Birnam Wood 2021-2022 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT TO MEMBERS

TIM ARMOUR, PRESIDENT

As we reach the end of our fiscal year it is helpful to review both the challenges and successes we have faced and to see how far we have come. This year, the Club faced the challenge (along with other local businesses) of unforeseen inflation and labor shortages. With inflation and gas prices rising and the cost of living up 2.5% in Santa Barbara County, the Club found it hard to recruit and retain staff. The Club and staff worked diligently on incentive and referral programs and worked to train new staff to Birnam Wood standards. The hard work has paid off, and the Club is currently fully staffed with exceptional employees eager to assist the membership.

Additionally, the Club completed a major capital improvement project after a full year of construction. The fiscal year began with the renovation and refreshment of 9 of our 18 cottages. These newly refurbished cottages have been filled and enjoyed to a level not seen before and have benefited both the membership and the Club. In January, the Clubhouse was closed and, as I am writing this, is being prepared for its grand reopening on October 1st. This was an incredibly large and complex project, and it was completed on time and under budget! Great appreciation goes to the Oversight Committee members including Dick DeSchutter, Bob Nourse, Steve Jones, Alex Nourse, Stan Anderson, and our tireless project manager, Don Erickson for all of their hard work and expertise.

This great success of the Clubhouse Renovation, and the unparalleled membership growth the club has experienced in the past two years, has set us up nicely for the next phase of the Renovation plan. Phase 2 will include renovating the Cottage Exteriors, the Terrace Patio, the Grill and 9 holes of the Golf Course and is due to begin in January of 2023. This long-term renovation plan is aimed at maintaining and enhancing the beautiful club and the natural beauty of the surrounding area. It is also aimed at creating more opportunities for our membership to enjoy this lovely home away from home.

Finally, it is worth reiterating that our membership team and members have done a great job in recruiting attractive new members to Birnam Wood. We are currently at our max membership level of 800 with a waiting list of 58 people. This membership strength translates into financial strength that will give us the resilience to successfully navigate the twists and turns of the coming year. This is the profile of a vital and healthy club.

As we complete the 2021/22 fiscal year, we will be beginning a new era of club life at Birnam Wood with a dramatically upgraded facility and cottages and the prospect of continued improvements and growth. Thanks to the Board, Committees and Committee Chairs, and Jordan and his entire staff for delivering yet another great year. Thanks for all you have done.

ARCHITECTURAL & LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE REPORT

NANCY HUNTER, CHAIR

It has been another very busy year for the A&L Committee.

Since January of 2021, 35 homes have sold within Birnam Wood. Most of these new Homeowners have submitted large projects for A&L review. Our Committee has worked diligently to ensure that the remodeling and landscaping projects we reviewed this year comply with our Birnam Building Regulations and protect all residents’ privacy - both visually and from undue noise created by the mechanicals that run our homes - and preserve the greenery and look of the properties’ community-facing structures and landscaping. We have also reviewed projects, both large and small, from our existing Homeowners, many of which involved building ADUs or adding generators. In total we have reviewed 43 projects this year alone.

In addition to reviewing Homeowners’ projects, the A&L Committee is charged with oversight of the Club’s own architecture and landscaping. This past year our Committee oversaw the implementation of the Front Gate relandscaping project and also developed and implemented the first phase of a new landscape plan for the Garden Cottages. We are currently working on a plan to add to that first phase work and also address freshening up the Cottage pool area and beautifying the knoll in front of the Garden Cottages. We are hoping to implement that work as soon as the outside work on the Cottages is completed this Fall.

We are working on several other new initiatives. Pursuant to recent state law mandates, we are working to develop revised guidance for the installation of solar panels in our community. Also, in conjunction with the Homeowners Committee and Golf Course Superintendent, we are working on ensuring that the golf course-facing sides of properties are both appropriately landscaped and properly maintained.

