Early November 2009 - Pelican Bay

Tennis updateBy Bill Bowden, Club Services Director4239-290-2753www.CasaBellaWoods.comMarketplace at Pelican Bay8845 Tamiami Trail NorthNaples, Florida 34108Pelican Bay Post, Early November 2009Lenora RicknerCASA BELLA WOODS$2,400,000Magnificent Estate on 3 lushlylandscaped garden acres.A large circular paver driveway and customcrafted Honduran Mahogany doors welcomeyou to this elegant home. Two luxuriousmaster suites, vaulted ceilings, courtyard pooland spa, Asian slate roofing and marble floorsare just some of the finer touches throughoutthe vast 11,536 sq. ft. The epicurean kitchenis well appointed with appliances from Miele,Gaggenau and Traulsen and enhanced byBrazilian granite counter tops and floor inlays.Guests can enjoy the privacy of their own guestcabana -- offering one bedroom, one bath,living room and patio off the pool area.This is truly a magical escape ina tranquil paradise setting.This summer, the tennisstaff received frequent complaintsabout dead spots onthe courts. Courts whichreceive irrigation from anunderground system reactto rain differently thanabove ground systems. Undergroundirrigation savesmoney and greatly reducesuse of a valuable resource, aswater conservation becomesa bigger issue every day.However, summer rains stopthe upward percolation processas rainwater temporarilyseals the court trapping airbetween the top surface andwater supply below. Havingno place to go, it causes theair to rise and creates a gapbetween the playing materialand sub-base — an issuethroughout South Florida.Rolling the court will help,but the manufacturer cautionsthat too much rollingis bad for the court as itwill become hard. The courtcontractor recently performedthe annual rehabGuest passes increase —Length of stay revisedBy Jim Hoppensteadt, Foundation PresidentEffective October 1, 2009,the fees for guest passeshave changed. The new feesare $15 for up to a 10-daypass, and $25 for up to a20-day pass. As the dailycost of a guest pass is dependentupon the guest’s actuallength of stay; the Board haswanted to move towardsmore parity between what aguest pays to take advantageof all of the Foundation’samenities and facilities, andwhat a member pays to supportthese same amenitiesand facilities. On average, aguest stays approximatelyeight days in Pelican Bay;this equates to $1.88 per day.A member pays $892 per yearin Foundation operatingfor season which also aeratesthe courts and will helpconsiderably. Please notifystaff about any more deadspots and the place will bemarked and treated.November Pro LeaguePelican Bay pros Mike Lewisand Joe Bartos will play withassessment; or $2.44 per day.Add to this considerationthat the Foundation servesabout 14,000 members, butissues approximately 30,000guest passes per year.While there are a wholehost of variables that changethe value received by both theguest and the member (somemembers use the Foundation’samenities and facilitiesmore regularly that others),it is fairly apparent that servicingguests puts greaterstrain on facility capacity andshortens the lives of the Foundationassets used to deliverthose services and amenities.It has been the Board’s positionthat guests should paymore of their fair share.six other area pros on Fridayafternoon, November 13,at the North tennis center,a stop on the 2009 fall proleague. Play begins at 3pmon two courts narrowingdown to the finals followedby a Bar-B-Queon the patio. Reservationsrequired – pleasecall the North Pro Shopat 597-8877 by Wednesday,11/11. Come outand support our pros!Mixed doubleson the 18 thSee who’s back intown; enjoy spiritedtennis and tasty food atthe November MixedDoubles and Dinner onNovember 18th. Call597-4497 to sign up.ThanksgivinghoursPlease note that thePro Shops will beclosed at noon ThanksgivingDay. The courts willremain open.Some members do say thatthey believe that their annualassessments should allowtheir guests free access.The problem is that there isno way to proportionate amember’s assessment withthe amount of usage they,and/or their guests have ofthe Foundation’s amenitiesand services. Therefore, inorder to attain the fairestdistribution of cost withusage, the Foundation willcontinue to evaluate guestusage levels against the incumbentconsumption ofassets’ useful lives, and displacementof members atvenues like the restaurantsduring the heightof season.www.pelicanbay.org