I attended the open forum this past week regarding the future of the Port Townsend Golf Course. The purpose was to get those in attendance to buy-off on the recommendation from the “stakeholder” team that has been looking at various options provided by city consultants.

The stakeholder recommendation was a hybrid concept eliminating the existing driving range and shifting two holes to accommodate other amenities such as pickleball courts, dog park, etc. Oddly, some of the stakeholders attending the meeting indicated that there was no consensus and were surprised to hear there was.

After much feedback from those attending, a show of hands was used to determine if there was support for the hybrid approach. Only a few hands went up out of the approximately 150 in attendance. 

Feedback was clear that the driving range must remain, most importantly to introduce more people to the game. You don’t pick up clubs and start playing without first learning and practicing. Similarly, a number of players warm up at the range prior to playing. 

The clear feedback was the hybrid design needed to be reworked and if changes to the golf course are to be made it should be done by a professional course designer.

My personal preference would be for the city to refocus their attention on the Kah Tai area which is fill from when the port was dredged. Every person I talk to has indicated they are not comfortable walking there. The city should create a trail around the lagoon with more open spaces including pickleball courts, amphitheater, an area for dogs to be off leash and parking. 

It would be a much wiser use of city resources so that the golf course can remain as it has been for the past 100 years.

John O’Meara
PORT TOWNSEND