Click Here to register on foretee.s for golf or putting. Register for dinner only on TVA events calendar. Non golf members should register with the proshop. Registration NOW open.
Want to DONATE AN AUCTION ITEM???? Click Here for the donation worksheet.
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| First Tee Highlights |
Click Here to read a comprehensive statement from Hugh Smith from The First Tee of Phoenix. He discusses the impact that their organization had in 2014 and also outlines their plans for the new year along with ways you can support their charitable efforts.
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| Don't Forget! | |
It's that time of the year again. Yeah, the Bermuda grass on both courses is dormant and has "no defense" against golf cart traffic. So please follow these directions. Take the cart path until you are 90 degrees from the first ball. Cross the Bermuda rough and stay in the fairway until the last ball by a player in the cart has been played. Then follow the cart signs or proceed at 90 degrees back to the cart path. Apart from what is necessary to enter and exit the fairway please stay out of the rough. Also, do not sand any divots in the rough. Simple enough and everyone's cooperation will make for a better course as the Bermuda comes back to life in the spring. THANK YOU!
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Tell Your Friends!
The Tonto Verde Discovery Program has launched!
or by phone at 480.471.3566
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Your Communications Committee
Tonto Verde Golf Club
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