Eleventh EditionEleventh EditionEleventh Edition

May/June 2012May/June 2012May/June 2012

Jimmy’s Corner

A long with our full time residents, the Balsam staff has enjoyed welcoming

everyone who spent the season in other locales back to the mountain.

As you all know, we opened the Club a month earlier than in previous

years and the early opening has been received very positively. Many of you

played the golf course in April and thanks to our fantastic maintenance staff, reveled in fairways

rich with green, gorgeous blooming mountain laurel and rhododendron, and masterfully main-

tained course conditions. Of course, natural timing and natural beauty contributed as well!

I encourage all golfers to participate in the 6th Annual Balsam Mountain Preserve Member-

Member Tournament. The tournament will be held Friday, May 25th through Sunday, May 27th

and is open to men and women. The tournament entry fee of $200 per person includes prizes,

breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday and heavy hors d’oeuvres at our opening reception

on Friday. It’s guaranteed to be a great time both on and off the course.

The Boarding House is now in full swing. Our Friday night theme buffets have been well-

attended, and we have a variety of new food and beverage offerings, as well as some popular

ones from last season. Our delicious array of dining options is highlighted on page nine. A great

dining experience is crucial to the success of most private clubs and we are very pleased to have

a very talented and dedicated staff. It is our top priority to deliver superior service, diverse menu

selections and comprehensive food and beverage programs for members.

We recently installed a new filtration system at Ruby Valley ensuring perfectly healthy, crystal

clear water at the Pavilion this summer. Dark Ridge Camp, which has been closed for several

months due to sever windstorm damage last year, is now open and power has been restored to

the site. A great deal of effort has been put forth to bring back this amenity, a clear testament to

our commitment to provide our Members a wonderful world of both man-made and natural amen-

ities.

Dark Ridge campsite is truly a magical place. As such, we have decided that it will be the main

site of our Spring Discovery Weekend, May 18 – 20th. Trust activities, kids programs, expedi-

tions, food, fun and fellowship will be the focus of the weekend with of course, an emphasis on

nature. I encourage all of our members to bring their friends to Balsam for this fun-filled week-

end. We will have a bright future with your support.

MAY 18-20

SAVE THE DATE A Discovery Weekend at Balsam Mountain Preserve

“FAR BEYOND STOCK DIVIDENDS, GAS PRICES,

AND THE CHATTER OF THE NEXT ELECTION, IT IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE

THE WONDER, BEAUTY AND MYSTERY OF NATURE THAT BRINGS US BACK TO BALANCE.”

JOIN US MAY 18-20TH

FOR A DISCOVERY WEEKEND

INTRODUCE YOUR FRIENDS TO BALSAM CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF DARK RIDGE

CAMPGROUND TRUST ACTIVITIES & COOKOUT EXPEDITIONS, HIKES, BIRDING, KIDS PROGRAMS AND

MORE

A nother fantastic season at Balsam is underway and the golf course conditions and weather have been

outstanding! A big congratulations goes out to Dave Walters and his teammate Lee Westwood for

winning the inaugural Masters Match-Up Tournament with a combined score of 140. Congratulations

also goes to our runner-up Jeff Murphy, who along with 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, shot a

combined 143. Great playing guys!

The 2012 Member-Member Golf Tournament is right around the corner, May 25th-27th. The format is (1)

best ball of the twosome with both gross and net prizes at stake. Friday the 25th will be the practice round, fol-

lowed by an opening reception at the Pavilion from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Tournament participants will play eighteen

holes of stroke play on both Saturday and Sunday leading up to an exciting shootout Sunday afternoon com-

prised of the winning net teams. Please contact the Pro Shop at 828.631.1009 to sign-up or for more infor-

mation.

A reminder that the Pro Shop is equipped with the GolfNet Handicap System that allows members to establish

and maintain an official USGA handicap. Anyone who would like to participate in tournaments will need to es-

tablish a handicap. For an annual fee of $25.00 you can establish and maintain your handicap at Bal-

sam. Please contact the Pro Shop if this is something you are interested in doing. Once again, we ask that if

you plan to attend any of the events or have any questions, please call the Pro Shop at 828.631.1009.

by Drew Marshall, Head Golf Professional

Friday-Sunday, May 25th- May 27th Member/Member

Monday, May 28th Tuesday, June 12th Memorial Day Scramble Course Aerification

What’s Bloomin?

Plenty of wildflowers can be found on the Preserve, especially below

4,000 ft. elevation. Below are a few of our conspicuous flowers,

late April to early May, 2011. Take a hike or scenic drive to enjoy them!

