Superintendent On Ball Repair

Northland Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh continues his off-season education on golf course management on the Northland Grounds blog site with a review of proper ball repair on putting greens.
Chris includes a photo of a repair tool that is gaining widespread popularity among golfers and golf course superintendents.
Just click the link above or here to read the entire article. You can always read new entries by clicking on Northland Grounds Blog under the Links section of this site visible on the right hand side of the page.

Food & Beverage Poll: Key Results...New Equipment QuIck Poll Posted

We're publishing three of the key findings from the recently completed membership survey on food service at Northland Country Club, based on the responses of 162 members. All results have been provided to the Board of Directors and key staff members for their review. Just click the image below to review the results full page.Among the other findings:
83 percent of members responding will enjoy lunch or dinner at Northland five times or less each month between November and April.
22 percent of members responding have been to one of the Tuesday Family Style dining nights.
63 percent of responding members generally do not attend Thursday night Happy Hour.

Members taking the survey were also asked to provide suggestions for Family Style menu options, suggestions for Happy Hour appetizers and were offered an opportunity to comments on any other issue concerning food and beverage service. All of these verbatim responses will be reviewed.

Overall, 53 percent of the respondents were resident golf members while 24 percent were social or clubhouse members. We'd like to thank all members for their interest, participation and suggestions.

We've posted a new Quick Poll on the blog site today. This one concerns new golf equipment, specifically new clubs. We'd like to know whether you intend to purchase a new set of clubs, or perhaps introduce new hybrid clubs into your existing set. Perhaps it's just a new driver or a new set or irons. Take a moment and tell us what your intentions are for the new golf season. You can check as many answers as apply.

Welcome New Members

Northland Country Club is pleased to welcome the following new members:
Dr. Greg & Hiroe Anderson, Karen Annala, Robert & Susan Olund, Thomas & Beth Collins, Jon Helstrom, Kjell & Rosemary Knudsen, Lori Johnson, Jessica Sterle, and Robert & Nancy Edwards.

Please remember our special pre-season membership drive will end on Friday. Call Membership Director Ann Robertson for complete details.

Ross Society: Update On Potential NCC Visit

Discussions with members of the Donald Ross Society about a possible visit to Northland Country Club in 2009 are continuing.

Three dates have recently been suggested as possibilities: the weekends of August 29-30, September 12-13 and October 3-4.

Those members of the society who are planning the Minnesota outing have expressed an interest in beginning their tour with a stop at Northland for two days of golf to be followed by a visit to White Bear Country Club and The Minikahda Club.

Have you joined the Ross Society? You'll see a link under the "Links" section to the right side of the page. You can also click here to learn more. You can download a membership form here.

Ross Society Annual Meeting
If you're interested in attending the next Donald Ross Society event, that opportunity comes the week of May 2 - 4 in Wilmington, NC, at the historic Cape Fear Country Club, designed by Donald Ross in 1924.
The activities begin on Thursday evening with a member reception. This is followed by two days of golf with the annual meeting banquet on Saturday night. You can see further information at the society website.
Entry forms are available and the fee for participants is just $300, which includes all golf, member reception and annual banquet.

Lasagna On Family Style Menu

Lasagna is on the menu for Tuesday night Family Style dining at Northland. Dining begins at 5pm. The cost is just $15 for adults; $5 for children under age 10. There is no charge for children under age 5.

Direct EMail Links To NCC Staff

We've added direct email links to members of the NCC staff that are listed on the right hand side of this page.
If you'd like to contact any of them, all you have to do now is just click their name.

We found out through our recent membership survey that while many members are receiving regular email alerts, not all members are taking advantage of the updates. You can use the club website to add your name or you can email Peggy Smith or Ann Robertson and they'll make certain you're added to our growing contact list.

Final Week For Great Savings

Membership Director Ann Robertson advises that the pre-season sale for new resident members and non-resident members will expire on Friday of this week.
If you know of a friend or family member that has been considering a membership at Northland, contact Ann here, or at one of the numbers listed under contact information at the top right of this page.
Ann reports that the recent half page advertisement in Minnesota Golfer magazine has generated several new non-resident prospects.
If you'd like further details about the membership specials, call Ann today.

