Santa Lucia Preserve Magazine - Premier Issue

summer issue 2011

preservet h e s a n t a l u c i a

Premier Issue 2011

2 | S a n t a L u c i a P r e s e r v e . c o m

S a n t a L u c i a P r e s e r v e . c o m | 3

Welcome from Tony Dawson

Welcome to our premier edition of The Preserve Lifestyle magazine. We would like to share with

you many of the unique qualities and wonderful aspects of this place we call home!

I’m often asked what makes the Santa Lucia Preserve so special. There are the tangibles, of course; the extraordinary natural beauty of the land. The Conservancy, an independent conservation trust, established to manage and protect the

lands in perpetuity. Our rich and diverse amenities, including over 100 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails woven through the hills and valleys. And our wildlife; everything from bobcats and boar to wild turkeys and red tails hawks, even an occasional golden eagle. Yet for me, it’s the intangibles that set The Preserve apart from all other communities. It begins with the people in our community, the multi-generational families that love to spend time here. Spring and summer are an exciting time because it’s our most active season. From now through Labor Day, both The Ranch Club and The Preserve Golf Club transform into a playground. Water slides, archery, s’mores on the beach at Moore’s Lake, camping adventures under the stars; we have it all at this time of year. Members and their families are limited only by their imagination and how much time they can spend connecting with one another and having fun. The friendships formed here are unique. Several members have told me that the number of friends they’ve made in our community, over a short period of time, far exceed the number of acquaintances they have made over the course of their careers. Many of these friendships extend well beyond The Preserve. There are ski trips to the Rockies, overseas golf trips, and it all happens organically. I’d also like to call special attention to our staff. It’s quite unusual for the members of a community like ours to embrace and care for the staff like their own family, yet here they do. The members truly want to rub shoulders with the people who serve the owners and members of The Preserve, get to know them and truly care about their families and their future. It’s one more intangible that makes this 18th-century California ranch a very special place.

Tony R. Dawson Chief Executive Officer Santa Lucia Preserve


Publisher & Creative DirectorZack Bates

Contributing EditorBrian mcCallen

Staff ContributorsTony Dawson, CeO

ron Haas, ranch Club General manager

John Pietro, Director of Golf

Cory isom, Golf Course superintendant

Valerie Hill, Communications manager

Kris mcAulay, Preserve Land Company

Photography ContributionsJoann Dost, David Wescott, Christine Bush

Custom Publishing & Design

www.clubandresortpublishing.com180 Newport Center Drive, suite 151

Newport Beach, California 92660

Magazine Media Kit Inquiries949.644.5616

[email protected]

Santa Lucia Preserve, its owners and partners are not liable for claims made by any advertisers or any inaccuracies or intentional copyright infringements. © Private Club Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Club Membership InquiriesPreserve Golf Club & ranch Club

831.620.6872

Community Real Estate SalesPreserve Land Company

831.620.6762

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08 Santa Lucia Preserve The Living Legacy

14 The Golf ExperienceA Tom Fazio coursehonoring nature

20 Golf Club Traditions

Traditions of the past mark today’s milestones

22 A Modest Manifesto Building environmentally sensitive homes

30 Legacy A family retreat for generations

34 Summer at the Ranch A 1920’s ranch in the heart of the community

44 Summer Camp Camps run throughout the summer

46 Club Activities Upcoming club events

Featured


The Santa Lucia Preserve™ is the largest private land holding in Monterey County. It encompasses 20,000 acres, or approximately 31 square miles of land. The Preserve is about one-and-a-half times the size of the island of Manhattan, which is home to 1.5 million people, and is roughly equal to the size of the entire Carmel Valley, which has about 6,000 homes. The Preserve will be home to 300 families. These numbers and comparisons are important as a way to show how rare it is to be surrounded with large stretches of uninhabited land in its natural state. Emotional peace, physical security and natural beauty are, for many, the foundation of an ideal quality of life. The very nature of this sanctuary is the timeless, irreplaceable legacy that everyone associated with the Santa Lucia Preserve is dedicated to nurturing and protecting.

Santa Lucia Preserve:

The Living Legacy


The Hispanic PeriodThe Spanish explorer, Sebastian Viscaino, sailed into Monterey Bay in 1602, thus becoming the first European to have contact with the Native American community of the Rumsen. These indigenous people had lived in the Carmel Valley region for thousands of years utilizing the varied plant and animal life for their substance. Archaeologists have identified several sites associated with the Rumsen on the lands of Santa Lucia Preserve. With the founding of Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo and the Presidio of Monterey in 1770, a Spanish presence was finally established in the area. In addition to its program of converting the Indians, the Mission also controlled the adjoining lands.

