A View From The Top Volume 104 Issue 125 July/August 2014

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1 A View From The Top Volume 104 Issue 125 July/August 2014 Selected as one of America s Best 100 Residential Golf Courses ~ Golfweek 2013 Proudly recognized as a 5-Star Platinum Club of America since 1997 Our Vision: Our passion is to sustain and build upon Desert Highlands Five-Star, Platinum Club status where exceptional service is experienced daily by our Members. Our Mission: Our commitment is to preserve and enhance a community where our Members build meaningful friendships, see their property values preserved over the long term, and have the opportunity to set and achieve their desired level of health and fitness. These desired outcomes will be achieved through exceptional staff service, high quality athletic venues, and Member-focused dining and recreational events.

2 Message from the COO With the slower summer calendar of events, we took an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge our employees with an annual Employee Appreciation Party in May. Held on a Monday night at Dave & Busters, it gave all departments a chance to connect and have some fun with food, prizes and games. Fitness Center Attendant Joey Anderson and Sous Chef Anthony Scuderi impressively hula hooped their way to prizes while Golf Shop Professional Diana Aven correctly guessed the number of wine corks. Some gift cards and cash prizes were also raffled. It was a great party organized by our HR Manager Theresa Klingensmith and we ve received wonderful thank you notes from employees. Staff is now focused on summer/fall capital projects that will continue through mid-october, including: New Paver roads in the Villas, Putting Course Restrooms, Racquet Club Viewing area, and Front Entrance Signage project. The City of Scottsdale is ready to replace the water lines in the Villas area several years earlier than scheduled so we do not have to damage the new paver roads later. They will be replacing the old plastic pipes with ductile iron piping and the new piping is expected to improve water quality and possibly water pressure. The water line work will begin first and, as areas are completed and tested, SW Gas will install some gas sleeves and the new Villa paver installation will begin. Please refer to the enclosed flyer with additional project details. We appreciate everyone s patience during these projects. Summer is also a good time to take stock of where we are and where we are headed. Over the past year, we ve added several new services and enhancements for the membership, aside from the beautiful and successful Clubhouse Restoration. We now have four notaries available in the Administration office for convenient, complimentary notary services. Our Director of Security Nick Ciliento is certified as a Fire Wise Community Assessor with the Arizona Department of Forestry and can now perform fire safety evaluations for DH homes. If your DH home is for sale, we offer home staging recommendations and assistance. For new Members, we offer a New Member Orientation and comprehensive packet of materials to help you settle into life at DH. Members of our Board will also be reaching out to our newest Members to discuss their interests in Golf, Tennis, Fitness, Food & Beverage, etc. It s a wonderful way to integrate into the DH family and culture. We have purchased several additional website domain names and directed them all to the DH public website which can benefit search engine optimization. For Members looking to buy/sell a car, find a friend for a bridge or mahjong, or borrow baby toys/accessories for visiting grandkids, etc., we have the Member Market Place page on the Member website to help. Please take a look at it under the Member Services tab. In Golf, the Trackman Launch Monitor has been added in our golf instruction program. Our vendor referral list continues to grow and assist Members, eliciting rave reviews from Members such as Mrs. Phyllis Chiat. If you are looking for a reliable vendor such as window washers, plumbers, dog sitters, etc, referred by other Members, or if you have a favorite vendor to recommend, please call Stephanie or Dawn at The list is endless. