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  <title>Egypt Valley Country Club</title>
  <link rel="self" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53" />
  <subtitle>Egypt Valley Country Club</subtitle>
  <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53</id>
  <updated>2026-06-04T14:19:55Z</updated>
  <dc:date>2026-06-04T14:19:55Z</dc:date>
  <entry>
    <title>Improved Weather Means Project Progress and Fantastic Course Conditions</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35925507" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35925507</id>
    <updated>2026-05-15T14:42:15Z</updated>
    <published>2026-05-15T14:41:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">The Greens &amp; Grounds (G&amp;G) Department has the course in fantastic condition, and hopefully this is the last of the long cool spring that just hasn&amp;#8217;t wanted to give up. Nearly 10 inches of rain fell in April, pushing back some agronomic process, spring projects, and applications, but we&amp;#8217;re catching back up with the improved weather.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The irrigation installation project is underway; we&amp;#8217;ve had two crews onsite installing mainlines on the east side of the property, and hole loops will be starting on the back nine of the Ridge. The loops are specific to each hole and provide water to each sprinkler head on that specific hole. This is an exciting endeavor for EVCC to upgrade the current irrigation system.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;m excited to share that we have hired a new Ridge Superintendent! Kevin Vulpetti, former Ridge Assistant Superintendent, has stepped up to the position. Kevin is a Central Michigan University graduate, and has worked at EVCC for five years. To fill his prior position, Ben Fox has been promoted to Assistant Superintendent. Both are world-class individuals who are dedicated and eager to continue providing the exceptional course conditioning that Egypt Valley members are familiar with.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
As always, please remember to fix your ball marks on the greens whenever they occur, and with increased cart traffic on the course, please follow daily traffic pattern changes. With summer just heating up, we look forward to seeing our members and guests on the course.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Best,&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Joel Larsen&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Director of Agronomy&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2026-05-15T14:41:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet The Club’s New Director of Agronomy: Joel Larsen</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35880298" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35880298</id>
    <updated>2026-05-06T18:40:08Z</updated>
    <published>2026-05-06T16:18:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">After an extensive recruiting process which included over 45 applicants, Egypt Valley recently shared the announcement of Joel Larsen as the Club&amp;#8217;s next Director of Agronomy. With his deep knowledge, exposure to championship level golf courses, leadership skills, and demonstrated growth, Joel is poised to contribute significantly to the Club&amp;#8217;s future success. Keep reading to get to know him a bit better!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Joel grew up in Coloma, Michigan, but has spent the last 15 years in Southeast Wisconsin where he and wife Ashley&amp;#8212;an art teacher by trade&amp;#8212;have built their family.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We have two children: our daughter Maddox, who is seven, and our son Maverick, who is three,&amp;#8221; Joel shared. Maddox has even tagged along with Joel at his previous Club positions on some Saturdays. &amp;#8220;Ashley will be taking care of the kids until our youngest is in school full time before jumping back into a teaching gig. We are all excited for the next chapter in our lives and to be closer to our extended family.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Joel started working maintenance on a course when he was only 13 years old, an experience he says allowed him to find his niche in life early. His brother is also involved in the golf world and is currently superintendent at the Ravines Golf Club.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;I went from a public track to a Top 100 after high school and realized after five years that this was the career that I wanted to pursue,&amp;#8221; shared Joel, who enrolled in MSU&amp;#8217;s turfgrass management program in 2005 and graduated in 2007.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Joel served for three years as the Assistant Superintendent at Point O&amp;#8217;Woods Golf &amp; Country Club in Benton Harbor&amp;#160;before moving to Milwaukee and spending three years as Assistant Superintendent at Milwaukee Country Club, which is consistently ranked in the Top 100 courses in the United States.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;The move was for far more than just another Top 100 course&amp;#8212;it was a completely different environment,&amp;#8221; Joel recalled. &amp;#8220;The experience put a whole new perspective on how the job is done with different grasses, equipment, management styles, etc. I think that move shaped me to how I operate now, with the ability to adapt and be creative to produce conditions that our members and guests love.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Joel most recently served as the Head Golf Course Superintendent of the private member-owned North Shore Country Club (NSCC) in Mequon, Wisconsin for the last 11 years. He was identified as consistently improving playing conditions at NSCC, which operates 27 holes of golf each day. Prior to his time at NSCC, Joel also spent one year as Course Superintendent at Sand Creek Country Club in Northwest Indiana, which is also a 27-hole facility.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Throughout his career, Joel has consistently expanded his knowledge of golf course agronomics and looks forward to serving the Egypt Valley membership.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;I am a &amp;#8216;lead by example&amp;#8217; Director and will be with the team to support operations in whatever task needs to be completed,&amp;#8221; Joel shared. &amp;#8220;I love to set up the course, cup placement, and tee setup to entertain members who play the course every day. With the past few weeks behind me, I have enjoyed working with all the staff, even irrigation repairs.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Joel is excited to hit the ground running, learning all he can from Jeff Holmes.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Every property has unique challenges and problems; I am excited to find the solutions,&amp;#8221; Joel said. &amp;#8220;My first goal at every property that I have been at when I started, is simple: I want to make the place better than when I started. I have already started the checklist and it will surely grow over time, but I hope to make significant improvements over the coming years.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Joel expressed his gratitude for his new position, noting that Egypt Valley is a wonderful operation and an amazing piece of property.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Both courses have impeccable design characteristics,&amp;#8221; Joel said. &amp;#8220;It has taken all my prior experiences to get to this position and I can&amp;#8217;t express how exciting it is. This is truly the final step in my career as a Superintendent that I have worked towards for the last three decades.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Beyond his responsibilities at the Club, Joel is a huge family man.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;My wife and kids are my world and we love to explore it together,&amp;#8221; he shared. &amp;#8220;The kids are getting started in sports, and we love hiking, biking, skiing &amp;#8230; pretty much anything outdoors! Traveling when the season starts to slow down and winter sports are also on the list.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Joel also enjoys fly fishing.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;My time off is occupied more with family now but I still try to get out. Fun fact: I build my own fly rods and tie most of my own flies. It&amp;#8217;s a lot of work but very rewarding!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Be sure to say &amp;#8220;hello&amp;#8221; and offer a warm welcome to Joel when you see him around the Club!&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2026-05-06T16:18:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Stuit Family</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35801093" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35801093</id>
    <updated>2026-04-24T20:50:08Z</updated>
