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What are the primary changes between the original Master Plan and the Reduced-Scope Plan?

The changes are many, including:

• Building materials.   The original plan called for environmentally forward, sustainable materials such as rammed earth exterior walls and exposed lumber beams inside the clubhouse.  The updated design will now use more traditional materials, such as concrete and steel beams. 

• Glass.  The original plan included many floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, which will be reduced in scope and number.

• Golf simulator lounge.  This concept has been eliminated.

• Outdoor à la carte dining footprint:  The outdoor space to the northeast, that was not to have any elements protection, has been eliminated.

• Rooftop garden:  This will be eliminated.

• Ballroom:  The upgrades here will be more fundamental in nature, utilizing the currently existing elevator.  New, ballroom-specific restrooms will still be build within the current ballroom footprint.

 

What is the effect upon the cost of the Reduced-Scope Plan due to the changes mentioned?

The cost of the Reduced-Scope Plan reduces the cost from the original Master Plan by $7m, or roughly $15k per Proprietary Member.

 

Besides the reductions in cost mentioned above, are there any other scope changes?

No.  The Reduced-Scope Plan still includes the ballroom, north end of the clubhouse, Axe’s, and Pedro’s. 

 

Will there still be a vote on racquets and pool upgrades?

No.  While the vote for the ballroom, north end, Axe’s, and Pedro’s did not pass with 49.2% of the vote, the racquets and pool add-ons only garnered roughly 35% of the vote, so there will not be a vote on racquets and pool upgrades at this time. 

 

The reduced cost is due muchly to a change in building materials.  Will the look of the clubhouse – both internally and externally – change?

The look of the clubhouse will not change materially.  In fact, given this is the case, LRP and the Board decided not to invest in another round of renderings and designs as a way to save some capital funds.  Instead, some rudimentary drawings are provided within the Member project microsite to give the Membership a feel for the updates to the north end of the clubhouse.

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Will there still be sustainability elements to the clubhouse?

The sustainability elements will be significantly reduced as a means to save construction costs.  That said, the Reduced-Scope Plan will incorporate sustainable concepts when affordably possible.

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Is there a future plan for golf simulators?

Yes and no.  Golf simulators are not being considered to include within the clubhouse.  But we are including an indoor teaching bay on the practice tee as an aspirational upgrade in a future capital project.  There are many concepts to consider for the future – racquets, pool, The Lookout, practice facilities, golf course, driving range targets – but an indoor teaching bay will be included for future planning consideration.

 

What is the future for any racquets or pool upgrades?

We don’t anticipate any pool area upgrades for now, outside of a likely pool and/or deck resurfacing in 2026 and some work on systems (heater and filters replacement).  Regarding racquets, we have budgeted capital funding to resurface the courts once again in FY26, but Wellness Committee has been tasked to develop recommendations for how to best fix what ails our racquets facility; namely, capacity and noise.

 

Did we ever look at putting pickleball courts elsewhere?

We did. Options for putting them in the parking lot created a fragmented racquet and fitness experience, put additional foot traffic into the parking lot, and didn’t solve longer-term concerns about pickleball noise.

 

Moving forward, will there be enough capital resources to regularly invest in the golf course?

There will always be funds to invest in the golf course.  Golf course expenditures dominated the FY25 capital budget, and the expenditures for the draft FY26 budget remain stout as well.  Since the beginning of 2024, the Club has been involved in significant planning for various golf course initiatives, best evidenced by the introduction of last fall’s Water Sustainability Plan.  Currently, we are putting the finishing touches on a tree maintenance plan.  Finally, we have just engaged with golf course architect Brian Costello to provide initial plans and budgeting around 8 or so priority golf course projects as recommended by Golf & Greens Committee.  These projects include sand-capping fairways and approaches that were not done in the recent golf course redesign, redesigning the 12th fairway landing area, and the like.  Upon receipt of these plans and estimated costs, LRP and the Board can determine how and when to program these projects vis-à-vis capital funds generation and planning.

 

Regarding capital funds generation and planning, from where do we get capital funds?

