MOM’S BREAKFAST PANTRY
Selection of Freshly Baked Breads and Pastries
Butter Croissants, Chocolate Muffin, Cinnamon Raisin buns
Raspberry Danish, Artisan Rolls

Strawberry Ricotta Cheese Blintz
Vanilla Cream, Almonds

Forest Wild Mushroom Quiche
Pancetta, Gruyére, Spinach

Country Breakfast Potatoes
Bell Peppers, Onions, Herbs

Dry-Cured Iowa Bacon, Chicken Sage Sausage, Buchmann Ranch Egg

Omelet and Waffle Station
Spanish Chorizo, Ham, Avocado, Onions, Peppers, Salsa Fresca, Queso Fresco, Jack Cheese

APPETIZERS AND SALADS
Suzie’s Farm Organic Greens
Shaved Fennel, Bosc Pears, Pistachios, Julian Hard Cider Dressing

Fulton Farm BBQ Chicken
Sweet Potato, Celery, Watercress, Spicy Pecans, Gorgonzola, Orange Oregano Vinaigrette
Couscous Pearl Pasta Salad

Couscous Pearl Pasta Salad
Rock Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Calamari, Green Lip Mussels, Cilantro Champagne Dressing

Red Bliss Potato and Green Bean Salad
Smoked Ham, Hard Boiled Eggs, Whole Grain Mustard Dressing

From the Sea
Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, California Rolls, Sea Bass Ceviche
Wasabi Cream, Tobiko Caviar, Tortilla Chips

Artisan Cheese and Fruit Display
Wisconsin Brie, Vermont Cheddar, Humboldt Fog, Shaft Blue, Country Breads

Roasted Corn Chowder
Potato Relish, Herb Croutons

ROTISSERIE
Butter Basted Tom Turkey Breast
Kumquat Cranberry Sauce, Pan Gravy

Herb Crusted Baron of Beef
Porcini Cabernet Sauce, Tart Cherry Mustard, Horseradish Cream

MAIN COURSES

Pan Seared Local Halibut
Saffron Orzo, Sun Dried Tomato Relish, Lemon Butter

Fulton Farm Chicken
Crimson Fingerlings, Tomatoes, Olives, Crimini Mushrooms, California Vermouth

Spring Root Vegetables

Cheddar Chive Whipped Potatoes

PASTA AND SCAMPI STATION
Three Cheese Ravioli, Penne, Bay Shrimp, Scallops, Garlic, Basil, Parmesan Cream, Tomato Marinara

FOR OUR YOUNG GOLFERS
Tater Tots, Mini Hot Dogs, PB&J Finger Sandwiches, Chicken Strips, Mac and Cheese, Apple Sauce

PASTRIES
Apricot and Almond Upside DownCake
Chocolate and Praline Mousse Swirl with Lady Fingers
Carlsbad Strawberry Cheesecake
Cherry Peach Cobbler with Brown Sugar Granola Topping
Ghirardelli Chocolate Ganache Cake
Cookies and Pies

This weekend was all about Mom. On Friday, May 11th, Sycuan Cafe Grill participated in Mama’s Day, one of San Diego’s popular culinary and social events. Mama’s Kitchen is the only organization that prepares and delivers three meals a day, seven days a week, at no cost to San Diegans affected by critical illnesses such as AIDS or cancer. The event was hosted by Sycuan Casino with Culinary Host, San Diego’s Sam ‘The Cooking Guy’ Zien at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. With over 60 participating restaurants, we were proud to be a fellow supporter.

Featuring our Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho with Maryland Blue Crab and Temecula Olive Oil

Our team with Sam ‘The Cooking Guy’ Zien

On Sunday, we had the honor of hosting families of all ages and their Mom’s coming to enjoy our beautiful Mother’s Day Brunch. Flowers decorated our rooms, along with laughter and pure enjoyment. We featured made-to-order omelets, a selection of freshly baked breads, pastries and carving stations of Herb Crusted Baron of Beef and Butter Basted Tom Turkey Breast. The menu items were bringing guests back for more, plate after plate.

If you would like to see more pictures of our fabulous Mother’s Day buffet, visit our Facebook page and view our gallery.

Don’t worry if you missed one of the most anticipated brunches we host during the year, we have more great events to follow including our Summer barbeque starting June 1st as well as our Father’s Day Brunch. To view our upcoming events, visit our Event Calendar.

All registered attendees were placed in a raffle for a wedding cake valued at $1,000. Congratulations to our lucky winners, Raquel and Tom!

