Self-sufficient, profitable, a benefit to the community. That can be the future of the Port Townsend golf course, says the city’s consultant in a May 24, 2023 report that has started receiving serious consideration only within the past week or so.
The city’s consultant says the golf course can be turned around, double its revenue in four years and actually produce income for the city. Why in all the furor at city council meetings over the golf course’s future have we not heard about this consultant’s optimism and pragmatic plan of action?
David Hein, a golf course professional with more than 40 years experience managing golf course operations, maintenance, and business operations, was hired by the city as part of its “Envisioning the Port Townsend Golf Course” project, which needed “an updated evaluation … to accurately assess and understand the current status” of the golf course, including “a thorough review of the existing conditions and factors that have impacted the financial performance of the golf course over the past 5 years under the current Lessor/Lessee agreement.”
He concluded:
“Port Townsend has a very manageable asset in the golf course that could one day in the near future be a self-sufficient and valuable asset to the community. With the correct lease and management structure in place along with an operating plan and appropriate oversight, the Port Townsend Golf Course can support the golf and recreation needs of the immediate community as well as those visiting Port Townsend.”
He departs from an early assessment of the golf course by the National Golf Foundation. He does not see a need to invest the nearly $1.3 million in capital improvements the NGF recommended. He identifies as the first priority evaluating, repairing and improving the greens and irrigation system, with a starting budget of $150,000. That may seem like a lot for a cash-strapped city that is heading over a financial cliff.
But Hein’s estimate of a budget to repair and improve the greens — the critical feature of any golf course — is less than it is spending on “public engagement.” Carrie Hite, the contract employee given the title of Parks and Recreation Strategy Director is being paid $130,000 to lead the push to remake the golf course and put a tax measure on the ballot to fund a new aquatic center. She is being paid more than the city pays engineers and police officers. Groundswell Landscape Architecture, the firm participating in public engagement and drafting proposals for a golf course remake has a contract costing the city at least $125,000. Their combined $255,000, which has produced not one golf course improvement, is significantly more than Hein’s first step in getting the golf course to where it is self-sufficient and shares profits with the city.
The rest of his priority items — landscaping, equipment repair and acquisition, and clubhouse improvements — would require expenditures of $165,000, for a total of $315,000.
Hein’s total projected expenditures come in well below the $4.4 million required for the so-called “hybrid plan” presented to city council by the Groundswell Landscape Architecture — a huge sum the city does not have.
Hein recommends raising greens fees and expanding food and beverage operations. He sees ways to generate additional income from facilities, while also accommodating community interest in using the course for activities other than golf. Some holes might need to be relocated, buildings need to be cleaned out, management has to up its game. He does not see any financial viability for golfing if the course is reduced to an executive or par 3 course.
“I don’t foresee,” Hein writes, “a scenario where the golf course is materially reduced in size and scope that would accommodate all of the needs of the community and still attract golfers that would pay the required green fees to cover minimal capital improvements and the maintenance expense of the property.”
To reach his conclusions he examined the grounds and its buildings, even basements, which he believes can be converted into income-generating meeting and event spaces. He interviewed current management and golfers, and also contacted comparable 9-hole courses in Washington and obtained financial information from them for points of comparison.
Golf course supporters are encouraged by Hein’s report and have been crafting proposals to the city to implement his ideas so that the city need not subsidize operations and maintenance, as it does now, and will receive a percentage of gross receipts.
Hein’s 23-page report can be read in full at this link.
The city council is scheduled to tour the golf course and Mountain View commons on Monday, August 28, 2023 at 6pm with discussion to follow.
Jim Scarantino was the editor and founder of Port Townsend Free Press. He is happy in his new role as just a contributor writing on topics of concern to him. He spent the first 25 years of his professional life as a trial attorney, then launched an online investigative news website that broke several national stories. He is also the author of three crime novels. He resides in Jefferson County. See our "About" page for more information.
