It is that time of the year again, winter is coming to a close and folks are starting think about hosting their golf outings this Spring and Fall. Since we host about 30-35 various tournaments each year we wanted to offer up some tips for planning a successful golf outing. Some of the tips will pertain to ANY golf outing and some will focus more on the fundraiser outing.
1. Choose a date: Remember you will not be able to please everyone.You want to try and pick a date that will get the most players. We suggest trying to go for a Monday or a Friday. More guests will play in outings on those days so they can use the day as a long weekend. Choose a time of the year that is not too hot or too cold. In Northern VA the optimum time to host an outing is April, May, September , Oct. Check out the local school calendar to make sure your outing doesnt fall on a holiday or during a vacation week. You will have a smaller turnout during those times.
2. Location is key: In Northern VA there are MANY golf courses to choose from. Know your audience and compare apples to apples. Sometimes you will get more goflers if you choose a location that is high end and well known. It might be more expensive but your guests will choose to play in your outing because they dont play this course as often as they do the less expensive ones. You get what you pay for so again if a course is a little more expensive you will more likely get better service leading up to and on the day of your event. Call around and shop the courses but try to limit it to 3. You dont want to confuse yourself or have too many choices.
3. BE CREATIVE: There are more ways to make money for your charity then on the golf fee alone. Most of the fee you get per golfer will go to the course for F&B and Golf. Make sure you have some contests the day of your event. Your guests can pay for a chance to win prizes or 50/50 money in some of these contests. Talk to the tournament director at your course,they will have plenty of ideas for contests. Examples of some ways to make extra money. Chipping contest during after the round. Set 30 minutes for people to buy chances ($20 buys 3) once the 30 minutes are up take the top for in a playoff round. Winner gets 50% of the pot and chances are they will donate it back to the charity. Have the club pro sitting on one of the holes and let guests pay to take his drive on that hole. There are lots of ways to make extra money at your outing. Just get creative.
4.Volunteers: Ask for help!! One person cannot plan and runa golf outing. You need volunteers, they are essential to the success of your event. Have the charity help get volunteers, ask for help through your local active adult community. People are always willing to help a good cause, take advantage of this!! Make sure you feed your volunteers when they are there. They will be very appreciative of breakfast or lunch or both. If its in the budget get you volunteers a shirt that they can wear the day of the event, it will make them feel like they are a part of the team. It will also make your outing look more professional and well planned.
5. COMMUNICATE: People are not mind readers so communication is key. Communicating with the club is very important to the success of the event. Most Northern VA golf clubs will do alot for your outing but they need to know what you need/want. Call us, it is our job to help you host a successful outing. Also do your share, make sure you are sending your pairings, contests, etc in a timely manner.
6. Collect money BEFORE your outing: Be sure that it is clear to your guests that outing money is due before the event. If they want to play they will pay in advance. Give them a commitment date of up to 2 weeks prior to assure you will have time to collect all monies in advance. At Stonewall Golf Club, we ask that your payment for the event is made in advance of your shotgun start. Most clubs in Northern VA will have the same policy. Don't get stuck paying for no shows!!
7. HAVE FUN!!!: This is the most important piece of advice we can give you. You have done months and months of work for this day. Relax and have fun. Even if there is a glitch or two in the day you will probably be the only one who knows it. Remember what the day is about and enjoy yourself!!
Enjoy a few photos from outings at Stonewall Golf Club:
.jpg)
We are excited to announce that our northern Virginia wedding venue has been awarded the 2012 Bride’s Choice Award for the fourth consecutive year from WeddingWire! Since 2009, our brides have posted positive reviews of their wedding experience here at Stonewall Golf Club with an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Our team is truly honored to be recognized by such a trusted wedding venue partner but also by the excitement that our brides share when hosting their wedding with us! The Northern Virginia wedding venue market is full of exceptional facilities and its tough competition but we take great pride in providing our brides with an unforgettable day and experience.
Thank you to all of our brides for choosing Stonewall Golf Club for hosting your special day! We look forward to another exciting year of happily ever after!
Happy new year and welcome my friends to "engagement season". Approximately 50% of engagements occur between Thanksgiving and New Years. For wedding industry people January is like Black Friday every day, we are inundated with inquiries almost immediately after Christmas until Valentine's Day. Stonewall Golf Club is relatively slow this time of year but the catering sales office is at its busiest.
Today I am here to help with some tips to help Northern Virginia Brides chose a great wedding venue that suits you and survive this insane time of the year!!
1. Budget: Invest in a good wedding planner who can sit down with you and help plan a REALISTIC budget. It is important to have the wedding of your dreams but don't go to the poor house trying to get it. A wedding planner does this for a living and will work with you to create a budget and then help you find a venue that fits that budget. It is important to research venues (either you or your wedding planner) to know what venues realistically fit in your budget. There is nothing worse than going to visit a venue and then have your dreams crushed when you find out the cost is 3x your budget.If you have a tight budget you might want to ask your dream venues if you can save money by hosting your event on an off night or time of the year. At Stonewall Golf Club we are happy to work with brides of any budget as long as they are flexible. If you have 150 people and want to get married on a Saturday night in October then you should expect to pay top dollar. If you are willing to do a Friday or Sunday in October then some concessions can be made to lower the cost a bit.