Finally, we have been involved in the Green Committee’s reworking of the golf course. We are excited and pleased by the preliminary areas and have been working with our Superintendent to ensure that these newly-planted areas are properly maintained.

The hardworking homeowner members of our Committee are Christopher Teasley, Annette Caleel, Allegra Bessolo, Asia Anthony, and Patricia Griffin. Our ever-helpful outside consultants are Scott Menzel and Bob Easton. The Birnam Wood staff that we could not do our work without include our Birnam Security Staff and Clubhouse Executive Assistant, Katie Atchley. Finally, we have benefitted from the expertise of our new Golf Course Superintendent, Ryan Bentley.

COTTAGE COMMITTEE REPORT

ALEXANDRA NOURSE, CHAIR

At the start of this past fiscal year, construction crews were in full swing at the Garden Cottages working to remodel nine units in time for the holiday season. When the guests arrived, the Cottages had an all-time high occupancy rate and this favorable trend continued through the year.

Yet, it was an unusual year with many covid-related interruptions and several setbacks in deliveries of supplies and staff vacancies. However, in terms of monetary rewards and customer satisfaction, it was one of our very best years. So much is thanks to the excellent work of Israel Ruiz and this staff in keeping the Cottages running, and Cathy Kendrick, temporarily in her trailer in the parking lot, worked tirelessly on booking and rebooking guests stranded in transportation and covid restrictions. The new Director of Clubhouse Operations, Luis Flores, started at a complicated time but managed to devote a good part of his hours in support of the Cottages. And, as always, Jordan Sweeney motivated the Cottage Committee and his staff in every possible way.

So, what was accomplished in 2021-2022: all eighteen Cottages are renewed on the inside. The Garden Cottages are repaired, painted, and updated including the outside. All Cottages and the cottage pool will receive new outdoor furniture currently on order and, with the help of the A&L Committee, new planting was installed around the cottages and on the cottage patios. In terms of systems, the variable price structure introduced last September worked well and has been renewed as planned with a small annual rate increase. Pegasus, the computerized cottage booking system, has already been used by several guests and will be introduced further to the membership through instructional videos.

Of course, there are still issues to solve: the Garden Master Suites and Club Cottage Suites are so popular that availability in peak season is a problem. The Cottage Committee plans to involve the membership, particularly the out-of-town members, in solving this issue. Guests can weigh in via a survey on subjects like restricting the stay in these cottages in the peak season to one month or participating in a lottery system giving all guests equal chance to rent the most popular units.

While we keep working on improving the Cottage experience, the Cottage Committee, composed of Bev Hardin, Barbara Robbins, Roz Rosin, Sharol Siemens, and myself, would like to congratulate Jordan and his staff on this stellar year. Reaching close to $1 million in net income from the Cottages is an amazing success!

DESIGN COMMITTEE REPORT

ALEXANDRA NOURSE, CHAIR

When you read this report, the Gala opening of the Clubhouse will have been celebrated on October 1st. Of course, as the Design Committee, we hope that your first impression of the architecture and interior design were favorable and maybe even exceeded your expectations. Once you are using the new facilities we also hope that the many technical improvements, like air conditioning, the new audio/ visual system, the information screens, the sports bar TV formation, and the flexible configurations of the Private Events Room and the Library, will give you great joy during the gatherings.

This phase of the campus upgrading was a long time in the making. In early spring 2019, Russ Fraser selected the design committee and gathered the Club’s information to begin the conceptual design phase. Design firm Brayton Hughes Design from San Francisco was selected, and on March 28, 2019, the firm presented their concept for today’s building. The Design Committee members, as well as the Board of Directors, were impressed with BHD’s vision to enhance the historic design of the existing building as well as improve the functionality of the various areas. In Summer 2019, most design development took place and permits and construction documents were prepared in time for the construction start date: November 1, 2019.

