La Cumbre Country Club Blog

A Note From the Governance Committee

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 17:21:20 GMT

Governance Committee Update

News from the Club President 6/19/25

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 17:19:52 GMT

Dear La Cumbre Members,

Next week, the Board will be meeting to tackle the important topic of how to fund our capital needs moving forward. As part of this due diligence, we had received an expression of interest regarding the purchase of the Club. To better understand the optionality, the Board has had additional conversations with other interested parties.

The Board is actively engaged in long-range financial planning to ensure that we can sustain and elevate the Club for generations to come. As part of this process, we are exploring a wide range of funding options to support the significant capital investments our Club will need over the coming years. This includes traditional approaches like capital dues, transfer fees, assessments, and loans.

In the spirit of good governance and due diligence, the Board is also gathering information about alternative funding avenues, including outside capital interest. To be clear:

No decisions have been made
No offers are under consideration
The Board has not authorized any action toward selling the Club

What has occurred are preliminary, exploratory conversations intended to fully understand what options may exist. This process is about building knowledge so that if we need to make major financial decisions in the future, we do so from a well-informed position, always with the best interest of the membership and the long-term health of the Club in mind.

We understand that seeing outside individuals on the property may have raised questions, and we regret any confusion this may have caused. Our commitment remains:

Transparency with our members
Adherence to sound governance principles
A deliberate, member-centered process

We will continue to keep you informed as these discussions evolve. There will be no path forward on any major initiative without full Board consideration and member engagement.

Thank you for your understanding and for your ongoing dedication to the La Cumbre community.

Tracy Jenkins
President, Board of Director
sLa Cumbre Country Club

News from the Club President 5/12/25

Mon, 12 May 2025 21:40:05 GMT

Dear Members,

Thank you to all who attended the recent Town Hall and Golf Course Project update meetings. Your participation and thoughtful engagement are essential as the board, management, and our committees strive to better understand how we plan for the future of La Cumbre.

Over the next 45 days, the Board, Club Management, and the Finance Committee will be developing financial models that reflect the full scope of our campus-wide capital needs. These models will help inform project timing, prioritization, and funding strategies—including potential borrowing. As a reminder, any borrowing the Board recommends which exceeds $500,000 will require a member vote.

In late June, the Board will hold a two-day planning retreat to review these options and map out a clear, disciplined path forward. We are committed to keeping members informed and equipped to make thoughtful decisions. We anticipate holding additional member forums to provide the needed context on these matters later this summer.

If you were unable to attend the Town Hall, a recording is available HERE . We also encourage members to explore the Governance section of the member website, where you’ll find meeting minutes from all Board and committee meetings. Click the image below or HERE to view our Q1 2025 Update.

Please continue to reach out with your questions, comments, and ideas. We deeply value your feedback as we work together to steward the long-term health and vitality of the Club.

Warm regards,

Tracy Jenkins
President, Board of Directors
La Cumbre Country Club

News from the Club President 4/16/25

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:38:36 GMT

Dear Members,

As we prepare for the upcoming Town Hall on Thursday, April 24th, at 4:30 PM, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our Board’s commitment to transparency, thoughtful stewardship, and open dialogue.

This will be the first Town Hall at La Cumbre focused specifically on sharing financial results, membership survey feedback, and our strategic direction, and I’m proud that it reflects one of the core values I’ve emphasized during my time as Board President: creating a more transparent and inclusive relationship between the Board and the membership.

We’ve already received requests from members who wish to review information in advance of the Town Hall. I want to share how we’re approaching that:

The 2024 Membership Satisfaction Survey results and summary were shared in our weekly email. If you missed the update, please view these HERE on the member side of our website under "Latest Updates."
Additional materials—including the 2024 financials, capital account details, and the 2025 Board-approved budgets—are in final preparation. The Board will meet on Tuesday, April 22nd, to review and provide input on these items. Please recognize that what we present will not be audited and final.
Once the Board completes its review of the materials and they are updated, we will promptly distribute the full set of materials to the membership to allow ample time for review ahead of the Town Hall.

We are looking forward to your feedback and questions and request that once you've had a chance to review the materials, please feel free to click HERE and submit any questions you may have to Ali, Adam, or me. We will collect them until 2 p.m. on Thursday the 24th. We will also be taking questions at the Town Hall in a written format, so feel free to have one prepared so that it can be collected, read, and answered during the meeting.

In addition, I’m pleased to announce that the Board has appointed Sven Klein to fill the one-year Board vacancy. Sven will serve as Treasurer for the remainder of the 2025 term.

Sven Klein is an experienced entrepreneur who has founded and led several companies throughout his career. Most recently, he was the founding CEO of Lull Ventures, LLC, a direct-to-consumer mattress and bedding company headquartered here in Santa Barbara. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

Originally from Freiburg, Germany, Sven moved to Santa Barbara in 1985. He is a proud graduate of La Colina Junior High, San Marcos High School, and the University of California, Santa Barbara (’94). He met his wife, Jennifer, at La Colina, and together, they have two children: Avery, currently attending Cal Poly, and Alden, who will graduate from San Marcos this June.

The Klein family has been part of the La Cumbre Country Club community since 2003, holding Associate, Social Tennis, and Equity memberships. We are thrilled to welcome Sven to the Board and look forward to the expertise, professionalism, and commitment he brings to this leadership role.

We know that informed members are engaged members, and we look forward to a productive, honest, and future-focused discussion on the 24th. Thank you for being such thoughtful stewards of this exceptional club.

Tracy Jenkins
President, Board of Directors
La Cumbre Country Club

Member Survey Results 2024 Survey/Circulated March 2025

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 22:21:20 GMT

Dear Members,

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2024 Member Satisfaction Survey. With 633 responses—representing 44% of our 1,431 members (830 primary plus spouses)—your feedback provides us with critical insights into what’s working well and where we can do better.

The Good News : Several amenities are seeing improved satisfaction. The pool complex continues to shine, with strong scores in cleanliness, lifeguard service, and restroom upkeep—all performing above the industry average. Likewise, the fitness center remains one of our most used and appreciated facilities, with improvements in group class offerings, professional staff, and overall cleanliness.

Tennis also showed notable year-over-year improvements. Court conditions, programming, and staff performance are now ranked among our strongest areas. These gains reflect both the hard work of our team and the investments made in these areas over the past year.

Food & Beverage  received mixed but directionally positive feedback. Members noted improvements in the quality and variety of offerings but also expressed concerns about service consistency, ambiance, limited hours, and the availability of healthier menu options. We recognize the importance of dining to the overall member experience and are actively addressing these areas. We are sensitive to the financial implications of a broad dining offering and are constantly balancing service hours, quality, and conditions.

Golf Operations and Course Conditions  remained stable, with strong marks for the professionalism of the Golf Shop team and the quality of service at bag drop and check-in. However, feedback on course conditions was more divided. While many noted ongoing improvements and praised maintenance during high play periods, others cited concerns with bunker quality, green speeds, and cart path conditions.

At the same time, the survey highlighted important challenges. This was the first year we asked for feedback on Pickleball, and the results were clear: the program received the lowest satisfaction scores across all amenities. We recognize this is a growing area of interest for many members. However, due to limitations in our physical plant, sound restrictions, and other constraints, it may remain a difficult area to address fully in the near term.

The most sobering results came in the categories of Club Governance and Financial Oversight . The strongest dissatisfaction came in areas of financial transparency, operational communication, and overall responsiveness. These concerns are taken seriously and reflect a core tension many of you noted in your comments: the challenge of investing in the Club’s future while managing rising costs.

With Homer Allbritton's addition as our Director of Finance, we expect to see marked improvements in financial transparency, reporting, and operations going forward.

We understand there is work to do in the area of Governance and management, and we have been diligently finding ways to engage members, hear perspectives, and communicate clearly and regularly.

To that end, the Board and GM/COO remain focused on our four strategic pillars:

Member Experience : We are committing to clearer and more frequent updates to ensure members are informed, engaged, and heard.
People and Culture : We are investing in professional staff to meet member expectations within appropriate budgetary confines.
Financial Responsibility : We are implementing more rigorous and transparent budgeting processes alongside long-term capital planning.
Governance, Environment, and Community : We continue to evolve toward a governance model in which the Board sets strategic vision and policy, while empowering the General Manager and department leaders to manage day-to-day operations with consistency and professionalism.

For your convenience, we have updated the governance section of the member website so that all of our communications, committee, and board materials can be shared in one location. While this is a work in progress, we hope it is received as a positive step in providing transparency into club/board activity.

We appreciate your candor and continued support as we work to strengthen La Cumbre Country Club for the benefit of all members—now and for generations to come.

We invite you to join us at the upcoming Town Hall on April 24, 2025, where we will present and discuss the Club’s 2024 financial results, the 2025 budget, and the capital plan for completing our remaining projects. Your engagement and input are welcome and encouraged.

Tracy Jenkins, President, La Cumbre Country Club Adam Zubek, GM/COO

News from the Club President 3/26/25

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:37:11 GMT

Dear Members,

It has been nearly a month since my last update, and while I was sidelined for a couple of weeks with a tough bout of COVID, the Board and management team have continued to make significant progress on key initiatives.

Over the past 90 days, the Board, alongside Adam and his team, has been diligently advancing the four strategic pillars adopted in January:

Member Experience
People & Culture
Financial Responsibility
Governance, Sustainability & the Environment

The full  Strategic Plan  is available for review on our website HERE :

Member Engagement, Gratitude & Community

One of the things that makes La Cumbre so special is the dedication of both our members and staff in making this club a true second home. Whether it’s through volunteering on committees, participating in club events, or simply supporting one another, your contributions make all the difference.

I also want to take a moment to further recognize and thank our incredible staff. Their hard work—often behind the scenes—ensures that La Cumbre remains the welcoming, vibrant, and a well-run club that we all love. From our golf, fitness, and tennis professionals to our hospitality teams and groundskeepers, their commitment is at the heart of everything we do.

We recently conducted a member survey, receiving feedback from over 550 members—a remarkable level of engagement. Your insights are shaping our priorities, and we expect to share the results in early April.

Additionally, our all-committee orientation provided our committee volunteers with a deeper understanding of how our staff leaders are driving the Club’s success. Seeing their dedication and expertise firsthand was inspiring. Click HERE to see the updated committee areas on the website.

To further strengthen our sense of community, Adam and his team hosted a Member-Staff Meet & Greet on March 14. While inclement weather impacted attendance, those who participated had valuable conversations with our team. More of these events will be scheduled throughout the year.

Financial Responsibility, Planning & Capital Investments

On March 19, the Board reviewed the first draft of the 2024 year-end financials, and we will see the next draft at our monthly Board meeting today. The finance team has been diligently working to ensure accuracy. In fact, since our meeting on the 19th, additional errors were identified and corrected—an example of why this process takes time and must be done right.

Thanks to Homer Allbritton’s expertise, we are unwinding prior recording errors, reconciling bank account changes, and implementing safeguards to ensure accuracy and accountability moving forward. These efforts are critical to establishing a consistent, transparent financial reporting structure that will better support management and the Board’s decision-making.

We appreciate your patience and invite you to review the final 2024 financial report at our Town Hall on April 24, 2025. Invitations to attend in person or via Zoom will be sent soon.

Capital Planning Sub-Group

The Capital Planning team has been hard at work developing a dynamic 10-year capital plan, which the Board is refining to align with the Club’s long-term financial health. We are awaiting an updated Capital Reserve Study from Club Benchmarking before sharing the draft plan.

The Goal of the long-term Capital funding plan is to allow the following to be accomplished:

A financial repayment strategy for a $16 million member bridge bond for Golf Course work scheduled to take place in 2026
The introduction of Capital Dues to fund capital maintenance and replacement
A Clubhouse renovation schedule aligned with course improvements, ensuring a fully refreshed campus in 2027
A long-term strategy for replacement of Capital Assets

The Board expects to receive member input on these elements and adjust as needed while still affording the Club the opportunity to make the necessary investments across the campus.

Governance & Leadership Updates

We recognize the importance of strong financial leadership and expect to announce our 2025 Board Treasurer soon. Filling this role has been particularly challenging due to the difficulties the Board faced in 2024 along with the lack of staff financial leadership, until recently when Homer joined the team. While I had hoped to make an announcement of this vital appointment by the end of March, it has not happened, but we continue to make progress.

I am happy to report that, in the interim, I have asked Paul Portney to establish the finance committee and audit subcommittee. These committees will begin their vital work of outlining and documenting accounting procedures, ensuring La Cumbre is meeting its reporting and auditing responsibilities. The Finance and Audit committees will begin meeting in early April.

Governance Updates:

Meanwhile, the Governance Committee is advancing several initiatives, including:

GM/COO Evaluation Process
An inclusive, transparent Director nominations process
By-law Review

The By-law Review and Nominations Subcommittees will present recommendations by late summer or early fall.

As a reminder, our proposed by-law amendment to strengthen and align with best practices the roles of Board Chair and Treasurer, was presented at the 2024 annual meeting. The amendments fell just short of receiving the required 2/3 majority to pass. We remain committed to engaging members through communications and Town Halls to provide data and context supporting these changes.

To ensure transparency and member input, Town Hall sessions will be held in late summer and early fall, allowing members to review proposals and prepare for voting at the Annual Meeting in December 2025.

A Club Built by Its Members

As we continue making improvements and investments in La Cumbre, it is important to remember that this club belongs to all of us. The member experience we enjoy today is the result of the stewardship, generosity, and commitment of those who came before us, just as our efforts today will shape the Club for future generations.

