OakmontLinks Links May 2015.pdf · member that would truly be a great addi-tion to the Club, ... members: Doug Truter, Rich Alexander, Mark ... you indicate your affiliation with

OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB MAY 2015

OakmontOakmontLinksMAY 2 0 1 5 | WWW.OAKMONTCC .ORG

NAT IONAL H I STOR IC LANDMARK 1 9 0 3

Fitz’s FactsPage 6

ContentsFrom the ClubhousePage 2

Bunker to BunkerPage 4

Rules of GolfPage 12

pring is finally here at Oakmont!Opening day was well attended with95 members participating on April

18. The weather for opening day was thenicest we have seen in recent memory.We kicked off Opening Day with a

membership forum in the morning. DougTruter, Membership Committee Chair,talked with those in attendance about themembership process. In summary, if mem-bers would like to recommend a potentialmember that would truly be a great addi-tion to the Club, please contact any one ofthe following Membership Committeemembers: Doug Truter, Rich Alexander,Mark Bope, Bob Cooper, BruceMcGough, or me. We would be happy to walk you through the process and makeit as easy as possible to sponsor a newmember. The Budget for the coming fiscal year

was unanimously approved by the Board ofGovernors at the meeting held on March

F I R S T P E R S O NED STACK

S 25. The budget projects a positive cashflow from regular operations of $209K atthe end of March 2016. The Board is committed to being as fiscally conservativeas possible while still preserving the highstandards and service levels that membersare accustomed to at Oakmont. I have heard many positive comments

from members and their guests regardingthe food and service provided at the Club’sEaster celebration. Close to 700 wereserved over the course of a seven- hourperiod. Kudos to the Clubhouse team fordoing such a great job. The Club’s Eastercelebration also marked a changing of theguard in our Food and BeverageDepartment. April 1, 2015 marked PeggySchaal’s last day at the Club after thirty-fiveyears of dedicated service to OakmontCountry Club. Peggy, on behalf of theBoard of Governors and the entire mem-bership we thank you for your unending

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Opening DayThe U.S. Open ChampionshipTrophy made an appearanceat Oakmont on Opening Day.Members were able to get anup-close view of the trophy.

Pictured here (left to right)are Dan Biondi, Bernie Marcus,Don Ziegler and RandyCrawford.

See more on page 5.

OKMTLinks_MAY15_042415F.qxp_Layout 1 4/24/15 8:54 AM Page 1

4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 1

OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB MAY 2015— 2 —

OakmontLinksFrom the Clubhouse BY PAUL MROZ

The renovation of our Dining Room,Runway, Living Room and two Sittingareas has been completed. The responsefrom the Membership has been over-whelmingly positive. The combination ofviews of the golf course from theChampions Grill and bar and the naturallight that spills into that room has beenvery well received. The colors and fabricschosen by our designer June Price havereceived high praise. Members and guestsare utilizing the Oakmont Dining Roommore than when it was the formal DiningRoom which was another goal of the committee.Summer is right around the corner

which means that the tennis courts areready and the pool will be opening up verysoon. Opening Day for the pool will beMay 22. Let the countdown begin.Parents will be receiving a flyer whichdetails all of the fun things that ouryounger members may avail themselves ofthis summer. Junior Golf Clinics led byMatt Denesha will run from June 16through August 14. The swim team prac-tice and meet schedule will run from May22 through mid-July. Our junior tenniscamps are available for all ages and will runfor five weeks from June 16 through July23. If you did not receive a flyer in the mailby the time that you are reading this articleplease contact Jessica Lucas and she willmail or email one to you. One more noteabout the pool. The pool will be open forlap swimming only from 7:00-10:00 a.m.on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Onweekends the pool will open at 10:00 a.m.instead of the usual 11:00 a.m.During the month of May you will

notice that almost 80% of the exterior ofthe Clubhouse will be scraped, caulked andpainted. The Clubhouse is looking a bitweathered and once the job is completed itwill look spectacular. We will be sure towork around the Club’s busy times and

do our best to keep the crew out of every-one’s way. We appreciate everyone’s understanding.Jamie Schmitt has begun her new posi-

tion as our Events Coordinator and she hashit the ground running. Jamie has theenergy, creativity, and organizational skillsthat will propel this facet of the Clubhouseoperation to great heights. Please call her atextension 302 if you are planning a specialevent at the Club and she will take care ofall of your planning needs. Opening Day saw a reversal of fortune

for our golfers this year. The women drewthe short straw on Thursday as it pouredrain for almost the entire time they were onthe course. Conversely the men had whatwas touted as the nicest day they have seenin the past twenty years. Sunshine and tem-peratures in the mid-70’s were the order ofthe day. A very nice touch to both days wasthe appearance of the U.S. Open Trophy.Members were very excited to have theirpictures taken with the hardware. Manythanks to Charlie Howe and Carl Gurtnerfor making the trophy available in ourDining Rooms over the Opening Dayweekend for all members who were on the property. The excitement for 2016 isbuilding!

