The board would like to make this an issue of golfers vs non-golfers. I've heard from many golfers who live at Farmington Woods that are furious about this bonding plan. Let's see what one of them has to say.
It is my understanding that first; the golf course does not even have 200 members. It is somewhere around 185. Out of the approximate 185 members only 100 of those are Farmington Woods residents. Those of us opposed to this initiative feel that this is socialized golf with only a privileged few benefiting. The membership savings for living in Farmington Woods is 7.5%. Not much of a value for someone who is already subsidizing the golf course.
It was brought up in our meetings on this subject at Farmington Woods that there has not been a study to prove that the golf course increases our property value. It was stated in our meetings that a local realtor suggested that Farmington Woods put money into the exterior residence structures instead of the golf course to increase values of the properties. I personally have a pesky woodpecker that is tearing up the trim on the back of my condo which on average takes 6 months to repair and has never been painted.
I am also a golfer who has played Farmington Woods. I have golfed in several states at several top rated golf courses both private and public. During those rounds, I never played a top rate country club that has an Astroturf tee box on one of their holes as Farmington Woods does.
As for those who say that you knew what you were getting into when you move into Farmington Woods that is not exactly true. Realtors in the area do not always disclose the District Tax that is assessed on each unit. My condo fees at Farmington Woods are around $450/mo. This gets me access to pools, tennis courts, and a mandatory fee for a restaurant that cannot turn a profit or break even and a secure gate system that my grandmother could get past.
We pay taxes to Avon for upkeep on the town roads and then have to pay upkeep on our own. Please realize that tax districts are set up to provide services that the local town cannot provide. We have several golf courses in the proximity of Farmington Woods. Some of them top notch courses such as Golf Club of Avon.
As for those of you who say let it go and see what happens, there are a lot of us that think building additional condos is an option along with tastefully allowing the open areas to go back to a natural state (with some help). Using wood chips from landscaping clean up could be used to create additional walking trails along with swing sets and other park like equipment to accommodate the changing demographics in Farmington Woods.
The Master Association feels that even if the golf course goes back to a natural state, it would still need watering. I have yet to go to a National Park and find a watering system to keep the area green.
Farmington Woods Master Association seems that they have a better plan than Tumblebrook Country Club. Tumblebrook has a much nicer clubhouse and is a much nicer golf course (I have played both). They could not sustain their upgrades and had to file bankruptcy.
Farmington Woods Master Association HAS proven that they cannot run the golf course or the restaurant at a profit. For those of you who say that the golf course brings in money, in business, you must bring in more money than you spend in order to be financially sound. This is not the case at Farmington Woods.
Farmington Woods Country Club cannot prove sustainability over the 20 year life of this bond. If this bond passes and the country club is not sustainable we are stuck with the balance of the payments on the watering system for what? NOTHING!
Run the golf course at a breakeven proposition with no subsidies from the residents and then introduce a bond. Until then I see this as our national healthcare bill, nothing but a black hole.
Tom Morrow, Avon
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