Absent a large project such as the Reduced-Scope Plan, golf course redesign, or Wellness Center construction wherein some debt can be used to pay for part of the projects, capital funds are obtained directly from the membership over-and-above monthly dues.

 

Will there still be investing in The Lookout?

For now we will take a wait-and-see approach.  It is due for one, including the likes of a facelift, signage, permanent BBQ, permanent bar, and even some outdoor seating, but these upgrades will likely need to be programmed into future capital budgeting. 

 

Why did we choose this style of building?

The architects selected a design that would enable us to tie the existing buildings with the new construction in a way that created a cohesive look for the entire complex. Given our starting point, options like Menlo (Restoration Hardware and Napa Country House had a child) and Sharon (large, formal structure) weren’t options.

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How formalized are plans for interim services?

We’ve considered costing and operational options for providing temporary buildings, structures, and services but will ultimately await the results of the vote before more substantive planning occurs.

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Why don’t we just rebuild the north end and do the ballroom later?

There aren’t any member-accessible bathrooms in the south end of the building besides the pool and fitness center bathrooms.  We could choose to do nothing but the bathrooms, and then remodel the Ballroom later, but the Ballroom will be our main dining area for 18-24 months, so it made sense to do that first if Members support that cost.

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Will there be any golf course closures due to the project?

No.  We don’t anticipate any golf course closures outside of normal golf course aerification maintenance practices to which we are already accustomed.

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What will be the impact on Golf Operations?

Golf Operations would be on a temporary footing during the North End construction project. After completion, there will be less cart staging for large events, so carts will be staged along the cart paths and potentially on the event lawn during events with maximum cart deployment. Golf operations efficiency will improve with easier access to push carts, clubs, and on-site pushcart battery charging.

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Will we have a dining room and bar open?

Yes, we will utilize the Ballroom for dining during North End construction. The dining room and Member’s Bar will be open during the Ballroom remodel.

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What happens to Pedro’s during construction of the new members’ clubhouse?

We plan to purchase an elegant food truck trailer (think Airstream food truck) and use that as Pedro’s during construction. Upon completion, that trailer would be used on the course for special events such as Lookout BBQs.

 

Will we have pushcart and golf bag storage during the construction of the members’ clubhouse?

We planned for golf bag storage, likely in the back of the temporary pro shop facilities. The facilities will have security fencing not visible to members that will allow us to lock and secure merchandise and clubs. We will have to assess how much room we have for pushcart storage. 

 

What will be the impact on the parking lots during construction?

At a minimum, we expect to lose spaces to construction staging and our portable admin offices. We plan to fully utilize the event lawn.  We expect to use the underground fitness parking for cart storage and charging; if we don’t use that, we'll have another tent in the parking lot taking up an equivalent number of spaces. It is likely going to come down to the cost of temporary power and fire safety requirements for the cart battery charging operations. We have not studied this in detail. 

 

What will be the noise and dust of construction of the Members’ Clubhouse?

The site will be a major commercial construction zone for 18-24 months. The contractors would need to work within CPA limitations for hours of operation and dust/noise mitigation.

 

What’s the configuration of the women’s locker room?

The women’s and men’s locker rooms will have similar configurations. We sized the women’s locker room for half-height lockers and a bank of day-use-only full-length lockers for a total of 97 additional lockers to the current inventory.  The half-height lockers will be approximately 18” wide, wider than today’s full-length women’s lockers and similar to what the men have today.  We have not finalized the “wet” areas in terms of the number of sinks, toilets, and showers. 

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Do our bylaws support the project, or need to be changed to make this happen?

The board cannot unilaterally make this decision, nor does it want to. This is a member decision, and while only proprietary members are allowed to vote on Capital Dues per the bylaws, we want to hear from Social, YP, Legacy, and Emeritus members as well.

 

Why didn’t we add a men’s or ladies’ grill in the respective locker rooms?

We believe that we’ll have ample eating options on the second floor and chose to consolidate short-order food with a new-and-improved Pedro’s. In addition, we wanted roughly equal men’s and women’s facilities.