First Person CONTINUED

support and excellent service.We wish you all of the best inyour retirement. Your won-derful smile will be missedaround the Clubhouse.The Grounds Department

has performed a great deal ofwork since last August’s aeri-fication procedure. We havecontinued to follow theprocess recommended by Mr.Richard Bator for returningour greens to Oakmont stan-dards. Shortly before we per-formed another aggressiveaerification in October, ourgreens were returning to thestandard we have becomeaccustomed to. Based on Mr.Bator’s plan, the Groundspersonnel performed drill-and-fill and Graden verticutprocedures on our greens inOctober. The next phase ofMr. Bator’s plan was toemploy another aggressiveaerification this spring, whichwe have completed. Thethatch/ organic matter hasbeen reduced by 30-40%through these procedures.Mr. Bator is confident ourgreens will have made signifi-cant progress by early June.While I know this is much toask based on the playing con-ditions of the last few years,please be patient for a fewmore weeks to allow the earlygrowing season to take place.Hopefully, by the Member-Member Tournament, wewill be playing on Oakmontgreens which we are proud tohave our friends join us.

Jamie Schmitt


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 2


U.S. Open TicketsLast month, each member should have received informa-tion regarding the chance to purchase tickets for the 2016U.S. Open Championship. We’ve had many membersalready take advantage of this advance opportunity. Weencourage you to buy your tickets early as tickets go onsale to the general public on June 15, 2015.Membership ticket packages must be purchased

by Friday, May 29, 2015. Please go to usga.org/OakmontMember and enter your Oakmont membernumber to purchase. If you prefer to order via mail,please pick up an Oakmont member ticket application atthe front desk. Tickets will be sent to members in May of 2016.

Volunteer Opportunities Still Available for OCC Members:To date, 185 members have secured volunteer positionsfor next year’s U.S. Open. We want to thank each of youfor your dedication and commitment to serving as ambas-sadors to Oakmont Country Club and the USGA!There are still a limited number of volunteer positions

available; however we’d like to highlight the uniqueopportunity to support Oakmont Country Club and theChampionship by volunteering as a hole marshal with yourfellow OCC members.Marshals play a vital role in the success of the champi-

onship. Whether it is working directional paddles on thetee box, spotting golf balls in the fairway, or serving as agreenside marshal, you have the opportunity to ensure fairplay for all of the 156 professional golfers in the 2016 U.S. Open field. Traditionally, the host club is assigned tomarshal the final and always dramatic 18th hole of theU.S. Open. In our case, the best finishing hole in golf! If you are interested in volunteering for the 2016

U.S. Open, please visit 2016volunteers.usga.org andcomplete an application at your earliest convenience. Ifyou choose to fill out an application online, we ask thatyou indicate your affiliation with Oakmont Country Clubin the “Previous Experience” section of the application.Additional hard copies of the volunteer application can be picked up from the USGA offices at Oakmont. All individuals chosen to be volunteers will be asked to volunteer up to four shifts. Shifts will generally last five to six hours. Should you have any questions regarding theapplication, please contact the Championship Office [email protected]. This is your chance to enjoy, firsthand, the excitement

of the United States Open Championship. Thank you for your interest in volunteering and your support ofOakmont Country Club. We know you will have the time of your life!


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 3


OakmontLinks

BY BOB FORD

Weekend Morning TwosomesIf you are a golfer who enjoys playing as a twosome or prefers toplay your Club match in a twosome, please know the best time foryou to play on a weekend morning is between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00a.m. Any twosome playing outside of this time frame will mostlikely play at a 4-hour pace and be likely to be paired with anothertwosome.

Kiltie Q & AWhen will entries be sent? Kiltie entries will be emailed on May 11.

If I was on the waitlist last year, am I exempt into this year’s event? Yes, but you still must send in an entry form.

What is the Kiltie Format in 2015?Friday 27-holes, Saturday 18-holes

Will there be a practice round? No. However a limited number of tee times will be reserved forthose that would like to play Thursday before the event.

Will there be a dinner on Saturday night? No, there will only be a stag dinner Friday night.

How many teams will be in the field? The Kiltie field will consist of 60 teams.

What is the entry fee for the Kiltie? $950 per team.

