I would like to address the proposed closing of Port Townsend Golf Course.

As someone who has 32 years’ experience publishing a monthly golf publication for three states, I have visited many small communities like Port Townsend and, without exception, they take pride in their community course, even if they don’t produce a lot of revenue. 

It puzzles and disturbed me to see the situation that Port Townsend Golf Course finds itself in. I won’t list all of the ways the course benefits the community as other letters to The Leader have covered that in detail.

I do know this: When the course is closed it is gone forever. To build the same course today would cost up into the millions of dollars, which the city would never be able to afford. A tragic loss for sure.

I discussed the city’s contract proposal with a PGA golf professional and he said, “I’ve read the proposal from front to back and only a fool would enter into that contract.” He pointed out that the city is offering no support whatsoever, ensuring failure for the lessee. 

I was astonished to learn that the current lessee is required to purchase his own maintenance equipment — mowers alone can cost upwards of $30,000 and that is only part of the equipment needed to run the course. Most municipal entities cover the capital equipment, after all, it is their business and they are only leasing out the management of the property.

Certainly closing the golf course and making a park out of it would be a poor decision. Someone even suggested making it a three-hole course. That is such a stupid idea it doesn’t deserve comment.

It disturbs me to see that there is no mention of the city’s own golf course on their website or in their tourist website. Wow!

Bob Marlatt
PORT TOWNSEND