January 2024 is a Busy Month of Boat Shows, Trivia, Football, Karaoke, Singo, Golf & Pool Leagues and Live Entertainment at Shangri-La!
By Barry Willingham, President & CEO of Shangri-La Resort
I want to start the New Year with a heartfelt expression of my deepest gratitude to the
members, guests, and groups who made 2023 a record-breaking year of success at Shangri-La Resort.
A lot has happened in the four-and-a-half years since I took the reins for this wild ride.
The addition of The Battlefield Par 3 golf course has dramatically impacted our operations this year; but nothing has contributed to our dramatic growth more than our people – those who have joined our membership, plus those who chose our resort as a destination, along with those on our awesome Shangri-La team who welcomed them with the delivery of memory-making good times.
As we look forward to a new year ahead, early scheduling of events foretells an even bigger year on the near horizon.
I am so grateful for the leadership of General Manager Lance Funderburk and our incredible team at each of the varied venues – and our loyal members and guests who have made it all possible.
There is No “Off Season” at Shangri-La
A sold-out schedule of Christmas parties, our “Ultimate Christmas Party” at The Anchor,
Christmas Brunch with Santa, the wonderful two Sundays of “A Grand Lake Holiday
Celebration” hosted by our wonderful members Jack & Nancy Adkisson with the musical treats from Terry Jordan, Andre Jones & The Showstoppers, and David Bridges & The Message, huge “Tuesday Trivia” turnouts, Thursday Night Karaoke and Friday night live entertainment at Doc’s, some fabulous year-end celebrations by corporate groups, and our year-ending “New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner” proved that December is not an “off-season” at Shangri-La Resort.
And no one on our team is taking their foot off the accelerator for January.
Our Sales & Catering Team kicks off the month hand-in-hand with the crew from Nichols
Marine at Shangri-La by spreading the Grand Lake news at the Oklahoma Boat Expo at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa January 5-7.
Be sure to stop by for a visit during this first and biggest boat show of the year.
A wide variety of exhibitors will join more than 20 of the largest boat dealers in Oklahoma, including virtually all the Grand Lake dealers.
The show will be open from 11:00-8:00 Friday, 10:00-8:00 Saturday, and 10:00-5:00 on Sunday. It will, without a doubt, be the premier show of the year!
In the meantime, there is no shortage of fun on the calendar on the Shangri-La home front.
We continue our Thursday night Karaoke and dining feature each week with Jason Morgan
hosting the musical fun – but with an added twist.
This month Jason will host a Singo competition at The Anchor each Saturday night from 6:00-9:00 p.m. beginning January 6.
It’s also kick-off month for our Winter Golf League and Winter Pool League at The Anchor.
Lead Assistant Golf Professional Ryan Dalton heads up the Winter Golf League in the Simulator Bay at The Anchor each Wednesday night this month beginning January 3.
Players compete on a variety of courses utilizing the Trackman Golf fun at The Anchor.
If you’re interested, check with Ryan and see if there may be available player slots remaining. You can contact him via email at [email protected].
Director of Anchor Operations Shaun Tune will host the Winter Pool League fun each
Thursday this month, beginning with an organizational meeting Thursday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m.
If you want to participate in the league, but cannot make it to the January 4 meeting, you need to be sure an email Shaun no later than January 4. Contact him at [email protected].
Needless to say, Coach Kerr always has a full schedule of fun on the Racquet Club courts
with a full schedule of pickleball drills, mixers, and tennis drills for all ages.
With our heated dome, there’s no need to worry about the weather.
No matter what the forecast, the weather is perfect every day at The Racquet Club.
There’s year-round musical entertainment too, of course.
Each Friday night, we also feature great live performances at Doc’s from a cadre of talented musicians. Entertainers in January include Ryan Graham, Mark Gibson, JR Neal, and Kevin Price.
Never Ending Sports Coverage at The Anchor
With 42 college football games in the rear-view mirror, January sporting events at The
Anchor are only getting bigger and more important.
