Celebrity Scott Woerner in 2009.

In 2009, The Georgia Club Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament and Auction raised over $30,000 for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and the Foundation.  Riding on the success of 2009, this year’s tournament is already on its way to surpassing that number!

We invite golfers and supporters to join us on Saturday, July 31 to raise money for our tournament beneficiaries.  Our beneficiaries are once again the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and The Georgia Club Foundation.  The day will begin with a golf tournament, where teams of four get to play with a celebrity.  This year’s celebrity roster includes Morten Andersen (former Atlanta Falcons kicker), Mike Cavan (former UGA player and coach), David Chandley (WSB-TV Meteorologist), Jay Clark (UGA Gym Dogs Head Coach), Frank Crumley (UGA interim Athletic Director), Jeff Dantzler (voice of the UGA Basketball team and Baseball team), Bill Hartman (retired WSB-TV sports anchor), Kelley Hester (UGA Women’s Golf head coach), Darrell Huckaby (columnist), Ransom Jackson (former Brooklyn Dodgers all-star), Briana Jewett (Miss Rome 2010, Miss UGA 2009), Andy Johnson (former UGA quarterback and New England Patriots running back), Doug McAvinn (UGA Gym Dogs Assistant Coach), Shelby McLeod (Miss UGA Sorority Row, Miss UGA runner-up), Jimmy Orr (former UGA and NFL player), George Patton (former UGA player), Larry Rakestraw (former UGA and NFL player), Mark Schlabach (ESPN Columnist and College Football Analyst), Matt Stinchcomb (former UGA and NFL player), Allen Tibbets (Magic 102.1 Radio Host), O’Neill Williams (host of O’Neill Outside), Scott Woerner (former UGA and NFL player) and Suzanne Yoculan (retired UGA Gym Dogs head coach).

Each year our event grows in scale and this year is no different!  Our auction portion of the day is bigger than ever!  With almost 50 unique items, our auction boasts something for everyone.  Place your bids on silent auction items like a trip to Seagrove Beach, Amelia Island or St. Simons.  If you would like to stay in town, be the highest bidder for featured Braves tickets, UGA football tickets and two passes to the Richard Petty Driving Experience.  We will also have special packaged items including a wine basket, cigar basket, and our “Night at the Theater” package, including tickets to the Classic Center for Mamma Mia!, dinner at Square One, and one night stay at Hotel Indigo. Get daily updates about featured auction items on our Facebook page.

For our live auctions, we will feature a Mountain Cabin Stay, a refurbished Club Cart Golf Cart, a Mind and Body Fitness Package, Golf and Overnight Package to Chateau Elan and an original Steve Penley portrait.   Visit our Website to find out all about our auction items.

We are already sold out of team slots and on our way to selling out the luncheon!  If you would like to join in on the action, please call 770-7250-8107 to get your lunch ticket now.  The lunch reception will open at 12:30 p.m., with the silent auction ending at 3 p.m.

If you can’t be here, help contribute to your cause and chance your luck at The Yoculan Drop!

If you have questions about the tournament, please call   770-727-8107 .  Check out pictures from last year’s tournament on our Facebook page.

David Greene (far left) and Darrell Huckaby (far right) in 2009.

There is only one place where you can get golf, celebrities, delicious food and drink, cool swag and fun prizes: The Georgia Club Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament & Auction on Saturday, July 31.  Celebrities including Mike Cavan, David Chandley, Jay Clark, Kelley Hester, Darrell Huckaby, Matt Stinchcomb, Larry Rakestraw and more, join Master of Ceremonies, retired UGA Gym Dogs Coach Suzanne Yoculan for a day of golfing and giving.  Sponsored by The Georgia Club Foundation, this event offers a day full of fun, with all proceeds going to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and the Foundation.  Last year’s tournament raised over $30,000!  This year, we can make that number even bigger with your help — here is how you can get involved!

Golf  Tournament

Join us for a round of golf with one of our featured celebrities. The cost is $200 per player $800 per team.  Only a few slots remain so if you are interested, please call    770-725-8107     now to register. 

Lunch & Auction

Join us after the tournament for a lunch and auction reception.  Guest are invited to join us for a delicious Georgia Club lunch, open bar and auction for only $20.  Each lunch attendee will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate to The Georgia Club. The reception will open at 12:30.  *Tickets based on availability.

Enjoy food and drinks with friends and place your bids on fun silent auction items like overnight trips, sporting and theater tickets, artwork, golf outings, health and spa sessions and much, much more!  At 3:00 p.m., get ready to place your bids in the live auction on items such as a refurbished Club Car Golf Cart, an original Penley painting, a private helicopter tour and a mountain cabin stay. Check our website for a complete list of auction items.