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions on these services. Thank you to all who joined us for the delicious Memorial Day barbecue last month. For those of you in town this summer, we look forward to seeing you at our July 4th Celebration. Chef Dan s sizzling barbecue will be the perfect accompaniment to the local fireworks display which can usually be seen from our patio. Your next opportunity for a delicious barbecue will be our Labor Day Buffet on Monday, September 1. For all of these events as well as lunch and dinner reservations, please call By Terra S. H. Waldron, CCM, CCE It s nearly time for our routine two week golf course and Clubhouse closure for maintenance. Beginning July 7, the Golf Course, Driving Range, Putting Course and Clubhouse (no lunch or dinner service) will be closed and will re-open on July 18. Please note the following: Beginning July 18, regular lunch and dinner service will be available Thursday-Sunday (except when a special dining event is noted). Lunch service will remain from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Dinner service on Thursdays and Sundays will be available 5:30-8:00 p.m. Dinner service on Fridays and Saturdays will be available 5:30-9:00 p.m. The Halfway House will close beginning July 7 for the summer. While our DH golf course and clubhouse are closed, we are fortunate to have wonderful area clubs that are available to you through our Reciprocal Golf/Dining program. Please review the enclosed Reciprocal flyer with all the details. In order to participate in this program, please follow the established policies: make your tee times three days in advance by calling the DH Golf Shop at Members must have all the names for their group when making the tee time and only those players on the tee sheet will be allowed to check in and play. Dining reservations must be made by calling the DH Concierge at The Arizona monsoon season will be approaching soon with the threat of heavy rain, lightning and high winds. As many of us witnessed this fall, rain and winds can wreak havoc on your property. These monsoon storms can happen swiftly and can sometimes cause significant wind and water damage to homes and property. To protect and watch over your homes, our Residential Services home inspections can be done weekly or bi-monthly and offer peace of mind for those of you away for the summer. Please call Stephanie or Dawn at to schedule your inspections. After a monsoon storm, pool and landscape services are overwhelmed cleaning up the mess left behind so please understand that they are working very hard to take care of everyone. Please remember that pools can become dirty with the storms so if you have your scheduled pool cleaning on Tuesdays and we have a storm on Tuesday evening, you may want to request additional service. Our Amenities crew also works extremely hard after these storms to clean up the community roads and common areas so we appreciate your patience as they make their way to your roads. You ll notice this month s newsletter is for July and August; we do not print a newsletter in August but event flyers and calendar will be sent. If you are interested in the paperless monthly mailing option, paperless statements, and/or the DH news s, please contact Kelly at or kkubsch@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com. Our DH News s will include periodic updates on the various summer projects. The DH Community Information and Guidelines book will be updated again this fall and we will be sending out letters in late August to all Members confirming their roster information. Please review these carefully and note any changes or additions to your contact information. For your convenience, Member addresses, phone numbers or addresses are continually updated and accessible on the online DH Member s Directory. Some Members have commented that there are not many Members who have photos of themselves in the online Member directory. If you have a great photo from your summer vacation that you may upload them yourself by going to the online Member Directory and clicking on My Profile. You may also a photo to Kelly Kubsch at kkubsch@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com and she can post the photo for you. It s a great way for new Members to get to know everyone and gives all Members a sense of community. Fall will be here before we know it so we want to be sure everyone marks their calendars for some big DH events. Save the Dates! Our 2014 Annual Member Mixer will be held on Saturday, October 25 and the Opening Golf event is set for Sunday, October 26. The 2015 Ladies Hoe Down and Men s Highland Fling dates have also been set! The Ladies Hoe Down will be held March 10-12, 2015 and the Men s Highland Fling is scheduled for April 16-18, Our clubhouse calendar is also filling up with Member private parties, weddings and meetings. Please consider how we may assist you with your party needs either at the Clubhouse or in your own Desert Highlands home; Diana Glover would be happy to plan a fantastic event for you so please give her a call ( ) for more information. If you are in Scottsdale this summer, please utilize your club; our wonderful staff is here to serve you. Enjoy your summer wherever it may take you and stay cool. 2

