Sun City West capital plan targets irrigation, greens and bowling equipment in roughly $5.6M package

Sun City West managers presented an approximately $5.6 million capital improvement program that includes new capital projects, repair-and-replacement work and several golf- and landscape-specific projects.

Why it matters: Capital work determines the association’s long-term asset condition and reserve demands. Managers said projects range from multi‑course irrigation upgrades to a planned replacement of aging bowling pinsetters; many items come from the association’s 1,400‑line-item reserve study.

Capital totals and categories: Capital projects identified in the presentation include about $440,000 of new capital work, roughly $1.9 million of repair-and-replacement items, approximately $2.7 million for golf and landscaping projects, and roughly $420,000 in allowances for unexpected capital needs. Managers said the total places the program in the mid-single‑million-dollar range for the coming fiscal year.

Irrigation and turf: Environmental services manager Todd Patty described golf irrigation work as among the largest single drivers of long‑term capital need. Patty said Echo Mesa’s ongoing irrigation replacement uses longer-life piping and that a proposed Stardust irrigation turf-reduction project (phase 1) includes mapping, permitting and a new pump station priced at about $536,000 with a proposed July 2025 start. Patty also proposed regrassing two worn greens at Longbow, priced at about $337,459 for both greens (roughly $168,000 per green), and shoreline/hardscape work at Deer Valley and Desert Trails.

Bowling center equipment: Gary Zarek, sports pavilion manager, described a major replacement program for the 20+-year-old pinsetters: “The pin setters that we have right now are over 20 years old... parts are becoming rare to find... it’s time to look at something else.” Zarek said the machines would be manufactured by Brunswick with a roughly four‑month delivery timeline from Hungary. He also proposed replacing older oiling machines and completing a one‑time refresh of gutters, ball tracks, bumper systems and lane capping rather than piecemeal repairs.

Other large items and equipment schedules: Capital highlights presented included interior pool and ceiling work at Palm Ridge, cantilever shade additions at Beardsley mini golf, cardiac-equipment replacements at Koons fitness center, and replacement of 42 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) that exceed their 10‑year replacement threshold. Golf equipment replacement plans list 22 maintenance units and 7 vehicle units (trucks, utility carts) across seven courses, with a proposed fleet replacement of 30 golf carts to reduce average cart age. Pat O’Hara, golf operations manager, said the cart replacement would drop average cart age to about 6.5 years.

Allowances and emergency funds: Managers said allowance funds (roughly $420,000) are intended for emergency repairs and items that become reserve-study projects during the year (for example, well pumps or unexpectedly costly water‑heater replacements). They noted that projects above $50,000 require formal board approval (facts-and-findings or sealed-bid processes per policy).

Schedule and funding: Several projects are slated to begin in summer/fall of the coming fiscal year; exact start dates depend on procurement and seasonality (for example, irrigation work timed around overseeding). Funding will come from APFs, the reserve allocation from dues and reserve investment income; managers said the program is sized to leave a projected positive reserve cashflow after capital spending.

Next steps: Presenters said the capital detail and line-by-line reserve-study mapping will be attached to the public budget packet and posted online; items exceeding procurement thresholds will follow the association’s procurement procedures and come to the board for review when required.