Frequently Asked Questions
What about the housing requirement on the lease?
The provision to reserve a portion of the property for future housing was a requirement of the City in negotiating the lease. A housing development in the future may or may not happen. It depends on whether a future city council promotes a housing project, and whether the community supports it.
Should the City eventually pursue development of the reserve property, the public will have multiple opportunities for input to the city during many phases of the process. Such development would require changes to the comprehensive plan as well as a zoning change. Both of these processes require public hearings. It also has some significant budget considerations for the city which also allow for public input. The lease assures us of retaining a 9 hole course and that the city will work with us to ensure that. Our focus now is to make the Golf Park the best public facility we can. It is in the community's and the city's best interest to make that a reality.
Will prices increase?
Our goal is to keep the Golf Park as the most affordable course on the Olympic Peninsula. Unfortunately, the course has decades of deferred maintenance that must be addressed if we are to be successful. Along with regular maintenance and improvements, the irrigation system has failed or is failing in many places, and much of the Park equipment is antiquated and must be repaired or replaced. The clubhouse needs repair and renewal, and the tee boxes and greens need to be restored and refreshed. This is just a partial list.
All of this takes money and labor. While the city has made concessions in rent and water to the Friends organization, as well as providing some in-kind services, they are not providing any direct funding for operations or restoration of the golf course. All of our funding comes from donations or course revenue.
We are grateful that so many members of our community as well as local businesses have stepped up to help through donations and volunteer labor. We will continue to rely on your help for some years to come before we can expect to be fully self supporting. We are also seeking new sources of revenue. Like many courses around the country we are expanding the types of golf being played with the addition of disc and foot golf. Both of these popular activities function well with traditional golf and will help our bottom line. We will also be seeking grants where applicable.
Currently, for the 2024 season, we are offering course passes for members as of 2023 at the same rate they paid last year. The same holds true for active corporate supporters and players. Our per round rates have increased slightly but they are still significantly less than other courses in the area.
Over the next two years, the non-profit Friends organization will be gathering metrics, exploring innovations and developing a business plan that we hope will keep the course affordable, sustainable and carry it forwards for generations.
Why all the changes? Can’t we just leave it alone?
Golf courses are expensive to maintain and, while golf is seeing a resurgence, there are many, nationwide, that shutter their doors every year. Currently, our course is not economically viable for the long term. Without significant changes it would continue to deteriorate and, ultimately, fail. It also has only served a small and declining segment of our community. Because of it’s condition, many golfers and former members have gone elsewhere to play.
Golf is and always will be our core function but, both by the terms of the lease and our own recreational philosophy, we are seeking to expand our sources of revenue and Park availability for the general public. For example: Like many courses around the country we are adding disc golf. It plays at about the same pace as traditional golf, require less capital investment (no greens, just baskets), and unlike traditional golfers, they enjoy playing in the trees. This spring we will be exploring how to meld these two games so that they can both function well together on our course.
Like the venerable Saint Andrews, we will be adding times throughout the year where the non-golfing public can explore the Park and simply enjoy the natural beauty without worrying about being hit by a golf ball. This year it will be the first Sunday of the month.
We are also in the early stages of planning periodic performance events on the driving range. This natural amphitheater will help bring in revenue as well as providing a needed venue in our community.
Our five year plan includes construction of a putt-putt course. As proven elsewhere, this will attract young people and families, add another source of revenue, and build interest in the game itself. Our hope is that by expanding recreational opportunities and public availability, along with increasing revenues, our historic course will become even more beloved then it is today.
What are you doing about environmental concerns?
The Friends organization is committed to operating the golf course in the most environmentally friendly and sustainable manner possible. We will continue to follow best practices and minimize the use of herbicides and fungicides and employ organic methods wherever possible. As more and effective electric maintenance equipment becomes available we begin a transition to that technology. We plan on introducing electric golf carts in the very near future.
We are increasing the size of the native camas prairie to protect and enhance this historic resource. We will be adding native plantings where appropriate in the Park to reduce maintenance costs and create more habitat for wildlife. While we will be removing some trees for access and playability, such as for the city playground initiative, we will be replanting with native species on a 2 for one basis in other locations.
