Westchester Country Club Platinum Clubs of the World 2024-2025 : simplebooklet.com

Westchester Country Club is honored to be considered for the Platinum Clubs of the World 2024-25 ballot.For over 100 years, Westchester has been one of the premier and most exclusive private family clubs in thecountry with a worldwide reputation for excellence. We are proud of our unrivaled breadth of amenities andour status as a leader in the golf and private club industry. The Team at Westchester is honored to play arole in our distinguished heritage while shepherding the Club into the 21st century and beyond.Marc PossidentoEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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The history of Westchester Country club begins with a self-made man from Toronto, John McEnteeBowman who came to New York when he was seventeen. He began his career as a groom in astable and worked his way up to eventually own the Biltmore hotel group, one of the most exclusiveand largest hotel chains in the world at that time.Mr. Bowman sought to create the sportsman’s paradise within easy reach from the bustle ofManhattan. He would go on to purchase land in both Harrison and Rye, New York for his flagshiphotel project, the Westchester Biltmore.Mr. Bowman had a vision:Me mbers would live in the hotel and in homes on the grounds. The Club staff would take care of all services, both in the hotel and in thehomes. Meals would be delivered to the homes from the hotel kitchen. Maids and gardeners would be called in from the hotel to attendto all the Members’ needs. A large garage with a platoon of mechanics would service the cars of the Members. And maybe, there wouldeven be an airfield to handle the Members’ planes in the coming age of flight.As for sporting facilities, the Club would offer the finest in golf, tennis, polo, horseback riding, swimming, boating, squash, tobogganing,skating, shooting, skiing…everything. It was going to be the most beautiful, most luxurious hotel-club-community anywhere. And, ofcourse, no expense was to be spared.Originally 583 acres of land were purchased from Hobart J. Park, at $2,500 an acre. Two months later a 62-acre tract was bought onManursing Island, valued at $375,000. The following month 35 acres were purchased from the old Hill Estate on Parks Farm. In the

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summer of 1919 construction of the eight-story hotel at the top of the hill was begun, under New York architects Warren and Wetmorein the style of a nineteenth-century Italian villa. Landscape architects were Charles W. Leavitt & Sons. Billington and Smith-Mertz werecontracted to build the polo field and five miles of roads.Walter J. Travis, the great Australian and American golf champion turned golf architect laid out the two 18-hole golf courses. Thecourses were built by the Philadelphia-based architectural firm of Toomey and Flynn who built the modern course at Shinnecock Hillstoward the end of the same decade. The Club joined the USGA on Jan. 13, 1922, four months before the courses opened for play.On May 15, 1922 John McEntee Bowman formally opened the Westchester-Biltmore Country Club. Almost 1,500 members joined,paying an initiation fee of $25. Gage I. Tarbell was named President and E.D. Miller Secretary-Treasurer.The Beach Club opening took place two weeks later, when the large casino with a fine dance floor and handsome furnishings wereunveiled. Facilities included eight hundred bathhouses, tennis and handball courts, an large saltwater pool, a seven-acre, man-madelagoon for swimming and canoeing and parking for seven hundred cars.The total cost exceeded $6,000,000, but the facilities were unequaled anywhere in the world. In addition to 45 holes of golf and theaforementioned facilities at the Beach, there was a brokerage office in the clubhouse, three polo fields (now the driving range); heconstructed a separate short game area near the par-3 course, a bridle path, a track for horse racing, and fifteen tennis courts,including five superb grass courts.

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Today, Westchester Country Club is one of the iconic ‘brands’ recognizedthroughout the club world, having hosted a number of championships,including the Thunderbird Classic in 1963, with Arnold Palmer and JackNicklaus winning two of the first three years. The Thunderbird continuedannually until 1967 when it became the Westchester Classic.Ben Hogan played his final competitive round at the Classic on July 5,1970. The event morphed again and was re-named the Westchester BuickClassic and later, The Barclays. These events were considered “tune-ups”for the U.S. Open with hard, fast greens, tight fairways and high rough. The PGA returned to Westchester Country Club in August 2011 with thefinal Senior Major of the year, the Senior Players Championship, and the2015 Women’s PGA Championship. The most recent championship hostedat the Club was the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in 2021.

