With the apparent overwhelming support of golf members, a five-year capital improvement plan has passed at Rio Verde Country Club.

The vote was held during May and the club teller committee certified that ballots were cast by 78 percent of those eligible and, of those, 88 percent supported the plan.

“I want to thank all Rio Verde Country Club’s voting members for passing this vote,” RVCC President Herb Kahler said in a statement to members.

“Having a well-funded capital plan will help ensure a healthy future for the club and our community.

“Being able to maintain and improve our primary assets, the golf courses and clubhouse will not only enhance our club experience, but will help attract new members.”

Beginning July 1 this year club members will begin to pay capital dues in the amount of $50 for full members, $35 for individual members, $25 for limited members and $0 for Pioneer members.

Members will begin seeing the results of this vote almost immediately. Crews will begin early this month to install new sprinkler heads on both the Quail Run and White Wing golf courses.

More than 30 members stepped forward to assist with the irrigation upgrades to expedite the project and provide a significant savings to the club.

Later in June the club will post plans for a landscaping element to the improvements.

That plan will remove 15 acres of turf areas that do not come into golf play. Members will be asked to comment on the plans to assure that play will not be adversely impacted for all levels of golfers.

Converting areas to desert landscaping will involve removing the turf, putting in aggregate granite and installing drip irrigation for desert landscape plants.

Homeowners are invited to participate with the club on this project.

The club will be posting plans, photos and project updates on www.rioverde.com throughout the summer months.

Also this summer extensive aerification and planting of Bermuda grass will be done in areas that have been too compacted to grow grass. The irrigation storage lakes will also be metered to determine if there is leakage.

Another project planned for this summer is the installation of a nine-hole executive golf course. This will likely be built on the back nine of the Quail Run course due to easy access.

Rio Verde Head Golf Professional Darryl Janisse, PGA, said the executive course will have new tee boxes installed as opposed to other practices that involve simply mowing a tee site along the fairway. He said the course would be rated.

A Rio Verde Country Club member has stepped up to pay the entire cost of installing the new forward tees.

“We are so grateful for this member’s generosity,” Kahler said. “Having an executive course will help our older members enjoy golf longer and help new golfers learn the game.”

During the current year there are plans to spend about $70,000 on improvements at the clubhouse. In an effort to keep the clubhouse inviting and welcoming it is expected the club will invest $700,000 in the facility over the next five years.

The club is seeking voluntary contributions to make the clubhouse improvements a reality. Estimates are that it will require $50,000 a year for five years to provide an additional $250,000.

Golf members are being asked to contribute extra each month to help raise the additional $50,000 a year. Pioneer and social members are also encouraged to donate to the capital fund. Social members may designate their contribution for clubhouse improvements.