We have a shared responsibility to preserve, enhance, and invest in La Cumbre—not just financially, but through our participation, engagement, and support for one another.

I look forward to seeing you at upcoming meetings and events and am grateful to each of you for your role in making La Cumbre such a special place.

Tracy Jenkins
President, La Cumbre Country Club

Strategic Pillars

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:44:32 GMT

3/26/25

Golf Shop Deals & Promotions

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:49:25 GMT

Golf Ball Deals

TaylorMade Custom Fitting

Ping Custom Fitting

Club Benchmarking Updates 3/4/25

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:31:13 GMT

La Cumbre Club Benchmarking Updates 3/4/25

News from the Club President 2/22/25

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 19:42:34 GMT

Dear Members,

Feb 22, 2025
Subject: Club Initiatives & Financial Updates

I’d like to take a moment to update you on the work being done by the Board, our committees, and our management team to ensure La Cumbre’s long-term success.

Committee Engagement & Financial Planning

This Wednesday, committee members participated in an All-Committee Orientation led by Adam and his team. This marks the second year of this initiative, designed to strengthen collaboration with our management team and alignment across all committees. It was so good to hear from each department head about the work they do and the goals they have for their area of the club. It was truly an impressive presentation, and we are lucky to have this talented staff. I encourage members to get to know these leaders. Link to staff here .

We recognize that many members have concerns about the club’s financial position. The Board, Adam, and I remain laser-focused on providing clarity—starting with our year-end 2024 financials and the development of a long-term capital funding plan. These challenges were not created overnight, and they will not be solved overnight, but we are actively finalizing financials and planning the next steps to position La Cumbre for a strong future.

As I noted in my early January communication, a Capital Planning Task Force was formed to evaluate funding strategies. As part of this review, this week, our Asset Reserve Study was updated by Club Benchmarking, and the results are expected to be finalized in the next 8-10 weeks.

Key Updates on Club Initiatives

Capital Planning Task Force – Formed in mid-January, this group (Kevin Newman, Dan McGuire, and Rick Nightingale) has been developing a proposal that will be reviewed by Adam, our new Director of Finance, and me this week. We anticipate presenting it at the February Board meeting and rolling it out to members in early April.
Clubhouse Renovation – Committee chairs and our contractor are finalizing detailed quotes for necessary repairs and improvements, with details expected to be shared with members by the end of March.
Financial Leadership – Our new Director of Finance, Homer Allbritton, started on February 18th. His expertise will be instrumental in enhancing La Cumbre’s financial reporting, ensuring clarity for management, the Board, and members.
Year-End Financials & Budget – The 2024 financials will be reviewed at the February Board meeting and posted on our website as soon as the audit is complete and our audit committee has approved them. The 2025 operating budget is also undergoing final refinements before Board review.

Strategic Pillars & Club Development

To ensure La Cumbre’s long-term success, we remain committed to our four strategic pillars:

Member Experience – The member satisfaction survey was sent out last week. Once results are compiled, we will analyze feedback and identify areas for improvement.
Employee Recruitment and Development – The hiring of Homer Allbritton is a key step toward professionalizing financial reporting, ensuring a clear understanding of the club’s financial strengths and obligations.
Financial Responsibility – Our top priority is financial clarity and accountability. Now that Homer is on board, the Board will appoint a Treasurer and begin convening the Finance Committee in March.
Governance, Environment & Sustainability – The Governance Committee met this week and began its work on these priorities:
Aligning by-laws and policies with best practices and California corporate governance standards.
Establishing a GM evaluation framework for consistency and accountability.
Launching a Leadership & Nominations Committee to develop a Board skills matrix and engage talented members as future leaders.

Member Engagement & Moving Forward

Adam and I held a Coffee Talk on February 14th, where we had a productive conversation with about 15 members. Great questions were raised, and we had an open dialogue about club issues. We plan to continue these monthly Coffee Talks as an opportunity for direct member engagement—please join us for the next one on February 28th at 9:00 am! Link to RSVP here .

Additionally, neither the Board, Adam, nor I will respond to anonymous communications. We welcome and encourage open, respectful dialogue and constructive feedback from all members—our goal is to work together to solve challenges.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Sincerely,

Tracy Jenkins
President, La Cumbre Country Club

La Cumbre - Our Northstar 2/20/25

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:59 GMT

La Cumbre, Our Northstar 2/20/25

Why We Need Sound Governance 2/24/25

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:45:52 GMT

Why We Need Sound Governance 2/24/25

News from the President - 1/28/25

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:30:11 GMT

Jan 28, 2025

Dear Members,

In an effort to keep everyone informed about the Board’s work and activities, I am pleased to provide the following update. Please take a moment to grab a drink and settle in for this detailed overview of recent progress and plans for the future.

Board Orientation and Strategic Focus
On January 16, 2025, the Board participated in an all-day orientation. This session included a review of governance best practices, a discussion of the Club’s four strategic pillars, and a comprehensive campus tour with presentations from each department lead.

The Board's work will be guided this year by the following four strategic pillars:

Member Experience
People (Staff and Management)
Financial Stewardship (including capital maintenance and improvement)
Governance Best Practices

This orientation helped Directors have a deeper understanding of the current issues the Club is facing and the investments required to ensure its long-term physical and financial health.

Board Policy Manual (BPM) and Governance Seminar
To enhance clarity and consistency in governance, we introduced a Board Policy Manual (BPM). Each Director has reviewed it and provided input, and the manual is slated for adoption at our upcoming January 29, 2025 board meeting. The BPM, once adopted, will be available on the website for all members to reference.

In addition, Directors were asked to watch a three-hour seminar on Club Governance. The seminar is linked  HERE , and I encourage all members to explore it, even in smaller increments, as it provides valuable insights into governance best practices.

Formation of the Governance Committee
We have created a Governance Committee, led by Roberta Collier, as representative to the Board. This committee will focus on:

By-law revisions
Board Policies (BPM)
Leadership Development (identifying and mentoring future Board members)
Establishing a fair, consistent evaluation process for the General Manager

Committee Assignments and Structure
Committee assignments are being finalized. The Board will review committee charters, member participants, and committee goals at our January 29th meeting. Updates will be shared with members afterward.

In 2025, we are implementing a committee structure which reflects governance best practices. Committees will be categorized as follows:

Board Committees: Finance, Governance, Membership, Renovation, and Traditions & Standards. Chaired by Board members or designees.

Operations Committees: Golf, Greens, Member Experience. Chaired by respective department heads (e.g., Golf Committee/Mark Thirtle and Green Committee/Lauren Lasocha), with Board representatives engaging member input.

Finance Committee Update
Currently, we do not have a full-time controller or a finance chair. To address this, we have hired a contract accountant to finalize the 2024 books and are in the process of hiring a controller. We are working to appoint a Director to serve the one-year term vacated by Alan Harden to oversee the Finance Committee. We anticipate appointing someone to this role by the end of February, with Finance Committee meetings resuming shortly thereafter. In the meantime, budget preparations are underway, and approved documents will be available on our website.

The Finance chair will focus on two critical initiatives:

Refining the golf course funding model
Analyze reserve study to determine capital dues for mid-year implementation

Renovation Committee Update
The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to carrying out only the necessary renovations and repairs that can be fully funded by the member Assessment contributions.

Once we have a clear understanding of the required fixes and the associated costs, we will present the membership with potential options for enhancements using any remaining funds. Our goal is to ensure transparency and collaboration throughout this process.

We anticipate sharing this detailed information with members by the end of Q1 or early Q2.

Board Goals and Communication
I have asked each Director to provide me the top 3 goals they feel the Board needs to accomplish in 2025. These goals will be prioritized and aligned with the four strategic pillars during the Board’s January 29th meeting. I plan to share the priorities and provide regular updates on progress made throughout my term.

I also welcome your input—please email me at  tracy_volunteer@lacumbrecc.org with your priorities or suggestions. (Note: The Club website previously listed my email incorrectly, so if you emailed me over the past several months, I may not have received it.)

Improved Board Operations
To enhance efficiency and professionalism, all directors now have access to a Board portal for essential documents. In addition, Directors will soon receive La Cumbre-specific email addresses (such as mine), creating a streamlined approach to communication between and with the Board. Approved Board minutes will also be available to all members under governance => Board of Directors.

Closing Thoughts
Thank you for your thoughtful care and engagement with our wonderful Club. I look forward to providing further updates and working together to make 2025 a successful and enjoyable year for all.

Warm regards,

Tracy Jenkins
President, La Cumbre Country Club

News from the President -Happy New Years 1/13/25

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:27:25 GMT

Jan 13, 2025

Dear Members,

Happy New Year!

As we begin 2025, I want to share an overview of the plans and goals the Board, Management, and Members will be focusing on throughout the year. It promises to be a dynamic and productive time for our club, and your engagement and support will play a crucial role in our success.

Committee Participation: We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to our call for committee participation—over 90 members submitted expressions of interest! Thank you for your enthusiasm and willingness to contribute. While we won’t be able to accommodate everyone on committees this year, we are committed to finding other ways to utilize your talents and ensure your voices are heard. We will be reaching out to all applicants in the next couple of weeks regarding their status.

Board Orientation and Strategic Priorities: On January 16th, the Board will conduct a full-day orientation, including an in-depth “behind-the-scenes” tour of our departments and facilities. This will provide valuable context for assessing needs and prioritizing investments. During this session, we will also establish clear and achievable goals for 2025, guided by four strategic pillars:

Member Experience
People (Staff and Management)
Financial Stewardship (including capital maintenance and improvement)
Establishing Governance Best Practices

These priorities will shape our initiatives, ensuring we deliver on the expectations of our membership while maintaining the long-term sustainability of our club.

Overarching each of these initiatives is a focus on communicating clearly and timely information to members and staff.

Finance Initiatives and Capital Projects: By the end of Q1, the working groups focused on finance—specifically capital dues and golf course financing—will begin sharing results. This will enable us to initiate capital dues by mid-year and finalize plans for the golf course work, allowing us to engage contractors and secure materials.

The Renovation Committee will start small, concentrating on identifying mandatory items (e.g., roof repairs and odor mitigation) and potential enhancements. Once these priorities are clarified, we will hold forums and presentations to gather member input on how best to allocate available funds for clubhouse improvements.

Governance and Leadership Development: 2025 will see the establishment of a Board Governance Committee. This committee will review and propose by-law updates to enhance efficiency and align with best practices in club governance; facilitate committee charter development and committee composition; identify and mentor future club leaders, cultivating a diverse and talented slate of candidates for board service; and manage the General Manager/COO review process, ensuring accountability and alignment with our strategic goals.

Transparent Communication: As your president, I am committed to fostering open and timely communication. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly. Addressing issues promptly with facts and data helps us avoid the spread of misinformation. Let’s work together to prioritize transparency and constructive dialogue.

Looking Ahead: This year, we will lay the groundwork for 2026, when much of our campus will be under renovation. I encourage each of you to participate actively and constructively as we navigate this exciting chapter in our club’s history. Together, we can achieve our shared vision of excellence and continue building a club we are all proud to be part of.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication. Here’s to a successful 2025 for our club!

Warm regards,

Tracy Jenkins

Board President
La Cumbre Country Club

George C Thomas Vision 11/19/24

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:07:02 GMT

George C Thomas Vision 11/19/24

Lauren's Land - Feb 2025

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 19:55:01 GMT

Lauren's Land - Feb 2025

Annual Meeting 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:08:49 GMT

2024 President's Message 12/6/24

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:59:38 GMT

Dec 6, 2024

 Dear Members,

Thank you for joining us for the 2024 Annual Meeting, either in person or via Zoom. This meeting certainly had some unexpected outcomes, and I want to communicate a few things that I was not able to cover during my remarks.

As we head into 2025, please know that I, along with the entire Board, will continue to seek member input. As I stated in my earlier letter to the community, your input - no matter what membership class you are a part of - is vital to the club’s success. The Board will strive to provide clear and timely information about club activities, projects, and issues. We are committed to prioritizing member experience, which we expect each of you to feel through every interaction on campus.

We have a busy year ahead as we take the time to thoughtfully plan the projects which will begin in 2026. It will take a considerable amount of time, effort and patience. We will need your wisdom, knowledge and good ideas – we encourage you to participate through our committees and engagement opportunities such as meetings and surveys.

2026 Planned Project Updates:

Clubhouse

The Renovation Committee has expanded and invites additional member participation; an expression of interest is forthcoming.
The priorities of the Renovation Committee will be to finalize key maintenance items within the current budget and then to gather member input on what additional items can be included within the budget. This committee will be tasked with bringing these options to the membership by the end of Q1 2025.

Golf Course Updates

The survey results showed strong support for beginning course improvements in 2025/26, funded through a bridge bond. Due to permitting, legal considerations, and preparation time, the work is now scheduled for 2026, concurrent with or shortly after clubhouse renovations.

Click here for: Survey Results | Maintenance vs. Improvement Costs | Course Booklet

2025 Annual Dues

As mentioned at earlier member meetings, a 10% increase will apply to all membership categories effective January 1, 2025.

The Board elected to not initiate capital dues at the start of 2025, but rather allow the Capital Funding Committee to initiate its work towards completing a Capital funding plan for the campus by the end of Q1 2025. The committee will present its findings to members in Q2 2025 and implement the plan by mid-2025.

Please be on the lookout for an expression of interest email coming on Monday, December 9 ^th , which will provide further detail on each committee and the work that committee is tasked to undertake.

I look forward to serving you all in 2025.

Respectfully,
Tracy Jenkins, President

Below, please find a brief recap from the Annual Meeting.