The phrase “It takes a village” applies certainly to the number of people involved in making the remodel happen. The Design Committee (in alphabetical order): Asia Anthony, Vivienne Bellisario, Sheila Bonsignore, Dick De Schutter, Bill Kimsey, Lynn Kirst, Alex Nourse, Lindsay Parton, Marlene Veloz and Beth Wood had the good fortune to be able to work with the best project manager. Don Erickson, President of Gatekeeper Advisors, helped the Committee navigate through the technical aspects of the project as well as functioned as a go between for our committee and BHD. We can’t thank him enough.

Our admiration for the talented people at Brayton Hughes Design grew with every day as we saw their vision becoming reality. They managed to listen to our Committee’s requests and kept the integrity of the design intact.

Further, a word of thanks to the Construction Oversight Committee whose guidance and financial support during difficult Covid-related complications brought the project to the point where we can say that we can finish it on time and on budget. We are very happy with our beautiful building and are looking forward to many celebrations in the future.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

RICHARD DE SCHUTTER, CHAIR

This past year has seen continued improvement of Birnam Wood finances feeding off an extraordinary rebound from Covid-related disruptions. We expect to end the fiscal year with just over $2.5 million cash in the Club account. Additionally, we expect cash reserves of $650,000 in the Homeowners account which is maintained totally separate and apart.

A word about both. For the Club, maintaining the current level of membership at the 800 maximum allowed under our Conditional Use Permit has brought financial stability not seen in previous years. Our Membership Committee does a great job in vetting new prospective members and, thanks to strong demand, has a waiting list of fifty-eight. Within the Homeowners account, we finally have built a reserve that should adequately buffer us from future capital projects as part of continuing maintenance. For example, we’ll be resealing our eight miles plus of roadway within the gates in the upcoming months.

The truly exciting news to report is the successful completion of the Clubhouse restoration. The Board and Finance Committee both recognize that patience of the membership has been tested with the shutdown of the main Clubhouse for nine months. However, that patience should be more than rewarded with the new look and feel of a remarkable transition. This “Phase 1” project will complete on time and within the $6.6 million budget approved by the Board in 2020. Looking ahead, the Board recently approved an additional $8.8 million “Phase 2” project which will address much delayed golf course improvements, exterior repairs and outdoor furniture for the Garden Cottages, and patio/ grill dining refurbishment. The combination of these two capital projects totaling $15.4 million will be financed entirely with Club cash flow and a $4 million loan recently obtained at very favorable rates and terms. It is notable that no assessments have been levied in order to finance any part of these capital expenditures.

Reflecting ahead, however, we are not without challenges for the upcoming year. Decades high inflation will necessitate some price increases to maintain the quality standards of the Club. At the same time, we continue to explore and execute cost savings wherever possible.

In closing I wish to make special recognition of a finance subcommittee which was formed early with Phase 1 authorization. The Construction Oversight Committee, consisting of Steve Jones, Bob and Alex Nourse, Tim Armour, Jordan Sweeney, Don Erickson (our project manager) and myself have met religiously every two weeks to monitor and cost control the Clubhouse renovations project. I’m pleased to report mission accomplished against our primary goal of finishing “on time and on budget”. Likewise, the Finance Committee, consisting of fellow members Vicki Hazard, Bill Kimsey, Bob Nourse, Chip Nichols, Jim Shattuck, Tim Armour, Michael Bonsignore, Stan Anderson, and Steve Jones has been stalwart in managing the financial complexities of a homeowners association and separate club. It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve alongside.

GOLF COMMITTEE REPORT KELLY VANDEVER, CHAIR

Birnam is back! Post-pandemic, Birnam Wood golf programs are stronger and better than ever. The course looks beautiful and the commitment by the entire Birnam Wood staff to delivering exceptional golf experiences for our members is so evident and greatly appreciated. Special thanks and gratitude to every member of the Committee: Jane Habermann, Vivienne Bellisario, Matt Porter, Betsy Atwater, Charlie Bissell, Bryan de Ponce, Jake Bobek, David Cronenbold, Danny Eades, Evan Pratt, Rob Crane, Chris Gregoire, Billy Grokenberger, Robert Kemp, and Stan Anderson (Greens Chair). My sincere thanks to Mike Goodcase and his golf staff, the entire F&B department, and the event committee chairs for making the RTJ, McLean, Top Gun, Lady Macbeth, and all the other events amazing and so enjoyable.