Special thanks to our vendors:
A Dream Wedding by Sharon Cole
Alex Guillen, Guitarist
Andy King Photography
Caprice Strings
Charlie Bradley Entertainment
Classic Party Rentals
Disco Friend
Disc Go Round
Elements of Style
Euro Pastry
Events + Style
Flowers by Azhar
Jodie B. Photography
Mariela Campbell Photography
Mary Kay
MME Events
Pam’s Productions
Pastor Mike
Primrose Spa
Reverend Beryl Cotter
San Diego Soiree
Shirley Resnick ‘The Cake Lady’
Starlight Photo Booth
Solid Gold DJ
The Boudior Divas
Walter Wilson Photography
What a Wedding, Wedding Planners

If you missed our showcase, not to worry, our professional catering staff is available to coordinate a site-tour and help you plan your perfect day at Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort. For more information, or to book an appointment, please email weddings@sycuanresort.com.

We’d like you to entertain the idea of an interview with the Chef to show people what can help them easily transform an ordinary meal to fine-restaurant grade food.  Here’s just a sampling of some of the tips he could offer:

1. Oils:  does it really matter what oil you use in the kitchen?  Chef Augie says yes.  ”Olive oil has its use but
   grape seed oil is the way to go when it comes to cooking.  It has a higher burn rate which means it won’t burn your food.” Also, it provides a neutral flavor unlike olive oil that influences the food.  Grape Seed Oil obviously comes from grapes meaning wineries also provide it.  It’s a little bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for.  You can use it for cooking and marinating.  Olive still has its place, like with some balsamic vinegar used for dipping with bread.

Where can you get grape seed oil?  Try Trader Joes or Whole Foods or if you feel real adventurous, visit one of the local farms like Temecula Olive Oil Company.

1. Organic Sea Salt.  Table salt – bad; Sea salt – good.   Table salt contains chemicals our bodies don’t need like aluminum and different chemicals.  Sea salt is more healthy, tasty and flaky.  It’s potent and strong so you don’t have to use a lot which is better for you in general.  Try ordering online New Zealand Sea Salt. 
2. Local Sustainable Products – Fruits, vegetables, meat…buying local, sustainable food is the way to go.  It’s food raised with little human interaction and little or no chemicals.  This means fruits and veggies are grown chemical-free and livestock  with no growth hormones and cage free.  This puts less stress on the animal which creates more tender meat.

Where should you go?  Suzy’s Farms, very popular and is at the Hillcrest Farmers market every Sunday from 9-2.  Crows Pass farms, another good choice, is there also.

These tips and more are available from the Chef and we thought it a great way to focus on food in a way that gives people practical yet interesting advice that goes beyond day-to-day cooking.

46% – Consistent from one tee to the next
39% – Solid texture, smooth greens and firm ground
7% – Speed of the green
4% – Pleasing to the eye, healthy grass and no weeds
4% – Interesting shape or layout

Surprisingly enough, the layout of the course had little effect on how golfers felt about the green. According to the survey, they value consistency over everything else. “We pride ourselves on putting forward the best green possible,” says Tamo Maldonado, Golf Superintendent of Sycuan Golf and Tennis Resort. “We’re glad to be able to offer golfers not only a place to relax, but a consistent green where they can work on improving their skills and enjoy their time on the course.”

ABOUT SYCUAN GOLF & TENNIS RESORT
Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort is a 425-acre golf resort managed by the Sycuan Tribe, and is nestled in the lush Dehesa Valley of El Cajon, California. Just a short 20-minute drive from downtown San Diego, the resort is the perfect place for a vacation, business retreat, conference, tournament or special event. The resort boasts 54 holes of championship golf and offers professional golf instruction through its PGA and LPGA certified Golf Academy. Also included are 11-lighted tennis courts, swimming pools, Primrose Spa, and delicious casual dining options. Offering great values all year long, Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort is a golfer’s paradise. For more information about Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort, please visit www.sycuanresort.com or call 800-457-5568. To schedule a group meeting or special event, please contact Amy Galusha, National Sales Manager at agalusha@sycuanresort.com or 619-219-6066. For press inquiries, please contact Robert Blodgett at 619-573-1061 ext. 311 or Robert@jacobtyler.com.