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DISTINCTIVE MEMBER CULTURESince 1922, Westchester Country Club offers an exclusive and refined experience for families in Westchester County seeking a higher levelof leisure and social engagement. Life at the Club ensures members and their families have a truly unparalleled and tailored experience.Westchester is a family-oriented private club with a robust membership that extends through multiple generations. The Club's membershipcurrently totals 1,641 individual members, and approximately an overall total of 5,000 inclusive of family members. The wait list formembership currently extends out several years.

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GENERATIONAL LEGACIESMembership extends from generation to generation. Westchesteris a true legacy club with over 60% of membership coming fromnext generation family members. Membership becomes a way oflife. The longest tenured member has been with the Club for 69years, joining in 1954. From the wise long-tenured members whohave experienced the growth of the Club, to enthusiastic nextgeneration members making the Club a part of their family life, tothe energetic young members forging new paths, the Club is aspecial community for all. Long-lasting friendships are formed,stories are shared, and valuable life lessons are exchanged,fostering an environment where each generation enriches theother.The Club's Board of Governors is actively involved in alloperations to maintain the rich history and traditions of the Clubwhile continuing to advance the Club forward for the future. Thereare over 15 different committees in place to ensure the Club hasthe most optimal leadership, governance, and procedures at alltimes.

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Westchester Country Club is an exclusive family-oriented Club located in Rye, New York withinWestchester County, approximately 40 minutesoutside Manhattan. The Club maintains its statusas a Platinum Club of America, currently ranked29th among country clubs in the United States.Members and guests enjoy world-class facilitiesincluding: ✦ Two championship Golf Courses and a 9-hole Executive Course✦ 75-acre Beach Club with a private beach, outdoor pool, dining, and bar✦ Comprehensive Tennis and Squash facilities✦ Four dining rooms, including an outdoor terrace plus full-service bars✦ Indoor pool and fitness facility with classes✦ Member apartments and guest hotel rooms✦ Two large banquet rooms and conference facilities ✦ Pro shops, barber shop, salon, and car care center✦ Summer camp for children membersAN UNRIVALED CLUB

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At the main club campus, members enjoy a widearray of amenities and facilities in addition to apremier golf experience. The eight-story buildingincludes the hotel, member apartments, banquetrooms and salons, several restaurants, andmore. The Club has a large and well-equippedfitness center complete with private and groupinstruction, and has a private studio space forclasses. An indoor pool provides the ability toenjoy swimming all year round. The Golf Shop,Member Locker Rooms, Barber Shop, andManicurist are also located in this building.Racquet sports abound with courts for tennis,squash, pickleball, and paddle.MAIN CLUB

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Few facilities in the United States have the history thatthe West and South at Westchester Country Club have.Both were designed by Walter J. Travis in 1922 as a testfor champion golfers, the West Course hosted the 1923and 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 42 PGA Tour events,the 2011 Senior Players Championship, and the 2015KPMG LPGA Championship.Four holes on the West Course, Nos. 2, 3, 6, and 17,rated among the toughest on the PGA Tour during thecourse’s long tenure as a host on golf’s top professionalcircuit. The course has since been revised by severalnotable architects including Rees Jones, Ken Dye andmost recently by Tom Fazio. The South Course, after a Ken Dye renovation in 2000,measures 6,566 yards from the blue tees and has one ofthe best sets of par-3's (five in total) of any course in theMetropolitan area. The recent renovations added twonew greens, dramatic bunker upgrades, and 500 yardsin length. The South Course retains similar styling andcare as its West Course big brother and offers anexperience that appeals to a broad range of golfers.GOLF & GROUNDS

