Wayne Mills - 23 Years of Excellence

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. 

By La Cumbre CC July 7, 2025
Governance Committee Update
By La Cumbre CC July 7, 2025
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
By La Cumbre CC May 12, 2025
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
Show More