Deon Starman Memorial Golf Tournament

Each year CCC member Dave Starman has been honoring his late wife's wishes. She wanted a golf tournament to mature that helped in the battle against breast cancer. The Deon Starman Memorial Golf Tournament 2015 committee has been working hard to ensure this year's event is even more successful than the past as the tournament rolls into its 15th year.

The Two-Person Best Ball tournament will take place on Monday, August 3, 2015 right here at Columbia Country Club. The entry fee is $200 per team. That fee includes the tournament, a cart, range balls and a boxed lunch. Appetizers will be provided by D. Rowe's, and beverages will be provided by N.H. Schepper's.

Don't delay on signing up a team! Last year's event sold out. Click here for the registration form.

2015 Committee Pictured Above (L-R): Angee McDaniel, Joyce Roth, Jeanne Starman, Dave Starman,, Tom Hayter. Nancy Witt and Laura Pierson. 

Lemon Delight

The Story of the Oak Tree

We wanted to take a minute to share a truly touching story about a couple who recently celebrated their marriage at Columbia Country Club.

During the planning process, our event specialist noticed a theme of very natural décor items being used: cotton in the centerpieces, burlap runners, wooden discs with the couples’ initials carved into them, etc. The menus were designed with an oak tree at the top, which seemed to go well with the overall theme of the day. But what really struck her was the sweet story that incorporated the oak tree she heard from the father of the bride:

When her mother and I moved into our first house as a married couple, my father gave us an oak tree to transplant into our own yard. That tree has grown over the years along with our family, and it’s still in our backyard today. When we found out Meghan was getting married, we took some seedlings from that tree and started growing another tree. Instead of a unity candle or unity sand at their ceremony, they will be watering the oak tree to symbolize the growth of their family. Then they will plant that three in their backyard to share with future generations. Everything you see here made of wood is wood taken from that oak tree.

The more we looked around, the more we realized the special personal touches of that oak tree. The pen holders for the guestbook were made of branches from the oak tree, and those initialed wooden discs were scattered throughout the reception area. The couple even decided to have a picture of an oak tree drawn to utilize for their guestbook and hang in their home after the reception. At the party, each guest marked the tree with a green thumbprint using an ink pad and signed their name or initials. Now, the couple will have that special reminder of the oak tree and all the love and support their marriage has from family and friends both indoors and outdoors. 

A Fresh Start

These upcoming weeks can be a critical time for your game…a fresh start and a time to rededicate yourself to the game you love. This is a chance for you to come out with an advantage over your foursome or foe. Or, simply a time for you to get out of the house and back at "Your Country Club." Below are a couple of tips to get you started this golf season:

1.) Start swinging! It’s as easy as grabbing a club from your bag and practicing in the garage, front yard or here at the driving range.

2.) Find a room in your home that has smooth carpet and practice rehearsing your putting stroke. Granted you’re not putting on Augusta National or even CCC’s wonderful greens, but repetition will help as you work on your touch and feel.

3.) Begin stretching. Simple exercises can go a long way to improving your flexibility with the golf swing as well as preventing injuries for this upcoming season (lets face it we aren’t getting younger as the seasons pass).

Finally, let’s look at what’s in the bag. How are your grips? On average, you should re-grip your clubs every 40-50 rounds or once a year. How are the grooves on your irons or wedges? While this might seem like a small detail, it could mean the difference between your ball stopping on the green or rolling into the rough. With that being said, be sure to check out all of the new equipment being released for the 2015 season from retailers such as Adidas, Taylor Made, Titleist, Nike and many more. Please remember that if we do not have it in the shop, we can always special order it while guaranteeing you, our member, the best price!

"Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated"

-Arnold Palmer

Go Big!

Who wouldn’t want to hit the big ball? For those of you struggling to generate that clubhead speed, here is a quick drill to help.

