It's the end of another work week - Friday night...a chance to unwind at Northland with several opportunities to enjoy the club's hospitality with friends. Let's start with 1/2 price wine night...Food & Beverage Manager Clint Johnson has a selection of fine wines for you to enjoy at a very special price. This might be just the right night to enjoy a fine bottle of wine with your meal.
Also tonight, there are even more new menu items that will be unveiled. Included tonight are two new sandwich specials: a Top Sirloin Steak Sandwich and a new Panko Breaded Walleye Sandwich. That's not all. Chef Schueller has also added three new features to the entree menu, including Beef Tenderloin Tip Stroganoff, Pan Seared Veal Cutlet, and a Grilled Veal Chop.
Finally...don't forget that we've added a Late Night Happy Hour at Northland on Friday and Saturday nights. If you're going to the UMD Bulldog game tonight...or maybe an early movie...why not stop at the club between 9pm and 11pm to take advantage of one of our beverage specials. Don't forget, we have a new martini and hot drink menu.
Three ways for you to enjoy the end of your work week at Northland Country Club.
The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are in action Sunday and Northland will help members celebrate the rivalry by hosting a special Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm. Enjoy special pricing on beverages throughout the game. This Sunday will also mark the end of Sunday food service at the club. Sunday food service will be limited to a brunch on the final Sunday of each month until the golf course reopens in the Spring.
Do you have a favorite photo that you've taken this year at Northland Country Club? If so, please consider entering our Photo Contest by submitting your entries in electronic format to Membership Director Ann Robertson. All entries will be judged by our independent panel and all finalists will be posted on the blog for you to review. The winner will receive a gift certificate. Last year's winner was Tim Moriarty.
The 2009 tournament season at Northland came to a close last night with the final match in the season-long four ball match play tournament. The team of Bill Juntunen and Jay Thomas closed out John Hyduke on the 15th hole to claim the title; Hyduke was playing without partner Andy Reierson who was unable to make the event.
Thanks to all participants in all tournament events for making this another successful season at Northland Country Club.
With bright blue skies at the start of the day - despite a frost delay until 10:30 - the golf course was fairly busy today as families gathered at Northland for the Fall Fest. The photo on the right shows another guest today that was also taking advantage of the nice weather - notice his partner in the background. Off the golf course, members of the Entertainment Committee had planned a wide array of activities for children. Witch Trixie is shown her with one of her young helpers. We've posted a few additional photos of some of the children dressed in their Halloween costumes on our Facebook page. We have others we'll post either later tonight or tomorrow.
Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh has tentatively scheduled Sunday, November 1 for the last day of golf for 2009. As Chris notes on his blog today, the turf management staff is involved in preparing the course for winter; spraying for snow mold is underway. Additional work will begin on Monday. So....the weather forecast for Saturday is still calling for highs in the mid to upper 40's....is it possible that might be the last day you play? Read more about the course closing process here.
Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh has a new post on his blog about some new work taking place behind the 13th green. You'll note that the rocks that have prevented a true infinity experience are in the process of being removed. Chris has some photos that help explain the work.
Chris also was interviewed recently for an industry article about some cost saving measures he has introduced. He has previously discussed this on his blog, but it's great to see the national exposure. You can read that article here.
The menus at Northland are always changing to reflect the seasons....and there are some spectacular new features to announce. Let's begin with a Warm Duck Salad served with Belgian endive and mache lettuce salad, sherry vinaigrette, candied pecans, oranges and raspberries. There's a new Smoked Salmon Tartar served with pickled shallots, crispy capers, poached quail eggs and English biscuit crackers. For chili lovers, there's two versions available (meat/meatless). We've added a Turkey Pastrami on Braided Marble Rye. This is served with cranberry coleslaw, melted Jarlsberg cheese and sweet potato fries. For beef lovers, we've added a new Filet served with root vegetables, Thumbelina carrots and Borsin Yukon Gold mashed potatoes with a parsley leek sauce; there's also a new 16 oz. New York Strip served with Della Cotta Squash, mushroom cous cous, brussels sprouts with elderberry vinaigrette. For a limited time, there's a fabulous Seared Crispy Skin Black Cod to enjoy with fresh harvest wild rice, roasted beets, parsnips and wild mushrooms. This week's Comfort Feature is also special.....fresh caught Lake Superior Herring. It's beer battered and served with house cut fries, slaw and vegetable du jour. Finally, there's the Chef's Feature....a Grilled Veal Chop served with wild rice risotto, Thumbelina carrots and caramelized cippolinis. As always, reservations for dinner is encouraged whether you want to dine in the Fireside Lounge or the JR Link Grill.
As of late yesterday, we've received about 60 reservations for the Family Fall Fest scheduled for Saturday. A look at the weather forecast calls for seasonal highs in the middle 40's...not too bad for this time of year. We've got quite a bit planned to entertain families, especially the children. But, there are activities for adults as well. One entertaining feature is a professional pumpkin carver whose creations we'll be giving away. You can still carve your own and your children can take one of the pumpkins from our special Pumpkin Patch home with them. Are you in for a bit of square dancing? We've got a professional caller to lead you through the moves. Click the image to get a bigger view of all the activities on Saturday. We'd like to know how many more of you are planning to attend. Please contact the office today to let us know. The Fall Fest begins at 2pm and lasts until 6pm.
