Eat & Drink

Sipping with Sommeliers

Take a sneak peek at the Bodega de Edgar wine dinner that will be held on Oasis Lawn in August.

The wine dinners at Newport Beach Country Club are exquisite evenings filled with fine wine and delicious cuisine that pair perfectly with one another. Members get to indulge in a specially prepared dinner while a sommelier is available to give additional information about the pairings and why each varietal was selected to bring out the flavors in a particular dish.

In August, the featured winery will be Bodega de Edgar from Paso Robles, California, with the dinner being held outside on Oasis Lawn, where one long table will be set up to accommodate a multicourse, family-style dinner to take advantage of the Southern California sunsets and warm summer nights.

The winery owner, Edgar Torres, who also serves as the brand’s winemaker, will be present at the dinner and available to answer any questions about his wines. As the first Mexican-American winemaker in Paso Robles, Torres has intertwined his Hispanic heritage into his brand from its name (bodega is the Spanish word for a winery or cellar) to the wines he produces, which include dry varietals like garnacha and tempranillo reds, as well as albariño and torrontés whites.

What started as a mere 250 cases is now approaching 2,600 cases with the winery’s 2017 vintage. “As always, my focus is on sourcing the highest quality fruit to produce the best wines, while still maintaining an affordable price point,” Torres says on his website. This enthusiasm has allowed Torres’ brand to flourish since its development in 2007, which continues to grow today. The winery looks forward to sharing the fruits of their labor with the NBCC membership.

If you just can’t wait to try a sip, Bodega de Edgar has two tasting rooms in Paso Robles: one on Adelaida Road, which is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and another on Tuley Road that doubles as a production facility for Bodega de Edgar as well as Torres’ second brand, Hug Cellars. Stop by for a preview of the fabulous wine dinner to come at NBCC. (805-423-3545; bodegadeedgar.com)

Wealth of Wellness

Find out what’s happening at the spa and fitness center.

Stretch and Recover

Jack Oakes, a TPI-certified independent contractor, has been a trainer for more than 20 years and has spent the last 10 years specifically working with golfers. “If you’re playing golf two or three times a week, sometimes less, sometimes more, you’re beating your body up—golf’s a very, very hard game on your body,” Oakes explains. “When you swing a golf club … you’re using 90 percent of your peak muscle activity, which most people don’t realize.”

And whether you exercise daily or tend to avoid to the gym, Oakes assures there is a program at the fitness center for you that will fit your needs. Each member will go through a TPI assessment to determine which muscles are tight and which muscles need to be stretched or strengthened. “They get a better idea of how their bodies work and what some of their issues are,” Oakes says of the programs at the fitness center, which are personalized for each member. “… My idea is to try to re-establish posture, try to correct muscle imbalances, try to restore balance and agility to them … that’s really the most important thing.”

One offering that can benefit everyone from professional athletes to junior golfers is the Stretch and Recover program. The intention behind this is to help members maintain their flexibility, mobility and stability to ensure they don’t compromise their golf swing or end up injured.

The five main categories of the Stretch and Recover program are developmental, maintenance, pre-round stretching, post-round stretching and muscle energy mobilizations. Developmental involves finding out what can be improved upon for each muscle, so as to balance them all out. Then, members are put in charge of their own maintenance by being given a daily at-home stretching regime. “Muscles react better to stretching if you do 10 to 15 minutes every day, [rather] than one or two times a week for an hour,” Oakes explains. Pre- and post-round stretching are particular stretches to perform before and after a round of golf. Then, finally, the muscle energy mobilizations are dynamic movements that align your nervous system, muscles and brain.

The program also includes myofascial stretches, which exercises the connective tissue, called fascia, that covers the entire body. This is followed by ELDOAs, which continues to stretch and also strengthens that connective tissue while also lengthening and decompressing the spine. Members are also given corrective stretches and postural realignments that target their personal problem areas. One of the most unique aspects of this program is the percussion muscle therapy, a deep-tissue treatment for which Oakes uses a special machine that uses vibrations to increase blood flow, loosen tight muscles, eliminate trigger points, clear up lactic acid build up and ultimately helps build one’s strength while also speeding up recovery and repairing muscles.