    <published>2026-04-21T16:49:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">The Stuit family has lived in Ada for the past 15 years and has built many cherished&amp;#160;memories during their 19 years of membership at Egypt Valley.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Paul Stuit grew up in Grand Rapids and currently works in the medical device industry. Libby Stuit, originally from Presque Isle, Maine, moved to West Michigan during her college years and today is a stay-at-home mom. The couple have been married for 15 years and share two children together: Gabriel, who is in 8th grade and will be attending South Christian High School next year, and Thatcher, who is in 6th grade at Ada Christian School.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Paul joined Egypt Valley in 2007, prior to he and Libby getting married. When it comes to golf, Paul&amp;#8217;s passion for the sport developed in his late 20s.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Growing up as an athlete playing basketball and football, golf was a sport that presented new (and frustrating) challenges and a different level of intrigue that carries forward to this day,&amp;#8221; Paul shared. &amp;#8220;Both our boys, particularly Thatcher, have developed an interest in the sport, which is exciting to see.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Libby enjoys walking the course and watching the family play and has now officially become a Junior Golf Mom.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Both our boys have been involved in swimming, tennis and Junior PGA,&amp;#8221; Paul said, adding that the children also spend time at the Club playing golf and pickleball. &amp;#8220;The memories we have made growing up as a family at Egypt Valley are something we truly cherish. Thatcher has been the Boys Junior Golf 9-hole champion for the past two years!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family finds that having easy access to Egypt Valley&amp;#8217;s pristine, 36-hole golf course&amp;#8212;situated only 10 minutes from home&amp;#8212;is a huge factor in enjoying their Club membership.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;[It&amp;#8217;s] truly a blessing,&amp;#8221; Paul shared. &amp;#8220;The practice facilities, design of the courses, and golf staff are something special. It is never difficult to make tee times and the courses are always in excellent condition.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family, who can often be found at the Club restaurant or pool snack bar when not out on courses, say that Egypt Valley is special for a simple reason: that as a family, they&amp;#8217;ve made so many meaningful and lasting relationships with fellow members.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Equally as important are the close relationships that we&amp;#8217;ve developed with the staff over the years,&amp;#8221; the family said. &amp;#8220;Being a member at Egypt Valley is a privilege that our family holds dearly. The fall hayride event is always circled on our calendar and is something we never miss.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Outside of the Club, the family can often be found enjoying fishing, boating, traveling, and spending time with family in Pentwater.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Stuit family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;Hello!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2026-04-21T16:49:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: Noah Moore</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35659252" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35659252</id>
    <updated>2026-03-26T12:39:29Z</updated>
    <published>2026-03-23T16:10:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">As part of the Rack Room team, Noah Moore is responsible for setting up carts, pulling bags, setting up events like outings, league days, and big events like the invitational or stag.&amp;#160;Keep reading to get to know him better!&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Tell us a bit about yourself outside the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;m from Ada, Michigan and went to Forest Hills Public Schools. Now, I&amp;#8217;m a senior at Western Michigan University graduating with a degree in marketing.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;m going to be in my fifth summer at Egypt Valley, all spent in the Rack Room. I knew I wanted to work at a golf course and had a few friends that worked at Egypt Valley, so I got the interview set up through them!&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s your favorite part of your job at the Club?&amp;#160;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;m passionate about making people happy! I love helping people and customer service. The Rack Room does a good job of combining my love for golf, and service all into one. I think the private aspect of the club also adds to the love I have for it because you&amp;#8217;re dealing with the same members on a regular basis, so you can form relationships with them and get to know them.&amp;#160;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s something surprising/interesting about you that members might not know?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;m the president of the club tennis team at WMU and I know sign language!&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
When I&amp;#8217;m not at the Club, I love golfing during the warmer months (and even when it&amp;#8217;s cold). Aside from golf, I love playing and watching almost any sport, snowboarding in the winter, and spending time with my friends and family.&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2026-03-23T16:10:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Simms Family</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35505522" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35505522</id>
    <updated>2026-02-25T14:06:42Z</updated>
    <published>2026-02-25T14:06:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">Transplants to Ada from Chicago in 2018, Kate and Mike Simms knew they wanted to relocate to a growing midwestern city that offered a suburban feel while still being within a reasonable distance to a downtown and options for enjoying their hobbies&amp;#8212;including golf.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The couple, who got married in 2018 and have been members at Egypt Valley for seven years, knew that many of their above goals couldn&amp;#8217;t be accomplished in the Chicago area and are pleased with their decision to relocate to West Michigan.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We&amp;#39;re grateful our path brought us to Ada,&amp;#8221; shared Kate, who formerly worked in finance at Stryker since moving to West Michigan, but recently stepped away to care for their young family. &amp;#8220;Although I thought stepping away from work would slow life down a little, with Otto (age five), Annie (age three), and Barrett (almost one), I&amp;#39;ve stayed plenty busy!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Mike, who graduated from MSU, now runs CapTech remotely, a technology resale business within Capgemini. Both he and Kate come from golf families and grew up playing from a young age. Mike was introduced to golf at eight years old by his dad and immediately loved the sport, even having worked at a country club in high school. He kept up with his game and started getting more focused on golf as an adult.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;I spent my summers playing golf as a kid and played in high school with my sister,&amp;#8221; Kate said. &amp;#8220;Unfortunately, my game was at its prime then and hasn&amp;#39;t quite recovered (yet)! We enjoy playing together when we can, although we find league night to be our main golf time these days.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
At the Club, Kate has served on the Membership Committee for the last five years and was involved with the Women&amp;#8217;s Golf Association for several years, as well.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;When evaluating clubs, the golf was an easy sell at Egypt Valley, but we also loved the family focus,&amp;#8221; Kate recalled. &amp;#8220;I was a &amp;#8216;pool rat&amp;#8217; as my mom called us as a kid, going for swim team or junior golf and staying until late afternoon playing pom-pom and cards all day. We could envision Egypt Valley being that club for our kids, and it&amp;#39;s definitely one of their favorite places to be in the summer already.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family loves spending time on the Club&amp;#8217;s patio and enjoy the challenge of Egypt Valley&amp;#8217;s courses, explaining how they really elevate your game.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We love having variety across 36 holes,&amp;#8221; Kate said. &amp;#8220;The course is also beautiful and we love feeling like you&amp;#39;re way out of town when playing. Golf is a relaxing thing for us, so always being able to jump on helps us be able to play more.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
For the Simms, the people at the Club stand out as one of the many special things about Egypt Valley.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We moved here knowing no one, so the Club was a great place for us to meet people,&amp;#8221; Kate shared. &amp;#8220;We&amp;#39;ve met many of our best friends through Egypt Valley and enjoy seeing familiar faces whenever we&amp;#39;re there. We love how the culture is relaxed enough to feel comfortable bringing our kids to the dining room while still upholding country club standards.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Beyond of the Club, the family spends a lot of time outside, whether it&amp;#8217;s in the yard, gardening, at the beach, playing sports, or on walks.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We&amp;#39;ve gotten into a lot of games lately with the kids this winter and I&amp;#39;m just getting into Mahjong,&amp;#8221; Kate said. &amp;#8220;We&amp;#39;re just starting kid sports and Otto seems to love it all so far, but he does say golf is his favorite. Annie was very excited to turn three so she could start ballet and school. Barrett is the easy-going third child who is just happy to be there. He&amp;#39;ll be swinging a club soon enough!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Simms Family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;Hello!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2026-02-25T14:06:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: Abby Grispo</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35356860" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35356860</id>
    <updated>2026-01-30T19:55:21Z</updated>