Board Positions

Alan Harden: Resigned, leaving a 1-year vacancy to be filled by the Board*
Mike Nicolais: Resigned, leaving a 2-year vacancy now filled by Patrick Nielson.
Ryan Fell, Jim McDermott, and Elaine Lausten: Elected for 3-year terms.
*The Board is currently seeking the right individual to join the board for a 1-year term. As soon as that appointment is made, we will update the community.

Vote on Bylaw Amendments

Results :

In Favor: 161 votes (57%)
Against: 104 votes (43%)
The resolution was defeated (required 66.66% approval).

2/3 Refund-ability Update

The Board made the decision to grandfather all regular members as of 12/31/2024 to receive 2/3 refund-ability upon the sale of their membership. This policy will be included in the membership policies and procedures. All new regular members will be suitably notified that refundability may be changed from time to time by the Board.

Club Benchmarking - Jim Butler Presentation 11/21/24

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:35:44 GMT

Club Benchmarking - Jim Butler Presentation 11/21/24

Q3 Member Update 11/26/24

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:18:00 GMT

11/26/24

Dear Members,

I'd like to welcome you to our refashioned quarterly reporting. The objective of this communication is to keep members up to date with the club's financial affairs, Board updates and, as necessary, provide important updates from your committees. This report will be circulated every quarter and will evolve as necessary. Again, the goal is to provide consistent information on strategic plans, operating results, membership stats, and staffing updates.

In this Q3 update, we are providing a summary of the work of your committees YTD. We are a few months away from the Annual Report, which will be circulated in February 2025.

As a reminder, we have the following upcoming meetings:

December 4 at 5:00 p.m. – Annual Meeting

December 17 at 5:00 p.m. – Special Meeting

‍

Completed Meetings:

Coffee Talks (three sessions)

Town Hall Meeting | October 17 – Board update on club finances, PB&G costs, clubhouse and golf course updates.

Special Meeting | October 24 – Concerned Members

Club Benchmarking | November 19 - Club Benchmarking guest speaker Dr. Jim Butler. The focus of this meeting is to better understand La Cumbre Country Club's finances, particularly our capital needs and cash sources.

Club Benchmarking Presentation : HERE

Club Benchmarking Zoom Video : HERE

Q&A Coming Soon

Given staffing changes over the past several years, members have asked me to share a who's who amongst the staff and what their responsibilities are. I have outlined this in a visual (linked below in Full Update) that aims to help members know who to contact if they have questions or need assistance. I am actively working on a Strategic Plan that outlines objectives and sets a plan that my team and the Board can work from, which will be shared with members. This plan will be ready in the new year, and I look forward to sharing more about it when it's ready.

As we move into the holiday season, I want to thank those who have booked with us on short notice and encourage you to celebrate at the club. We are working hard to train our team and to bring back the La Cumbre spirit in our dining events, and Paul, Alex, Tom, Natalie, and Chef Eric are eager to make your celebration memorable.

Sincerely,

Adam Zubek, CCM

General Manager & Chief Operating Officer

Golf Course Maintenance Project 11/21/24

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:52:46 GMT

Town Hall 2024 10/16/24

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:29:50 GMT

Town Hall 2024 10/16/24

Membership Committee Message - Oct. 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 19:55:46 GMT

Board of Director's Message - Sep. 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 20:00:05 GMT

Board Brief August 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:49:50 GMT

Financial Update: August 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:22:17 GMT

Dear Fellow La Cumbre Members,

I’d like to provide a mid-year financial report as well as share some preliminary thoughts on financial issues, all of which are being discussed by the entire Board. In addition to first half financial results and June balance sheet information, I have included information about the final tally on the patio bar and grill (PB&G), the status of the Bridge Bond financing and golf course project, the status of our clubhouse renovation, and a summary of the information we have received from Club Benchmarking, the industry-leading consulting firm on country club economics.

June Year-to-Date Operating Results:

Total revenues of the club were $7.1 million versus $6.6 million last year. The increase was entirely the result of dues revenue, as operating revenues (food and beverage, golf fees, etc.) were down year over year due to the shutdown of the PB&G and some heavy rains limiting club activities.

Operating expenses were $5.0 million versus $4.5 million last year. Labor costs are on budget. The year-over-year increase was largely attributable to the filling of open and new positions. For example, we operated without a GM or a Director of Operations for the first half of last year. Salary adjustments for key personnel and inflationary wage pressures accounted for the balance. Total salary expenses are in line with industry norms. It is not that any individual salary has gotten too high, but that our salaries were previously below market, as were our staffing levels. The Board is committed to bringing the service levels and professionalism of the club to the higher standards that you have indicated you wish to experience, as revealed through the membership satisfaction survey. All new employee salaries are checked against market data.

As the increase in operating revenues was almost exactly offset by higher expenses, operating income before maintenance expenses was flat with last year at approximately $2.1 million.

Golf course and facilities maintenance was $2.0 million for the first six months compared to $1.65 million last year. Total salaries and benefits accounted for $200 thousand of this $350 thousand increase. The balance is the result of more frequent repairs required on aging infrastructure and inflation.

Including maintenance costs, net operating income was $50 thousand versus $400 thousand last year. The club also incurred about $100 thousand of non-recurring costs for recruiting and strategy consultants not included in the above numbers, bringing net income to a loss of $50 thousand, consistent with our objective of break-even results as a not-for-profit enterprise.

June 30 Balance Sheet:

The club had $13.0 million of cash (mostly assessment cash being held for the clubhouse project) and $14.7 million of net property, plant and equipment accounting for 93% of our total assets of $29.8 million. The balance of assets are predominately accounts receivable and inventory.

Total liabilities on June 30 were $3.6 million comprised mostly of accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Patio Bar and Grill Project:

The original estimate for this project was $1.8 million. County and Hope Ranch requirements imposed on us during the permitting process added $260 thousand to the cost. Club-controlled design and equipment changes added an additional $250 thousand (These changes were done with consideration to the long-term efficiency and service possibilities of the PB&G and leadership deemed it the right thing to do). Cost overruns above these amounts were approximately 8%. Cost overruns above the original budget and only the regulatory requirement costs were approximately 21%. All are aware of the bar height issue. Discussions are underway to see how we can correct this problem.

We learned a lot during this project and certainly made some mistakes. The internal volunteers, management, external consultants, and construction team will be much smarter as we embark on the larger, more complex clubhouse project.

Golf Course Project and Bridge Bond Status:

The contract for our golf course vendor has been signed. Work will commence in February or March 2025 and materials may start to be delivered as early as this December.

The Bridge Bonds are healthily oversubscribed based on non-binding commitments received to date. All equity members are invited to participate with a minimum investment size of $100 thousand. I’d like to get a much higher participation rate. Drafts of official documents were received from outside counsel last week. They need to be reviewed and edited. This may take a couple of weeks of back and forth with the lawyers. I hope to get final documents out the third week of August to all who have provided me with their interest in participating. Based on recent market activity, it looks like rates may be coming down, which will make the financing cheaper. The rate on the Bridge Bonds will be the higher of the fed funds prime rate (currently 8.5%) and a floor of 7%. The interest rate on the bonds will be set in January 2025.

Clubhouse Project:

Planning and permitting efforts have been vigorously underway. You will recall that at the time of the assessment in the Fall of 2022, the estimate for this project was $18 million. Approximately $2 million has been spent to date, mostly on soft costs (architect, permit fees, insurance, consultant fees, etc.) As we saw with the golf course project, inflation has happened in a much bigger way than we had anticipated. Additionally, in a perfect world, and with money no object, fairly substantial scope increases would happen.

I mentioned above that we have $13 million of cash on hand at the end of June. Between the receipt of the remaining assessment payments, as some members chose to defer their assessment over three, five or indefinitely, and the collection of membership transfer and initiation fees (VCI) between now and year-end, we should have approximately $16 million available for the clubhouse project, consistent with our original estimates ($18 million less $2 million spent to date).

Unfortunately, primarily because there was an under assumption of the effects of inflation from 2022 to 2025 it is unlikely to be sufficient to fully complete the original scope of work. And certainly, not the expanded scope on the clubhouse which is inevitably required. Therefore, hard choices will have to be made. We will spend what we have as efficiently as possible and complete as much of the work that was originally contemplated as possible.

Some Learnings from Club Benchmarking:

Club Benchmarking is the leading source of data collection and analysis of clubs around the country. No one else comes close in terms of both the amount of data they have collected from thousands of clubs and the detailed analysis they have done regarding responsible club financial management.

We intend to have them come to La Cumbre and present to the membership. Some key findings:

1. Only 8–10% of clubs nationwide provide any reimbursement to departing members choosing to leave their clubs. Of those that do have some reimbursement, our two-thirds of sale price reimbursement put us in the first decile. In other words, we are an extreme outlier.

2. Clubs have three principal sources of revenue, all of which are critical to their long-term financial health. They are:

a) Dues revenue (both operating and capital),

b) Other operating (activity) revenues such as food and beverage, golf course fees and the like, and

c) Membership sales revenues.

Annual operating dues and activity revenues are meant to cover all operating expenses, including normal, recurring maintenance. Membership sales and capital dues are meant to fund major maintenance projects as well as improvements. Until last year, the club had, for years, been using capital revenues to pay for a shortfall in operating revenues (dues), leaving very little for major maintenance and improvements. Hence, the need for our assessment and the need to debt finance the golf course. Hence also, the need for large dues increases over the last two years to begin to correct this flaw in our operating model, by bringing operating and activity revenues into line with operating expenses.

3. At an equity sales price of $225,000, the club currently receives one-third, or $75,000.

Compare this to a non-HOA member of Birnam Wood, where the club currently receives $125,000 which 100% of the sales price goes to the club. Our club receives 40% less for long-term upkeep and improvements. A couple of years ago, when our sales price was in the $125-150 thousand range, the club was only receiving about $45 thousand or a 65% discount to what Birnam currently receives. And for many years until 2023, we also spent a significant portion of what we did receive to subsidize operations, it’s not hard to see then how we fell behind in the upkeep of our club.

All of this is food for thought and will require changes in the future for our club to thrive.

My obligation as Treasurer of the club is to make sure we are on sound, conservative financial footing, not just for the next twelve months, but for the next twenty years. Over the last 2 years, our overall financial model has been in the process of being repaired, but there is still much to be done to be on a long-term solid footing. Our physical plant, property and equipment account for 80% of our total assets (excluding the assessment cash). We need to fund future major maintenance and should have as our goal to be constantly improving the club to remain competitive and to provide the level of services that are demanded in a world where expectations constantly change.

Please reach out to me via email or in-person to discuss any of the information in this communication.

Thank you,

Mike Nicolais
Treasurer

Lauren's Land - August 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 21:03:46 GMT

Board Brief June 2024

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:45:16 GMT

Board Brief May 2024

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:44:03 GMT

Lauren's Land - Summer 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 21:05:23 GMT

News from the Board 6/14/24

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 22:14:04 GMT

Dear Members,

The results of the Special Meeting held on June 13, 2024, regarding the Bridge Bond are outlined below.

I am pleased to report that we had an excellent voting turnout, with 293 of 348 eligible voting members having voted.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favor: 172

Against: 121

Accordingly, the motion PASSED.

We will keep you updated on the next steps related to the Bridge Bond.

Warm regards,

Adam Zubek, GM/COO

A Note from the GM - Bridge Bond Vote

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Fri, 31 May 2024 14:24:50 GMT

Dear Members,

Tomorrow, you will receive an email from our independent voting services provider, GGA Partners. The email will be sent by GGA Partners on the Club’s behalf but will still read as “from” La Cumbre Country Club and will be from the email address vote@simplyvoting.com . If you have not received the email described above to access online voting by 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 31st, or need assistance accessing your ballot, please contact support@ggapartners.com .

Please find a link HERE to the Notice of Meeting and Bridge Bond materials, which are located on the secure side of our member website.

Respectfully,

Adam Zubek

Secretary, General Manager/COO

Board Brief April 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 08 May 2024 20:01:49 GMT

Board Brief March 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 08 May 2024 20:00:55 GMT

Board Brief February 2024

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 08 May 2024 19:59:28 GMT

Wayne Mills Goes Native

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 08 May 2024 19:52:38 GMT

The 2024 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship couldn’t have gone to a more deserving recipient than Wayne Mills, who received the honor in February.

“From water conservation to wildlife habitat enhancement, Wayne Mills’ dedication to being an environmental steward has undoubtedly contributed to the sustainability of the game of golf,” GCSAA President Kevin P. Breen said in presenting the honor.

Board Brief January 2024

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 22:20:12 GMT

Board of Directors Minutes

Welcome and opening remarks by Alan Harden.
Alan noted that the approval of a $100,000 deposit for Heritage Links as the General Contractor for the coursework was not necessary at this time.
The Board minutes from November 2023 and December 2023 were approved. The 2023 Annual Meeting minutes were received and approved for the members who will approve these at the 2023 Annual Meeting, which can be found here.
The Consent Agenda was accepted as circulated.
Adam provided updates on Campus Revitalization activities, Operations, People, Housekeeping, and Director coordination.
As recommended by the Renovation Committee, a formal motion was passed to approve the Patio Bar and Grill GMP Contract to Frank Schipper Construction for $1,362,691.00 with a $95,000 allowance for additional items. The Budget for this project is $2.244M.
Long-Range Planning Committee update by Greg Moss.
Greg provided an update on selecting Rule No. 1 as the desired consulting firm to assist the board and club in developing a purpose statement, mission, vision, and values. The budget and scope of work were circulatedand approved. This is a 3-month engagement that will involve work with the LRPC, Board, and various member groups.
Membership applications for John and Sue Burk, Delene Bliss, George and Sue Walseth, and Megan and Christian Vanderwall were approved.
As a new best practice, supported by the GM/COO, an Executive Session was held without Management.
The meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM.

