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. 

Hitting The Jackpot

Because dinner and dancing just wasn’t quite enough for this couple with huge personalities, their wedding reception itinerary was jam packed with entertainment. Whether guests were bellied up to the Black Jack table or devouring scrumptious build-you-own food stations, each and every one of them was enjoying the evening.

Chris and Amber Peck sealed the deal on Saturday, April 12, 2015, with their ceremony at Stephens College. Following was a reception at CCC complete with a DJ, photo booth, character artist, three tables of casino games, Gatsby-themed decorations and props and fireworks to finish out the evening with a bang.

There was surely no lack of imagination throughout this planning process. Read below to learn some cute tips and tricks this couple incorporated into their wedding:

Props
You’ve seen it done with glow sticks and sunglasses, but how about offering your guests masks, beads and feathered headbands? Amber and Chris encouraged their guests to join in with the themed fun by offering them these props throughout the evening and to accompany them on the dance floor.

Affordable Décor

Picture frames are your best friend when it comes to adding a little personality and inexpensive decorating to your event. Frames can be purchased from the dollar store and by filling them with signage and fun sayings, you’re killing two birds with one stone. Make sure to label any hosted bar options and buffets, or choose some inexpensive scrapbook paper to add detail to a reserved sign.

1920s-Themed Gowns
Completely mirroring the era of the venue, Amber’s bridesmaids sported sequined, embroidered bridesmaid dresses. And following the trend that Payton Finley did at our last wedding, not a single dressed matched in color, design or material. Individually, each bridesmaid looked beautiful and unique but together they were a glamorous bunch to support Amber and her sequined, embroidered ivory wedding gown.

Ombre
Whether it’s hair, clothing or wedding cakes, this trend is here to stay this year!

Keeping the Celebration Going
Since Amber’s dad dabbles in winemaking and is looking to begin brewing his own beer, it made sense to send guests home with personalized half-bottles of wine. Not only were they made with love by Amber’s dad and featured fun flavors such as Lemon Lime and Cranberry, but they also had a personalized label to help remember the evening by. Cheers to continuing the celebration for these two newlyweds! 

What the bug is going on at #7?

For those of you who have seen hole 7 this is an explanation of what is going on and what is being done to fix the problem.

 

(click on image to enlarge)

 

 

How Sweet It Is To Be Baby Herzog

Yes, the club has picturesque spaces for both bridal AND baby showers. Since Baby Herzog is already a golf player in the making, it made perfect sense to celebrate Emily and baby right here at CCC. Thanks to the creative minds of Emily’s in-laws, the afternoon was adorably decorated and filled with love.

Take Homes
Who doesn’t love a party favor? Individually wrapped and placed in front of every seat was a box of animal crackers. On the buffet were bags of popcorn with “She’s Ready to Pop” tags, and to create a lasting memory of Baby Herzog, a packet of seeds were tucked inside a small gift bag tied with a ribbon and the words “A Baby Is Blooming”  on it.

Multipurpose Centerpieces
There was a blooming theme throughout the shower, so centerpieces were created by putting flowers and plants inside aluminum buckets and housing candles in oversized glass jars. Plus, game winners were able to select a plant to take home with them as a prize to plant in their own gardens.

Decorating with Toys
This one is easy if you already have kids at home. Instead of spending tons of money on new decorations or new props, take a look at what you have at home.

-Use small baby strollers to fill a buffet table and give it some height. Or since children’s furniture is miniature, use a small table and chairs or bassinet to give the room a feel similar to a nursery. 

-Use blocks to spell out baby’s name or the expecting mother’s name.

-Baby quilts can pose as tablecloths or overlays (just make sure not to get any food on these sentimental pieces!)

-Tie up cloth diapers with a ribbon and use it to weigh down balloons. 

Or if you’re purchasing oversized stuffed animals for the baby, use them as table décor for the gift table.

Play With Food

It is a shower for a tiny human after all...playing with your food just seems like the obvious. If you're crafty in the kitchen, create a fruit baby cradle out of a watermelon. Or, create a mini theme throughout your food spread. This spread featured mini cheesecakes in muffin liners....delish! 

Now that we’ve celebrated, the countdown is on for Baby Herzog. Only a few more weeks until we add to the CCC family! 

Game Course Management

Ever wonder which club you should be selecting on hole No. 8? Here's a tip from our Golf Professional....

Does your overall golf game need a little help? Private lessons with our golf professionals are available any time you need them. Contact Zach Herzog in the pro shop for more details.

573.449.4115

zherzog@columbiacc.net

Thank You, CCC All Stars!

A big thank you to the following members who submitted names for our membership challenge.

Tyson Hunt

Randall Lee Minchew

Matt Reaves

Randall Kilgore

Brent Rahn

Jeanne Starman

Dustin Bly

John Odle

If you haven't heard about our members challenge or submitted a name, it's not to late! If we reach our membership goal of 50 new members by the end of May, we will throw an all-inclusive party for our members with LIVE MUSIC, DRINKS AND FOOD! Let's work together and make it happen.

A hopping Easter at CCC

Shelley, our food and beverage director, pulled out all the stops for this year's Easter Extravaganza. From bunny themed center pieces to a kid coloring corner, everyone in the family had something to enjoy. However, it was not long into the day when the Easter bunny stopped by and stole the show. There were hugs galore from all he little ones, and they were full of anticipation for the bunny meet and greet. Thank you to all the families who came out and celebrated Easter with us here at CCC.