Birnam is busy! A new fleet of 52 lithium-ion battery-powered golf carts arrived just in time for the RTJ Tournament. There are updates planned for the golf range including a new launch monitor and screen in the teaching building. New water stations were added on the course. In September, we have a Guys Golf Trip to championship courses in Texas and Oklahoma. We implemented a handicap oversight program (Knut), a new format for the RTJ and McLean tournaments, and committee policy initiatives to ensure enjoyable golf experiences for all members.

Birnam is competitive! The Ladies’ Summer League team won Net for the 2nd year in a row. Led by Captain Cronenbold, Birnam won the Over The Fence trophy for the 2nd year in a row vs. The Valley Club. Captain Bryan de Ponce and his Assisting Captains will lead us in Men’s Team Play against a full field, including Montecito Club, North Ranch and La Cumbre.

Birnam in enthusiastic! Event participation is up. The RTJ had its largest field ever. Forty-seven played in the Men’s Club Championship, and the Lady Macbeth’s Challenge has 76 players already. The calendar offers so many great golf options for our members – Junior Golf Camps, Mixed Friday Games, Men’s & Ladies Guest Days, Mars vs. Venus, Men’s Ryder Cup, Men’s Match Play, and much more.

With the Clubhouse re-opening, the beautiful fall weather, and many wonderful events on the calendar, we hope to see you out on the course soon!

Congratulations to Mike Goodcase and the entire staff on doing such a great job all year long and making Birnam Wood such a special place to be!

GREEN COMMITTEE REPORT STAN ANDERSON, CHAIR

The Green Committee had another busy year – further implementing the 5-year plan previously adopted by the Committee; extensive work on the development of the Golf Master Plan; and continued focus on water conservation issues.

Of particular note this year was the onboarding of our new Superintendent, Ryan Bentley. Over the past few months, the Committee has received numerous positive comments on the condition of the golf course. Congratulations to Ryan for his hard work and that of his staff. The Committee looks forward to even greater accomplishments in the coming months.

As noted, the course may look nice, but the course infrastructure is deteriorating. Our greens are over 60 years old and require daily special treatment; the greens consist of annual bluegrass or poa annua, an inferior grass species that requires more water, more fertilizer, and more employee time. The irrigation system is at the end of its useful life, breakdowns occur almost daily, and the current system is not as efficient in the conservation of water.

At each of its meetings, the Committee focuses on water – how to be more efficient in our water usage and how to plan if the course is further constrained in its access to water. The Committee has developed plans in the event further restrictions are applied. The Committee and staff continue to have discussions with the Montecito Water District about their plans, as well as discussions about the possibility of the Club using reclaimed water, if it becomes available. These discussions are ongoing.

Over the past year, the Committee has been working closely with our team of expert designers led by golf course architect, Todd Eckenrode. We met with him on numerous occasions on the development of a golf course Master Plan. As we write this document, the Committee is in the process of reviewing detailed golf course and landscape plans. Once that process is complete, the Committee will seek bids from golf course construction companies for the initial implementation of the golf course Master Plan.

Thanks to the many hardworking committee members that have helped over this past year: Andrew Anthony, Chris Gregoire, Diane Lundberg, Esther McKinley, Matt Porter, Andrew Powell, and Denis Sanan. Thanks also to Club management who supported the work of the Committee this past year.

