Wayne's World Jan/Feb 2023

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

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