Newport Beach Country Club Magazine: Spring 2018
A member hitting his driver | Photo by Dondee Quincena
Golf Product Showcase
A Driving Force
No matter your level of expertise, there is a driver for every player at the golf shop, where experts are available to answer your brand-specific questions.
While out on the course, there’s no feeling quite like the one you get after executing a perfectly crisp stroke that drives the golf ball straight down the fairway and sparks a slight tinge of envy in the other players. Whether you’re just learning the game or already a seasoned golfer, this could be your reality, with the right driver in your golf bag.
The Newport Beach Country Club golf shop carries five driver brands: Cleveland Golf, XXIO, TaylorMade, Callaway and Ping. And each golf professional that works in the shop is on staff with a different golf club company, which allows them to act as experts on the brands that they represent.
“Every golf professional here at Newport Beach Country Club is here to help and assist and make sure our members are playing the right driver for them to help their game, help them hit more fairways [and] help hit the ball farther,” says PGA Golf Professional Andrew.
And when it comes time to choose the right driver, Andrew believes it’s important for members to hit each brand before making a final decision. “We want [our members] to try every driver, so they know if they like the feel of it. … And just having the right feel or sound is really going to … give that player more confidence in playing better golf and hitting the fairway.”
When it comes to his personal driver, PGA Golf Professional Richard likes to keep things plain and simple to avoid any distractions. He says that, when choosing a driver, golfers need to consider what they want to be looking down at on their club. Andrew also emphasizes that confidence is key, and having a visually pleasing driver can make all the difference.
“There’s a driver out there for everybody, they just have to know what they want to hit and what they like,” Richard says. “The popular ones, right now, are the TaylorMades and the Callaways.”
Head Golf Professional Carlo also cites Ping as a popular brand. “A lot of our members gravitate toward … [Ping] because it seems to be a little bit more forgiving, where other golf clubs kind of create a combination of forgiveness and try to create as much power as possible ... which is great for amateurs,” Carlo says. “The forgiving part is allowing them to hit the ball a little higher, create a little bit more backspin, which also helps the ball go straighter and then, therefore, they hit more fairways with it.”
Another more forgiving driver comes from the XXIO brand, which is extremely lightweight, benefiting senior players or beginners with a slow swing speed. “[XXIO] … is all about being light and creating speed,” Richard explains. “There are a lot of people who don’t create speed with a standard club, so the XXIO product helps them out.”
Drivers available at the Newport Beach Country Club golf shop | Photo by Dondee Quincena
If your driver isn’t working for you anymore, Andrew suggests looking into newer models with more up-to-date technology because clubs that are even three to five years old are typically outdated.
This year, TaylorMade came out with its Twist Face technology, which incorporates a curved face. “What they found in their research and development is that when someone hits [the golf ball] off the toe, it has less spin and it hooks to the left,” Andrew says of TaylorMade. “So what they designed here is if someone hits it off the toe, they’re hoping that the ball goes a little straighter and it adds a little spin to … [keep the ball] in the air.”
Callaway recently introduced its Jailbreak technology, which uses two bars to connect the sole plate to the top crown inside of the driver. “What that does, it basically allows the golf club to be more stable on impact,” explains Carlo. “The Jailbreak technology … creates more stability so there’s more energy produced … so the ball goes farther, straighter. That’s the main advantage to that Callaway.”
This most recent version of the technology has been dubbed Rogue, and has undergone a few changes from last year’s edition. “The two bars … they’re a little bit different in shape, so it has allowed … [Callaway] to actually change a bit of the weighting,” Carlo says. “The weighting helps create better launch angles, spin rates—all that basically equates to distance. So, they’re always trying to improve the golf club to get more distance.”
This is the second year that Callaway has used this Jailbreak technology, but this year they are including the fairway wood and a hybrid, which Carlo says are unlike any other clubs available on the market.
Member Profile
From Baseball to the Back Nine
After retiring as a major league baseball player, Gary became a country club member and rediscovered his love for another ball game: golf.
Former MLB player Gary plays golf at Newport Beach Country Club | Courtesy of Gary
Gary quite literally grew up playing baseball. He frequently joined his father, who played in the major leagues for 16 years, at games and even traveled with him to Arizona for spring training. “Some of my earliest memories are of being at the stadium with my father, watching him play and, like any little boy or little girl, you … grow up idolizing your parents and kind of emulating them and … my father happened to be a professional baseball player,” Gary says.
And when Gary started getting into the sport himself, who better to coach him than his All-Star dad? Of course, it comes as no surprise that Gary went on to follow in his father’s footsteps and became a center fielder. Today, he is now most often recognized for his time playing with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels.