Mexican independence in 1821 and the secularization of the missions in 1834 opened the former mission lands to settlement. Large tracts of land were granted to Mexican citizens, as well as certain Indians, by the government as a reward for service. The 20,000 acres that comprise The Santa Lucia Preserve were originally part of two Mexican land grants. The first, El Potrero de San Carlos (Pastures of Saint Charles), was given by Governor Juan Alvarado in 1837 to Fructuoso Del Real, a Mission Indian. He cultivated a portion of the land, kept about seventy horses and five or six hundred head of cattle. Fructuoso built an adobe house where he lived with his wife, Ignancia and three daughters. Some years after her husband’s death,

Ignacia conveyed her interest to her son-in-law, Joaquin Gutierrez. By the time the land was patented in 1862 to Gutierrez, the 4,307 acres had already been sold to a group of Americans. This was a common occurrence in the history of California land ownership. Because of the long, protracted and expensive process of establishing claim to the land, the original owners were often forced to sell property before legal title had even been established at prices well below its worth (Robinson 1948). The other grant, San Francisquito (little St. Francis), was made to Dona Catalina Manzanellide Munras, wife of Esteban Munras, in 1835. Munras arrived in Monterey in 1830 and served as alcalde in 1837 and occupied the land with his wife. Munras


application to study.” Young Bradley took up the practice of law and was elected District Attorney of Monterey County in 1890 (Guin 1903).The restorative powers of the ranch were also at work in the case of a famous visitor to the area in 1879. Author Robert Louis Stevenson found himself on the San Francisquito, having come on what his family considered a fool’s errand. He had fallen in love with Frances Osborne, who was not only ten years his senior, but was married and the mother of two children. He borrowed money to journey from his home in Scotland to meet her in Monterey. Once there, Stevenson found that Frances was unwilling to discuss divorce from her husband in spite of previous correspondence to the contrary. With the cold fog torturing his lungs, short on funds, and, with the relationship suddenly in doubt, Stevenson started up Carmel Valley to escape the coastal weather and perhaps seek some peace in the open country. As night fell, Stevenson found himself with no food or proper clothing and later remembered little except falling into a feverish stupor and hearing the sound of bells. The bells, it turned out, belonged to goats owned by an old bear hunter named Jonathan Wright who lived with his family on land along San Clemente Creek. The family made a living by keeping bees, maintaining a small vineyard and peach orchard and by raising Angora goats. Wright brought the unconscious Stevenson to his cabin and for the next three weeks, nursed the ailing author back to health. Biographers have written that this incident and the author’s close brush with death convinced the wavering Mrs. Osborne to finally agree to a divorce from her husband and to marry Stevenson (Nickerson 1982, Osborne 1911).

had about six hundred head of cattle, one hundred horses and raised wheat and barley. The land changed hands several times between 1842 and 1853 and, when finally patented in 1862 to Jose Abrego, the grant consisted of 8,814 acres (U.S. Land Commission 1852-1892B). Although there are no standing structures associated with this time, archaeologists have located remains of adobes that appear to be from the period.

The SargentsJames Sargent, one of four brothers who came to California from New England during the gold rush, purchased Rancho el Potrero de San Carlos in 1857 from the Americans who had acquired it from Gutierrez. He eventually acquired the adjoining land, which included Rancho San Francisquito. While the brothers had originally tried their hands at mining, like many emigrants, they discovered that there was more money to be had in land speculations and cattle ranching than in panning for gold. The four settled first in San Joaquin County, formed a stock business and acquired over 30,000 acres. Soon they owned an additional 12,000 acres in Santa Clara County and nearly 35,000 acres in Monterey County.Bradley Sargent, with his wife Julia Flynn of Boston, made their home at the ranch and produced four children. Sargent showed an early interest in Monterey County politics and served on the Board of Supervisors from 1862 to 1865. He was then elected to the State Senate representing San Benito and Monterey Counties. According to one historical account, his son, Bradley, Jr. returned to the ranch after receiving a law degree at Yale in order to recover his health, which was lost through “severe


