Dear Editor:

I attended the City Council meeting on July 17 where the future of the Port Townsend Golf Course was to be decided.

Three council members said they did not feel welcome and had been chased off the course. Stating the obvious, it is not safe to walk on a golf course that is in use. They mentioned the “silent majority” wanted the course converted to other uses.

When I examined the extensive citizen feedback collected at previous public open houses and online, the overwhelming majority favored either keeping the course or a hybrid mixed use of new amenities with the course slightly altered.

The mayor made the comment that golf is losing popularity. A quick Internet search shows golf is not losing popularity (National Golf Foundation - Rounds Played Report – 2023). I suspect the numbers are down at the PT course because the city does not promote the course and invests very little in maintenance.

It was mentioned that golfers in the past had promised to volunteer to improve the course and had not. I can only speak from my experience having just finished building deck stairs at the clubhouse as a volunteer. While doing this I watched various volunteers tending to gardens, mowing the lawn and picking up driving range balls.

It would be nice if the council would visit the golf course and observe. There is a mix of locals and visitors actively using it. You can get a round of golf for $16 (about half of Discovery Bay) and there is a great restaurant and bar. This course is for the average person and you see folks from all backgrounds golfing there. The golf course generates revenue to offset costs. A central park would not. Ask yourself do you want the course to become another Kah Tai?

John O'Meara