Golf Digest's November issue provides another expansive review of environmental changes that are occurring within the golf industry and turf management. (You can read the articles here) This is the second major series of articles the magazine has devoted to golf's environmental issues. (You'll find the 2008 articles here)
Here's a portion of the introduction to the current series by the magazine's editors: All across America, golf courses are reducing water use, cutting synthetic chemical treatments and exploring ways to be more efficient. They are doing this not because it's a nice thing to do. It's the only thing to do if golf and golfers are to have a healthy long-term future...... .....As golfers we can do our part. We can wake up to the fact that super-slick greens, year-round, spotless fairways and perfectly manicured roughs are not sustainable, viable or desirable. We can demand that our courses be natural, rugged, and free from cosmetic fluffery. We can help make golf environmentally responsible. It's good for us, good for business, good for the game.
There are now two more opportunities for you to enjoy Happy Hour pricing at Northland. We're adding a late night Happy Hour on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm to 11pm to go along with our Wednesday and Thursday evening lineup. In addition to the new hours, we're also adding a new martini and hot drink menu. Please keep in mind that Friday also offers you an opportunity to sample selected wine features at half price. In addition, we're also going to feature some desserts on Friday and Saturday night between 9pm and 10pm.
We'd like to know what kind of evening you'd like to see at Northland on New Year's Eve. To assist in our planning, we've posted a poll on the right hand side of the screen, and have given you three options from which to choose. Should we provide an elegant dinner only? Or, how about dinner and entertainment? Perhaps you have other plans and won't attend. Take a moment and let us know what you think. We'd also be interested in hearing from you about the type of entertainment you think we should have, if any. Please use the comment section to add your thoughts. === In the next few days, you'll have a chance to participate in an extensive Food & Beverage survey where we'll offer some additional opportunities for you to comment on New Year's Eve and other activities at Northland. This survey will be available to all members who have an email address on file with the Northland office. If you don't, please contact Membership Director Ann Robertson to register your email address. We'll be sending out the details shortly.
While there's no firm date for when the golf course might close for the season, there is a limit on how long members who have accumulated pro shop credit over this golf season have to complete their shopping. Director of Golf Joe O'Connor would like to close the season's books on October 31. There are still plenty of great season-ending specials to take advantage of for both men and women, including a new supply of fall clothing and equipment for both groups. Stop in during your next visit to club - maybe today...temperatures are heading for the 60's.
If you haven't yet heard the news - there is now a new starting time for the Wednesday and Thursday Happy Hours at Northland......you can enjoy member fellowship and food & drink specials beginning at 4:00. Don't worry about arriving late either. The Happy Hours are extended until 7:00 to allow you plenty of time to complete your day's work and still get to the club in time to participate. When you arrive, please check the table tents for the nightly specials....and enjoy!
Saturday's snowfall may have given way to bright sunny skies on Sunday allowing for a dozen or so golfers to get in one more round - possibly more - but the turf management staff is preparing to close the course for the season. In the days ahead, the staff will clear the irrigation lines, complete the mowing for the season, spend some additional time on the new nursery and prepare to cover the greens for the winter. You can follow all the progress that is being made by checking Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh's blog. He's posted some new photos and a video about nursery construction. For more frequent updates, you can also sign up to follow Chris on Twitter.
Don't try to adjust your screen - the photo above of Duke Skorich and Joe O'Connor - winners of the 2009 Northland 1-Club Invitational - is out of focus....and, based on the controversy that erupted from their victory this afternoon, only fitting - at least according to many of the 20 other participants. The pairing of Skorich and O'Connor was decided by a blind draw prior to today's event. But some of the 20 other players questioned whether any individual who hadn't played in one of the season long events should have been allowed into the finals, even with an exemption issued by Commissioner Scott Anderson. Today's finals were actually four events in one. The first five holes were played as a scramble, with Skorich and O'Connor winning. The second five holes were played as a true alternate shot. Again, Skorich and O'Connor were victorious. It was during this match that the shot of the day was played. Northland President Ken Buck found himself playing a shot from 25 yards of the 7th green. With a very adept touch, Buck chipped it in with his 6-iron, a shot he talked about in this exclusive Northland interview.
The third series of five holes in today's championship was played as a best ball...but, once again Skorich and O'Connor were victorious, adding to their already substantial lead after 15 holes of play.
On the 16th hole, it was time for the teams to play the most difficult portion of the contest - the dreaded worst-ball scramble where opposing teams choose which ball the team must play on each shot for the remaining three holes. Sadly, for the other teams, Skorich and O'Connor once again prevailed and claimed the first-ever complete sweep in the event's five year history.