“Just by using all these tools, we’re able to keep our golfers healthy, and a healthy golfer is a happy golfer, and so they can enjoy the game more,” Oakes says.

To make an appointment and start on your path to wellness, contact the fitness center, or Oakes directly at 714-328-9800.

Evolv Tanning

While attending the ISPA Conference & Expo for professionals in the spa and wellness industry, Recreation Manager Natalie discovered what would become one of the newest additions to The Spa at Newport Beach Country Club: spray tanning by Evolv. She volunteered to try out the service at the trade show and was surprised to feel warmth exuding from the spray tanning machine. “The amount of times that I have been shocked by cold air on my body while getting a spray tan is not pleasant,” Natalie says. “But the warmth was not only pleasant, the results were instant. That is why I decided to go ahead and bring this in.”

Spray tanning packages will be available to members at costs comparable to outside salons and The Spa will also offer Tan in a Can, an oxygen-activated tanning mist, to easily touch up one’s tan between sessions.

The spray tanning services from Evolv Tan have myriad benefits, including immediate results, as previously mentioned. “Members only need one spray tanning session to instantly create the deep, dark tan they want without having to build it up, like they would in a UV tanning bed,” Natalie explains. “If you have an event or trip coming up with little prep time, spray tanning is the most efficient way to get you the radiant look you need before jetting off.” Other advantages include a quick turnaround, as the automated spray tan booths only take about 3 minutes from start to finish and self-clean after every session.

This service is ideal for individuals with fair skin. “Every member’s skin type will be evaluated during their first visit,” Natalie says. “People with skin type one (very fair) are not recommended to have long exposure to UV rays in any capacity, which makes spray tan[ning] the smartest way to achieve the natural, golden look they desire.”

Treat yourself to a glow up and call the fitness center to book an appointment today.

Member Profile

Fashion Fore-ward

John discusses his position as president and owner of GARYS, his membership at the country club and the two loves of his life: family and apparel.

Like many college graduates, John finished school and moved home without a definite plan in mind. “I was a history major coming back from college not knowing what I was going to do,” John says of returning to Newport Beach after attending the University of California, Los Angeles. “… I had the retail background, so I told myself that I’d give myself a five-year plan, just to kind of see if I liked doing this business.”

That five-year plan has extended to nearly 30 years spent at GARYS, a men’s clothing store with locations in San Diego, Tustin and, locally, at Fashion Island. John had spent a lot of time in the retail business because of his family ties to the industry, and he started working at GARYS after his father bought the store from its original owner, Gary Wasserman.

Today, John serves as president of the company. His job entails a lot of traveling, as he often visits distributors and helps with buying products to showcase in the stores, while also overseeing the entire team. When asked about the greatest accomplishment of his career, he says “surviving in the retail business after 2008,” when the recession caused retail sales across the country to plummet.

But, on a personal level, John says the most remarkable achievement of all is his family. His wife, Ursula, whom he has been with for 15 years, is also in the fashion business as a social media guru and consultant for GARYS, as well as other companies. Their 12-year-old daughter, Bianca, who recently performed at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano with the Los Rios Rock School, will be attending Orange County School of the Arts this fall.

The family has belonged to the Newport Beach Country Club for just over five years, after one of John’s best friends convinced him to become a member. John says that his wife works out at the club, his daughter has been taking golf lessons periodically and they often come into the clubhouse for Fiesta Tuesdays or the Little Italy pasta nights.

Before joining the club, John was only playing golf about six times a year, but now, “I’ve been coming here about twice a week and love it; love the camaraderie of all the guys,” he says. “… Never thought I was a big golf club guy, but I’ve gotten attached to it. It’s really a big part of our life these days.” Out of all the on-property facilities, John says he frequents the golf course and the Men’s Grill where he enjoys “sharing a pizza with a cocktail after a round of golf.”

His favorite memory from his time as a member is “getting a group of guys together for St. Patrick’s Day and having a small event where we all dressed up,” he explains. This included having to wear a special outfit in order to tee off on one of the par three holes. “It’s like my fraternity after college,” he says of his group of friends at the club.

