Club Business

This was an open email to Julie Gorman and the Thunderbird Committee.

Greetings Julie,

Thank you for your response to my last email regarding the Thunderbird proposal, and for the detailed video presentation you shared—we watched it this morning and appreciate the time and clarity you brought to the plan.

Please simply acknowledge receipt of this message—no further explanation is needed. I only want to ensure that my position is on record and that my comments are heard by the committee.

Courtney Meredith shared with me that Haig Point currently has 339 total members: 255 with Signature Golf memberships and 84 with Signature Club (non-golf) memberships. That means non-golfing members represent approximately 24.5% of the membership—yet not a single Signature Club member is on either the Thunderbird or Phoenix committees. I find that deeply disappointing.

Tom Donohoe, a golfer, serves on both committees. We all know Tom’s longstanding push for a golf course overhaul, as seen in the previously failed golf assessment vote. These committees appear stacked with golfers aligned with the Rees Jones agenda.

That vote was unsuccessful, and the Thunderbird proposal seems like a repackaging of that same plan.

When Diane and I joined Haig Point just a few years ago, we were Signature Club Member #24. There are now 84 Signature Club members, while golf memberships have declined to 255—even after the closures of Melrose and Bloody Point.

Based on current numbers, the $14 million proposal to renovate the Signature and Osprey courses would translate to roughly $47,138 for Golf Members and $23,569 for Club Members. The only clear benefit being offered to Club Members appears to be the hope of increased property values.

Thunderbird also includes a new fitness facility—but not until 2031. Delaying that improvement for another six years does not address the present-day needs of non-golfing members. Accelerating the fitness center timeline is not just a gesture to Club Members—it’s a strategic investment in attracting and retaining members who prioritize lifestyle and wellness.

If the goal is to earn support from Signature Club Members, they need to be offered something more substantial than a pickleball court in Year 1. A meaningful benefit must be delivered upfront—not postponed into the next decade.

Here’s my suggestion: Haig Point needs a very good golf course—not a “world-class” one—especially with declining golf participation. If members want world-class golf, Hilton Head offers plenty of options.

For Thunderbird to gain broad support, both Club and Golf Members must benefit. I would support a revised plan that includes the fitness center as a unified line item alongside the golf course renovations, rather than pushing it years into the future.

Let’s focus on creating a high-quality living experience for all Haig Point members.

Sincerely, Darryl Nabors