After 12 years of playing professional baseball, Gary retired and sought out a new line of work as a real estate investor. “I’ve always had an interest in architecture and real estate, and so … it’s kind of been a natural progression,” Gary says. “I was lucky enough to play long enough where I did well and was [then] able to find something that really interests me and … has enabled me to learn a new skill set and … set new goals.”
Today, Gary lives in Corona del Mar, and says that living locally was one of his incentives to join Newport Beach Country Club. He began his membership about over two years ago, just before the old club was torn down for renovations. “I thought the links-style course would be a great course for my kids to learn on, as well as a challenge for me to get better, and so that combined with … the club members, and especially Clint, [meant] it was a no-brainer for me,” Gary explains. “I knew this would be a great fit for me and my family.”
When asked about his favorite aspect of the NBCC community, Gary cites the wide age range among its members. “It’s not an older club; it’s not a really young club. I’ve ran into people who have been members for a matter of months and members who have been here for 35 years, … [which] I think makes it a really good combination of people,” he says.
Gary | Courtesy of Gary
As a single father of two children, Gary says he enjoys bringing his family to the club for special events such as Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, which they celebrated with his 99-year-old grandmother last year. “Lonnie, the executive chef, does an amazing job at setting up all kinds of different food for different events that really enable you to include your family, whether they’re young or old. It’s such a great atmosphere,” Gary says.
As far as golf is concerned, Gary has been playing since he was about 12 years old, but says that his baseball career forced him to take a hiatus for a number of years. Now, seven years into his retirement, he has reclaimed his love for the game. “My joke about golf was that, as a baseball player, I was a switch-hitter and I already had two swings, and I didn’t need the third swing with golf, and so I waited until retirement to pick … [golf] back up again,” Gary says.
Gary believes there are some parallels between the two sports, such as dealing with unpredictable weather, playing on unfamiliar territory or having a disconnect from the rest of the team. “Whether you’re out on a golf course or you’re in a baseball stadium, you’re not going to feel your best every single day. And I love the challenge, now, of working with the best that I have that particular day,” Gary says.
Gary on the golf course | Courtesy of Gary
Though he has attempted to get his daughter, Kennedy, and son, Gavin, into golf, Gary says they aren’t as passionate about the game as he is—but they are still avid athletes. “Kennedy … plays five different sports, from volleyball, softball, basketball, track and swim, and for such a great athlete, I think golf is a little too slow for her right now,” Gary explains. “Gavin is … more of a basketball fan and not a golf fan at all.” Despite his children’s lack of enthusiasm for the sport today, Gary remains hopeful that they will decide to take a swing at it later in life.
“There are also times when I’ll come out and I’ll golf with my dad and my brothers, and the golf club enables us to experience something that my father and I never experienced on a baseball field, which is playing together,” Gary says, adding that his 67-year-old father is still competitive on the course. “Though it’s a different swing, his golf swing looks kind of similar to his baseball swing, so … it brings back all the memories from watching my father play.”
When his playtime occurs off the golf course, Gary can be spotted driving one of his classic Porsche cars, which he says have a fun and unique smell that comprises old leather with notes of oil and gasoline. “They’re not easy cars to drive, but they’re a lot of fun to drive because they require some thinking [due to shifting manually],” Gary explains. “When I’m out on the road, I don’t listen to the radio; there’s just something about the sound of the engine and looking up at the road … ahead of me.”
When asked to describe the perfect road trip, Gary says he would choose the iconic drive along Pacific Coast Highway. He will sometimes drive up the coast to Santa Barbara, or even as far as Monterey, solely to see the diverse California terrain from the glistening ocean to the rolling hills, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Happy Campers
Kids at the club will have tons of fun this summer with these educational programs that will teach them about everything form animals and science to music and, of course, golf.
Now that the summer months are approaching, Newport Beach Country Club members with little ones in their lives are likely preparing for the season by planning daytime activities to keep them entertained. Look no further, as the country club boasts two incredible seasonal programs: Kids Summerfest for children ages 4 to 10 and various opportunities to learn and play golf for anyone 17 years or younger. Here, Newport Beach Country Club Magazine has compiled all of the information you need to pick the perfect program for your family.
Past science-based summer camp activities | Photo by Jody Tiongco
Kids Summerfest
This year’s Kids Summerfest will include even more fun in the sun, as the camp is moving outside to the Oasis Lawn. This eight-week program will feature a new theme each week, starting on June 18.
The first week will have a hero theme, for which children can dress up as their favorite character and go on adventures through stories, obstacle courses and plenty of other exciting activities.
Week two will teach campers wilderness survival skills, including how to pitch tents and use a compass and binoculars. They will also learn the basics about how to handle emergency situations such as a fire or earthquake.
