|
Dear Members,
On behalf of the Stanwich Board of Directors, I would like to wish each of you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Additionally, I would like to thank each of you who contributed so generously to our Employees Christmas Fund – many of our Staff have told me what a welcome impact our generosity makes on their family budgets each December.
As we close the books on 2015, we have much to be thankful for, not the least of which was a smooth and effective transition from Peter Tunley, our GM of the last 29 years, to Guy D’Ambrosio. A milestone moment, to be sure.
Our Club survey, conducted in late 2014, was helpful in providing many insights to the Board. The data revealed that the most oft-commented shortcoming of all Club operations was in the Food & Beverage (F&B) offering – while the culinary experience was deemed acceptable on many levels, the dining experience fell short of the mark. This was due in large part to a perceived lack of menu selections / variety, menu turnover, healthy food options, and excepting the Patio, largely uninspiring dining venues.
We charged Guy, Richard King, and their teams with addressing this shortcoming. The response, by most accounts, has been very positive. New menus, fresh ingredients and fare, combined with a renewed emphasis on presentation and service have resulted in a heightened member F&B experience, thus resulting in heavier member usage . As they say, the numbers don’t lie.
In order to capitalize on this momentum, while also addressing the call for more inspiring and efficient space, the Board voted in overwhelming favor of a rejuvenation of the Adult Bar and Trophy Room. We are very excited (and proud) to announce that this area will be renamed as the SEMLOH room in honor of our property’s distinguished history. Our House Committee worked in tandem with C2 Design Associates (Fairfield, CT) on what we feel will become the destination at Stanwich. That being said, there are some points worth mentioning….
-The physical footprint of the room will remain the same, and since there are no infrastructural changes involved, the only permitting necessitated will be for electrical work.
-Work on Semloh will be conducted to a large degree during the Club’s ‘downtime’ of February & March, 2016.
-The estimated cost of this project is approximately $238,000. Our belief is that given the increase in dining-derivative seating, we should recoup much of this investment in the early years. It is also worth noting that this project requires no member assessment or financing as it will be covered by our Capital Fund in its entirety.
-This project in no way distracts us from our plans to renovate the Terrace, hopefully in the winter of 2016-17. As a point of information, we are relatively early-on in this process, having seen only preliminary drawings. As plans materially develop on this front, you will be made aware of any progress via letters from me, or renderings on display in the Clubhouse. Additionally, all Board members will be kept current as to the pace of this eagerly-awaited project, so feel free to tap into them for occasional updates.
Many of you have heard me make mention of the fact that I view our Board’s mandate as one of providing our Clubhouse with the same lofty reputation that our golf course so richly deserves. I am firmly convinced that Semloh moves us in that very direction.
Please view (see below) the pair of full-color renderings submitted by C2 Associates. A close examination will reveal, among other things, the following:
-An attractive windowed partition (not quite floor to ceiling) which maintains the architectural integrity of the original structure. Its construction allows for continued sight-lines, but also serves as a noise-abatement mechanism for those times when the lower bar area is experiencing higher traffic.
-More attractive, versatile, and efficient seating design. Note the presence of several settees interspersed between the two levels, as well as nine taller, more robust bar stools which front a deeper, brass-faced bar.
-Dramatically improved lighting which will lend a ‘glow’ to the room, greatly enhancing the ambiance. This will include new table pin
These are but a few of the highlights that Semloh will offer. We hope that you share in our enthusiasm, and invite you to attend the Annual Meeting on January 20th where we will spend some time devoted specifically to this project. Alternatively, you may visit the Clubhouse where Guy will have the renderings available for your viewing. We, of course, will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Sincerely,
Jim Tormey
President
|