George Gordon MooreIn 1924, George Gordon Moore purchased the ranch from the heirs of Bradley Sargent, now the Santa Lucia Preserve. The Ranch Club Hacienda on the San Francisquito flat is the result of Moore’s effort. The origins and early life of Moore are something of a mystery and he apparently worked diligently to keep it that way. He was rumored to be the bastard son of English royalty, a story he would neither confirm nor deny. The source of his wealth was likewise mysterious, although according to his account, he was involved in the securities market in England before World War I (Moore 1963). Moore was able to indulge his passion for hunting and built himself a lodge with six bedrooms and bathrooms having the first bath tubs, he contended, in that part of the state. Through one of his acquaintances in Kent, England, he learned about wild boar hunting and imported from Russia three boar and nine sows which he bred in profusion. Like entrepreneurs all over the United States at the turn of the century, Moore was able to indulge in any number of expensive fantasies in addition to boar hunting. He and his friends attempted to outdo each other in extravagance by

erecting enormous monuments to themselves including lavish productions commissioned by the Crockers, the Ralstons and most notably William Randolph Hearst (Starr 1973). In spite of what many consider its excess, the result was a movement to glorify and romanticize California’s Hispanic roots. The recreation of a mythical land of swashbuckling “Spanish Don’s” was especially popular with some of the State’s most wealthy businessmen. And, the relatively inexpensive cost of California land made it possible to purchase thousands of acres and to live the life of the gentleman rancher with all of the luxuries of modern life and none of the disadvantages that real ranch life presented in the past (Starr 1990). George Gordon Moore had his own version of the California ranch “packed with luxury” (Cooper 1985). Immediately after purchasing the ranch in 1924, Moore instituted a major building project including a home site, dam, artificial lake and polo field, (Cozzens and Moore 1924). The house, while more Spanish eclectic than pure Spanish Colonial Revival in style, nonetheless exemplifies the desire of “gentleman ranchers” to create the ambiance of Hispanic rancho with its centerpiece “Hacienda” or “Casa Grande.”


Reflecting Moore’s other interests, however, this “Grand House” was equipped with a polo field, which played host to visiting polo teams from all over the world. The whack of polo balls was often the first sound heard in the morning and visitors outfitted in Western riding regales would spend their days roaming the hills and redwoods. Elaborate barbecues and parties entertained the movie stars, chorus girls and other assorted guests who were perpetually in attendance (Cooper 1985, Rice 1992).

The OppenheimersArthur C. Oppenheimer, a San Franciscan who owned the Rosenberg Fruit Company among many other enterprises, bought the property in 1939. One of Oppenheimer’s interests was sailing and at Alameda Yacht Club he met George King, steward at the Club where he impressed members with his ability to repair piers, boats, and whatever else needed fixing. He once confided in Oppenheimer that he would really like to be a rancher. According to King, one day Oppenheimer greeted him with the words, “George, I’ve bought you a ranch” (Nickerson 1990). Under King’s management, Rancho San Carlos once again became a working cattle ranch as it had in the days before George Gordon Moore. Brush was cleared to grow oats and hay and eventually the herd, primarily Herefords, grew to 1,000 head of cattle with about 100 bulls. For nearly forty-five years, Rancho San Carlos became known for producing quality beef. Arthur Oppenheimer, although he did not live at the Ranch, took an active interest in it and when he died in the late 1940s, he requested that his ashes be buried there. Later, when Arthur Oppenheimer II took over the ranch, it became a weekend retreat for graduation parties and special occasions for the extended Oppenheimer family (Blount 1991).During the time that George Gordon Moore owned Rancho San Carlos, starlets and chorus girls came to enjoy lavish parties and to play. In the Oppenheimer years, however, members of the entertainment industry who came there did so to work. During the 1960’s, the ranch was the setting for a weekly TV series called Lancer. Commercials were made there and it was a scene in a number of films including Woody Allen’s Sleeper. The appearance of celebrities delighted the resident staff, who enjoyed getting glimpses of their favorite stars (Blount 1991).