HOMEOWNERS’ COMMITTEE REPORT

RICHARD CALEEL, CHAIR

The Homeowners Committee was quite active during the 2022 year. The major issues are enumerated as follows;

1. Gift Baskets continue to be delivered to new homeowners together with copies of the Club Rules.

2. Security issues were addressed with our Security Director, Manny Bravo. These issues included construction parking, security camera location planning, and the hiring of new security personnel.

3. Negotiations with MarBorg resulted in homeowners no longer having to place trash receptacles at curbside for pick up. The drivers will now retrieve and replace the receptacles at no extra charge.

4. Four additional Dog Waste Stations were added at strategic points around the Club. This results in a total of six waste stations, including the two at the Park.

5. We coordinated with the A&L Committee to canvas golf course-facing homes. Recommendations were then made to individual homeowners to bring their properties into compliance with Club Rules.

6. We coordinated with the Fitness Committee to plan and approve the Birnam Wood Fun Run.

7. We coordinated with the House Committee regarding the planning of Block Parties to welcome new homeowners.

I wish to thank the members of the Homeowners Committee: Melissa Dvorak, Chris Teasley, Danner Schefler, Linda Wood, Dan Cerf, and Brian Miller for all their hard work and support. I would also like to thank Jordan Sweeney and Manny Bravo for their participation and support.

HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORT

BETH WOOD, CHAIR

House Committee’s big challenge this year was the Clubhouse closure. Despite the closure, we kept the events coming your way and you responded favorably!

We put up lots of extra heaters. We put up a big tent and had functions on the bocce courts. We draped things to make them look more attractive and the events continued! Thanks to our members’ flexibility and their ever-present desire to enjoy their Club, the fun continued at Birnam. Thanks to our hardworking management and staff, the “BUZZ” at Birnam never stopped!

We tried to offer a variety of events this year that we knew our long-time members would enjoy as well as new ones for our younger members and their families. We had events like the Motown Dance Party where all ages dressed up in the era and rocked the dance floor! What a party! Now plans are under way for two days celebrating the re-opening of the newly remodeled Clubhouse.

Our new events planner, Tiffany Grummer, has really raised the bar on creating great parties since her arrival. Tiffany goes all out to orchestrate aesthetically pleasing events that are not only beautiful but also very entertaining.

Our new sommelier, Zac Welch, has gone all out to please our wine aficionados. He has added a Wine & Food Festival, many educational offerings on wine, and great food and wine pairing events.

Our new House Committee this year was comprised of all ages, and it gave our Committee new zest, ideas, and energy. I felt privileged to chair such an enthusiastic and energetic Committee! I’d like to thank all the members who have worked so hard: Andrew Antone, Ricardo Calderon, Rachael Douglas, Melissa Franklin, Lisa Jackson, Kai Kolodziejski, Diana Nixon, Stephanie Porter, Jennifer Royal, Danner Scheffler, and Anne Towbes.

Thank you for “rolling with” our challenges this year and attending our array of fun events! Now onward to more fun in our gorgeous new Clubhouse!

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT

CHRIS GREGOIRE, CHAIR

What a year it has been for membership at Birnam Wood! The Club has experienced unprecedented demand for membership. Whether it’s golf, tennis, dining, bocce, fitness, or special events, the Club is thriving. Jordan Sweeney and his incredible staff have done a phenomenal job providing our members with a world class experience. Our Board, under Tim Armour’s leadership, has done an excellent job supporting the best interests of the Club.

So far this fiscal year, we have welcomed 35 new members to the Club. The Club is operating at full membership capacity with 800 total members, and has been for the last several months. We have a waiting list of at least 50 prospective members. In this fiscal year we have raised initiation fees for all membership categories, and we will be raising the initiation fees once again in February of 2023. The Membership Committee, the Board, and the Finance Committee feel that this will bring our Club’s initiation fees to a position which better represents what our Club has to offer.

The key contributor to the success of our membership is the active recruitment by our current membership. We rely heavily on our members to propose and sponsor new prospective members.