Golden bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

(above left)

Early yellow violet (Viola rotundifolia)

(above right)

Dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne) Wild ginger (Asarum canadense var.

canadense)

Wake robin (Trillium erectum) Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) Showy orchis (Galearis spectabilis)

Photos Courtesy of Michael Skinner

Whole Roasted Lemon Chicken

Simple prep,

spectacular taste. Ingredients:

1 Whole chicken, giblets removed

2 Lemons

2 Tablespoons kosher salt

1 Tablespoon coarse-ground black pepper

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon dried oregano

Method:

(Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees)

Wash chicken in cold, running water. Pat chicken completely dry with paper towels. Spray a

roasting pan (9x13 or larger) with pan coating. Place chicken in roasting pan. Squeeze lem-

ons and rub entire chicken with juice. Some juice will end up on bottom of roasting pan,

which is okay. Coat chicken evenly with salt, pepper and oregano. Gently rub olive oil all

over seasoned chicken.

Bake on middle rack for 90-120 minutes. Chicken is done when the drumstick twists easily

from its socket. Don’t forget the delicious drippings in the pan.

by Jay Horton, Executive Chef

Balsam Mountain Preserve

OUTSIDE THE GATES

May/June 2012

Carolinas In Bloom

Spring is officially upon us and there is no shortage of opportunities to get outside in May and June and enjoy

all that our surrounding areas have to offer.

ART AFTER DARK The first one of the year! Downtown Waynesville

May 4

ROCKIN' BLOCK PARTY Main Street Waynesville

May 26

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS Biltmore House April 7-May 20

BEER CITY FESTIVAL Downtown Asheville

June 2

Employee Spotlight

B alsam’s most important asset is its people. With each edition we will put an employee

from one the Preserve's departments in the 'spotlight.' You will then see, and get to

know, the many wonderful people on staff who serve the needs of the members - both

directly and indirectly.

Community maintenance staff member Jonathan Powell has been with us for over six years. A lover of wild-

life, he enjoys being outdoors on the mountain, the freedom of the job, the trail work and landscaping.

Having been raised in a military family, Jonathan could have many 'hometowns' to call his own, however, he

considers Sylva, his best choice. And considering his

somewhat nomadic upbringing, he lists Kodiak, Alaska as

his favorite, having spent most of his childhood there.

His family’s stint in Alaska may have shaped his easygoing

nature and his appreciation for the outdoors. Jonathan

loves to hunt, fish and do basically anything outdoors— that

is, of course, when he has time. As a father of three young

children (ages 6, 4 and 2) spare time is a premium for him.

If you speak with any of Jonathan's friends they would

probably tell you that along with his love for the outdoors,

he's an easy-going, hard-working great guy. Jonathan

give's a tip of his hat to Fred Nicholson, a maintenance staff

member who passed recently, for his inspiration and men-

toring. Jonathan expressed a lot of admiration for Fred.

We hope this provides some insight into one of the many

special 'human resources' we have on the Preserve. Look for another spotlight in future editions of Ridgelines.

Just for Fun

How do you take your barbecue?

Vinegar, lots of it

Favorite guilty pleasure TV show?

Wipeout

What’s the #1 played song on your IPod?

Anything by Black Label Society

What is your dream car?

Mustang GT500

Jonathan Powell, Community Maintenance

This hardcover book features striking residential work from exceptional architecture firms nationwide. Congratulations to Shawn Leatherwood of The Architectural Studio,

architect for two Balsam homes featured in this book.

For more information about the 50 US Architects book or to preorder a copy, visit www.designbookpress.com/us50.

HUGE Rainbow Trout Caught & Released by Ed James! Catching scores of trout makes for an enjoyable day of fishing, but nothing compares to the exhilaration of catch-ing one huge trout. Ed James caught the ’bow on April 19th while fly fishing with David Kitchens on the Davidson River, just outside of Brevard. After the photo was taken, the trout was released to, hopefully, grow even larger. Congratulations Ed, you may have the new Davidson River record.

The Boarding House offers a delicious array of dining options this season. Check it out for yourself.

WEDNESDAYS: The first Wednesday of each month will be

something unique followed by BINGO. Bingo will be called by

Poindexter Featherweight and 10% of the pot will go to the

Trust. The always-popular Steakhouse Night will occupy

the other three Wednesday nights, and members have com-mented that they’ve experienced the “best steak we’ve ever had” on Wednesdays. The mouth watering "meat and potatoes" menu features different cuts of steak each week paired with top-notch traditional sides.

JUNE 6TH will be a Fish Fry with all the trimmings cooked

by Johnny Nicholson and his security crew.

THURSDAYS: Fine Dining Night moved to Thursdays this

season, as the Boarding House continues its concept of Prix Fixe, serving a fixed five-course menu. A popular event for spe-cial occasions or simply for a taste of the finest cuisine the boarding house has to offer.

