Also see our Klinger Lake Activities page!

The following article is from the Sturgis Journal and is published here by permission. 

Rosalie Currier/Journal
Klinger Lake Country Club staff Pat Hagerty, golf pro and general manager; Rick Freske, golf course superintendent; Megan Yoder, marketing manager; Carla Byers, club house manager; Susie Lemmerhart, business manager; and Lisa Medina the head chef are planning for a new season and a new look at the club.

By Rosalie Currier
currier@sturgisjournal.com

It’s winter at Klinger Lake Country Club and the club house is closed, but that doesn’t mean the staff is hibernating.

Megan Yoder, the new sales and marketing manager with the board of directors is working to keep the nearly century-old icon in step with the times.

“We are rebranding while maintaining the core values of the country club,” Yoder said.

That includes exploring innovative ways to appeal to a new generation of young professionals and families.

“We offer something for everyone,” said Jim Riley, country club president.

Fine dining is a staple at the country club, he said, but now there will be a more casual sports bar option.

“Any organization or individual using the club’s banquet and meeting services will receive a complimentary dining membership”, Riley said.

Altogether, they have created 10 different membership packages starting at $100 for a dining only membership and a pool only package for $250 a season.
“It’s a real bargain — you can’t own a pool for $250,” Riley said.

There are a variety of golf packages for all level of golfers, and most  packages include sharing dining benefits with The Beacon Club in Portage, Yoder said.
It’s called a reciprocal agreement between the clubs so Klinger Lake members can enjoy a club that’s open all year, she said, and Beacon Club members can enjoy Klinger Lake.

The changes at the club came as a preventative measure.

“The club wasn’t in financial trouble,” Riley said, “but it was time to be proactive. Other clubs and golf courses around the country are struggling to survive in the current economy. We chose to make changes now to ensure our marketability and stability.”

For more information on the country club visit www.klingerlakecc.com, ‘like’ them on Facebook, or call Yoder at (269) 319-1144.

We hope you enjoyed this year's fireworks celebration. The date for the 2012 fireworks has not been set yet. We'll let you know when we have more information. Please remember to thank the Fireworks Committee and volunteers for a wonderful event!

(The Klinger Lake Fireworks Committee is not affiliated with the Klinger Lake Association).

Burglaries and Break-Ins
 A number of lake residents have been victimized over the past several weeks. Both private and commercial buildings and vehicles have been broken into. Here are some important tips to help avoid trouble:

• If you own a GPS or cell phone, lock it up out of sight along with its charger when not in use. Keep in mind that the cost of damage done to your vehicle during a break-in could far exceed the cost of a new GPS unit.
• Do not leave your home, car, garage, or shed unlocked. Thieves are becoming bolder and will come in even during the daytime while you are out on your boat.
• If possible, do not leave portable fuel containers in your boat or on your dock. We've learned that even these relatively inexpensive items have been taken when the opportunity presents itself.
• Be an observant neighbor. Report suspicious activity to the police. Do not attempt to intervene on your own-- you could be hurt.

Storms
Last year was an active year for weather at the lake. The biggest storm was on Saturday June 5th, 2010, but there have been a few smaller ones later on. The hardest hit areas were along Oakwood Beach, US 12 southwest of the lake, and Fawn River Road. We have pictures of the aftermath in the Photo section.

Fishing Tournaments / DNR
We are waiting for information on the fishing tournament dates at this time.

Water Safety / Marine Patrol / DNR
Boater Safety Classes have been scheduled and information is available for download using the PDF link at the bottom of this page.
Note: Anyone holding an out-of-state ‘online’ boating certificate, approved by NASBLA, can opt out of the classroom portion of the requirement, but must still pass the written test in order to have a valid boater certificate in Michigan. Please call the Sheriff ’s office to schedule taking the written test.

Boat Inspection dates are TBD

Sgt. Jeff Terpenning will be our primary Marine Patrol officer at Klinger Lake. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite and Captain Jason Bingaman will also be working with the Klinger Lake Association to help make this a happy and safe boating season. The Sheriff Department contact numbers are listed in the front of your directory.

Boating laws that you may need to be reminded of:

1. All sailboats, regardless of length, MUST be registered with the state and have registration numbers displayed on the boat.
2. As of last year, personal watercraft (PWC-‘jet-skis’) may be out on the water until sunset.
3. New in 2011, only people 16 years and older will be able to operate a PWC. Those holding a boater safety certificate who are younger than 16 will no longer be able to operate a PWC.

Highlights of Michigan Water Safety Regulations can be seen on the last two pages of your directory and also here on our web site. You can also go online at www.michigan.org to check out all relevant regulations.
Suzi Puckett

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