Activities
Membership and Ownership
About Continental Country Club
Q.
Why do I have to make reservations and prepay if I want to attend an event
at the Club?
A. Continental Country Club requests reservations at our functions to
get an idea of how many people are going to attend our events. Because we
no longer have a full-time restaurant, our kitchen staff needs to know how
much food to prepare for our events, and reservations make it easier to anticipate
the size of the crowd. We try to allow for a few extra people, and we'll do
our best to serve you. Even a call the day of the event is helpful. We request
prepayment to avoid long lines at the register when everyone is ready to go
home. We do not have the capacity on our Point-of-Sale system to accommodate
a restaurant-style method of payment. Both of these requests allow us to offer
great service to those in attendance. [top]
Q.
Why can't I walk on the Aspen Valley Golf Course?
A. Aspen Valley Golf Course is private property and a private course. They
have requested that those property rights be respected. Another reason is
that walking on a golf course can be a very dangerous activity. [top]
Q.
Why do the timeshare people get full member privileges for our facilities?
A. The timeshare units have full membership in the club, and therefore have
full member privileges a the golf course, swimming pools, fitness center and
tennis courts. This arrangement is a result of the original sales agreement
with each timeshare owner, and is included in the CC&RS governing the timeshares.
The timeshare association pays $300 a year per unit, amounting to about $35,000
annually. In addition, they pay the operating cost of the recreation center
on Bear Paw, which is approximately $50,000 per year. Continental Country
Club members are welcome and encouraged to use the recreation center, which
is open all year. [top]
Q.
Do I have to submit a Design Review Form when I am replacing or repairing
my deck or repainting my house the same color?
A. It is not necessary to submit an application when you are repairing, replacing,
or repainting in the same exact materials, dimensions, or colors. However,
you should submit a form even if there is only a small change. [top]
Q.
How do I make a tee-time?
A. There are two easy ways to make a tee-time: (1) call the Pro Shop directly
at (928) 527-7997 or (2) at www.golfflagstaff.com.
[top]
Q.
My grandchildren are coming to visit me. Can they use the pool?
A. Yes. Your grandchildren may use the pool. If you have a large number of
grandchildren or if they will be her for a long visit or many visits, it is
easiest and most affordable, to purchase a "Grandkids Pass." This allows unlimited
visits but requires the grandparent to accompany the grandchild. For short
visits, you may want to consider paying the guest fee. [top]
Q.
I am a single person who owns a property. I get one membership card, and I
have to pay a guest fee if I want to take a friend to the pool. My neighbor
has four children; all who get cards and use the facilities throughout the
year. This seems unfair, why?
A. The easy answer is that the CC&RS require us to give each dependent a card,
and the Membership Policy requires us to charge for each guest. [top]
Q.
The Board - what is it, who are they, and what do they do?
A. The Board of Directors is the governing body for Continental Country Club.
Continental, by law, is organized as a corporation, and therefore a governing
body is required. The Board is comprised of volunteers who are property owners
elected at the Annual Meeting each August. There are nine members who serve
three-year terms. They are limited to serving two consecutive terms. If you
are interested in becoming a board member, call the staff at (928) 526-5125
and we will mail you an application. [top]
Q.
Why should I comply with the CC&RS when others do not?
A. The CC&RS are a contractual agreement that was entered into when you purchased
your home. Continental Country Club has to enforce them and believe me, this
is not always a pleasant job. There are preexistent violators that we must
deal with, but for the most part the "spirit of the law" is upheld. Our problem
is that there are adjacent subdivisions that do not have CC&RS. Some of those
neighborhoods include homes that you would logically think are in the Continental
jurisdiction, but they are not and we have no authority to have violations
corrected. We do our best to be consistent and to uphold our part of the contract.
[top]
Q.
How does the Board plan to deal with new golf courses coming into Flagstaff?
A. It is our plan to continue to maintain and improve Continental Country
Club Golf Course. In the years following the turnover from the developer to
the homeowners, routine maintenance and improvements were deferred because
profits generated by the golf course were being used to service the acquired
debt. We now need to turn those golf-generated profits back into the course.
