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By: Michael Delemma

Resident Doug Frens as well as myself have had numerous emails and discussions with Mike Funk, Manager of ClubLink who oversees groundskeeping for the golf course and other areas. We have explained to him, in particular, that the area by the canal on White Oak Lane is Clublink’s responsibility to mow the grass, pull the weeds and trim the border of shrubs as needed.

Mr. Funk agreed to alert his crew that they should maintain that area. I even spoke to the groundskeeping crew about it when they were working on it two months ago, and they said that they were not aware that they were responsible for keeping the area mowed and trimmed, but now going forward, they would maintain it. They worked very hard on it and I even told them they were doing a great job. I thought our problem was solved. Unfortunately, the same situation arises month after month, they seem to neglect the area repeatedly.

When Doug spoke to Mike Funk about two weeks ago, he said he would tell his crew to go there and tidy it up again. Well, that was a few weeks ago and still nothing has been done.

Why do we have to beg and plead with Clublink to maintain an area that they know they are responsible for? If we allowed our property to become like that we would be fined by code enforcement. Why is Clublink exempt from the same rules that we must follow? Why is Clublink playing games with us? They know damn well they need to maintain certain areas and they are not doing it.

Other sections also have had complaints about neglected areas that they know they are responsible for. Clublink claims that their priorities are aimed toward maintaining the golf course and that we, the residents of the Woodlands, should be thankful that they even bought the club and course.

When I brought this situation to the attention of the WHOA, one board member simply stated that we would get nowhere with ClubLink. In another words, we are wasting our time by trying to get them to do anything unrelated to the golf course itself. What a shame that some feel that we should allow them to get away with this. This blatant neglect makes our community look like we don’t care about our property values, when in fact, it is not us the residents but a corporation that bought our club and golf course who clearly do not care about our community or our property values. If I were a prospective buyer looking for a home in the Woodlands and drove by these areas where there are weeds, high grass, and shrubs that are overgrown and riddled with weeds and vines, I would think to myself that this community has little pride in itself and I would look elsewhere. That is exactly what will happen if we allow Clublink to get away with this, with their excuse that they have “other priorities.”

The WHOA president is trying her best to solve this situation, but can we force the hand of Clublink alone? We need to send a clear message to the corporate office and let them know what is going on here and that we the residents of the Woodlands are not only disappointed, but extremely angry with ClubLink. We need to solve this problem quickly before these areas become even worse. It is not fair to Section 3 that we have to drive by this eyesore. It is unfair to any section that they have to put up with this nonsense, that a wealthy corporation like ClubLink, that has recently purchased other golf courses can’t keep small areas like this maintained. I see the groundskeepers mow right by the area, leaving the grass to grow higher and leaving the weed and vines to choke the other plantings. If Mr Funk is indeed telling them to maintain it, and they are not doing it, wouldn’t a boss get upset with them? It appears to me that he is passing the buck and blaming his crew.

This course of neglect by them, and pretense that they are not aware that they need to keep the area maintained is just a game that they are playing. Unfortunately, someone loses, and we need to make sure it is not us, by contacting the appropriate areas and letting our voices be heard.