Response from Stonebridge and other notes

To All-
Sorry I have taken some time to get this posted- the General Manager for the golf course did return my call the next day and we had an interesting conversation. I told him to follow up with an e-mail and I would post it with regard to the operations of the course. First- He did offer the facilities of Stonebridge for our future meetings at a cost of $0 + gratuity for those employees who are there to keep the building open. A very gracious gesture.

Here is his letter-

Michael,

First let me say that I appreciate your working with us to both improve the community and the golf course.

One thing I might say is that the Pro Shop has a whole new look and feel to it, we are only a couple of things away from completing it. We also carry a broader variety of products at competitive prices. Honestly I try and keep them lower than all of the area golf stores. We are also going to be working on the rest of the clubhouse in the future working our way inside out. This will take some time as we are doing these projects ourselves to keep costs to a minimum. Don’t be alarmed if you see my two Assistant Golf Professionals and myself here later than normal, we are the ones doing that work.

As for the course, remember we are doing the best we can with the resources we have available to us. Over the past three years our Superintendent and his staff, which is shorthanded, has done a phenomenal job keeping the course and the greens in great shape. Do you remember the years when the greens would burn up in the summer? Did you notice in August when we were hitting 100 degree temperatures that the greens were still in a great shape? I grew up here and I remember paying $50+ to play on those same burnt greens. Now we are charging less to play on greens that have not burnt up in a few years (I know there are a couple of small spots). So the best thing that people can do is to help us maintain it. Don’t treat it like a public park, especially the greens. If you come out and play, repair your ball marks on the greens, fill in the divots in the fairway, rake the bunkers, and pick up any garbage that you might see. But come out and support the course, the more people come and play the more we can do to improve in the near future.

Please just know that the current staff here is doing everything that we can do and we are committed to improving the course as much as possible, not just for ourselves or for Stonebridge, but for Lakeland and all of Shelby County.

If there is anything else you would like to add Michael please feel free.

Thanks again.

Brandon Sledge

Director of Golf and General Manager

Stonebridge Golf Club

3049 Davies Plantation

Lakeland, TN. 38002

Office - (901)382-1886

Fax - (901)382-4476

Off the market but still on our Minds!!

Last week it was printed in the Bartlett Express that the golf course was officially off the market. I called and spoke with Stonebridge today and am awaiting a call back from the general manager Brandon Sledge. My reason for the call is to get a feel for Linkscorps plan for the future of the course.
Do they plan to continue to run the course without making upgrades?
Do they plant to continue to run the course without performing the deferred maintenance on the course?


The answers to these questions will help us determine a future plan of action for the homeowners at Stonebridge. We can lobby Linkscorp the make the improvements if they plan no to- or we can be their cheerleader if they decide to invest in golf course and our community.

I will let you know how the conversation goes-

Thanks-

Steering Committee Meeting

To all:

First- some folks are letting me know that they are not receiving my e-mails- please e-mail me back and let me know you are getting this-

We had a steering committee meeting this afternoon and here is a brief overview of what was discussed:

Those attending where: Michael Stansbury Nikki Wheatley, Wayne Butler, Tom Pickering.

• Setting up 4 committees under an one executive board
1. Golf Course Committee (a group that actively supports the city’s purchase of the golf course)
2. Neighborhood watch (crime deterent arm of the community)
3. Beatification of Stonebridge (medians, entrances, etc)
4. Social Activities (self explanatory)

• Setting up accountability for the funds we will ask for from the members of the association
• We will not have a pot luck event- we will have a meeting of Concerned Citizens of Stonebridge Subdivision of CROSS April 17^th at 7:00

Location to be determined

We need volunteers to go door to door- please e-mail me if you are interested

• Our agenda at the meeting may include approval of bylaws and organizing executive and sub committees, establishing contributions or dues for the group
• We will be sending a postcard or a mailer to all of Stonebridge residents as a reminder

Remember- our property values are directly tied into the golf course and its future- already we have seen homes stay on the market longer than normal. The market is not the best it’s ever been right now- but Stonebridge has lots to offer those seeking homes, especially in an affordable price range. Your participation and your action now will directly affect your investment in the future.

Have a great week, Spring is here and it is time for Stonebridge to bloom!!!

HOA Fruit

To All-

Thank you all for taking the time to come to the homeowner’s meeting last week. We had a great turnout.

Here is the fruit of this meeting-

• We were almost unanimous on agreeing to form an organization that will resemble or be a home owner’s association with the purpose of communicating to all of the Stonebridge community and to organize and act on events that may affect our community.
• The steering committee is meeting on Monday to discuss:

1. Newsletter

2. Hoa formation- getting $25.00 from Stonebridge residents

3. Accountability for funds

4. Using channel 19 for advertising our HOA meetings and other Stonebridge concerns

5. Block captains

6. Garage sale May 3^rd- we may want to have the community wide event May 10- Lakeland is having a city wide garage sale that day and something for Lakeland elementary

When we met I spoke about the need to respond when called for. Here is what we will need in the future- if you can take on this responsibility please let me know you are willing. If you are not willing, but your spouse is, volunteer them, that’s how I get in a lot of trouble at my house, so won’t you join me?

