Santa Claus recently took time out of his busy schedule to visit the children of the Bay Club during our Breakfast with Santa and Gingerbread House Decorating event.

The morning began with Chef George’s delicious Pancakes, served with a variety of yummy toppings including Fresh Berries, Bananas, Maple Syrup and Home-made Whipped Cream.  A scrumptious Quiche and Bacon rounded out the menu.

Santa made his arrival as everyone finished their meals, and led the group in singing a rousing rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  The children then had a chance to sit on his lap, pose for pictures and share their Christmas lists with him.

Santa had to be on his way, but the fun continued as the kids moved on to decorate their gingerbread houses.  The provided frosting, fondant and a wide variety of candy, paired with their creativity, made for a fun time.  And those with smaller children were happy to help in the decorating.  No two houses looked alike!

This enjoyable family event is always a favorite for the children – and this year was no different.  Everyone left with big smiles and a little more holiday spirit!

Another Fourth of July Celebration has come and gone at the Bay Club, but not without many fond new memories for the record numbers of members and their guests in attendance.

As in years past, the carnival-style atmosphere didn’t disappoint.  Children enjoyed the return of the dunk tank, inflatable obstacle course, face painting, bounce house, and individual and team races.  Our Mini-Golf Spectacular was once again a big hit for all ages.  And what has become the biggest attraction in recent years, our famous Egg Toss drew a large crowd of both participants and spectators.  In the end, the highly contested competition saw a new pair of champions.

Food choices consisted of member favorite Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, Grilled Sausage, Vegetables and Summer Salads.  And the kids enjoyed Hot Dogs, Popcorn and Cotton Candy.

And lastly, the highlight of the evening saw the best fireworks display in the event’s history, with more than 20 full minutes of brilliant color lighting up the night sky.

The compliments are still rolling in, and we’re of course already thinking ahead for next year’s big event!

Santa Claus recently made his yearly trip to the Bay Club during our Breakfast with Santa and Gingerbread House Decorating workshop – easily one of the Club’s favorite children’s events of the year.

Parents and grandparents brought their little ones to enjoy Chef Kent’s yummy pancakes with a variety of fun toppings such as Berries, Fruit Sauces and of course, Home-made Whipped Cream.

Following the meal, Santa arrived and led the group in some favorite Christmas carols.  After which all the children had a chance to sit on his lap, pose for pictures and tell him what they want for Christmas.

Once Santa was on his way to his next location, the kids moved on to Gingerbread House Decorating. Imaginations ran wild as they went to town decorating with the provided Frosting, Fondant and more varieties of candy than you can imagine.  And parents and grandparents of smaller children were more than willing to dig in and help design the perfect house.

It was hard not to be in the holiday spirit after this fun family event!

Another successful Bay Club Fourth of July Celebration is in the books for members and their guests.

Attendees enjoyed the carnival-style atmosphere which included face painting, dunk tank, bouncy house, inflatable obstacle course and individual and team races. New attractions of basketball and corn hole joined wiffleball, mini golf and volley ball to add to our game and sport offerings.   But the biggest competition of the evening was our popular egg toss – drawing the largest group of participants and even became a spectator event.  The competition lasted 20 minutes and in the end, a new pair of champions was crowned.

What’s a party without food?  A member favorite, Fried Chicken was on the menu, which also included Grilled Sausage, Hamburgers, Grilled Vegetables and various Summer Salads.  Our young guests enjoyed Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Cotton Candy and Snow Cones.

And no Fourth of July Celebration would be complete without fireworks!  Spectators enjoyed a brilliant display in perfect viewing conditions.

It was a beautiful day and party, and we are already discussing ways to make next year’s event even better.

The summer is a fun time of year for our young members at the Bay Club!  Each year, our summer program, Club Seahorse, is offered to children and grandchildren of Bay Club members.  The five-day weekly program is available for Pee Wees (half days for 4 and 5 year olds) and Juniors (full days for 6-10 year olds).  While mainly a sports-oriented program providing golf, tennis and swimming, participants also enjoy traditional club activities such as arts and crafts, games and outdoor sports.