Wayne Mills - 23 Years of Excellence

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:30:06 GMT

Dear Members,

With enthusiasm and celebration of an illustrious career, I am pleased to announce the retirement of our esteemed Golf Course Superintendent, Wayne Mills, after an incredible 23-year tenure at La Cumbre. Wayne has been an integral part of our community, contributing his passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

While it was a challenging choice for him to step away, we are all excited about Wayne's new journey in life. Although he is retiring, he remains deeply committed to the stewardship of La Cumbre. Wayne will partner with us on several aspects, such as the course renovation, finding his successor, and facilitating a smooth transition.

Wayne's targeted last day as Superintendent is set for May 1, 2024. However, he has graciously agreed to remain actively involved as a consultant, supporting the Course Renovation Project in 2025. Our search for his replacement has already begun, with a dedicated search committee led by myself, our Green Chair, John Blair, and committee members Noel Lucky-Ris and Patrick Neilson.

Throughout his tenure, Wayne has demonstrated exceptional leadership, leaving an indelible mark on the course and all who have worked alongside him. As we bid farewell to a legend, let's reflect on some of Wayne's key accomplishments:

Environmental Stewardship:

Wayne's commitment to environmental stewardship has set a remarkable standard. His innovative sustainable practices and environmental conservation efforts have transformed La Cumbre into a model of responsible golf course management. Wayne's tireless dedication will be recognized in the New Year when he receives the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America's highest honor, the President's Award.

Continuous Improvements:

Wayne's dedication to continuous improvement has elevated La Cumbre to new heights. His attention to detail and tireless efforts to enhance the property, improve playability, aesthetics, and overall quality have not gone unnoticed. Wayne's forward-thinking approach has kept our golf course at the forefront of industry standards.

Development of Key Staff:

One of Wayne's greatest legacies lies in his commitment to developing key staff members. Through mentorship and encouragement, he has nurtured talent within our team, fostering a culture of growth and learning. Many of our staff members attribute their success to Wayne's guidance.

Collaboration with Green Chairs and Colleagues:

Wayne's collaborative spirit has played a pivotal role in building strong relationships with our Green Chairs and colleagues at the club. His open communication, receptiveness to ideas, and ability to work seamlessly with others have contributed to the success and harmony of our course operations.

As Wayne embarks on a new chapter in his life, let us express our heartfelt gratitude for his invaluable contributions to La Cumbre. Wayne, your passion, expertise, and spirit will be deeply missed. We wish you a retirement filled with relaxation, game hunting, and wonderful fishing adventures on the rivers of Washington.

A date will be set in the future to celebrate Wayne and his remarkable legacy at La Cumbre. We look forward to honoring a true legend within the La Cumbre family.

2023 Annual Meeting Packet

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 22:13:12 GMT

WAYNE MILLS WINS GCSAA PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 19:08:58 GMT

"Lawrence, Kan. (Dec. 5, 2023) – Wayne Mills, 39-year GCSAA member and superintendent at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara, Calif., has been named the recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Mills will officially be recognized during the Send-Off Celebration at the 2024 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, presented in partnership with John Deere, on Feb. 1 in Phoenix."

3rd Quarter Treasurer's Report 2023

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:31:10 GMT

We are pleased to report that as of the end of the third quarter of 2023, the Club is in a sound financial condition.

Executive Summary

New Membership Demand is strong.
Expenses continue to be pressed by cost inflation.
Campus projects
Patio Bar & Grill work estimated to commence 2/1/2024
Tennis Courts refresh plus court #7 work to commence 4/1/2024
Clubhouse infrastructure and refresh work to commence 10/1/2024
Golf Course infrastructure and refresh project potential start date spring 2025
Advantages / opportunity of a Bridge Bond financing

Operation

Our membership count continues to be somewhat higher than anticipated, with steady demand across all membership classes. At the end of this quarter, dues income are in line with our budget, but slightly better than last year. The variable capital income earned from transfer fees and initiation fees are also higher than anticipated by 17% at $1.76mm for the first three quarters.

Operating revenues are recovering from the ‘wet winter months’ and ended the third quarter essentially flat to last year at $4.05mm, but slightly lower than budget, which was $4.2mm.

Operating expenses continue to be pressured by cost inflation in every aspect of our operations. We also absorbed several one-time unexpected or unusual expenses. We closed out the third quarter with expenses to date at $7mm compared to a budget of $6.9mm. We currently forecast that over the balance of this year and next, inflation will continue to increase for us at a potentially higher rate than the country average. Whether it is the consequences of higher oil prices, food costs, California wage regulations, and California gas, which is considerably above the national average, the impact is that inflation will likely be higher than normal for longer.

Golf course maintenance and facility maintenance expenses have both been efficiently managed. Both are below budget and better than last year. Many thanks to Wayne and his team for doing so on the golf course.

As we are approximately 12 months from the commencement of the Clubhouse renovation, maintenance will continue to be critically analyzed by Adam before the expenditure is approved.

Overall, we are maintaining a healthy equilibrium between dues and operating income and operating expenses and maintenance and expect to meet the task of operating within this balanced budget. Our current operating income surplus is approximately $200,000, slightly better than the budget of $152,000. This also compares favorably to the same period last year.

As has been mentioned before, local inflation presents a challenge, as do members’ expectations for next year and beyond. We are currently working through the details of the 2024 budget. A central and important theme is to ensure that the club drive value for every dollar that is currently earned or received. However, it is important to be clear that inflation is a significant headwind, and members’ expectation for improved service, food quality, and overall enhancement to the members’ experience.

We are prioritizing initiatives to ensure that the operating budget for next year is right-sized in the face of these challenges.

Campus Project

The work on the four projects continues.

Pre-Assessment funding:

The PB&G enlarged scope received overwhelming members’ support and is due to commence in four months.
The Tennis Court refurbishment and addition of ‘Court 7’, is currently on schedule for April 2022.

The Clubhouse cost engineering program is underway and early signs are encouraging in that the gap between actual quotes and estimates being received now is not too far from our original estimates provided nearly two years ago. Once this is completed, I will report separately.

As a reminder, all the projects and the funding were based on a cash flow model, pledging the variable capital income we receive from initiation fees from new members, transfer fees on equity memberships, and the assessment - either paid initially in one payment, over three or five years.

The variable capital income for the first three quarters of 2023 is $1.9mm against a full-year 2023 budget of $2.1mm. From the start of 2023 and the original ending of the golf course project in 2028, the variable capital income is budgeted at $14.3mm.

We carried forward $2.2mm from 2022, so the budget income over the period was $16.5. To date, we have spent $1.2mm across the various projects, which is better than the anticipated spend rate of $2.2mm. This is simply a timing issue, and over the course of the four projects, will normalize.

In addition to the variable capital income over the next few years, we received the 2023 assessment. Many paid in one payment, but some decided to defer payment over the next three or five years. Including the better-than-anticipated interest, we expect to receive approximately $14.4 mm from the assessment.

Golf Course Opportunity

The golf course project is developing nicely. With thoughtful oversight of Todd Eckenrode, Wayne Mills and our Green Committee, our infrastructure plan and preliminary enhanced plan, may provide an opportunity to bring the project forward to 2025. This will enable us to finish the clubhouse in early 2016 and the Golf Course in 2025.

The plan is/was to complete nine holes in 2026, the next nine in 2027, and finally, the short game areas in 2028. There is a budgeted surplus from the first three projects that is allocated to the golf course projects as well as funding from anticipated variable capital income in 2026, 2027, and 2028, which was to further fund the golf course maintenance and enhancement project. Total cost budget of $14.2 million of which $4.2 million was an inflation contingency.

Quotes we have received for construction in 2025 already fully utilize all contingencies and come in at 14.85 mm. The architect and construction teams need us to commit approximately 18 months in advance to book their teams and equipment and place purchase orders for the supplies we will need. For example, Wayne has already bought the grass for the enlarged greens and is maturing it by the 13th hole; this will be utilized no matter which timing we proceed with. We, hopefully, intend to commit to proceeding by the end of this year so that we can start at the end of Quarter 1 2025.

The benefits for proceeding in 2025 are as follows:

Wayne will be fully engaged and involved bringing invaluable institutional expertise.
We have secured a known price and can be confident of this estimate.
The whole project will be completed in 9 to 10 months, finishing by the end of 2025.
A variety of approximately 9 holes will be available for play during the construction period.

Bridge Bond

We can fund the cost in 2025 by offering a $15 million Bridge Bond to members which:

Spreads the one-year cost over a period of no more than seven years
Offers prime rate of interest (currently 8.5%) or 7%, whichever is greater, in January 1, 2025
Three years interest only and four-year repayment period
Funding of the bridge bond will be in January 2025
Funding is 100% voluntary…This funding is independent of dues.

The extra cost of the golf course project ($14.2 to $14.85) is $0.65mm, and the interest paid is made affordable by spreading the repayment over four to seven years. Essentially, we have modelled using 60% of the variable capital income earned over that seven years to repay the principal and interest. This is very conservative, and our hope is we would be in a position to pay the bond holders earlier if that is an advantage to our members, after the minimum three-year-interest only period.

We are currently accepting non-binding commitments from members who are interested in underwriting / investing in the bond, which will give us confidence that we will be able, from a financial aspect, to proceed. As mentioned before, securing the commitments is very important as we must book the construction and architect team by the end of this year.

If you would like more information or would like to discuss the bond, please send me a note, and we will be happy to meet or discuss it on the phone.

T his is voluntary... no added personal expense.

Firstly, the bond is simply bringing forward income that we were already relying on to pay for the golf course renovation. No further amount or assessment is being sought on members. If you do not wish to participate in the bond, that is entirely your investment decision, and no funding will be required.

Secondly, no final decision has yet to be made. We are carefully analyzing our options, and by securing the underwriters non-binding commitments we achieve an ability to choose our path forward.

During the first half of 2024, the board will facilitate several members’ meeting and various communications regarding the maintenance and enhancements for the golf course before a members’ vote is necessary for any changes and for the bond.

(By-Law: 8.3f)*

*Authorize such alterations and improvements of the Club’s property as they may deem proper and modify or discontinue any Club facility where such action seems necessary or expedient. [In connection with such alterations and improvements, modifications or discontinuances, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Regular members voting in response to a written request by the Board of Directors shall be required in order for the Board of Directors to (i) incur capital indebtedness of more than $500,000.00, (ii) authorize the expenditure of more than $1,000,000.00, or (iii) reroute existing holes or create new or additional green complexes on the Club’s golf course.]

As our operations and projects mature further, we look forward to sharing more completely. Till then, thank you and we hope you continue to enjoy the beauty and fellowship of La Cumbre.

Please reach out to Adam, Greg or myself if you have any questions, concerns or solutions!!

Respectfully,

Alan Harden

Board Brief October 2023

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:16:56 GMT

Nominating Committee Update

Mr. Werner provided a short review of the Nominating Committee’s process to recommend a slate of three Directors for 2024.
The Nominating Committee will continue to look for ways to bolster more interest in serving on the Board.
There was strong interest in this year and the committee had a difficult time making their final decision.

Membership Survey Results

The use of Club Benchmarking proved to be more successful at creating a member survey than the 2023 internal La Cumbre driven survey.
There was a 61% response rate.
The club ranked below average in most categories.
The results will be shared with all members.

GM/COO Update

90-Day Report -Adam shared his thoughts and findings on his first 90 days at La Cumbre.
Management Update – Staff to populate a monthly report for the Board by department.
Annual Calendar – A calendar was distributed to the Board. Feedback or changes are to be sent to Elizabeth before the end of November.
Adam requested for the club be closed on November 13th for a staff appreciation day. The Board supported this and asked to be involved if it would be helpful.
Electronic Voting Consent – There will be a by-law change sent out for member approval to allow electronic voting.
Christmas Gratuity – Discussion tabled for another time. The current Holiday fund will remain the same for 2023.
The Board discussed funding that would be allocated for member engagement on long range planning for the club. This plan will solicit member input on developing a NorthStar for the club.

Campus Revitalization Update

A sample of the Campus Revitalization Communication Plan was presented.
Timelines have changed slightly for the various renovations which will be included in the update and in the Q3 report.

Board Brief September 2023

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:14:24 GMT

New President in 2024

A resolution was passed to appoint Mr. Alan Harden as the 2024 Board President. Read Mr. Harden’s note here.

Consent and Other Discussion:

There was an update on the Q.3 financials and impending Bridge Bond opportunity. Adam Zubek, Greg Moss, and Alan Harden have been meeting with all of the club committees to provide an update on the Campus Plans and the Bridge Bond opportunity. The member update is behind schedule, as the third party who is assisting with the communication is behind schedule.

Board Policy and Rules Amendments:

The board approved an amendment to the rules of the club that aims to better equip staff to uphold the rules of the club. This amendment, along with a more thorough review of the rules of the club will take place in the coming months with the goal of finding the right balance for all members.

New Business

Directors were requested to send the GM/COO and the Senior Leadership Team all agenda materials in advance of the committee. Management will prepare the proper supporting materials to share with the committees in advance of the meeting.
A discussion was held around the conduct of specific members and their behavior at the club. The result of this conversation was that Greg Moss and Adam Zubek would handle any follow up related to this matter.

Membership

Larry and Wendy Barels were approved by the Board for Equity membership.
Michelle Torres and Justing Geller were approved for Social Clubhouse membership.