PGA Junior League GolfOakmont is joining the fastest growing junior golf program thisyear. PGA Junior League Golf is designed to better socialize thegame for boys and girls, ages 13 and under. Featuring team vs. teamcompetitions in structured leagues, kids can enjoy a less stressfulscramble format as opposed to stroke-play competition.Leagues and schedules will not be created until the end of April,

but juniors can now sign up to be on the team! Our league willmost likely be with Fox Chapel Golf Club, Pittsburgh Field Cluband Butler Country Club. If you would like to officially sign up,please contact Matt Denesha at [email protected] or call the Golf Shop at (412) 828-4653. Fee: $125

Important Oakmont Junior DatesJunior Interclub Traveling Team Qualifier – May 30 at 2:30 p.m.Junior Golf Clinics begin June 16Interclub Match at Baltusrol Golf Club – July 7Interclub Match at Winged Foot Golf Club – July 8Junior Club Championship – July 10 and 11 at 2:30 p.m.Junior Diebold at Longue Vue Club – July 16 at 3:00 p.m.Parent Child Championship – July 25 at 2:30 p.m.Interclub Match at Kahkwa Club – July 30Interclub Match at Scioto – TBD Pro-Junior Scramble – August 14 at 3:30 p.m.Junior Sports Banquet – August 16 at 6:00 p.m.

Demo DayMay 23 • 2-7 p.m.We look forward to you joining us on May 23 from 2-7p.m.for our 2015 demo day which will feature all the major clubcompanies including: Adams, Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist andUS Kids Golf. There are clubs to try for all ages and abilities.If you would like to be fit from a vendor, please call the pro-fessional shop to schedule an appointment.

May Schedule of EventsMay 5* Member-Monday (Tuesday) Course ClosedMay 6 WPWGA Girls Clinic 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. May 17 Mixed Casual Guest Day 12:30 p.m. Tee TimesMay 22 Member Only SWAT 1:30 p.m. ShotgunMay 23 Demo Day 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. May 25 Memorial Day Saturday Rules Apply* On May 5, the golf course will open to member play at approximately 5:30 p.m.


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 4


Drive, Chip and Putt LocalQualifier LocationsJune 13Mill Creek Park Golf CourseWest Golf Dr.Boardman, OH 44512

June 19Champion Lakes Golf Club4743 Route 711Bolivar, PA 15923

July 2J.C. Martin Family Golf Center652 Shunpike Rd.Erie, PA 16508

July 17Grandview Golf Club1000 Clubhouse Dr.Braddock, PA 15104

July 22Quicksilver Golf Club2000 Quicksilver Rd.Midway, PA 15060

To register for a local qualifier, goto drivechipandputt.com today!

Opening DayU.S. Open Championship TrophyThe U.S. Open Championship trophy is permanently housed in the USGA Museum and ArnoldPalmer Center for Golf History in Far Hills, N.J. Each U.S. Open champion receives a replica of thetrophy to keep permanently. Names of the U.S. Open winners are engraved in block type on thelower portion of the trophy.

Pictured below with the trophy are (top, left to right) Barry Hackett, Kevin Adamek, Jim Douglass andDave Fuhrer.


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 5

BY JOHN FITZGERALD, ARCHIVE CHAIRMAN

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Fitz’sFacts


OakmontLinks

A

B

C


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 6


In the previous 20 years of gath-ering information, memorabiliaand photos about OCC history,the recent receipt of a full-pagenewspaper article is definitely inthe top 10 of interest because ofits content. The paper is datedSeptember 3, 1905 (page 6).It all started with our receiv-

ing an email from Curt Coulterwith this page as an attachmentbut not printable. It took awhile to find the source. Shownhere are copies of some of thephotos in our inventory whichwere used by the newspaper.Unfortunately we do not havethe rest.

A. Reception Room,Clubhouse interior

B. H.C. Fownes watching thecompletion of the first 18hole round of golf. (It is obvious that this is the9th Green, so they musthave started on #10.)

C. Oakmont Country Club,Clubhouse Exterior (This was also used for postcards.)

The New Oakmont Country Club

B

A

C


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 7


The grounds department is excited to startthe 2015 season and is pleased to reportthat we have already accomplished a greatdeal of work.

Putting GreensWinter: As you are aware, we took everypossible precaution this past winter andchose to tarp all of the putting greens onthe golf course. In addition, we installedfences to mitigate high winds on #3 and#14 greens. Lastly, we took every opportu-nity throughout the winter to removeexcess water from the tarps, clear ice for-mations, and help facilitate ice melting atthe proper times. Upon removing thegreens tarps and inspecting the turf, wewere pleased with the overall condition ofthe greens following winter. We are contin-uing to monitor areas on a few greens (#1,#4, #8, #9, and #10) where different vari-eties of Poa annua are still exhibiting signsof extended dormancy and winter (ice)damage. We have seen significant improve-ment in these areas with additional fertility,plugging, overnight tarping, liquid fertilizerapplications, and other related practices.We have also identified a few specific, low-lying areas of ice damage that we arereplacing with putting green grass from ournursery.

