JANUARY 2022
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
This year marks almost 90 years since the official establishment of The Royal Golf Club of Washington DC. This year also marks the 70th Anniversary since the purchase of our beloved Clubhouse! We intend that 2022 will be the year The Royals will be affirmed as THE preeminent Black Heritage Golf Club in America.
We have lots of business to conduct and topics to discuss at this Saturday’s first meeting of 2022. We have been extremely busy since our last meeting of 2021, to include:
1) Our very successful annual Christmas luncheon, where in addition to food and card playing we participated in a game called White Elephant! Those who participated enjoyed it a whole lot!
2) We held a January 12th Board meeting where we unanimously agreed on one of three website proposals. A new revision of our constitution and by-laws has been checked and affirmed by Jimmy Howell and Russell Coates - a copy will be emailed to all members soon.
3) On January 15th we held a Royal Club Open House. Members played checkers, dominoes and cards. We were also treated to a free professional golf swing analysis, which was very helpful in pointing out our swing flaws.
4) Mr. Coates has looked into new club shirts and hats as well as a memorial plaque for deceased members. He will present his findings to all on Saturday.
5) Lastly, thanks to seven committed and hard working volunteers, our clubhouse is now cleaner and much more presentable than ever.
A reminder that annual club member dues will be collected at Saturday’s meeting. Gentlemen, we have lots of anticipated and unanticipated financial obligations this year, so please pay your dues on time or as soon as possible. Also, February is the start of our new membership drive! We were fortunate to add three new Royals to our roster in 2021; let’s continue that momentum by signing up even more members in 2022.
When we officially become a nonprofit organization we have to become more community minded. To that end please bring in your old golf clubs so we can share/donate to First Tee and other community groups.
Finally, going forward, we need more members to step up and volunteer for committee assignments!!!
There you have it, a very full agenda for the upcoming meeting.
Looking forward to seeing you all Saturday.
Dave
PHOTOS FROM CHRISTMAS PARTY
FEBRUARY 2022
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
Hope you are enjoying a great February.
Although this month is normally a slow one for golf, the business of The Royal Golf Club is moving steadily forward.
I begin this newsletter with two wonderful courses to add to our list of places to play. Both courses are at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, both challenging but easy to book - the price is affordable, at $30 after 11:30 am.
Our Constitution and By-Laws have been amended and reconciled, thanks to the efforts of Russell Coates and Jimmy Howell. The document is being finalized and will be emailed to members soon.
The website committee held a very productive Zoom meeting with our web designer Cassandra Lighty. Cassandra owner and creative director of Euphie Magic led us through the various phases that will be required to bring the club website to life. We had a vigorous discussion of our vision for the site, as well as her expertise on how that vision should look. Among some of the items discussed:
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Members should share their most memorable photos and memorabilia involving their time with the Club.
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A section of the website will be reserved for those who have achieved the very elusive "HOLE IN ONE". So, anyone who has scored a hole in one should let me know.
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The site will also include “The Royal Club Person of the Year”. That member who most exemplifies tireless dedication to the club's work throughout 2021. This category will be voted on by secret ballot.
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The Royal's “Club Champion “ golfer will also share a prominent place on the site.
We were also very fortunate to have Skip Rogers agree to organize a "Summer Appreciation Day" event at Langston. As committee chairperson, Skip along with a yet-to-be named assistant will determine how best to set up and run this event.
I am pleased to announce that Mark Mann has contacted all members and will order new Royal Golf Club Shirts. The club will pay the upfront cost of $1,831.00 for the shirts, each member will be responsible for paying the club back for the amount of shirts they ordered. Each shirt will cost $30.00. The overall cost is substantial, so bring in your money at the March meeting!!
Our new member drive is still ongoing!!!
Gentlemen, please try to bring in a new member at some point this year. If you give me the person’s email address I will gladly write to him on behalf of the club.
Again, PLEASE PAY YOUR DUES.
The website, Wi-Fi, domain name and other expenses are ongoing - we need resources to fill an ever expanding club agenda.
Thank you, and see you March 5th.
David
PHOTOS FROM LANGSTON GOLF COURSE OUTING
MARCH 2022
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
We have two weeks before our Rock Harbor Golf Trip!!
I am confident that all members will sign up and participate. It is crucial that we pay for the trip on Saturday and also submit names of the guests you will bring.