• Block captains (future responsibilities will include: neighborhood watch, flyers door to door on your street, responsible for letting your neighbors know and come to future HOA meetings, organize community wide block party’s with other captains)
• Stonebridge Green Thumb committee (many homeowners remember a time when our entrance were reflective of the seasons we were in- now our entrances do not look so great- they offered to beautify those areas if provided with the funds for landscaping and mulch: manual labor)
• Committed to be at the BOC meetings that discuss or vote on the golf course (responsibilities include: your time)

Please feel free to e-mail any suggestions- many of you have had great ideas, like this one:

One from Jack Smithmier on our organization title could be Concerned Residents of Stonebridge Subdivision or C.R.O.S.S. for short-

Just in time for Easter!

BOC Meeting 2-25

First-

Thank you all who came to the Board of Commissioners meeting last week. We definitely showed strength in numbers and many offered great information about the course, its history, and how if affects this community. GREAT JOB!!!

The opportunity to purchase the golf course for the city makes sense if we can get it at the right price-

Yes- they are going to have to make improvements to the course- to the course itself, the pro-shop, and the management-

All of the commissioners, included Mr. Nicholson, had very valid points regarding the purchase of the course- to get at the crux of Mr. Nicolson’s argument regarding the maintenance costs over time, we should absolutely be concerned, and our expectation should be that this will be figured in the overall operating costs of the golf course. The expectation is to raise the level of the experience out at the course, and that will mean maintaining the course will be higher than it is now- because the standard of play will be better- but so to will the revenues by higher in all profit centers (carts, green fees, pro shop, membership, rent out of the facility, and any other new and creative profit center).

Why?

Our expectation of the management should be that the customer is to be catered too- that this golf experience is like no other- if we can create this type of culture where the general manager knows the members by name, the chef knows how the members like their bratwurst- when the bathrooms are clean, the pro shop is sharp, the employees are driven to create that something extra- then the expectation should be that the course will make a profit-

As an example- walk in to a Chick Fil-A restaurant and take note of the cleanliness, the service, the culture, and the whole atmosphere- and buy a chicken biscuit- then compare this too the experience of any other fast food restaurant and compare the experience.

Stonebridge is just another golf course in a saturated market for golf courses- and the ownership is not interested in carving out a niche to where, over time- because of a strategic change in the culture of the organization- golfers seek to play here.

When Lakeland purchases the course- the expectation of the city should be that management create and cultivate this type of culture- and it can be done. This takes intention and hard work- but it can be done

To all-

Tomorrow is the Board of Commissioner’s meeting at City Hall at 6:00. All of you that are receiving this e-mail have been contacted by your neighbors who share your concern about the direction and the management of Stonebridge. It is important that we show strength in numbers by attending the meeting tomorrow. It is a great opportunity to hear our elected officials and the facts concerning Stonebridge.

This affects your largest investment, your home. After speaking with most of you, we all seem to be in agreement about the opportunity here for the City and our community. If Lakeland can purchase this at reasonable terms, make the improvements that need to be made to make it more marketable, and then have it managed in a manner that attracts golfers, this will be a profit center for our city. It can fund our recreation and parks programs without taxing our residents.

From my neighbors who have lived her for 20 years plus, I have heard great stories about how in the past- a limb would fall down on the golf course and within an hour it was picked up and disposed off. (This does not happen anymore)The ownership of the golf course, from my perspective, because they have it for sale and have done very little upgrading of the facilities, are not interested in running what used to be a five star golf course- but as residents we are interested in seeing it managed this way.

We have some very creative, smart, and business like people who serve on the board of commissioners and in our various committees. The benefit here is not for Stonebridge- it is for the whole city.

What can I do?

We need help at intersection of Fletcher Trace and HWY 64- we could not get to all the residents in that part of Stonebridge because we were limited on resources- but from 4:00-5:15 if we can pass out flyers near the speed bumps at this location to notify these residents, that would be great- I will supply those that are willing to do this with the flyers-

Also- please come to the meeting and let’s listen to what the commissioners have to say and there vote- just by being there, in numbers, sends the message. If we have enough folks- I would also recommend that we be located at Kingsridge and Davies Plantation. Please respond to this e-mail if you are willing to do so- also make signs that will attract the residents (ex. Save Stonebridge)

I would welcome your thoughts and ideas- but most of all, I would love to meet you all at Lakeland City Hall tomorrow at 6:00.

Also for more information on the sale of Stonebridge, please visit http://stonebridgehomeowners.blogspot.com/

Here are the address to City Hall: 10001 US Highway 70

Here are the address to the International Harvester for are voluntary home owner’s assoctiation meeting on March 6^th:

I.H. Managerial Park
Located at 4523 Canada Road,

Also- tell your neighbors and bring them with you!!!!!

See you there-

Respectfully,

Michael Stansbury

We are coming door to door!

Stonebridge residents: your neighbors are coming door to door with a reminder flyer for the Board of Commissioners meeting at Lakeland City Hall on Feb 25th and the HOA meeting March 6th at the International Harvester. We need strength in numbers and your ideas regarding the golf course and other areas of our community.