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SPORTS & RACQUETSThe tennis operation is thriving with the addition this past yearof a ‘bubble’ over five of its Har Tru courts, allowing for avibrant year-round operation. The Club boasts 20 Har Trutotal courts in addition to the adjacent classic 5 grass courts. For additional racquet sports, Westchester is well known andregarded for the quality of its squash and paddle programs,keeping the Club active during the winter months whenpaddle ramps up with participation. On the paddle side, the 6courts were recently renovated along with the PaddleClubhouse, and the sport has very strong and active usage. The squash facility is state of the art and boasts a regular hosting ofnational amateur and professional events, and enjoys one doublesand six singles courts. The junior program is renowned for the qualityof players it produces, with over 15 junior players from the Clubhaving reached top ten national ranking status, and many going on toplay at the college level. Renovations to the racquets area are in the works in order to themeet the swift new demand for pickleball, as well as increase spacefor paddle. Four new pickleball courts and a new paddle tennis courtwill be added.

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HOTEL & ACCOMMODATIONSThe eight story Main Clubhouse features approximately 55 Member apartments and 60 luxury suites and guest rooms. During events held atthe Club, hotel rooms will often be fully booked and sold out for the weekend. The guest rooms require 24/7/365 care and attention, whichmakes the Club a completely full service, year-round family centric destination with some of the finest amenities in the country. In addition to member and guest accommodations, the Club also has a separate Employee Living Quarters (ELQ), which serves as thetemporary home for many of our international employees.

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PRIVATE BEACH CLUBApproximately four miles from the Main Club, Westchester Country Club also has a 75-acre private beach club. As the Club has evolved overthe years, the beach club property on Manursing Island has become an even more significant part of the member amenities, with a recent‘makeover’ of that property catapulting usage by the large number of younger families who have joined WCC the past several years. TheBeach Club is a seasonal operation with breathtaking views of Long Island Sound. The facility features 4 restaurant operations, including acasual fine-dining seafood option. A hallmark of the Beach Club is the 1,000 linear feet of groomed sand on which Members spend their summer days…and nights. Childrenand adults alike enjoy the "1 million gallon" saltwater swimming pool along with its water slide and ice cream shoppe located nearby. Theextraordinary views and dining options at the Beach Club complement one of the largest salt-water pools in the country, and a fine array offamily activities throughout the summer months.

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OUR PEOPLE & CULTUREWestchester Country Club recognizes that our people are at the heart of everything we do. For our team to provide exceptional experience tomembers, the Club prioritizes ensuring they receive the same exceptional experience in their work experience with us. The Club hastransformed the traditional Human Resources department to a redefined People and Culture team. This change reflects our commitment torecognizing each one of our team members as people, rather than resources, and the importance of a forward-thinking, human-centeredapproach that prioritizes putting people first and at the center of how we operate and what we do. The team operates under the north star of"You take care of our members, and we take care of you."Our team grows throughout the year, especially to support the Spring and Summer peak season. During Fall and Winter months, there areabout 285 team members, with this growing to 800 team members for the peak season. And just as the Club has a long, rich history, so domany of the team members working for the Club. Over 50 of the Club's team members have worked for the Club for 15 or more years, withthe most tenured employee having 42 years of service.

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CULTURE OF APPRECIATION & EXCELLENCEHere at Westchester, we believe that recognizing outstanding performance by our team members andfostering a culture of appreciation and celebrating excellence are crucial to our Club's success. TheClub recognizes and celebrates team members all throughout the year. The prestigious Employee ofthe Quarter award acknowledges the outstanding performance, dedication, and contributions ofexceptional team members who go above and beyond. Newly implemented this year, the 5 Star Servicerecognition program serves as a way for members to provide recognition feedback for an exceptionalexperience received by our team members. Recipients are acknowledged in the moment with acertificate and award and featured in the biweekly employee newsletter. Team members also enjoyseveral events during the year, such as Employee Ice Cream Day, the Employee Summer Party, theend of year Holiday Party, and more.