I would like to thank Lizzie Peus who deserves an enormous amount of credit for positioning the Birnam Wood membership to thrive. I would also like to thank Kristy Evans who continues to do an excellent job as our Membership Director.

It has been a pleasure to serve as Membership Chair this year, and I would like to sincerely thank the Membership Committee for their hard work and commitment: Dave Grotenhuis, Lizzie Peus, Jen Abed, Trey Evans, Kelly Vandever, Barbara Kummer, Patty Marshall, Ryan Siemens, and Matt Porter.

*The makeup of our current membership compared to last year is as follows: 2021 2022

Corporate 145 146 Resident 201 203

Non-Resident 63 67

Out-of-State 111 117

Clubhouse 119 118

Intermediate 24 32

Tennis 65 75

Clergy 4 3

Junior 38 39

Total 771 800

RACQUETS COMMITTEE REPORT

PHILIP FRANKLIN, CHAIR

The Birnam Wood tennis and pickleball programs began to gain momentum last year with the hiring of Scott Burton as Athletic Director. I am pleased to report that this momentum continued and even accelerated in 2022. The Club continues to add new racquets members. The courts are busier than they have been in recent memory and the level of enthusiasm for both sports has increased noticeably.

The special events have been very popular and well attended. The tennis Sip ‘n Serve events, which offer a fun round robin format along with food and drinks, have been consistently over-subscribed. Pickleballers have recently joined the fun with Dinks and Drinks events which follow a similar format. The highlight event for the year was the second annual Pro Shootout which featured four of the country’s top pickleball pros battling and trash talking their way through two hours of incredible pickleball. The event attracted well over a hundred appreciative spectators.

Last year Birnam Wood combined with Montecito Club to field our first women’s interclub tennis team in several years. This A2 team continues to compete and recently a women’s C team was formed. Not to be left out of interclub competition, our pickleball enthusiasts formed a coed interclub team which, so far, is undefeated against the likes of Le Cumbre and Montecito.

Recent capital improvements have brought both our tennis and pickleball courts to a level that is generally considered among the best in Santa Barbara County. This year we also took the step of adding a water station for refillable bottles which allowed us to eliminate single-use plastic bottles at the courts. Upcoming plans for new and improved furniture in the spectator areas and an upgrade of the irrigation system for the clay courts will further improve our facilities.

Our long search for an assistant pro ended in September with the hiring of Andrew Manalis. Andrew is a Santa Barbara native who specializes in pickleball and is in the process of earning his pickleball teaching certification. Andrew will take on the majority of the pickleball responsibilities including lessons, clinics, open play, and special events. He will also cover for Scott on Scott’s days off. The Committee is thrilled to welcome Andrew to Birnam Wood.

Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Racquets Committee members: Patti Gibbs, Pam Peterson, Rachael Douglas, Greg Downs, and Nance Wheeler. Their dedication, energy, hard work and great ideas have made my job easy.

I am pleased with the progress we have made with our racquets programs over the past couple of years. With Scott and Andrew now firmly in place, our excellent facilities, an enthusiastic racquets community, and great support from Club Management and the Board, there is every reason to believe that the Birnam Wood racquets programs will continue to thrive.

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

JORDAN SWEENEY, GENERAL MANAGER

The 2021-2022 fiscal year will be one I will remember for the rest of my life.

As we approached the start of the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the pandemic was waning and our optimism for a ‘return to normal’ was palpable. The first few months of this fiscal year saw the return of Club Social events which were sold out and a source of great member engagement and delight. The extravagant Halloween-themed “Family Fright Fest,” Thanksgiving Feast, Citrus Singers and our decadent Champagne and Caviar night, where we featured Cristal and a variety of Louis Roederer bubbles, brought members, families, and friends to the Club to celebrate among the community.