Many have asked how it was possible toexperience areas of winter damage when wecovered all of our greens. As previouslycommunicated, tarps help protect the turffrom direct cold temperature injury, desic-cation, wind damage, and other forms ofwinter injury. However, even though thetarps help mitigate ice damage, they cannotprevent it. Therefore, though we are work-ing on a few problem areas, we feel confi-dent that we avoided much more signifi-cant issues through our precautionarymeasures. Overall, we are pleased with the health

and progress of the greens after a very diffi-cult winter and a relatively slow spring. Wewill continue to take the necessary steps toaddress any winter-related issues and pro-vide the best possible playability.

Organic Matter: Upon reviewing testingfrom last fall (Dr. Hummel - Hummel &Co., Inc.), performing physical inspectionsin the field, a site visit from consultant Mr.Richard Bator, and a very aggressive aerifi-cation schedule, we are pleased to reportthat we have made significant progress ineliminating our organic matter issue. Also,testing from October 2014 (prior to thedrill & fill/graden in October) confirmsthat our organic matter percentages are

From the Grounds BY JOHN ZIMMERS, GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT

already in the desired range. Welook forward to reviewing testresults later this spring to lendfurther scientific verification toour programs. Lastly, the put-ting greens have been perform-ing very well thus far this spring,and we look forward to provid-ing firm, fast conditions this season.

Agressive Putting GreenSpring AerificationIn accordance with our organicmatter removal program, thegrounds department completeda very aggressive spring aerifica-tion. The grounds staff workedvery long hours in far less thanideal conditions to complete thework in a very efficient manner. The processes complet-ed are as follows:

Core Aerification: We removed atraditional 5/8" core on verytight spacing. The tight spacingof this aerification utilized rela-tively new technology allowingus to remove approximately 50%more organic matter than in aconventional aerification. Thefact that we were able to removethis much material without rip-ping, pulling, and damaging theturf is a testament to our overallturf health and root structure.Please see the photos comparingour new 5/8" core setup versusthe conventional setup.

Winter dormancy/ice damage #10 green, 4/10/15. Winter ice/damage #2 fairway/intermediate: plugging, overseeding, etc.


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 8


water infiltrate the soil faster, promotingeffective drainage through our soil, produc-ing drier, firmer playing conditions. Withan unfavorable forecast, we 2x and 3xtarped specific greens to prevent the soilfrom freezing, allowing us to start workearly in the morning. Also, we worked lateinto the night to complete all 18 greens intwo days.

Deeptine: Following the drill & fill proce-dure, we used a ½" solid tine to penetrateand fracture the soil at an approximate 6-8" depth. This process creates additionalpore space for oxygen and helps relievecompaction enhancing turf health anddrainage.

Graden/Verticut: Lastly, we performedanother graden procedure. The graden is averticutting procedure that is extremelyaggressive. It consists of several mini chain-saw blades that cut and remove organicmatter at a depth of approximately ½" to1" and backfills the channels with sand.The graden is the most aggressive toolavailable to remove organic matter. This isthe third time this procedure has been per-formed since August 2014 (7½ monthsago).Overall, the ultra-aggressive spring 2015

aerification displaced approximately 17.5%organic matter on a surface area basis, andbrings our total surface area displacementsince August 2014 up to approximately40% in seven and a half months. Althoughthe aforementioned data and percentagesquantify the work that has been completed,we feel confident that it will positivelytranslate into a significant qualitativeimprovement this season regarding speedand firmness. We appreciate everyone’sunderstanding and patience in allowing usto complete these programs.Healing time from our spring aerifica-

tion is largely dependent upon soil temper-atures and growing degree days. Also, thecountless strains of our unique perennial

Drill & Fill: This procedure is exe-cuted to continually maintainour 112-year-old greens andmaximize positive drainage. Itconsists of a ¾" diameter drillbit that removes soil approxi-mately 12" deep and backfillswith sand. This process helps

New 5/8” tine setup: 6 tines/block

New 5/8” tine aerification: >50% more removal

Graden: #4 green

Drill and fill: #9 green

Old 5/8” tine setup: 4 tines/block

Aerification: finished product (tight spacing)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

From the Grounds CONTINUED


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 9


OakmontLinksPoa annua exhibit varying growth rates. As communicated annually, the differinggrowth rates are the prominent contributorto the “bumpy” putting conditions we typ-ically experience every spring. It is docu-mented, and our experience confirms thatour greens do not produce peak playabilityuntil mid to late May. We will do our bestto manufacture the smoothest, firmest con-ditions possible this spring until our soiltemperatures reach equilibrium where thePoa can grow in a more uniform, consis-tent fashion.