Our last Royals outing at Langston was a great success! Fourteen members participated. During that event we had a curious onlooker at the course, who looked us up through our new website. After contacting me, he says he will be joining us on future outings. The Royal's website is already helping to bring in potential new members - it is working as designed!!
Because we did not take a group picture at the last outing we are asking that at Saturday¹s meeting we wear our gold colored golf shirts and black pants. We need a current group photo for the website.
Last but definitely not least, we intend to select our "ROYAL OF THE YEAR" for 2021. ALL members need to be present in order to select this most important significant member!
Thanks and looking forward to a successful Rock Harbor Golf Trip!
Dave
APRIL/MAY 2022
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
Lots has happened since my last newsletter.
First and foremost, we had an incredibly successful bus trip to Rock Harbor. A very heartfelt “THANK YOU” to all the members who took part - and a special recognition to those members who brought along multiple guests!
I am pleased to say we received three applications for membership - due partly to the bus trip. Mr. Mike Smith, Mr. Lloyd Buckner and Mr. Robert Banks Jr. have applied and have been accepted as the newest members of Royal Golf Club. We intend to introduce them to you at Saturday’s meeting.
We have been invited by Clint Sanchez of Washington First Tee to engage with their classes this coming Saturday at Langston from 11 am to 12 noon. He would like us to communicate with the kids about our historic legacy, and to just be there for the class. Also, we will bring our used (cleaned) clubs to give to kids who may need them. We hope that ALL Royal members will attend. Please wear your purple shirts. We will meet at Langston's clubhouse at 10:30 am. Remember our regular meeting will start at one.
Royal's have been invited to participate in the second annual National Links Trust Axe tournament on June 9th at Langston. Jeff Arnold of NLT has requested that we field a foursome for this event. He asked that we set up a table to share information about our club.
Just got a call from Tim Krebs, Director of Operations at Langston. He is inviting The Royals to the opening of the new Toptracer technology at the Langston’s driving range on June 20th. He is inviting 4 to 5 members to take part so it will be on the first come basis. There will be a demonstration from an LPGA professional called Emma Tally as well as a Callaway rep. called Roger Steel.
Lastly, we have enjoyed two very successful and well-attended golf outings since our last meeting. A golfer who saw us has requested information about The Royal Golf Club possibly wanting to join….that is how new members are created!
Again, we need all Royal's members to be present on Saturday at Langston and afterward at our regular meeting to welcome our newest members.
David
PHOTOS FROM ROYALS & FIRST TEE
Click on image to Enlarge
JUNE 2022
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
Again, lots of Royal Club activities have occurred since our last meeting. First, our club is becoming a more community minded organization! At least twelve of our members took part in First Tee classes at Langston on June 2nd - we helped to teach kids the fundamentals of golf. Our thanks to Mr. Clint Sanchez ( First Tee Director) for inviting us to engage with his kids and their parents. We shared with them our golf knowledge, history and Legacy - the feedback was very positive! We hope this is the beginning of a long lasting relationship with First Tee.
Our participation in the second annual National Links Trust Axe tournament proved to be a great success. We fielded a very strong foursome as well as a table display showing the Royals history and legacy. Of course Pete won longest drive contest.
Skip Rogers, chairman of the Summer Appreciation day committee is working to see which date works best for this event. This event will help to show The Royals as an organization Who’s aim is not only golf but giving back to our Langston community.
Please Please Please contact Skip and sign up to help him in this most worthy cause!
We had two club outings scheduled for this month - Wicomico shores was cancelled because of rain. Our Chesapeake Hills outing fielded 12 players. A great time was had by all.
Gentlemen we are still figuring out how best to proceed with our 501C-3 status. I have had conversations with Skip Rogers who will inform you about people he knows with deep money pockets, willing to invest in our club. Unfortunately The Royal Golf Club must be a charitable organization in order to have that happen. Adolphus Hawkes will have more to say on this subject at Saturday’s meeting.
Please commit to be at Saturday’s meeting, we have important business to discuss.
Thanks and stay healthy!
David
PHOTOS FROM ROYAL & FIRST TEE
CLICK on IMAGE to Enlarge
JULY 2022
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
It is with deep regret that I announce that our beloved Tournament Director has chosen to step away from his duties for the time being. For 25 years Billy Scruggs has served The Royal Golf Club with distinction and selfless dedication. He is now going to pay full attention to his upcoming knee surgery and the rehabilitation to come. He leaves us with the most important club position that will need to be filled. Realizing how impossible it will be to fill such giant shoes, we are seeking a volunteer that will welcome the opportunity to help complete the remainder of this year’s golf schedule. Since Billy has always been the glue that has held our historic institution together, we need someone to continue his very demanding work. He will make his stepping away a seamless transition by providing the new person all the support he needs.