Yoculan Drop

Suzanne Yoculan

At 4:00 p.m., watch as Suzanne Yoculan flies over the Chancellors Course in a helicopter and decides your fate in the Yoculan Drop.  Pick your lucky numbers and purchase your chance(s) to win one of these great prizes:

• Purchase a Black Ball for $25 and the ball closest to the hole will win 50% of the cash total.
• Purchase a Red Ball for $50 and the ball closest to the hole will win a trip for 2 to play Seaside Golf Course at Sea Island.  Trip includes lunch and travel by private jet.

You do not have to be present to win. To purchase golf balls, please call    770-725-8107   .  Balls can also be purchased in The Georgia Club Membership & Administration office or in the Pro Shop.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and The Georgia Club Foundation.  If you have any questions about the tournament, please call     770-725-8107   .  Visit www.TheGeorgiaClubFoundation.com for more information on the tournament.

Eventual winner Carl Hall makes his final drive toward to the green as the gallery watches on.

• 1st Flight: Stan Berg and guest Richard Jefferies
• 2nd Flight: Carl Hall and guest Ed Davis
• 3rd Flight: David Shockley and guest Mike Femiano
• 4th Flight: Jim Hartley and guest Jerry Beafore
• 5th Flight: Chuck Presswood and guest Monk Mayhue
• 6th Flight: Nelson Brown and guest Jim Gaines
• 7th Flight: Aaron Meyers & guest Doyle Johnson

The top two teams from each flight competed in a grand shootout.  Carl Hall and Ed Davis overcame runners-up George Gill and Tim Nash to claim the victory. 

Flight winners at dinner.

Players gathered at the culmination of the tournament for a fabulous dinner and dance.  Guests traveled from distances including Texas, Colorado, New York and Oklahoma to take part in this classic event.  We were happy to welcome them to The Georgia Club and celebrate our mutual love of golf.  Several Georgia Club Members shared their thoughts on this special event:

“I want to commend [Mike O'Malley, Head Golf Pro] and his outstanding staff for rolling out The Georgia Club red carpet and putting on an outstanding tournament.  It was a pleasure to play.  The food service was the best I have experienced at a golf outing.  Most of all, I was very proud of the staff who went out of their wait to make us feel special and the tournament a success.  I look forward to playing in many more Georgia Club tournaments.” — Aaron Meyers

“Don and I, our son Greg, and our guest, thoroughly enjoyed the Member/Guest weekend.  Many thanks to the Golf Staff — Mike, Matt and Grant — who worked so hard this weekend and were so professional during the shootout, which was so much fun to watch.  Thanks also to the Culinary Staff, who worked so hard to make everything perfect.  My son’s friend Michelle and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the Club and Saturday night’s dinner was truly amazing! Thanks to all for a memorable and  fun weekend.” — Mary Poor

Thanks to all our guests who traveled to The Georgia Club for this one-of-a-kind event.  We look forward to next year’s event! To view more pictures from this event, please visit The Georgia Club Golf on Facebook.

Some people have described life at The Georgia Club like life on vacation. For kids, summer at The Georgia Club is a paradise.  The summer provides many opportunities for kids to use the Club’s facilities, including the golf course, tennis compound and swim park.  The Georgia Club also offers may activities for the whole family.  Check out these exciting summer activities sure to make your child’s summer the best ever! If you have any questions about the following events or would like to sign your children up, please call Sarah Freeman at 770-725-4704.

Junior Jamboree “Around the World” Extravaganza! — July 12 - 16

• 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
• Children Ages 5 to 12
• Each day, discover a different country with daily activities including golf/tennis instruction, fun games, lunch, pool time and the day’s special activity!
• Price is $275 for children and grandchildren of Members registered by June 30.  If more than two children from a family will be attending, the third child can be registered for $250.
• Price is $299 for accompanied guests registered by June 30.
• Space is limited to the first 30 children so hurry and sign-up!

Family Fun Night at the Pool — Select Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

• Join us for Family Happy Hour for an evening featuring games, mocktinis, family-friendly appetizers and swimming.  Optional a la carte dinner afterwards.
• Thursday, June 24 — Harry Potter Theme
• Thursday, July 8 — Candyland Theme
• Thursday, July 22 — The Princess and the Frog Theme

July 4th Festivities

• Star Spangled Parade, Saturday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m.  Decorate your bike, small motorized vehicle, or dog and be the star of the show at our annual parade throughout the Village.
• July 4th Cookout and Ice Cream Social, Sunday, July 4 at 11:00 a.m.  Celebrate this patriotic holiday poolside with hot dogs, hamburgers and the works, followed by an Ice Cream Social at 2:30 p.m.