Fairway AerificationCompleting fairway aerification in thespring is typically difficult due to severalfactors including frozen soil, frosts, soilmoisture, precipitation, lack of drying, etc.In fact, we were unable to complete thisprocedure last spring due to a variety of theaforementioned reasons. This spring, withconditions being far from favorable, wewere extremely aggressive in executing andcompleting the work. In fact, due to sched-uling conflicts, we completed 95% of thework in-house without our normal contrac-tor. Also, we used smaller, lighter walk-behind aerifiers, hand tools (shovels, back-pack blowers, whips, push blowers, etc.),and did a great deal of the cleanup withoutour typical, large machinery in order toeffectively complete the task. This was amonumental effort by our grounds staffand we were able to complete the vital pro-cedure just before heavy rain erased any

future chance of scheduling and complet-ing the work.

Divots: The grounds department has andwill continue to make a concerted effort toaddress the overabundance of divots on thegolf course. We will continue to devoteadditional time and labor to filling as manydivots as possible, but ask for your help inthe following areas. Please replace yourdivot whenever possible on the tees andfairways. Also, if unable to replace yourdivot on a par 3 tee, please use the divotmix bottles provided for you. When prac-ticing on the range tee, please adhere tothe proper divot pattern. Lastly, pleaseinform your caddies and guests to do this.By working together, we can successfullyaddress the divot issue and provideenhanced playability for members andguests.

Presbyterian Road Widening ProjectAlthough we have had minor delaysregarding third-party utility installation, wehope to continue work in the very nearfuture. Upon installing new power/utilitiesand disconnecting/removing the old infra-structure, we will finish grading, drainage,fencing, landscaping, paving, etc. Oncework is resumed, we will strive to completeall remaining tasks as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience andappreciate your understanding.

Spring Golf Course ItemsIn addition to completing our aggressivespring aerification, we are in the process of

several other tasks in prepara-tion for the 2015 season. Oneof our largest tasks every springis charging our irrigation sys-tem. This task is especially diffi-cult after challenging winters.We are currently in the processof starting to carefully movewater through our system toprepare for the upcoming sea-son. In addition, we are work-ing on opening the restrooms,our fescue grow-in on newmounding (#7, #11, #12, etc.),the East Course grow-in,asphalt repair, mulching, springbunker maintenance, installinggolf course accessories, etc.

StaffAlthough we have experiencedsignificant turnover in the pastyear, as is an evident trendthroughout our industry, we arepleased to report that we haveretained several key, full-timeemployees and interns from lastseason. Also, we successfullyrecruited and hired several newemployees and interns for the2015 season. Our diverse grouprepresents several prestigiousuniversities across the UnitedStates and abroad – Rutgers,UMass, Penn State, WVU,Rhode Island, SUNY-Delhi,SUNY-Cobleskill, Wisconsin,Delaware Valley, Arkansas,Colorado State, South DakotaState, and universities inCanada, and the UnitedKingdom. We have a very talented team and are placinggreat emphasis on career development as we head intoanother season and approachthe 2016 U.S. Open.


Range tee divot etiquette.

Proper Improper

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 10


JUNE C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

21 3 4 5 6

97 8 10 11 12 13

1614 15 17 18 19 20

2321 22 24 25 26 27

3028 29

9-HoleTwlight

Father’s DayBuffet

President’s Cup MemberMonday

MemberMonday

MemberMonday

Swim TeamOCC @ PFC

WGAMember-MemberHappy Hour4-7 p.m.Family Friday

Father-SonChampionshipHappy Hour4-7 p.m.Family Friday

MemberWeekendPresident’s CupWGAHappy Hour4-7 p.m.

MemberWeekendPresident’s Cup

Father-Daughter/Mother-SonChampionship

Swim TeamOCC vs.Wilwood

WGAMember-MemberSwim TeamOCC vs.Edgewood

WGASwim TeamOCC @Hillcrest

WGASenior ClubChampionshipSwim TeamOCC vs.Greensburg &Youghiogheny

MemberMonday

WGA Member-MemberHappy Hour4-7 p.m.Family Friday

Member-Member

2015

MemberMonday


4864_c1.pdf April 28, 2015 pg 11


OakmontLinksRules of Golf Your round at Oakmont has been delayedby a heavy thunderstorm. When the stormsclear and the golf course reopens, your firstswing is an approach shot that misses the2nd green and embeds in its own pitch-mark in the rough. You are entitled torelief from your embedded ball under theLocal Rule in Appendix I-B-4a (Relief forEmbedded Ball Anywhere Through theGreen). However, before you drop the ballas nearly as possible to where it wasembedded, you fix the pitch-mark the ballmade. Unfortunately, you are penalized two

strokes under Rule 13-2 for improving thearea in which you areto drop. The princi-ple in this Rule youhave violated is theexpectation that youwill play the course asyou find it. The ironyin this case is that if

you had dropped your ball without fixingthe pitch-mark and the ball had rolled backinto it, you would have been required tore-drop it because your ball had “come torest in a position where there was interfer-ence by the condition from which reliefwas sought” (i.e., interference from thepitch-mark).