    <published>2026-01-27T20:46:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">As the banquet kitchen supervisor for Egypt Valley, Abby Grispo has a variety of responsibilities. She&amp;#8217;s in charge of making sure preparation for events and parties is all set, creating fun staff meals for the Egypt Valley team, while also teaching others in the kitchen techniques and skills on a day-to-day basis. Keep reading to get to know her better!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I started working at Egypt Valley in April of 2024 as a banquet/prep cook and have fallen in love with the banquet side of restaurants.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s your favorite part of your job at the Club?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My favorite part of my job is making people happy through food! I love how much food brings people together and I love being the person to provide that.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What makes you passionate about culinary excellence? Tell us about your culinary journey.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I graduated high school in 2019 and immediately went to culinary school. I also moved to Virginia for a couple months for my internship and became a pitmaster! Once I moved back home, I continued to work in the food industry as well as personal private chef gigs!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s something surprising/interesting about you that members might not know?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Some of my favorite things to do outside of work are running and traveling. I&amp;#8217;ve always been an active person and I have been a runner for a majority of my life and I really enjoy running outdoors on trails. I also love to travel. I have been to five different countries and a majority of the states. I really enjoy exploring other cultures, especially through their foods!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
When I&amp;#8217;m not working, I am either hanging out with my friends, family and boyfriend, or reading. I am a big reader, so whenever I get the chance, I grab my Kindle and get cozy. It&amp;#8217;s a great escape from all the stressors of everyday life!&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2026-01-27T20:46:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Linkfield Family</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35220484" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35220484</id>
    <updated>2025-12-22T18:14:32Z</updated>
    <published>2025-12-22T18:14:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">Born and raised in the greater Grand Rapids area, Kent and Kristin Linkfield have a shared history with the Club and the area in general. The couple have known each other since childhood, as both of their fathers belonged to the same charitable organization.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The couple began dating when Kristin was a senior in high school and Kent was a freshman in college. They dated all throughout college, although they attended separate universities. They eventually got married in spring of 1986.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Our first home was on the north side of Grand Rapids, and it was there both our sons, Austin and Conor, were born in 1991 and 1995,&amp;#8221; Kristin shared. &amp;#8220;In 1996, we chose northeast Ada Township in which to build our home, just about two miles from the Club.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Kent&amp;#8217;s ancestors were early settlers in Ada Township, and his great grandparents used to own what most members knew as Gram&amp;#8217;s, now Knappa Valley, at the corner of Egypt Valley and Knapp.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Back then, it was Linkfield&amp;#8217;s Gas Station, among other things. So, living out here by the Club for the last 29 years is like coming home to roost, so to speak,&amp;#8221; Kristin said.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
As a young golfer, Kent&amp;#8217;s goal was to belong to a country club someday. In December 2001, he made that goal a reality.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Kent played golf on the course that first day of our membership in December, thanks to a mild start to winter that year,&amp;#8221; Kristin recalled. &amp;#8220;Our sons grew up at Egypt Valley, learning to play golf, utilizing the pool, etc. Our oldest used that experience to be part of Forest Hills Eastern&amp;#8217;s golf team&amp;#8212;until the MHSAA decided to switch the seasons. That&amp;#8217;s when high school (and later collegiate) lacrosse, won out for both our boys. Golf would always be there later for them beyond their school years.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Today, as adults, both sons regularly play golf with friends. Kristin decided she&amp;#39;d better learn the game of golf or become a &amp;#8220;golf widow.&amp;#8221; Yet, oddly enough, Kent and Kristin say they rarely play golf together at the Club. Kent has his group of regulars he plays with to get that competitive experience, while Kristin golfs for the socialization with good friends.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Now that Kent is retired and has sold his longtime family insurance business, he fills his golf desires with rounds at least three to four times per week. Alternatively, Kristin can be found playing golf an average of once a week.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We fill much of the rest of our time by helping our children with part-time childcare for two, soon to be three, grandchildren,&amp;#8221; Kristin shared. &amp;#8220;We look at this as a temporary stage of early retirement; happy to help our children, and bonding closely with our grandkids in the process. In the non-golf months of the year, we utilize our longtime Disney Vacation Club membership, and we&amp;#8217;ve begun to travel internationally to see the world.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Over the years, both Kent and Kristin have served on committees at the Club, with Kent also having served a few years on the Board of Directors.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We socialize often at the Club, making use of events ranging from the golf twilights and competitions to family events, where we bring our extended growing family to things such as the Gingerbread Santa Brunch, Easter Egg Hunts and Princess/Superhero Breakfasts,&amp;#8221; Kristin shared. &amp;#8220;Both of our sons and their wives chose to be married at Egypt Valley; Austin and his wife Allison choosing to be married on the Ridge no. 10 tee in May 2019, while Conor and his wife MacKenzie chose a small ballroom winter wedding in December 2023.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Ultimately, the couple always say there&amp;#8217;s no place like Egypt Valley.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;With its 36 holes and championship caliber, links-style courses that are practically in our backyard, we consider Egypt Valley to be our &amp;#8216;cottage&amp;#8217; away from home, where someone feeds us, we have a pool, and phenomenal golf at our fingertips.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Linkfield family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;Hello!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-12-22T18:14:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: Connor Bennett</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35118271" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35118271</id>
    <updated>2025-11-24T18:47:43Z</updated>
    <published>2025-11-24T18:46:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">As a bartender at Egypt Valley Country Club, you will usually find Connor Bennett behind the bar whipping up something delicious and thirst quenching. In addition, he also spends some time working out on the course in the summer months. Connor loves spending time getting to know members and their families, and has built some great relationships over his four years of service at the Club.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Keep reading to get to know him better!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I started bartending a couple of years before joining the Egypt Valley team. During COVID, I started looking for different opportunities and found myself here. From day one, the team was so friendly and supportive and did everything to ensure I could do my job well.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Tell us about what makes you passionate about providing excellent service at the Club and what your favorite part of your job is!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I love working at the club because of the people. I have built friendships that have grown outside of the work place. I love chatting with members and making people laugh. Members always check in to see how they can help you grow and succeed in your career and genuinely want to help in any way they can. I have never felt more supported in a job before.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#39;s your favorite drink to make when behind the bar?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My favorite drinks to make are margaritas and bourbon cocktails. I love to craft a drink to be whatever a member likes&amp;#8212;the more obscure, the more fun.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s something surprising/interesting about you that members might not know?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I had played golf maybe a dozen times before I started working at the Club, but have become obsessed with it. This is my second year playing golf regularly and I got my first hole-in-one this year. (It was on a par 3 course, 137 yards, but it still feels like a caveat.)&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
If I am not at the golf course, you can probably find me at a restaurant hunting down the city&amp;#8217;s best smash burger. I love watching sports with my family and friends and playing basketball. I love to travel and try new things.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-11-24T18:46:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Popiel Family</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35040457" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=35040457</id>
    <updated>2025-10-30T17:39:36Z</updated>