Private Lessons Available

• Private Swim Lessons are available and can be scheduled at your convenience.  Please contact the Fitness Center at  770-725-3111  for a list of instructors.
• Private Tennis Lessons are available and can be scheduled at your convenience through the Fitness Center by calling  770-725-3111 .

Tomorrow is the Fourth Annual Front Porch Foot Race and we wanted to take a quick look at this amazing event!  Runners from all over the community hit the streets of The Georgia Club for a scenic race to raise money for local community organizations.  The event is composed of two races, a 1-mile Fun Run/Walk and a 5k competitive race.  Crowds gather for “Porch Parties” throughout the neighborhood to cheer on the racers. 

This race continues to grow, with last year’s event bringing in nearly225 runners and walkers.  Over 40 volunteers help coordinate registration and monitor the race route.  This truly is a neighborhood event that unites the entire community, from the racers who travel to The Georgia Club to the event beneficiaries.  The race will raise money for the Barrow County Schools Special Needs Program and the Athens Nurses Clinic. 

The Front Porch Foot Race is the third largest event of The Georgia Club Foundation.  To find out more about the Foundation and how you can help the community, visit http://www.thegeorgiaclub.com/foundation-georgia-club.asp.

After the race, stick around for a special poolside dinner!  For dinner reservations, call  770-725-8100 .

Go ahead and put on your running shoes and we will see you tomorrow!

The registration fee is $20 or $12 without a shirt.  Last minute entries are not guaranteed a t-shirt.  Walk-up registration is available or you can register online.

The Georgia Club Foundation and Tour Chairperson Susan VanHook are proud to announce the homes on the 3rd Annual Christmas Tour of Homes on Sunday, December 13 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Visitors will celebrate the festive season by touring five of The Georgia Club’s premier residential homes decorated for the holidays. We are grateful to the following homeowners for their great support of this Tour. Watch for more details coming soon.

Homes included on this year’s tour are:

The Home of the Manus Family – A Christmas Showcase
Each room in this gorgeous home is delightfully decorated with a different theme. A Christmas table set with beautiful family heirloom china is among other outstanding displays. This home was one of the most talked about from the 2007 Tour and is truly a Christmas fantasy for all ages!

The Home of Barbara & Cicero Lucas – Southern Christmas Memories
This Wexford Garden home shows off its true southern charm with a Christmas home setting displaying family hand-painted china, antique pieces, and a very southern use of Christmas greens. Bulldog fans will not want to miss the fabulous display of UGA memorabilia!

The Home of Cindy & Don Hanenburg – Homeland Celebrations
Touches of Dutch ancestry are sprinkled about this beautiful home decorated for the holidays. There is a wonderful display of Teddy Bears to delight all!

The Home of Lynn & Steve Baginski – A New Classic
This beautiful courtyard home blends old accents with new styles warmly decorated for Christmas. Tasteful displays featuring antiques with a touch of whimsical accessories create a classically-decorated Christmas home.

The Home of Pam & David Shockley – Home for the Holidays
A warm, intimate cottage that says “Welcome Home for the Holidays”. The front and back porches alone will put you in the Christmas spirit!

Proceeds from the event will benefit several local charities and service organizations. The 2009 beneficiaries will include Peace Place, Project Safe, Partners in Education Fund (Bethlehem Elementary, Haymon-Morris Middle, Rocky Branch Elementary and Malcolm Bridge Middle), local High School scholarship funds and The Georgia Club Foundation. For a full description of each beneficiary, please click here.

 The Christmas Tour of Homes also presents many advertising and sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising for this year’s Tour, please review the Sponsorship List and then fill out the Sponsor Form. Please mail any checks, forms or ads to The Georgia Club Foundation 854 Commons Park Suite 235 Statham, GA 30666-9902.

Twenty-five vendors and more than 160 guests from all over Georgia and South Carolina attended the Weddings of Georgia Bridal Expo in August, hosted by The Georgia Club. Event Coordinator Brooke Tallon and Summer Special Events Intern Megan Marshall worked together to create four Georgia Club “tablescapes” for every different type of bride. This feature at the Expo was designed to demonstrate the versatility of The Georgia Club facilities as a wedding venue.

“We decided to showcase a few fully designed tables so that brides could really imagine their wedding here,” Marshall said. “To pick the design elements, I scoured the internet through my favorite wedding design blogs and web sites to pick a particular look and feel for each table.”

The result was four beautifully-designed tables, each one representing a particular season, as shown below.

The spring “Garden Party” table was geared toward the ethereal bride with romantic accents of pink and green.