I wonder what chance the public had of discovering this golf expert’s neglected dissenting report? I searched through the city’s website for it and found nothing, until finally stumbling on a hotlink to “Golf Course Final Recommendation and Analysis” buried at the bottom of about a hundred links at:
https://cityofpt.us/engagept/page/envision-port-townsend-golf-course-and-mountain-view-commons
Compared to the out-of-touch consultants being paid $150,000 and $300,000 to manufacture consent for tearing up our town and putting us further in debt, golf expert Hein’s report seems to be the only one to have actually studied the facts on the ground, instead of extrapolating census data to our area from incomparable large urban areas and stacking the deck with bogus public process to engineer preferred outcomes. Hein outlines an achievable and affordable plan to enhance our golf course and turn it into an ongoing money-maker for our city in just a few short years, in stark contrast to the pie-in-the-sky aquatic center, etc. pipedreams costing millions of debt dollars now and guaranteeing red ink losses endlessly into the future.
I would love a forensic investigation into the financial management of Port Townsend. The various political interests that govern both P.T. and JeffCo seem to be trolling for sharks and a lot of sharks seem to be circling the bait. Like the Cherry Street project before reality sank in, every thing City and county governance is doing looks good on paper. Trouble is, there is always the time when reality rears it’s ugly face.
Absolutely John,,, I totally agree! Who is lining their pockets on this one?…
I am grateful for investigative stories like this one. What can we do to demand less selfish politics and more ethical accounting?
Those who have participated in the civic activity of Port Townsend are aware of the role the Comprehensive Plan for future planning. It provides goals and policies that are intended by the State Growth Management Act to guide the community growth vai council and its staff and any advisory groups. However, the criteria provided to the chosen golf course stakeholders (legitimizers) did not include a background presentation of the applicable policies in the Comp Plan nor the recent Hein analysis and only references the 2020 Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS) update, misrepresenting the nod to housing in the survey.
The 2020 PROS plan is very important because it incorporates a “Vision” survey of 830 people who resoundingly supported the PROS goals provided for parks, recreation and open space into the future, not housing.
The City Manager hired by the Council in 2020 with no experience managing a city, let alone a small town, has declared his ambitious nature. He is at the top of the heap of the staff and consultants and budget. He is responsible for the legal integrity of staff planning. And he is the one who provided the criteria for the golf course stakeholders leading to an outcome under the direction of Carrie Hite, strategist in charge.
Mauro provides the oversight that controls the content on the City’s website and how accessible the information is and, also the tenor of staff deliveries — i.e. we are a team and I expect results (one might say, by any means necessary – I have personal experience with both the YMCA and the manager’s mendacious behavior). Some key people have left the City’s employ due to this new style of management.
In keeping with the Comp Plan and the 2020 PROS plan, the Hein evaluation did not include housing on the golf lands. But the planning trajectory by the City may usurp this prime real estate for housing both as collateral for more debt and as revenue when sold to developers. Unfortunately, the PT golf club leadership is willing to go along with housing on golf lands as long as they have the nine hole golf links and driving range to play the game. The manager’s goal is revenue generation; watch as city business proceeds.
Special Council Meeting
Monday, Aug 28 at 6pm, Mt View Commons
7pm at golf course prairie and then clubhouse.
Public can be present but may not be allowed to comment.
Golf is so boring and honesty I could never see how the golf course could make a profit, I have so much more fun taking my dog to swim at the beach…
Yes, I’m sure many others feel that way. But let’s think about the kids; the young ones and the teenagers who use the golf course. Golf increases focus, coordination and is a great way to nurture mental calm while doing something that requires undivided attention. With all the damage screen addiction is doing to kids, we should all be behind keeping the golf course for this vulnerable population that seems assailed by one psyop to the next.
As an avid golfer, though one that would rarely go to PT to enjoy the course there, I believe the course could be even more profitable than the consultant suggested, by holding special events. On Vancouver Island, they have weekly evening golf leagues, one week for women, the next week for men, and interspersed with “9 and Dine”, “Beer, Burger, and Golf”, and other ongoing weekly summer evening events tailored for the working class. Additionally weekend tournaments can bring in golfers from nearby communities. In addition to golf, the events bring in revenue for food, alcohol, merchandise, and in some cases, overnight accommodations.
