Ruttger’s Retail Therapy

The official kick off to summer is finally here!!! Happy Memorial Weekend!

We have been unloading lots of boxes with tons of great new clothing and items for our stores.

The Country Store and Garage are open and Auntie M’s opens this weekend. We are so excited and can’t wait for the stores to come back alive with all of our favorite shoppers. Gretchen, our Retail Director hand picked all of the new items and she knows you are going to love them!

We look forward to seeing you this weekend for some retail therapy!

Meet our Team! Tami Price, Director of Vacation Sales

We know many of you have talked to Tami when booking your stay with Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge. It is always so nice to put a face with a name and get to know that person behind the phone, so….meet Tami Price! Tami is starting her 18th year with us and her knowledge of the resort is vast as she was born and raised right here in the area. Just like Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge is family owned and operated, Tami has that same belief and strong family bond. She has been married for 35 years to Randy, who also works at Ruttger’s! Even Tami’s daughter was an employee when she was 14 to age 21. Pretty awesome! We asked Tami some questions about her and about the resort…make sure to see the last question and find out the best time of year to visit us.

What is involved in the Director of Vacation Sales job? Every day, I connect with our guests. It is so much fun helping new guests with choosing the type of lodging and package that best fits their families needs. I also enjoy getting back in touch with all our long time guests that have been coming for years! It is fun to catch up on what they have been doing the past year. We also like to get out and meet our guests, if we don’t get a chance to at check-in then we try to go visit them during breakfast and say hello. The days go by fast here!

What do you do in the off season and how do you gear up for the season? Actually, I am a year round employee so even when it is 20 below zero and snow is knee deep, I am here! It is a whole different Resort in the winter, the halls are quiet and I miss the wonderful smells coming from Terry’s kitchen. During this time we do a lot of job sharing…..yes, I even get to do a little shoveling around here and of course help answer the switchboard.

What is your favorite part of your job? Talking to the guests! They are like family to me and I love connecting with them year round. We email and stay in touch via social media. My favorite is receiving pictures from guests…new babies, weddings, graduations, etc.

Can you tell us something interesting about Ruttger’s that people might not know? Many of the employee’s here also have another family member working here. Just like my husband and daughter!

What is your favorite thing to do at Ruttger’s? I enjoy staying overnight here once in a while. I try to stay in different room types so I have a feel for each and can explain them to our guests. It is also nice to just walk around here in the evening and see all the guests have a great time!

Do you have a favorite cabin? I really don’t have a favorite. There are so many unique cottages, that it would be hard to have a favorite. I love all of them.

When is the best time of year is to come to Ruttger’s and why? Well….here goes! Any day is a great day to stay here at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge! Spring is great with all the new growth and warm days and cool nights. Summer of course is packed full of family activities and the days are long and warm. Fall is great for seeing the bright fall leaves here, the sites are amazing. This is the best time to get a cabin with a fireplace!

Thank you so much, Tami!

Once a month we will be posting about one of our team members. We feel like our guests are family and want to share our family with you!

Ruttger’s Recipe Book – Lemon Chiffon Cake

Enjoy our delicious Lemon Chiffon Cake. Perfect Spring/Summer treat!

Sue’s Insights – Save Money Planning Your Next Event

Here is one quick tip to save money as you plan your next meeting or event. Once a location has been chosen, take a few minutes to do a little more research. Find out when “peak” season is for the area through internet searches, Convention & Visitors Bureau or a local chamber of commerce website. Once you have obtained this information plan your event on either side of this window. For substantial savings, plan the event three or more months outside of this time frame. Work with your onsite contact to find out if by moving the event one or two days during the week could save you money as well. Sometimes shifting your event by as little as 24 hours can save a lot of money to the bottom line.

For more information about planning an event at Ruttger’s, you can contact us at 800.450.4545 or you can request a proposal at our website: http://www.ruttgers.com/groups/requestproposal.html

Happy Planning!

Sue Maroney-Smith, Director of Sales

Jonathan Yuhas Weather Wonders – Warmer Weather is Coming!

Much warmer days ahead for Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge! The average highs climb significantly the next few weeks. Above is a picture that I shot last Summer, those beautiful days are coming!

May 10 Average high 65

May 25 Average high 71

June 10 Average high 74

June 30 Average high 79

July 4 Average high 80

Awesome….now that looks like a better forecast ahead. Thank you, Jonathan! If you have a question that you would like to ask Jonathan and see answered here, you can email us at ruttgersbll@gmail.com.

 

Here Fishy, Fishy!

Did you know that Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge has their very own fishing guide? Well, we do! Meet Lynn Harker….

Retired after 34 years of teaching, Lynn has been guiding professionally on Bay Lake for 20 years. Included in his guide service is the boat, fuel, bait, tackle, PFDs, fish cleaning, education, safety, and fun! For rates and more information you can go to the Ruttger’s website at: http://www.ruttgers.com/fishing.html

Lynn doesn’t just take you fishing…he takes you on an adventure!

So all of you could get know him a little better we asked him a few questions.

What is the best part of guiding for you? Being a fishing guide is a real dream for me. I’m a fishing addict and when I guide I get paid to go fishing! How can you beat that!! I can guide 5 days in a row and I truly will go fishing on my own the next day. I get to meet some very interesting people from politicians, to professional athletes, to just everyday people. I got to guide Glen Frey from the Eagles for two days! But the most enjoyable part of guiding is when a kid catches his/ her biggest fish of their lives. The smiles and expressions on their faces are priceless. I also love to share my knowledge and love the sport of fishing. Being a retired teacher of 34 years, I can still teach in my boat, not just how to fish, but my interest in wildlife, birds, clean water, and all things the nature of Minnesota has to offer.