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ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTWestchester has a long-standing commitment to the environment andsustainability. The Club has the potential to provide habitat for wildlife, maintain ahigh degree of environmental quality and offer golfers a challenging game.Because the Club is surrounded by residential development, it is an important“open space” for wildlife in the area. The woods, ponds, and streams on thecourses provide all of the essential elements of wildlife habitat: food, cover,water, and space. From these natural assets, there is a foundation to furtherenhance our environmental stewardship responsibilities. In an effort to conserve and protect our environment, the Club has taken thisfoundation and built a wildlife sanctuary, which has been recognized by AudubonInternational, and the Club has been certified as such since 1996. The Clubmaintains the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) for Golf Coursescertification, which recognizes many of the environmentally sustainable practicesin place, including creating wildlife habitat, using recycled water for irrigation,establishing buffers around water bodies, and hosting bird walks.Additionally, Westchester is the proud recipient of the Metropolitan GolfAssociation 2023 Environmental Award. Westchester is also regarded by LinksMagazine as one of the 10 most eco-friendly golf courses in the United States.The Club has been featured as a USGA case study in 2017 for the reduction ofgolf course accessories to save resources and improve course conditions.

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Over the last year, the Club has welcomed several new key members to the leadership team. The wealth of industry and professionalexperience of each new leader allows the Club to further advance its legacy of excellence and strengthen its position as an industry leader.OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMEdward Byrne, CPA, ControllerEddie is a CPA with over 30 years of accounting experience in the public and private sectors. He began his career with Deloitte and Touch, beforemoving to the private sector, and in particular, the Club Industry. Eddie has been with Westchester for 10 years and has in-depth knowledge in a widevariety of financial matters and is extremely proficient in many software programs. Marc Possidento, Executive DirectorHaving only worked in private clubs for the entirety of his professional career, and having grown up at a Club himself, Marc considers himself a ‘Lifer’ inthe industry. After receiving his degree in Hospitality Administration from Boston University, he began his career at Ridgewood Country Club. After onlyfive years there, at the age of 26, Marc went on to become the General Manager of his first Club and has not looked back. Marc progressed through aseries of increasingly important, senior, and challenging management positions at several fine golf and country clubs. Marc is currently the ImmediatePast President of the Connecticut Club Management Association (CCMA) after having served an extended term as President from 2019 through 2021.Of note, CCMA received the Chapter of the Year Award during his last year at the helm of the Association. Peter Joyce, CCM, Director of OperationsHaving only worked in private clubs for the past 20 plus years, and the entirety of his professional career within the hospitality industry, Peter has astrong passion for both the front and back of the house in our amazing industry. After receiving his degree in Culinary Arts from The Culinary Institute ofAmerica in Hyde Park, New York, he began his career on the culinary side but quickly gravitated towards private club management. Peter hadsuccessful long tenured positions in New Jersey, before moving to Connecticut to be the General Manager/COO of Wampanoag Country Club locatedin West Hartford, CT. Under his leadership for the next eleven years, Wampanoag underwent major clubhouse renovations, a full golf courserestoration, and many other successful enhancements to the membership experience. Peter is currently the President of the Connecticut ClubManagement Association (CCMA) and will be serving his term through October 2023.