Each week features a different theme which is carried out through special guest visits as well as crafts and games.  This year, the children will enjoy visits from Buttonwood Park Zoo and the Boston Museum of Science, as well as Bay Club Chefs for hands-on cooking demonstrations.  The last week of the program will feature the ever popular “Bay Club Olympics,” where the competitive spirit comes out in everyone.

The applications are already coming in and we are working on creating another memorable season for the Bay Club youth.

It’s no secret New England experienced a rather long and cold winter.  However, now that May is here and the weather seems to be turning in our favor, we can begin to focus on our favorite outdoor activities.

The Bay Club has great opportunities for the younger generation looking to get involved with golf and tennis.  Pricing discounts are available for active members of the Old Rochester Regional High School or Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School golf and tennis teams, as well as those affiliated with a current Bay Club member.

Junior Golf memberships are available to youth between the ages of 13 and 23.  In addition to access to the golf course, practice facilities and Golf House restaurant, Junior Golf members can take advantage of professional golf instruction and certified Titleist Performance Institute instruction.  Other benefits include eligibility to play on the Bay Club’s Junior Inter-Club and Junior PGA League Teams and to join the Bay Club Junior Academy.

Our Junior Tennis memberships are for those aged between 10 and 23.  This membership offers access to the tennis courts, practice facilities and Golf House restaurant.  Members can also take advantage of professional tennis instruction through private lessons and group clinics.

These memberships are limited so if interested, please don’t hesitate to contact Head Golf Professional, Ben Egan at 508-207-9231 in regards to Junior Golf, or Bay Club General Manager, Greg Yeomans at 508-207-9216 in regards to Junior Tennis.

Leading the Old Rochester Regional Bulldogs golf team and earning recognition as the “Standard-Times Golfer of the Year” for the second year in a row is Bay Club Junior member, Collin Fitzpatrick.  In addition, Bay Club member, Jason Gamache and Jacob Yeomans were named to the Super Team both for the second time in their careers.  Bay Club Junior member, Alex Henrie was named an All Star as a junior and freshmen and Bay Club Junior member, Alex Wright and Cassidy Yeomans both received Honorable Mention nods in their first year on the team.

The Bay Club, located just down the road from the high school, plays host to the ORR golf team’s home matches and practices.

The team finished their 2017 season with an undefeated 17-0 record, winning the South Coast Conference Championship and qualifying for the Division II South State Finals.  Fitzpatrick, Gamache and Yeomans as senior, tri-captains contributed to a cumulative record of 62-5 over the past three years, including two conference regular season titles and one conference tournament title, a very impressive stretch for the triumvirate.

In his final year at ORR, Collin Fitzpatrick not only upped his golf game, but also took on a larger role as a leader for the team.  “The competitiveness that he brought to the team made his teammates strive to be like him, and that made my other top golfers better, as they were competing in practice to try to beat him whenever they could,” Chris Cabe, ORR coach said about Collin.  “The fire inside is what drove him to be the best golfer he could be.  He excelled when the competition was tough.  He seemed to lock in and welcome the pressure.”

Coach Cabe also mentioned that Collin enjoyed using his knowledge and skill to help some of his younger teammates with various aspects of their game; understanding that being part of a team means everything isn’t about you.  To read more, please click here.

The full list of Super Team members, All Stars and Honorable Mention recipients can be found by clicking here.

Congratulations to all of the recognized players and the entire team for a remarkable season!

For more information regarding Bay Club Junior Memberships, please contact Ben Egan at 508-207-9215.

Each summer the Bay Club holds a Parent/Child Golf Tournament, with teams made up of a child or grandchild of a club member.  This year’s event was a complete success with a record number of golfers playing in four different age divisions.  Following golf, players enjoyed a BBQ lunch, as well as a mini-golf putting challenge and the chance to hit balls at the 20-foot inflatable named Golfzilla.

However, the highlight of the day was the inspiring and motivational Dennis Walters Show.  During the show, Dennis spoke to spectators, both young and old, about the importance of continuing to follow your dreams, no matter what life hands you.  In 1974, Dennis’ dream of playing on the PGA Tour was crushed after an accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.

