Why did the concept of a Covenant Club ever arise?
The notion of a community pool was actually part of the original vision for the Covenant in 1945 as seen with the Master Planning documents. As is today, their original vision saw the pool on the golf and tennis campus.
Text from the above 1945 Board Planning Document:
Proposed Additional Facilities for the Rancho Santa Fe Association
Proposed Additional Facilities for the Rancho Santa Fe Association
It has been increasingly apparent for some time that additional out of door recreational facilities were needed in Rancho Santa Fe. This matter was discussed at some length at the recent meetings of members of the Rancho Santa Fe Association.
The Directors of the Association, members of the Park and Recreations Board, and committee members, have spent a lot of time and thought on the problem of providing these additional facilities. We are now pleased to report the result of our studies to the property owners of this district. The engineers’ drawings reproduced herewith indicate the nature of the improvement which we believe should be undertaken as promptly as possible. It is proposed that these improvements be located on the property now owned by the Rancho Santa Fe Association, on the north side of the golf course. These additional facilities consist of: |
1. A riding stable and ring. This facility for the use of the Rancho Santa Fe Riding Club and the stabling of all horses owned by members of that club. This club is a going concern and has 45 resident members at this time.
2. Two doubles type tennis courts as shown, to be located about 400 feet east of the present golf clubhouse. 3. A standard size (75’ x 35’ ft.) swimming pool and playground wading pool with adequate circulating, filtration and purification plant. This pool is to be located between the golf shop and the proposed tennis courts. These recreational facilities would be owned and operated by the Rancho Santa Fe Association for the benefit of residents of Rancho Santa Fe and their guests, under regulations promulgated by the Board of Directors. |
Noting item #3 of the document (highlighted in the sketch with the red circle), the 1945 Board had the original vision for swimming and playground pools to be located on the golf and "new" tennis campus. They even called for a barbecue pit in the drawing itself.
Fast forward to 2013, when the RSF Golf Board enlisted the help of the Association Board to survey member satisfaction and find ways to increase their declining golf club membership. The Golf Board hired an industry leading consultant (ClubMark Partners) to provide direction. Their main recommendation to increase membership was to add the top three amenities desired by those joining clubs today: 1) a health club, 2) pool and 3) casual dining. National surveys echoed Clubmark's local findings at the RSF Golf Club, with the 2014 McMahon Report showing that private clubs that added health centers, casual dining, and pools, experienced increases in overall golf and tennis memberships. Per the report, such an increase would enhance the overall vitality of these key community assets.
Fast forward to 2013, when the RSF Golf Board enlisted the help of the Association Board to survey member satisfaction and find ways to increase their declining golf club membership. The Golf Board hired an industry leading consultant (ClubMark Partners) to provide direction. Their main recommendation to increase membership was to add the top three amenities desired by those joining clubs today: 1) a health club, 2) pool and 3) casual dining. National surveys echoed Clubmark's local findings at the RSF Golf Club, with the 2014 McMahon Report showing that private clubs that added health centers, casual dining, and pools, experienced increases in overall golf and tennis memberships. Per the report, such an increase would enhance the overall vitality of these key community assets.
The local RSF real estate brokerage community supported the national reports in commenting that having such a facility would enhance the desirability of living in the Covenant and potentially improve our community’s real estate values. They pointed to a recent study by 1st American Title which found that over the past 10 years, property values have increased in The Bridges by 12.9% while decreasing in the Covenant by 16.7% (2014).
To explore the possibility of the additional community amenities, and to rectify the membership declines in both golf and tennis, the Association Board established the Health Club Steering Committee in 2014.
To explore the possibility of the additional community amenities, and to rectify the membership declines in both golf and tennis, the Association Board established the Health Club Steering Committee in 2014.