Shadow Lake's Sean Flaherty CEC Named Rochester Chef of the Year

UPDATED: Mar 15, 2018

The American Culinary Federation has honored Shadow Lake Golf & Racquet Club’s Certified Executive Chef Sean Flaherty as the Rochester Area Chef of the Year.

The ACF informed Chef Flaherty of their selection on Monday, May 1. Ceremonies are slated to honor him on Monday, May 22 at Shadow Lake Golf Club.This honor was Sean’s first, also being nominated in 2014 and 2015. Chef Flaherty began his tenure at Shadow Lake in 2008.

Chef Flaherty was educated at the culinary school at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Upon his return to the Rochester area, Sean assumed executive chef positions at Eagle Vale Golf Club, as well as Cutlers at The Memorial Art Gallery and Thendara Inn in Canandaigua.

The battle for Chef of the Year involved creating an entrée using a mystery protein. The contestants then had 15 minutes to create a menu, one hour to cook, and five minutes to plate for the judges. Chef Sean Flaherty's winning dish consisted of ginger infused pork belly crusted sea scallops, local cheddar grits, batonet of carrot and asparagus, roasted red pepper sauce, pork belly twine and watercress.

Shadow Lake Will Remain Golf Course - New Ownership

by Mary Chao, Democrat & Chronicle, and columnist at Rochester Magazine

January 1st, 2016

Shadow Lake Golf & Racquet Club in Penfield will be sold back to the family who built the club and golf course.

Fritz Odenbach, currently senior vice president of The Dolomite Group, and Gary Haseley, a former owner and CEO of Zeller Corporation, have signed a definitive letter of intent to purchase the assets from The Dolomite Group.

Founded in 1979, Shadow Lake is one of three golf facilities developed and operated by The Dolomite Group. Dolomite was founded in 1920 by John H. Odenbach. The family sold its quarries and golf courses in 2000 to Oldcastle Materials based in Dublin, Ireland to settle a family estate, but continued to operate under its original name.

Located at 1850 Five Mile Line Road, Shadow Lake is a public golf course situated on 210 acres. It has an 18-hole championship course, a 9-hole executive course and a tavern-style bar and restaurant. It is also a popular wedding venue and executive conference rental space. Shadow Lake also has five platform tennis courts and has been the host site for four Platform Tennis National Championships.

The future of Shadow Lake has been the focus of a group of concerned citizens called Save the Heart of Penfield. The group is worried about additional traffic and destruction of green space. Citizens have been meeting to propose ideas other than further development.

The sale of Shadow Lake to an Odenbach family member is welcome news to the group, said spokesman Mike Ruff.

"We think that's a positive," Ruff said. "They are big Penfield supporters."

Fritz Odenbach and Haseley are planning golf course and clubhouse improvements at Shadow Lake and it will remain a golf course.

"Over time we plan on looking at ways of speeding up play, trimming up trees, improving sand traps," Fritz Odenbach said. He also plans to see if it's feasible to add practice facilities for golfers as well as making improvements on the grounds by the clubhouse and outdoor wedding tent area.

"We want to be extremely thoughtful as we look at possible options," he said.

The purchase of Shadow Lake is expected to close next month, subject to a final purchase agreement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.