Greetings from Waubeeka
OUR FIRST THURSDAY NEWSLETTER OF 2021

WE ARE OPEN!!
Book a tee time online now!

FROM THE GM - Vicki Richardello

Happy 2021!  I am so excited to begin Season 8.  It seems like only yesterday that we made a commitment to make Waubeeka one of the best courses in Massachusetts.  We are in the eyes of many…... but we are not stopping now!  This winter we made a commitment to invest more than $100,000 in equipment and supplies, over and above our normal expenditures.  We invested in 3 new pond aerification systems and a sweep-n-fill greens machine. We also purchased a TRACKMAN teaching system at the request of our golf professional.  Wait until you see what this little…..very expensive machine can tell you. You will be amazed!....... One season, I am going to write “mission accomplished” when our new 120 room destination resort and clubhouse becomes more than a dream! 

See below: Aerial shot of the golf course and the first foursome to play Waubeeka in 2021!

The Women’s Allied Association has scheduled only 4 tournaments this season.  Sign up in the pro shop.  Remember…..the host club must receive all information two weeks prior to a tourney, so we are asking you to sign up and pay three weeks in advance.  

• Monday, June 21, Best Ball, Wahconah
• Tuesday, July 13, Best Ball, Waubeeka
•  Monday, July 26, Scotch, GEAA
•  Tuesday, August 17, Championship, Taconic

The first Men’s Allied event of the season is May 8 at the Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, the Allied Four Ball.  Grab a partner and sign up, the cost is $50 PP.  Every male member is eligible to sign up; hurry, this is a great and popular golf course and will fill soon. Go to our website, www.waubeeka.com fill out the form and submit NOW!  

The “WOW”beeka Open is May 15 & 16.  Go to our website, www.waubeeka.com fill out the form and submit NOW!  We will be giving a pair of FOOTJOY shoes to every player.  Once payment is received, you will be sent a link to the Footjoy webstore and may select your size, color and style.  Sign up early here!  Limited to the first 50 paid team entries!!  Fitting Day is Saturday from noon - 4 PM.  Titleist, Cobra, Cleveland and Bridgestone will all be there.  Remember, you must stay 6’ apart and practice all COVID guidelines.  Also, Compression Brewery will be giving out craft beer samples most of the day!

GolfWeek Magazine has selected Waubeeka Golf Links to host the 2021 NorthEast Junior Golf Championship on August 22 & 23, 2021.  Hopefully, by then, spectators will be allowed out on our course to watch some of the greatest young talented golfers!

STAY & PLAY PACKAGES.  We do all the work.  Set up the courses, the lodging and the restaurants.  Your job is to come here, have fun and forget the details!

Jesse Menachem, Executive Director of MassGolf, was elected President of the International Association of Golf Administrators last November.  If you know Jesse, that is not a surprise, because the courses in Massachusetts know what a great leader he is!

MassGolf announced recently that Professional golfers Megan Khang (Rockland) and Richy Werenski (South Hadley) will always represent our state as ambassadors on the LPGA and PGA tours!

Our ladies Spring Cup Team is so excited to represent Waubeeka. We will be playing 5 teams and look forward to the camaraderie and friendships we make when playing other teams from Massachusetts.  Representing us this year will be Linda Lewitt, Nancy Barry, Sandy Bourdon,  and myself.  If you are interested in joining this fun group, please let me know, vrichardello@hotmail.com.  We are in need of subs!

SAD NEWS…. We celebrate our former Club Champion, former course record holder, great father, good provider, fair teacher, wonderful person, ‘king of the one putt’, our friend George Petropulos who many of us shared good times with, passed away this week.  George joins his beautiful wife Mary, who also passed away recently.  They leave 5 wonderful children, a legacy to these two highly respected individuals, David, Jimmy, Karen, Sarah and Nick.

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT - Brian Bartlett

Welcome back members, new members, friends and guests.  The course is in great shape for the first week of April!  To start the season we are asking everyone to stay on cart paths whenever possible and use the 90 degree rule when you reach your ball. We are hoping to again keep the course in superb condition this year.  Greens have been cut and rolled twice.  Tees, approaches and fairways have been cut once.  We still have plenty of clean up from the high winds this winter.

Our new green on Hole #2 is looking terrific.  It is not complete and will need more time to recover.  For now, a temporary is in place, but it will be a small price to pay when the green is finished.  We think it is going to make the hole challenging, and hopefully, one of your favorites.

At the end of each season myself, the pro, the GM and owner meet and I get to pick the one new piece of equipment which I feel we absolutely cannot do without.  This year, my top 2 choices were:

1. 3 new bubbler systems, one for the pond on #9, one for the pond between # 11 and 15, and one for the pond on #12.

2. A brand new Sweep and Fill system for our greens.  In speaking with former Superintendent Greg Tudor, Greg rated it as the best new investment he made last year.  Well, it arrived last week, and like the kid in the candy store, I already am in love with the performance of the machine!  This year our greens will roll faster due to the technology of standing up the turf and filling the holes! 

I want to thank and welcome all the new members who have joined Waubeeka this season, I am hoping for our best year yet!

Thanks Pete Landry for making us 5 new bluebird homes over this winter season.  It’s great having members who want to make our course look better all the time!
 

FROM THE TAVERN ON 7 - 

We’ve added to this year’s menu after receiving suggestions from our members.  We are also hoping to have dinner specials on Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat.  We’re hoping our league members will take advantage of these specials….pasta and meatballs, pot roast and meatloaf are just a few of what we are considering. 

