Port Townsend restarts talk about future of city-owned golf course

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The Port Townsend City Council recently discussed a community engagement strategy to explore the future of the Port Townsend Golf Course.

The ultimate fate of the course has been in limbo since late 2020, when the city council OK’d a three-year operational agreement to investigate alternative-use concepts for the course and refine these concepts with broad community involvement, including the possibility of extended golf use.

City officials said community engagement will begin this summer, likely with a launch event.

According to a study completed by the National Golf Foundation in 2019, the facility is challenged by its declining condition and somewhat remote location, which limits its potential market support. The foundation estimated that it would cost $935,000 to $1.2 million to bring the course up to standard, attract more visitors, and become viable as a golf course.

The potential upgrades included improvements to the irrigation system and pump house, tree and stump removal, purchase of appropriate maintenance equipment, clubhouse repair, and course repair.

Based on the analysis, the city council then decided not to pursue the recommendation because of the cost for both the capital and operations.

City officials said the upcoming community engagement effort will explore all options and culminate in a recommendation for the council to consider, expected in spring 2023.

The effort will also include planning for the Mountain View campus, which is across the street from the golf course, to take advantage of any complimentary ideas and/or uses.

The link to the city council meeting with the community engagement framework can be found at cityofpt.granicus.com.

“We are very excited to hear the community’s thoughts and vision about the future of the golf course,” said Port Townsend Mayor David Faber.

“We are lucky to have valuable community assets and are eager to engage with the community to determine the best ways this asset can serve the community now and into the future,” Faber added.

Carrie Hite, hired in February as the director of parks and recreation strategy for the city, will be taking the lead on seating a committee to advise staff and help guide the planning process.

This committee will include members from the golf community, Mountain View campus tenants, as well as those that who were involved in previous parks planning efforts from 2018 to 2020.

More information will be regularly posted on Engage PT at cityofpt.us/engage.