In his inspirational show, he wowed the crowd with some amazing golf shots that included hitting a ball with a gavel, his special “3-iron” and an exploding ball that got a thrill from spectators.  He spoke to the group about what changes he had to make in order to allow himself the ability to play golf and demonstrated his specially designed, swiveled seat golf cart.  To read more about the Dennis Walter Golf Show, please click here.

All in all, it was a great family day at the Club.

This week, the Roger Williams Zoomobile traveled to the Bay Club to present “Who is Living in Your Backyard?” to the children in the Club Seahorse program.   The presentation included information on some of the wildlife that can often be found in the various habitats the Southcoast has to offer, and what attributes the animals have that help them survive in those habitats.   A few animals from the Zoo accompanied Emily, the presenter for all of the children to meet.

First up was Bitz the Box Turtle.  The zoo obtained the turtle from someone who had him as a pet, and decided they couldn’t give him the proper care he needed.  Due to insufficient nutrition as a young turtle, he possesses a dented shell that never formed correctly.  Most of the children enjoyed seeing him up close and having the opportunity to touch his shell.

The next animal was Oscar the Opossum.  When he was just a baby, Oscar’s mother was hit by a car.  Both Oscar and his brother Felix were in her pouch at the time and were kept safe.  Unfortunately, their mother did not survive so the zoo took both of them in.  Oscar is about a year old and does not have the normal long tail that is expected of opossums, though the zoo isn’t quite sure why.  The kids watched as Oscar ate his breakfast on a blanket in front of them, on the same type of harness and leash that you might see on a dog.

The third and final animal of the morning was Laverne, a Black Ring-necked Dove.  Laverne was also adopted by the zoo after her original owner was unable to care for her.   While she has full wings and possesses the ability to fly, she was extremely calm and happy to have Emily hold her.  All were able to pet her tail feathers as Emily brought her around the group.

All of the children enjoyed answering and asking questions about the various habitats and animals.   Emily did a great job gearing the presentation towards the young group of listeners, and it was evident that she really enjoys her profession.

8 year old Bay Club member, Johnny Hiller wins Regional Final at Bethpage to advance to Drive, Chip & Putt Championship

Johnny Hiller won the boys 7 – 9 age group on Wednesday, August 27 at the Drive, Chip & Putt (DCP) Regional Finals at Bethpage State Park to advance to the National Finals at famed Augusta National.  Johnny was one of thousands of boys and girls aged 7-15 that attempted to earn a similar trip.  His road to Augusta has seen him advance in Local Qualifying at the Bay Club in early July to Pinehills Golf Club and the sub Regional in early August.  After capturing the top spot at Pinehills, it was off to Bethpage for a winner take all opportunity.  Johnny posted an early high mark and watched as competitor after competitor failed to match or top his score.  As a winner at Bethpage, he will be heading to Augusta National for the National Finals being played the Sunday before the 2015 Masters Tournament.

Drive Chip and Putt New England is a national junior golf initiative in collaboration with The PGA of America, United States Golf Association, and the Masters Tournament Foundation.  DCP New England hosted eight local qualifiers for boys and girls ages 7-15 with separate divisions for each gender and with each division split into four age groups.

We wish Johnny all the best in his quest for Augusta…Good luck Johnny!

Johnny Hiller won the boys 7-9 age group this past week at the Drive, Chip and Putt (DCP) sub regional at Pinehills Golf Club to advance to the Regional Finals later this month. Johnny was one of 158 qualifiers out of thousands to earn a trip to Pinehills by virtue of local qualifying. The Regional Final is August 27 at Bethpage Green in Farmingdale, NY. The winner at Bethpage is headed to Augusta National for the National Finals played the Sunday before the Masters Tournament.

Drive Chip and Putt New England is a national junior golf initiative in collaboration with The PGA of America, United States Golf Association, and the Masters Tournament Foundation. DCP New England hosted eight local qualifiers for boys and girls ages 7-15 with separate divisions for each gender and with each division split into four age groups.

We wish Johnny all the best in his quest for Augusta…Good luck Johnny!