Looming just a few weeks beyond those fantastic events was a resurgence of COVID-19, which resulted in the unfortunate postponement of our annual New Year’s Eve party, and the subsequent closure of our Clubhouse in January as COVID cases swelled. The team’s agility and creativity allowed us to again provide daily takeout, continue Cottage operations and deliver members with a stellar golf experience.

Our Phase 1 construction project started in early January and the Clubhouse was sealed off and became an active construction zone. Our administration team moved into trailers in the parking lot which allowed us to maintain a daily presence and connectivity within our team and our members.

Rather than concede to the obstacles that interior Clubhouse construction presented, we strove to step up our game and evolve the outdoor dining experience. A tented dining area was erected (complete with tiered chandelier, proper heat, and delicate lighting) for daily dining needs, and we were able to continue delivering our genuine care and great service.

Despite the constraints of construction, our team really focused on elevating our wine and culinary offerings. Each day, Chef Abdu Romero demonstrates his skill and dexterity in our menus, as well as our private events. Based on positive feedback, many members have appreciated his contemporary approach to providing daily cuisine that supports gluten-free,

vegan, and dairy-free dining choices. Our cottage remodels were complete in mid-December, and we can now say that all 18 cottages are completely refreshed and renovated! Our cottages have had higher utilization this year and have provided record-setting occupancy. We are on pace to finish the year with a million dollars of NET revenue, which has never happened in our Club’s history. To round out this year, we recently launched our new “online reservation” system which gives members a simple and convenient way to book a cottage directly on the APP or website.

An important highlight this year was membership and the milestone of officially reaching our cap of 800 members. When I joined in 2018, we were struggling with 685 members. With determination and focus, we rolled up our sleeves and marched forward. Launching our “Go Big” team, we enriched our events, prioritized staff training to deliver familiar but fivestar service, and recruited some amazingly talented people to the team.

Achieving the 800-member mark makes me proud. It represents years of hard work from our Membership Committee, and commitment from our staff. As I am writing this article, we currently have 57 members on our waitlist. I want to thank Chris Gregoire and the entire Membership Committee. Kristy Evans, our Membership Director, deserves major credit for spearheading and managing this vital component of our Club infrastructure.

On the golf side, we said our good-byes to Course Superintendent, Marty Moore, celebrated his 34- year contribution, and wished him well on his retirement. Although we were sad to lose such an icon, we were thrilled to bring in Ryan Bentley who has hit the ground running. To say Ryan had an impactful year is an understatement. Ryan has been developing the grounds team and enriching the way we maintain our course and grounds with new technology and an innovative approach.

Ryan is also working hand in hand with our Green Committee on our Phase 2 master plan which comprises a 9-hole refresh of the golf course, including brand new Bent Grass greens, new bunkers, and a highly efficient irrigation system.

Our Fitness Center was given a new look and refresh this past year. We have enhanced our gym by adding an outdoor area where you can feel the ocean breeze on your face while you pump some iron. We also added “Studio 97” which is a private space for training, cardio, yoga, and other classes taught by

our team. Nanette Vaughan, Joy Dumay, Liz Parrish, and the Fitness Committee deserve major kudos for their tenacity to get this done for our membership.

On the courts, our Athletic Director, Scott Burton, has been doing a fantastic job energizing our racquet program. Members are enjoying the compelling sports camps, “sip ‘n serve”, the highly popular interclub pickleball groups among other events. Our second annual summer Bocce season concluded with over a hundred members coming out every Wednesday evening. We crowned “The Big La Bocce” as champions led by their captain, Frank Blue- congratulations to the teams!

Our Birnam Wood APP continues to be a great benefit to our membership. It launched in September of 2021, and we now have 984 members and spouses using the APP! We also have brought in over $440,000 in revenue through the APP. This has really been a great communication and convenience tool for staff and members alike.