Aside from golf, John enjoys barbecuing and traveling, the latter of which is quite fitting for his line of work. “We have a lot of … [connections with] Italy just because a lot of the products we carry are from there,” he explains. “My favorite town is probably Florence because my father used to take me when I was a kid, when he was designing shoes. And my whole family has gone there.”

Naturally, his membership at the club and professional life have intersected, with a few of his friends also becoming his clients. As far as fashion advice, John implores men to update their wardrobes according to recent trends. “A lot of guys are wearing stuff that they’ve had for a long period of time that they just don’t want to give up,” he notes. “… Fashion is not pleated pants anymore and it’s slimmer silhouettes.”

John’s personal go-to outfit for any occasion is a sports coat, even with jeans, although he suggests steering away from the edgy, roughed up looks of late to go for a cleaner-cut appearance. “In the men’s world and … men’s business, it’s still driven by five-pocket pants,” he says of fashions for the summer. “[We’re] selling lots of outerwear and lightweight jackets, and sports coats … as well as sneakers. Guys are wearing sneakers with [everything from] sports coats to suits to sportswear.”

Overall, John says becoming a member of the club has enhanced his experience as a resident here because of all the people he has met, who have helped make this his family’s second home. With his work at Fashion Island, the club only a few minutes away and his home situated just across the Back Bay, he affectionately refers to the area as his “little triangle” and is thrilled to continue being based in Newport Beach.

Golf Feature

The Grass is Always Greener

Scot, the new golf course superintendent, talks about landing a dream job and his role as a “turf doctor.”

Scot | Photo by Dondee Quincena — Scot | *Photo by Dondee Quincena*

While working at another golf course in Orange County, Scot would drive past Newport Beach Country Club every day on his commute from Balboa Island and think to himself, “Man, it would be neat to work there someday.” Fast forward a number of years and he is now four months in to his position as NBCC’s new golf course superintendent.

This change in management was due to Ron Benedict’s retirement after nearly 30 years of maintaining the club’s greens. As Benedict’s successor, Scot may have some big shoes to fill, but he is certainly up for the challenge.

“What I’m looking to do is grow upon what’s been built here [by] … my predecessor, Ron, and his team,” Scot says. “… [I want] to try and bring in a different set of eyes with a different perspective to … grow upon what they’ve already done.”

One thing he wants to keep the same is the presence of a furry friend. As a tribute to Riley, the beloved pup that accompanied Benedict wherever he went, Scot carries a small, stuffed dog in his golf cart and even says he’s looking into adopting a real-life companion.

A Professional Path

As for his professional qualifications, Scot is originally from Los Angeles, where he was born and raised, and also where he got his start in maintenance. “I grew up pushing a lawnmower with my dad as a second job and fell in love with it,” Scot explains. After going to school for turf science at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, he has worked and lived all over the state but ended up in Orange County back in 2002.

His career has included a six-month stint in Japan, where he worked in the countryside about two and a half hours outside of Tokyo, as well as nearly nine years as an assistant superintendent at Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine and another seven years as superintendent at Mission Viejo Country Club prior to landing his current position at Newport Beach Country Club.

“It was a great opportunity to advance myself and my career,” Scot says, when asked what drew him to NBCC. “With that, there is the PGA TOUR event that comes through here every year, and I’ve always wanted to … be part of hosting a TOUR event from the superintendent side. And being able to work closer to the coast is always a nice perk, as well. And just [being] part of a great atmosphere and a really special kind of place to work.”

Looking to the Future

He also explains that there is a lot of potential to make adjustments to the golf course by way of the architecture and irrigation. “That’s part of what … drew me here, as well, was the opportunity to be part of that: to update the golf course and kind of catch it up a little bit with some of the modern technology,” Scot says.

But, his first objective is to get to know the current staff and learn how they work together by observing and coming to understand the system that has already been put in place, as opposed to trying to change everything overnight. “I want there to be collective conversations: asking guys about how they go about doing a job, why they do it a particular way and learning what their background is,” Scot explains. “… At the end of the day, those guys are the ones who are changing the cups every day, they’re feeling what the compaction levels are on the green when they put the cup cutter in, they’re seeing every square inch of the putting surface. [So, my current focus is] … asking them questions to get their feedback, to get them engaged, and to make them part of some of the decision-making process that goes into the day-to-day operations.”