 

Where does the coffee station currently in the men’s locker room end up?

We plan to build a nicer coffee and food station in the Starter’s Lounge for use by both genders.  Look left of the large screen in the rendering, and you’ll see one possible location.

 

What can we expect of Member social events during construction?

We will have Member events; we will just have to choose between casual dining and Member Events as we will have use of one dining facility (the ballroom).

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Will there still be a swim team during construction?

Yes.  We do not expect to have an impact on any swim season.

 

What happens to my F&B minimum during construction?

We have not decided whether to lower this, so we are seeking your input. We will still have Pedro’s, Splash Landing, and a singular dining experience during North End construction. There is no change to dining during the Ballroom renovation and the North End planning process.

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Will membership sale prices be reduced during construction?

The current bylaws allow the board to set minimum membership sale prices, though that has been suspended on an interim basis to allow for market-based pricing to best move the large sale list that has developed this year.  Accordingly, market forces and those Members on the sale list will dictate pricing until the Board decides to reenact the minimum sales price policy.  At that time they will establish the minimum sale price based upon a number of factors, including but not limited to the pace of Members joining the sale list, demand for membership by prospective members, and trends in the local and regional market.

 

How were the costs generated, and why do you think we won’t overrun this by 25-50% like many construction projects?

A professional cost consultant was hired to prepare an estimate for each of the proposed projects.  These estimates were reviewed by the LRPC to provide insight into some current market conditions and unit costs. In addition, cost items such as design contingency, cost escalation, temporary facilities such as club storage, temporary pro shop, and other items were added.

 

Why do most non-proprietary members have to pay?

We asked social members to contribute to the Fitness Center, so we found it equitable to do the same in this instance, given that Social, YP, and Legacy members will use all the facilities included in the project. 

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Why do social members start paying later?

Social members have the least stickiness of any member class. Our need for cash is highest as we enter the final phases of construction, so we start pulling from social members at that time. Social members contribute dues to help cover our operating expenses. We wanted to minimize the departure of social members by postponing their contributions to the last possible moment.

 

How much of the funding will come from club debt, and how will it affect the club’s financial health?

The board believes that the upper limit on debt at 7% interest rate is $28m and aligns with multiple banks who have not only expressed comfort at this level of debt, but interest in providing us the funding.

 

What happens if a significant portion of members oppose any aspect of the proposed plans or if an eventual vote fails?

The Status Quo Approach would be enacted, which calls for a $9,000 capital call of Proprietary Members to address lingering and ongoing capital clubhouse needs. In addition to the $ 9,000 for asset replacement, there will be maintenance and repairs that will total approximately $4,300 per proprietary member of 7 years to cover the increased maintenance costs due to our aging building infrastructure.

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Will the clubhouse, golf facilities, or pool remain accessible during construction?

Many facilities would remain open. During ballroom construction, the golf course, practice facilities, The Lookout, wellness center, racquets, and pool would remain open. Also, the member areas of the clubhouse would be open (locker rooms, pro shop, à la carte dining, Pedro’s). During North End construction, the golf course, practice facilities, The Lookout, wellness center, pool, and ballroom would be open—the latter for à la carte dining and member events.

 

What updates are being made to the men’s and ladies’ locker rooms?

The locker rooms will be more equitably sized between the ladies’ and men’s locker rooms.  The shoe room will be directly accessible by both men and women.  Everything will be updated to include tile, fabrics, facilities, and fixtures.  In addition, ingress and egress into the locker rooms to and from the golf course will be simplified.

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Will the new banquet facilities result in increased profitable wedding/event bookings?

The capacity of the ballroom is not expected to change from its current capacity. A primary motivator behind the work will be to separate events from the member portion of the clubhouse through the introduction of a separate entrance and by having bathrooms adjacent to the ballroom.  From there, operational decisions can be made as to the optimal level of private parties to attract.

 

Who will design the interiors? How were they chosen?

An interior designer has not been chosen, given we do not yet have a project approved by the membership, and that would have been an unnecessary expenditure of funds.

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Is there an overall design committee? A design committee for the ladies' locker room?