What is your favorite fish to catch? I am a multi-species guide. I will fish for anything my clients want to go after, panfish, crappies, bass, trout, northerns, walleyes and muskies. I like to catch fish! When I guide I want my clients to catch a bunch of fish! I have hard core walleye clients and I have families that want to go catch a bunch of sunfish, it’s all fun. I think my favorite fish is the walleye but crappies are right up there too. I have fun catching anything that swims!

Okay….here come the Fish Tales! What is the biggest fish you have ever caught? My biggest, or personal bests are a 32 inch walleye out of the Rainy River (about 13 lbs), a 26 1/2 lb. northern from Mille Lacs lake, a 48 inch Muskie out of Mille Lacs lake, several 5-6 lb. bass and even some 15 inch crappies. All were caught in Minnesota and most were caught within 20 miles of Ruttger’s. One of my best fish stories was when I was guiding a client from New York who wanted to catch his first muskie. We fished three solid days and finally on the last afternoon he hooked a very large muskie. After a hard fought battle and several heart pounding runs, I netted his first muskie ever! We high fived, hooted and hollered and I told him to get his camera out for some pictures while I got the fish unhooked and out of the net. As I was lifting the fish out of the net the giant muskie twisted in a way that it hurt my wrist and I dropped it into the lake!! The guy had just caught not only his first muskie of his life but a true trophy, paid me for three whole days of fishing and I dropped his fish back in the lake! The fish gods were with me that day! The muskie, being tired and a bit dazed swam across the top of the water along side my boat toward the front. I quickly grabbed the net again, ran to the front and netted the fish. I was never so thankful for a fish in my life! It was well over 30 lbs. almost 50 inches long. Talk about exciting!

That is an awesome story! Next time you stay with us, make sure to consider booking a fishing guide trip and make your own story!

Come into the warmth!

It has been a chilly spring but it is always warm at the Fine Line Hair Design Salon & Spa at Ruttgers! Our hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is the perfect time of year to come in and get pampered. You can stay warm, have a cup of hot tea and soak in all the wonderful spa aromas. We also have some great Mother’s Day gift baskets to choose from and a great special on gift certificates for Mom!

Buy a gift certificate now and get….

$200 for $180
$150 for $135
$100 for $90

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Ruttger’s Recipe Book

Today’s recipe is staying focused on Summer and the blue skies ahead! Have a great weekend!

Meet our Team! Jamie Alderman, Head Golf Professional

Hey, who is that guy running around with the golf club? Meet Jamie Alderman! Jamie was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and went to college at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Throughout his PGA career, he has traveled a lot…spending some time in all of these locations:

Columbus, OH
Jupiter, FL
Naples, FL
Durham, NC
Baltimore, MD
Minneapolis, MN

Jamie is starting his 3rd season and comes to us with 21 years experience in the golf industry and 16 years as a Class A Member of PGA. He oversees day to day golf/tournament operations and manages 18 golf employees. He runs our Pro Shop and teaches private lessons, group clinics, golf schools, and junior golf. We sat down and asked Jamie some questions. Make sure to check out the last one with some great golf tips!

What do you do in the off season? I spend every day of the off season with my wife Jackie. During the season, it is always so busy so we take advantage during the off time and go on at least 3, 1 week vacations. We spend the holidays with family and I relax and watch lots of basketball. By the time March rolls around, I’m antsy to get back to work!

What is your favorite part of your job? Interacting with the people every day. I really like the satisfaction of making a student a better golfer, how every day is different and having my office look out to the golf course!

What is something interesting about the Golf Course that people might not know? Wow, there is so much variety to each hole. Elevation, trees, water, and bunkers. Holes that dog leg left, right and straight. The variety of the length of all the Par 3′s, 4′s and 5′s. Big greens, small greens, tight off the tee, open off the tee. The scenery is so beautiful! You use every club in your bag each round, it’s so much fun to play.

What is your favorite hole? #12 – So scenic from the tee shot as well as the approach to the green. I think it just so happens to be the toughest hole also.

What is your number one golf tip for guests? Do yourself a huge favor….and get your golf instruction from a PGA Professional – not from a book, TV, friend, parent or spouse. It truly will make a difference.

One general golf tip – Your grip is most important.

Playing Ruttger’s – Use the straightest club in the bag off of most tees.

Thank you, Jamie!

Once a month we will be posting about one of our team members. We feel like our guests are family and want to share our family with you!

Jonathan Yuhas Weather Wonders

Spring 2013 is moving at a much slower pace compared to Spring 2012. Ice still is covering many lakes across Minnesota but Spring is already well into the air with the warmer days and brighter sunshine. Many changes will appear the next few weeks as things quickly transition from a brown look to green up by early May. You can already hear the new bird songs and even some tulips are popping up in the areas facing the south. During the month of April the daylight will grow longer and the grasses will continue to green and eventually the frogs will be singing a noisy evening chorus that Spring is really here. Average high temperatures at Bay Lake will rise from the mid 40s in early April to near 60 degrees by the end of the month and climbing into the 70s during May.

Watch for the signs, they are right around the corner and soon we will all be enjoying the lake!

Thank you, Jonathan! If you have a question that you would like to ask Jonathan and see answered here, you can email us at ruttgersbll@gmail.com.