When it comes to the greens themselves, Scot has started a few projects including deep-watering the greens, beginning an aerification process, harvesting fairway plugs to treat areas of dead grass and more. His ultimate goal will be to maintain the club’s “notoriously great putting surface,” which he admires for being walkable and fun that don’t beat up the players.

As a golf course superintendent and a golfer himself, Scot believes the perfect green rolls true, has a good pace, is playable and, most importantly, healthy, which makes for a better shot. “I kind of look at myself as a turf doctor,” Scot says. “… Those are my patients and so my job is to kind of push the patients to their limit, in a health perspective, but not push them too far.”

Family Fun

When he’s not at work, Scot enjoys spending time with his family and helping to raise his three children, who are 2, 4 and 7 years old. His favorite activity to do with them is taking them to the beach at Crystal Cove State Park because he enjoys “exposing the kids to the ocean and watching that freedom that comes with kids interacting with the sand and water, and just exploring.” He also enjoys coaching his son’s T-ball team and teaching his children about their Christian faith.

Looking back, Scot has found great joy in the Newport area, including meeting his wife at the beach on 28th Street, getting married at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, having their first child at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, and now working at the country club where he longed to be for so many years. “It’s just neat to see how things … work out,” Scot says. “… God has a plan and it’s just kind of cool.”

Employee Q&A

Minding the Membership

After being promoted to assistant manager, Clint Cook talks about the growth of the club and the overall member experience.

Clint | Photo by Dondee Quincena — Clint | *Photo by Dondee Quincena*

Newport Beach Country Club members are sure to know Clint, former membership sales director, who recently became General Manager Casey’s right-hand man after a promotion to assistant manager. Here, Newport Beach Country Club Magazine sits down with Clint to discuss his time at the club and his plans to continue improving on the membership experience.

Newport Beach Country Club Magazine: How have you seen the club grow over the past five years?
Clint: Our club has changed so much in the last several years, and it has been really fun to witness. Obviously, when you build a clubhouse like ours, the expectation is that we become more attractive to families by offering fitness, swimming and a full slate of social activities and events. The transformation from basically being a golf club to a country club has allowed us to create a Social Sport Membership category that has been well received by many young families in the area.

NBCCM: From your time at the club, what is one memory that has always stuck with you?
CC: The first thing that comes to mind is the moment the wrecking ball hit the old clubhouse for the first time. As many of the longtime members are aware, a new clubhouse had been talked about for years leading up to when it finally happened. As the membership sales director, it was a day that meant exciting and busy times were ahead.

NBCCM: What is your favorite aspect of working with the members?
CC: I really enjoy the personal relationships I am able to build with so many wonderful members. I spent time away from the private club world when I was with Troon Golf for about eight years prior to coming to NBCC. I really missed the friendships and day-to-day interaction with members that truly enrich my life and allow me to look forward to coming to work every day. … I feel privileged and honored to be in a position that allows me to be around so many phenomenal people.

NBCCM: You recently became the club’s assistant manager. What are your new duties?
CC: My new role is an incredible opportunity for me to learn and grow, and I am very thankful for it. … I have a support role with the food and beverage team as well as our recreation and engineering teams. I am fortunate to work with very capable and hardworking department heads that are extremely committed to our efforts. I really enjoy working with Casey, our general manager. He has been a great mentor to me during our time together.

NBCCM: What are your future plans to continue improving upon the membership experience?
CC: We are focused on the details and service specifics that will truly take the membership experience to the next level. … We are committed to working with the membership to provide programs and activities that they will support and be proud to bring friends and family to enjoy. I am especially excited to see the changes that will take place on the golf course over the next couple of years that will bring the on-course experience up to the level that our members deserve.

Weaving enchanting stories that honor authenticity ✨

Featured Publications

Dec 12 Newport Beach Country Club Magazine: Summer 2018