3 Cool Off in the Clubhouse July in Arizona ultimately means sky high temperatures outside, but don t worry; the Clubhouse at Desert Highlands is a cool retreat from the heat. Come in, relax, and take in the views with a cocktail in hand and friends by your side. If you haven t signed up for our 4th of July BBQ, please do so. With barbecued ribs, burgers, fried chicken and other 4th of July favorites, it is sure to be a fun-filled evening of eating, drinking, and celebrating the Red, White, and Blue! Did you know? The Fourth of July was not declared a national holiday until The first official Fourth of July party was held at the White House in The American Pyrotechnics Association estimates that more than 14,000 professional firework displays light up the skies in the United States each 4th of July. The amount of chicken purchased the week before the holiday is 700 million pounds. Americans consume about 155 million hot dogs on Independence Day alone. By Ryan Davis Please take note: the Clubhouse will be closed beginning July 7th and reopening on July 18th with revised summer food and beverage hours. I hope to see all you this summer as you continue to utilize our wonderful property and escape the heat inside our beautiful Clubhouse. As always, please stop by with any comments, suggestions, concerns, or just to say hello. I welcome the feedback in order to provide the highest quality service and exceed Member expectations every day. I look forward to seeing you all at the Club. Use Your Noodle Though many claim that Marco Polo brought the idea of noodles back with him to Italy from China, the truth is that this food form existed in both places independently long before Polo s expeditions. In fact, archeological documentation now suggests that noodles probably originated in central Asia, possibly dating back to at least 1000 B.C. 1 Lb. Penne Pasta, Dried 2 Cup Broccoli Florets, Blanched 1/2 Cup Red Onion, Julienned 2 Cup Button Mushroom, Roasted Whole 1/2 Cup Yellow Bell Pepper, Roasted, Peeled, Medium Diced 1/2 Cup Red Bell Pepper, Roasted, Peeled, Medium Diced 1 Cup Fontina Cheese, Medium Diced 1/2 Cup Sopressata, Julienned Salt and pepper to taste 3 By Chef Dan Chagolla Almost every country has a form of pasta. The Germans enjoy spaetzle, Poles have their pierogi and throughout the Orient there are dozens of noodles, usually made with rice or soy flour rather than wheat flour. In Italian, the word pasta means paste, and refers to the dough made by combining durum wheat flour called semolina with a liquid, usually water or milk. The term pasta is used broadly and generically to describe a wide variety of noodles made from this type of dough. Pasta is sold in both fresh and dried forms. As a general rule, imported dried pasta is superior to American factory-made products, mainly because the imported pasta is only made with semolina, which doesn t absorb too much water and is pleasantly firm when cooked al dente. Fresh pasta recipes made at home generally consists of flour, eggs and olive oil which if made correctly can be equally delicious despite the softer texture. Pasta can be divided into four broad groups. Pasta for soup is very small and made in various shapes pennette (small quills), stelline (small stars) and risoni (rice grans). Pasta for boiling is the greatest variety of pasta. Some types are flat (tagliatelle, trenette), other are cylindrical (spaghetti, fideline). There are also hollow types: macaroni, rigatoni and penne. Pasta for baking must be first boiled in water. It includes lasagna, tortiglioni and bucatini. Filled pasta cannelloni and ravioli are the most common forms. When cooking a small quantity of pasta, a large pot must be used, as plenty of boiling water is needed for the pasta to swell and move freely. Otherwise the released starch makes it sticky. A tablespoon of olive oil added to the water can help prevent this. (Source Food Lover s Companion, Larousse Gastronomique) 1 Tbsp. Shallots, Chopped 1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard 1/3 Cup Rice Wine Vinegar 1 tsp. Sugar 4 Tbsp. Parsley, Chopped 3 Tbsp. Thyme, Chopped 3 Tbsp. Basil, Chopped 1 Cup Olive Oil Italian Pasta Salad [Serves 8-10] Place the shallots, mustard, vinegar and sugar in the blender. Blend on medium speed while slowly adding the olive oil. In a mixing bowl, fold in half of the herbs and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place the penne pasta in lightly salted boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta and cool on a sheet pan in the refrigerator. Gently fold the vegetables, pasta and remaining herbs together. Add enough of the herb vinaigrette to coat the pasta salad. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste and serve. Enjoy!