For those new members who are still waiting for their pocket emblem Al Coates has assured me they have been ordered and should be delivered in a few weeks.
For you sports gambling fanatics we will have a new football pool at our Saturday meeting. Bring money!!! - Phil Cooper will explain how the activity will operate.
I have consulted the majority of the Executive Board members about allowing Bobby Lopez’s website link on the Royals website. The agreement was unanimous to allow Lopez on our platform. We will make sure that a percentage of any revenue that he earns will be shared with the club.
Please let us not forget the loss of our great friend and member Russell Coates. Russell was providing a valuable service as our club’s Assistant Treasurer. We will be looking for someone to step up to continue the valuable job of keeping our spending records in check.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS......PLEASE!!!!!!
Lastly let me repeat, what an amazing time we had at the Royals/Wake Robin Invitational golf event. Can't wait till next year!!
We have a full agenda for Saturday's meeting, so please let's all attend.
David
AUGUST 2022
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
The Royal Golf Club of Washington DC INC. is officially a Non-Profit!! It has taken a long time but through the tireless work of Adolphus Hawkes, it’s done!! Pending final review, our 501c-3 designation is active as of August 31,2022 by the District of Columbia. Now we can concentrate on receiving charitable donations.
Another FINAL. Although the Royal club website was handed over to our control on May 31st, a Zoom meeting last month clarified who was in control. Adolphus Hawkes is designated as the website Administrator with Mark Mann, David Sampy and Phil Cooper As co-Administrators - Cassandra Lighty (website designer) will continue to help when needed. We need members who have web development experience to join the website team!
From all indications our Tournament Director and his new knee are both doing great! Billy says he is coping with the pain of therapy and can’t wait for the time he can swing a golf club again.
WE HAVE A NEW CLUB MEMBER!!!
Lamont Baxter Jr. the son of our longtime member will become our 38th active member. The Executive board has of course voted unanimously to allow his membership. Lamont has already begun his club activities by researching the origin of the portrait of the man pictured on the wall in the clubhouse dining room. The man in the picture has an amazing story and connection to the history and origins of the Royal Golf Club. Please click the link Lamont provided to read more about Mr. John Shippen.
https://preserveshadyrest.org/john-shippen-jr.html Thanks Lamont, your future as the club's historian is a definite possibility!!
THE UPCOMING CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!!
Our Tournament Directors have decided the match will be held on September 17, 18, and 24th at the Langston Golf Course. Langston will allow a 9am start time but needs an accurate count of players. This means if you decide to play you will be responsible for all three days' green fees of $55 per round. For those who can’t make a particular day Langston will allow a makeup round. We will discuss the date of the makeup round at this Saturday’s meeting.
WE NEED ALL ALL ALL ROYALS TO PARTICIPATE!!!
Gamblers, don’t forget our new football pool
Phil Cooper says about half of the board is filled - it must be completely filled before the first Washington Commanders game. Bring cash and pick your squares!!
Gentlemen, we need ALL members at this Saturday’s meeting. We have important issues to discuss. Make sure we see your smiling face in the place!!!
Thanks
David
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen,
The Royal Golf Club of Washington DC INC. Is officially a Non Profit!! It has taken a long time but through the tireless work of Adolphus Hawkes, it’s done!! Pending final review, our 501c-3 designation is active as of
August 31, 2022 by the District of Columbia. Now we can concentrate on receiving charitable donations.
Another FINAL.
Although the Royal club website was handed over to our control on May 31st , a Zoom meeting last month clarified who was in control. Adolphus Hawkes is designated as the website Administrator with Mark Mann, David Sampy and Phill Cooper As co-Administrators - Cassandra Lighty (website designer) will continue to help when needed. We need members who have web development experience to join the website team!
From all indications our Tournament Director and his new knee are both doing great!
Billy says he is coping with the pain of therapy and can’t wait for the time he can swing a golf club again.
WE HAVE A NEW CLUB MEMBER!!!
