2023-2024
ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEES
ANNUAL REPORT TO MEMBERS STANTON D. ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
It has been a privilege to serve as the President of Birnam Wood Golf Club for the past two years. During my first year, we were able to improve the governance structure and transparency of the Club, bringing its homeowner functions into compliance with California law. This priority continued into 2024 as we pursued opportunities to advance the financial strength and membership experience of the Club overall. I am grateful to Dick De Schutter, Treasurer, and Wade “Chip” Nichols, Secretary, for their consistent contributions on our Board of Directors.
Both years have also seen significant steps taken towards improving the security of the Club. With thanks to our diligent and attentive security staff, the Club has benefitted from new security awareness and equipment, including motion-activated cameras and lighting as well as license readers near the Club gates, among other improvements.
This year, the Security Committee conducted a thorough assessment through an outside security firm which equipped us to seek bids for state-of-the-art technological innovations under the experienced leadership of our new Security Director Nicole Landon and our recently promoted Deputy Director Michael Alvarado. As soon as this year, we hope to begin implementing upgrades to our surveillance and intrusion detection systems. I would like to especially recognize the members of our Security Committee for all their time and attention to these matters: Fred Lukas, Patty Marshall, Bob Kidder and Dave Grotenhuis.
Our Board, Committees, and subcommittees have worked together to strategize how to invest in our Club’s future. In addition to being a social organization, the Club is a business with projected revenue of over $16 million, requiring business-minded management with significant time and effort invested into its planning process. It has been an important priority for me as President to foster the development of a Master Plan through in-depth examination of the Club’s most prominent needs for the next 10 years.
Over the past few years, the Club has been able to complete approximately $14 million of capital improvements resulting in increased membership enjoyment and utilization: the Clubhouse, the Patio/Veranda, The Packing House, and the Cottage upgrades. We now operate one of the finest restaurants in Montecito and are proud to see how far the environment and amenities of the Club have come. Interest in the Club, as evidenced by our strong waiting list, is at an all-time high in large part because of these improvements.
At this time, the Master Plan will continue to evolve with the support of our membership. Upcoming priorities include the expansion of our parking to resolve staff and event overflow, the redesign of the Kitchen to safely and effectively serve our growing community, and the renovation of the golf course to address out-of-date systems, reduce its ongoing costs and enhance player enjoyment. The filing of our Conditional Use Permit application with the County this year is anticipated to provide us with the open door to pursue needs such as these.
I am thankful to our membership and staff for all their involvement in this vision to ensure that Birnam Wood Golf Club remains the preeminent facility of its kind in the area, evidenced also by our recent recognition with the Distinguished Club Award of Excellence. I want to express my thanks further to the Boards of Directors of the Club and the Homeowners Association, the Chairs and members of our Committees, our excellent staff, and the leadership of our General Manager, Jordan Sweeney. Thank you all for allowing me to serve as your President.
ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE REPORT
CHRIS TEASLEY, CHAIR
Between January and August 2024, the Architecture & Landscape Committee has reviewed 34 projects presented by homeowners and their professional design representatives. The Committee is responsible for determining that the projects, large and small, adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Birnam Wood Architecture & Landscape Regulations. The A&L Committee also initiates and oversees projects to improve the common areas of the campus, such as the relandscaping of the Sheffield entrance to Birnam Wood.
Several large and impactful remodels are either completed or will be completed by the end of this year. Parking by subcontractors is often a challenge. The security staff monitors the maximum allowable street parking by providing 10 parking permits, while additional vehicles must park in the homeowner’s driveway.
The construction of ADU and JADU structures on homeowners’ property is becoming more common. The A&L Committee reviews these projects very carefully to determine that these structures conform to building setbacks, maximum square footage limits and with the architectural integrity of the existing home. These projects must be permitted by the County Building Department.
The Committee continues to ask that homeowners comply with the regulation that gardeners only use battery operated equipment. This requirement went into effect in 2020 for the benefit of all Birnam Wood residents. Soon gas-powered blowers, mowers and trimmers will no longer be sold in California.
The homeowner members of the A&L Committee are Nancy Hunter, Annette Caleel, Asia Anthony, and Patricia Griffin. The outside consultants who attend the meetings are landscape architect Scott Menzel and architect Bob Easton. The very hard-working Birnam Wood employees that assist the committee are Suzanne Santiago, Michael Alvarado, and Brian O’Laughlin.