The Santa Lucia PreserveIn 1990, after a half-century of ownership, the Oppenheimer family sold Rancho San Carlos, intact, to Tom Gray and Peter Stocker and their partners. Tom Gray went on to found the Santa Lucia Preserve with his partners Don Wilcoxon, Dave Howerton and Lisa Guthrie. They shared a desire to maintain the integrity of the serene ranching experience this land has offered since the early 19th century. From five years of scientific studies of the land came a resource-based plan to sustain its character in perpetuity while providing an extraordinary quality of life for those who choose to settle there and make the Santa Lucia Preserve a part of their own family legacy. A model was developed that balanced human settlement with sustainable biological conservation. The undertaking was guided by sound science and collaborating conservation organizations. The result was a community of 300 families who are committed to supporting the conservation values upon which The Preserve was founded. The Santa Lucia Conservancy, an independent non-profit land trust, uses its $25,000,000 endowment to guard and manage the 90 percent of the Preserve’s 20,000 acres of California Central Coast landscape, which have been set aside in perpetuity as wildlife habitat. The Santa Lucia Preserve has become an established, dynamic, responsive, and stable community, creating a legacy for future generations. As envisioned from the onset, the Clubs are now member owned and governed. The families within the Preserve community embrace and uphold the established Vision, Values and Mission as a guidepost for future generations.



Nestled into a vast 19th-century Rancho, The Preserve Golf Club may be the most low-key luxury golf course in America. The layout is settled lightly across the Carmel landscape. First into the meadows, then over the savannahs and into the hills. A field of lupines here, a stand of redwoods there. At The Preserve, the holes were dropped where they were meant to fall. Inseparable from nature, the golf course, covering 750 acres within the 20,000-acre envelope, appears to have grown out of the earth over the centuries.

Designed by Tom Fazio, The Preserve Golf Course has no ‘signature’ holes or even a trademark style. Free of caprice and gingerbread, there is nothing on the course to clamor for attention or compete with the site’s natural grandeur. “The entire place is a signature piece of property,” Fazio says.

The GolfExperience


At 7,067 yards from the back tees (par 72), the course is not long by modern standards, yet by only consulting the scorecard visiting players often misjudge The Preserve’s intrinsic challenge. The rolling terrain’s natural defenses were expertly harnessed by Fazio to defend par. As first-timers soon discover, the course plays tougher than it looks. This is especially true on the greens, which are intricately contoured or subtly tilted. Sometimes both. A few have false fronts that repel timid approaches. All are very speedy.

Even the area’s most ardent environmentalists have marveled at the club’s eco-friendly approach to course maintenance, starting with the ingenious irrigation system. Water is drawn in one-

third increments from tertiary treated water sources, non-potable wells and from water recaptured off the course itself. This water is directed to holding ponds and later used on the fairways.

Superintendent Cory Isom strives to maintain playing surfaces that rival those found on a seaside links. Frequent aerification results in firm, fast conditions that accentuate ground contours and invite bump-and-run shots. “We have the best grass-growing conditions imaginable here at The Preserve,” Isom says. “We have an ideal maritime climate at 1,500 feet, we reap all of the positive ocean influences without any of the bad effects.” Beyond the ineluctable challenge presented by The Preserve, which


climbed to No. 68 on Golf Digest’s recent list of ‘America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,’ Director of Golf, John Pietro, believes the club’s enduring appeal is tied to its ambience. “When you drive through the front entrance, you’re on ‘Preserve’ time,” he says. “We have no fountain of youth here, but the atmosphere is so casual and relaxing, it adds years to your life.” With approximately 11,000 rounds played annually, a fraction of the number recorded at nearby Pebble Beach, Pietro and his staff are able to personalize their interactions with members and guests, ensuring a memorable experience.

After the round, golfers retreat to a clubhouse set on an oak-studded knoll. Designed by the renowned firm of Hart | Howerton, it offers a living commentary on California architecture, as if several generations of historic structures were organically linked together. Blessed with a view both dramatic and serene, the Clubhouse offers unmatched space for casual lunches, more formal dinners and, of course, a round at the bar after a round of golf. Seasoned players have commented that the transition from fairway to terrace is as seamless at The Preserve as any club in the nation.




The Preserve Golf Club is defined by a number of traditions. Women members invite their friends to compete in their foursome for the Ladies’ Round Up. Men likewise pick a partner to join the competition of The Boar Hunt.

Winners are awarded silver “cowboy” trophy buckles. The top team is selected by a horse-race in which teams from each flight compete with one eliminated on each hole until only one team remains. The names of these players are engraved on the base of a trophy supporting an 1890’s museum-quality Native American basket woven by a California tribe. The historic bell that once summoned firefighters on the Old Rancho now spreads word of a rare Hole in One and free drinks at the bar. Ceremonial tees carved from fallen redwoods mark each Members’ unforgettable first round, which are then incorporated into a sculpture, The Terribly Twisted Tee, created by artists Sam Hernandez, noted for his abstract work.