Take a cross-country trip without leaving home during week three, which will feature a Tour the USA theme, with each day representing a different area in America, and fun activities related to the region. Please note that camp will not be in session on the Fourth of July.
It’s all about athletics during the fourth week, as each day will allow for campers to learn about and participate in different sports that are played all over the world.
Kids interact with puppies during the country club’s summer camp | Photo by Jody Tiongco
Rock out for week five, which will look at music through the decades, from disco to modern hip-hop, with friendly competitions like lip-sync and air guitar battles.
Animal lovers are sure to enjoy week six thanks to its hands-on interactions with various species. These up-close-and-personal encounters will supplement related educational activities about nature.
Make a splash during week seven for the Rock-N-Water camp that seeks to combine fun, leisure and excitement for the aquatic adventure of a lifetime.
The eighth and final week of Kids Summerfest will show campers just how fun science can be, as special guests provide insight into different types of science, from chemistry to biology. Activities will potentially include opportunities to make slime, launch a rocket and create edible experiments.
Expect even more fun characters to be stopping by throughout the camps, including the country club’s new mascot, Sandy the Seahorse.
Be sure to sign up soon, as reservations are not guaranteed. “Last year was averaging about 15 to 30 kids a week [and] we’re anticipating a lot more this year,” explains Recreation Manager Natalie. “Everybody’s welcome, but please make sure … [to sign up] early, so you get your spot.”
Junior Golf Camp
This year, the Junior Golf program will have more golf camps than ever before: four camps of up to 34 kids, with a total of 130 students. As part of the full-day summer program, these golf camps will be held one day a week during the four-week program. The program includes options that are perfect for those who are brand-new to the sport, as well as opportunities to participate in Junior Team Play and to receive a junior golfer certification.
Golf workshops for children | Photo by Jody Tiongco
“If you asked us [about the summer golf program] … five years ago … there was nothing, and now, it’s something tangible,” says Adam, golf professional. “[We’ve taken] 30 to 90 kids and brought them into something that they probably never would have been apart of had they not come into the golf camp,” Adam says.
Some of the kids who joined the very first golf camps are now 10 or 11 years old, and Adam says they’ve started to become a bit more competitive and applying the skills that they’ve learned while on the course. “There’s like a rotation because the older kids are now helping the younger kids, and the younger kids feel better because they’re getting help from kids in the camp,” Adam says.
A junior golfer on the course at Newport Beach Country Club | Photo by Ryan Tiehen
While some the older campers are developing more advanced golf skills, the Newport Beach Country Club golf professionals strive to provide a fun learning environment for all, especially for the beginner golfers. It is because of this that campers will be given instruction for proper safety, golf course etiquette and play, as well as putting, chipping, pitching, iron swings, plus bunker and tee shots.
But no matter a child’s skill sets, Adam says that all are welcome to join the golf camps. “You don’t need to know anything about golf,” Adam says. “You can come in as a total … rookie … and then it might lead into something that they might actually end up doing [after the program].”
Preview the summer program at Junior Kickoff Day, which will feature contests with prizes, demo clubs and plenty of food. Campers are also invited to participate in the Parent & Junior Night Tournament on June 23, when parents can join their children on the golf course for a nine-hole Stableford tournament. Tees will be based on skill level with various contests and prizes throughout the event, as well as a dinner and awards ceremony.
Eat & Drink
Spring Forward
From selling fresh produce at farmers markets and serving perfect wine pairings to the new menu at Seahorse Grille, the culinary team has plenty in store this season.
The farmers market event at Newport Beach Country Club | Photo by Dondee Quincena
Market Fresh
Newport Beach Country Club members are cordially invited to this season’s farmers market, which will once again feature a plethora of local produce and fresh fish, as well as a selection of exciting, uncommon items.
“Every seasonal change, we strive to introduce our members … [to] vegetables, fruit, fish and meat that might be unfamiliar or hard to find in our locale of Newport Beach,” says Chef de Cuisine Eugene. “While these ingredients are featured in our menus, we also thought we could take another step further by offering these same ingredients for purchase, to cook at home.”
Kumquats, pomegranates and Buddha’s hands available at the Newport Beach Country Club farmers market | Courtesy of Newport Beach Country Club
The NBCC chefs are proud to offer unique items for affordable prices, allowing members to be adventurous in their home cooking without spending a small fortune on these hard-to-find ingredients. “Some of the … [produce] can be a little bit intimidating, especially when you start seeing [items like] the Buddha’s hand, a citrus fruit,” says Director of Food & Beverage Daniel, in reference to an offering at the last farmers market. “My immediate reaction was, ‘Chef, what can I do with this?’ And after the first farmers market, we had some leftover citrus fruit [so] Chef Eugene made a … Buddha’s hand-cello … and then a blood orange-cello, infusing them with anise and vanilla beans, [as a play on the classic limoncello].”