You are playing Oakmont’s 18th hole andhit your tee shot to the right. After a briefsearch, you find your ball out of bounds.When you go back to the tee to play under

stroke and distance, you hit your next shotright down the middle, but from one footin front of the tee markers instead of frominside the teeing ground. The ruling in stroke play is you have

played two strokes that count in your score(your original drive and the second drivefrom just in front of the tee-markers) youincurred three penalty strokes and your balllies five. One of the penalty strokes is foryour original drive going out of bounds(Rule 27-1b), and the other two are forplaying your second drive from a wrongplace. You were supposed to play againfrom inside the teeing ground, but youplayed from outside it instead (Rules 20-5a and 20-7b).

You hit your tee shot off the 3rd tee intothe Church Pews and you find a ball in thebunker but you are not sure it is yours. Youannounce to your match play opponentyour intention to lift and identify the ball,gave him the opportunity to watch you do

Rules are an integral part of the game of golf. Some may seem tobe arcane but, nonetheless, we need to follow them. Knowing therules is both important and beneficial to your enjoyment of thegame. Oakmont is fortunate to have Bill Fallon as a member. Bill is on the Executive Committee of the USGA and has officiatedat many USGA Tournaments. From time to time we will featureBill’s informative and entertaining presentations on the rules of the game.

Bill Fallon

it, mark and lift it, just as Rule12-2 (Lifting Ball forIdentification) directs. The ballis yours! However, when youlifted it, you altered its originallie. When you replaced the ball,you moved some sand backaround the ball, effectivelyrecreating your original lie. Did you incur any penalties

for anything you did? No, youdid not. You followed the pro-cedure for identifying your ballas required by Rule 12 and theadditional procedure in Rule20-3b(iii) (Lie of Ball to bePlaced or Replaced Altered)!

Ball out of bounds Dropping ball

Fixing pitch mark

Ball embedded in sand

Ball identification

Recreating lie


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 12


The 2015 Golf Season is officially under-way. There is so much to look forward toand to take advantage of that you won’twant to miss any of it.If you are registered for any of the Club

Tournaments, be sure to have your match-es scheduled in plenty of time. Whenscheduling a match, you may book a timeup to four weeks in advance, so don’t waituntil the last minute to schedule. As soonas you know you have a match to play, callyour opponent(s) and nail down the dateyou will play.Once you have decided on which set of

tees you will play from in a Club match(certain eligibility rules apply), you mustplay from those same tees in all yourmatches. And should you be playing from adifferent set of tees than your opponent,you will need to adjust your handicapaccordingly. Be sure to have this figuredout before teeing off.Playing with Oakmont’s golfing groups

is a great way to enjoy the golf course andmeet new friends. Ladies play Thursdaymornings and have a SWAT on Sundayafternoons. Call the Golf Shop for informa-tion on how to participate.The Weakenders play Saturday morn-

ings. They are in their 54th year, so theymust be doing something right.

Are you retired guys looking for a gameduring the week? How about the SeniorSWAT? They play on Wednesday morningsand welcome newcomers age 55 and older.To play with either of the above groups,

call the Golf Shop and ask to be included.The SWAT is still going strong after

more than 100 years. Even though it’s ascratch game, it takes only an occasionalbirdie to make you a hero. Missing shortputts is something else, so be sure you havethick skin if you’re going to play with thisbunch. Play is every Wednesday, Saturday,Sunday and holidays…and two pretty goodparties as well. Call the Golf Shop or seePaul in the locker room if you want to join.Details on all our golfing opportunities

are in the Golf Book you received.Oakmont is a great golf course…one of thegreatest ever. Don’t miss any opportunityto take advantage of your good fortune tobe here.A notice has been sent to sign up for the

Member/Member. Kiltie sign-up formswill be sent in May. Both may be over-subscribed, but register anyway. If youdon’t get in this year, you will be exemptnext year.