ATHLETIC COMMITTEE REPORT
CHIP NICHOLS, CHAIR
The Athletic Department is enthusiastically and professionally headed by Scott Burton, Athletic Director, with Jeff Villano, Head Racquets Professional, and Joy DuMay, Fitness Director. The purposes of the Athletic Committee, made up of Birnam members with involvement in the Department’s tennis, pickleball, fitness, bocce and croquet programs, is to channel member input and suggestions to Department Staff and assist in planning and executing events and programs. The Department had a very good year.
On the equipment side, the Fitness Center replaced and added a range of personal training equipment. Four new air blowers were acquired to dry tennis courts 5 and 6 and two of the Club’s new water stations were installed at the courts. Bids were received to replace the existing screening to protect tennis/pickleball players from errant first tee drives. The Committee has presented its proposal to the Architecture & Landscaping Committee for its review, with a view to erecting the new netting early in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Also under review is replacement of the “third world” concrete walkway around clay courts 1 and 2 with a material that will absorb runoff from the clay court and golf course irrigation systems and present a Birnam-worthy appearance, and replacement of the ageing Pergola by the clay courts.
The tennis program has enjoyed a continued resurgence. Private lessons and clinics are up and youth participation through Junior Clinics and the Birnam Wood Summer Camp program has been active. New members have joined enthusiastically in informal play and popular programs like Sip n’ Serve. Our hope of fielding a Birnam-only B team in the Santa Barbara Women’s Interclub Tennis League was dashed when rumors of a vacancy in the League’s 10-team B Flight proved untrue, but Birnam will again field a C Team and participate in a Women’s 3.5 U.S.T.A. Doubles League.
Pickleball participation continued to grow with weekly intermediate/beginner and advanced clinics taught by Jeff and enthusiastic participation in Wednesday and Saturday afternoon open play, the always popular Dinks n’ Drinks socials, and nearly non-stop informal games. In June Birnam again hosted a very-well attended professional pickleball exhibition featuring four ranked players, with marvelous food and drink and pro-am play after the exhibition. A new informal 4.0 advanced interclub league began this year with weekly Monday evening play and for the second year Birnam participated in an informal 3.0 interclub pickleball league.
Fitness Center participation has continued to grow, recording some 1,600 sign-ins per month, equivalent to 2,000 estimated monthly visits, compared to 21,900 sign-ins for all of 2022-2023. The Fitness Center currently has eight Certified Group Fitness Instructors, teaching aquatic aerobics, cardio/balance, Iyengar yoga, restorative yoga, Tai Chi and martial arts, and many of these instructors also offer personal training in their specialty areas. There are 12 group fitness classes each week in addition to Pop-Up Saturday classes and workshops. The Hang, Sit and Plank Fitness Challenge launched in August with re-testing in October.
Bocce was a Club focus again this year with another closely contested Spring Team Tournament of 12 teams, reformatted to reduce byes and starting earlier to avoid conflicts for Fiesta goers. The Fall Doubles Tournament is fully subscribed, and the bocce courts are in frequent use for informal pre-supper games. The croquet courts saw heightened use again this year with weekly Croquet and Rose competitions hosted by Scott and a Golf Croquet Doubles League playing in the fall.
Again, many thanks to the creative and energetic membership of the Athletic Committee, whose support has contributed mightily to another great year: Anders Bergstrom, Greg Breedlove, Rachel Douglas, Phil Franklin, Vicki Hazard, Dewey Nicks, Bill Reyner and Trisha Toner.
CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REPORT
STEVE JONES, CHAIR
The Construction Oversight Committee was formed to foster a close working relationship with the Board related to oversight of current projects as well as short- and long-term planning of future projects.
This last fiscal year began with completing the re-named Packing House in March. Besides the actual construction and installation of furnishings, a great deal of work was put into rebranding and positioning. This included a new menu design, new meal offerings, tableside service, new tableware, and many other important touches. The renewed venue has been well received and attended, continuing to this day.
The final touches on the patio, re-branded as the Veranda, are currently in progress, including overhead heaters, planters that will further define the Veranda space, and new landscape lighting the entire length of the patio.
Work continues on the long-term Master Plan, including ongoing discussions with the County on a revised Conditional Use Permit (CUP), further design on the expanded parking, and the kitchen renovation in anticipation of those projects being approved by the Board in the not-too-distant future.
