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

Brand Launch
 
On Ladies Guest Day the new visual Brand ID system was launched. Various elements both on the golf course and within the clubhouse and golf shop were included. On-course items included scorecards, tees, divot tools, ball markers, flags and flagsticks. Within the clubhouse we introduced a few of the new brand elements on various garments, including the primary logo, symbol and wordmark.
 
Interestingly, we expected a surge in golf shop sales after the initial launch, the question remained, to what degree will the sales increase? When comparing against our 3-year averages for July weekends, our apparel sales over the first 3 days have increased over 150%. This was a stronger than expected increase.
 
Over the next few weeks, we expect the new tee markers, caps and other merchandise to arrive and sales to be robust.

1. Ballot includes a player already on the tee sheet – This situation occurs when a regular foursome, includes a member in their group that is already on the tee sheet for an advanced booking. This happens a lot at this time of year with matches being played. When the system runs the lottery, it will not allocate a tee time for the rest of the group, when a member included in the ballot is already playing. When submitting a ballot, you should always check to ensure all members are available for that day.
2. Desired tee time range too limited – I have noticed some ballots that are being submitted, with a very narrow window to play. For example, if I submit to play at 10:00am, and my earliest acceptable is 9:50am, and my latest acceptable is 10:10am, that does not provide a lot of options. If the lottery does not provide a tee time, out of just three options, this will not allocate a time for the group. I would recommend having a range much wider than this on busy days, especially Fridays. This will give a better opportunity to get on the tee sheet.
3. Balloting for a time that includes a player not eligible to play – This happens on weekends when a ballot submitted before 10:00am includes a Restricted Member. For example, submitting a ballot for 9:30am on a Sunday, when the group would not be allowed to tee off until after 10:00am. The lottery system will automatically not assign a tee time for this group. Please make sure all players are eligible to play at the requested time when submitting a ballot.
4. Previous success in getting preferred tee time – The lottery system is designed to be equitable and balance out over the course of a full season. To simplify, if you have been getting your requested times for numerous weeks in a row, you become less likely to receive that time again when demand is higher. The system will automatically balance this out. The good news, if you missed for a week, you are now more likely to get your time when the lottery is run again. Keep in mind, this is not based on a particular day, for example, just Fridays, it will collect data for all lotteries we run, including weekends and holidays. It is also the group as a whole, so if you have three members in the group that have received every requested time, and only one that has not, it will look at the group collectively. This is mostly out of the members’ control, simply sharing some insight.

 
Submitted by Sandy Higgins, Membership Services

2026 Ladies Member Guest Day Report

A full field of forty members and their guests participated in this year's Ladies Member Guest Day on Thursday, bravely taking on wet conditions and, at times, torrential downpours.

A heartfelt thank you goes to convenors Katie Macnee and Ginny Griffin for their outstanding efforts in organizing this year's event and creating such a memorable experience for everyone involved.

The day also featured a fundraising component in support of the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation, with participants raising an impressive $2,210 through the sale of mulligans, a 50/50 draw, and the popular Beat the Pro challenge. In an extraordinary gesture of generosity, Diana Miotto further enhanced the impact of the day by matching the fundraising total with an additional contribution of $2,000.  Thank you, Diana, for your remarkable generosity and support of our local hospital foundation.

 
Submitted by Dean Elliott, Men's Captain

 

Submitted by Ryan Rinneard, Director of Instruction
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Submitted by Marshall Voorheis
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Submitted by Michelle Larcher, Food & Beverage Manager

A Fresh Look for Mad River

If you've been around the club this past weekend, you may have noticed a few subtle changes as we begin introducing Mad River Golf Club's new Visual Identity. Within Food & Beverage, we were excited to launch our newly designed dining and beverage menus, giving our dining experience a fresh new look that reflects the club's evolving brand.

While there may not be many changes within Food & Beverage this season, that has been intentional. Our focus this year has been on consistency—delivering the quality, service, and hospitality you've come to expect while thoughtfully introducing elements of our new visual identity. Rather than changing everything at once, we wanted to ease into the new look and ensure each enhancement felt purposeful.

Behind the scenes, we have already begun planning for next season, and we're excited about what's ahead. From new glassware to thoughtful touches that will continue to elevate the member experience, 2027 promises even more exciting additions. Our refreshed menu presentation is just the beginning.