A KING 5 television investigation in the last couple of days, talked about the beautiful golf course, and conflicts of interest in the city council. The Bothell Reporter has also produced excellent articles on this dilemma. The golf course has been targeted for preservation by the city for 20-plus years, but the mayor (who has 20-plus corporations under his name), bought the back-nine, with no discussion and no citizen input. There was no listing and the question of “insider-trading” has been referred to many times. KING-5 television also talked about the beautiful open space, and the aging golf course. When looking into the golf course, it became apparent that the course was “allowed” to age, gracefully, but to it’s detriment.

A couple of golfers were recently discussing the Wayne Golf Course. A few consistent comments came up during the discussion. One golfer plays at Inglewood and the other golfer plays at Sahalee. The first comment was that the course was a great beginners course, and was even fun for experienced golfers. The other comments though, had to do with the amenities of the course. It was stated that the clubhouse is 40-50 years old, and that the parking lot is pure gravel, making it difficult for golf carts and bikes. It appears that the management had not upgraded the “curb appeal” of the golf course for many years.

Each of these amenities (parking lot and clubhouse) are something that defines many golf courses in the area. Where to park your car, and the clubhouse, often becomes the “curb-appeal” of the operation. Besides the parking, weddings and many other special occasions are celebrated in the clubhouses of these courses. The lack of “curb-appeal” also becomes the reason to “fail ” for some courses. This allows developers to come in and purchase these beautiful areas for houses and condos, rather than upgrade the golf course. But then the city loses a valuable green space and asset as a golf course.

The USGA (United State Golfers Association), and the PGA (Professional Golfers Association), are great organizations because they actually attempt to keep these courses from developers and bring them back to their prime. They should have been contacted years ago to help the front- and back-nines, and the amenities of this beautiful course. The entire golf course could be a very viable business in the Bothell area. In fact, the need for public golf courses in cities is becoming a real problem. We may have forgotten that this ” Wayne Land” is also a golf course. The original homestead owner, Joe Blyth, designed it more than 70 years ago. It just needs some upgrades for all 18-holes. There are unique opportunities for a great clubhouse, with restaurant and bar as part of a newly designed clubhouse. In fact, it could be a prime attraction for the thousands of people who pass by regularly on the Burke-Gilman trail. What a natural long-term plan for the golfers and the trail enthusiasts in the Bothell area.

There are high school golfers playing almost every day on the Wayne course. Other golfers say it is a great course and enjoy the river, the boaters and the wildlife. Other golfers say that the lack of a “successful” looking course keeps them from playing regularly. The parking lot and the clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, would go a long way to bring this beautiful area up to date. This is not a rich-man’s sport at Wayne. It’s a bargain by any standard. This is Bothell’s way to preserve the land and the course and the enjoyment of the nature of our trail.

Unfortunately, there are surveyors all over the back-nine of the course at this time. They are mapping out the new development for the mayor’s new houses (Wayne Manor). Can you imagine taking down all those trees and grass? What about the potential for slides down the steep hillside? The hillside is geologically unsafe and compromised. What about the wildlife and the salmon? Even the new neighbors to the south of the course, in their new houses, should want to preserve this land. It’s the only open land left around here. It is not replaceable. How our own mayor could be part of a housing development on this beautiful course is beyond belief. If it is not preserved now, the developers with the pavement, roads and houses will win. We need to stop this disaster.

Dr. Robert Tadlock, Bothell