There are so many people promoting continuing the property as a golf course yet I hardly see anyone using it. I really wanted to discover that the community use supports it’s continuance but the data isn’t there. I read Hein’s report in full and it includes data indicating the course sees 10 rounds per day on average use based on revenue divided by the senior greens fee rate which is optimistic. My web research indicates that despite a resurgence during the pandemic, golf is on the decline so even with promoting it, it seems like a downhill slide. Nationally many communities are decommissioning golf courses for the same reasons. Mayor Faber in his comments in the Leader cites highschool students polled seeing the negative environmental impact of the course. I’d like to see the majority of the property rewilded and the southern end designated and appropriate strictures to assure it is used for affordable housing, along with the pool property, another city asset that is hardly used. Rewilding it would be an inexpensive operation and could be done by way of restoring the original historical prairie.
The standings you have stated are very inaccurate. We have booked tee times from 7am-6pm with over 30 rounds daily playing along with every cart being rented and having to pick range every day because we run out of balls for the people who like to practice. Also with the High School students input was also wrong. Only one class was offered their input. No one asked the golf team.
I understated Carrie Hite’s salary as “Parks and Recreation Strategy Director.” She is being paid $131,676. The city also foots the “labor burden” of payroll taxes, benefits, etc. I think this is about two times or more the starting salary offered to police officers and about twice what was being offered to engineers with six years experience in job postings not so long ago.
While “we the people” have some differing opinions as to final use and development of the pool and golf course, the most important aspect is who will implement and oversee whatever is done. Seems it all comes down to City Manager John Mauro.
The big picture here is important if you think any final plan will be administrated competently and honestly.
I say it again. Mauro’s well established manipulative track record for me started with parking. The real estate agent 3-time appointed mayor and 20-year council member that vetted him benefits with free parking for anyone purchasing from her. Mauro and Faber compromise the current and past police chief who is ordered to ignore laws and codes that are and still are there to keep power in check. The slippery slope of controlling police led to police standing by as elders were assaulted during a women’s rights rally. The council meeting the same day loaded up for one side with others not able to speak. John Mauro. David Faber.
Why be at all surprised when data and input contrary to Mauro’s agenda with the pool and golf course are ignored and hidden?
There was no notice of the proposed change to a city ordinance making streateries permanent. Both Mauro and Faber forgot to mention it in the city newsletter. Main Street polls were distorted. Claimed polls were not distributed. The Leader was silent. Many will remember the abandoned moldy and wind shredded mess tent in front of Alchemy. This is the community Mauro and Faber have tweaked into existence. Vibrant! Resilient!
The Leader, that Faber is quoted in a comment here does not cover Faber’s social media transgressions and council’s enabling of him. So, Faber and 3 others run unopposed in the next elections.
I could go on about the FWPDA in detail. A shadow city organization. Mauro, Faber, and council ignoring audit problems before the meltdown. Mauro now seeking more power there.
I left out quite a bit. I had to edit due to 500 word limit.
The quote attributed to Einstein is that to keep doing the same thing over and over while failing is insanity. A well-paid spin doctor and city newsletter will communicate that all is well. Self-assessment not in the cards. Almost sociopathic.
Back to the seemingly disconnected issue of parking and Mauro where his legacy started. Orwell. “If you turn the other cheek, you will get a harder blow on it than you got on the first one. This does not always happen, but it is to be expected, and you ought not to complain if it does happen.” So, no complaints regarding new manifestations of Mauro, Faber, council and the like.
My consistent advice has been an elected mayor and term limits. Add a qualified city manager who knows his place and a newspaper that covers ugly truths.
There are thousands like Faber and Mauro at work in tide pools and petri dishes large and small. Attacking the host like a virus.