2. Guest List: Know how many people you are INVITING, not expecting. On average 20% of those you invite will not attend. No bride wants to hear this but honestly this is a true statement. Not everyone you invite will be able to make it to your wedding. For most Northern Virginia brides this percentage is probably a bit higher since there are so many transient people in this area with out of town family and friends. If you are realistic about your guest count you will not be in sticker shock later when the invites go out and the guest count comes in.
3. Capacity: Back to research. Make sure you are aware of the capacity of the venues you are looking at. If you have 250 on your guest list dont waste your time looking at venues that can accomodate a max of 160.
4. Photography: The venue should have plenty of natural light for great pictures. You might also want different outdoor spots close at hand for wedding photography. Ask someone at the venue to send you some photos from a wedding during the time of year you are looking at for reference.
5. Food and Beverage: Easily one of the most important aspects of the venue selection! Make sure before you visit 15 venues in a day you know if catering is or is not included. If you know that you are interested in having an outside caterer provide the food then you should not be looking at venues that dont allow that. Know where you are going and what they offer before you go. The general rule is that Country/Golf Clubs have in house catering and do not allow outside catering. B&B's Wineries, and general Event Venues usually require that you bring in an outside caterer while Hotels can go either way.
6. Availability: If you can be flexible on your date that is usually best. Popular months like June and October typically book up at least a year in advance. If you are planning over a year in advance you should have the pick of your date and can be a bit more selective. If you are planning less then six months out you may have to sacrifice either your date or your venue unless you can be flexible.
7. Keep it Simple: I know there are a lot of wedding venues to look at in Northern Virginia. Everything from Golf Clubs, to Hotels, Wineries, Historic Homes and B&B's. Do yourself a favor and try to narrow the search down to 5. If you see too many after a while they all start to blend together. Your gut will help make the decision and you will probably "know" which is your venue as soon as you see it. The venue is usually the first thing you book so save yourself unneeded stress and don't look at 20 venues before you decide. You might lose your dream venue in the time it takes to look and decide on all of those venues.
Happy Wedding Planning!!
When we get into the holiday season at Stonewall Golf Club or any other Northern VA Golf Course, even the most avid golfers find it easy to say that it’s too cold to tee it up. Little do they know that with the right golf gear, playing in sub-40 degree temperatures is quite easy. Here are a few suggestions for you to stay warm and play well when mother nature gives you a less than ideal day.
Top Layer
Zero Restriction Highland Pullover – This water resistant jacket has a stretch soft-shell fabric that blocks the wind while increasing garment flexibility. The fleece lining extends to the cuffs to ensure warmth and is available for both men and women. http://www.zerorestriction.com
Bottom Layer
FootJoy Thermal Base Layer – Locking in body heat is crucial for staying warm on the golf course. This piece is meant to be in direct contact with your skin, as it conforms to your body for warmth, but has a four-way stretch fabric to keep it from restricting your golf swing.
http://www.footjoy.com
Headwear
O’Connor Ear Flap and Fleece Cap – Its water resistant nylon shell and fleece lining provides the best protection for your head and ears in cold and windy weather. This item is a must have for winter players.
Golf Ball
Titleist Pro v1 – The key to scoring well in the winter months is spin. The Titleist Pro v1 will provide you with the most amount of spin, giving you a better opportunity to stop the ball on a frozen green. You may forfeit 3 yards off the tee, but that sacrifice is well worth the chance to make a birdie putt. http://www.titlest.com
Happy Cold Weather Golfing.....
We are proud to announce that our very own, Erika Larkin, has been recognized by the Mid-Atlantic PGA (MAPGA) as the 2012 Teacher of the Year. Qualifying factors for consideration include overall performance as a golf professional, proven leadership and ability to inspire fellow golf professionals, national impact on teaching and golf instruction, innovative contributions to golf instruction and the overall promotion of golf. Erika embodies each of these special characteristics with a variety of Northern Virginia golf lesson packages and programs designed to accommodate all levels of playing ability. Erika provides special focus on getting juniors interested in the game of golf through specially designed Junior Golf Clinics and Camps, Girls Golf Club, Junior Golf Summer Camps and Junior Golf Academy. We are fortunate to have her has part of our Golf Instruction Team and look forward to another year of fun and interactive lessons and programs!
Its that time of the year again. The company holiday party. At Stonewall Golf Club we host about 20 holiday parties a year, from the very small to the very large. We wanted to pass on some helpful hints for surviving and thriving at this years Company Holiday Party.
1. Don't skip the party: Go the party for at least 30 minutes. Remember that this is only one night of the year. Consider it an extension of the workday. Go to the party, relax and socialize a little, you never know, you might actually have FUN!
2. Do dress appropriately: Leave your nightclub attire at home. Find out the dress code and stick with it. If you are not sure, lean more towards the conservative side.