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OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMCarey Favreau, Executive ChefFrom a young age, Carey knew he wanted to be a chef. His love of cooking blossomed and brought him to the Culinary Institute of America in HydePark where he graduated with honors and was voted by his classmates “Most Likely to Succeed”. Since then, Carey has cooked his way back and forthacross the country in private clubs and restaurants. He also had the opportunity to broaden his culinary adventures internationally to France, Spain, andJapan. Carey cooked twice at the James Beard House and was President of the Club Chefs of Connecticut. Carey joined the team at Westchester inMarch 2023.Lindsey Garito, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Director of People & CultureJoining late June 2023, Lindsey is the newest member of the team. She brings over 18 years of progressive HR experience. She began her career inHR working in consumer services, followed by the last 15 years in the healthcare industry. Lindsey earned her Bachelor of Business Administration inHR Management from Pace University. She is currently pursuing her MBA degree at Pace University with anticipated graduation in May 2024. Lindseyholds professional certifications as both a SHRM-SCP by the Society of Human Resource Management and SPHR through the HR CertificationInstitute. Lindsey is dedicated to advancing the HR profession and mentoring emerging professionals, both nationally and locally. She actively serveson the board of the local SHRM chapter, Westchester Human Resource Management Association (WHRMA), as Emerging Professionals Chair. Shealso volunteers in SHRM’s national career mentoring program.Maggie Barragan, Beach Club Manager – Director of F&B, Assistant Director of OperationsMaggie joined Westchester in January 2023 with over 12 years of experience in Private Club Management and many more years of Hospitalityexperience throughout her life. Her passion for the Hospitality started as a teenager when she began working for a family friends’ restaurant andcatering company. She attended the University of South Carolina obtaining a degree in Hospitality with a Club Management Specialization and acted asPresident of USC’s Chapter of Club Managers Association of America for two years. After graduating, she moved to New York for a Sales andMarketing position at Richmond County Country Club in Staten Island. Most recently, she was the Assistant General Manager at Wee Burn CountryClub in Darien, Connecticut where she quickly rose through the ranks having started as the Private Events Manager, and General Manager/Consultantof The House, a Private City Club. Maggie serves on the Board of the Connecticut Chapter of Club Management where she heads the SocialCommittee.

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTA strong commitment to partnership amongst the leadership team is at the heart of our collaborative efforts. All department heads meetweekly to foster an environment where communication is forefront and leaders are empowered to not only excel in their individual roles butalso to drive positive change across teams and beyond. Learning from one another's perspectives collectively shapes the future of the Club. Leaders are encouraged and supported to participate in professional associations, with many holding leadership roles within thoseorganizations. Personalized interactive leadership training sessions are held to educate leaders on various poignant topics and trends.

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The Club provides extensive programming allthroughout the year to offer members a variety ofsocial activities and experiences. Many events arelong-standing family traditions for members,including but not limited to:LASTING MEMORIES✦ Big Little Show, celebrating its 88th year in 2023✦ Children's Etiquette Dinners✦ Floral Workshops✦ Easter Holiday Brunch✦ Mother's Day Brunch✦ Christmas Tree Lighting✦ Gingerbread Workshop✦ Lunch with Santa✦ Christmas Eve Dinner✦ Supper Club Nights✦ Memorial Day Pet Parade✦ Family Fun Day✦ Member Tournaments✦ Book Club✦ Theater Group✦ Bridge and Canasta

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LIFE'S MOMENTSTimeless elegance meets exceptional servicewhen hosting events at the Club. It is the premiervenue of choice for members for the mostspecial and important events in their lives andthat of their children. The Club hostsapproximately 400 events per year, includingabout 30 weddings. Our dedicated sales andcatering team meticulously curates each detail toensure they have the celebration of theirdreams. The Biltmore Room serves as theperfect backdrop for exquisite events andcherished celebrations that will be rememberedfor a lifetime.

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EPICUREAN EXCELLENCEEach week, members indulge in a culinary journey of unique and exquisiteflavors as part of the Club's food and beverage program. Our expert chefsfrom around the world create delectable dishes using the finest seasonalingredients and freshest flavors. Every plate truly is a work of art.Commitment to culinary excellence extends to the Club's extensive wineand cocktail selections. The wine and liquor inventory totaling over$500,000 ensures a curated selection of the finest beverage complementsto every meal.

Westchester Country Club Platinum Clubs of the World 2024-2025

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