Lamont Baxter Jr., the son of our longtime member will become our 38th active member. The Executive board has of course voted unanimously to allow his membership. Lamont has already begun his club activities by researching the origin of the portrait of the man pictured on the wall in the clubhouse dining room. The man in the picture has an amazing story and connection to the history and origins of the Royal Golf Club. Please click the link Lamont provided to read more about Mr. John Shippen.
https://preserveshadyrest.org/john-shippen-jr.html
Thanks Lamont, your future as the club's historian is a definite possibility!!
THE UPCOMING CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!!
Our Tournament Directors have decided the match will be held on September 17, 18, and 24th at the Langston Golf Course. Langston will allow a 9amstart time but needs an accurate count of players. This means if you decide to play you will be responsible for all three days' green fees of $55 per round. For those who can’t make a particular day Langston will allow a makeup round. We will discuss the date of the makeup round at this Saturday’s meeting. WE NEED ALL ALL ALL ROYALS TO PARTICIPATE!!!
Gamblers, don’t forget our new football pool
Phill Cooper says about half of the board is filled - it must be completely filled before the first Washington Commanders game. Bring cash and pick your squares!!
Gentlemen, we need ALL members at this Saturday’s meeting. We have important issues to discuss.
Make sure we see your smiling face in the place!!!
Thanks
David
SEPTEMBER 2022
OCTOBER 2022
In addition, any other members who would like to be nominated please contact one of the committee members to ask to be added to the slate. Please note that going forward it will be strongly encouraged that ALL Royal Club Members will, at some time, serve on a standing committee.
Our Royal Championship Tournament!!
To say it was an enjoyable and successful contest is an understatement!!! We fielded at least 20 players with one former Royal member riding along. This year’s contest was different from years past - because of the new scoring system. The new system offers every player an equal opportunity to win one of the six (6) spots. This means players like me in the “C” class can score high enough to win. Anyone having a problem with the system, please talk to Joe😀 Winners will be named at this Saturday’s meeting.
Resourcefulness
Phil Cooper is showing us how membership in The Royal Golf Club can be advantageous in
more ways than just playing golf! He started “a football pool”, “added the idea of fitting new club grips or repairing current ones”, “presents golf lessons as a result of his accomplished
certification as an instructor” - and we all remember the games from last year’s Christmas party.
Volunteering for FirstTee
I have been approached by our member Mike Smith who is suggesting that we take a more
active role with the FirstTee program. I’m sure we all remember taking part with Clint Sanchez and his program earlier this year. I am proposing that we commit to have at least two Royals volunteer at Langston’s FirstTee once or twice a month. I am naming Mike Smith to coordinate this effort. Remember gentlemen we are now an official nonprofit organization – and, we must find ways to give back to our community!!! FirstTee is only the beginning.
Last but not Least
I have contacted Melrita Coates, Russell’s daughter, to request a copy of his death certificate so that his name can be taken off of the bank account. She has agreed. I have not attempted to open a new account until I find out who the new slate of club leaders will be.
I am very excited at the prospect of what new and younger leadership will bring to our historic institution!!! Although I may not be your President in the coming year, I will continue to serve this “band of brothers” with love and dedication for a long time to come!!
Your Faithful President
David Sampy
THE ROYAL CLUB NEWSLETTER
Gentlemen:
We are coming to the end of a very eventful Royals golf club season. Together we have
accomplished a great deal!!
Election Time!!
During this period, our Constitution and By-laws mandate that a Nominating Committee selects
a slate of candidates to be considered for elected positions for our club. This needed to be
prepared by the time of our September meeting -- (but, we are late). As of a result, I
have chosen the committee consisting of William Skip Rogers, Frank Wilkins and myself. Any
member named (on the slate) will have an opportunity to either remain on the list or remove
themselves from consideration at Saturday’s October 1st meeting. The final vote for office
holders will be held at our last 2022 meeting on November 5th.
The candidates nominated are as follows:’
President:
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Mark Mann
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Lamont Baxter Sr.
Vice President:
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Mark Mann
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Lamont Baxter Sr.
Secretary:
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Jimmy Howell
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Robert Banks Sr.
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Michael Smith
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Lenny Pugh
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Jason Marks
Treasurer:
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Joe Baisden
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Alfred Coates
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Fred Hobson
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Jason Marks
Financial Secretary:
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Ralf Davis
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Lamont Baxter Jr.
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Mark Mann
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Michael Smith
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Frank Wilkins
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Jason Marks
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