    <published>2025-10-29T13:55:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">Golf and sports run deep for Jordan and Susan Popiel and their children Carter and Evie. Ever since the family joined the Club in 2008, they&amp;#8217;ve found a number of ways to enjoy getting competitive at Egypt Valley.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Jordan, who grew up in Grand Rapids and attended Forest Hills Northern High School, is a Client Executive at CDW (where he&amp;#8217;s been for over 21 years) and sells Technology Solutions to large enterprises. Susan, who grew up in Bay City and works in finance for West Michigan Beverage, coaches tennis at Forest Hills Central High School. The couple share two children who both attend Forest Hills Central Middle School: Carter (age 14) in eighth grade, and Evie (age 12) in seventh grade.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Carter loves basketball and football but has just this past summer shown interest in golf,&amp;#8221; Jordan shared. &amp;#8220;Evie&amp;#8217;s favorite sport is golf and she plays soccer and volleyball, as well.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Jordan&amp;#8217;s experience with golf began at a young age, due to his father Ernie being the Varsity Girls Golf coach at Forest Hills Northern for 15 years.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Growing up, I was a member at The Highlands,&amp;#8221; Jordan recalled. &amp;#8220;I have fond memories of going out to play with my dad and sisters; my mom never once played but would walk with us every time.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Although both of Susan&amp;#8217;s parents golfed at Bay City Country Club while she grew up, Susan didn&amp;#8217;t pick up the game herself until she and Jordan met. Today, she enjoys playing most Tuesdays in the Women&amp;#8217;s League.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Daughter Evie has a goal of being a college golfer.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Evie has been playing golf for two years now and this past summer began playing competitively in tournaments,&amp;#8221; Jordan shared.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Jordan found that subbing in the Men&amp;#8217;s League during his first year as a member was a great way to meet a lot of new people; he&amp;#8217;s been playing with partners ever since. He&amp;#8217;s also played in The Invitational every year except one since joining.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;In 2025, my partner and I finally won our flight in the Invitational for the first time after many close calls,&amp;#8221; Jordan said. &amp;#8220;Evie won the girls 9-hole Junior Championship in 2025. As a family, when our schedule permits, we&amp;#8217;ve played in the Parent-Child Championship a few times. Carter has participated in the Junior Tennis program, and Susan and Carter won the Parent-Child Tennis Championship in 2023.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family loves that the Club offers plenty of availability for its 36 holes, in addition to the pace of play.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;The challenge of each course is fun and the conditions of them are top notch,&amp;#8221; Jordan shared. &amp;#8220;Fall golf is one of our favorite times to play, especially once the leaves are changing colors.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
When they&amp;#39;re not out on the courses, you can usually find the family on the driving range or putting green with Evie while she&amp;#8217;s taking a lesson&amp;#8212;an activity that&amp;#8217;s usually followed up with lunch or dinner on the patio. The kids also love going to the pool with friends while it&amp;#8217;s open, and Evie especially loves milkshakes from the Splash &amp; Snack Shack while lying out to tan.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We originally joined Egypt Valley for the golf and that is our favorite part about it, but we have made some great friends and enjoy the social aspect, as well,&amp;#8221; Jordan shared, adding that seeing the changes and improvements over the years has been exciting. &amp;#8220;When the kids were younger, we loved the Santa Brunch, Halloween Party, and Easter Brunch. The Beach Bash is now a hit for the kids at their ages.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Outside of playing golf, the Popiel family enjoys spending time on the water and traveling as a family, with an Alaskan cruise being the highlight of their summer this past year.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We moved onto the Thornapple River a few years ago and love boating, tubing, and surfing,&amp;#8221; Jordan said. &amp;#8220;Carter goes fishing just about every day in the summer and Evie and her friends have fun paddle boarding down the river. We have lots of family outside of Michigan and love traveling to visit them, especially Susan&amp;#8217;s sister in France.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Popiel family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;Hello!&amp;#8221;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-10-29T13:55:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>NOSTALGIA AND FOOD: THE POWER OF A 10,000 BEAN SOUP</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34962171" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34962171</id>
    <updated>2025-10-03T20:30:24Z</updated>
    <published>2025-10-03T19:59:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">The summer sure is holding on around here. The 80-degree days are keeping us incredibly busy at the Club. It feels a lot more like summer, not so much like October. It&amp;#8217;s really messing with my cooking. I&amp;#8217;m like a bird whose migration is messed up from light pollution. I should be cooking stews and the like, low and slow; the air should be brisk, hot cider and cocoa should be a thing by now. It&amp;#8217;s supposed to be football weather! You know, crockpots and casseroles.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The heartier foods tend to remind me of my childhood, spending time at my grandma&amp;#8217;s, playing Nintendo, watching movies, being fed well. Some of my first memories involve food. It seems like everyone in my family cooked. My dad made his &amp;#8220;10,000 bean soup.&amp;#8221; It was actually just 10 varieties of beans&amp;#8212;not 10,000 as the name suggests. My mom made a killer shepherd&amp;#8217;s pie. She also made the cherry squares that my great grandmother was known for. My grandma was always cooking when we were around. The weekends spent at grandma&amp;#8217;s were centered around food. It&amp;#8217;s easy to spot the trend! Food was always front and center in my life, from a very early age. I miss those days. I miss being a kid. I miss the excitement, the sense of wonder.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
What a comfort food can be. What a sense of family and belonging it can create. It&amp;#8217;s strange, how hard it is to fully grasp, but the torch was passed years ago. How did I miss it? How has it taken me so long to realize that I am the one creating these fond memories through food? What is my &amp;#8220;10,000 bean soup?&amp;#8221; What will my family remember me for when it comes to food? They are such big shoes to fill, those of my grandmother, mom, and dad.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I inherited my grandmother&amp;#8217;s recipe cards. I keep them in a safe place; they are my family heirlooms. When I open the small box, it still smells like my grandma&amp;#8217;s house. Smells and tastes are the things I remember. Like flashbacks, these memories come rushing. Now I am the one creating memories through smells and tastes. I am the torchbearer. It&amp;#8217;s time to decide what my &amp;#8220;10,000 bean soup&amp;#8221; will be.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Despite the warm days we&amp;#8217;ve had, our menus at the Club have transitioned to reflect the flavors that come with the fall season. I hope you will gather around the table with your families and friends to enjoy the comforts of a good meal and good conversation.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Ben Stinson, CEC, CCA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Executive Chef</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-10-03T19:59:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: James “J.P.” Greenough</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34862514" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34862514</id>
    <updated>2025-09-02T18:43:58Z</updated>
    <published>2025-09-02T18:42:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">As Sous Chef at Egypt Valley, James &amp;#8220;J.P.&amp;#8221; Greenough is keenly focused on ensuring the member culinary experience is top notch, whether it&amp;#8217;s taking on lengthy projects or jumping in as a second set of hands on the line. Keep reading to get to know him better!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Please share a bit about your role at Egypt Valley and what your day-to-day responsibilities include.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My role at Egypt Valley is primarily focused on banquets. Whether it&amp;#8217;s a 200-person golf outing of sandwiches and pasta salad or a small, finely crafted chef&amp;#8217;s dinner for 10, I am in the back kitchen working with the staff to execute the food and menus to the highest level.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I usually start my day by jumping right into prep. I like to take on lengthy projects such as butchering proteins, braising beef, or making various sauces. While all of that is going, I will take some time to answer emails and write menus, and then it&amp;#8217;s back to prepping and execution of events. Occasionally, I will assist on the hot line by jumping into a station and working as a second set of hands or grabbing backups from the walk in when people can&amp;#8217;t get off the line. Ultimately my job is to help our staff execute their jobs as best as they can.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I came to Egypt Valley through a connection I had from a previous job. The general manager at Bloomfield Hills Country Club who I&amp;#8217;d worked for is friends with Chris, the assistant general manager at Egypt Valley. I&amp;#8217;ve been here for about a month now at this point, so I&amp;#8217;m starting to get a feel of the Club and how I&amp;#8217;ll fit in.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Tell us about your culinary background and what makes you passionate about the culinary arts!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My culinary journey started very early. My grandmother owned a bakery in Shelby Township and my father worked there when he was young before going to college. After that, he worked at The Perry in Petosky until he was 30. I started working in kitchens when I was 12 years old at a small catering company working out of the basement of the church my family was going to at the time. I worked there on and off while going through middle and high school. During high school, my uncle had a flair up of an autoimmune disease, which caused him to eventually end up on a dysphagia diet. My family and I would take care of him every day, and with him being on this special diet, he could only eat limited things&amp;#8212;all at a specific consistency. This lit a spark in me that I wasn&amp;#8217;t expecting, trying to find new and unique ways to attack and cook all these same ingredients day after day for a few years.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