ABOUT THE SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
Members of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation have resided in and around the San Diego area for nearly 12,000 years. The Sycuan Tribal Government operates one of the region’s premier Indian gaming and resort facilities, the Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort and Sycuan Casino. The Sycuan Tribe demonstrates its strong commitment to the San Diego region through its support of hundreds of civic and charitable organizations. The Tribe, through the Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation (STDC), also seeks to reinvest in the San Diego community with a progressive business development effort. To date, STDC has purchased Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort (formerly Singing Hills Country Club) and the historic U.S. Grant Hotel and Conference Center in National City. For more information about Sycuan visit www.sycuan.com.

The team consists of:
Austin Reynolds
Eden Mackinnon
Shatoo Mohammed
Meron Teklu
Brayden Ferris
Mike Mongiello
Jason Chapman
Emily Quesada

They played an experienced team from Rancho Peñasquitos and held their own.

#2 Singles Player Austin Reynolds lost 8-2. #1 singles player Eden Mackinnon won 8-5. #2 doulbes team of Jason and Emily won 8-5 and our #1 doubles team consisting of Brayden and Meron lost a closely fought battle 8-7 (7-5 tiebreak). Although at the end of the day the matches were tied at 2-2, Rancho Peñasquitos ended up winning 26 games to 25.

For more information on getting your child in our fun and exciting program, click Junior Development Program. Way to go team!

Back in your stance. The focus here is to be sure to keep your ball back in your stance.

Lean into your target. The focus here is to put 75% of your weight on your forward foot (right-handed golfers, it's your left foot).

Tilt the butt-end of the club towards your left, hip pocket (for right-handed golfers).

Until next time, keep swinging!

Clint Higgins –
Director of Golf – PGA Golf Professional
Titleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor
Sycuan Golf and Tennis Resort

The most common thing that I am asked when giving a lesson is, “Clint, How do I get more distance out of my driver?” You must understand that consistent distance comes from centered-ness of contact (the sweet spot) and the angle of approach that your club makes when coming in contact with the golf ball. When this is realized, I also focus on three points that will help optimize your distance.

First, do you hold the club correctly – Do you have a proper grip? An added power technique that is often under utilized by the amateur golfer is holding the club in the fingers, as opposed to the palm of the hand. For example, when you hold a baseball bat you encircle the bat palms first and then close your fingers in around it. In golf you should let the club rest in your fingers – primarily in the ring and middle finger of the lead hand (Note: the lead hand for right handed players is the left hand, and vice versa for left handed golfers). This allows a more free flowing swing, a release of the club head during impact, and lets you create more club head speed without having to swing harder at the ball.

The second thing that I look at is posture. According to The Titleist Performance Institute, 65% of missed golf shots, from the amateur to the professional level come from early extension, also known as a loss of posture. This means that somewhere during the course of the swing the golfer losses the starting posture or the golfer was never in the correct posture from the start. To get the proper posture, stand up straight with your feet shoulders width apart. From here try to bend at the hip flexors, not the back, to lower yourself over the ball. Finally gently soften your knees. If your posture is correct, you should be able to see the tops of your shoe laces, and your lower back should be flat. Try to maintain this posture through the entirety of your swing; you must stay down over the ball until your arms pass your body. If you lose your posture, you will lose your power.

Finally, in many cases amateur golfers feel that if they swing hard at the ball they will get more distance. This could not be further from the truth. When you swing hard at the ball, your muscles are flexed. What is longer, a flexed muscle or a relaxed muscle? The answer is a relaxed muscle. To create club head speed, try to keep your arms relaxed, your upper back relaxed, and your wrists lose.

So, if distance is what you are looking to gain, remember to check these three things: your grip, your posture, and your level of relaxation. It is also very important to stretch before, during, and after your round to avoid injury and increase the longevity of your game.

Notice here that you should hold the club in the fingers, primarily the ring and middle finger. From here close your hand around the rest of the grip like in the picture above.

Don’t establish your grip palm first. Notice the club laying across the palm of the hand instead of the fingers.

A solid starting posture, bending at the hip flexors and softening the knees. Also notice a flatter lower back.

This is an incorrect starting posture. You will notice the rounded lower back – Also known as “C” posture. This is an inefficient way to start your swing

Here at the top of the swing the hands are as far away from the center of the chest as possible. This will allow for a larger swing arc and increased club head speed

Until next time, keep swinging!

Clint Higgins –
Director of Golf – PGA Golf Professional
Titleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor
Sycuan Golf and Tennis Resort

1. Golf jokes are made for laughing, so do. Except if they can’t hit the ball.
2. Offer snacks liberally; a full golfer is a happy golfer.
3. Let your sweetheart drive the cart. At least it’ll get them off the green.
4. Compliment them. Often. Even if they’re back in the bunker for the fifth time.
5. Be courteous and don’t ever drive past the ladies tee box.
6. NEVER give unsolicited advice.