Presentation by Kevin Carroll

Kevin Carroll from the McMahon group gave a presentation on trends in the club industry. At the end of the presentation, the Board and Mr. Carroll had a discussion on the steps LCCC can take to update Mission, Vision and Values and how the entire membership can be engaged. The McMahon group specializes in member engagement work and Long-Range Planning.

Board Brief July 2023

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:09:25 GMT

President’s Report: Greg Moss

The September Board Meeting will be switched to Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 4:30 PM
A new agenda format will be used going forward
Two articles were attached regarding Club Managers managing the club, highlighting that the BOD should function in an advisory capacity, allowing the GM to effectively manage the club. We have 120 days ahead of us to discover best practices on how to achieve a working balance to this end.

Minutes from The July 26, 2023 BOD Meeting were approved.

The Consent Agenda was accepted.

Appointment of Adam Zubek as Assistant Secretary
Membership Stats
House Committee Minutes: August 2, 2023
Finance Committee Minutes: August 16, 2023/ July 2023 Finance Results
Green Committee Minutes: August 10, 2023

Update on Member Communication: Greg Moss and Adam Zubek

Past President’s Meeting went well
Greg and Alan will attend up-coming Committee Meetings to share their presentation
Adam wants all Member Classifications to be informed and is creating a strategy to be brought to the BOD first, then out to membership.

Bridge Bond Update: Alan Harden

Waiting for legal documents to be drafted
This topic will also be addressed during Committee presentations

Nominating Committee Update: Russ Werner

According to the By-Laws, Nominating Committee members shall be appointed by the BOD at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
Russ has done extensive work to improve the process of selecting potential candidates both for the BOD positions and as Committee Members.. On or before fifty (50) days prior to the Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee will present a slate of nominees to the Board, and at least forty (40) days prior to the Annual Meeting the Nominating Committee will present the final slate to the Secretary.

General Manager’s Report: Adam Zubek

Adam’s objectives:

Create organizational clarity among staff
Finding best practices for Club wide communication
Reformatting weekly email
Website needs tweaking
New member orientation improvements
Create an in-staff communication process
Working with a 3rd party to update the Club App, which integrates with North Star and other Apps (Brooke is working on this project)
For the Club to be recognized as an “Employer of Choice”, enticing and retaining employees
Advancing a partnership among leadership and membership

Long Range Planning Update: Greg Moss

The McMahon Group to attend September BOD Meeting

Membership Survey: Jim Buttimer

Club Benchmarking to assist in creating a Membership Survey as a follow up to the one done last Fall.
The intent is to perform these surveys annually
In process of finalizing a draft early September

Membership: Jim Buttimer ( Motion attached)

To approve the following applicants for membership:

Ben & Edith Hyatt- Social Tennis
Evan & Russell Berger- Social Tennis

Wayne's World Fall 2023

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:56:35 GMT

Concluding the Chase, embracing serene landscapes and unexpected visitors, while prepping for year-end course enhancements.

Well, as I'm writing this, we are on the final day of the Chase tournament. Our member-guest events, ladies and men, had good weather and excellent conditions to play in. I saw some old faces and many new ones. I hope all had a good time.

I wanted this year to have good course conditions. The course has been under construction for the reclaimed water project or teeing ground improvements with cart path removal for the past few years. I had a personal setback. Plus, no water in the lake for some years.

So, with the help of Mother Nature's rain, we were set up for a good year, and a good one we have had. Mild weather, good views, and conditions for all the club events and daily play, plus the SCGA event.

On another note, I was in the lake working before the events and noticed 100+ American Coots had shown up there. This follows history. Two things happened - the Chase week coots return and we blew a hydraulic hose on equipment.

For those new members who have not been here for a winter, with water in the lake, more coots will arrive. The coots are a challenge as they migrate to the turf areas to feed after consuming all the pond weeds in the lake. In the past, we have pushed them with dogs and set up feeding areas to try and control their movement. It could be better, but it helps during the coots' migration until March, when they head back north.

Work for the remainder of the calendar year is:

Build a 20,000 sq. ft. Putting green nursery on the 13th hole Aerate greens and surrounding areas
Aerate Tees and seed par 3's
Aerate and seed driving range tee top
Freshen up the Landscape at Modac LC sign

See you on the course,

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World Summer 2023 Pt. 2

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 20:12:07 GMT

Here is an update here from the Greens Department. On the 13th hole, we are creating a putting green sod nursery. That ultimately will be 25,000 sq. ft. of POA annua putting green sod. This will be used for the proposed 2025 Todd Eckenrode plan. Resetting original green footprints, Adding some new pin areas and green complexes.

Initially, we were going to sod bentgrass at the nursery, then aerate it and drag our existing green plugs into it. This would take place three to four times a year over the next two years. Trying to create a mixture of grasses as we have now on the greens. But even with this aggressive work plan, the turf would still be predominantly bentgrass. So, areas newly sodded during the project would have a different look and characteristics than the surrounding turf. This would remain like this for five-plus years until the POA took over, as it always does in this coastal climate.

I was looking for golf courses that might be removing greens for major remodels—hoping to acquire their POA annua putting green turf during my inquiries and searches. My seed supplier told me that a sod company in Abbotsford, British Colombia, has produced POA annua sod for a few years on sand compatible with USGA construction. This sod is produced using putting green material from golf courses in the area, making it a bentgrass and POA annua mix. It has been used for greens at various locations—most notably the greens reconstruction at Chambers Bay in Vancouver to covert from fescue.

I spoke to the Superintendent, and his response was favorable. During their greens renovation after four months, he was able to take the height down to create a very nice putting surface.

I then contacted the owner of the sod farm and inquired about the product and the feasibility of shipping it to our location. His response was no problem and was in tune with California agriculture requirements and that the sod is shipped in refrigerated boxes on trucks. Then, after all this, the material is about .70 cents a square foot cheaper than bent delivered from the desert. This will be turf that will blend in quicker with the existing greens, plus a 14,000 dollar savings. This is the reason the sod farm on 13 has been put on hold until this fall. Below is a link to the sod farm and weather graphs.

https://www.bossod.com/

https://weatherspark.com/y/1002/Average-Weather-in-Abbotsford-Canada-Year-Round

https://weatherspark.com/y/1443/Average-Weather-in-Santa-Barbara-California-United-States-Year-Round

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World Summer 2023

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 20:08:50 GMT

We will be entering the longest day of the year soon and the official start of summer. Predictions for the summer months still show it being warm even with this unseasonably cool spring. But time will tell, and some projects and events could use warmer temps than we have experienced this spring. So below is some work going on in the next couple of months.

Putting green nursery on the 13th hole. We are currently working on a 9,000 sq. ft. expansion of putting green sod. This expansion is to establish onsite sod for upcoming projects. It's a best practice to grow turf onsite as it takes a couple of years to develop turf similar to our existing putting greens. This way, we will have plenty of sod to make green adjustments and heal as quickly as possible.

Tees leveled with new sod will be 5,7,10, and the driving range. We will complete this leveling work by July 5th.

Lake management will increase during the summer months. We have controlled the Duckweed well and now have started cutting tules, plus further growth around the edges. So far, we have been spared large amounts of algae growth. With the water being "tea-stained" in color combined with consistent cloud cover, sunlight penetration has been limited, which slows down this growth in the lake. But time will tell, as this area always throws us a curveball in how it reacts over a season. Plus the coots, oh, we will leave that topic for the next update

https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/duckweed/common-duckweed/

The course will be closed for renovation the week of June 19th. We will do a lighter renovation than usual so the property can heal in time for the S.C.G.A. Women's Amateur Championship the last week of July. Come out and watch some terrific golf that week.

Some members have asked me about the best way to rake the bunkers. I feel it's easy to access on the backside or bottom of the bunker (don't walk in on the high slope side). After your shot, use the tooth side of the rake for the bottom area in the bunkers and the smooth side of the rake for the sides. We use the "Melbourne" technique of raking, which allows a ball to roll to the bottom of the bunker due to the smooth sides. We can never duplicate the staff's raking in the mornings due to tools and the wetness of the sand when they do this work. The main thing is to leave a smooth surface for the members behind you. It's a Boy and Girl Scout thing, "Leave it better than you found it." Nobody likes being hung up in footprints on the face of a bunker. We would solve most of the issues if we could stop entering and exiting the bunkers on the faces.

See you on the course,

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World Spring 2023

Tue, 02 May 2023 20:06:51 GMT

Wayne’s World is off to the Races!

Here is a quick update on things going on at the Greens department. This year has seemed like Groundhog day as we would have a rain event every Tuesday. This would lead to canceled golf events and the Greens department cleaning up the property. Then the clouds finally parted, and it was April? We were a month or two behind our typical work for our main golfing seasons. With the great rainy season behind us, we have turned the bilges off and are full steam ahead.

We had a few small drainage issues, plus bunkers and native areas that needed immediate attention, the 4th hole and the 12th hole had the most significant drainage issues. The 4th hole is a spring that shows up during very wet years. We previously installed a large drainage field along the 4th cart path. But it grew bigger this year, so we created a small drain at the dog leg to dry up this area. The 12th hole was mainly run-off from under the Las Palmas Road Gravel base. This was cleaned up with a larger intercept drain. Bunker sand had to be moved and groomed, and additional sand would be added to the bottoms. This work has been started and should be completed soon.

The native areas took a hit from too much moisture and heavy soils. Some plants and seeded wildflower areas failed to be waterlogged for too long. So, we have been replanting the areas with different varieties or raising the soil to get them up on a mound. We have also been adding mulch to all the native areas. This makes for better footing and views around the property. Even with this winter’s severe conditions, the spring views are still nice around the property, and our lake, which some new members have never seen, has reappeared! As we continue to clean up the property and groom our native areas, we will launch into a great golfing season.

In the future, here are some of the things we will be working on at the greens department:

• Working with Todd on the capitol maintenance and irrigation

• Reviewing all bunkers and adding sand to the bottoms

• Leveling and sodding 12,000 sq ft of tee tops

• Managing the lake’s algae and pond weeds. The Club's aquatic weed control boat will be here on May 3rd.

• The 19th thru 22nd of June - course closed as we aerate greens, tees, and fairways

• Expand putting green nursery on 13 for future course projects

So, enjoy the spring conditions. Rusty and I will see you on the course.

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World 1st Quarter 2023

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 20:03:28 GMT

Well, we asked for rain and boy we have received it, almost to the point of complaining about it. But I will withhold that as having this amount of rainfall will end one of the many issues facing this industry for some years to come.

As I write this, we have received 28 inches of rain at La Cumbre and have smashed records from 1952. A rounded annual average of 16 to 18 inches is typical at this site. We could be on course for double the average amount. As a result, the lake is over the discharge pipe on the 12th hole. We can retain water about 10 to 12 inches over this pipe before it affects drainage and backs up into the 15th fairway and the 14th hole.

Additionally, it has been unseasonably cold for this time of year so the turf and plantings still need to start and push their springtime flush of growth. But when it warms up soon, all areas will take off here on the course plus the local flora and fauna will be beautiful.

We have the new Greens Committee in place and we all realize this is a year of collaboration and planning for the club. Listed below are some projects we can do to keep the playing surfaces up to date until we start our capital improvements.

• Level and sod Tees that are not identified for changes.

• Level and sod Driving Range tees.

• Sod wear areas around the course

• Manage the lake to keep aquatic plants at an acceptable level.

• Prepare the course for Major events in May, July, and September

• Repair some sliding on the back of the 8th hole.

• Work on Native areas planting and cleaning.

• Remove some sand dams around greens to help with drainage.

• Plus, the unique issues that seem to arise each season.

See you on the course,

Wayne Mills

President's Report March 2023

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 19:42:54 GMT

Dear La Cumbre Members,

There are lots of thoughtful activities happening at La Cumbre Country Club these days. Proactive, positive steps are being taken daily, with many special thanks to our member volunteers and our professional staff. We are truly getting better each day.

Financial
With support from Alan Harden and the Finance Committee, Jeff Cowan closed our January results with the first net positive month in many months. Net operating profit for January was $9,000. February looks to continue that trend due to newly implemented cost controls and continued demand for new membership for our club.

Our total cash on hand is approximately $10.5M, with our project cash balance at $9.9M and our operating cash balance at $0.65M.

Every club department leader has been challenged to develop a plan to decrease operating expenses or increase revenues by 5% in their respective areas. The objective is to invest in areas that drive Members' value and minimize needless casual spending. The goal is to realize a total of $520k in savings in the 2023 operating budget. Good progress has been made toward achieving this goal. The 2023 operating budget includes most of the identified savings opportunities.

Projects
Our Renovation Committee, with the professional support of The Tynan Group, Anacapa Architects, Cabana Homes, and others, is working through the iterative process of defining the details of our projects. Within the next 30 days, we anticipate posting visual renderings of our clubhouse on our website, which will represent the current status of our clubhouse design. In the future, we anticipate our website being the primary vehicle for updates and comments.

Pool Bar & Grill
Final design is to be submitted to the County Planning Department by 4/28 with an anticipated start date for construction late in 2023. The project will take approximately six months to complete. The kitchen and bar redesign will allow for increased dining demand and social activities during the clubhouse construction and beyond. The success of our outdoor dining has greatly enhanced our member satisfaction and our club's economic position.
Tennis Court
We continue to work with the various professionals and stakeholders to determine if a Court 7 is feasible. The demand for use at our Tennis facility continues to grow, due to the good work of our professionals and our members desire to play. Assuming all things fall into place, we may be able to refresh all courts and build a Court 7 beginning in Q1 of 2024. Hopefully, we can submit these plans with the PB&G permit.
Clubhouse
Clubhouse design specifics are being finalized and incorporated into an updated permitting plan. Structural, mechanical, civil, electrical, and plumbing engineers are at work designing the technical functionality of the clubhouse. We will submit our plans as early as possible to the County Planning Department in Q4, but we can't submit until the PB&G permit is processed with County Planning Department Construction. This is expected to begin in Q3 of 2024.
Golf Course
Golf Course design and planning is underway with Todd Eckenrode. We anticipate the first draft in April.