The Stocker Cup Invitational is held annually at The Preserve Golf Club in honor of original developer Tom Gray’s late partner, Peter Stocker. The Stocker Cup is patterned after the famous AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Rather than professional golfers, fifty nationally ranked amateurs from around the country are paired with invited guests for three rounds with the top 25 amateurs playing on for a fourth round. Trophies are awarded to an individual amateur champion and a team champion. The Stocker Cup is a qualifying tournament for selection on the Walker Cup. It attracts the top amateur players from across the country and has become one of the most sought after invitations in amateur golf.

Golf Club Traditions


In the Santa Lucia Preserve, roads bend around the tawny haunches of lion colored grasses and under stands of mature sycamore, oak and pine. This is Northern California as it appeared to the first settlers. The rolling land with soft hills and valleys is undisturbed by signs or shops. Soft sunlight filters through mists rising from the Pacific Ocean. Expansive, unpopulated and unspoiled. Just looking at it raises the question; ‘How do you build a house in such a place?’ The struggle between nature and culture is the perennial subject of architecture. The historian Vincent Scully proposed that architecture is essentially the reflection of humanity’s response to the natural world. While Native Americans may have seen man’s role as integrated with nature, the history of

Western architecture from the Greeks and Romans through the Enlightenment often reflects man’s efforts to establish order in an unpredictable environment. By the middle of the nineteenth century, however, nature had come to be perceived as a paradise about to be lost. Architects responded with buildings that celebrated the environment. Inspired by Louis Sullivan, they started conceiving organically oriented buildings that were appropriate to their place and to their residents. The notion of living in harmony with nature is interwoven with the very origins of the Santa Lucia Preserve as a sacred Indian territory. The Preserve’s Design Review Board is charged with maintaining this respect for the land, even as it is being settled. As Preserve patrons become custodians of the land, they

A Modest Manifesto of the Santa Lucia Preserve


are encouraged to hire architects to build their homes, specifically architects who will be sensitive to the spectacular surroundings. San Francisco’s revered early twentieth century architect, Bernard Maybeck said, “This is something bigger and more worthwhile than the things we see about us, the things we live by and strive for. There is an undiscovered beauty, a divine excellence, just beyond us. Let us stand on tiptoe, forgetting the nearer things and grasp what we may.” Maybeck, like the Greene and Greene brothers of Pasadena, embraced the philosophy and skill of the Arts and Crafts movement. Their homes established continuity between interior and exterior spaces and a refinement of proportion and detail. They are among California’s select but important roster of architects who built with awareness and integrity. In fact, the seeds of contemporary California style can be seen in the early twentieth century Spanish-style mansions of Wallace Neff or Julia Morgan; the rustic ranch houses of Cliff May; the tasteful modernity of Frank Lloyd Wright. These architects have passed into history but they worked in California when much of it still resembled the countryside of The Preserve. Their sensibilities fit seamlessly into the landscape of the present. A landowner in The Preserve would want to seek out an architect who respects the principles and aesthetics of such predecessors while developing a personal style. The architectural vocabulary need not be slavishly historic but to draw from the past for what works best today. The architect derives his ideas from tradition, adhering to the basic principles and respecting the larger community while constructing a unique and individual structure.

Barry Sloane, Director of Historic and Architecturally Significant Properties at Sotheby’s International Realty, says, “Architectural properties always sell at a premium. The minimum increase is ten percent in a flat market and in a good market, more. It means that you have a house with close to perfectly scaled and proportioned rooms, that are a pleasure to live in and easy to resell. Plus, for people who have not lived in an architecturally-designed house, the quality of life in a house custom-designed by a good architect means that one will spend decades living at a higher level. Every day, one will be surrounded by a shelter of great beauty, which is an experience like no other. “Unique people should have unique solutions,” he adds. “Not an off the rack home but bespoke, made to measure, like the best suits, and for the same reason; they are longer lasting, better looking, and a good value. It is a good financial investment, but also an investment in your quality of life.” The floor plan is just one aspect of an architectural property. At The Preserve, the architect must begin with the site, not the floor plan. The site may be adjacent to the golf course, down by the equestrian center or up on a hilltop