The many needs are being prioritized and will be accomplished in order of
priority and affordability. [top]
Q.
Will new golf courses hurt our revenues?
A. Good question! I believe it depends on the type of course. If the courses
are of high quality with high green fees, then we will possibly benefit from
golfers seeing Flagstaff as a golf destination. If greens fees were subsidized
at an artificially low rate, Continental Country Club Golf Course might see
a decline in play counts. Our best bet is to continue our improvements and
make Continental Country Club Golf Course the best course it can possibly
be. [top]
Q.
I feel disenfranchised, why aren't board members elected by subdivision?
A. The bylaws allow some flexibility in the number of directors, but it has
been a nine-member board since at least 1993. The meeting dates are announced
well in advance, and each meeting has sufficient time for member input. If
you cannot make a meeting, a letter regarding your issue will suffice. You
can always volunteer to serve on a committee or you can run for the Board
of Directors, and with a little campaigning get elected. [top]
Q:
Why did you not distribute a draft of your proposal?
A: The proposed CC&Rs are not completed; we did not want to proceed without
knowing the general feelings of the community. The survey was to determine
the interest and support for the concept and gather ideas for possible inclusion
in the document. One of the next steps will be to finalize a draft proposal
that can be reviewed by owners for further comment. [top]
Q:
Can the CC&Rs provide recourse for neighbors who file unfounded complaints
against neighbors?
A: We do not act on any neighbor complaint unless it is independently determined
to be valid. When a neighbor complains, our policy is to inspect the property
ourselves. A violation letter is not sent unless the CC&R monitor has seen
the complaint, taken a photo, and determined that there is a violation. With
those precautions and procedures in place, we feel that owners are protected
against unfounded complaints. [top]
Q:
Why doesn't Continental Country Club make people clean up after their dogs?
(My neighbor never cleans up and it is creating a health hazard).
A: In general Continental Country Club is restricted to enforcing what can
be seen from the street. That makes this issue very tough. Issues requiring
our CC&R monitor to go into the backyard require the complaining owner to
grant us permission to go onto their property, as well as a written statement
that they would support us in any legal issue that might result from the complaint.
Backyard complaints, especially since we do not allow fenced-in yards, are
definitely the most difficult to enforce. [top]
Q:
In an effort to save oil and conserve electricity, why don't you authorize
clotheslines?
A: An interesting concept, which would probably cause more problems and comments
than it's worth. Somehow, I just don't think that our average resident wants
to see his neighbor's undergarments waving in the breeze. [top]
Q:
Why do I always see CCC's employees and trucks on the private Aspen Valley
Golf Course?
A: Continental Country Club owns only one vehicle, and I can assure you that
it has never been on the Aspen Valley Golf Course. The trucks and employees
that you see on Aspen Valley Golf Course are from Flagstaff Golf Maintenance
Company. FGMC maintains both Aspen Valley Golf Course and Continental's Elden
Hills Golf Course. Employees are paid by the course they work on; equipment
is jointly shared and used on each course. [top]
Q:
Why don't you drain Lake Elaine and quit using owners' assessments to pay
for that expense?
A: Continental Country Club is legally bound by a Coconino County Superior
Court judgment to maintain the lake at a certain level and condition; therefore,
draining the lake is not an option. [top]
Q:
Why are group care homes for handicapped people allowed, isn't it against
the CC&Rs?
A: Group or care homes are allowed under the Federal Fair Housing Act, which
takes precedence over the CC&Rs when it comes to enforcing single family or
no-commercial activity provisions of the covenants. There are multiple court
cases where associations have fought this in court and lost. [top]
Q:
What is the deal with Lake Elaine?