Our menu can be seen on the Waubeeka website.

FROM THE PRO - Erik Tiele

The 2021 season is finally here and I cannot wait to begin.  Many new changes await everyone!  We just invested huge money in the highly acclaimed Trackman Teaching System.  I have been training in the mechanics of the product, have been learning high tech teaching methods and have committed myself to spend more time on the lesson tee, making our members and guests better players!  I encourage every single golfer to schedule 45 minutes with me to take the Trackman Combine.  The cost is $80 but the advice is priceless!!  Every week, I will post a Trackman tip for you at no cost.  Heed the advice!   I have made room in my schedule for teaching 3 days/week and to play with members whenever you sign up on the  exterior billboard.  Grab your 3 best buddies and let's play, enjoy each other's company and have some fun!

We have a wide variety of stock in our pro shop this year! The new Titleist, Taylormade and Callaway lines along with some great clothing options!!

PGA Junior League will be resuming again this season - I will keep you posted on this as the season progresses   The cost for 7 weeks of play is $175, $75 is the Reach fee for shirt and hat and $100 paid to Waubeeka.  Any child who gets free or reduced lunch at school will get a 100% paid scholarship courtesy of the PGA!  We welcome the participation of every child up to the age of 13.  We need parents to volunteer to help also.  Sign up today by going to PGA Junior League.com

Tip of the golf cap to our GM, Vicki Richardello; she took over the front entry of the Pro Shop and named it the Ladies’ Fairway Cove, with a great selection of women’s apparel, equipment and gifts.  Great job and thank you!!

Dick Syriac (laryoflenox) writes:

All winter, with plenty of time on my hands, I was determined to write some columns in advance so I would be ready when Mr. Deep requested some newsletter material for the 2021 season.  How did that work out for me?

It is Monday 4/5/21 and here I am scrambling for some "swing thoughts.” Reminds me of my game plan to attempt to graduate from NASC in four years.  How did that work out for me?  

I am scheduled for my second vaccine shot later today so I hope I'm upright and have a clear mind and can produce a column worthy of publication.

I'm sure Mike, Erik and the entire staff look forward to greeting new members and of course all of the loyal customers that appreciate the product that Waubeeka has provided the golfing community over the years.

Hers are some random thoughts of mine accumulated during the pandemic:

* It was a tough year for the high school athletes who saw their season either limited or non-existent.

* Great to see football return to Mt. Greylock HS.  I wish Ron Goss Sr. was here to coach 'em up. Speaking of Coach Goss, when is McCann Tech going to name the football field after him?

*Checking the box scores from the NBA I noticed that Steph Curry actually missed two foul shots in the same game.

*If you had Arkansas on your bracket sheet for the NCAA I'm sure you were thrilled to watch them miss 14 foul shots and lose in OT.  UGH!

* If I'm ever selected to appear as a contestant on Jeopardy, I hope there is a category " Law and Order" TV shows. I will kill it.  I've seen them all multiple times.

* I hope the Berkshire County Athletic Directors can figure out how to offer both a spring and fall golf season for their various teams. Pittsfield HS, who has produced many talented players over the years, did not have one student register for the spring season.

* Nice to see Jordan Spieth back in the winner's circle.  He played well and that is good for the game.

* I don't know about you, but Linda and I cannot ride by the A Frame Bakery on Route 7 without stopping for a fresh pastry and a good cup of coffee. The blueberry muffins require two hands and three napkins. (unless you have a long sleeve shirt on)

* I was given a book over the winter by John Wells PGA of Lenox entitled " I've got 99 swing thoughts but "Hit the ball" ain't one.  Sorry, Beek member Ed Noel is not the author.

*RIP Mary Petropulos, one of the nicest human beings that I have ever known. If she is not in heaven, there aren't no cows in Texas. Mary was joined by husband George this past Tuesday, friends of mine for years, great people.

* Remember to support our Pro Shop and Tavern on 7 this season, and take care of the cart boys and wait staff for they are all part of the Waubeeka family.  While we see many golf courses closing in New England we must realize that we are very fortunate to be able to play at such a great venue.

PGA Tour

THE MASTERS 

The only major that never changes its venue!!  Check out the odds of winning.  Bet $1 on each of them and your Sunday afternoon could be very exciting!!  The only way you could lose if if Justin Thomas takes over as world #1 or if DJ remains as world #1!

• Jordan Spieth (11/1)
• Bryson Dechambeau (11/1)
• Jon Rahm (12/1)
• Rory McIlroy (18/1)
• Collin Morikawa (30/1)
• Viktor Hovland (33/1)
• Paul Casey (45/1)
• Sergio Garcia (50/1)
• Corey Conners (80/1)

Augusta National Women's Amateur - 

17 year old Tsubasa Kajitani of Japan won the second ever ANWA in a one hole playoff over Emilia Migiaccio!!  Due to COVID, there was no tournament last year!  The winning score at Augusta was a one over par 73-72-72=217!  Let’s see the winning scores this week at the Masters!

DEEP Thoughts 

As we look forward to our busiest season ever, our goal is to provide exceptional service to our new and existing members, to give you the respect you’ve earned, the lessons you want, tee times before the general public, good food and a great place to hang out with your family.  This is your club; we cherish your membership and want to earn your trust.  Thanks for being a member!