Miniature golf in West Seattle? Following up on mayor’s budget item, here’s what we’ve learned

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When Mayor Murray‘s budget proposal went public on Monday, our quick search of the document for specific West Seattle callouts netted a few items we’ve since been following up on. Among them: A proposed miniature golf course at West Seattle Golf Course.

WSGC is part of the Seattle Parks and Recreation system, though managed by a private firm, so we went to Parks for more info. The reply below is from Joelle Hammerstad, who explains that the miniature-golf proposal has its roots in part in the 2011 decision canceling plans for a driving range at WSGC:

Seattle Parks and Recreation is considering the installation of a mini-golf course at West Seattle Golf Course. A mini-golf course would be a replacement for the driving range that had been planned for the golf course.

This work comes as a result of the Golf Master Plan, which was adopted in 2009. The Plan calls for several large, revenue-generating projects at Seattle’s public golf courses. When it became clear that the West Seattle community did not want the driving range, the money, which comes from general obligation bonds, was redirected to driving ranges at Jefferson and Jackson golf courses. (The Jackson driving range is scheduled to open next month, and the Jefferson driving range will open next spring.)

A mini-golf course would have two benefits:

1) It would open the course to children and families, expanding the use of a public amenity to the larger community.

2) It would partly replace the revenue anticipated from the driving range. (A mini-golf course is expected to bring in around $225,000 in revenue a year. A driving range was anticipated to have brought in $800,000 a year. The revenue is used to pay the debt on the general obligation bonds purchased to undertake the Golf Master Plan, and to make improvements to Seattle’s publicly owned golf courses. )

The process for developing the course will include public meetings, and community input.

The mayor’s budget declares “The West Seattle miniature golf course is scheduled for construction in the latter half of 2015.” Providing the budget is approved. P.S. One of the other three city golf courses has miniature golf already – Interbay.

SIDE NOTE: While the Golf Master Plan called for perimeter trails at city-owned courses as its “highest priority,” Hammerstad tells us the perimeter trail for West Seattle Golf Course remains unfunded, but: “With the influx of funds from the revenue-generating projects, there may be an opportunity to develop the trail.”

higgins September 24, 2014 (1:12 pm)

Oh yay! I live on Avalon, it would be a lot of fun to have a mini golf course literally in my backyard. And I think they’re right – adding mini golf opens up the course to a much wider audience. Foot golf would be cool too, but Jefferson already has that.

ACG September 24, 2014 (1:40 pm)

Just speaking from an entertainment perspective, we would totally love having a mini golf course here!!

Kelly September 24, 2014 (1:47 pm)

The charming, retro mini-golf course in my home town was recently demolished after something like 60 years in operation. So sad. I could definitely get behind something like that here!!

Silly Putter September 24, 2014 (1:58 pm)

I love this idea!

squareeyes September 24, 2014 (2:07 pm)

My only wish would be that it is more creative than the one at Interbay which, while challenging, doesn’t have the same visual entertainment factor as some of the old style minigolf courses have/had. You know, clown mouth, windmill, tubes, etc. But that comes with a price tag and ongoing maintenance so I can understand why it’s not likely.

nichole September 24, 2014 (2:23 pm)

the fact that we have a ” master golf plan” is a bit amusing.

DW September 24, 2014 (2:31 pm)

Why didn’t West Seattle want a driving range? That would be great for those of use who are confident in playing 18 holes but want to practice fundamentals!

Dare I ask… NIMBYism?

WSB September 24, 2014 (2:41 pm)

DW, if you follow the link to the 2011 coverage (right above the blue text in this story) you can read the story & comments. The mention in Parks’ mini-golf reply isn’t exactly the full summary of what happened. Parks’ announcement, in our linked story, briefly recaps what happened over the course of months of design discussions, everything from soil problems to the fact that it would have changed the existing course, and ultimately Parks said, “It turns out this project, as it can be physically fitted into the course, is not consistent with the course’s historic design.” – TR

sam-c September 24, 2014 (2:55 pm)

+1 to squareeyes comment. whimsy would be fun. I have fond memories of ‘pirate’s cove’ mini-putt in FL.
but I support it either way. would be fun to have a birthday party there I would assume.

squareeyes September 24, 2014 (2:56 pm)

A driving range was a great idea, but they just couldn’t make it work with the existing layout of the course, and the proposed changes really weren’t good so it ultimately got scrapped. Considering the new doubledecker driving range going in just across the way at Jefferson Park (and they even added dedicated parking for the course!) we’ll still have fairly convenient access. I think the minigolf will do really well at WS, even if it’s not the moneymaker a driving range would have been.