A: Lake Elaine is a 27-acre, 110 million gallon artificial lake located towards
the end of Butler Avenue. Continental Country Club is obligated to maintain
the lake in certain condition and at a certain water level. This obligation
is the result of a judicial court order issued in the early 1990s. This court
order resulted from a lawsuit filed by the homeowners that lived around the
lake against the developer. The lawsuit required the developer's insurance
company to pay $500,000 for the rehabilitation of the lake in accordance with
a plan developed by outside consultants. Contrary to some rumors the club
did not receive this money; it was placed into an escrow account and paid
from there. When the developer filed for bankruptcy protection, the court
ordered the club to assume all responsibilities for the lake. The lake is
a major expense for the club, with expenses exceeding $100,000 annually. Currently,
the lake is about five-to-six feet below the required operating level. The
reason is a broken fill line located under Butler Avenue. For a variety of
reasons this line must be replaced in a new location. It has taken several
months to get the pipe route surveyed, construction drawings made, easements
signed, and permits approved. Work should be completed by the time you receive
this newsletter. [top]
Q:
What is killing the trees on the golf course; bark beetle or something else?
A: The golf course has been losing pine trees for a number of years, but this
has been by far the worst two-year stretch. After talking to a number of tree
experts, including professors and biologist from both NAU and the Forest Service,
I believe that the main factor is 30 years of being heavily watered with effluent.
Reclaimed water is high in mineral and salts, both of which are not good for
Ponderosa. Also, we have to remember that Ponderosa are a limited water tree
and by virtue of being on a golf course, they receive much more water than
that. I feel that these factors killed some of the trees and weakened others
to the point of being susceptible to bark beetles. [top]
Q:
Is there any recourse regarding the neglected houses near Oakmont and Augusta?
A: The area that you are referring to is part of Coconino Estates. This is
the first subdivision developed in this area. While it has CC&Rs, there is
no enforcement. Years ago Continental was legally advised that we could not
and should not attempt to enforce the CC&Rs for Coconino Estates. [top]
Q:
What are the plans for the area to the left of the first tee?
A: As we have fixed up the golf course and the clubhouse area, this area has
become more of an eyesore. We would like to gravel the hillside immediately
to the left of the tee box and create a warm-up area on the flat portion of
the land. Further down the fairway along the Saddleback Townhomes, we want
to expand the fairway. Other areas would receive native grass and vegetation.
[top]
Q:
Have you considered having your board meetings on the weekend so out of town
owners could serve on the board?
A: I will defer to the new board to establish the time for their meetings.
Owners who cannot attend a board meeting are always welcome to communicate
through letters or e-mail. Also, the minutes of each board meeting are published
in each newsletter and on this website.
[top]
Q:
I would like to know why you are allowing people to cut trees?
A: We actually have been encouraging owners to take a close look at the wildfire
safety of their homes. For some lots, this has meant thinning out dense areas
of trees. In view of the fire hazards associated with living in a forest and
recent fires, this is a prudent action by owners. [top]
Q:
We would enjoy a restaurant, but how can the club afford it?
A: The only way would be to find an entrepreneur that was willing to take
on the financial risk. While we are receptive to this idea, we have never
found the right person. [top]
Q:
Why do we need a restaurant? There are enough in Flagstaff?
A: One reason is that a good and popular restaurant would aid in improving
community and club atmosphere and pride. It would be a place where neighbors
would gather in a relaxed atmosphere. [top]
Q:
Were the back nine holes worked on?
A: Yes the new irrigation system covers all 18 holes. [top]
Q:
How many rounds of golf are played per month?
A: The number of rounds played per month is as follows: This past year we
had 27,187 rounds. This is down from previous years because of the irrigation
construction.
|
MONTH
[2002]
|
MEMBER
|
NON-MEMBER
|
TOTAL
|
| April |
425
|
853
|
1,278
|
| May |
658
|
2,185
|
2,843
|
| June |
1,815
|
3,449
|
5,264
|
| July |
1,949
|
4,459
|
6,408
|
| August |
2,072
|
4,023
|
6,095
|
| September |
1,174
|
2,238
|
3,412
|
| October |
322
|
1,043
|
1,365
|
| November |
233
|
289
|
522
|
[top]
Q:
Why are you charging for water aerobics?
A: Trained and certified instructors cost money, and we are no longer in a
position to subsidize their fees. Like the tennis courts, members are able
to use the pool for free. Those who do not want to pay for aerobics are welcome
to work out on their own. However, those who want lessons from a certified
instructor are going to have to pay. The charge per lesson for those who regularly
participate is $3. I anticipate that we will continue to charge for this class.
[top]
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