September 2020
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Enriching life in the Big Canoe community September 2020 POA News 3 Events & Happenings 18 Wining & Dining 23 Getting Fit & Healthy 24 Around the Tees 25 Racquets ‘Round the Nets 30 The 110 acre Lake Petit proivded plenty of Marina 32 room for families to safely enjoy the Labor Day Let’s Go Clubbing 34 weekend. (Photo by Tim Moran) Don't just list your home, get it sold. #1 in homes and lots sold www.BigCanoe.com 706.268.3333 [email protected] SEPTEMBER 2020 INSIDETHEGATES.ORG | 3 POA News From the General Manager are corroding or have disintegrated altogether. The greens are worse for wear. The irrigation system is practically held By Scott Auer together with bubblegum. Even dangerous sinkholes have Big Canoe General Manager developed on the course. To all that non-golfers might say, “Why is that It’s readily apparent golf is intertwined with Big Ca- my problem?” noe’s identity. Our stunning 27 holes of golf are our most Property owners’ amenities dollars go to many things, visible amenity. They commingle with a backdrop of moun- and odds are that many services and features we pay for tains, lakes, valleys and streams. Is it any wonder the Creek we might never use. I have never hit the elliptical machines 9 Initiative Vote coming up this month asks you to “Pinch at the Wellness Center; I don’t cruise around every single yourself. It’s your very own side road our Public Works maintain; I’ve never had to call backyard!” Even herds of deer the Fire Department, well once! We all collectively pay and flocks of wild turkeys like for a range of amenities and features because they main- to hang out on the greens. tain the value of our individual homes and our community The vote, which happens as a whole. September 8-30, will authorize The Creek Golf Course is the same thing. And while it the Property Owners Associa- might look great as you zoom by on an errand (at a prudent tion (POA) to fund the rejuve- 25 mph), it’s akin to a house with a termite infestation: nation of the nine-hole Creek Everything appears fine until it collapses. Course in a much-needed, long- Work on the Creek overdue project. It’s essential to course needs to be done, Big Canoe, even to those who and not in a piecemeal fashion as that ultimately don’t have golf on their radar. Big Canoe’s General makes the work more I have long had an intimate Manager Scott Auer costly. On top of that, the connection to the game, though announces a new entire job would be com- it was not something I embraced service, Ask the POA. in my youth. Growing up in pleted in about 12 months suburban Baltimore in the ’70s, I rather than broken up into was more about Jimmy Connors than Greg Norman as ten- smaller maintenance proj- nis was my real sports passion. ects over several years. My father loved golf and wanted to share that love with I have compared it me. He signed me up for countless lessons to help hone my to getting dental work skills. A member of the Hunt Valley Country Club in Phoe- completed. If you fail to nix, Maryland, he would regularly take me to the links, address a bit of discomfort offer fatherly tips and try to kindle my passion for the game. in your mouth today, you might be looking at a much more It didn’t stick. painful and expensive root canal down the road. For an impatient youngster like myself, playing golf Property owners can either vote YES to have this was akin to mastering the electric guitar: the learning curve renovation completed all at once, or can choose the slower, was just too steep. With tennis, I thought I could spend more agonizing process. Along with closing the course for a three months over the summer swinging a racquet and have longer period, which will reduce our golf revenue, the total a good time on the court. I was wrong about that, too! cost of fixing our decrepit infrastructure will be higher if Whether or not you’re a golfing enthusiast, the upcom- we spread the work over several years. ing Creek 9 rejuvenation vote in September is important to For anyone who has questions about the Creek 9 ALL property owners. Initiative, I strongly encourage you to visit creek9.org, the It’s not going to take a lot to convince even the most website the Creek 9 Rejuvenation Team created. It soundly fiscally conservative golfers to fund the rejuvenation. The outlines the merits of this project and makes a case all of us Creek course suffers from an aging infrastructure that has should embrace: The Creek Golf Course rejuvenation is not outlived its expected lifespan. The metal drainage pipes just good for golfers – it’s good for all of us. 4 | INSIDETHEGATES.ORG SEPTEMBER 2020 POA News From the POA President Don’t be flu virus bait, especially this year POA Board approves important governance, management milestone Flu shots will be offered in Big Canoe The August 20 POA Board meeting marked an impor- Join the arm(ed) forces this fall and get shot! tant, if subtle, milestone in the governance and management Just as sure as pumpkins and scarecrows show up every of Big Canoe. The board endorsed a recommendation from fall, flu shots will be offered by the POA to Big Canoe Bobby Jones Links (BJL) and General Manager Scott Auer residents. As in the past, shots will be administered by that included the transfer of the Water Committee, AECC Jasper Drugs. and the Finance Committee from reporting to the board to It’s especially important to get a shot this year as the become General Manager committees. This is a significant “normal flu” may piggyback on COVID 19 making both step in clearly delineating the roles of the General Manager illnesses and the board. more diffi- With the committees reporting to the board there was cult to treat. involvement in the day-to- This would day operations of Big Canoe. certainly be The board has too many a genuine meetings that included the double- GM and staff management. whammy. The new model provides Think of a the staff more time to work flu shot as on daily operations and the installing business plan and budget virus protection software in your body. approved by the board. The With dates yet to be announced, this year flu shots will day-to-day operations are be given under a tent as a drive-by experience. Just stick now entirely managed by the your arm out the window and get pricked, easy as that. GM and professionals whose Medicare typically covers the inoculation as do some expertise and experience Bob Crouch, President of the other insurances. Details about what is offered and payment can be fully utilized for Big POA Board of Directors options will be coming soon. Canoe’s benefit. The POA is looking out for you to stay safe and Management is enabled healthy! Remember, the flu ends with “U.” to fully manage Big Canoe, following the approved busi- ness plan, budget and rules of Big Canoe. They will address day-to-day complaints and issues. POA. The board oversees and manages high-level issues BJL will continue its involvement in implementing an and initiatives such as the Capital Contribution Fee. operations system to bring disciplined processes to Big Ca- What does this mean for property owners? Askthe- noe. BJL and staff will be empowered to manage the daily [email protected] will continue to be the communica- operations to produce the results approved by the board. tions vehicle for property owners to the POA. All opera- They will spend less time in meetings with the board and tions questions will be routed to the General Manager its committees so they can focus on the operations within and staff for response. Pretty much no change other than the community. expectations that the board will not be the focal point to The board will focus on development of a Big Canoe answer questions about rules enforcement, maintenance of Strategy and Master Plan, will continue to provide over- facilities and financial performance as the board will focus sight through the Audit Committee, review and approve on strategy and planning. the budget and will work for the betterment of Big Canoe Another significant note is that Food and Beverage by developing mutually beneficial relationships beyond the came very close to break even for July. SEPTEMBER 2020 INSIDETHEGATES.ORG | 5 POA News Uh oh, did you get a Hello gourd-geous! violation notice? It’s that glorious time of year when vibrant colors flut- By Treena Parish ter through our heads - red, orange, yellow and even rusty brown. Fall is on the horizon and we’re desperate to deco- rate with crim- In order to maintain the essence of the Big Canoe com- son passion. Lo- munity, there are rules and regulations that must be en- cal orchards and forced. Sometimes there’s a need to remind owners of a rule Burt’s Pumpkin or a standard that may have been overlooked. Patch call to our When a violation is noticed, an informal letter making creative souls, the owner aware of the but wait! Those problem is sent. At the end big old pump- of each month, site inspec- kins, gourds and tions are done to ensure cobs of Indian owners have corrected the corn are starred discrepancy.