The summer “Southern Charm” themed table was a reflection of the traditional touches of the south complete with mason jars, bright, bold colors, and even lemons in the centerpiece.

The autumn “Fall Flora and Fauna” table was exquisitely crafted to reflect the richness of fall in Georgia, with intense copper, eggplant, and scarlet shades and hypericum berries.

The “Wintery Wow” table was focused on the glam bride with crystals, baubles, and lots of bling.

A special thanks goes out to Gardenia Floral Design and The Fun Stuff, who volunteered to provide floral arrangements and tabletop/chair rentals for The Georgia Club to use during the Expo.

“With the help of our amazing vendors and staff, all of the elements came together to present four equally beautiful but visably different wedding looks,” Marshall said.

The tables were a huge hit with the brides and The Georgia Club encouraged them to picture themselves, whatever their style, as the centerpiece of a Georgia Club wedding. Let us know how we can help translate your special event vision into reality by calling us at 770-725-8100.

The Georgia Club proudly presents watercolors by Juan Carlos Camacho this evening in The Village Hall. The works feature local scenes from around Athens and The Georgia Club as well as from his native Costa Rica.

His previous show in Ohio received a glowing review and this show promises even more brilliant color and airy landscapes from the trained architect.

Even the Georgia Museum of Art recommends him so stop by for the complimentary reception tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. and view the incredible works of Two Waters, Two Lights.

Member Harvey Tarpley and Emily Sanders of Sanders Financial Management prior to the Financial Literacy for Women talk at The Georgia Club

The initial statistics are sobering. The average age of widowhood for women is 56 years old. Approximately 40% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. And, women can expect to be responsible for their own finances for up to 20 years during their life.   These are the facts that Emily Sanders of Sanders Financial Management shared at the beginning of her talk on Financial Literacy for Women as part of The Georgia Club’s Expanding Horizons series March 24.  

Sanders is the past Chair of the Georgia Society of CPA’s Committee on Financial Literacy and a member of the AICPA.   Club Member Harvey Tarpley, also a member of the GA Society of CPAs, recommended the topic and introduced Sanders.

In a society where stereotypically the male of the household handles the finances, the message was      clear — women need to be at least aware, if not take an active role, in financial issues.  Advice included the following:

• Pay attention to household finances
• Keep some credit cards in your own name
• Keep skills, including those you gain from volunteer work, fresh
• Save now for future retirement (Sanders also reported that the size of the average 401(k) program is surprisingly low at $15,000)
• Understand your cash flow
• Pay off debt
• Build savings (whereas the family old standard was to save enough for living expenses for 3 months, in today’s economy some advisors are recommending saving living expenses to last up to 1-1/2 years)
• The key is to know how much you spend, not how much you make
• Make sure wills and powers of attorney are up to date — these should be reviewed at least every five years
• Make sure your family has enough life insurance (at least enough to pay the mortgage and send any under-age children through college)
• For estate planning, have an advanced directive for health care
• Know where your assets are (IRAs, 401(k)s, social security, college savings plans, etc.)
• As the key to real estate is location, location, location, the key to investing is diversify, diversify, diversify
• In today’s market, have more liquidity and cash, reduce debt and spending, and redefine goals

The Georgia Club’s Expanding Horizons series is a lecture series offered to Members and accompanied guests with the goal of educating and informing attendees on a variety of topics.  Past speakers have included Dr. Gary Bertsch, director of UGA’s Center for International Trade and Security; Damon Evans, UGA Athletic Director and Jack Bauerle, UGA Women’s Swim Coach.

The Georgia Club played host to an historic event on Thursday, March 19 as four area Chambers of Commerce came together for the first time at a Business After Hours networking mixer. Close to 300 guests represented the Athens, Barrow, Oconee and Walton County Chambers in what many members hope will turn into an annual quad-county gathering.

Nearly 300 Chamber of Commerce members gathered in the Dawgwood ballrooms at The Georgia Club for the quad-county meeting.

Jackson EM and Walton EMC, along with The Georgia Club, sponsored the event which featured speakers, door prizes and networking among the four Chambers. Each chamber provided Ambassadors to greet guests and encourage mingling between the Chambers of each county.

Several members attended, as well, including Jake Grant (pictured at right), who spent some time talking with Barrow Chamber President Tommy Jennings.

Overwhelmingly positive feedback came from all counties involved.  Tommy Jennings of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce highlighted the benefits of “regional communication between parties of mutual interest,” and Kate Mercardante from the Athens Chamber mentioned how much everyone enjoyed the “wonderful evening of networking and social gathering.”

A follow-up event in a few weeks will again be held at The Georgia Club. Nine and Networking features a round of golf with networking time provided afterwards to further cement those new relationships.