Golf Committee BY BRUCE MCGOUGH

Approximately four weeks ago, anew accounting employee joinedOakmont. Stephen Prohaska isnow the prime accountant forOakmont’s Accounts Receivableand Billing operation. Our priorprime, Lori Hickman, while stillbeing a full-time Oakmontemployee, has transitioned overto split her time between beingthe prime for Bob Ford Inc.accounting while still providingsome support to our billing.Stephen came to us from the

Trust Department of BNYMellon after graduating in 2013from Washington & JeffersonCollege with a Bachelor of Arts inBusiness Administration. He isenthusiastic about joiningOakmont and has jumped inlearning our system and opera-tions. As our annual financial auditis about to begin, he is alreadygetting involved in some of thework required in preparation fortheir visit.On a personal level, Steve is

an avid golfer (he was on his highschool golf team) and last week,through the kindness of a friend,was able to spend one day atMasters in Augusta. While hethoroughly enjoyed being there, Iam sure he agrees with me thatthere is no course like Oakmont,and I am also certain he will findnext year’s U.S. Open to be quiteexciting.

From the Third Floorby Jim Springborn

MUST BE OVER THE AGE OF 21 | JACKETS REQUESTED


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 13


OakmontLinksSocial Scene BY LEAH SCHULTZ

Spring has sprung, and we are all ready forsome well-deserved days of sunshine! Wehad a wonderful Easter Holiday at theClub. The Children’s Easter Egg Hunt onMarch 29 was a fantastic event for the chil-dren. There was a Magic Show, CookieDecorating, a Petting Zoo and an EasterEgg Hunt. It is always a risky time of yearwith the unpredictable remnants of winterstill lingering in the air, yet we lucked outand had a spectacular hunt on the groundsnear the first tee. On Easter Sunday, we had the largest

crowd that I can remember during my 12years at Oakmont. We served over 500members and their families for brunch, andalmost 200 for dinner. It was a delightfulday at Oakmont with beautiful weather toboot!May is shaping up to be a busy month at

Oakmont Country Club! We hope to seeeveryone at the Club attending in some ofour upcoming events. We will be hosting aKentucky Derby Party on Saturday May 2in the Champion’s Grill beginning at 5:00p.m. Mint Juleps, a bourbon tasting andcomplimentary hors d’ouevres will comple-ment the greatest two minutes in sports,The Kentucky Derby. Also in May we will have our fabulous

Mother’s Day Brunch served throughoutthe Clubhouse with the stunning newlyappointed Oakmont Dining Room andLiving Room available for seating options.Brunch commences at 11:00 a.m. and runsuntil 2:00 p.m. Dinner is served from 4:30p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The end of May brings the excitement

of the Opening Day at the Pool, which isMay 22. We will, hopefully, see you at theClub at some point during the holidayweekend to celebrate Memorial Day at ourpicnic with us on Monday May 25. We look forward to an exciting summer

at Oakmont, and we hope you are able toattend our wonderful celebrations inMay.

EasterEggHunt


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 14


BY LIZ SIMASEK

Smile and Be Happy!This was the theme of the 2015 WGA Opening Day on Thursday April 16.Unfortunately the rainy, 50-degree weather did not bring smiles to many of the participant’s faces! Seventeen ladies braved the conditions in a nine-hole scrambleevent to kick off the season. (Results below).Fortunately things heated up from there. The WGA members gathered for cock-

tails and conversation in the Fownes Room following the event. This is always a niceopportunity to catch up with friends, and sign up for special events planned for thecoming season. The annual fashion show, with the newest looks from Annie, wasnext on the agenda. There were 15 models showing off the latest and greatest fromthe Oakmont Golf shop. If you missed it, be sure to stop in the shop to see all thefresh new colors and styles that are available.Finally, President Liz (Pohl) Simasek presided over the 2015 WGA Opening

meeting. There were 50 WGA members for dinner and one very special treat… The U.S. Open trophy! The actual U.S. Open trophy adorned the event sign uptable as a not so subtle reminder that the 2016 Open is just around the corner. WGA members were encouraged to sign up to volunteer for the Players Shuttlescommittee, which will be staffed exclusively by OCC WGA members. Please consider joining this committee if you have not done so already.So, even though the weather did not cooperate, the ladies left with smiles in

anticipation of a great 2015 season!

Results:1st Place 37Nicki NigroAnna KonradJaqi Conomikes

2nd Place 39Liz SimasekPatty GilbertBetty MinnotteDonna Stack

Longest Putt #14Barb Saltrelli-6’9”

Longest Putt #18Elissa Gittes-10’6”

Above (left to right):Donna Stack andRenae Salvitti

Left (left to right):Beth Bergman andMitzi Hofmann


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 15


OakmontLinks

Welcome back to another golf season atOakmont Country Club. I am sure we areall grateful for the return of warmer weath-er. With the advent of spring comes thebenefits of the fruits and labors of localfarmers and butchers returning to the foodscene. We enjoy supporting our local farm-ers which not only supports the local econ-omy but supplies our membership with anincredible array of fresh products availableon our breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.Our intent is to bring a taste of whatPennsylvania has to offer to the tables ofOakmont Country Club. We have started receiving fresh lamb,

pork, Italian sausage, maple sausage, andeggs from Mike Bozzone’s Serenity HillFarms in Cheswick, Pa. We are using theirfresh pork belly to make homemadesmoked bacon for salads, entrees, garnish-es, and yes, even desserts. We have offeredthe Greek Gyro Burger using the farm’sfresh ground lamb on the menu with muchsuccess and have also featured their Italiansausage as a lunch special.We are also pairing up with Wild