I wish to thank members of the committee, including Dick De Schutter, Bob Nourse, Alex Nourse (Design Committee Chair), and Tim Armour, as well as Jordan Sweeney, Stan Anderson and Bob Kidder, for being a very high functioning team, all with energy and big ideas on how to improve the overall experience and value of membership at Birnam Wood.
COTTAGE COMMITTEE REPORT
SHAROL SIEMENS, CHAIR
Greetings from the Cottage Committee! We have a talented group of people on this committee, and they are Anne Merrill, Ellen Pillsbury, Kathryne Dahlman, Linda Wood and Anne Donahue. Our main objective now is to continue our work to fine-tune each cottage, and that is what we have been doing.
Jordan Sweeney has been including many photos of the cottages in The Daily. We hope that you have enjoyed seeing them. We continue to be grateful to our dedicated staff, gardeners, and housekeepers, who make everything work!
We are still in good shape financially and are happy that the cottages contribute substantially to the welfare of the Club.
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
RICHARD DE SCHUTTER, CHAIR
As our fiscal year draws to a close, we can reflect back on several notable achievements that have added to the attractiveness and appeal of our Club. Topping the list is the completion of our four-year construction journey that began with the Clubhouse renovation and major cottage improvements. More recently, we added final touches to the Packing House and can now lay claim to one of the finest eating venues in all of Montecito. These improvements have had their desired effect. The image of Birnam for younger people has been greatly enhanced, which in turn has resulted in an increase in membership up to our allowed limit. Moreover, and unlike previous years, we now have a waiting list to join.
By way of financial reporting, these combined projects amounted to a total capital expenditure of $10.8 million over the four-year period. Principally because we were able to attract new members with attendant initiation fees combined with careful attention to cash flows, we successfully managed to finance these projects taking on far less debt than initially anticipated. As a result, our balance sheet remains strong with only $1 million of long-term debt liability. I am particularly pleased to note that net fixed assets— a good measure of reinvestment in the club— increased from $8.2 million in 2020 to the current number of $21.0 million.
For all the progress of these past four years, we are not without our challenges to keep Birnam at the top of desired clubs in the area. Years of deferred maintenance, particularly on the golf course, have piled up and call for attention. As of this writing, the Finance Committee working with the Board seeks a path for financing what needs to get done in a way that is least disruptive to the membership while retaining the club at the high standards which we all expect.
In closing, I’d like to thank my fellow members of the Finance Committee, consisting of Vicki Hazard, Bill Kimsey, Bob Nourse, Chip Nichols, Jim Shattuck, Tim Armour, Bob Kidder, Stan Anderson, Linda Gluck and Steve Jones. I’d like to also thank management members Jordan Sweeney and Michael Weems for their participation and support.
GOLF COMMITTEE REPORT
BILLY GROKENBERGER, CHAIR
Stand-Out Signature Events:
As we draw the curtain on 2024, it’s incredible to reflect on what a remarkable year it has been for Birnam Wood Golf Club. This year was marked by outstanding achievements, strong community engagement, and continued excellence in both course management and event hosting.
Team Play Achievements:
Our Men’s and Ladies’ Teams have truly excelled this year. Under the dynamic leadership of Chris Gregoire, the Men’s Team qualified for the playoffs for the first time in years, showcasing their competitive spirit and determination. The Ladies’ Team also enjoyed a stellar season, with impressive victories both at home and away, setting a solid foundation for future success.
One of the joys of being a member at Birnam is the privilege of participating in the various incredible events put on by the club. It’s no surprise that several of our events were completely sold out, including the RTJ Member/Guest tournament, which saw 120 players, and the 5th Annual Top Gun tournament, which also boasted a full field of 86 players.
A special thanks goes out to our outstanding golf staff, led by Mike Goodcase, as well as the entire Food and Beverage team. While the golfing experience is always world class, I’ve lost count of the number of compliments I’ve received about the incredible meals, and how many guests have expressed their desire to join Birnam Wood. It truly is a team effort, and we’re so fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented group.
Course Excellence:
Despite early challenges with weather, our golf course has been maintained in superb condition throughout the year. The swift recovery from aerification and the consistently ideal playing conditions during the summer months are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our grounds team. We also made significant enhancements to our practice facilities, including the introduction of new range balls and reinforced guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all members.
