Blog Post

Wayne's World Spring 2023

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

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Club Benchmarking Updates

By La Cumbre CC • March 4, 2025

La Cumbre Club Benchmarking Updates

News from the Club President

By La Cumbre CC • February 22, 2025

Dear Members, 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