After high school, I took a desk job, and I learned I hated sitting at a desk and staring at a computer screen. I worked there for a year and a half to save money to go to culinary school. I went to Schoolcraft Community College, where, at the time, there were four certified master chefs, a certified master pastry chef, and a certified master baker who all taught me so many things about cooking and new perspectives on how to approach food. This experience helped build my foundation of knowledge that I still carry with me today.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
During my time in school, I also started working at Bloomfield Hills Country Club. After school, I continued to work at BHCC until 2022 when I decided to move across the country to Sacramento, California to be with my now fianc&amp;eacute; while she was working on her doctorate in Psychology. I spent almost four years in California at Del Paso Country Club as the lead line cook and all arounder. While there, I learned so much from all the different types of people there, like regional Mexican, Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese cuisine. I have a passion and a thirst for knowledge. I love learning new techniques, flavors, cuts, and everything that goes into cooking, then trying to replicate it, putting my own spin on it, or updating classics into the new era. I love the combination of creativity and science that culinary arts provide for a weird, nerdy person like me.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Now I&amp;#8217;m here at Egypt Valley ready to bring all the knowledge I&amp;#8217;ve acquired over the years to make delicious and interesting food for all of you!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What are you looking forward to most about your job at the Club?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;m really looking forward to the opportunity to learn and grow as a chef from the team here and the experience of being a Sous. This is my first time officially being a Sous Chef and I&amp;#8217;m excited to dive deeper into menu crafting and playing with seasonal ingredients from our local farms we are partnered with.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s something surprising/interesting about you that members might not know?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;d say the most interesting thing about me isn&amp;#8217;t even technically about me. My sister is a sister. Sr Andrew John is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, who has branches all over the country and even the world. Because of this, I&amp;#8217;d say the most interesting thing about me is that I have over 100 sisters &amp;#8230; kind of.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
When not at work, I&amp;#8217;m doing myriad things, depending on the day. I like to make my own alcohol. I have a five-gallon pot still for personal use only that I have used to make my own rum, tequila, vodka, and gin. I also work on learning and perfecting gluten-free baking. My fianc&amp;eacute; is celiac, so I&amp;#8217;ve been on the quest to make better gluten-free baked goods and recipes. I also like to spend time with my fianc&amp;eacute; and family, whether it&amp;#8217;s watching movies, playing board games, or going for walks, I spend as much time with them as I can.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-09-02T18:42:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Hoard Family!</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34824455" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34824455</id>
    <updated>2025-08-22T17:04:04Z</updated>
    <published>2025-08-21T21:05:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">For Allyson and Alan Hoard, the Club has been not only a great meeting place for friends and family, but also a place of special memories and landmark occasions.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;I met Allyson at Egypt Valley in 2017, asked her out on our first date in the ballroom in front of 150-plus people, and we even got engaged on property,&amp;#8221; Alan shared. &amp;#8220;We now live near no. 5 Ridge, so our entire life revolves around the Club and holds a lot of special memories now, and more to come.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Alan&amp;#8212;who&amp;#8217;s originally from Rockford and holds a finance degree from Grand Valley State University (GVSU)&amp;#8212;sold steel for 20 years and started investing in different types of real estate right out of college.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;In 2020 I purchased a company that services circular saw blades and quickly realized that is where I wanted to spend the rest of my career,&amp;#8221; Alan said. &amp;#8220;After spending four years tackling both jobs, I decided to focus on my own business and get to spend more time with my family.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Allyson&amp;#8212;who grew up in Port Huron and holds a bachelor&amp;#8217;s and master&amp;#8217;s degree in Healthcare Administration from GVSU&amp;#8212;decided to deviate from healthcare and today works for Sparta-based Applewood Fresh Growers, a Michigan apple sales and marketing company.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We work with about 25 apple growers and a handful of packing sheds and sell their apples to retailers, wholesalers, and food service providers across the nation,&amp;#8221; Allyson said. &amp;#8220;It&amp;#8217;s a really cool opportunity to be able to work with all types of people, from farmers to retail buyers and everyone who is involved in an apple growing on a tree to ending up in grocery stores across the country.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Together, the couple share daughter Eleanor, who just turned three on September 20.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;She goes to school in downtown Ada a few days a week and spends one day with dad and one with Grandma,&amp;#8221; the family shared. &amp;#8220;Eleanor is a social little girl, can be very protective of her pool toys, and enjoys everything about Egypt Valley chicken tenders with ample ranch.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Alan grew up playing hockey, but when he was about 14 years old, a neighbor introduced him to golf. He found it to be a relatively seamless transition from hockey, so he naturally gravitated to learning the game. He joined Egypt Valley at age 24 and immediately found his friend group after subbing in league a few weeks in a row and hanging out in the Trophy Room afterwards.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;The motivation [for learning golf] was that it was difficult and each day was different,&amp;#8221; he explained. &amp;#8220;In most sports, you&amp;#8217;re either good, or not so good, but with golf, you just never know what you&amp;#39;re going to get that day. My favorite thing about the sport is that it takes age completely out of the equation. When I joined the Club 15 years ago, I made friends with guys with younger kids; now those same kids are hitting the ball 50-plus yards past me in league.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Allyson didn&amp;#8217;t grow up playing golf and first encountered the sport after meeting Alan.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;I quickly realized how much of Alan&amp;#8217;s life revolved around golf and around Egypt Valley&amp;#8212;it only made sense for me to learn how to play,&amp;#8221; she shared. &amp;#8220;While I am not a good golfer, I enjoy playing three-hole league with friends and hitting balls on the range. It&amp;#8217;s been the perfect weeknight outing to get outside, catch up with friends, and attempt to golf. Some Tuesdays are better than others!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The couple are looking forward to getting Eleanor introduced to golf at a young age so she can grow up playing the sport and have the skills to play in her adult life.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;My favorite thing about the courses are the greens,&amp;#8221; Alan explained. &amp;#8220;The only part of my game I can consistently appreciate is putting, so the fact that the greens are so consistent&amp;#8212;yet tough to perfect&amp;#8212;is something I really enjoy.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;My favorite thing about golfing at Egypt Valley is that while I&amp;#8217;m a beginner golfer, it&amp;#8217;s a great challenge,&amp;#8221; Allyson added. &amp;#8220;The hope is when I play a less challenging course, I&amp;#8217;ll get a confidence boost. Stay tuned.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Beyond it being the place they met and got engaged, the couple say that Egypt Valley is special to them because it has allowed them to meet a lot of their best friends and is a great meeting up place for friends and family.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We had both my bridal and baby shower at Egypt Valley, along with Eleanor&amp;#8217;s first birthday party, so the Club holds a lot of great memories and milestones for us as a couple and a family,&amp;#8221; Allyson said.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