Strong Sentiment For Maintaining Present Food Service Schedule

This past week, members of Northland have been given an opportunity to take an expanded survey about food service hours at the club, particularly during what is commonly considered to be the off-season; 147 members have completed the survey as of early this morning. Here are the results to the primary question. (Click the image to view it full screen.) (See the stories below for background information on the poll questions.)A single question from that survey was also posted on this site; just 31 participants have answered the question. The blog polls are open to all readers while the expanded survey was available to members who receive email alerts. (See the story on email alerts below to sign up for the service.)
Those members who took the poll know there were several other questions that were asked.
The survey will officially close on Tuesday. Full results will be published following all voting.

Thursday Night Happy Hour

It's Thursday - Happy Hour starts at 4:30 this afternoon.

On the Happy Hour menu tonight:
Beer Battered Onion Rings
Spicy Chicken Wings
Chicken Potstickers with Asian Sauce

There's also half price taps, house wine and rail drinks.

UPDATED: Expanded Poll Option And Your Opinion On Expanded Food Service

See Update Below.
As a member of Northland, you know that full weekend food service is scheduled to return once the golf season opens. However, we'd like to know whether you think full food service should start sooner. Maybe you think we should only begin by offering lunch on Saturday, or both Saturday and Sunday. Do you think Sunday dinner service should also begin earlier than the season.
Currently, Northland is open for food service from 11am to closing Monday through Friday, and from 5pm to closing on Saturday. There is currently no Sunday service. Please keep in mind the member's lounge is open weekends beginning at Noon.
To get your opinion we've posted a new Northland Quick Poll. In addition to the poll, we'd welcome your additional comments. Simply click "comments" below this story and let us know what you think.

To take the poll, look on the right side of your screen just below the ForeTees logo. This poll will remain open until 3pm on Tuesday, February 26. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 and will discuss opening options at that time.

UPDATED: If you receive email alerts, you'll soon receive an email letting you know how you can participate in an expanded survey about food and beverage service at Northland.

Are You Getting EMail Alerts?

Are you receiving automatic updates from Northland about club activities and events?

If not, here's a link for you to use to sign up for the automatic email alerts.
If you don't have time today, remember you can go to the club's main website and click Member Email Sign-up. You'll be taken to a new screen where you'll be asked to provide an email address and select which news you'd like to receive.

Popular Tuesday Night Continues With Family Favorite - Take Out Is Available

More and more members are taking the opportunity to enjoy Family Style dining on Tuesday nights. This week, it's the always popular Chicken & Dumplings as the featured entree.
Remember, it's just $15 for adults to enjoy the generous portions offered during the Family Style dining. There's a $5 charge for children under age 10. There's no charge for children under age 5.
While not required, reservations are appreciated. And, don't forget, meals are always available for take-out. Please call well enough in advance to make certain your meals are ready when you get to the club for pick-up.

Take a moment to look at the new menu we've posted below - it contains several new options available this week at Northland.

New Menu Features

Here are the updated menu features for this week. Just click the image to view it full screen.

Changes In Comment Form

Blogger has slightly changed the way in which you can comment on stories posted on this and other blogger sites.
If you want to offer a comment, just click on "comments" below each story and the screen on the right will pop-up allowing you to write your note and select how you wish that to appear.

What's On Your Reading List?

As we head towards golf season, golf magazines are full of tips on how we can improve our games with new equipment being released for 2008. Have you seen the new issues with features on clubs and even entire articles devoted to different ball characteristics and how they'll perform just for you? Combine that with all the new swing thoughts and there's a great deal to absorb before we take our first swings at Northland.
So, do you subscribe to one or more of the national golf magazines? We've posted a new Quick Poll on the right side of the screen just below the ForeTees logo which will allow for multiple answers. With the new polling feature you'll instantly see the results.