4 2014 PGA Golf Day a Success On June 12, I played 108 holes of golf at Desert Highlands to raise money for PGA Foundation and the Special Olympics of Arizona. Accompanied by caddies Mike Bickham, Jim Fagerson, Carey Fassler, Derek Shelburne and Matt Davis, I began the 108 holes of golf at 5:00 a.m. and finished the long and rewarding journey at 6:00 p.m. I would like to thank the Desert Highlands membership and the Special Olympic athletes who showed up to cheer me on as I finished my final holes of golf. Through all of your generous donations, we were able to raise over $10,000. With the help of this money, the Arizona Chapter of the PGA has raised over $600,000 since the inception for the PGA Foundation and the Special Olympics of Arizona. Thanks again for all of your support for this worthy cause!!! PGA Golf Day th Hole Celebration Memorial Day Couples Classic Thanks to all DH couples who participated in this year s Memorial Day Couples Classic. Congratulations to the team of Gayle & Joe Colello and Kim & Art Kleppen on winning 1st Place Gross and the team of Jason & Jane Barlow and Charlie & Roseanne Simpson on winning 1st place Net. Closest to the pin winners were Gayle Colello (TWICE!!), Darrell Elfeldt and Joe Colello. Thanks to all of the Desert Highlands couples who participated in and supported our Couple s events throughout the season. It was another great year for participation in couple s events and we look forward to even more couples playing next year! If you are interested in more information regarding couples events, please contact the Golf Shop. Men s Summer Golf Game Don t take the summer off; call the Golf Shop or use the ForeTees event sign up page to participate in the men s summer game. The Golf Shop is organizing a men s golf game on Tuesdays and Fridays. The formats will vary weekly with superior team play being rewarded. Additionally, most Tuesdays and Fridays, one or two members of the professional staff will be participating. The summer game will be a $5 game with an optional $5 skins competition. Whether you play the Watson, Gentlemen, or Player tee, this game is for you. Arizona Amateur Desert Highlands is proud to host the 90th Arizona Amateur Championship on August 11-16, 2014! The Championship will feature 144 players on Monday and Tuesday qualifying for 64 spots in a match play field to determine the winner over the next four days. The Golf Course and Driving Range will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. Limited tee times will still be available to Members Wednesday through Saturday that week. 4 By Doug Westcott No Smoking on Course Policy During the summer months in Arizona, the risk of fires is greatly increased. Due to the extreme fire conditions, the Scottsdale Fire Department has requested that we enforce a no smoking policy on the golf course. We have honored their request and have implemented this policy during the summer. We ask you to please respect this policy for everyone s safety. Golf Clinics The start of the summer golf clinics are here. These clinics are designed to focus on each area of the game. This summer improvement program will provide Members a weekly opportunity to hone your game. The cost is $20 per one hour clinic. Take this opportunity to learn from our Pros and lower your handicap. To sign up, please call the Golf Shop at or use the ForeTees events sign up page. July 31 8:00-9:00 a.m. Putting August 7 8:00-9:00 a.m. Chip/Pitch - Short Game August 21 8:00-9:00 a.m. Full Swing August 28 8:00-9:00 a.m. Transitions/Bunkers Lessons with Karen Director of Instruction Karen Nannen will be available for lessons during the summer months. Please contact Karen at or her directly at nannens@cox.net to schedule a time. Retail Corner The Golf Shop has all the essentials for summer golf! From golf balls, bags, clubs, gloves and hats to shorts and shirts, we have it all! Unlike last summer, we are not in a trailer so stop by the Golf Shop! Are You in Need of New Grips? During the month of July and August, we will be offering $1.00 off all available grips. If you think you are in need, please stop in the Golf Shop and ask the golf staff about the many different available grip options. What s in the Bag? Have you ever wondered what the professional staff is playing in their golf bags? Listed below are the clubs that I play with, as well as those used by 1st Assistant Matt Davis. Doug Westcott Matt Davis Driver: Taylormade RBZ 9.0 Ping I Fairway Wood: Titleist 913 F 3 Wood Ping I-25 3 Wood Hybrid(s): Titleist 913 H 21 Ping I & 22 Irons: Titleist AP1 4-PW Ping I-25 5-PW Wedges: Titleist Vokey 52, 56, 60 Ping Tour 50, 55 & 60 Putter: Newport 2.0 Ping Karsten TR Anser 2 Titleist Scotty Cameron Golf Bag: Titleist Carry Bag Ping Hoofer 2 Golf Ball: Titleist ProV1x Titleist ProV1 Miscellaneous: Bushnell Range Finder Half Dollar ball mark