When they&amp;#8217;re not out on the golf course, the family can be found on the patio, playing pickleball or at the pool.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Eleanor loves to swim so it&amp;#8217;s easy entertainment and the summers are so short, so we try to take advantage of the nice weather,&amp;#8221; they shared. &amp;#8220;Eleanor can be found diving off the diving board in hopes of being rewarded with a popsicle.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
You can often find the Hoards in downtown Ada at the park with Eleanor, exploring the nearby trails, and trying the area&amp;#8217;s many restaurants and cocktail bars (Luna, The Post and The Lark are favorites).&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Eleanor will usually have an ice cream in-hand while mom and dad enjoy some wine,&amp;#8221; Alan said &amp;#8220;I still play men&amp;#39;s league hockey in the winter months, even though my body feels the aches now, and I also archery hunt in the fall.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family also enjoys traveling during the winter months to warmer areas, including Arizona.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We also like to travel up north to Bay Harbor where we got married, and I love to find new resorts to escape the winter months,&amp;#8221; Allyson said.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Hoard family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;Hello!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-08-21T21:05:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: Lanie Fleming</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34758434" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34758434</id>
    <updated>2025-08-08T19:20:44Z</updated>
    <published>2025-08-05T19:50:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">In her fourth season as a full-time Outdoor/Indoor Service Professional at Egypt Valley, Lanie Fleming can be seen taking on a variety of different positions. You may catch her bartending or working as a dining room server, but you&amp;#8217;ll most likely meet her while working the beverage cart during the summer!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
From tending to members and serving and communicating to ensure a satisfying experience for all at the golf course and restaurant, Lanie loves being part of the Egypt Valley team. Keep reading to get to know her better!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I began my journey at Egypt Valley in 2022 and fell in love with it immediately. I love the passion, atmosphere, and especially the people at Egypt Valley and who me feel right at home. Whether it&amp;#8217;s the members or my coworkers, I know it&amp;#8217;s exactly where I am supposed to be. I was lucky enough to move to the west side of Michigan and live with a family member who happens to live nearby this beautiful golf course. It allowed me to branch out and experience the new chapter of life that I needed.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s your favorite part of your job at the Club?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My favorite part of my job is the memorable relationships with the members that I have created over the years, which has allowed me to be my full self and create a &amp;#8220;community-like&amp;#8221; atmosphere. I find gratitude and comfort in knowing that this is the place where I have met and or introduced so many of my best friends and people who I spend every day with inside and outside of the Club.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s something surprising/interesting about you that members might not know?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I have a two-and-a-half-year-old cat named Mac who I absolutely adore. He definitely rules the house and tends to keep me very busy and entertained throughout the day, and is very good at making sure I sleep as little as possible. But I wouldn&amp;#8217;t have it any other way. He even enjoys short walks outside with his harness!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
When I&amp;#8217;m not working at the Club, you can find me either golfing, bowling, shopping or simply reading a book. I love spending time with my friends, whether it be a night in or a night out. I also enjoy making trips back home to the east side of the state to visit my family.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-08-05T19:50:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Clark Family!</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34721233" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34721233</id>
    <updated>2025-07-30T20:35:04Z</updated>
    <published>2025-07-24T12:51:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">For Deb and David Clark, having good friends as members at Egypt Valley ended up being the deciding factor for joining themselves. Now, having been members at Egypt Valley for almost eight years, the Clarks spend as much time as possible at the Club.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
While Deb and David have called Rockford home for the last 36 years, their journey actually began out of state.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;David grew up in Indiana and went to Indiana University, while I&amp;#8217;m a Minnesota native and graduated from Minnesota State University,&amp;#8221; Deb shared. The couple both ended up in Grand Rapids, where they met at the (now legendary) Ramblewood Apartments.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;The rest is history!&amp;#8221; Deb said.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The couple have one son, Mack, and will soon have a daughter-in-law, Carly, in late September! Deb retired in 2023 from a career in fashion, having worked for both Gantos and Leigh&amp;#8217;s as a buyer. David continues his career as an independent manufacturer&amp;#8217;s representative in the furniture business.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Deb&amp;#8217;s first experience at Egypt Valley was going to a fashion show for the women&amp;#8217;s golf association.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Both David and I were looking to improve our golfing skills and Egypt Valley provided the perfect challenge&amp;#8212;actually, sometimes too much of a challenge!&amp;#8221; Deb said. &amp;#8220;Since joining the Club, I&amp;#8217;ve served on both the House and Golf Committees and love to play in as many events as possible.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The couple love that at Egypt Valley, there&amp;#8217;s always a tee time available with 36 holes and it provides a fun social life to not only reconnect with friends they&amp;#8217;ve known over the years, but also to meet new people.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;The team at Egypt Valley is very supportive and works hard to make sure members have a great experience,&amp;#8221; Deb shared, noting one specific example which stands out: The very unique addition of the &amp;#8216;Deb Clark&amp;#8217; cocktail to the bar.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;I found a great, unique cocktail in Chicago and asked Chris and Joe if they could make it,&amp;#8221; Deb explained. &amp;#8220;Of course they did! And now it&amp;#8217;s added to the cocktail menu. Just order the &amp;#8216;Deb Clark!&amp;#8217;&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Deb and David try to spend as much time as possible at Egypt Valley.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;As soon as the Club opens every spring, you can find us on the course, as we live year-round in Michigan,&amp;#8221; Deb said. &amp;#8220;As all golfers chase the elusive hole-in-one, I was able to hit two within a year&amp;#8217;s time&amp;#8212;both on no. 17 Ridge. David is still chasing!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
When not on the golf course from March through November, David is an avid skier.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;If you were to handicap this sport, he would be a scratch skier!&amp;#8221; Deb said.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Ultimately, the ability to be spontaneous at the Club is a huge draw for Deb and David.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;There&amp;#8217;s nothing better than waking up in the morning and deciding if you&amp;#8217;d like to play that day, and if you do, you know that Egypt Valley will be welcoming you.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Clark family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;hello!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-07-24T12:51:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: Elli Chivis</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34685261" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34685261</id>
    <updated>2025-07-10T18:58:26Z</updated>