Join us Monday evening, January 8, for the biggest college game of the year – the National
Championship Watch Party at The Anchor beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The end of college football for the year means the premier battles in the National Football
League are just heating up.
NFL Playoffs begin January 13 with three days of play, followed by Saturday & Sunday games the following weekend, and Conference Championship games Sunday, January 28.
Go ahead and mark your calendars to join us next month for Grand Lake’s biggest Super Bowl Party on Sunday evening, February 11!
It’s a busy month for college and NBA basketball, too.
We’ll have all the biggest games including OU, OSU, Arkansas, and Kansas games, as well as all the OKC Thunder games featured on the video walls at The Anchor.
It’s Time for Shangri-Low Golf!
With the arrival of winter weather, PGA Head Golf Professional Jerrod Neighbors has once
again implemented our most popular winter golf special – Shangri-Low Golf.
It’s simple.
Just watch the temperature and pay a price equal to the low temperature on the day you play.
If the early morning temperature is 25, but the Mercury rises to 55 degrees in the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a pleasant afternoon on the course and pay $25 for 18 holes.
The special promotion continues through February, allowing you to enjoy a high time of afternoon golf, but the price you pay is…Shangri-Low!
Exciting Additions to Our Food & Beverage Department – Plan to Come Meet Them
We are excited to welcome two fantastic new team members to our Food & Beverage
Department.
Todd Rodemyer joins our staff as Director of Food & Beverage this month – and
John Havens II joined the team in mid-December as Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations.
Chef John showed his talent and flair with the fabulous New Year’s Eve Members’ Wine Dinner – and both he and Chef Todd have some exciting plans for Food & Beverage.
In addition to our Taco & Tequila Tuesdays at Doc’s, our culinary crew is planning a variety
of Wednesday night Chef’s Specials at Doc’s, and some new and exciting special touches to
favorite dishes at all of our venues.
Mark your calendars for Sunday afternoon, January 21, and join us for a special “Meet and
Greet” to get acquainted with Chef Todd and Chef John and find out first-hand what new and innovative plans they have to enhance your dining experience at Shangri-La.
The “Meet and Greet” will be held at The Summit and Buffalo Bar from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday, January 21 – and I hope all our members who are at the lake that weekend will come join us to welcome these important players to the Shangri-La team.
Golf Team Promotions, Too!
Congratulations to Jerrod Neighbors and Bradley Jumper. These two dedicated professionals have stepped up their game to accept additional responsibilities with the departure of PGA Director of Golf Rob Yanovitch who joined Twin Hills Country Club in Oklahoma City as General Manager.
Jerrod is now PGA Head Golf Professional at Shangri-La, and Bradley has taken on the
responsibilities of Head Golf Professional at The Battlefield.
Be sure to congratulate these Shangri-La veterans next time you’re on the course.
Save the Date – Valentine in Black & White!
We are still finalizing plans for some fantastic entertainment, but you need to be sure to mark your calendar to save the February 17 date.
I promise you won’t want to miss our special “Valentine in Black & White” gala scheduled for that evening in the Roosevelt Ballroom.
With Valentine’s Day midweek this year, we will have special offerings on Valentine’s Day and both the weekend before and weekend after the holiday at dining venues – but the “Valentine in Black & White” promises to be a very special evening of dining, dancing, and live entertainment that is sure to leave you with some fantastic memories.
We’ll have full details available very soon – but I wanted to make sure you saved the February 17 date on your calendar.
There’s a Great Year Ahead!
Midway through my fifth year as President and CEO at Shangri-La, I am humbled by the
support we have had as we continue to move our resort in an exciting direction, including the confidence shown by our owner Eddy Gibbs, the leadership from General Manager Lance Funderburk who is leading our team in the implementation of exciting improvements, and all our incredible members offering encouragement and participation that energizes our path forward to continued success.
I am truly in an enviable position. We can already tell from advance bookings that 2024 will be another record year.
Thank you for your support, your patronage, and your friendship through the years. We hope you will join us often at Shangri-La Resort as we begin a new year together.
Our team is always here for you and your guests any time you have the sudden urge to Escape the Ordinary.
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