Given we do not yet have a project, there has not yet been a discussion regarding a design committee.

 

Will the members see the entire design, including interiors, before being asked to vote?

There will be no interior designs until the membership votes to approve the project. 

 

After club arrival and going up the entrance stairs, the new banquet entrance and stair/walkway to the member entrance are open-air and exposed to the elements. Will this work in inclement weather?

Members can also use the entrance to the ballroom under the porte-cochere for protection from the elements.  

 

How will this new clubhouse design enhance the delivery of service or result in reductions in costs?

The goal of the project is to improve the member experience while being mindful of operating costs.  Delivery of service is aided in many ways:

1. An à la carte kitchen will be located adjacent to the bar and all à la carte dining spaces – this is markedly different from our current layout and operational flow.

2. Wine storage will be in one central location, compared to the current multiple locations, improving efficiencies. 

3. Pushcart storage will be increased.

4. Golf bag storage will be increased. 

5. The Starters Lounge will provide a relaxed, elevated space to gather and/or meet guests pre-round. 

6. The operational flow to the new Tall Trees Room will be more seamless given that a staircase will not be required to and from the kitchen. 

7. Pedro’s will now be closer to the 10th tee for ease of access for golfers making the turn.

Regarding costs, a draft, preliminary operational budget proforma has been done, and average dues increases track roughly with our historical averages of annual dues increases.

 

Are there plans to offer new programs or events to take advantage of the updated facilities?

Yes, but specificity is a TBD for now, pending project approval. There will then be ample time to curate updated Member programming and activities.

 

How will these improvements make our club more competitive with other private clubs in the area?

The reasons are several-fold. First, and in its more basic element, this keeps us up to date with the high rate of capital spending by local clubs. For example, La Rinconada: $25m beginning in 2026 for the new golf course and golf course maintenance facility. Los Altos: recent $8M pro shop and simulators, plus 3 smaller capital projects that were approved this summer. Menlo: recent $47M clubhouse redo. Sharon: recent $21m golf course redo, current $9m operations center, and a possible clubhouse expansion in planning & development.

 

Second, a current clubhouse with contemporary and forward-looking amenities complements our current best-in-class wellness center and golf course; this trifecta will position us at or near the top of peninsula clubs. Finally, capital investing will keep us positioned to be amongst the best on the peninsula for generations to come; not investing will have us on a downward slide in terms of quality of facilities, value for the membership, competitiveness and relevance, and initiation fees.

 

How will the Long-Range Planning Committee and Board ensure transparency and accountability throughout the construction project?

There will be an external project manager to help shepherd the project, to ensure contractor and sub-pricing are optimized, and to oversee construction schedules. From there, David and his team will provide regular, ongoing updates to the membership in addition to significant involvement by LRP.

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How will members who use the facilities less frequently benefit from this investment?

As owners of the club, it’s incumbent upon all of us to invest in the present and future of the club to ensure not just its longevity but its success. With elevated facilities and amenities and the current improved trajectory in service, we feel we’re giving members even more reasons to gather and enjoy the club in whatever capacity they prefer.

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What is the amount of time required to advise the Membership regarding a notice of a vote and a time period required for the vote? 

The October 28, 2025 email sent to the Members more than 14 days before the November 19 meeting and ballot close satisfies the Bylaws’ notice requirement (Article VII § 4). The 14-day notice period is measured to the meeting or voting deadline, not to the opening of voting. The 10-day balloting or "voting window," from November 9 to 19, simply defines when members may cast votes and is separate from the notice requirement. 

 

Is the Board of Directors empowered to assess the $9,000 in the case of a No vote? 

The $9,000 obligatory capital dues shown in the “Status-Quo / No-Vote” column is a Board-authorized capital maintenance assessment, not part of the new construction plan. Under Article V § 3 of the Bylaws, the Board has clear authority to levy obligatory capital dues needed for repair and replacement of Club facilities, regardless of whether a new project proceeds. The Board's authority exists independently of the ballot measure. Including the $9,000 figure in the ballot was done in an attempt to present a transparent comparison between the two approaches. 

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