It is for this very reason that the food and beverage team will be available during the event, helping shoppers choose their produce and offering advice on how to incorporate their selections as ingredients in various dishes.
Executive Sous Chef Eugene puts the finishes touches on a dish | Courtesy of Newport Beach Country Club
Wine & Dine
Whether someone is a wine aficionado or simply enjoys a glass of vino after a long day, the wine dinners at NBCC are meant to expose everyone’s palates to new flavors. “We slow the evening down by offering a multicourse dinner that allows guests to enjoy the food and wine pairings,” Eugene explains. “Meanwhile, a sommelier will further explain the wine choices and … [the] subtle notes that resulted in ... [their] selection.”
The next wine dinner will be another Wine & Canvas event, during which an instructor will walk through a classroom-style setup and teach participants how to replicate a classic painting while they enjoy a variety of red, white and sparkling wines paired with hors d’oeuvres prepared by the NBCC culinary team.
The following wine dinner in August will be extra special, as it will be held on the Oasis Lawn. “We will take advantage of Newport Beach’s beautiful sunsets and set the summer night by featuring a family-style multicourse dinner,” Eugene says. “We plan to set one long table and allow the wine to spark conversation with other members left and right of each other.”
The wine dinner on Oasis Lawn will feature tastes from Bodega de Edgar, a winery based in Paso Robles, California. “We touched based with Edgar himself to come down and do a wine dinner,” Daniel says. “[It’s] an opportunity for the chefs to put their imaginations to the … [test] and then, to have Edgar down here, someone who is so passionate and incredible at what he does, should be a very exciting night.”
Wealth of Wellness
Life After Physical Therapy
Find out what’s happening at the spa and fitness center.
A member is stretched by a TPI-certified trainer | Photo by Dondee Quincena
Every year, millions of Americans receive physical therapy treatments—whether it be to relieve chronic pain or recover from an injury, surgery or debilitating illness—but the healing process doesn’t end just because the appointments do. Skilled trainers at the fitness center are committed to helping members continue their individual recovery journeys, no matter the severity. Here, Newport Beach Country Club Magazine compiled some tips for continuing on this path to wellness, even after physical therapy.
No matter the reason you sought out physical therapy to begin with, you must continue to align your entire body through a methodical strength and flexibility program that will build upon the progress already made during therapy sessions.
Working out at the country club’s gym | Photo by Dondee Quincena
At this stage, it is important to address any postural issues that may have led to an injury in the first place, so as to correct these problems and avoid future complications. The body may also adapt to altered movement patterns, which can involve favoring one side, limping, needing to use a cane or holding your head differently after a neck injury. These are just a few examples of behaviors that will cause more stress on other body parts and can ultimately lead to compensation injuries, which is why it is important to break this part of the injury cycle.
Always remember to take things slow and maintain a long-haul mindset while continuing to do exercises that were recommended by your physical therapist. A large percentage of people who go through physical therapy don’t adhere to this, which is how they end up relapsing.
At the same time, you must set realistic recovery goals that can be achieved in the short- and intermediate-term. This concept could be compared to a climber scaling Mount Everest, who must concentrate on the next point in front of them, as opposed to focusing on the ultimate goal of reaching the summit. Small steps lead to big accomplishments, so you must focus on short-term goals in order to achieve long-term results.
Newport Ballroom Reimagined
Events at the club, like this traditional Japanese ceremony, transport guests to another world.
Koi fish at the Asian-inspired event | Courtesy of Newport Beach Country Club
The immaculate grounds of the country club is a picturesque setting for events of all sizes and themes. And for Canon Medical Systems USA, a company that is dedicated to providing cutting-edge healthcare technology, the Newport Ballroom was the ideal venue for its Japanese Heritage Night. This event was part of a national four-day meeting where high-up personnel from the company attended gatherings at Newport Beach Country Club as well as the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa.
About 350 guests arrived at the club on Feb. 27 and were greeted by upbeat taiko drummers. The evening commenced with kagami biraki, a traditional Japanese sake ceremony during which the sake bottle is opened using a wooden mallet called a kizuchi, and then square-shaped masu cups are filled with the alcoholic beverage using a wooden ladle called a hishaku. This ceremony is usually held during celebrations and are believed to bless participants with good luck. The event also featured décor designed by Rrivre Works, a Los Angeles-based event design and production company, as well as traditional Japanese food with an American twist and a karaoke contest.
