Club Board President’s Message—February 25, 2025

Progress and Important Decisions for the Future of The Villages

The Villages has achieved major improvements in the last two years in staffing, operational and financial controls, cost cutting, and  long-range planning. Visible improvements include the Clubhouse services and menu quality, and refurbished bocce courts, stables, and the golf course. Public Works now completes over 95% of work orders submitted in timely fashion. Not so visible, but equally important, the staff overhauled our hardware and software systems to improve managing operations, finances and reporting. Work in progress includes completing the new Member Portal, The Villager Online, improving membership services and implementing an effective marketing program that describes the unique characteristics of the Villages’ community.

With Theresa Ostrander, our General Manager, the Villages three Boards completed a draft of a Strategic Plan for the years 2025 through 2028. The major observation in the Plan’s draft is that our aging facilities have not been adequately maintained. We are not collecting adequate capital funds for repair or replacement of existing facilities. From the Strategic Plan’s Executive Summary:

“The leadership and residents must strive to maintain and upgrade the physical plant that exists, so it can offer a relevant experience to the next generation of homeowners, or it will fail to attract new homeowners, which will cause property values to fall.”

An example of projects that will need significant funding include the maintenance and repair of our underground utilities. The sanitary sewer, storm drains, water supply and other systems are owned and maintained by the Villages not the City of San Jose. The estimated cost to maintain these systems is $20 million over the next 10 years. The Club Capital Budget for the next fiscal year, starting in July, will be based on maintaining, improving and protecting our existing Club assets—buildings, roads and utilities.

The next step in our strategic planning process begins with a detailed Member Satisfaction Survey starting with focus groups in May. These will be followed by a detailed online and printed survey. The results will guide policy and strategy to meet community needs and expectations for the future.

Thank you for your participation and support.

—Richard Zahner Villages Golf & Country Club Board President