Blog Post
Wayne's World December 2022
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
La Cumbre Club Benchmarking Updates
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
Why We Need Sound Governance