Search
On Monday, February 21st, and Tuesday, February 22nd, we met with Kurt Kuebler and Paul Levy of KK&W and Eric Gregory, Club Benchmarking, our recently hired search firm, which is engaged to fulfill our search for our new General Manager. On Monday, Kurt and Paul toured our campus, and met with the leadership of our staff and our Search Committee. On Tuesday, Kurt, Paul, and Eric shared with the Search Committee and Board of Directors their process, best practices, metrics of other outstanding operating clubs, governance, and more.

We anticipate it may take until July 1st before the right General Manager is on campus. Thankfully, we are supported by a committed Board, talented members, and a professional staff to carry us through.

Membership
Membership sales demand continues to pace nicely, with four Equity applications anticipated to be approved by the end of the 1st quarter, and many other members upgrading into the various categories. Demand from the different categories is also solid, with a waitlist in Social Tennis, Associates, and Non-residents.

Typically, membership sales go in waves, and this annual variable revenue from these sales follows approximately like this: 1st quarter 20%, 2nd quarter 30%, 3rd quarter 30%, 4th quarter 20%.

Food & Beverage
We have engaged a Food & Beverage consultant from Kemper Sports Management to review our operation. The consultant will review every aspect of our process, from the procurement of food products to the delivery of finished meals to our plates. Kemper Sports operates over 140 resort/golf operations, bringing these best operating practices to La Cumbre. The early feedback is very promising.

Golf
As stated in a prior Wayne's World…The year's primary focus will be planning for our various upcoming projects over the next few years and the ongoing maintenance of our property. February has brought quite volatile weather, some beautiful days that we have taken advantage of, and some that primarily benefited the lake. March and April will likely bring more blooms, great color, and wonderful spring golfing days.

With the rains and a full lake, it reduces our water bills but brings approximately 60 hours of additional maintenance per week. We have acquired a boat to service the lake and anticipate taking delivery soon.

Ladies' and Men's interclub matches, 9 & Dine, Super Bowl match, Niner's golf and more were played during February. March presents many opportunities to play, so please check out the Calendar and get a game!

Tennis
We continue to focus on enhancing our tennis facility for the enjoyment of our members. In January, we held three focus group meetings with a desire to learn from many of our active tennis facility members. The primary concerns were:

1. Availability of tennis court time during peak hours
2. Availability of quality pickleball courts
3. Deferred maintenance of our courts
4. General deferred maintenance of our facilities.

Progress is being made in all these areas. We anticipate sharing more specific thoughts on potential solutions to these concerns shortly.

House
This year we brought back the House Committee. Annetta Patrick is leading with a strong group of members in support, including Bryan Bahman. The primary short-term focus is on attention to detail. Cleaning the house, removing excess material in storage, and generally cleaning out the "garage" as many additional items have been retained past their useful life.

We are open for business, and it is imperative that the property look as nice as possible. As mentioned above, the clubhouse renovation project will physically commence approximately summer of 2024. So, let's enjoy our clubhouse!

Social Events
Our Social Committee reports through the House Committee and is led by Jill Winchester, with a great group of members. With the support of Josh, Kaity, Inger, and Chef Eric, they are planning a terrific roster of events for us all to enjoy! This past week we celebrated Mardi Gras / President's party. Thank you for putting this great event together and for those who came out and celebrated.

Let the good times roll!

Greg Moss,
President, La Cumbre Country Club

Finance Report March 2023

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 19:39:08 GMT

Dear La Cumbre Members:

As promised in my note last month, I intend to report regularly on the financial aspects of the four projects we are managing.

Before I do so, however, I would like to give Jeff Cowan, our Controller, Elizabeth Stuart, our staff accountant, and Lanita Pattenaude, Director of HR a shout-out for their exceptional teamwork in the first couple of months of this year. They closed out 2022, progressed the Audit, changed banks to American Riviera, set up operating and project accounts, and organized the receipt of the assessment from 820 members, amongst many other things. They have worked extraordinarily hard and efficiently.

As mentioned last month, the funding for all the projects was predicated on the need to use variable capital income from initiation and transfer fees to enhance the campus and not subsidize regular operations.

(dues income + operating income) – (operating expense + maintenance of facilities and sport venues) = 0

(variable capital income) + (assessment) = enhancements to the campus and is fully allocated over the 6 to 7 years plan period.

The variable capital income assumptions were based on our average non-equity and equity memberships turnover. With equity memberships, we were able to look back to 1966 and average the price increase and number of transactions. Since 1966, when the equity membership price first floated, it has compounded at 10.35%, over the last five years at 8.10%, and ten years at 7.98%. It is not a straight line, and we have had years, and at times a few years in a row, where prices have been stagnant or fallen. Nonetheless, the compounding average has been impressive. The number of transactions over the last forty years has been quite volatile, ranging from 9 to 29, producing an average of 16 equity transactions per year.

Overall, we conservatively budgeted 6% price growth off a base of $210,000 and 14 transactions yearly. In 2023 we anticipate approximately $2 million in variable capital income; over the project plan period to the end of 2029, we are budgeting $16.54 million.

The assessment was based on the amount needed to fund the four projects minus the excess cash on hand to fund operations plus the anticipated amount of variable capital income over the plan period.

(Project expenditure) – (Cash on hand + variable capital income) = Assessment

This plan was essentially a cash flow funding plan to meet the different project expenditure timelines. It was necessary to make assumptions on the number of members that would select a one-time, annual, or monthly option, including the 7% interest we were going to receive.

“It is tough to make predictions, especially about the future” – Yogi Berra.

The prediction was that 1/3rd of our members would pay up front and 2/3rd defer. Or approximately $4.56 million upfront and $9.91 million deferred, which included approximately $2 million in interest - totaling $14.47 million.

The actual situation is that nearly 2/3rd of members have paid upfront and 1/3rd deferred, or approximately $7.97 million upfront and $5.04 million deferred, which includes only $ 0.56 million of interest - totaling $13.01 million.

The shortfall of $1.46 million will be mostly mitigated by earning interest of approximately $1.2 million on the funds over the plan period. We are grateful for the current rates available and anticipate they will continue to be ‘higher for longer.’ Any delays in permitting or such will allow the interest gap to narrow.

We also carried forward $2.16 million from funds earned last year in Variable Capital Income that was not used to subsidize operations.

Last year, during meetings and various discussions on the project and subsequent assessment prior to the vote, there was much concern among members that the funds raised would, in one way or another, not be allocated as initially intended.

All funds have been placed into a segregated account, the rules of which only allow project-related expenses to be funded. Furthermore, this 'Members Reserve Account’ (MRA) has a detailed Investment policy statement that dictates and directs both the investment policy and the use of the funds. There is also a current investment strategy which the newly formed Investment Committee leads. I am grateful for the contribution of Mike Nicolais, Melissa Gough, and Jason Spievak in serving with me on this committee. Accounts are currently being opened with JP Morgan and Merrill so that CDs, T-Bills, and Money Market funds can be accessed.

Essentially the master capital plan is a cash flow plan to meet the expenditure of the four different projects as they occur over the next six or so years. The budget for the Patio Bar & Grill and Tennis Courts had already been allocated from existing funds. The balance for maintaining and enhancing the Clubhouse and Golf course was approximately $31 million.

The Patio Bar & Grill - $1.84 million

The original budget was $1.59 million, including a larger, more functional kitchen and new furniture. Since beginning the detailed design work and receiving construction quotes, we have been tracking to come in below budget at $1.42 million. However, it became clear that the bar area was too small for members and service staff. Therefore, the decision was made to redesign and expand the bar area. This expansion adds approximately $420,000 to the cost estimate, bringing it to $1.84 million. This bar has become the heart of the club, serving between 98 meals a day in December and 248 a day in July. It also almost breaks even for Food & Beverage, with an annual income of $1.75 million. So, this is a very simple financial cost/benefit analysis, and an enhanced member experience ‘value’ would support the extra funding.

The Tennis Courts and Facility - $0.75 million

The original budget for the tennis courts project was $750,000. The recent meetings and work that has been done with the tennis community suggest that court 7 can be accommodated in this budget.

The Clubhouse - $18.00 million

The current budget remains at $18 million (approx. $8 million maintenance and $10 million enhancement). However, it is still too early to feel comfortable. All the design specifics, various engineers, and consultants still need to finalize all the drawings before we can submit for permits and obtain real and solid quotes from our construction partners. At that point, we will have an estimated cost and start the process of value engineering.

The Golf Course - $13.13 million

The current budget is $13.13 million, which many will remember is made up largely of the irrigation system at nearly $4.85 million and $4.275 million for the work that is underway with Todd Eckenrode.

Included in the above budget numbers, we have built in an amount for unknown contingencies and inflation. The most significant is $4 million for the Golf Course as this project is the last to start (3 or 4 years). The Clubhouse budget includes $1.7 million, and the Patio Bar and Grill has $0.130 million in total, $5.83 million.

Obviously, it is still early for the overall project. As such, we should all recognize that there are several 'income risks.' For example, not achieving financial equilibrium in the operating budget, not achieving the variable capital targets or the interest income target. On the other hand, the 'income opportunities' are exceeding our operating budget, beating the variable capital income targets, or interest rates staying higher for longer.

Regarding 'expenditure risk,' Donald Rumsfeld describes it best; there are Known Knowns (things we are aware of and understand), Known Unknowns (things we are aware of but don't understand), Unknown Knowns (things we understand but are not aware of), and finally Unknown Unknowns (things we are neither aware of nor understand).

As we gain visibility of our income and understand what becomes known or continues to be unknown, I will report back!

Alan Harden,
Treasurer, La Cumbre Country Club

Wayne's World Jan/Feb 2023

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 20:35:01 GMT

Dear La Cumbre Members,

After some terrific golfing weather during the holidays, we are into a new year, and it seems into a much-needed wet pattern. So I thought I would go over some maintenance items that come up this time of year and answer some questions about how we manage course play.

Carts or no carts after the rain? We look and think about how much mud tracking we'll get from the carts and if there will be any physical damage to the turf areas in play. We then look at the forecasted weather, and if there's a rain front coming through in the next day or two, we'll be a little more aggressive in getting carts out as the mud tracks will get washed away with the new rain.

If there's no rain forecasted, we usually hold off longer, so we don't have a lot of unsightly mud tracking. Our goal is to have the property looking and playing as well as it can for all members.

We will close the course if the greens have standing water because of excessive foot tracking and ball marks. Additionally, if the bunkers have a lot of washouts and standing water, that's another reason to close the golf course for playing.

We really do want to get all members out to play golf as much as possible, but by restricting play at certain times, it makes the playing conditions better for all members. So it's a balance we consider every day.

Here are a few websites I use to monitor the weather:

Windy.com

V.C. Watershed

County of S.B

Some notes on rainfall and the lake:

As of 1/13/23, we have had 17.55 inches for the season.
From 1/1/23 to 1/10/23, we had 8.67 inches out of one storm.
The lake has 55 inches of water in it.
We will have a lake all season with about 24 inches left in it by October.
Lake Cachuma will spill over, and the entire state water delivery system will be improved, securing water for the next few years and hopefully stabilizing the availability and pricing of this resource.

A 2023 Forecast of the Greens Department work:

Complete a capital maintenance plan for all areas on the course (this will be done by Todd Eckenrode and Origins Golf).
Complete a new irrigation system design and plan for the property.
Fly the property with drones to make a Topo map to be used for the work above.
Level and install new sod on teeing grounds.
Remove the sand dam on the front of some greens and lower the sod for drainage.
Purchase a new boat for algae and aquatic weed removal in the lake.

I am sure more items will arise as the year progresses, but this is the base plan for 2023. Our team is looking forward to a solid season with great conditions for golf and enhanced visuals from the lake and native areas.

See you on the course,

Wayne Mills

Note from the Green Committee

Your Green Committee is off to a good start and as Wayne detailed in his report we are pleased that we will have water in our lake this year. After a significant amount of course improvements last year, 2023 will be centered around planning so enjoy a year of golf with few course interruptions. A topic that was widely discussed at our January Green Committee meeting was course maintenance by our members. We experiencing far too many unrepaired ball marks, unfilled divots and poorly raked sand traps. We realize that the large majority of our members are conscientious and care for our course properly, but these issues seem to be occurring more than ever. Please remind your fellow players to repair their divots and ball marks and rake the sand traps properly so the group following has a good experience. We are privileged to have such a wonderful golf course to play so lets help Wayne’s team maintain it to the level it deserves.

Fairways and Greens,

John Blair and your Green Committee

Treasurers Q1 Report - February 2023

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 18:34:00 GMT

President's Annual Report 2023

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:56:46 GMT

Happy New Year, La Cumbre Members!

It has been a quick start to the New Year, and I am honored to have been appointed President of La Cumbre Country Club. I feel a great responsibility to lead effectively and thank you all for your support!

First Impressions:

We are very fortunate to have such a beautiful setting to live and play in. It truly brings me, and I know many of you, joy daily. With real optimism, I look out and see many incremental opportunities for operational improvement. We are already taking steps that will immediately enhance our member's experience, our employees' satisfaction, and personal growth. I know our existing team of leaders are thoughtfully working and moving us in a positive direction.