FRIDAYS: Unwind with friends and neighbors and enjoy com-

plimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres. Stay and indulge in a fan-

tastic Dinner Buffet with great variations of themes which

change weekly.

SUNDAYS: A combination of Soup, Salad and Bread is a

new Sunday evening tradition and includes a full salad bar, house-made bread and two different soups, offered from 6:00-8:00pm. As the weather warms up, this will be preceded by a Cornhole tournament on the front lawn. Get your bean-bags ready.

MONTHLY: Our most anticipated night of the month, Lobster

Night includes a grand soup and salad bar with an over abun-

dance of assorted toppings and displays. Your choice of succu-lent live Maine lobster or a juicy, cooked to perfection 7oz. filet. Make your reservations quickly for May 16th.

It’s EYES DOWN following dinner at the Boarding House on the first Wednesday of every month beginning May 2nd!

10% of the pot goes to the TRUST

Our official caller, Poindexter Featherweight, a/k/a

Michael Skinner, got his BINGO calling start the way most BINGO callers do— because, in a nutshell, nobody else was willing to do it!

So before the BINGO balls start tumbling and the numbers are called,

we thought it best to brush you up on your game, and some of Poindexter’s favorite calls.

# Call

1 Little Jimmy

5 One Little Snake

9 Doctor’s Orders

11 Legs Eleven

13 Unlucky for

Some

16 Never Been

Kissed

21 Just My Age

29 In Your Prime

34 Ask For More

# Call

41 Life’s Begun

46 Up to Tricks

52 Weeks in a Year

57 Heinz Varieties

69 Your Place or

Mine

72 Par for the

Course

78 Heaven's Gate

85 Stayin’ Alive

90 Top of the

House

The Nature of Things – Beauties and the Beasties

T he journey of life on this planet is only contemplated (I would proffer) by one species – us. And in that pondering we often render many thoughts. Among those, if you’re in the nature business, is how to deal with challenges which face us, on what may seem like, an insurmountable scale. To wit: the photo in-

cluded shows two different species of (vascular) plants – a dogwood (Cornus floridanus) (on the left) and a Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). These are the “beauties” in the title of this article. The “beasties” are the unseen pathogens that are laying waste to both of these species.

Everything in nature is a grand ex-periment and boy oh boy, are there a lot of experiments under-way. Since we assign value to everything, some things in nature are worth more (or less) than oth-ers. The dogwood and hemlock are highly valued (aesthetically speaking); but only marginally val-ued outside of our oft tunnel-vision beauty-spectacles way of looking at things. Referenced ecologically, the hemlock plays a greater role, because of its relationship with nearly four-hundred partners, than does the dogwood. But like most things in life, it’s good to think of things in a “glass is half full” kind of way. With that in mind, the dogwood anthracnose fungus and the hemlock woolly adelgid insect have waged a war against their respective plants for some time. Anthracnose appears to be getting some assistance from the dogwood itself – in the form of

some natural resistance. As a result there is light at the end of that tunnel. The adelgid – hemlock campaign is a little more problematic in that while there are both chemical and biological troops conscripted to fight this bat-tle, the foreign-invading bugs are slowly, through attrition, wearing down the hemlock defenders. And while there is treatment for these Lilliputian marauders, one must remain vigilant in treating each hemlock you want to save. Time will tell who will be the victor. We’re hoping, at least, an armistice. For more information on inva-sive species consult the Trust staff.

by Michael Skinner, Trust Executive Director

www.bmtrust.org

The dogwood (left) and hemlock (right) are both fighting for their collective biological life because of the introduction of exotic, invasive pests. The dogwood seems to be turning the tide on its aggressor but the jury is still out on the hemlock’s fate but it’s an uphill battle. Photo by M. Skinner

2012 Summer Camp Schedule Sports Camp: June 18-21

Golf, tennis, water polo, ultimate Frisbee, water basketball, and many more team games and sports en-courage healthy activity, as well as mixing, mingling and making new friends….$130 / Ages 6-12

Horse Camp: June 25-28

Meet, greet and ride the horses while learning basic anatomy and grooming along with equipment and proper riding techniques. Entire camp takes place at the Stables….$170 / Ages 7-12

Nature Nuts: June 25-27

The Preserve offers varied opportunities for kids to immerse themselves in the beauty of local habi-tats. Learn to identify species at the Preserve, spend a day at Dark Ridge Camp Ground, take part in

scavenger hunts, creek adventures and animal interaction….$100 / Ages 4-6

Arts & Crafts: July 2-3

Numerous activities including build your own birdhouse, erupt a volcano, sand art, create personalized jewelry, nature crafts, tye-dye t-shirts, create a sun catcher and much, much MORE!...$60 / Ages 4-6