3. Do decide if you are going to drink ahead of time: Follow the cues from the higher ups, if the boss is having a glass of wine then go ahead and enjoy one yourself. Be sure to limit yourself because someone is always watching and you would hate for drinking to come back and bite you after the party. Another good thing to remember is if you decide ahead of time that you are going to drink you can plan ahead and have a designated driver. No company wants to hear about an employee getting into an accident after drinking too much at a holiday party.
4. DONT overconsume anything: Keep in mind that this does not only pertain to drinking. Overconsuming conversation and food can also be detremental to your reputation. Close your mouth and listen!! No one likes a conversation hog. Take your turn at the buffet but do not stand in front of it for the entire event!! You can easily be mindful of your behavior and still have a great time. Everything in moderation.
5. Do make proper introductions: If you are bringing a spouse or guest to your holiday party be prepared to introduce them to your bosses and coworkers. You wouldnt want to make anyone feel awkward without the proper intro.
6. Don't GOSSIP, talk politics or religion: I dont think we need to explain this one. Its just UGLY, dont go there!
7. Do say thank you: Before you leave the event or sometime during make sure to seek out the boss and the person who planned the event to say thank you. Alot of hard work and money goes into planning an office holiday party and thank yous go along way.
8. Do put away your phone and silence it: There is nothing worse then having a conversation with someone or sitting down to dinner and having a cell phone ring. Its just plain rude, whatever happens in the hour or two that you are at the office holiday party can wait until its over. If there is a real emergency you i'm sure there will be a way to contact you.
9. Do keep your hands to yourself: Don't flirt, and avoid any other inappropriate behavior. The office holiday party is not the time to loose your job by doing something inappropriate or illegal.
10. Don't talk too much about business: You have time every day to talk business,spend this time getting to know your bosses and co workers. Most importantly DO enjoy having the time to have fun and unwind together.
Happy Holidays and have a great time at your upcoming holiday party!!
Well folks the view from the terrace photos at Stonewall Golf Club have come to an end. I think I have proved my point that officially we can host a Northern VA Wedding with a view of beautiful fall colors until the 2nd weekend in November. After that it is hit or miss with the wind and the leaves. One day we can have leaves and the next day they will be gone. See below some photos from the week of Nov 12 to the 18th with some final photos from 11/20.
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
-resized-600.jpg)
-resized-600.jpg)
The view from the terrace November 20th. Still a beautiful scene for a Scenic Northern Virginia Wedding.
A few photos of some of our fall 2011 brides. Enjoy!!
http://hartleighjane.blogspot.com/ - Alyssa and Andrew 10/22/11
Kate Jordan Photography - Lyndsay and Derek - 10/15/11
Kristi Odom Photography http://www.kristiodom.com Jessica and Bart 9/16/11
Here is proof that this Northern VA Golf Course has a beautiful fall view the week of Nov 6th. The leaves are past peak but still very colorful and many still remain on the trees. Despite being November the temperature today and a few days this week will be up near 70. A perfect view and temperature for an outdoor Northern VA Wedding.
Check out this week's photos below
We can't believe it is already November 7th, time flies through October here at Stonewall Golf Club. Wednesday October 5th we hosted one of our biggest events of the year, the 8th Annual Stonewall Golf Club Pro Am benefiting the Cancer Center at Lake Manassas.
It was a great day of golf, camraderie, and corporate, civic and community leaders joined together for a fabulous day to help benefit a worthy cause. A big thank you to Offix for stepping up once again to be our title sponsor of the event. http://www.offix.com. Due to the generosity of our sponsors and participants, this year's event raised over $50,000 for the Cancer Center.
The 26 teams began their day with registration and breakfast in the Brass Cannon restaurant. Partipants picked up their gift, a pair of Footjoy golf shoes picked especially for this event. At this time guests were able to browse the silent auction gifts donated by http://www.pepsi.com, http://www.bestbuy.com , Prince William Health Systems and many area Golf Courses and Restaurants. Next they were off to the range for some practice before the shotgun start. As teams moved through the course they were greeted by volunteers at each tee, where they were presented with gifts from our generous sponsors. Food and drink were also available throughtout the day on the links.
The event culminated with a chipping contest from the edge of the terrace to the 18th green. Guests were able to buy chances to be the closest to the whole. This was the first time we tried this contest and it really made for a fun time. It was sponsored by Hendershot, Burkhardt & Reed, CPAS. http://www.hbrcpas.com Once the chipping contest and the cocktail hour were complete our guests enjoyed a buffet dinner and awards were given.
We have already begun planning the 9th Annual Stonewall Golf Club scheduled for Wednesday October 3, 2012. Don't miss out this fun and rewarding Northern VA Golf Outing.
Some more photos from the day!
Happy Halloween! Its your weekly view from the terrace of Stonewall Golf Club. The trees are still looking absolutely gorgeous out there. As picturesque as it gets.
I hope guests will believe me when I tell them that Northern Virginia Weddings can be held at the end of October or early November and still have a view with beautiful fall colors. The trees are bursing with oranges, yellows and reds, check out how stunning below.
