Junior Golf Camp was in Full Swing!

This past week, Junior Golfers attended Golf Camp at Osprey Cove. Head Golf Professional, Don Yrene, and Assistant Golf Professional, Holt Lantz, spent four fun-filled days teaching the children the game of golf. The aspiring golfers learned how to putt and chip; they worked on their full swing and their short game; they combined all of the skills they learned to play 9 holes Friday.

Jr. Golfer, Joshua, told me that putting is his favorite because he gets to hit the ball in the hole. Look at the pictures below to see a sampling of all the fun the juniors and their instructors had at Camp this week!

Don's daughter came to assist him with the camp!

Summer Golf Update from Don

Summer is now upon us.  The weather has been great during the latter part of May, but we do need warmer temperatures and humidity to help get the Tiff bermuda grass to grow strong and healthy.  This month of June, I led our young golfers into learning this great game in the Junior Golf Camp last week.  We will have another camp July 16^th through 19^th and there are a few spots available for kids to sign up.  Also this month we have the MGA Quarterly on the 8^th, Methodist Home Golf Classic on the 9^th, Coastal Ladies’ Association Summer League on the 12^th, and a US Open Player Pick on the 15^th. 

Be advised the course will be active this summer with green aerification and topdressing, and we will get those dates out to the membership as soon as possible.  Remember the accompanied 18 hole guest fee is $45 plus tax from June 1 to the end of September. 

Thank you and see ‘round the O.C.

-Don Yrene, Head Golf Professional

Buying Local

Over the past year the Food and Beverage Department has been working to find quality vendors who supply local produce and goods.  When I came back to Osprey last year, I knew if we were going to have success we needed to move away from companies like Sysco and U.S. Foods.  We spent a lot of time visiting vendors’ warehouses, talking with their buyers and really trying to understand their motives.  Below you will find a couple of pictures from a farm in Macclenny Florida, which is located just southwest of Jacksonville off of interstate 10 on the way to the Osceola National Forest.  Each week I talk at length with my produce supplier, Jere, to find the freshest and highest quality in season fruits and vegetables.  He sends me pictures from the farms, along with weather updates and growing trends.  Together we are able to decide what is tasting the best and traveling the shortest distance to your plate when you eat here in the Clubhouse at Osprey Cove.  

-Bill Shaffer, Executive Chef

Moore Help, Please

The folks of Moore, OK have experienced a catastrophe beyond most of our imagination. Let’s send them our support. We are currently accepting donations to aid in the relief efforts. You can donate in the Golf Shop or in the Admin Office. We will be accepting donations through next Friday.

All of the courses managed by Green Golf Partners are participating in this fundraising effort. In addition to the donations collected, GGP will be donating $1,000 to the American Red Cross.

We hope you have a safe Memorial Day weekend.  Remember our fallen military heroes who served to protect our freedom on this special day.

Pencil Tine

Recently, the course went through a process called Pencil Tine.

To learn more about this procedure watch this video from YouTube.

-AB

Holt Lantz Named Assistant Golf Professional

Holt Lantz, a native of Atlanta, GA has been named the Assistant Golf Professional at The Club. Lantz began working at The Club last year as the Golf Services Coordinator and was promoted this week.

Lantz said, “I’m very excited about my new position at The Club; this is a great opportunity to learn and grow under our new leadership in Green Golf Partners and Don Yrene. Since I started at Osprey in August 2012, we have made nothing but positive changes to the member experience and I am looking forward to only making it better.”

Lantz fell in love with the game of golf through junior golf camps and grew up playing at The Oaks Course in Covington, GA. However, he didn’t become an avid golfer until his teenage years. “To me, the golf course has always been a social atmosphere to learn new things and be competitive.”

Congratulations, Holt!

Don went to the Masters!

It has been a very wet start to the month of May, however we will get rolling again soon.  This month we have The Players pick a player event on the 11^th, there is a Couple’s tournament on the 19^th which starts at 12:30, we have nine and dine at 3 PM on the 22^nd, and Memorial Day Flag tournament on the 27^th.  Remember the entire club is closed on Mondays beginning Monday, May 6^th.  The greens did receive small tine aerification and top dressing last Monday, the 6th.  

I am really looking forward to attending my first PGA Tour Players tournament this week.  Ashley Byrd and I went to my first Masters tournament in Augusta and I am anticipating big fun again when experiencing The Players in Ponte Vedra.

I will be conducting junior golf clinics June 4-7, and July 16-19; contact the golf shop at 912-882-5575 for details.

See you around the O.C.!

Don Yrene, PGA

Head Golf Professional

The Club at Osprey Cove

912-673-9928

Kentucky Derby Party

Thank you to all of the members who joined us for the 1st Annual Kentucky Derby Party! A lot of fun was had by all! The experience began with a glass of champagne upon arrival, delicious food such as Raspberry Pastries, Louisville "Hot Brown" Sandwiches, Pecan Corn Cakes, Burgoo, and much more was prepared by Chef Bill Shaffer. The hats were exceptionally creative! We hope to see you there next year!

Oh the Places You'll Go...With Osprey Cove in Tow.

Graduation season is now upon us so whether you have a graduate, are a graduate, or a friend of a graduate remember to enjoy and celebrate this special time. While planning special events may seem stressful, contact Osprey Cove for a stress-free experience. Executive Chef, Bill Shaffer, will create a culinary delight to meet your grad's fancy; our team will set up the room and even clean it up after the party! All you need to do is smile and invite your guests!

For more information about scheduling your graduation party, please contact Heidi, The Sales & Marketing Director at 912.673.9934.

Boating Safety Tips

The sun is shining, there's a warm breeze blowing, the scent of magnolias fill the air, and the chirps of birds are music to your ears so it must be time to put on your bathing suit, pack the coolers, and get ready for a day out on the water in your boat.

Here are some important Safety Tips to remember this summer, courtesy of Green Boating:


1. Make sure all children wear life jackets whenever they’re on the boat or near the water. Kids are fast and they can be overboard in the blink of an eye. Don’t count on being able to keep kids safe by “keeping an eye on them” at all times.

2. Make sure there is a life jacket on board for every adult. Never take on more riders than you have personal flotation devices to accommodate. At the beginning of the season, make sure each adult has a life jacket that fits properly. Replace any that no longer fit or are in poor condition.

3. Don’t drink and drive a boat. For the same reasons you don’t get behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol, you should never operate a boat under the influence.

4. Check your safety equipment regularly. Fire extinguishers, safety lines, anchors and other safety equipment should all be checked to make sure they’re in proper working condition.

5. Take a boating safety course. Consider taking a safety course and having other adults and older children in the family taking a course. This is the best way to learn how to avoid collisions with other boats, handle sudden changes in weather, and deal with any unexpected emergencies that could occur on the water.  Boater's Safety Courses are required to obtain a Florida Boater's License and beginning in 2014 they will be required in Georgia, as well.

If you would like to attend a Boater's Safety Course through the United States Coast Guard, please contact Heidi, as we do have them at The Club a couple of times a year and we can give you the contact information for courses outside of the gates.