X-Country Trails Will Re-Open

With the new snow yesterday, cross country ski trails are being groomed this morning and should be available for member use early this afternoon. If your skis and snow shoes have been idle, it's time to get them out for a workout on the Northland trail system.
The latest weather forecast calls for slightly warming conditions this weekend, just right for a few laps and maybe some conversation around the firepit after the exercise.

Reservations Still Available For Valentine's Day

We're starting to get more reservations for Thursday night at Northland - it's Valentine's Day - but, don't worry...there are still some openings for the fabulous dinner choices that have been put together for your pleasure. If you scroll down this page - or click here - you'll be able to see the menus.

If possible, you may want to avoid the hour between 6 - 7pm when much of the dining room has already been reserved. We suggest you call the office soon to make certain you get a table.

It's Family Style Tonight

Stimping The Ballroom

If you haven't seen this yet, Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh has posted an interesting article on green speed on his blog site, Northern Grounds.
Did you know the carpeted ballroom floor is faster than the greens at Northland? Read the article for more.
Chris also has posted two polls on green speed which expire at 5pm this afternoon. If you haven't taken the time to vote, just click the link above to read the article and to participate in the two member surveys.

Icy Spring - Warmer Than Average Summer

The National Weather Service is out with its latest 90-day weather and temperature projections for Duluth; the forecast calls for near normal temperatures this Spring. If you search further, the longer range forecast calls for above normal temperatures for the Summer. The long-range forecast found here also calls for the warmer temperatures to extend through March of 2009 before moderating.

The NWS precipitation forecast is also calling for extended dry weather during June and July this summer, and some dry periods extending through September and October.

If you trust the Old Farmer's Almanac, just click their name to go to the website from where you can search for extended weather and their view of this coming golf season. The almanac is also calling for above average temperatures this Spring, with warm and dry conditions this Summer. June is predicted to particularly dry.


Of course, if you look out at Lake Superior this morning, you'll see the ice pack is fairly extensive. This view from the 15th tee shows the ice pack extending across to the South Shore and quite a ways north along our shore. Once the annual winds from the northeast start to blow in May, will this mean colder than normal temperatures at Northland? We've not had this extensive ice cover the past two years which has meant an earlier and warmer start to the golf season.

New Policy For Monthly Minimums

In order to offer members the best possible dining experience, the Board of Directors has decided to stagger the dates when members will be required to meet their monthly minimums. Beginning March 1 - the start of the new fiscal year for Northland - monthly minimums will be set on the following schedule:

For members who have last names beginning with the letters M through Z, your monthly minimum will run from the 16th to the 15th of the following month. While your food and beverage minimum will remain $60 per month, under this new system you will begin with a 45-day cycle. You will have until April 15th to use this one time $90 fee.

All members with last names beginning with A though L will remain on the same minimum cycle as now. Your monthly minimum will still end on March 31.

Club Manager Gary Schneider is sending notification of the change to all members. Please direct any questions to Gary or Tim Holmstrom, Northland Controller.

Valentine's Day Menus - Reserve Today

Click any of the images above or on the right to view them full screen.
Chef Mike Schueller and staff have given us fabulous choices.

Reservations are being accepted today...please call 525.1941 to make certain you're part of the Valentine's Day fun at Northland.

Ev Stuart Celebrates 90th Birthday; Video Of 1984 Invitational Will Be Archived (See Correction Below)

Ev Stuart, Northland's Pro from 1954 to 1987, celebrated his 90th birthday in Florida yesterday. Ev is shown above (in yellow on the right) in an image taken from a video of the 1984 Northland Invitational award ceremony. Ev is presenting runner-up Bob Magie III with his trophy.

Correction: Leo Spooner (on the left) won the 1984 event, the 10th time he had claimed the tournament, including a span of four in a row between 1961-1964. We had earlier stated Leo had won only seven times. In the '84 event, Leo beat Bob on the first playoff hole for his final Invitational victory.

We have received a video copy of highlights from all 19 holes of the tournament and are in the process of editing it. We hope to produce a version that will be posted on this site for you to see shortly.
Also pictured in the photo is Len Rudolph, Northland president in 1984.