Head Golf Professional Greg Yeomans led his team to victory in the Titleist/FootJoy Pro-Junior held Tuesday, July 22 at Squirrel Run Golf Club in Plymouth, MA.  The fifteen team field competed in a Best-Ball between the pro score  and the team scramble score.  The Bay Club team shot an amazing -15 under par round with 11 consecutive birdies all coming from the juniors. Team members included Jake Yeomans, Cassidy Yeomans, Greg Yeomans, Jason Gamache, Collin Fitzpatrick and Braden Yeomans (on the DL).   For the complete story, please click here.  Way to go team!

Photo courtesy of Cape Cod Chapter of the New England PGA Section

Junior Golf memberships are available for the 2014 season. This membership, for individuals aged 13 to 23 (as of April 1, 2014), includes limited use of the golf course and practice facilities as well as the Golf House restaurant and Halfway Café.  In addition, other benefits include access to professional golf instruction and certified Titleist Performance Institute instructors for fitness and conditioning development; and participation in Bay Club Junior interclub competitions.

For more detailed information on the Bay Club’s Junior Golf Membership, please contact Head Golf Professional Greg Yeomans at 508-207-9216 or by e-mail.

Bay Club Fitness Director, Dave Maloney CSCS recently earned his Level II Junior Coach Certification from the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI).  The Titleist Performance Institute began in 2003 and is the world’s leading educational organization and research facility dedicated to the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing.

The TPI Junior Golf Development program is focused on teaching professionals the skills needed to run a successful junior golf program.  Based on Long Term Athletic Development principles, it is a step by step approach in helping juniors to become elite athletes and golfers. The program focuses on developing athletic skills before any golf specific skills. Golf skills are more easily learned with developed athletic coordination.

Dave looks forward to implementing this philosophy with junior golfers at the Bay Club this summer.

Team Massachusetts recently returned from the PGA Junior Golf League National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia played at the famed TPC at Sugarloaf.  The team was made of all-stars from the South Shore League which was comprised of players from Acushnet River Valley, LeBaron Hills, Halifax and the Bay Club.   The Bay Club was represented by Jason Gamache, Jake Yeomans and Collin Fitzpatrick.

Similar to that of the Ryder Cup, teams of two played a 9 hole Match Play competition against their opponents playing a scramble format.   Four matches were contested at the same time with each match worth 3 points with 1 point being awarded every three holes called “Flags.” For each three hole segment won, the team receives a flag and the coveted point and the team with the most points wins the match.

Slotted in the East Bracket with Virginia and Georgia, Team Massachusetts opened up against Virginia and it was clear early on that the match would come down to the last hole.    A strong closing three holes for each Massachusetts pair lead to victory 7 ½ – 4 ½ . Team Massachusetts had a session II break but returned later that afternoon to take on Team Georgia for a chance to play in the National Championship. It was clear right from the get go that Team Georgia had a stacked team only to find out later from their coach that 6 of the 10 players finished in the Top 25 of the US Kids World Championship in their respective age brackets.  But you still have to “play the games.” Match 1 with Collin Fitzpatrick and Jake Yeomans managed to score 2 points playing the 9 hole scramble in 3 under par.  Jason Gamache playing in the final match stuck his opening shot on the par 3 to eight feet but the team failed to make the putt and take the 1 up lead. When all was said and the done Team Massachusetts fell to Team Georgia 9-3.

Team Massachusetts still had a chance to play for 3^rd place in the Country against Team Texas.  The Coaches opted to change some of the pairings up for the final match to equal out the number of holes played for each team member making sure each participant had memories for a lifetime.  In the early going, things looked good for Massachusetts in matches 2-4 while Match 1 with Jason Gamache and Collin Fitzpatrick halved the first flag and lost the second flag.  They needed to rally and that they did winning the last flag comfortably to start the scoring at 1½ – 1½.  Match 2 was also very close but Team Massachusetts won 2-1.  Match 3 is where the team unfortunately struggled on this final day earning only a ½ point.  Match 4 with Jake Yeomans made a critical save to gain a ½ point early; unfortunately they needed 1½ of the 2 points available to win and they couldn’t quite do it.  Final Score Team Massachusetts 5½ – Team Texas 6½.

When you consider there were close to 200 all-star teams and 9,000 Juniors throughout North America, 4th in the country is a pretty amazing accomplishment. Congratulations!