Step 1: Take your driver and flip it upside down so that you are now holding the club just under the clubhead with your standard grip (the grip end should be hovering above ground where the ball position would be).

Step 2: As you swing back to the top of your swing, lift your front foot (left foot for right handed swing) and move it toward your trail foot

Step 3: Once at the top of your swing, stomp your front foot back to its original position, and release your club through to a full finish.

If you do all three steps in one rhythmic swing, you will start to feel two things: a lower body weight transfer and a hand/arm release to push you through to a full finish. Once done a few times, take your regular swing and feel the "swoosh" sensation created as you move through your shot. The only thing to do now is enjoy those extra yards and watching your friends hit first all day long!

Hot 'N Honey Chicken Wings

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Clam Chowder Soup

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Your wish is our command!

You asked, and we delivered! CCC will be hosting an evening full of painting, friends, wine and creativity. This will be a relaxed, social, group setting, and an artist will guide you step by step through replicating the night's featured painting. Weather you are an aspiring Van Gosh or just looking to explore your creative side, you are sure to go home with a painting that is uniquely yours.

Below you will find a couple examples of parties and artwork done by our featured teacher and artist.

Don't wait! Hurry and register today before the seats are filled!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

April new member welcome!

As most of you know our membership challenge is in full swing, and we are chipping away at our 50 new member goal. For the month of April, we added 19 new members!!! WOOOHOOO We want to send a big CCC welcome to all of these new members who have joined the CCC Community. With the help of all of our current members, the future is looking bright for our membership.

If you know anyone who would make a good member of Columbia Country Club, simply click on the MBI in the above toolbar and fill out the form.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferling, little E and her little brother

Ms. Hodge and Mr. Edwards

Mr. Hunter

Mr. and Mrs. Reagan

Mr. and Mrs. Vandelicht (top) and their boys Drew and Chase (bottom)

Mr. Littrell

Not pictured:

Mr. Sargent

Mr. Maxwell

Mr. Slusher

Mr. Ford

Mrs. Atkinson

Mr. Kaplin

Mr. and Mrs. Perry

Mr and Mrs. Bales

Mr. and Mrs. De Castro

Mr. Adams

Mr. Philips

Mr. Merriman

Mr. Thompson
Mr. Kirtley

A Cultural Affair

This was a new one for us here at Columbia Country Club. There have been previous brides and grooms from different cultures who have joined their lives together, but the wedding of Emily Lichtenberg and Rolando Peralta truly was a combining of two cultures. The couple chose fun and unique ways to display both American and Ecuadorian traditions. The staff had a great time learning about them all.

Spanglish
Probably the most evident different between a full American wedding and this celebration was the buzz of not one but two languages. Almost everything was expressed, communicated or spoken in two languages. The prayers and stories were said in English and repeated through a translator to all the non-English speaking guests. The program and menus were also written in both Spanish and English. The most challenging part? Kristi, our Event Specialist, had to communicate to three adorable little ring bearers and a flower girl when it was time to walk down the aisle. Thanks goodness a thumbs up is universal!

Guests of Honor
When Emily first told us this tradition we thought it was such a sweet gesture and once we thought about it more, we started to wonder why this isn’t true at every wedding. Instead of the bridal party sitting at the head table, Mr. and Mrs. Peralta along with Mr. and Mrs. Lichtenberg sat right next to each of their children. Why wouldn't you want to honor the people have influenced you most in life, made you the person you are today and not to mention probably helped foot the bill for the evening. Loved this unique touch!

Long Live The Flag
Well of course you have to represent the country’s flag during the reception. Not only was there one poking out of the vase next to Emily’s gorgeous bridal bouquet, but the groom’s cake was also an exact replica of the Ecuador flag (which is quite impressive if you look at the detail of the flag).

Photography by Ty Cacek

We would like to send out a special thank you to all the guests, family and friends who traveled far and wide to help Emily and Rolando celebrate the beginning of a beautiful marriage.