    <published>2025-07-09T13:01:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">As an Assistant Pastry Chef at Egypt Valley, Elli Chivis loves being part of a team that crafts delicious treats for every occasion. From helping with the daily production of baked goods for the restaurant, banquet events, and special orders, to preparing a wide variety of desserts and baked items to meet the needs of the Club&amp;#8217;s members and guests, Elli ensures quality and presentation are always top-notch. Keep reading to get to know her better!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I was drawn to Egypt Valley because of the diverse team of passionate chefs that make this Club special. I studied culinary arts with a focus on baking and pastry at Grand Rapids Community College. After completing my education, I worked at some chain bakeries and local mom and pop shops, gaining valuable experience along the way. I&amp;#8217;m grateful to now be part of the Egypt Valley team, where I can do a little bit of everything in the kitchen and continue to grow my skills.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s your favorite part of your job at the Club?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My favorite part of working at Egypt Valley is having the opportunity to explore a wide variety of menu choices and be involved in creating a range of baked goods. It&amp;#8217;s rewarding to see members enjoy the desserts and treats I help prepare.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What makes you passionate about culinary excellence? Tell us about your culinary journey.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I am passionate about culinary excellence because I love that food can bring joy and create memorable moments. My culinary journey began at Grand Rapids Community College, where I majored in baking and pastry. Since then, I&amp;#8217;ve enjoyed working in different bakery settings&amp;#8212;from chain bakeries to local establishments&amp;#8212;each experience helping me refine my craft and develop my love for all things sweet and baked.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s something surprising/interesting about you that members might not know?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Something you may or may not know about me is that I am getting married this year to my fianc&amp;eacute;, and I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life with him. We also own four cats and a chunky chocolate lab, and we love taking them on trips and to the lake!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
When I&amp;#8217;m not at Egypt Valley, I&amp;#8217;m probably spending time with my family, soaking in the sun, and enjoying nature. It&amp;#8217;s important for me to unwind and recharge with loved ones and the great outdoors.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Anything additional you&amp;#8217;d like to add?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
I truly love being part of the Egypt Valley community and contributing to something special every day. If you haven&amp;#8217;t tried our desserts or special baked goods, I encourage you to do so&amp;#8212;I&amp;#8217;d love for you to experience the delicious creations we&amp;#8217;re proud of!&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-07-09T13:01:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Colley Family</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34645594" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34645594</id>
    <updated>2025-06-26T18:17:37Z</updated>
    <published>2025-06-26T14:50:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">There are a number of reasons why the Colley family loves being members at Egypt Valley, from participating in the Couples&amp;#8217; Twilight events, to the warmth and familiarity of the membership, to simply enjoying the gorgeous scenery of the Club&amp;#8217;s courses. Get to know Shawn, Samantha and Joey better and learn why they believe the Club is truly a special place!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Shawn Colley is Director of Men&amp;#8217;s Apparel &amp; Team Sports at Meijer, in addition to being a trustee on the Forest Hills Public School Board. Samantha Colley is an avid volunteer within the school district and greater community, including having been a classroom parent, serving on the Orchard View PTO Board, and being a part of the Forest Hills Public Schools Parent Advisory Council. She&amp;#8217;s also trustee of the Forest Hills Public Schools Foundation.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Samantha and I met in college at The Ohio State University and have lived in Columbus, Ohio; Madison, Wisconsin;&amp;#160;and St. Charles, Illinois before moving to Grand Rapids when I took a role at Meijer,&amp;#8221; Shawn said. &amp;#8220;Our family has lived in the Eastern part of the Forest Hills Public School District for nine years.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Together, the couple have a son, Joey, a rising 8th grader at Forest Hills Eastern Middle School who is part of the ASD Program. Joey enjoys watching movies, playing video games, swimming, and building elaborate LEGO creations.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;As a family, we enjoy golfing and being outdoors, planning vacations and traveling, as well as spending quality time with our family and friends,&amp;#8221; Shawn shared, noting that golf has always been a part of his life. &amp;#8220;I was introduced to the game by my grandfather and share his same love of the sport, though I was not able to give my game much focus due to work and family. However, I have recently been able to give it more attention since joining Egypt Valley.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Samantha, on the other hand, started playing golf in high school and was on her high school golf team. Though she stepped away from the sport during college to focus on their son&amp;#8217;s needs and education, Samantha picked up her clubs again four years ago and has been committed to relearning the sport. In addition to golf, she is an accomplished knitter and avid reader.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;While Joey doesn&amp;#8217;t share our love of the game, he is always down for riding along in the cart and occasionally joining us on the green to putt,&amp;#8221; Shawn shared.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family officially joined Egypt Valley in 2020 after leaving a different Club in the area.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;I enjoy playing in the Men&amp;#8217;s League and in the various men&amp;#8217;s events,&amp;#8221; said Shawn, who has also served on the Membership Committee for three years and is currently on the Golf Committee. &amp;#8220;Samantha plays in the Ladies&amp;#8217; League on Tuesday nights and enjoys playing in the Ladies&amp;#8217; events each year. She is currently on the Food &amp; Beverage Committee and serves on the Women&amp;#8217;s Association Golf Panel.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Together, Shawn and Samantha enjoy playing in the couples&amp;#39; golf events at the Club and participated in the Couples&amp;#8217; Club Championship for the first time this year.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family says that Egypt Valley&amp;#8217;s courses are the best in the area.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;While definitely challenging, the courses are always in great condition, and fun to play,&amp;#8221; Shawn said. &amp;#8220;No matter the season, you cannot beat the gorgeous scenery and it&amp;#8217;s a great place to enjoy nature. My favorite hole on the property is Ridge no. 7 and Samantha&amp;#8217;s is Ridge no. 14.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
When not on the courses, you can find the Colleys at the pool, eating dinner or sharing a drink with friends.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We definitely use the Club year-round&amp;#8212;we&amp;#8217;ve hosted holiday parties, Samantha&amp;#8217;s 50th birthday party, and many work-related events and meetings,&amp;#8221; Shawn shared. &amp;#8220;We love attending the various events throughout the year, especially the seasonal wine dinners.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The couple feel that Egypt Valley is truly a special place, as there&amp;#8217;s a warmth and familiarity that&amp;#8217;s rare to find at most clubs.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;When first moving to Grand Rapids, it was difficult to meet people and join social groups,&amp;#8221; Shawn explained. &amp;#8220;Once we joined the Club, we found our people. We have since made great friends and feel like a part of a community.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
When they&amp;#8217;re at the Club, the family says there&amp;#8217;s always a friendly face, someone to share a round of golf, a meal, or a drink on the patio.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;As parents of a child with Autism, I am extremely thankful for how the EVCC community has embraced Joey,&amp;#8221; Shawn said. &amp;#8220;The Club has always felt inclusive and supportive to our family. The staff always go the extra mile to make sure he is comfortable and having fun. Both members and staff are great at making us feel included, welcomed, and celebrated. It&amp;#8217;s one of the many reasons why we love EVCC &amp;#8230; It feels like home.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Colley family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;Hello!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-06-26T14:50:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Celebrating Summer’s Bounty</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34625993" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34625993</id>
    <updated>2025-06-19T18:50:35Z</updated>
    <published>2025-06-19T18:49:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">I always love when the strawberries start popping up in our secret strawberry patch at the club. They are the harbingers of summer&amp;#8217;s bounty to come. They are some of the first things to harvest when they pop out in June, and they set the stage for all of the amazing produce to follow. I like to spend a couple of minutes every other day or so picking them, as well. It gives me a reprieve from the chaos of the kitchen, and I get to share the haul with all of my work friends!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I&amp;#8217;m excited for heirloom tomatoes to become available. I tend to live on tomato sandwiches during the growing season. Recipe goes as follows:&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;
&lt;ol&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;
		Bread, any kind. I&amp;#8217;m not picky. Can be sliced bread, can be a bun &amp;#8230; whatever is available will work.
	&lt;/li&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;
		Mayonnaise! A rather healthy dollop will do.
	&lt;/li&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;
		Cheese, I like Swiss. Cheese might be controversial, I don&amp;#8217;t know. I like it, so if I have it, it goes on the sandwich.
	&lt;/li&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;
		Fresh sliced tomatoes. I like to slice them thick, so when you bite into it you need to contend with the tomato; no second billing for those guys.