Blog Update

You'll notice we've slightly changed the appearance of the blog and have added some new features.

We've added contact information for staff members and will soon add direct links to email each of them.
Once the season opens, you'll still be able to click the ForeTees logo to make your tee times.
We have updated our Quick Poll to instantly show results. New polls will always appear directly below the ForeTees logo.
We still give you two options to explore local weather. Each of the services offer different features.
Our archive section is slightly changed...just click the arrow and month to read past stories. The number of stories in each month is posted in parenthesis.
We've also expanded our Link section, adding a few new publications and GolfHelp.com.
Our Clustrmap feature allows you to see just where in the world some of our readers live.
You can comment on any story by clicking "comments" below each story.
If you click the small envelope below each story, you'll be able to email that story.
As always, you can use our search feature at the top left of the screen to look for past stories.

Turfgrass 101 - Part 3

If you've been following along with the lesson plan, it's time to learn more about cultural practices.
Wondering what this is about?
Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh is providing an explanation of turf management practices on his blog site. Part 3 of the four-part lesson plan is currently being featured.
Just click the image above right to go directly to the site, or click the link for Northland Grounds here or under "Links" along the ride side of this page.

Taco Tuesday

It's Tuesday - Family Style dining night at Northland.
On the menu tonight: build you own tacos.
Just $15 for adults and $5 for children under 10. No charge for those children under age 5.

In The Family.....

Frequent readers of the blog know that Club Manager Gary Schneider's daughter Stephanie has been the subject of a few feature articles. Her new bar in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn has been prominently featured in several publications, and was recently visited by first daughter Barbara Bush. Here's yet another New York Times article that featured Stephanie.

Harvey Wallbanger is alive and well, and living in Brooklyn.

That ’70s drink, so redolent of leisure suits, “Love Boat” and giant wide lapels, was thought to have gone extinct decades ago — or at least mostly extinct (you can occasionally spot one on the mummified menus of roadside diners).

-------Here's a link to the full article, which continues......
Stephanie Schneider, 37, remembers. Or rather, she looked up how to make one.
Ms. Schneider, along with Andrew Boggs, 31, is an owner of Huckleberry Bar, which opened in October on Grand Street in Williamsburg — one of a sudden burst of cocktaileries in beer-proud Brooklyn.
Read the full article here.

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Now, Stephanie is not the only Schneider to be making news in New York. Gary's son Aaron was featured on The Celebrity Apprentice (click the name for the official show website) last week, and will be seen on the episode that will air this Thursday, February 7. Aaron runs his own business and is working with Marilu Henner on one of the project's featured on the program. Our sources say Aaron will talk with Henner briefly on Thursday's program.

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Finally, Nicole Schneider's fiance, Jeremy Davenport ,(click his name to learn more about Jeremy on Wikipedia) will be featured on The Today Show on NBC on Tuesday morning. Tuesday is Fat Tuesday and the Jeremy Davenport Band will be the featured guest artist from the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans.

Nicole is also a resident of New York City.

New Weekly Features

Here's a look at the new menu features at Northland Country Club - click the image above to view it full screen. Chef Schueller is attempting to change the feature menu approximately every two weeks.
If you look at the stories below, you'll note the posting of the new Tuesday night Family Style menu for the month of February.
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Have you made plans for Valentine's Day? We expect to post the special Valentine's Day menu tomorrow or Wednesday.
Reservations are now being accepted.

February Membership Specials

There may not be a better set of specials to join a country club anywhere. Through February, membership at Northland is one of the great bargains in golf. In just a few days, the entire readership (more than 80,000) of Minnesota Golfer magazine will learn about our new non-resident golf special. Residents of our region also have a great opportunity to join our club at an early bird special price. For complete details, contact Membership Director Ann Robertson today. Her number is posted on the top right side of the page or call the office at (218) 525.1941.

It's February - Family Night Menus

If you click the image above, you'll see a full page image of the specials for Family Nights in February. Prices have not changed - still just $15 for adults; $5 for children under 10. There is no charge for children under 5.
This has been a popular addition to dining fare at Northland. Reservations are appreciated.