4 and Done...Now What?

Interesting breakdown of finances Janet. 8 golf courses for 4,000 golfers. For a city of 35,000 people. Some towns of 50,000 only have two golf courses. Noise and space conflicts are other factors to consider when debating outdoor vrs indoor pb courts.

 

Yes, Tom T, only 12% of RCSC Members play golf. It has become apparent that too much money has been spent on golf over the years without increasing fees. I think we are on the right path to correcting that. If only we didn't have to spend millions on conversion to desert landscaping! But we do. From watching the videos and reading info, the RCSC golf courses aren't in the best shape. It's probably a good idea for us to go back to cart sharing so there isn't so much wear and tear on the turf. Most cities with 50,000 people would have much more than two golf courses. I live in a city with less than 25,000 and we have three. However, let's put aside golf for now so that it doesn't muddy the water in this discussion.

Let's talk pickleball. If 1400 RCSC Members play this sport (1100+ belonging to the Club and 300 walkons), only about 4% are pickleball players. If RCSC decides to spend $11M or more on both indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, we will be spending nearly half of our current PIF dollars (around $27M) on one sport that only 4% of our Members play. With Lakeview needing renovations and the funds that will be required to reduce water usage, I don't think that would be an appropriate use of our finances. Nothing against pickleball, just the facts, sir!

 

We don’t really know the costs. That is better left to architects and construction estimators. Lakeview is not due for work until I believe sometime around 2033. How much money will be in PIF by then? What seems to be a fact may actually be opinion? More will be revealed.

 

But spending $13.1m for players (94 members) and possibly some other groups is okay?

 

It's why i seldom try and apply statistical data using cost factors to determine whether we fix or rebuild anything. It's pure folly. Trends are important and trends change over time. Data alone should never be the only information applied to the equation. We've had this discussion before, i am sure we will have it again.

If the Sun City Players were the only ones benefiting from a comfortable theater being built, it would be foolish to even consider. The numbers would never work. Which is exactly why someone's comment regarding a 5 year plan (or longer) has to include far more than just how we spend money (investing in our future). We need to include the marketing of all things RCSC and the value of buying into the "active way of life."

We've spent way too much energy on how cheap we are and not on what the value and values are when you buy here. One look no further than golf to see how short-sighted "cheap golf" was to creating the perfect storm. Those playing the most, paid the least, got the pick of the tee times they wanted and manipulated others in the community to subsidize their cheap play. That's not even the ugly part of the equation: It resulted in our courses taking a beating and worse yet, kept us from marketing the incredible value (compared to the outside world) and the opportunity to play a different course every day of the week without leaving the white walls. Tragic.

But this discussion isn't about golf, but about our future. With all due respect Paul, arguing you need (want) a massive fitness center 3/4 of a mile away from another massive fitness center is almost as laughable as arguing the lawn bowling green at Mountain View can't possibly go away. There are 8000 homes in Phase 1, with 4 rec centers, 3 of them will have fitness equipment...how much is enough? Would it make sense to have yoga, stretching classes and Pilates at one of them?

The beauty of the equation is it's not my job to decide. I can share my opinions (which i have) and so have countless others. Ultimately the board and the management team will be sort through the comments and bias we've heard since the creation of SAC (and well before) and take action. The beauty of what has taken place is the RCSC membership has been asked to speak up and out. It is how the process should work to get us to where we need to go.

Trust the process...for 15 years there was barely any effort other than lip service.

 

Plan M allows for this discussion and debate to continue. I have stated that the PAC, fitness, and yes, pb areas could be toned down. Same with the other amenities at MV. This toning down is left for further discussion with architect and construction crew. I believe a solid foundation is in place for this continued work.(no pun intended)