Morgan September 24, 2014 (2:56 pm)

Interbay has a great putt putt league. Hopefully they will start a WS chapter.

McFail September 24, 2014 (3:32 pm)

I recall that the existing location was too expensive to build due to its proximity to the hillside, soils, etc… Design team proposed a new location which altered a couple of holes to put a smaller driving range in the existing course footprint. The “members” of the West Seattle Golf Club fought this because it would change the course’s character or integrity… When in reality they didn’t want they were protecting their handicaps (since the holes would create a bit more challenge). So Parks loses potential revenue, West Seattle loses a practice facility (for all ages) and now lags behind Jackson, and Jefferson in being a complete golf course facility. Thank old-timers… It’s great that Parks is open to other golf related ideas. Perhaps foot golf too…

NotOnHolden September 24, 2014 (3:33 pm)

The driving range at Jefferson Park is supposed to be complete by March 2015 I think and it takes like 10 minutes to drive there, pretty convenient, and I’m sure there are also bus options.

Chas Redmond September 24, 2014 (4:01 pm)

So the 50 makes a stop at the foot of Beacon Mountain Park (Jefferson Park north end) on 15th Ave S near S. South Dakota St., that’s the same stop, btw, that the 60 uses on its way to Capitol Hill. The 50 and 60 serve north and south West Seattle but you’d be hiking uphill for about 1/4 mile to the Jefferson Golf Course.

Militant Moderate September 24, 2014 (5:05 pm)

No offense to the immense, rabid fan base of putt-putt golf, but I wish that the money to build this could be re-allocated to something a bit more worthwhile such as additional law enforcement or education and beefed-up after school programs.

Or maybe making up a teensy bit of the $3 BILLION shortfall for funding education in WA State. (The state Supreme Court is probably made up of humbugs who’ve never experienced the elation of sinking a shot between the windmill blades!)

Perhaps my opinion would be different if someone took the time to explain the intricacies of getting the ball into the clown’s mouth or would introduce me to the undoubtedly sober legends who have been inducted into the Putt-Putt Golf Hall of Fame, but I’ve never thought, “Ya know what this place REALLY needs? Putt-Putt Golf!”

Then again, I never thought that a place where it rains eight months out of the year needed a spray park either. So what do I know?

SomeGuy September 24, 2014 (5:12 pm)

Agree with square-eyes that the course needs some personality. How about some special local flavor? Hole 1: “Alki Beach Morning After” = skillfully putt through all the trash all over the place. Hole 2: “Crapid Ride” = hole always blocked, just go around to #3. Hole 3: “Brainless Builders” = putt through the hallway of a 200-unit condo building with zero parking spaces. C’mon team, who else has ideas for holes 4-18???

Morgan September 24, 2014 (5:24 pm)

@ militant moderate. It’s called “revenue generating.” Will be a profitable business for the city to benefit the public good.

John September 24, 2014 (5:40 pm)

I agree that a putt-putt course would be fun for the neighborhood families, date nights, kids… and bring in some new clientele.

But, to play Devil’s advocate, as an avid golfer at WS golf course, I don’t wanna have to deal with a bunch of screaming kids while I’m coming in on #18 trying to shoot even par :P

It’s a double-edged sword bc the money used to build that putt-putt course could be used to clean up and renovate much of the golf course. But maybe the profits from a putt-putt course could create even more money to be able to do those things…?

WSEA September 24, 2014 (5:54 pm)

@someguy – you really need to breath and take a walk. Things are not that bad. Enjoy all the positive things around you.

we usually go to the east side for putt putt so we are all in for this idea. The kids love when I place a little menchies bet on the game. Of course i usually give them a 10 putt handicap to give them the win. Not sure when they will figure it out.

Militant Moderate September 24, 2014 (7:14 pm)

Morgan: “It’s called “revenue generating.” Will be a profitable business for the city to benefit the public good.”

Oh no doubt, as evidenced by all of the putt-putt golfing enterprises sweeping the land. Just the other day, my broker was telling me, “Tech…pharmaceutical? Piffle! The REALLY profitable businesses are in the putt-putt golf sector!”

flimflam September 24, 2014 (7:43 pm)

miitantmodrate – too smart for the room.