Committee Dedication:
A heartfelt thank you to our Golf Committee members. These dedicated individuals work behind the scenes, putting in countless hours to organize and coordinate our tournaments, ensuring that our events remain top-notch. Your unwavering commitment is the cornerstone of our club’s success, and we deeply appreciate your dedication.
Looking Forward:
As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to build on this year’s successes. With a dedicated membership and a strong foundation, Birnam Wood Golf Club is poised for another year of exceptional golf, community engagement, and continued excellence.
Thank you to all our members for making 2024 a truly remarkable year at Birnam Wood Golf Club. We look forward to what the next year will bring!
GREEN COMMITTEE REPORT
NANCY HUNTER, CHAIR
This has been a very busy year for the Green Committee. We have worked diligently to support our new Director of Agronomy, Brian O’Laughlin, as he developed and implemented solutions to several long-standing issues.
First, though, we must acknowledge the sad passing of Will Soto, our beloved Assistant Superintendent. Will began at Birnam Wood in 2004 and worked his way up to the assistant position with his strong work ethic and a consistently optimistic, can-do attitude. Will and his ever-present smile are sorely missed. Fortunately, another long-term employee, Rodrigo Hernandez, has stepped up as our new Assistant Superintendent and is doing a wonderful job organizing the crew and managing their daily work routine.
Now, onto the year’s other challenges and accomplishments. As you all no doubt know, the last two years have been among the five wettest in the past hundred years. This overabundance of rain presented several challenges for the golf course, the most significant being the damage done to our creeks and the explosion of invasive Poa annua grass.
Under Brian’s direction, we developed and implemented a plan to improve the flow of our creeks and prevent—or at least greatly lessen—any future damage due to heavy rainfall: the debris deposited during the past seasons’ rains was removed; the creeks were cleared of all the barriers that had been placed in them over the years, including the check dam on Hole 1 and the four solid stone bridges on Holes 2 and 5; and, a permanent, removable bridge at Hole 2’s crossing was installed.
The heavy rainfall and mild temperatures of the past two years combined with Poa annua’s growing resistance to the applications used to control it without damaging Bermuda grasses led to a staggering infestation on the course. Cleaning up the golf course became a top priority for the Committee. Brian deployed an aggressive herbicide program that included quarterly sprays and course closures while rotating and combining different chemistries. We are proud of the progress made so far, with an estimated 75% of the Poa annua on the golf course eradicated.
Aerification and thatch management were also high priorities this year. Brian informed the Committee that in previous years, a relatively passive aerification strategy had been used and that resulted in an ever-accumulating amount of thatch under our fairways and roughs, which in turn lead to sub-optimal playing surfaces. Accordingly, a very aggressive aerification process that included scalping, verticutting, and aerifying was employed and followed by a top dressing that used over 800 tons of sand.
We learned a few things through this year’s process, particularly about timing. As we experienced this year, when we get both May Gray and June Gloom, the recovery time post-aerification can be unduly extended. Additionally, allowing cart traffic directly onto the freshly aerified turf caused some areas of wear that ultimately had to be sodded out. Next year, some subtle adjustments will be made to avoid setbacks like these moving forward.
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GREEN COMMITTEE REPORT CONTINUED
Throughout the year, the Committee, Brian, and the Construction Oversight Committee worked together to right-size the golf course renovation plans, ensuring that they address not only important current issues but also prepare us for the future. Most importantly, together we have designed a replacement for our outdated and now-failing irrigation system that will be more nimble in addressing future drought conditions by allowing us to water specific areas of our choosing while skipping others. Our current system cannot do this. The new system will also allow us to store and use well water from all of our ponds. By creating the ability to fill all of our ponds with well water during the day and draw from all three when we water overnight, we will greatly increase our ability to use non-potable well water and reduce our everincreasing water bills.
There were a couple of other smaller, yet noteworthy projects. The non-turf areas were converted to mulch after a survey done by the Committee indicated that members preferred mulch to the previously used gorilla hair. We also replaced the failing pumps that operate our irrigation system and constructed a new, more aesthetically pleasing pumphouse to enclose the facility.
