The first open Country Club meeting of the season was held on Wednesday, June 10.
Board President and Country Club Committee Chair Bob Ricken went over the membership numbers, beginning with general membership. As of the date of the meeting, general membership was 1,192, which represented an increase of 20 from last year.
“If you saw that alone it doesn’t tell the story,” Ricken said. “The story is we lost some members but, because we have the mandatory membership now for people who are buying into the co-op and because renters have to join, we have maintained our membership.”
There are currently 148 house members. Ricken said that, since he has been on the Board, this has been a “very controversial issue.” The house membership, which allows access to VIP Room and card rooms only, is being phased out following a previous decision made by the Board of Directors.
“Their reasoning was an economic one that we can’t afford people paying that low a price,” Ricken explained.
However, Ricken said that the other side of the argument is that people say they have paid that price for many years and “you’re doing this to me in my senior years.”
Ricken said that, each year, there has been a decline in the number of house members, and this year there were 32 fewer.
“House membership will never be an option gain unless the Board being elected decides to change that,” he said.
Ricken reported that the number of tennis members, which was listed as 41, was about the same as last year. However, he said that four new members joined the day of the meeting. He also said that the number is misleading since it does not count the golfers who also play tennis, and said that the actual number of tennis members is more.
In talking about the golf membership, Ricken said that there were 277 paid in-house members in 2008 and 235 so far for 2009, which is a loss of 42 members. He noted that equaled $168,000. Including the sponsored members, the number of golfers this year is currently 292.
“Had we not had the golf sponsored membership this year, we really would have been in a hole,” Ricken said. “Instead, we’re probably about $60,000 ahead.”
Ricken further broke down the sponsored membership by explaining that there are seven couples. Of the 57 sponsored members, there are 47 men and 10 women. Ricken also said that many are interested in moving to the Towers.
“So far this year, we have one [sponsored] golfer who has bought a place and another who will be coming to the Board a month from now to buy his place,” Ricken said.
While discussing the sponsored golf membership, Ricken addressed concerns that some residents had raised over the outside golfers being charged the same as the resident golfers.
“My recommendation to next year’s Board, whether I’m on it or not, would be to consider raising the fees for outside membership, maybe a little bit less for the people who came here this year or a little bit more for the people who come here next year,” Ricken said.
In regards to outside golf outings, Ricken said that $122,000 was made from them last year. But, due to the economy, he does not know if that figure will be reached again. Even so, Ricken said that “we’ll still make a lot of profit.”
Ricken announced that there is a new tennis pro, Rick Bates, this season and that he is an excellent player and teacher who has already started planning social activities.
Changes made in the gym, Ricken said, include the addition of classes and new flat screen televisions.
Improvements have also been made to the VIP Room, including new window shades and another shade has been order to cover the metal gate at the snack bar.
However, Ricken said that he believes the VIP Room “needs a professional’s guidance” to further improve it.
Ricken said that 25 new lounge chairs have been ordered and more will be ordered. Umbrellas are going to be attached on the east side of the pool to accommodate requests for more shaded areas.
Also, Ricken said that it has been decided that the head lifeguard will deal with any reported complaints in order to avoid putting “neighbor against neighbor.”
Ricken encouraged residents to take advantage of a recently started program where they can bring up to four visitors to the pool for free on Wednesdays.
While talking about the activities in the Country Club, Ricken said that the feedback he has gotten has been “quite good.” He said that although the happy hour on Fridays has been “wonderfully successful,” some have said they feel as though their Friday entertainment has been taken away. Ricken said that they are currently consulting on the issue to try to resolve it.
As of May 31, Ricken said the Country Club was about $100,000 ahead, but noted that most of the expenses would be coming up in the next few months.
Towers Ladies’ Golf Association (TLGA) President Ina Rudolph said that, as of the open meeting, there were 115 members of the group, which included 16 new ones. She announced that the Babe Zaharias Golf Tournament, which benefits the American Cancer Society, will be held on July 14, and the theme for the upcoming Ladies’ Member Guest will be “ladies in red.” Rudolph also thanked her Board for the “great work” they do.
Towers Men’s Golf Association (TMGA) President Ed Vesel also thanked his Board, describing them as “invaluable.” He then thanked the staff of the Country Club for all of their work.
In closing his remarks, Vesel recognized the people who were part of allowing sponsored membership, calling it a great idea.
Before opening the floor up to questions and comments, Ricken also extended words of appreciation his committee members for their work.