5 Golf Course Maintenance News The majority of the winter grass is gone with the summer grass being very strong and healthy going into the summer. There are a few remaining high traffic areas that are off to slow a start this summer. These areas are being addressed with additional fertilizer, aerification and water. The greens are also in good condition. On May 20, 2014, Brian Whitlark of the USGA Agronomy Department was here for their annual Desert Highlands site visit. Please feel free to visit the DH Member website for a copy of their report. By Phil Shoemaker Please remember that on July 7 the golf course will be closed for aerification and topdressing. These cultural practices are in place to control and limit the buildup of too much thatch and to maintain an ideal soil profile. An excessive layer of thatch leads to opportunity for disease infestation, difficulty in providing consistent playing surfaces, and difficulty in managing nutrients and water down into the soil profile. The question is often asked Why do we need to close for this work? The answer is that this is a lot of work to complete in very short period of time, there is a lot of staff moving around the golf course, and the sand spreader trucks are also on site. Staff is pushing hard to get the work completed as efficiently as possible. Sprinkler heads will be coming on and off all over the golf course, drag mats are all over the fairways trying to work the sand into the profile, and the cleanup efforts from all of this work are very distracting to play. Worker and player safety is a concern, and, honestly, the golfing experience is not very good. All grass areas will be worked on and will need a little time to recover. Please, during this busy time, feel free to take advantage of the reciprocal program and then please return to DH on Friday, July 18. On the re-opening, there will still be some sandy areas, greens will still be playing a little bit slow, and there will be visual signs of all of the work. Over the next week or two, the course will recover very well, green speeds will come back up to the standard and all areas will be in good playing condition. Once all of the above work is finished, staff will focus on the golf course details: leveling sprinkler heads, working in the desert areas, view corridors from tees to fairways, and cross training of employees. All of this will be in preparation for the September 22, 2014 overseed date. And, as always, no matter where you are playing golf, please support the course conditions by fixing your own ballmark and raking your own sand bunker. Staying Cool in the Pool Looking for a great summer workout? Leave your gym shoes in the closet and hit the pool. Water walking is a great low impact exercise and easy on the joints, allowing all ages to enjoy. The fantastic thing about working out in the water is that it provides 12x the resistance of taking a stroll outside. This increased resistance results in your body s efficient production of lean muscle mass. Remember, all lean muscle mass contributes to your body being a calorie burning machine! So, get out in that pool and push some water around. How It Works: You will stand about waist-to-chest deep in water, unless you are deep water walking. You walk through the water by leaning back a little bit so your hips are leading the movement. Don t hesitate to spice things up by walking backwards and sideways; it is a great way to shock things up and hit additional muscle fibers. You be the judge, but don t hesitate to apply some effort and push that water. Add Intensity: Lifting your knees higher helps boost your workout. For optimal efficiency on your pool workout, mimic movements you can typically do in the gym. Always having your palms wide and fingers tightly together, create more power by adding some bicep curls, chest presses, and lateral raises. Unfamiliar with these movements? Let me know and I will be happy to help you out. New Aqua Fit Class! Do you need a change to your regular workout routine? Please join me on Tuesday mornings from 8:30-9:15 a.m. for our new Aqua Fit class. This cardio based class will incorporate low to high intensity movements geared at getting you a full body workout while targeting your heart rate ranges. What better way to cool off and get in shape at the same time! You do not need to know how to swim but must be comfortable in water up to your waist or chest. There is no need to sign up for this class, just join me at the pool. This is included in your monthly class pass fee or is charged to your Member account at $14/class. Enhancements at the Fitness Center: We have replaced our 42 televisions and have installed new 60 televisions for your viewing pleasure; take a look at the difference.. By Via Gibson 5