Lastly, I want to thank all of the Committee members for their hard work and support: Andy Powell, Matt Porter, Andrew Anthony, Chris Gregoire, Denis Sanan, Diane Lundberg, Ken Tarlow, Patty Sheehan, Tony Lehman, our Director of Golf, Mike Goodcase, and General Manager Jordan Sweeney, as well as the Club’s Board of Directors for its continued support in funding the many projects needed to maintain and improve our golf course facility.
HOMEOWNERS COMMITTEE REPORT
PATRICIA GRIFFIN, CHAIR
The Homeowners Committee continues to be active and proactive during the 2024 year. The Security and Safety measures continue to be of the utmost importance.
Gift baskets continue to be delivered to new property owners along with printed copies of Club Rules.
Security installed 12 gaming cameras on campus in creek beds and fence lines and work remotely, sending alerts to the patrol phone with a photo when motion is detected. Solar lighting has been installed in some creek beds as needed. Two flock cameras were installed, one at the front gate and another at the Sheffield gate, which are monitored by the Sheriff.
We continue to ask homeowners to be safe, using their security systems and adding “glass breaks” for added security. Homeowners are urged to park their vehicles within their garages at night. Overnight guests are requested to have passes placed in their vehicles and to park on the property. Property owners are also to advise any of their workers to park on their property as Security is re-enforcing the no-street parking policy and is placing parking flyers on violators.
The letter regarding nonuse of gas-powered blowers and hedge trimmers was delivered again and owners are addressing it personally with their workers, making our community quieter.
A successful Ladies Homeowners Luncheon occurred on March 21st with enthusiastic feedback. Linda Wood and Melissa Dvorak were responsible for the planning and are encouraged to make this event happen twice per year.
The fence line exterior was cleared of weeds and debris, making entry to the club more attractive.
We thanked Patty Marshall for her years of service when she resigned from the committee at the end of July. Mary Wilson has been added, joining Brian Miller, Christopher Teasley, Linda Wood, Melissa Dvorak, Brenda Nichols, Joan Zacher, Michael Bonsignore, and myself. With thanks to Michael Alvarado, Jordan Sweeney, and Suzanne Santiago for their support.
HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORT
RACHAEL DOUGLAS, CHAIR
The Birnam Wood House Committee had an eventful and dynamic year with a wide array of events designed to engage and delight our diverse membership. Our focus remained on delivering high-quality experiences through a mixture of our Signature Events, including our largest Halloween and most attended Brunch with Santa (nearly 400 people), wine dinners, speaker events, and the ever-popular Summer BBQs, all of which were tailored to cater to the varied interests and preferences of our community.
Throughout the year, the House Committee organized and executed numerous events that have become staples in our annual calendar. The Summer BBQs continued to draw large crowds, offering members a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere to connect with neighbors and friends. Speaker events were equally successful, bringing in a range of experts and thought leaders to share insights on topics of interest to our members.
Our wine dinners, traditionally a cornerstone of our event offerings, saw a noticeable decline in participation. Despite this, we recognize the importance of these events to our community, especially given the significant number of wine collectors within our membership. The broader wine industry has experienced a significant downturn, with a reported 30% decline over the past year. This has been largely driven by increased production costs, including rising cork and labor prices, which have led to a steep rise in wine prices. These market challenges have, in turn, affected attendance at our wine events. In response to these trends, the House Committee is adapting its approach to wine events. We will continue to host these gatherings, albeit on a smaller scale, focusing on highlighting larger, more prominent vineyards. This strategy is designed to maintain the quality and exclusivity of these events while aligning with current market realities.
The Committee has been extremely pleased with all of the positive responses from the long-awaited opening of the Packing House restaurant. The Packing House has been over-performing budget ever since it officially opened in April. We have received great feedback on the new menu as well as our wine selections. Let’s all be sure to thank the staff as they have done an exceptional job in maintaining a high level of consistency as they run between the 19th Hole and the Packing House as well as servicing the Terrace and Veranda areas. We are so blessed to have such dedicated hardworking staff!
The House Committee is proud to represent a broad cross-section of the Birnam Wood community. Our membership consists of 50% homeowners, and we are fortunate to have a diverse age demographic within the committee, which helps ensure that our events and initiatives resonate with all segments of our community. Looking ahead, the committee remains committed to delivering exceptional events that meet the evolving needs and interests of our members. By staying responsive to feedback, we aim to continue fostering a vibrant and engaged community at Birnam Wood.