Purveyors located on Butler Street inLawrenceville. They are able to offer all

FROM THE Culinary TeamBY JEFFREY SCHLAFLY, C.E.C.

local produce, grass-fed beef, pork, cheeses,fresh-foraged Pennsylvania mushrooms,and even local trout from the Laurel HillTrout Farm where they handpick the fishto each restaurant’s specification. WildPurveyors is run by Cavan and TomPatterson, two brothers from Indiana PA.They are able to offer us foods from smalllocal farms that don’t have their own distri-bution system by picking it up and deliver-ing it to some of Pittsburgh’s best restau-rants. The grounds team is once again planting

four herb beds in the dock area, and thisyear they are planting a couple of varietiesof heirloom tomatoes that we will be fea-turing once they ripen. Thank you JohnZimmers and your team for your assistance.As always, we will also be receiving theusual local tomatoes, melons, corn, andother fresh local produce from FrankDifatto’s stand on Coxcomb Hill. Local farmers are a great way to improve

the quality of our menu offerings and wehope that you, your families and yourguests enjoy all of their offerings that weprovide to you this coming golf season.

Please NoteWe are unable to cash third-party checks presented to us bya member at the Front Desk orGolf Shop. We will continue thepractice of accommodating amember by converting to cash,when a check is made payable toOakmont Country Club.

In Memoriam

Mr. S. John Irvine III,“Buzz”

Mrs. Ralph W. Murray(Patricia)

Mr. David O’Hanesian, Esq.

Mrs. Wilbert H. Woodings(Virginia)

Our sympathy to their familyand friends.

OakmontLinks

10% Recycled Post-Consumer Fiber

is published nine times a year formembers and employees.

OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB1233 Hulton RoadOakmont, PA 15139412-828-8000www.oakmontcc.orgCOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR

Michael Brunner


Tree PruningWe are also in the process of pruning andthinning the trees around #9 green, #1 tee,and #10 tee. Pruning and removing thedeadwood will increase safety in the area asa few branches were posing a hazard. Inaddition, pruning will allow more sunlightto reach #9 green, #18 green, #1 tee, and#10 tee improving turf health.

We are very pleased with the work wehave completed thus far, excited to seeeveryone on the course in the near future,and are looking forward to a great 2015season.


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 16

Let the Golf Shop Transform Your Game for 2015

KJUS OuterwearTaken from 15 years of experience in theSki industry, KJUS golf outerwear, for menand women, is designed with cutting edgetechnology to keep you warm and dry.

Adidas BoostFresh out of the Adidas labcomes BOOST, a golf shoedesigned to store andrelease energy throughoutthe golf swing. Available forboth men and women. $149-$195


Polo GolfThe Polo Golf Spring line offers anumber of styles and colors to fill outyour wardrobe, Including this quarterzip vest and Spring Woven.

Callaway XR FairwaysNew from Callaway, the XR fairwaydelivers exceptional forgiveness andhigh ball speed for unparalleled distance and control.

Taylormade RSi1 IronsTaylormade RSiI irons feature FaceSlottechnology which increase ball speadand forgiveness across the club face.

Titleist Vokey WedgesTitleist Vokey SM5 and TVD wedges come in variety of loft bounce and finish options to fit everyone’s short game needs.

UnderArmourNewly arrived, UnderArmour Golfand Active wear. Worn by 2015Masters Champion Jordan Spieth.


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 17

Pewter PlateShow off your OCC pride with a2016 US Open Pewter Plate.$48

Tervis TumblersKeep hot drinks hot and cold drinkscold with new OCC TERVIS.$15-$25


Jude Connally Summer DressesA Perfect choice for dinner on the porch or any summer gathering!$140-$160

Daily GolfInspired by European style Daily Golf offers a number of trendy piecesand colors for your summer golf wardrobe.

Signs By The SeaLooking for something to fill your den, office, or gameroom? Signs By The Sea with custom painted woodfurniture and accessories for both indoor and out.

Just 4 Golf HeadcoversSpice up your golf bag with newJust 4 Golf Headcovers. Bright,and colorful, available in driversfairway woods.$19-$28


4864.pdf April 27, 2015 pg 18

Documents

OakmontLinks Links May 2015.pdf · member that would truly be a great addi-tion to the Club, ... members: Doug Truter, Rich Alexander, Mark ... you indicate your affiliation with