We've posted more than 65 photos of today's event in an album on our Facebook page. What might you see? Well, we've included some photos from many of the holes where some special "sponsors" were thanked for their contributions to today's event. We've included just one such example here. You'll have to go to the Facebook site to see the remainder of them. As for the entire field...here's a group photo.We're adding just one more photo from tonight's festivities, only because we're not certain these brothers have ever been photographed quite like this, and to thank all the participants today for being such good sports by allowing some very candid shots during the event. Click on the image to view it full screen. As we said...more photos on Facebook.
Gregg McCall is the winner of the Northland season long individual match play championship. McCall and Jim Abelsen played their final match of the season last night, with McCall winning 2 & 1.
=== With the final match of the individual play completed, there is only one contest remaining to finish the tournament season at Northland....the 4-ball teams have yet to finish their schedule, but are expected to do so in the next week - weather permitting.
The Fall and Winter Holiday Party Season is upon us.....and Northland Country Club can assist all your entertaining needs. There are still open dates at the club for you to host a family or business party. Maybe you'd prefer if we make the food and you pick it up. Or, perhaps you'd like members of our culinary staff to assist you at your home so you can relax and party with your guests. If you're looking for a special party, contact Northland Event Coordinator Jennifer Kolenda for details on how Northland can make the holiday season brighter.
Northland Country Club won the 2009 Challenge Cup today, beating Ridgeview Country Club by a final tally of 24 1/2 to 15 1/2. Ridgeview had won five years in a row prior to today's final matches. The two teams were tied at 8 points each following play on Saturday. Northland's team combined for 16 1/2 points today to bring the trophy back to Northland.Weather for today's play at Northland was considerably better than conditions yesterday at Ridgeview. There was no rain to contend with and the winds were also calm compared with yesterday's blustery conditions. We've posted more photos from today's competition on our Facebook page. Despite today's Northland win, Ridgeview still has a commanding 9 - 4 lead in the Challenge Cup series that began in 1997.
Despite wet and windy conditions during the opening matches of the 2009 Challenge Cup between Northland and Ridgeview, there were several low scores posted today and the day ended with both teams tied with eight points apiece.Play began at 9am this morning at Ridgeview. The sixteen two-man teams played the front nine in a scramble format, concluding the back nine with a modified alternate shot. Eight of the teams opened with sub-par rounds, but just two teams were able to break par on the back nine. The low score for 18 holes was recorded by the Northland pairing of Sarah LeClair and David Whittaker who posted a 67. We've posted some photos from today's action on our Facebook site. Just click the Facebook logo on the right side of this page to view the album (you will need to have a free Facebook account). Sunday's play at Northland will begin at 9am. The pairings are posted below. The teams will play two matches on Sunday - each Northland team will play against a Ridgeview team in a better ball format at the same time individual team members will play against a single member of the other team. With the two teams tied after today's opening round, Northland will need 12 1/2 points on Sunday to win the trophy while Ridgeview will need 12 points to retain the cup for another season. As noted below, Ridgeview holds a 9 - 3 advantage in the event, dating back to the opening matches in 1997.
The selection process and pairings for this weekend's Challenge Cup series between Northland and Ridgeview was completed earlier this evening. The team pairings for Saturday's play is listed below.As you'll note, even at this hour, Ridgeview had not completed its team roster. And, there remains the possibility that members for both teams are likely to change on Sunday. We'll post final scores for Saturday's first round action following play on Saturday - we expect to have Sunday's pairings by early Saturday evening.
It appears as if cold, windy, rainy conditions will greet the participants of the annual Challenge Cup matches this weekend, featuring two teams of 16 players from Northland Country Club and Ridgeview Country Club.As the table above indicates, this is the 13th playing of the annual Fall event, with Ridgeview holding a 9 - 3 record, including victories in the past five contests. Pairings for the weekend play will be announced later this evening. The two-man teams will begin play at 9am Saturday at Ridgeview, playing a front nine scramble and a back nine modified alternate shot. Play continues at 9am Sunday at Northland when the teams will play individual and better-ball matches. With a full field of 16 players on each team, Northland will need 20 1/2 points to win the coveted trophy; Ridgeview needs 20 to retain the cup for another season.
You probably noticed over this past summer that the turf nursery ground to the left side of the 9th fairway wasn't being well maintained - for good reason. Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh and his crew have begun constructing a new nursery...also on the 9th fairway, but on the opposite side (photo). Why? Chris explains here on his latest blog posting.
It's the end of another work week - Friday night...a chance to unwind at Northland with several opportunities to enjoy the club's hospitality with friends.
Also tonight, there are even more new menu items that will be unveiled. Included tonight are two new sandwich specials: a Top Sirloin Steak Sandwich and a new Panko Breaded Walleye Sandwich. That's not all. Chef Schueller has also added three new features to the entree menu, including Beef Tenderloin Tip Stroganoff, Pan Seared Veal Cutlet, and a Grilled Veal Chop.
Finally...don't forget that we've added a Late Night Happy Hour at Northland on Friday and Saturday nights. If you're going to the UMD Bulldog game tonight...or maybe an early movie...why not stop at the club between 9pm and 11pm to take advantage of one of our beverage specials. Don't forget, we have a new martini and hot drink menu.