Once COVID cases normalized, we were back in the business of hosting fun and engaging events for our members…and what fun we’ve had! Special moments like our Easter Brunch where the Easter bunny arrived in a horse drawn carriage, our Summer Barbeques, Motown night, and “Brunch with the Characters” (where Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Cinderella were here at the Club spending time with kids and grandkids without lines or hassle.) All in all, nothing but fabulous memories. What Club does this? To round out the summer, our Food & Wine Festival was a superb hit with over 100 wineries and an unforgettable spread by Chef Abdu.

Retaining and recruiting top talent has been a priority this year, and I am pleased to have announced several internal promotions and introduced a number of skilled new team members this past year. In February, Zac Welch joined as Advanced Sommelier and Bar Manager. Also in February, Tiffany Grummer joined Birnam Wood as Director of Private Events and her creativity and positivity make her a joy to work with. In March, we promoted Manny Bravo to Director of Security and Eric Salazar to Director of Food and Beverage. In April, Louie Flores joined as our Director of Clubhouse Operations, and Nick Kennedy came on board as our Chef de Tournant. Many members do not see Nick, but Nick has really helped Chef Abdu and his team do what they do, day in and day out.

This annual review wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t thank the Construction Oversight Committee. This committee worked

so hard this year to stay on time and on budget. Managing this operation, as well as keeping our membership happy, is not an easy task and we couldn’t have done it without this fantastic group of people. Kudos to our leader, Dick De Schutter, and his committee members, Bob Nourse, Tim Armour, Steve Jones, Alex Nourse, Stan Anderson, and our project manager, Don Erickson.

As we conclude Phase 1 (which included the interiors of the Garden Cottages, some golf course landscaping, and the Clubhouse renovation) we are aggressively moving into Phase 2. Phase 2 encompasses the exteriors of the Cottages, including additional landscaping, 9-holes of the Golf Course, the Clubhouse Patio, and The Grill Room. The patio work will begin in January of 2023 and The Grill in July of 2023. The timing of the golf course component has not been finalized. However, Mr. Stan Anderson and the Greens Committee are working hard with the architects to finalize the multiple stages of the work.

I must say, this part of the job is complex, but fun and rewarding. The end results will take us to what has always been my goal, to ensure that Birnam Wood is best in class.

In conclusion, I would like to thank my amazing team, my backbone through it all. Our team is in total alignment with my vision and are all professionals who take pride and ownership in what they do. Thank you- Kristy Evans, Israel Ruiz, Manny Bravo, Louie Flores, Dolly St. Germain, Debbie Daggett, Eric Salazar, Abdu Romero, Tiffany Grummer, Ryan Bentley, Mike Goodcase, Scott Burton, Joy DuMay, Liz Parrish, Cathy Kendrick, Katie Atchley and the rest of my amazing team.

As members, you’ve gotten to know our team, and they know you. I feel that is what makes our Club a community, and that dynamic spirit and camaraderie would not exist without their contribution. I am thankful, blessed and beyond humbled to be their leader.

As I complete my third year as your General Manager, particularly this year, I feel exceptionally blessed. Working alongside the Birnam Wood membership is truly what fuels my passion, and why I love what I do. You are all very special to me.

Yours truly, Jordan Sweeney

BIRNAM WOOD GOLF CLUB MANAGEMENT

Jordan Sweeney, General Manager and COO

Luis Flores, Director of Clubhouse Operations

Kristy Evans, Director of Membership & Communications

Michael Goodcase, Director of Golf

Ryan Bentley, Golf Course Superintendent

Scott Burton, Athletic Director

Manny Bravo, Director of Security

Dolly St. Germain, Controller

Debbie Daggett, Director of Human Resources

Eric Salazar, Director of Food & Beverage

Abdu Romero, Executive Chef

Tiffany Grummer, Director of Private Events

Israel Ruiz, Facilities Director

Joy DuMay, Fitness Co-Director

Liz Parrish, Fitness Co-Director

Katie Atchley, Executive Assistant

Cathy Kendrick, Lead Front Desk Attendant