“We provide golf instruction of all sorts…even when it comes to affectionate game moves helping mates understand the basics of golfing togetherness,” said Bob Madsen, PGA, Director of Instruction at Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort. “Even if those couples aren’t matched in skill, we can help. Couples that play together, stay together and learning the basics can help cement that golf-bond.”

Couples Retreat
When one night together just isn’t enough, Sycuan offers their “Couples Retreat Package” for a full weekend of golfing fun. This includes two nights in the resorts newly renovated rooms, 3 hours of golf instruction, included greens fees, complimentary beverages, unlimited range balls and more. For the golfer who has everything, a few days on the course makes for the perfect relaxing getaway. For more information please visit http://www.sycuanresort.com.

Ultimate Romance Package Contest
Sycuan is also launching a contest around their “Ultimate Romance Package.” Couples submit their creative stories of how they met to win a free overnight stay at the resort and a private dinner for two at the Sycuan Café Grill. The romantic menu includes a full-course dinner of exotic aphrodisiac foods and two glasses of champagne to kick off the evening in style. “It was a creative idea with the romantic holiday in mind. Why not use aphrodisiacs as a way to entice our guests to come in and enjoy a romantic setting? It’s risqué and appealing at the same time,” said Sycuan’s award-winning Chef, Augie Saucedo.

To enter to win the “Ultimate Romance Package” please visit: http://www.facebook.com/sycuanresort.

ABOUT SYCUAN GOLF & TENNIS RESORT
Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort is a 425-acre golf resort managed by the Sycuan Tribe, and is nestled in the lush Dehesa Valley of El Cajon, California. Just a short 20-minute drive from downtown San Diego, the resort is the perfect place for a vacation, business retreat, conference, tournament or special event. The resort boasts 54 holes of championship golf and offers professional golf instruction through its PGA and LPGA certified Golf Academy. Also included are 11-lighted tennis courts, swimming pools, Primrose Spa, and delicious fine and casual dining options. Offering great values all year long, Sycuan Resort is a golfer’s paradise. For more information about Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort please visit http://www.sycuanresort.comor call 800-457-5568. To schedule a group meeting or special event please contact Amy Hungerford Galusha, National Sales Manager at ahungerford@sycuanresort.com or 619-219-6066. For press inquiries, please contact Robert Blodgett at 619-573-1061 xt. 311 or Robert@jacobtyler.com.

ABOUT THE SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
Members of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation have resided in and around the San Diego area for nearly 12,000 years. The Sycuan Tribal Government operates one of the region’s premier Indian gaming and resort facilities, the Sycuan Resort and Casino. The Sycuan Tribe demonstrates its strong commitment to the San Diego region through its support of hundreds of civic and charitable organizations. The Tribe, through the Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation (STDC), also seeks to reinvest in the San Diego community with a progressive business development effort. To date, STDC has purchased Sycuan Resort (formerly Singing Hills Country Club) and the historic U.S. Grant Hotel and Conference Center in National City. For more information about Sycuan visit www.sycuan.com.

Willow Glen, one of two premier 18-hole San Diego Championship golf courses at Sycuan, gets a “bunker-lift”.

The championship layout is undergoing the replacement of “42” sand bunkers. These challenging golf course features are being reshaped and contoured as part of this project to increase your golf-playing pleasure. With this major overhaul, it equates to 1,200 tons of Caltega Silica Sand. This process started the 3rd week of November and is slated to be completed by the end of 2011.

Pine Glen, our Par 3 18-hole Pine Glen golf course gets a “‘tee-box’ lift”.

Pine Glen, Our Par 3 18-hole Pine Glen golf course gets a “‘tee-box’ lift”.

With a total of over 60,000 square feet of Hybrid Bermuda, the course will have an improved feel at the start of each hole. This is not just new seed/sod, but leveling and grading for appropriate runoff and once again to improve our players golfing experience.

It’s not a golf cart, but a Club Car!

If the scenery, food and facility isn’t breathtaking enough, we are furthering your golf experience with a brand new Golf Car fleet from Club Car. This is the precedent model that provides a great ride for your 18 holes and includes Visage, the newest GPS system around. Why not have your own personal caddy with the included flyovers and descriptions of each hole and accurate yardage to provide you with the most detailed information when deciding the appropriate club to use. Hosting a tournament? We would be glad to help your group advertise your sponsors and key players on each hole. The possibilities are endless.

When you come out to check out the improvements, let us know what you think!