Disciplined Financial Processes:

Our board committee leaders, members, and professional staff are in a solid place to execute everything in front of us. Whether it is general operations, clubhouse and facilities renovations, or golf course capital maintenance, we have skilled participants managing thoughtfully.

In addition, we have moved our banking affiliation and are enjoying the new relationship with American Riviera Bank. Effective January 1, 2023, A.R.B. assists us with better terms and conditions and the appropriate safeguards for our accounts and banking processes.

Quick Update: Around the Club

Membership:

December 2022 membership sales beat December 2021! Since the assessment, there continues to be strong demand, and in fact, the final quarter of 2022 was the second best on record, with five equity memberships, four non-resident, seven social clubhouse, and one social tennis sold, only beaten by the extraordinary quarter and year that was 2021. We ended strong, with December being our best month on record, with three equity memberships, one non-resident, and one social membership transacted. Welcome to our new members!

Member Survey:

Our recent member survey was completed by approximately 300 of our members. The general perspective of our members who participated in the survey was that we have a lovely club with meaningful room for improvement in a few areas. High marks were provided for our professional staff in fitness and tennis, Wayne Mills and his team, and the quality of our golf course. Areas for potential improvement leaned toward our physical facilities, our tennis courts, golf practice facilities, clubhouse, and targeted areas of food & beverage and service delivery. Action steps are currently being implemented to enhance all areas of our Club.

Search for our New General Manager:

I am very thankful that Mike Nicolais has agreed to lead the search committee that is currently forming and will hire our new General Manager. Mike will work diligently with the selection committee, then broaden the engagement to include many members and employees.

Upcoming projects:

Patio Bar & Grill:

Plans for the Patio Bar & Grill addition are currently underway and will add about 200 SF to the kitchen space and enclose the new pizza prep and oven area. This new space will allow increased food preparation and pizza output going forward, which has been popular since the pandemic's start. We are also exploring plans to increase the size of the bar to accommodate more members comfortably. The County and Hope Ranch Design Council have approved this project, and we are now waiting for our building permit from Building & Safety. We expect this to be issued in April or early May. The result will be a more functional space that will better cater to the needs of our members, particularly once the clubhouse remodel begins.

Clubhouse:

The clubhouse remodel is currently being designed by Anacapa Architecture in conjunction with our Renovation Committee. Their conceptual designs for the spaces included in the "deferred maintenance" scope are underway and will be ready for review by the membership in the coming months. We expect to submit for our County permit in June of this year, allowing construction to begin in the summer of 2024. The proposed modifications will open the clubhouse to more light, increase ceiling heights, resolve current maintenance issues, and provide refreshed finishes and design that will make the Club a desirable place for decades to come.

Golf Course:

Our golf course architect Todd Eckenrode and his firm are working on preliminary scope and plans. Todd, Wayne Mills, and our Green Committee will partner with membership as the work product is being developed. As usual, Wayne and his team will continue to maintain and enhance our property as the months go along.

Tennis Courts:

Before our capital campaign was passed, our general manager presented a modest renovation short-term plan, which touched on the immediate needs of court #3, but did not consider our courts' long-term weaknesses. Consistent with our capital plan, we are now in the process of exploring a more long-lasting solution to the issues of our tennis facility. This process is in concert with Matt Berry, our Renovation Committee, and the Tynan Group. We hope to share more with all of you shortly.

Moving forward:

Board of Directors, Committee Members, Bryan Bahman, and Others:

We are very fortunate to have the active involvement of many talented members and staff and the generous support of Bryan Bahman, our past general manager, who is actively assisting in our Club's leadership. Bryan will be providing his judgment and support on a variable, part-time as needed basis. Please reach out to Bryan and say hello.

Board of Directors:

We have an outstanding new and experienced roster of board members: John Blair – Green Committee ; Alan Harden – Finance Committee ; Chris Portney – Pool Tennis and Fitness . In addition, returning to our board is Henning Thorsen - V.P. and Golf Committee ; Annetta Patrick - Secretary and House Committee , Jim Buttimer - Membership Committee , Rod Brown - Special Projects ; Ron Busch - Renovation Committee ; Steven Pinsker – Board Advisor .

Special thanks to our Past President, Russ Werner - Long Range Planning, for his leadership, friendship, and support. Russ has set us up for success!

Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve.

We wish you all the very best in the New Year!

-Greg Moss

2023 La Cumbre Country Club President

President's Report - January 2023

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 18:31:19 GMT

Wayne's World December 2022

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:40:25 GMT

Dear La Cumbre Members,

I am sending out the final and most anticipated Wayne’s World summary. Much was accomplished, and many interesting situations were overcome.

On March 1st, the first deliveries of reclaimed water started. Bringing to completion the 1.4 million dollar project. We are fortunate to have a reliable water source for now and into the future.
In June, the path removal around the lake and teeing grounds project broke ground. Over the three months, 6,500 linear feet of cart path was removed, and five new teeing areas were developed with rolled curb path integrated into them. Plus, we added fairway and native areas to complement the work. The result is a cleaner, less cluttered look for these areas.
In October, holes 2, 3, and 9 had portions of path removed, and drainage with scatter areas and rolled curbs was added.
In November, multiple organizations recognized the club nationally for its commitment to creating more naturalized areas on the property. Not only for beautiful views but intention to promote an environment for wildlife of many types.
The year had its agronomic challenges, and I had a personal set back too. Irrigation started in January, as no meaningful rain came after December 2021, making sodium control difficult. During my setback, we had an unseasonably hot and humid weather pattern, followed by two weeks of warm cloud cover all day and night. Thankfully, the damage to the property and myself were contained to a minimum. Things are looking up from here!
The club contracted with Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design to review our property and help establish long-term plans for enhancements, maintenance, and integration of our future irrigation systems and infrastructure. This sets us up for another 25 to 30 years of efficient service to the club.

So, the balance of this year will include tree maintenance to increase sunlight corridors along Arroyo Burro and other areas, which will help with our turf health. Service to our irrigation pumping systems, wells, and backflows. We are locating and cleaning irrigation devices in the ground. Plus, general maintenance and clean up on the property and my shop area.

In review, it was a good year, with many rewards and completed work. I hope all of you have a nice holiday season and enjoy what I consider to be the best time of year.

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World Fall 2022 Part 2

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:37:08 GMT

Wayne’s World Fall 2022

Shadows are getting longer, and nights are getting cooler. It looks like fall is coming! It’s an excellent time of year at La Cumbre Country Club. The grass growth will slow, and our greens and fairways will start to roll. The bunkers will hold less water, creating a softer surface. I think it’s the best time of year for golf in Santa Barbara when other courses across the country are emptying irrigation lines and placing covers on greens.

This year, we had a very busy season learning to accept and use reclaimed water. The reclaimed water saved the club over $177,000 this year alone if the water had been purchased as potable. We did have some adjusting, but we learned and got around those issues.

We removed over 6,500 linear feet of cart paths. Plus, remodeling the areas those paths impacted. In addition, to new teeing grounds, paths, and native areas.

On native areas, I have been informed La Cumbre Country Club has been chosen by Golf Digest and The GCSAA as the top facility in the Natural Resource Conservation Division of the Environmental leaders of Golf Awards. So, I hope you enjoy the super bloom this spring and realize it is being noticed by our professional peers and the golf media.

Below are some upcoming projects you will see completed:

Remove tullie rhizomes from Laguna Blanca from inline playing areas.
Complete cart path scatter areas on holes 2, 3, 17.
Remove and complete the new cart path on the 9th hole by green.
Finish drainage work on new paths 11, 15.
Sod bare area on 13th hole where the path was removed.

Stay Below the Hole!

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World Fall 2022

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:34:48 GMT

Dear La Cumbre Golfers,

Thank you to all who have expressed concern and support. I had a medical setback on August 31 that kept me sidelined for a couple of weeks. But things are looking good now, and I will be happy to get back to it soon.

We recently completed lots of work on holes 10 through 16. With the completed work, the holes look clean and well defined, plus they have better transitions from green to tees with more teeing options. The 15th/16th turnaround is the only area we will need to review, but this is a difficult area, as it is so tight from green to tee. We will monitor this area to make decisions for the future.

Again, thank you for your support.

Work that we intend to complete this fall:

Hole 10 green tee, plant some natives on the slope of the tee, remove the old tee, and convert the area to non-turf.
Hole 12 - connect new drainage to path drain boxes.
Hole 13 - connect drainage to path drain boxes. Create a larger non-turf area under the oak by the tee box. Remove a few more old path panels on the right side to get out the line of sight: review benches and their view from teeing grounds.
Hole 14 - connect drainage to path drain boxes. Create a DG path to island green for cart traffic.
Hole 15 - create a DG walking path from tees to the fairway for walkers.
Hole 16 - connect drainage to the path drain box.
Holes 2,3,9, and 18 finish creating scatter ends to the paths, which were removed this year and in past years. This looks to be a 3-day project. I’m connecting with the path contractor to plan this work.

This will complete the heavy work for the year! Our original estimate for this work was $550,000, and we anticipate coming in at or below this mark. Our outside contractors, with staff involvement, have become very efficient in the removal process. The only positive to an empty lake was using it for staging and transferring materials to complete the task, turning a negative into a positive. Just imagine if we had to drive around the lake during play with all this activity.

We are very fortunate, in my absence, that we have such a strong team to carry on. I have been able to keep up and provide support and guidance on applications and material procurement, but they really have stepped up on this project and all the normal grooming the property requires.

Thank you to the staff and all involved.

See you around the property shortly.

Wayne Mills

A Club Going Through Covid

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 19:50:11 GMT

We are gathering stories (pictures welcome) about you and your family going through covid for a mid-month issue of The Divot.

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Wayne's World June 2022

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:32:52 GMT

La Cumbre Members,

Here is a note of activities next week on the course and what we are doing.

10th Hole, we import dirt for a new green tee alongside the existing cart path. The old teeing ground and all of the rough to the start of the fairway will be taken out of irrigation.
We will remove sod off the tees 3, 5, 7, 10, and the driving range. To level the teeing surface and then re sod the area. This is just maintenance work needed every few years on par 3's and every 7 to 10 on par 4's and 5's.
The tees will be out of play for two weeks then, after the sod roots, they will be opened back up on the 24th of June for play.

Just a reminder, the course will be closed for the annual heavy green, tee, and fairway aeration, June 20th-23rd. Thank you for being so patient with this important work on the course. May be time for a road trip...

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World May/June 2022

Fri, 13 May 2022 16:25:08 GMT

Good Morning La Cumbre!

We are starting to transition from spring to early summer. The property is transitioning too. So, the Greens and Kikuyu are taking on a different look and feel in fairways. Both need constant irrigation, so less roll on both surfaces than in winter. Ball marks and divots repair faster this time of year, but we still need your support in fixing these blemishes from your execution of that perfect shot.

This year's weather is very eradicated, and everything seems to be a month to two ahead of historical growth patterns. But all our contractors and material suppliers are a month or two behind. So, the work we have slated for this year will get done, but it looks like the window of June to early September is when this will be completed.

On the waterfront, the deliveries of reclaimed have been steady. Again, this came online just as the State and local agencies beat the drought drums. They are looking for a 35% reduction in water usage throughout the system. Agriculture rates are being adjusted way up with the mandated reduction. As this intensifies, different groups will be pointing fingers at each other. Being a private club, they would love to point them at us.

With the continued drought, certain tree species show signs of heavy stress and decline. Mainly the Redwoods and Monterey Cypress currently. Using water with lower qualities will only add to this if we do not get heavy winter rains to clean the soils.

But the property is in good shape with some excellent additions planned for the season. See you on the course. I'll be somewhere behind Rusty.

Wayne Mills

Wayne's World Spring 2022

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 16:12:37 GMT

Spring has come early this year, and it feels like it started on January 1st! Our greens are trying to produce seed heads, a typical March through April event. Our fairways have good color and are growing. Our native planting areas are trying to bloom, and the bugs are out! Nothing is following our typical patterns. I know we are enjoying some of the best-golfing weather, as the rest of the country is frozen stiff. So, I hope you enjoy the facility, as it may be the best weather days for golf over any place in the United States.

What’s to come over the next few months:

The Reclaimed Water Contract starts March 1st and will be in place for 25 years. We are very fortunate to have this contract during this current weather pattern. This contract provides a more secure water source at a reduced rate to potable water.
The hillside behind the 6th green, where we ran the reclaimed pipe, will be planted and the fence repaired.
Work around the Campus has started with updating the landscape planters and plants.
The 10th Green tee will be relocated for safety issues. Many members requested this change because there is no visual from the 10th tee, and the access to the current location is too steep. In addition, the tee is too small for its usage.
The driving range tee plus the 5th and 7th teeing grounds will be leveled and resodded.
We will begin cart path reductions on holes 12 through 16, starting in late April. In addition, Todd Eckenrode, our club’s architect, is reviewing these holes for tee adjustments and new cart path installations.

I hope you enjoy the nice weather, while we wish for more rain!

Wayne Mills

PS: Many members have asked about my new dog; his name is Rusty. He is a French Britney, or for the more cultured than me, his name is Omar Du Young, and his breed is “Epagneul Breton.” He will be three years old in April. I acquired him from individuals whose life changed and who had to move. So now he’s stuck with me. You will see him on the course if you look quickly.

One With The Land: Sustainability Actions Speak Louder Than Words - FORE Magazine

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:37:14 GMT

“I don’t use the word ‘sustainability,’” said Wayne Mills, superintendent at La Cumbre CC in Santa Barbara. “I use the words ‘reduced inputs that benefit society.’ Potable water is a fluid people need to sustain life,and we were using it to irrigate turf. If we use reclaimed water, we use less potable water and still employ people, create living wages, and give people a place to enjoy themselves.”