Looking forward to a wonderful Holiday Season.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
KELLY VANDEVER, CHAIR
Birnam Wood continues to shine in 2024!
Our membership has remained at full capacity (800 members) with a waitlist of 27 candidates through July 31st. A huge “thank you” to all our current members who proposed and sponsored prospective candidates! We welcomed 36 new members this year, and it would not have been possible without your support, each member of the committee, and our very dedicated and efficacious Membership Director – Kristy Evans.
Some additional highlights from our committee this past year include updating and consolidating the membership categories, completing an audit of membership classifications, hosting 60+ “meet and greet” events for prospective members, active and successful recruitment at premier Birnam events (e.g., RTJ Golf Tournament) and much more.
My thanks to Jordan Sweeney and the incredible staff at Birnam Wood for making the Club such a warm, fun and special place. Our facilities – golf, dining, tennis, pickleball, bocce, gym and croquet – and amazing special events – put Birnam at the top of the list for potential members. Also, the warmth and kindness of our members towards each other and towards guests has created a very special culture, reputation, and “vibe” at Birnam Wood and throughout the Montecito community.
My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to every Membership Committee member for their time, contributions and commitment: Dave Grotenhuis, Patty Marshall, Ryan Malmsten, Marta Babson, Jen Abed, Chris Gregoire, Trey Evans, Vicki Hazard, Betsey Moller, Rob Crane, Emily Roos, Darrell Becker, and Matt Porter. They go above and beyond for Birnam every month and I am humbled to serve with them.
The makeup of our current membership compared to last year is as follows:
GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
JORDAN SWEENEY, GENERAL MANAGER / COO
We kicked off the year with a significant renovation of our Grill room, temporarily relocating dining services to the 19th Hole, its patio, and our main events room for overflow. We celebrated our 5th Annual Family Fright Fest, a sold-out pirate-themed extravaganza that delighted 305 members with a large ship staged on our veranda. Our Thanksgiving celebration continued the trend of success, welcoming over 350 members and introducing a new format for the Citrus Singers performance, which took place in the main events room followed by dinner on our newly renovated patio/veranda. Brunch with Santa reached a new record attendance with nearly 400 guests. In December, our Champagne and Caviar event featured Billecart-Salmon and Haute Caviar, providing an elegant backdrop for me to don my tuxedo and mingle with members in style. We closed the year with a Monte Carlo-themed New Year’s Eve party, complete with the Club’s favorite 10-piece band. An extraordinary year of events with great revelry and member delight.
This winter, our region experienced over 40 inches of rain for the second consecutive year, posing significant challenges during a three-month span. Fortunately, the removal of the large check dam in Creek One facilitated water flow and helped prevent course damage and erosion. Despite this, there was some damage on Hole Two due to increased water flow. Positively, the creeks have expanded to a more natural size, and we have reinforced their banks with large rocks to curb further erosion. Additionally, we replaced two walking bridges at Hole Two and upgraded our cart crossing with a new, removable bridge. This improvement allows us to remove the bridge in anticipation of heavy rainfall, ensuring uninterrupted water flow. This extensive
project owes its success to the tireless efforts of our Green Chair, Nancy Hunter, and our Director of Agronomy, Brian O’Laughlin, to whom we extend our profound thanks.
In February, we were heartbroken to lose our beloved Assistant Superintendent, Will Soto, in a tragic car accident. Will had been a valued member of the Birnam community for 20 years, loved by all for his dedication and warmth.
In March, we celebrated the grand opening of our newly renovated restaurant “The Packing House.” The transformation has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm, offering a more formal and elegant ambiance alongside innovative menus that elevate the dining experience with tableside cocktails and dishes. Since its opening, dining numbers have significantly increased, and I have received numerous compliments on both the atmosphere and the culinary offerings. Chef Abdu and his team deserve immense credit for their dedication to crafting the menu and refining the overall experience. The Packing House has quickly become a cherished staple at the Club.
This spring, despite encountering our first ever rainsoaked Easter, our Easter event was a resounding success, selling out with 474 guests. The Food and Beverage team brilliantly executed a Plan B, adapting to the weather by creating personalized baskets for each child and hiding eggs around the Clubhouse instead of our traditional egg hunt. We also set up a tent on the Grill terrace to host a puppy party, face painting, and balloon making. Major kudos to Tiffany Grummer, Eric Salazar, Luis Flores, Chef Abdu, and the rest of the Food and Beverage team for their outstanding efforts in ensuring the event was a memorable one despite the weather-related challenges.