For those of you who would like to download your images with the Easter bunny, please follow the directions below.

1. Click on the link below:
   CCC Easter Pictures
2. Once the link opens, you will be able to view all of the images. Find your image and click on it.
3. Click on the three dots in the lower left corner and then click download.

You can do this for both your color and black and white image. Please let Brenda know if you have any questions: bbreland@columbiacc.net or 573.449.4115

Wine tasting rewind

Saturday, March 28th was full of friends, laughter and WINE! This season's wine tasting was a success and a great way to kickoff the spring and summer months. Our Glazer's rep, Chuck Johnson, did not disappoint with the broad array of red and white wines available for tasting. 

The talk of the evening: HALF BOTTLES OF WINE. These selections created a lot of buzz because they are perfect for those who just want a couple glasses and a great option for couples or friends who want just over a glass to share. They make a fun little addition to a dinner with a satisfying price tag of $15 each.

Shelley has taken all of the feedback from the evening and is in the process of building a wine menu that is sure to tickle your taste buds. 

The CCC staff was thrilled to see so many members and guests who attended and offered their thoughts to assist in building our new wine menu. So now, we would like to raise a glass to the 2015 golf season. Stay tuned for the release of the new wine menu COMING SOON!

In addition to the wine tasting fun, we were joined by the company of a few new members. We would love welcome Mr. and Mrs. Noel (top) and Mr. and Mrs. Flick (bottom) to the CCC family!

Tips & Tricks from the Wedding World

We can officially congratulate not one but two couples as newlyweds this week. The staff at CCC would like to extend well wishes to the new Mr. and Mrs. Finley and Mr. and Mrs. Ford!

Not only did both of these weddings have gorgeous Missouri spring weather, they were also filled with sweet and creative ideas that truly made each of their days unique. Check out some of the fun ideas each couple incorporated into their ceremonies and receptions:

Payton & Cole Finley
 This adorable couple simply looked the part. Their glamorous attire perfectly complimented the soft, romantic feel of their wedding décor.

Photography Credits: Lollipop Photography

Mixed Materials & Prints
Over the past year, many brides have chosen to have mismatch bridesmaid dresses varying in color and style, but Payton and her crew went even farther to mix prints and materials. Each individually beautiful, the group looked amazing together.

Interactive Centerpieces
We have to give a shout out to Becky, decorator extraordinaire, who helped make Payton’s vision come to life. Everything that was at the ceremony and reception was created, re-purposed and designed by Becky herself with lots of attention to detail and a whole lot of love for the couple.

Becky searched long and hard for the perfect branches for the tree centerpieces. Turns out, these pussy willow branches were sitting right in her own backyard. She adorned all 24 (yes, there were 24 trees she created) with wishing bells, lights or blank tags. On each of the tables that had trees with blank tags, she put a pail of pens in the middle and asked guests to write down a wedding wish or words of wisdom for the future Finley’s. Not only were the centerpieces beautiful, but it was a way for the couple to take home cherished words from their guests.

Note: Becky was smart enough to cut branches that were still slightly green and flexible. These types of branches were easier to find with the spring just beginning, but it definitely saved some hassle when transporting the trees since the branches were flexible and didn’t snap while they were being pulled in and out of the van.

Faux Flowers
There are ways to preserve a bridal bouquet, but what if you could keep your bridal bouquet forever, or maybe even pass it down to a daughter to use on her day. How special would that be? All of the bridesmaid and bridal bouquets were made from fake flowers. Becky handstiched burlap around the stems of the flowers and adorned them with pearls to add another girly touch.

Combining a Wedding & Groom’s Cake
There’s the long tradition of having one beautiful cake to put on display with an additional cake for the groom that’s a little more personalized. Traditionally, the pretty cake is used for the cake cutting and the top tier of it is saved for that special one-year anniversary tasting. This couple decided to combine the two. The cake’s design was soft with romantic details and all white except for the frosted Captain America who was busting through the middle tier. And to add a little bit more fun, the bakery added mini cupcakes to the bottom of the cake display.   

We want to wish Payton and Cole the best of luck as they begin a new adventure in Texas as a married couple!

Kendra and Jake Ford
Sundays aren’t a typical day to get married on in American culture, but Kendra and Jake’s wedding made a bang this past Sunday. Adorned with bold shades of purple and a picturesque view of the golf course, our couple decided to turn the McAlester dining room into a fairytale reception location.

Creative Wall Hangings
When looking at different venues, you will often notice walls with a lot of blank spaces, or maybe the wall color doesn’t really go with your theme. Kendra and her decorating crew found an easy and inexpensive way to cover the entire wall behind a wine serving station. Instead of spending tons of money on oversized photos, large letters, etc., they used a deep plum tulle and tied it to a rope to create a unique wall hanging.

Above Photography Credit: Harrison Sweazea

Childhood Memories

The father daughter dance is usually a touching moment, but it especially was at the Taylor/Ford wedding. Kendra and her dad danced to “Butterfly Kisses,” which might sound like a typical father daughter dance song to you. But they shared with us that Kendra had been planning to dance with her dad to that song since it first debuted when she was four years old…how precious!

Guests might have recognized a particular detail on the head table that referenced a Disney movie. Next to the bride was a single-stemmed rose is in a glass case. Nothing like feeling like a princess on your wedding day!

These newlyweds are staying in Columbia, and we can’t wait to see them enjoying married life here together.

Above Photography Credit: Harrison Sweazea