UPDATED COVID-19 ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE GUIDANCE TO ALIGN WITH CDPH

Blake@longdriveagency.com (Blake Davis) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 14:44:33 GMT

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has updated their COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance to align with new guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

La Cumbre in Golf Digest

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:22:33 GMT

Wayne's Work featured in Golf Digest

Some of these changes are brought on by passion or ethos—from supers, board members or players—and others are dictated by nature. Such is the case in drought-stricken California. Wayne Mills manages La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara, where cutting down on water is not only the right thing to do but is state-mandated. When Mills got started in 2016, he was looking to take advantage of incentives the government was offering to properties that reduced water usage. Mills’ first thought was increasing the course’s native populations, which are predisposed to fare better in the arid climate and retain water more efficiently. One day, some college researchers were studying a creek nearby. He asked them to come take a look around the grounds. “I realized I needed some help,” he says. They introduced him to a local biologist, who, with her husband, specializes in mitigation. Together, they decided to restore the native oak communities using the surrounding hills as a guide. To do this, they hiked the nearby mountains to propagate the exact genetic varieties local to Santa Barbara.

Mills still plants some non-native species for the “show factor.” Members have affectionately nicknamed the annual crescendo of red flax, purple lupines and white sage the “super bloom.” Mills orchestrates the plantings to flower at different times, attracting pollinators from hummingbirds to sweat bees and mimicking the drama of changing seasons, a rarity in the Golden State. Mills describes it as a “snowball effect.” If you give a course a flowering garden, you’ll end up with aphids seeking nectar. Then the birds arrive to munch on the insects. Mills and his team are converting another 30,000 square feet to meadow. It’s the last of the “easy pickings.” After that, they will chase another creative, water-cutting, wildlife-friendly solution—still to be discovered.

The Water Reclamation Project Update

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 15:12:33 GMT

Members,

Just an update from the trenches. Last week was a big week—some highlights of what has been completed and what to expect.

Completed:

320 ft of 8in HDPE delivery piping bored from 6 cart paths under bunker to the point of connection behind the green. This was done to meet water control board requirements of separation from domestic water and reclaimed systems.
Connection to city supply and all hardware installed.
1,200 lin ft. of piping installed from 4th green to the 15th hole.
Irrigation and drainage installed on Holes 11 and 12 teeing grounds.
Grading and sand cap on all teeing grounds to finish the grade.
16,000 sq ft of Kikuyu Sod installed from 6th green to 5th green.
7,500 sq ft. of cart path installed.
16,000 sq ft. Of Bandera Bermuda installed on the 11th and 12th teeing areas.

As you can see from the list above, it was a hectic week, and many of you witnessed it. Again, I can thank you for the overall positive support during this wild phase of the project.

Work in the next phase will be.

Complete piping to the irrigation reservoir approximately 600ft.
Start 6in pipe run on 10th hole primarily working in the deep rough area.
Hook up drainage from cart path drains to existing systems.
Complete repairs and on 5th and 6th Holes (Sodding, Irrigation Planting natives and Mulching).
Complete sodding Kikuyu surrounds on the 11th and 12th holes.
Add drip irrigation and plant 11th and 12th holes with natives and mulch.
Sod old path area on 10th hole plus start work on the transition from cart path end to the turf.

This is approximately a two-week work plan. Things change as supply chains are very difficult right now.

Now we will get to what you, as a member, really want to know. WHEN will this be over, and when can we play the new areas?

In two weeks, most of the crews and machinery will be leaving for Nebraska. A small crew will be around installing hardware for 3 to 4 more weeks, but this work will not be very intrusive.

The 11th and 12 holes should be open to play by mid-September, just in time for the clubs’ major events and one of the best times of year in the fall months.

Again, thank you. This has been an enormous undertaking in a short amount of time. But with a drought that seems not to want to go away and no ceiling in domestic water prices and its lack of availability. This connection could not come at a better time as negations for this resource could and would only get more complex. Plus, its pricing and availability are more stable than the alternatives. With the bonus of public perception that a non-potable source is being used for irrigation.

Wayne

8/13/21 Update

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 21:23:55 GMT

Wayne's World Update

Just an update on continuing work on our various projects.

Once again, thank you for your understanding and patience with this work. Todd Eckenrode, the club’s consultant, visited all areas and reviewed the ongoing work. He made some adjustments to the alinement and depths of new teeing areas. He then studied cart path flows, plus entrance and exit points. After reviewing these areas with the contactor, club members, and staff, he approved the work and felt good about the progress.

What members should expect to see in the next couple of weeks:

Teeing areas on holes 11 and 12 fine gradings and irrigation installation will be completed.
Monday and Tuesday, the 16th and 17th, Cart path repairs and installation will be completed.
More path reductions on ten will be completed on the south side, plus areas converted to non-irrigated native areas.
We will install Piping for a water transfer pipe on the 10th hole.
Sodding on the 5th hole and cleanup will be completed. Native areas mulched and damaged plants re-planted.
Teeing should remain the same for two more weeks; after that, we will have a concise tee area on the 11th hole.
The lower area on the 6th hole could see some sod being installed if deliveries are on time.

Thank you,
Wayne

Proposed Work on Golf Course

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 22:36:09 GMT

Wayne's World

Dear La Cumbre Members,

I've been getting asked while in the field what we are doing on the 11th hole. So here is an overview of the changes in various areas.

With a layout of the 11th hole tee grounds, this could have some slight changes after Todd Eckenrode's field visits.

The 12th hole work is still under review if we will complete it this year or not.

Thanks, Wayne

8/4/21 Update

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 19:17:15 GMT

Reclaimed water project update for the week of 8/4/21

Thank you for your understanding and patience with our course projects, especially the ladies and their guests who played yesterday. We had quite a bit going on during this event with two road crossings and work on the 6th hole. Thank you again.

Everything we hoped to get completed this past week was completed. So, we are on track!

Here’s what is next:

Lash Contractors will be building a concrete vault in Calle Los Amigos to install the control valves for water delivery. (This is off-site and will not affect our golf course.)
11 and 12 tee areas will be under repair, with sod and irrigation to be removed. This is in preparation for the piping installation, and tee modification per the Todd Eckenrode approved plan.
The 11th Hole tee box will likely play from a temporary short tee location starting August 10th for two weeks.
Piping will be installed from 5 to 4 then across the 14th fairway. So, expect some disruption on the 14th hole as it may need to play as a par three on some days.
Leveling, grading, and clean-up will follow all work after the pipeline installation.

So, lots going on, stay tuned! Thanks again!

Wayne

7/26/21 Update

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 19:13:54 GMT

Reclaimed water project update for the week of 7/26/21

Dear La Cumbre Members,

Last week was a successful start to what will present as a larger undertaking this week. Landscapes Unlimited, Mac Brown Co, and Lash Contractors are on-site and off-site, completing the pipeline run from Valle Verde behind 6th green. In addition, we will commence runs along with the 6th and the 10th fairways to the reservoir off the 15th.

As always, we will try to keep disruptions to members at a minimum, and we greatly appreciate your patience and support with us during this process.

Ok, so what did we complete last week, and what do we expect to complete this week?

Last Week:

In Calle Los Amigos, Lash Construction installed 900 linear ft of 8in pipe for reclaimed water.
On the 6th Hole, work started on the pipeline that will extend from the back of the 6th Hole to the 15th Hole and the lake reservoir.
More Materials were delivered, and Landscapes Unlimited set up camp in the irrigation island area along the 15th fairway.

This Week:

Lash Construction will complete the pipeline run from the Calle Los Amigos point of connection behind the 6th green distribution point.
Cart Path removal will be commencing on the 5th, 10th, and 11th holes and possibly be completed by the end of the week.
The palm tree planter on the 11th Hole will be removed to make the pipeline and refreshed teeing complex.
Boring under the road at Monte and Via Laguna should commence this week.
Pipeline work will be underway in the old cart path locations, from the 6th, 5th, and leading over to behind the 4th green.

In recognizing the draught restrictions that are likely coming to our community, we are very fortunate to be in a position to complete this project that will ensure water to our property for years to come. As many of you are aware, we are all hearing discussions of severe water restrictions that would, at a minimum, materially increase our water costs.

Again, as we have shared over the months, the work will primarily exist under the existing cart paths routes. This may be disruptive to play, but we will do our best to manage our contractor's footprints on the course and the project swiftly moving toward a positive outcome.

Thank you again for your patience and support!

Wayne

The Water Reclamation Project

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:05:16 GMT

About the Project

Dear Members,

Article II, Section 8 of the Club’s Bylaws provides as follows:

(f) Authorize such alterations and improvements of the Club’s property as they may deem proper and modify or discontinue any Club facility where such action seems necessary or expedient. [ In connection with such alterations and improvements, modifications or discontinuance, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Regular Members voting in response to a written request by the Board of Directors shall be required in order for the Board of Directors to (i) incur capital indebtedness of more than $500,000, (ii) authorize the expenditure of more than $1,000,000, or (iii) re-route existing holes or create new or additional green complexes on the Club’s golf course.]

The Board of Directors has unanimously recommended approving the signing of a contract with La Cumbre Water District and the City of Santa Barbara for reclaimed water, subject to the approval of the Members as provided in the Bylaws as set forth above.

Members have previously been provided information regarding the Club’s need for reclaimed water in my article Water Everywhere , our General Manager’s article in the September Divot, and the Green Committee reports regarding reclaimed water.

The Board and management have spent a great deal of time completing negotiations to assure a future water source for our golf course. It should be noted that the expectation of reclaimed water has been a topic of many past Boards. In fact, several years ago, in anticipation of reclaimed water, we installed a reclaimed sprinkler system while awaiting the City’s ability to deliver the reclaimed water. Given the water situation in California, and especially here in Santa Barbara, it is essential to establish a long-term source of water. We have already experienced significant pricing increases for potable water and restrictions on potable water use during drought conditions. As we look forward, reclaimed water may not only be our only source of water, but it may be more cost-effective than potable water. Wayne has followed the water issue for our Club for 11 years and feels reclaimed water will be our only option to maintain our golf course in the future. He has provided an in-depth analysis (insert link) on the website for your information.

The Board has looked at several options for financing this project. After reviewing those options, and given the excellent financial position of the Club this year, the Board has determined that a combination of debt financing and the use of reserve funds can be used to finance this project based on an estimated cost of $800,000 to $ 1,000,000.

The Board is requesting your approval by voting “ yes ” on the attached e-mail ballot or the ballot mailed to you to and returned in the envelope provided .

Sincerely,

La Cumbre Country Club

Tom Carey

Tom Carey, Club Preside n t

La Cumbre Country Club Blog

A Note From the Governance Committee

Governance Committee Update

News from the Club President 6/19/25

News from the Club President 5/12/25

News from the Club President 4/16/25

Member Survey Results​ 2024 Survey/Circulated March 2025

News from the Club President 3/26/25

Strategic Pillars

3/26/25

Golf Shop Deals & Promotions

Golf Ball Deals

TaylorMade Custom Fitting

Ping Custom Fitting

Club Benchmarking Updates 3/4/25

La Cumbre Club Benchmarking Updates 3/4/25

News from the Club President 2/22/25

La Cumbre - Our Northstar 2/20/25

La Cumbre, Our Northstar 2/20/25

Why We Need Sound Governance 2/24/25

Why We Need Sound Governance 2/24/25

News from the President - 1/28/25

News from the President -Happy New Years 1/13/25

George C Thomas Vision 11/19/24

Lauren's Land - Feb 2025

Annual Meeting 2024

2024 President's Message 12/6/24

Club Benchmarking - Jim Butler Presentation 11/21/24

Q3 Member Update 11/26/24

Golf Course Maintenance Project 11/21/24

Town Hall 2024 10/16/24

Membership Committee Message - Oct. 2024

Board of Director's Message - Sep. 2024

Board Brief August 2024

Financial Update: August 2024

Lauren's Land - August 2024

Board Brief June 2024

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Lauren's Land - Summer 2024

News from the Board 6/14/24

A Note from the GM - Bridge Bond Vote

Board Brief April 2024

Board Brief March 2024

Board Brief February 2024

Wayne Mills Goes Native

Board Brief January 2024

Wayne Mills - 23 Years of Excellence

2023 Annual Meeting Packet

WAYNE MILLS WINS GCSAA PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

3rd Quarter Treasurer's Report 2023

Board Brief October 2023

Board Brief September 2023

Board Brief July 2023

Wayne's World Fall 2023

Wayne's World Summer 2023 Pt. 2

Wayne's World Summer 2023

Wayne's World Spring 2023

Wayne's World 1st Quarter 2023

President's Report March 2023

Finance Report March 2023

Wayne's World Jan/Feb 2023

Note from the Green Committee

Treasurers Q1 Report - February 2023

President's Annual Report 2023

President's Report - January 2023

Wayne's World December 2022

Wayne's World Fall 2022 Part 2

Wayne's World Fall 2022

A Club Going Through Covid

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Wayne's World June 2022

Wayne's World May/June 2022

Wayne's World Spring 2022

One With The Land: Sustainability Actions Speak Louder Than Words - FORE Magazine

UPDATED COVID-19 ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE GUIDANCE TO ALIGN WITH CDPH

La Cumbre in Golf Digest

Wayne's Work featured in Golf Digest

The Water Reclamation Project Update

8/13/21 Update

Member Survey Results 2024 Survey/Circulated March 2025