6 A Splendor in the Grass The 3rd Annual USTA Senior Slam Grass Court Tournament was held June 4-8 at Desert Highlands. This year s version was amazingly well received with 136 entrants, mostly from Arizona and New Mexico, with one from as far away as North Carolina. A lot of work goes into the event and I want to thank Member volunteers Cindy Kramer, Shelly Harding and Mary Lu Larson, as well as the DH staff from the Facilities, Grounds, Food & Beverage, and Golf departments. Several Members and staff played in the tournament this year and the results were as follows: Doug James-- withdrawal ill; Kenny Stark lost 2nd round men s 45 doubles (Doug Denney), lost 1st round 50 s mixed doubles (Danielle Stark); Seth Bobroff lost 1st round 50 s mixed doubles (Karen Bailey); David Smith/Michelle Harding lost Final of 40 s mixed doubles; Eric Anderson won Final of 50 s men s doubles (Chris Cummings). I am hoping that next year even more of our members will participate in this great tournament. Listed below are the results of each division: Men s 35 Singles: Luis Uribe def. Paul Burns 6-0,6-2 Men s 40 Singles: Brian Jensen def. Robert Bull 6-3,6-4 Men s 45 Singles: Todd Kjeldgaard def. Lawrence Fuller 6-3,6-3 Men s 50 Singles: Christian Connors def. Craig Mikkelson 6-3, ret. Men s 55 Singles: John Witter def. Tom Breece 6-4,6-2 Men s 60 Singles: Hunter Mattocks def. William Butler 6-1,6-1 Men s 65 Singles: Ash Mitha def. Tom Kenney 6-3,6-0 Men s 70 Singles: Ron Nielson def. David Elmore 2-6,6-2,10-8 Men s 75 Singles: Jack Sanders def. Ray Moldow 6-1,7-5 Men s 80 Singles: Len Paulson def. Bruce Brigham 6-1,6-0 Men s 35 Doubles: B. Jensen/C. Taylor def. P. Burns/B. Trujillo 6-2,6-4 Men s 45 Doubles: T. Kljeldgaard/D. Marting def. G.Arnold/M. McMullen 6-2,6-2 Men s 50 Doubles: E. Anderson/C. Cummings def. M.Edwards/T. Piganelli 7-5,6-3 Men s 55 Doubles: K. Davidson/D. McNeill def. P.Burns/J. Witter 6-2,6-7,10-8 Men s 60 Doubles: M. Browning/H. Mattocks, round robin winner Men s 65 Doubles: D. Elmore/R. Sassano def. J. Bosworth/T. Kenney 6-4,6-3 Men s 70 Doubles: L. Lapane/J. Radcliffe, round robin winner Mixed 40 Doubles: E. Austin/J. Hoekstra def. S. Harding/D. Smith 4-6,6-3,12-10 Mixed 50 Doubles: K. Dever/R. Straub def. C. Hogan/D. Rasch 7-5,7-6 Ladies 40 Doubles: B. Kaper/P. Ponwith def. L. Joseph/K. Puhakainen 6-4,7-5 Ladies 50 Doubles: S. Hamm/P. Rather, round robin winner Ladies 40 Singles: Anne Guerrant def Kati Puhakainen 6-0,6-0 Men s 65 Singles: Winner Ash Mitha, Finalist Tom Kenney Mixed 50 Doubles: Winners Kim Dever & Robert Straub Ladies 40 Doubles: Winners Pam Ponwith & Beth Kaper By Eric Anderson North Scottsdale Summer Play Days This is your chance to play at another club and meet some new friends. Call these clubs directly to register for the complimentary summer play days. Thursday, July 10 7:30 a.m. The Boulders Thursday, July 17 7:30 a.m. DC Ranch Thursday, July 24 7:30 a.m. Anthem CC Thursday, July 31 7:30 a.m. Desert Mtn Thursday, August 7 8:00 a.m. Desert Highlands Save the Dates: Please keep in mind that we will be having special events to kick off the season next fall and an end of season party in the spring On Saturday, October 25, we will be having a Welcome Back Tennis Mixer for all Members, as well as the ASU Ladies Team Doubles Exhibition. We will also be giving out the awards for the 2013/2014 season tournament winners. On May 9, 2015, we will once again bring back the end of season party which will be held at the Clubhouse. During that party, we will be giving the awards to the winners of the 2014/2015 season and enjoy each other s company before several of you depart for the summer. Lots of fun to look forward to with your friends!! We are Here for You This Summer, as Always! We are experiencing a lot of summer tennis at Desert Highlands this year and it is a great thing. Many of our permanent residents seem to be tennis players and our facility is staying busier this summer than in years past. Below are some of the ways Members are keeping busy at our courts this summer: Prince Sure Fire Ball Machine - give us a call and we will set it up. Partner Matching - Please give us a call and we can put you in to one of the seven weekly games that still occur during the summer months. Lessons are always available, as are the HIT Clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. and the Sunday beginner clinic at 10:00 a.m. Please give us a call at Our summer hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., closed on Mondays. Men s 35 Doubles: Winners Brian Jensen & Clay Taylor Ladies 50 Doubles: Winners Susan Hamm & Patricia Rather Men s 45 Doubles: Winners Danny Marting & Todd Kjeldgaard 6 July/August Quick Tip Positive Footwork: Turn negative emotional energy into positive physical energy for your feet. More energy used for footwork equals quicker reactions, faster speed to the ball, and a better tennis player inside and out. Positive Footwork = Positive Results.