with views of the bay. One wants to find an architect who, regardless of style, respects the land and the context. Within a stylistic framework, a good architect will make decisions of distinction, such as choosing to nestle a house into a cranny instead of piling it up on a ridgeline, to arrange the mass of a large house in a way that adds pleasant and varied spaces. Miraculously intact after two centuries, the legacy of The Preserve can be maintained and enhanced by those who have studied the best solutions to the development of form in space – architects who are credited for their work, published, and lauded by their peers. Wright believed that if mankind were set into the fabric of nature, he would respond positively and grow spiritually. Unparalleled in exclusivity and value; The Preserve deserves the best architecture, just as a masterpiece painting deserves a well-appointed room or a gourmet meal deserves a great wine. Homes of architectural distinction can only enhance The Preserve’s legacy for future generations. In short, the investment in an architectural home pays off in terms of its value at resale, in terms of the enhanced value of the larger community and, most importantly, in terms of emotional and spiritual wellbeing, the vital investment in self.


Two Rocks

The residence of Two Rocks was designed to be integrated with nature, taking full advantage of sweeping views,

rolling terrain, landmark oak locations, sun orientation, water flow, and coastal northwest breezes on this breathtaking

property. The result allows for multiple areas of enjoyment throughout the day, including a front courtyard with a huge

fireplace, a dining patio, and a west facing view deck, great for enjoying sunsets over the Preserve. The thoughtful

design also results in efficient low maintenance living. One gets the feeling that the home has always been here - a

feeling enhanced by the subtle combination of the California Ranch Style and the high quality European construction

materials. Two Rocks is conveniently located just a few minutes from all Preserve amenities.

integrated with nature


$6,990,000

4 Bedrooms. 4 Full Baths and 2 Half Baths

Al Sneeden | John Buttemiller | Kris McAulay

831.620.6762



16 San Clemente Trail

Impeccable contemporary architecture masterfully sited

on 13 serene acres featuring landmark oaks with San

Clemente Creek naturally bordering three sides of the

property . The home is designed in an H-shape, framing

two central courtyards, which form part of a landscape

path that moves from hilltop to stream. The design concept

weaves building mass within the woodland environment

into one composition, framing views of the landscape

both near and far. The master suite is the only bedroom

in the main residence, while two full guest suites and a

sitting room are located in the detached guest quarters.

Two sets of massive sliding glass doors in the living and

dining rooms create true seamless indoor-outdoor living.

Designed by renowned architect Moore Ruble Yudell.

Seamless Indoor OutdoorContemporary Living

$4,200,000

3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths


831.620.6762



Legacy Every once in a rare while, history and geography conspire to produce a phenomenon like the Santa Lucia Preserve. Where a pristine, 19th century California landscape can be assured of remaining that way forever. Where a fast disappearing way of life can be nurtured and reinterpreted for the 21st century. And where the families and values that define a community are able to flourish unthreatened for generations to come. Today, a timeless landscape and vibrant community are drawing families to the Santa Lucia Preserve. If you share a devotion to the land, and a desire to live at a less accelerated pace, we invite you to slow down, reset your inner clock, and join us on Preserve Time.




Ronald Haas, general manager at the Ranch Club, puts his finger on how The Preserve is able to serve the summer needs of its members so well. It comes

down to geographic serendipity. “Robinson Canyon effectively divides the Ranch Club and the Golf Club into separate realms,” Haas explains. “The Preserve functions as two clubs within one community. The Ranch Club is first and foremost a family club. The dress code is casual and any ranch, jeans are a staple. We’ve found that kids and grandkids really like coming to The Preserve.” The younger set can play soccer, golf or saddle up a horse as part of the summer-long ‘sneaks, cleats and boots’ camp. As The Preserve’s social and activities hub, the Ranch Club offers a diverse array of recreational amenities. There are, for example, five pools that appeal to every taste, from a water slide for kids to an adults-only pool at the Hacienda.

Summer at the Ranch


Pointing to the functionality of the Club’s facilities, Haas says, “A lot of thought was put into what was built here many years ago. We have stayed true to what the original infrastructure intended.”

