THE MAD POST

 
Submitted by Chad Vibert, Golf Course Superintendent

As another golf season comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to extend a sincere thank you to both our staff and the membership for making this another great year at Mad River Golf Club.
 
This season was certainly unique, as we navigated through a significant irrigation project that impacted much of our operation in the spring and early summer this year. While the project was an important investment in the future of the club, we recognize that it also brought some disruptions, challenges, and temporary impacts to both course playability and our maintenance practices.
 
Throughout these challenges, the patience, understanding, and support shown by our members were greatly appreciated. We recognize that construction and golf do not always go hand in hand, and we are grateful for everyone's willingness to work with us as we continued to move the project forward while maintaining the best possible playing conditions.

Submitted by Gary Ward, General Manager & C.O.O.

Project Update

While the bulk of the project work was completed earlier in the summer, both Atkinson Irrigation and Northgate Farms are on site addressing the deficiency lists, at which point we’ll release the holdback funds.

All the scheduled cart paving work for this year has also wrapped up. Chad and his team are already levelling the turf to the path edges and, Road Readie, our paving contractor with return in the spring to complete the path paving at #6, #15 and #17.

I pleased to report these projects have been delivered on time and on budget, I’ve provided a summary for you that includes the holdback funds and the final invoice from our irrigation consultant. 

Irrigation system installation, bunker revitalization and #6, #12, #17

• Budget - $5,506,055
• Actual - $5,486,107
• Variance - $19,948 under budget

• 2026 Budget - $400,000
• Invoice - $400,000
• In order to limit disruption in 2027, we negotiated payment terms with our contractor so we could complete as much of the cart path paving as possible this year. The work completed under these terms was also invoiced on our quoted price.

With the projects coming in under budget, it means we didn’t require the use of any of the $500k of contingency funds.

At this point in the project, we had projected our capital fund to be fully depleted, and in a deficit position for a couple of years while we rebuilt the capital fund. Fortunately, it looks like the capital fund will remain in the black, and while we still anticipate some years to rebuild the fund, we’re in a far better position than originally forecast.

Submitted by Ryan Rinneard, Director of Instruction
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Your Winter Game Starts in January. Your Spot Starts Now.
By Ryan Rinneard, Director of Instruction

The indoor bay opens the first week of January, right after the holidays, and runs right up to Masters weekend in April. That's 14 weeks of winter golf.

Book today and your spot is held for January.

The Spring Head Start

This is the flagship winter program. We start with a free 90-minute Performance Assessment: TrackMan data, a TPI movement screen and a written plan with three clear priorities. From there we meet every second week, from the first week of January to Masters weekend.

It's just you, me and the TrackMan. We work on the one or two things that will make the biggest difference to your game, while there's no score on the line. Then, when the green jacket goes on in April, you're ready to go too, with a swing that's been working all winter instead of one that's been hibernating.

Free 90-minute Performance Assessment (a $195 value) + 7 one-hour private lessons: $849
Want to go all in? Meet every week instead: free assessment + 14 one-hour lessons for $1,595.

Submitted by Michelle Larcher, Food & Beverage Manager

The Heart of Mad River

As we close the doors on another fantastic golf season, I reflect on the year we've shared. So much has changed, yet through it all, the passion and spirit of our members have remained a constant.

We've certainly been through a lot together, from the continuation of our irrigation replacement and the introduction of our new look and identity to our refreshed clubhouse, some new ways of doing things, and most recently, the addition of cart paths this fall. Change isn't always easy, especially when it's a place you care so deeply about. Your passion for Mad River is something we see and appreciate, and while there may have been a few raised eyebrows along the way, we've appreciated your patience, openness, and willingness to give these changes a chance. Now, seeing the course looking so beautiful and the clubhouse full of life, we can appreciate just how far we've come.

That enthusiasm has extended beyond the club, with so many of you bringing friends, family, and groups to experience the course and showcase our new clubhouse. Your support has helped make this a record year for Food & Beverage, and we couldn't be more thankful. What has also meant so much is hearing from you. Whether through a thoughtful email, a quick chat at the bar, or simply sharing your thoughts while passing through, your feedback, suggestions, and kind words have been genuinely appreciated. It's wonderful to hear from you and to see the energy and life you've brought into the space.