Submitted by Chad Vibert, Golf Course Superintendent

As we move into the fall season, several important projects and maintenance activities will be taking place across the golf course. These initiatives are focused on improving playing conditions, completing necessary infrastructure work, and continuing the recovery from this year’s irrigation project.

Cart Paths
Preparation for the upcoming cart path installation will begin in mid-September, with the actual cart path work scheduled to take place in October. Preparation will include the necessary groundwork and site work to ensure the pathways are properly prepared for installation and resurfacing. This will include some stone edge removal, and re installation as well as the removal of the turf stone located at 7, 13 and 17. We will also be preparing some areas that have washed away, including remediation of the edges.

Submitted by Gary Ward, General Manager & C.O.O.

Department Performance Feedback

Thank you to those that completed the Golf Operations survey, I’ve summarized the results along with the comparative data from our prior Golf Operations surveys below;
 

• Weekday AM tee access – 3.5 down from 3.9 (2024) and 4.2 (2022) – Based on comments this is mostly relating to Monday mornings
• Weekday PM access – 3.8 down from 4.0 and 4.3
• Weekend AM access – 3.2 down from 3.4 and 3.9
• Weekend PM access – 3.3 down from 3.5 and 4.1
• Tee management – 3.6 down from 4.0 and 4.0
• All of the tee access feedback is consistent with what I’ve been hearing from members this summer. It is busier than it’s ever been and access to the tee is suffering, particularly on the weekend. This is something that management and the board are aware of, and we are working on solutions for 2027.
• Pace of play – 3.3 down from 3.7 and 3.9 – The busy tee sheet contributed to the pace issues this summer, match play events are a major concern as is the pace of some guest groups, we will be reviewing all of these items and other factors for 2027.
• Importance of social golf events – 3.0 compared to 3.1 and 2.9 – social golf events still important to some, not to others
• Important of competitive golf events – 3.0 compared to 2.9 and 2.8 – this is similar to the social golf events, some view them with a high level of importance other less so.
• Golf shop staff greeting, attentiveness, helpfulness – 4.3-4.5 compared to 4.3-4.6 in both 2024 and 2022 – Excellent results
• Golf shop staff overall performance 4.3 compared to 4.3 and 4.4 – Excellent results
• Back shop staff greeting, attentiveness, helpfulness – 4.1-4.5 up slightly from 4.0-4.4 in 2024 and 2022 – Also excellent results
• Back shop staff overall – 4.2 up from 4.1 and 4.0 – This aligns with member feedback to me all summer
• Power cart fleet – 3.9 down from 4.1 and 4.5 (new fleet in 2022) – in 2027 we are scheduled for a new cart fleet
• Pull cart fleet - 4.1 up from 3.9 and 3.8 – In 2026 we introduced a new push cart fleet

 
Golf Operations survey results are what I expected, lower ratings on tee access and pace of play are the areas with the lowest member satisfaction.
 
We are developing plans and strategies to mitigate this in 2027.
 

Submitted by Carl Penfold, Head Professional

With Labour Day now behind us, it certainly feels like the unofficial end of summer. One of the most noticeable signs that I can tell we are in the final stretch of the season is simply by looking at the tee sheet.

This past Labour Day weekend was another busy one, with more than 200 players on the course each day from Friday through Monday. To put that into perspective, two years ago we had just 6 days throughout the entire season with more than 200 players, compared to 21 this year. It has been great to see so many members continue to enjoy the course, particularly after the disruption of the project over the past couple of seasons.

As we move through September, we will naturally start to see the number of rounds played each day come down. From Friday through Sunday this past weekend, we averaged 155 players per day, compared to an average of 210 players over Labour Day weekend. We should expect to see that trend continue as we get closer to the official end of summer on September 22. While the tee sheet may be a little quieter, there is still a lot of great golf ahead!
 

Submitted by PA Irwin-Allen, Ladies Captain

We had a beautiful September Tuesday last week. Sun was shining, the course was in great shape and 23 ladies came out to play our weekly game. The team game called Except 18 counts 1 best net score on the front nine, 2 best net scores on the back 9 and 3 best net scores on hole #18. The lowest scoring team wins. Two teams tied for first and due to retrogression first place is awarded to the team of Deborah Ise, Val Dyer and Patti Teeter. Also shooting -10 and placing second is the team of
Lesley Brightling, Susan Quigley and Yvonne Penning.  Third place goes to Sharon Delorenzi, Hilarie Woods and Andrea Tulloch.
 
There was much excitement on the course as Frances Painter had a Hole-in-One on #3. Cathy Hobart and Tony Bowland watched it go in and there was celebration all around. Yvonne Penning made a natural birdie on #15 and with 2 strokes she made a net albatross.

 
Submitted by Dean Elliott, Men's Captain

The President’s Cup was played last Wednesday and Thursday with Team Canada capturing a four-point victory.  As seems to be the case every year, the event went down to the wire with the final session singles matches ultimately deciding things.  A special thank you to honorary captains Bill Patrick and Brian Usher-Jones who joined us on Thursday afternoon to help motivate the teams.  Best of luck to the ladies who wrap up the annual MADheim Cup matches this afternoon!

Submitted by Ryan Rinneard, Director of Instruction
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Submitted by Trish Carman, Club Accountant

Member Events Cancellation Policies
 
Good morning all;

I would like to take this time to recap the Mad River member events and cancellation policies.

Except for the Club Championships, our policy is that all club events are stand alone and are funded by those participating in the event and, all events are to break even financially.

When members registered for the event, either do not show up, cancel due to an inclement weather forecast or do not cancel within 72 hours of the event, it has a negative impact on the event budget.

The event cancellation policy is in place to help balance the costs of the food, prizes or other items purchased for an event, based on the number of registered participants.

If members do not show up, or cancel due to an inclement weather forecast, they will be charged in the following manner;
 
Member Events – 3 days notice or 50% of the posted fee is charged
Member Socials – No cancellations 100% is charged
Golf clinics and lessons – 24-hour notice, or 50% of the fee is charged.