	&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
That&amp;#8217;s it! It&amp;#8217;s simple, but super good. Mostly, it&amp;#8217;s the tomato juice and the acidity and creaminess from the mayonnaise soaking into the bread that make the tomato sandwich one of my truest loves in all of the world.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
There will soon be other things popping up out of the ground that I also love. Snap and snow peas are always awesome to eat raw. They are super sweet and crunchy&amp;#8212;better than any processed thing I can think of. We grow them in my garden at my home in Belding; my kids call them sweet peas and love them, too. Then, the middle of summer hits and you can&amp;#8217;t keep up with everything that&amp;#8217;s popping out of the ground. I always say we are super lucky to live in Michigan. The abundance of produce that comes from our fields is astonishing. And not only that, but Michigan is second only to California in variety of items grown. We are blessed to have such a robust agricultural system in our state.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
It&amp;#39;s crazy to think that the Fourth of July is right around the corner. It&amp;#8217;s also hard to believe that May and June are both almost fully behind us. I usually get to take a little break around the Fourth of July, as business at the Club slows while people are out of town. I&amp;#8217;m ready. It&amp;#8217;s been a wild ride of a summer. And with last week&amp;#8217;s LPGA leading into Member-Guest &amp;#8230; leading into Father&amp;#8217;s Day with its record number of golfers &amp;#8230; we&amp;#8217;ll just say I&amp;#8217;m ready for a little reprieve from the machine.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Whether at the Club or the cottage, here&amp;#8217;s to a great (and much needed) Fourth of July!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Ben Stinson, CEC, CCA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Executive Chef&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-06-19T18:49:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: Joe Antonucci</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34587667" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34587667</id>
    <updated>2025-06-12T13:59:05Z</updated>
    <published>2025-06-10T17:26:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">As Assistant Golf Professional at Egypt Valley, Joe Antonucci works in the Golf Shop here at the Club. From monitoring the pace of play and regripping clubs, to answering member calls and ringing in shop sales, to helping assist with merchandising and tournaments when needed, Joe wears many hats! Keep reading to get to know him a bit better.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Me and my wife Jessica have been living in South Carolina for the last 25 years but wanted to move back home to be with family and friends. I was looking to work at a nice private facility similar to where I have been in the past. I was lucky to find an opportunity here at Egypt Valley at the exact time I needed!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Share a bit about your history with golf and why you&amp;#39;re so passionate about the sport.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My mother&amp;#8217;s side of the family has always been big into golf, so I was always around it growing up. My first job was even at a golf course. I played high school golf and went to college and majored in the professional golf management curriculum. I have been working at a golf course ever since!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s your favorite part of your job at the Club?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
My favorite part of the job is meeting all the new members and learning all of their names.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s something surprising/interesting about you that members might not know?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
When we get the chance to travel, my wife and I like to vacation in Vegas!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
When I&amp;#8217;m not at the Club, you could find me currently fixing up our new home. I also enjoy relaxing at the lake with family and watching sports.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-06-10T17:26:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the Merchant Family</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34529250" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34529250</id>
    <updated>2025-05-28T13:46:52Z</updated>
    <published>2025-05-27T18:17:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">While Rusty and Jenn Merchant had never been members at a country club prior to joining Egypt Valley eight years ago, the couple love how the Club&amp;#8217;s amenities and courses provide a truly unmatched experience in West Michigan for golf.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Born in Lowell, Jenn has lived on the same property her entire life and is a Kent County Commissioner in her second term. Rusty was born in Port Huron and lived in Orlando and Lynchburg before settling in West Michigan 32 years ago. As Senior Partner at McAlvey Merchant &amp; Associates, Rusty purchased the large lobbying firm in Lansing two years ago after working there for 20 years.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We are a blended family with four children, Peyton (24), Gavin (22), Grayson (19) and Tatum (6),&amp;#8221; shared Rusty, who started playing golf at age 12. &amp;#8220;Our three older kids started [playing golf] when they were five or six with their grandfather who was obsessed with golf.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
While Jenn doesn&amp;#8217;t play the sport, the family enjoys roaming the course together while Tate and Rusty play.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Jenn hunts for the golf balls other members have lost!&amp;#8221; Rusty said, adding that golf is a way the family connects with one another. &amp;#8220;Playing a foursome with my older kids is a treat that never gets old. Some of my favorite times were securing Tate&amp;#8217;s car seat to a golf cart and playing nine holes on a Saturday morning when Tate was a baby. Tate could hold a tee before he could smile.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
While the couple&amp;#8217;s busy schedules don&amp;#8217;t allow them time to join any of the Club&amp;#8217;s leagues, they do enjoy the social events, particularly the family events.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We can often be found in the dining room on Friday nights during Dinner and a Movie,&amp;#8221; Rusty shared. &amp;#8220;Tate loves his Friday night outings at the Club! He also adores the EVCC day camps in the summer and always wants to go every week that is available.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Rusty has served on the Club&amp;#8217;s Membership Committee for the last five years and has found that to be a very rewarding experience.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;It allows for a &amp;#8216;peak behind the curtain&amp;#8217; of how hard our staff work to make our experience special,&amp;#8221; Rusty said, noting one particular special moment on the courses recently. &amp;#8220;Last Summer, I was fortunate to get a hole-in-one while golfing with friends and that certainly created a long-lasting wonderful memory.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The family says it&amp;#8217;s noticeable how much time, resource, and attention is paid to the courses at the Club.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;[The courses] are an absolute joy to play,&amp;#8221; Rusty said. &amp;#8220;I love bringing guests for my business and watching their eyes light up when I invite them to play at EVCC. The variety of two courses really provides an unmatched experience in West Michigan for golf.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Appreciated by the family is the initiative the Club takes in always searching to provide a better member experience by actually asking members what they want.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Staff is not afraid to ask the question, knowing they may get some hard answers back,&amp;#8221; Rusty explained. &amp;#8220;They don&amp;#8217;t shy away from it; they lean into it. We know that if we raise a concern about our experience, it will be addressed.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
In what little free time the family has outside of Rusty&amp;#8217;s work and Jenn&amp;#8217;s time as an elected official, the Merchants enjoy traveling together.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We enjoy road trips (a drive to Bar Harbor, Maine and back through Niagara being the most recent) and traveling to Cabo twice a year for Spring Break and Christmas,&amp;#8221; Rusty said. &amp;#8220;We love to be in Mexico for Christmas, and Tate likes to put out chips and salsa with a margarita for Santa on Christmas Eve.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Other members may not know that the Merchants are slowly developing their property in Lowell into a small hobby farm.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;We currently have a pony and 25 chickens, and Tate sells the eggs at his farm stand at the end of our driveway,&amp;#8221; Rusty said. &amp;#8220;We hope to add horses, goats, a donkey, and maybe a few mini highland cows in the next few years.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
In addition, Jenn has shown horses competitively since she was young and is a very accomplished horsewoman&amp;#8212;including a World Championship from the American Paint Horse Association.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#8220;Jenn travels to Texas often to ride her horse and work with her trainer who resides in Pilot Point, Texas,&amp;#8221; Rusty shared. &amp;#8220;She competes at horse shows across the country, and we are always eager to travel with her to cheer her on&amp;#8212;especially when the horse shows take us to places like Scottsdale or Ocala, and we have a chance to get out and golf at some exceptional courses.&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
If you see the Merchant family around the Club, be sure to say, &amp;#8220;Hello!&amp;#8221;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-05-27T18:17:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Employee Spotlight: Brad Millering</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34502087" />
    <author>
      <name>Kelsey Shoemaker</name>
    </author>
    <id>https://www.egyptvalley.com/en/c/blogs/find_entry?p_l_id=53&amp;entryId=34502087</id>
    <updated>2025-05-21T12:26:39Z</updated>
    <published>2025-05-21T12:25:00Z</published>
    <summary type="html">As Shop Manager at Egypt Valley, Brad Millering ensures all mowers are cutting to their best potential and are set to appropriate height. He&amp;#8217;s also the one who ensures all equipment is running at peak performance and, if not, order any needed parts and make necessary repairs in a timely manner. Keep reading to get to know him better!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I had been a heavy-duty diesel technician for 22 years and I was looking to make a career change.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I looked to Indeed for employment, and that is where I discovered the opportunity for a position at the Club for the shop manager. I applied for the job and shortly after, Jeff Holmes reached out to me and gave me an opportunity with an in-person interview. Things went very well and I was offered the position!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;What&amp;#8217;s your favorite part of your job at the Club?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Things I like about working here are the positive work environment, being part of a great team, and learning and working on different types of equipment daily.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;When you&amp;#8217;re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
During my free time, I enjoy Great Lakes fishing for King Salmon and Walleye!&lt;br&gt;
&amp;#160;</summary>
    <dc:creator>Kelsey Shoemaker</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-05-21T12:25:00Z</dc:date>
  </entry>
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