Our Mother’s Day event was truly one for the ages. We pampered our moms with massages, Champagne, and mimosas as they strolled through a sanctuary adorned with
Japanese Pear Blossoms, culminating in a refreshing glass of Champagne at the journey’s end.
Our cottages have experienced exceptional demand this year. The introduction of our online cottage reservation system through the Birnam Wood App has simplified the booking process, allowing members to secure accommodations with ease 24 hours a day. Additionally, we have upgraded all cottage televisions to Smart TVs, enabling members to access their personal Netflix accounts and enjoy a home away from home experience. I am delighted to report that the Cottages generated over $1.1 million in net income from cottage rentals.
On the golf front, we’ve introduced newly overseeded tee boxes, which along with our visually appealing new mulch, have significantly enhanced the course’s appearance. Additionally, we are excited to begin our Rye grass overseeding project, which promises to further improve playability and aesthetics across the course. Mike Goodcase, our tenured Director of Golf, led our membership into successful Club events, including our Top Gun event, our McLean Member-Member, Lady MacBeth, and of course our RTJ Classic Member-Guest!
We capped off the summer with our famous Thursday Barbeques, including our much-loved, themed events such as our Luau, Western, and Fiesta Barbeques. MidAugust found members dancing the night away with our Birnam in the Hamptons themed summer party, and we marked the end of summer and beginning of harvest season with our incredible Summer Food & Wine Festival, where over 150 members sampled and shopped from over 100 domestic and international wineries, complemented by exceptional cuisine.
I am proud to welcome several new faces to our team this year. In May, we were delighted to introduce Claudia Raiti as our new Controller. Claudia joined us from the
Ventura County Community Foundation, where she held the position of Assistant Controller, bringing a wealth of expertise to our financial operations. Additionally, we welcomed Nicole Landon as our new Director of Security. Nicole’s background includes extensive experience with several Aerotech companies, including SpaceX, enhancing our security team with her broad industry knowledge.
Finally, it is with immense pride that I announce Birnam Wood’s recognition with the Distinguished Club Award of Excellence by Forbes and Boardroom magazine. This prestigious accolade, awarded to only 250 clubs nationwide, highlights our exclusive standing as the sole recipient in Santa Barbara County. This honor is a testament to our unwavering commitment to exceptional member service and hospitality, driven by our dedicated staff. Each team member upholds our core values of Care, Pride, Ownership, Knowledge, and Excellence— qualities that permeate our daily operations and interactions, ensuring we consistently surpass our members’ expectations.
This award not only recognizes our staff’s exemplary service and hospitality but also their professionalism and dedication, which are the cornerstones of our Club’s success and the warm, welcoming atmosphere our members value so highly.
I would like to conclude by expressing my gratitude to our President, Stan Anderson, for his support and leadership. Additionally, a heartfelt thank you to my incredible team, including Michael Weems, Suzanne Santiago, Kristy Evans, Luis Flores, Mike Goodcase, Brian O’Laughlin, Nicole Landon, Michael Alvarado, Claudia Raiti, Debbie Daggett, Scott Burton, Israel Ruiz, Joy DuMay, Eric Salazar, Abdu Romero, Tiffany Grummer, Ivan Diaz, Zac Welch, Cathy Kendrick, Pablo Santiago, Reese Hutchins, Juana Soriano, Jeff Villano, and all the dedicated individuals who make our successes possible. Your commitment and hard work are the backbone of Birnam Wood, and I am profoundly thankful for each of you.
BIRNAM WOOD GOLF CLUB MANAGEMENT
Jordan Sweeney, General Manager / COO
Luis Flores, Director of Clubhouse Operations
Kristy Evans, Director of Membership & Communication
Michael Goodcase, Director of Golf
Brian O’Laughlin, Director of Agronomy
Scott Burton, Director of Athletics
Jeff Villano, Head Racquets Professional
Nicole Landon, Director of Security
Michael Weems, CFO
Claudia Raiti, 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, Director of Clubhouse Facilities
Joy DuMay, Director of Fitness
Cathy Kendrick, Lead Front Desk Attendant
