June 2021

Summer Updates

This is an exciting time at the Golf Club as we move in a positive direction coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and as we continue the renaissance of the Golf Club and the Monarch Grill.

On the golf course, I’m pleased to provide updates on two of this year’s major capital projects.  West Coast Golf Construction has been selected as the vendor for the FY21/22 fairway bunker project as well as the drainage project on hole 4.  WCGC is the same company that did the greenside bunker project last year and this year’s scope will include the fairway bunkers on holes 1, 10 and 18, including new drainage, sod liners and sand.  The hole 4 drainage work scope includes removing vegetation, replacing drainage, re-establishing sub-grade for proper drainage and replacement of sod as necessary.   West Coast Golf Construction is scheduled to be onsite starting in September for both projects. 

The fourth event in the Monday after the Majors tournament series, Monday after the British Open is scheduled for July 19.  The two-person team event includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and prizes.

I’m very excited that our first dinner event featuring live music will return on Saturday, July 3.  The Monarch Grill Celebrates America event includes an Americana themed dinner followed by a performance from The River Ratz.  We’re excited to have the River Ratz performing for this event as they were scheduled to be our next performers in March of 2020 when Covid-19 required events to be cancelled as we entered the first Solano County Stay Home order.  

Save the date for the other Monarch Grill upcoming events this summer:

• July 24 Name That Tune with the UltraSonics
• August 14 Motown Nights with Marquis
• September 4 Labor Day Weekend Bash
• September 25 Pasta with the King (Elvis Impersonator)

Lastly, summer is here and we have already experienced our first major heat wave.  When high temperatures are forecasted, our team prepares days in advance with additional irrigating to build up moisture in the soil prior to the highest temperature days.  Because of this, we do ask golfers to be aware of wet areas while driving carts on the course in the mornings and to expect dryer conditions in the afternoons.  Please follow the 90 degree rule until further notice. 

Have a topic you’d like to read more about in a future blog post?  Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we’d like to hear from you.

Kandace Clatterbaugh, General Manager

May 2021

Changes

When it comes to changes, most people fall into one of two cohorts, those who hate change and those who like change.  Regardless of our views on change, we’ve all had no choice but to deal with the changes that have come since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, now well over a year ago. 

As we continue moving forward in 2021, changes continue but are getting more positive as the world continues to reopen to more normalcy.  These times of alteration, modification and fluctuation reminds me of a quotes from Socrates, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new”.  

Our focus at the Golf Club at Rio Vista and Monarch Grill is on building the new and are very excited to provide you with more fun experiences and continuing our full calendar of golf, F&B, and social events when we can safely do so. 

We were able to reintroduce our in-house tournaments in April after a long pause due to the pandemic.  We hosted a Monday after the Masters tournament on April 9, the first of a four-tournament 18-hole series to be held the Monday after the PGA major tournaments.  The next in the series is Monday after the PGA Championship on Monday, May 24 followed by Monday after the US Open on June 21 and Monday after the British Open on July 19.   More 9-hole and 18-hole events will also be hosted later in the year.

We’ve also been busy planning and working with local entertainment groups to lock in dates for social and dinner events in the Monarch Grill.  While it was disappointing that due to the pandemic we were unable to complete the 2020 events schedule, those events and much more are coming this way in 2021. 

The Elvis Impersonator Dinner & Show, Pasta with the King, already had a full sign-up last March when the shelter at home order required us to cancel.  If you were looking forward to getting “All Shook Up” don’t worry because Elvis will enter the building in 2021.  Name that Tune with the UltraSonics and Motown Nights with Marquis will also be rescheduled among the many other new dinners, dances and more.  We project these events to start in July with the caveat that we will always follow the directives of local and state protocols.  Dates, times and details coming soon.

To me, golf isn’t just a game, it’s a lifestyle. It doesn’t matter whether you already play, want to learn or never plan to play golf you can love living the golf lifestyle with us. Hope to see you at the Club again soon!

Have a topic you’d like to read more about in a future blog post?  Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we’d like to hear from you.

- Kandace Clatterbaugh, General Manager

April 2021

For Mom

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and we are excited to have a special Mother’s Day Weekend Menu for you in the Monarch Grill.  In addition to our regular menu, we will have three entrée specials with mom in mind, available each day for dine-in or to-go until sold out from Friday, May 7 – Sunday, May 9.

My grandma’s influence in the kitchen has always carried with me in my career as a Chef.  Both my mom and grandma have been my encouragers and supporters over the years and nothing makes me happier than fixing some of their favorites in the kitchen.  When it comes to dessert, Mom’s Cobbler is one of my best-loved recipes and a gift I’d like to share with you.  Mom’s Cobbler will be our featured dessert Mother’s Day Weekend, I hope you will join us but if you just can’t wait and want to make the cobbler yourself, here’s the recipe.

Mom’s Cobbler

8 cups mixed berries

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 package yellow cake mix

½ cup butter

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Mix together berries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and vanilla and empty into the bottom of one 9x13 inch pan. Cover with the dry cake mix and press down firmly. Cut butter into small pieces and place on top of cake mix. Sprinkle top with cinnamon.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes.

Hope to see you in the Monarch Grill soon!

Have a topic you’d like to read more about in a future blog post?  Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we’d like to hear from you.

Chef Mark Haupt

March 2021

Greens Aerification

It is that time of year again for the important practice of greens aerification. Aerification is done to control organic matter, stimulate root growth and improve drainage. It also relieves soil compaction and reduces the accumulation of excess thatch on the greens.

We do this to help maintain the great conditions our maintenance crew have provided to us over the last few months. In the immediate 7-14 days following aerification, the greens are recovering and the turf is becoming healthier. This healing process makes playing conditions less than perfect for those initial days but leads back to quality putting surfaces that are more consistent throughout the year. This spring we will aerify the greens on 9 holes a day on March 22-23 (weather permitting), allowing 9 holes to be open for play each day.

When it comes to health and quality of putting greens, it starts below the surface where the roots require oxygen and good water flow. Without aerification organic matter would remain in the greens, the roots of the grass would become dense and unable to flourish. This buildup acts like an impermeable surface that does not allow water to flow through. Excessive organic matter beneath the turf creates a soft playing surface that is prone to ball marks and footprints which results in inconsistent playing conditions.

The process starts with the aerifying machine removing cores from the compacted soil. In the case of this spring’s aerification, we will be removing ½ inch cores, a very common industry standard size. Following the aerification, the greens will be topdressed. Once the organic matter has been removed, the sand is then brushed into the holes which allows for excess moisture to evaporate creating a stronger root system which allows for a smoother, firmer putting surface that is more tolerate to high golfer traffic on the greens. While the appearance of topdress sand makes it seems that the greens are less playable in the short-term, the sand actually makes the surface smoother for putting immediately following the aerification as well.

Thank you for keeping in mind that aerification is performed for the long-term health of the greens, making the short-term inconvenience to putting well worth it.

Have a topic you’d like to read more about in a future blog post? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we’d like to hear from you!

Scott Gaston
Assistant General Manager