The Hacienda, built in 1924, has an undeniable timeless charm. There are very few communities in America that have a landmark building with the character of the Hacienda. The Ranch Club offers nine guest suites in the Hacienda and seven guest suites in the Ranch House. For many members, the decision to join the club is often made on the Hacienda’s outdoor courtyard beneath the madrone trees. On a cool starlit night, there can’t be a finer place in the state to savor a taste of Old California. The Ranch Club’s equestrian program adheres to the time-honored vaquero style hospitality. “What’s interesting here is the amount of cross-over between riding styles,” Haas observes. “The English-style riders join in cattle sorting, while the Western-style riders do jumps or participate in simulated ‘mock hunts.’ It’s very rare in the equestrian world for these two styles to interact, but here they do.” Once the warmth of summer arrives, members are free to cruise the club’s 18-acre lake in a canoe, kayak, paddle boat or row boat. The lake is home to bass and trout; a catch-and-release program is in place. There’s camping on the lake’s sandy beach, with more secluded campsites

located in Portuguese Spring and Halls Ridge. Everything from storytelling around a campfire to in-tent massages can be arranged. In addition to a complimentary continental breakfast offered daily in the Hacienda, a full a la carte breakfast is available on weekends during the summer. Superb multi-course dinners are served seven days a week. Carlton Lepine, The Preserve’s long-time executive chef, is a proponent of innovative fresh and seasonal cuisine accented by local influences. He cultivates herbs and vegetables in a community garden where members are invited to “grow their own” and attend the chef ’s monthly garden discussions throughout the summer. With Salinas a mere 35 miles from Carmel, “We’re in the salad bowl of the nation,” Haas says. “We try to take advantage of local ingredients, from local sand dabs to fresh-picked lettuce.” The Club makes creative use of its facilities when the occasion arises. The croquet lawn at the Sports Center, for example, converts to a grass tennis court for the Fourth of July weekend to coincide with the renowned Wimbledon tennis championship.

A lot of thought was put into what was built here many years ago.


In July, the Midsummer Night’s Dream, staged in the Redwood Grove, featured the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, a band comprised of 20 of the most talented high school jazz musicians from around the nation. It’s The Preserve’s way of paying tribute to the Monterey Jazz Festival, one of the world’s longest-running jazz events. In August, the club presents The Preserve Concours, a relaxed, low-key version of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Members bring their own vintage cars just for fun. Fun, and lots of it, defines a typical summer idyll at The Preserve.


Walk down a trail and across a creek to the enchanted Redwood Grove for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a fashionable evening of cocktails, live music and dinner. As was first hosted by George Gordon Moore in the 1940s, an amphitheatre is set up in a circle of 100-foot redwoods, where musicians play classical and jazz compositions. At twilight, candles are lit on elegantly dressed dinner tables, and in the soft light, a stylish wait staff serves a gourmet meal on silver trays. The otherwise quiet Redwood Grove fills with conversation and laughter. This enchanted summer evening under the redwood spires is one of the most memorable annual Ranch Club events. In 2011, The Preserve welcomed the talented Dance Kids of Monterey Peninsula and the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream


Old California’s horsemen and women were reported in 1840 by Richard Henry Dana as the world’s finest riders. Competition among them was friendly, fierce and festive. The more elaborate the costume and more complex the riding technique, the greater was the chance of renown within the small Monterey community. The Ranch Club carries on these Vaquero traditions at the Equestrian Center, but in a less competitive, but no less friendly, environment that is open to all riding disciplines. The Equestrian Center is a rustic, handsomely designed full-service facility that welcomes both

Equestrian Traditions

newcomers and the most accomplished riders alike. Top-flight instruction is offered and gentle trail horses suited to all skill levels are available. The Equestrian Center offers three center aisle barns with 30 owner stalls, a 150 by 260 foot main arena, a regulation dressage arena, a training round pen, an exercise track and a dozen irrigated pastures for daily turnout. Full board is offered with daily care, exercise and 24-hour attention. A trail system stretches over 100 miles reaching the Ranch’s most remote and scenic corners.



spring festival The 2011 Annual Family Spring Festival drew in quite a crowd. Members and their families were delighted to see their children light up at the sight of so many activities. With nearly 100 in attendance, children enjoyed the petting zoo, pony rides, carnival games and slides. The Easter Bunny arrived just in time to lead the crowd to the event lawns for an Easter Hunt where over 1,000 stuffed eggs were hunted like prized treasures.



Bienes Ver Grande

Experience an unmatched combination of spectacular views of

the Preserve golf course and Santa Lucia Mountains, the highest

quality craftmanship and architecture, and a desirable location

near all Preserve amenities. This Spanish style hacienda estate

is perched high on a 60-acre hilltop with sweeping 360-degree

views of the majestic Preserve landscape.

$8,750,000

8 Bedrooms, 9 Baths


831.620.6762



Summer Camps at

The PreserveThe children of the Preserve are very excited about all three summer camps, running June through August. The Preserve Camp Counselors pride themselves on providing a fun, supportive environment and bring enthusiasm and excitement to the program.