7 Summer Safety Reminders I hope you are all enjoying your summer, whether it s in sunny 110 degrees Scottsdale or wherever else you may be this time of year. As we are in the heat of the summer, I wanted to remind everyone of some things that can occur this time of year. Please make sure that everyone is safe around water. Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention. When there are several adults present and children are swimming, designate an adult as the Water Watcher for a certain amount of time (such as 15-minute periods) to prevent lapses in supervision. Remember, it only takes a second for a person to lose sight of small child. So spread the word; keep children safe around water. Do not leave children or pets in a closed vehicle, even with the window open slightly and not even for a few minutes. Whether forgotten or left behind, children and pets stuck in hot cars on sweltering summer days can die or suffer heatstroke in a matter of minutes. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach 140 F-190 F degrees within 30 minutes on a hot, sunny day. Help your pets keep their cool. It will feel as hot for them as it will for you. Be sure your animals have access to shade and a water bowl full of cold, clean water. Dogs don t tolerate heat well because they don t sweat. Their bodies get hot and stay hot. By Nick Ciliento, CPP During summer heat, avoid outdoor games or jogging with your pet. If you would not walk across hot, sunbaked asphalt barefoot, don t make your dog walk on it either. (Dogs can also get blisters on their paws from hot pavement.) As this is a high time for wildfire danger, especially here in the southwest, we want to make sure your home is as safe as possible from a fire. I was recently certified as a Firewise Community Assessor through the Arizona State Forestry Division. With this certification, I have been visiting DH homes and completing surveys to review landscaping and other features of the property. I then offer suggestions for preventing home ignition in the event of a wildfire. If you would like a Firewise survey done for your home, please contact me at Also, please stress to your guests to be careful and, if possible, not to smoke on the property. If you see anyone throwing a cigarette out of their vehicle, please contact Security and we will speak with the person to remind them of the potential dangers. Enjoy the rest of your summer and we will see you soon. Until next time, stay safe. Desert Highlands Fire Prevention & NAOS Maintenance Natural Area Open Space (NAOS) has become a household phrase around Desert Highlands as it covers and protects a very large part of Desert Highlands 850 acres. This beautiful preserved Sonoran Desert has always been in danger during the summer months when the dry heat and lack of rain causes extreme conditions for potential fire. We have been hearing all month of the wild fires in Northern Arizona and California. This event could happen just as easily at Desert Highlands. And, it did happen several years ago nearby, aka The Troon Fire. We are fortunate that the fires did not reach us. The City of Scottsdale Fire Department is working closely with the City of Scottsdale Environmentally Sensitive Lands Department to inform homeowners of the safe parameters for those that live in communities north of the Central Arizona Canal requiring NAOS areas on each parcel. It is suggested that all homeowners should create a well-maintained, live vegetation zone to prevent damage to structures in case of wild-land fires. This is precisely the philosophy that Desert Highlands was founded upon. The Design Guidelines explain the four areas that make up your lot which are: 1) Building Envelope, 2) Private Area, 3) Transitional Area, and 4) Natural Area. Think of the center of your lot as the core, or the heart of the lot that makes up your home. The home sits within the Building Envelope and is surrounded by Private Area (yard/pool/ flowers/manicured landscaping), next is the Transition Area outside your walls, and finally the area considered NAOS known as Natural Area. To protect us from harm, the agencies mentioned above have suggested the following preventative action for the lots at Desert Highlands. Maintain a 15-ft zone around your home; thin dead and down vegetation, perennial grasses and overgrown bushes; remove dead branches or branches touching the ground. Thin another 15-ft for maximum protection. A total of 30 feet from the existing residence is the maximum area. Walls on the lot & perimeter should be a maximum of 20 feet. We are still required to keep the NAOS natural; however we now are allowed to create a transition area for added protection. 7 By Dawn Tenney The Desert Highlands Association and the Design Review Committee are responsible for conducting audits of all completed homes within Desert Highlands to determine if the landscaping surrounding your home is in need of landscape thinning or the removal of dead and down, which may be determined as a fire hazard not only to your home but to neighboring properties. If this condition exists, you will receive notice to take corrective action and have your landscaper contact Dawn Tenney, Design Review Coordinator or Nick Ciliento, Director of Security for recommended changes to bring your lot into conformance with the City of Scottsdale Fire Department Guidelines. If you require names of approved landscaping contractors to help you make these improvements, please call Dawn Tenney or Stephanie Hoenigman at Thank you for keeping your lot clear of debris and your neighborhood safe from potential fire.

