[ MEMBER
Q & A
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Family First
NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERS SCOTT AND KATE AKAMINE SHARE THE BEST ADVICE THEY ’ VE RECEIVED , THEIR FAVORITE CONCERTS AND HOW THEY ENJOY SPENDING TIME AS A FAMILY .
Every so often , the editors of Bay Window send out a questionnaire to one of the esteemed members or employees of an International Bay Clubs property to gain some insight into his or her life . These nine questions allow our readers to learn something new about old friends , or discover somebody they have not met before . For this issue , we ’ re getting to know Newport Beach Country Club members Scott and Kate Akamine .
Bay Window : What is your favorite way to spend a day off ? Scott and Kate Akamine : We love a good beach day with a couple surfboards and sandwiches . Scott grew up surfing and is now teaching our boys to surf , so everyone is happy at the beach . Even in the winter time , the boys wear wetsuits and brave the cold water . We are so grateful to live in Newport Beach and take full advantage of it .
BW : What was your best vacation ? S & KA : The boys really enjoyed getting back onto the mountain for ski week . It was a long drive to Mammoth , but totally worth it to see the boys develop their confidence . Connor , 7 , loves to fly down the mountain as quickly as possible , while Finn , 5 , and Kate enjoy a slower pace . There is nothing better than a cup of hot chocolate ( or a cocktail ) to enjoy during the après party .
BW : What is the best piece of advice a family member has given you ? S & KA : After our oldest son , Connor , was born , we were told that the days would be long , but the years would be short . It has proven true .
BW : Do you have a favorite holiday ? S & KA : Kate is a big fan of Thanksgiving . It ’ s a family-focused holiday without the pressure of presents and an emphasis on food . Scott has always enjoyed the fun of the 4th of July in Newport Beach — although the days of celebrating on the peninsula have long passed .
BW : What is the best concert you have ever been to ? S & KA : A date night with a concert is a good night . We ’ ve seen an eclectic mix : Taylor Swift , the Zac Brown Band , Kings of Leon , among others . Any time we can get babysitting !
BW : Favorite type of exercise ? S & KA : Afternoon bike rides around the neighborhood with our kids . It ’ s a fun way to run into our neighbors in Dover Shores . In our spare time , we also enjoy hiking , running or biking — and golf counts for exercise , right ?
BW : What is a family tradition that you enjoy ? S & KA : We sit down as a family for dinner and play High , Low , Buffalo . To play , each person takes a turn to talk about the best part of their day ( high ), the worst part of their day ( low ) and something they noticed or observed during the day ( buffalo ). … It is a fantastic conversation starter , especially for those with children who say that every day is “ fine .”
BW : What is your favorite way to spend time with your family ? S & KA : We have come to enjoy Saturday afternoons on the NBCC golf course for the Operation 36 program . It is a fantastic program for the kids to learn the game and gain an appreciation for scoring . Nothing like watching our younger boy , Finn , stressing over a downhill 3-foot putt .
BW : If you could live anywhere in the world , where would it be ? S & KA : We have looked at opportunities to move out of California for work , but there really is no place like Newport Beach .
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