Sneaks, Cleats & Boots Camp

This is a mixed-activities camp for children aged 5 - 11, consisting of equestrian, tennis, soccer, golf, boating, hiking, Zumba, creative arts and crafts and more! All the activities are fun, educational and discovery-oriented. A favorite activity during the session is a hike to Moore’s Lake to picnic, fish and play games. Campers will have the opportunity to learn about the natural history and ecology of The Preserve through bird-watching, track identification and the history of the Rumsen tribe.

Golf Summer Camp

In this four-day camp, the golf professional staff works with children aged 5 - 11 to develop skills and improve their overall understanding of the game. Activities for campers are specially-selected based on age and skill level, focusing on: teeing-off, putting, chipping, club selection, golf course care, and rules and etiquette.

“Taking the Reins” Equestrian Camp

This exciting four-day Equestrian Summer Camp allows children aged 7 - 14 to learn about all aspects of horses, with lots of hands-on experience. Daily activities include proper care and grooming, anatomy, roping, games, crafts, and of course, plenty of time in the saddle!


August Golf Events

Summer Member/Member

All Preserve Golf Club members join in the competition and camaraderie of the Summer Member/Member Tournament. Teams are determined by a blind draw, allowing everyone to enjoy the atmosphere of The Preserve on a beautiful summer day without the stress of searching for a partner. Preserve Golf Club Championship

The Club Championship is a three day Match Play event where players are flighted by handicap and play individual match play for three rounds.

September Golf Events

Junior Golf Tournament

At this event, the golf staff provides a brief clinic to all the kids participating. The kids then participate in a 3 -5 hole tournament based on the number of kids and their ages. Rumsen Cup

Two teams, one comprised of members from the west half of The Preserve, and one from the east half, compete to claim the title in the Golf Club’s newest event. The perpetual trophy will be displayed in the Clubhouse, lending the winning team bragging rights for the rest of the year.

Wine Dinner at the Golf Club

This is an intimate evening celebrating food and wine at the Golf Club. A gourmet five course meal is expertly paired with wines from a local wine maker. The wine maker shares insight into the wine making process with each course. October Golf Events

Men’s Boar Hunt

This men’s invitational promises to be full of excitement as the teams battle it out to see who goes home with the coveted Boar Hunt Belt Buckle.

Preserve Golf Club Calendar


August Club Activities

Tennis Round Robin

Friends, family and neighbors enjoy a friendly doubles round robin format.

Lawn Games

An afternoon of Bocce Ball, Horse Shoes or Croquet.

Tacos and Ice Cream at the Polo Pools

A casual and fun filled evening for the whole family, pool side with an authentic Preserve Taco Bar. Preserve Concours & Cocktails

The Hacienda front lawn transforms into a car lover’s paradise where collectors, racers and enthusiasts have the opportunity to show off and admire unique and rare historical automobiles.

September Club Activities

Fandango Barn Dance

Cowboy hats and boots come out for the most anticipated Member event of the year! Dancing and bountiful Western BBQ wil be enjoyed by family, friends and neighbors.

Fandango Event

Reminiscent of the days of the Vaquero, the old rancho traditions come alive for competitors and spectators alike. Team penning, barrel racing, cattle working and trail obstacle competitions will be held throughout the day. Non-equestrians enjoy custom western boots, hats, vaquero tack, hand-crafted jewelry and blankets. There is also music of traditional Mariachis and Latin culinary celebration created by Chef Carlton and his team.

Labor Day BBQ & Lawn Games

Sunshine, sports, pool and BBQ. There is no better way to spend Labor Day!

Wine Dinner

In the intimate setting at the Golf Clubhouse, Chef Carlton Lepine works with the guest winemaker and Food and Beverage manager Ray LeMaire to pair creative cuisine and hand-selected wines with astounding results.

October Club Activities Cowboy BBQ & Chili Cook-off

An extravagant Old Style Rancher’s BBQ is hosted in the Redwood grove.

Ranch Club Calendar


Inspired by the ancient traditions of Persia.

Rooted in the modern expressions of California.

Visit our Website & Join our Wine Clubwww.FazeliCellars.com

1 (888) 5 FAZELI (329354) | [email protected]


Inspired by the ancient traditions of Persia.

Rooted in the modern expressions of California.

Documents

Santa Lucia Preserve Magazine - Premier Issue