8 Real Estate News As we go to press mid-june, there are 18 closed sales transactions and 5 pending sales for an anticipated 19 net membership fees after waivers/refunds - or $1,425,000 YTD. The inventory of homes available for sale is currently 37 ranging in price from $599,997 to $5,895,000. There are 8 home sites available for sale, priced from $255,000 to $499,500. Desert Highlands Awards, Honors, & Accolades Since its inception, Desert Highlands has been viewed as a special place receiving numerous distinctions and honors, such as being the first target or desert golf concept. In 1983 and 1984 the golf course was showcased with the inaugural Skins Games. Since then, more accolades have been bestowed including being named as one of the Best Private Golf Courses in the U.S. by Golf Digest, one of America s Top 100 Golf Communities, Travel and Leisure Golf, Best Residential Courses, by Golfweek and named as a Platinum Club of America a distinction awarded to the top 2 percent of America s nearly 10,000 private clubs since Attention has not been restricted to the golf course. Desert Highlands received the Court of the Year Award from Tennis Industry Magazine in That same year, the U.S. Tennis and Track Builders Association named it Winner of the Outstanding Tennis Facility Award. In 2006, Tennis Magazine featured Desert Highlands as one of the Six Great Places to Retire. And, it doesn t stop there... for the second year in a row, Desert Highlands was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Emerald Club Award. This award program uses a club-specific For Your Convenience By Carey Fassler rating system based on an extensive evaluation process that distills and measures a club s Member Experience. As defined by Distinguished Clubs, Member Experience is that special combination of Qualities that a private club provides its members. To be a Distinguished Club is to be one of a select group of private clubs that have been recognized as providing an absolutely excellent Member Experience, but to be a Distinguished Emerald Club is to provide a Member Experience at a level attained by only the finest clubs in the world. In 2013 and 2014 Desert Highlands was recognized in the Top 10 America s Healthiest Clubs among private facilities. With this top ten group, there were some key similarities that helped them achieve the America s Healthiest Club honor. The similarities were: executive leadership and commitment to wellness, health conscious chef with a farm-to-table mentality, human resources commitment to the health & well-being of the employees, full service fitness & wellness centers with certified staff, and a very active membership stemming from a wide variety of activities, challenges and programs. If you would like to share the Desert Highlands lifestyle with friends, business associates or family, please let me know and I will be happy to send them a complete package of information on your beautiful community. Welcome New MemberS Greg & Stephanie Burrows #2017 W. Des Moines, IA Alan & Nancy Doris #336 Pepper Pike, OH Mike Egeck & Leilani Augustine #264 Kirkland, WA Steve & Betsy Mills #503 Monticello, IL Ken & Linda Wasserman #260 Closter, NJ Terra S.H. Waldron, CCM, CCE Vice President/Chief Operating Officer twaldron@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Eric Anderson Director of Tennis eanderson@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Terry Burns Facilities Manager tburns@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Chef Dan Chagolla Executive Chef dchagolla@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Nick Ciliento, CPP Director of Security nciliento@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Lorraine DaMotta Chief Financial Officer ldamotta@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Ryan Davis Clubhouse Manager rdavis@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Carey Fassler Director of Marketing cfassler@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Deborah Friedli Executive Assistant dfriedli@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Via Gibson Fitness Director vgibson@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Diana Glover Director of Catering dglover@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Kelly Kubsch Membership Communications Manager kkubsch@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Phil Shoemaker Golf Course Superintendent pshoemaker@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Dawn Tenney Director of Member Services dtenney@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Doug Westcott Director of Golf dwestcott@deserthighlandsscottsdale.com Residential Services/Design Review Home Inspection Services Landscape Care Pool & Spa Care Pest Prevention Services Contact: Dawn Tenney or Stephanie Hoenigman, Printed On Recycled Paper 2014 Club Marketing, Inc