Nature, Arts & Culture: July 4-7

Kids find that natural features come alive with increased vibrancy and interest as they go on scavenger hunts, hikes, creek adventures, take part in nature arts and crafts and learn noteworthy botanical and

zoological details….$125 / Ages 7-12

Combo Camp: July 16-19

Combo camp will include a little bit of everything! Golf, nature, horses, swimming, arts & crafts, and more. This camp is a taste of what all of the other camps have to offer….$150 / Ages 6-12

Adventure Camp: July 23-26

Outdoor activities abound on the Preserve. This camp will include hiking, rafting and other adventurous outings that inspire creativity, exploration, and laughter….Cost TBD / Ages 8+

Register by calling Member Services at 828.631.1000, email to memberservices@balsammountain.com or via the Member Website.

s a d d l e u p “W hoa, Nellie!” Shauna and Natalie have returned and are keeping busy getting the Stables ready.

We have a growing family of horses this year with anywhere from 6—9 horses daily. Come visit them and see what’s new at the Stables.

Hours & Contact Information: Please call the Stables at 828.631.1066 to ensure someone will be there to meet and greet you.

Rates:

1 hour ride: Member - $45 Guest - $75 2 hour ride: Member - $60 Guest - $90

Basic Riding Lesson: $45 Lesson with Shauna Saunier: $100

Dark Ridge Camp ride (round-trip): $175 Guide fee per ride: $25

Pony ride: $20

Coming Soon:

Renown trainer David Lichman is coming to stay with Shauna May 1-4 to help her advance in her horse-manship. He will be back in the fall and hopefully we will have enough interest for him to teach a clinic in the area.

The Parelli method of horsemanship, practiced and many would say mastered, by Da-vid Lichman, is based on respect for and love of horses. Understanding horse nature and psychology – the Parelli method enables anyone at any level to have fun with hors-es and achieve amazing results…naturally and without using force or fear. David has traveled all over the world— from Vancouver to Virginia and from Hawaii to Heidelberg— helping people achieve extraordinary results with horses and training in favor of love, language and leadership. He studied for months at a time directly with Pat Parelli, which meant at the time travel-ing thousands of miles on the road. Since 1996 he has spent from one to four months each Summer at his ranch. As one of Pat Parelli's top rated instructors – David has handled thousands of horses at hundreds of clinics, from every breed and discipline sharing his natural horsemanship expertise and teaching methods founded through relationship, communication and trustworthiness.

About David Lichman...

Club Hours of Operation

Pro Shop: 7am to 6:00pm, closed Tuesday

Practice Park: 7:30am to 6:30pm, closed Tues-

day

Trail Rides By appointment.

Pavilion: Open 24 hours.

Fitness Center: Open 24 hours.

Pool: Open 24 hours.

Activities: Beginning June.

Tennis Courts: Open 24 hours.

Turnhouse: 7am to 6:00pm, closed Tuesday

The Boarding House Restaurant:

Light Continental Breakfast:

Mon – Thurs, 8am – 10am

Breakfast:

Fri – Sun, 8am – 10am

Brunch:

Sun, 10am – 2 pm

Lunch:

Wed – Mon, 11:30am – 2pm

Dinner:

Fri – Sat, 6:30pm – 8pm

The Nature Center: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily

Club Staff and Contact Information

Administration: 828.631.1040

Jimmy McDonnell: President

Bruce Fine: Vice President

Tina Jones: Business Manager

Member Services: 828.631.1000

Amy Coggins: Manager

Balsam Care

(Maintenance & Cabins): 828.631.1000

Pro Shop: 828.631.1009

Drew Marshall: Head Golf Pro

Activities: 828.631.1063

Stables: 828.631.1066

Security / Main Gate: 828.631.1011

Main Gate Emergency: 828.508.0116

Sales: 828.631.1001

Joe Dellinger: Sales Executive

Bill Minus: Sales Executive

Jamie Aquino: Marketing Assistant

RIDGE Lines Editor

Nature Center / Balsam Mountain Trust:

828.631.1060

Michael Skinner: Executive Director

Blair Ogburn: Sr. Naturalist

Ron Lance: Sr. Naturalist

www.bmtrust.org

The Reserve at Lake Keowee Contact Balsam Member Services at

828.631.1000 for all Activities and Reservations.

www.reserveatlakekeowee.com

Grand Harbor Golf & Yacht Club Call 864.543.2000 for Dining Reservations and

Tee Times.

Balsam Member Services at 828.631.1000 for all

Activities and Reservations.

www.reserveatlakekeowee.com

Balsam Mountain Preserve | 81 Preserve Road | Sylva, NC 28779

866.452.3456

www.balsammountainpreserve.com