Jim P. September 24, 2014 (9:59 pm)

Half the curbs in my Westwood neighborhood have broken concrete or even chunks missing, there’s increasing graffiti on public areas all over the place and there’s cutbacks in the bus system that gets people to their jobs and doctors and groceries and Police in a large part of north Seattle can’t even investigate burglaries unless you have the name and address handy of the burglar and preferably their picture because there’s no money.

But by George, we’ve got MINI-GOLF!!

Trickycoolj September 24, 2014 (11:40 pm)

I miss the days of going to Parkland Putters growing up near Spanaway. I’m awful at mini-golf and I love it! Hopefully it has more of the Parkland Putters vibe than Interbay which is a little dull. Oh and we could potentially have Underdog Drinks on the Links teams! Such a great idea yay!

Rick September 25, 2014 (1:45 am)

Math never was my strong suit but I get the basics. So if my comprehension skills are still intact “a mini-course “is expected” to bring in around 225,000 in revenue a year”, as opposed to “a driving range “was anticipated” to have brought in 800,00 a year. Easy math. Also the use of the term “is expected” for the mini and “was anticipated” for the range is a fairly common use of tenses for manipulation purposes, which is annoying. Unless it’s “for the kids”.

SomeGuy September 25, 2014 (6:52 am)

Man, I thought you guys would be better at this. Okay, I’ll give you another one. Hole 4: “Unmarked Intersection” = all four golfers stand and haltingly stare at each other, each lurching forward six inches every three seconds while muttering under their breath “this guy has no idea how to play mini-golf.”

Pibal September 25, 2014 (8:14 am)

Hole #5: Putt All Ways
Tee box in the center with four separate cups emanating from the tee box in four different directions. The four cups are designed as a cupcake, an LP record, an ice cream cone, and a pizza. You choose your target…

Robert September 25, 2014 (8:35 am)

Hole #6

There is a swing bridge that arbitrarily opens up whenever it wants to and delays golfers even when the course is packed.

Tomas September 25, 2014 (8:36 am)

I’d love a mini-golf course! I recently moved from Ballard and used the interbay one occasionally. I was sad to see there was no equivalent in West Seattle…. Let’s get this thing built!!

Robert September 25, 2014 (8:37 am)

Hole #7

Balls must travel through a tunnel – but the tunnel is not completed.

SomeGuy September 25, 2014 (1:26 pm)

Now we’re getting somewhere. “Whole” #8 (sponsored by Whole Foods) – giant pit six stories deep.

squareeyes September 25, 2014 (2:40 pm)

Hole # 9 Coyote Crime – a mechanical coyote darts out from the foliage, grabs your ball, and runs back into the trees. (just like on the big course!)

McFail September 25, 2014 (4:04 pm)

Hole #10 – Street Vacation. You get to place the ball next to the hole but must answer the following: How does your ball provide a public benefit? Then you come back a year or so later for City Council approval…

Morgan September 25, 2014 (4:05 pm)

Hole #10. You putt from old run down buildings, homes, and rotten “exceptional” trees toward clean modern buildings, and fanatics new restaurants but have to navigate around old, whining WS longtimers that cry about any progress or change.

tl333 September 25, 2014 (4:10 pm)

Hole 10 – “Terminal 5”

A massive, flat concrete slab. No one works on this hole anymore but the greenskeeper promises to consider renovation.

WSB September 25, 2014 (4:17 pm)

Sorry that all three “Hole 10” suggestions were caught in queue. You can call it a tie or 10, 11, 12. FORE!

nolongerusingthestreetso September 25, 2014 (4:55 pm)

It’s almost Friday folks! Cheer up!
Hole 13: Alki tides. Putt before the water comes up. Sounds of revving hyper bikes.
Hole 14: Bakery Noveau. Wait a long time, but if you get a hole-in-one, a twice-baked almond croissant pops out! Oui!
Hole 15: Duwamish head panorama. Views all around. Who cares about the golf? Let’s just sit here a while…
Hole 16: Autumn Storm Drain. Hole blocked by leaves with torrent of water going over the top. Wait for city truck.
Hole 17: Water taxi. Carries golfer to studium-themed hole where they deposit ball and $200.
Hole 18: WSB. First golfer to get breaking news on (loud sound, bad smell, helicopter overhead, etc) gets to subtract one from their score and tell everyone in group how awesome WSB is.

SomeGuy September 25, 2014 (6:02 pm)

Hooray! We did it! Great ideas everybody! Now, who at the city do we submit these to so we can begin the 8-year process of meetings, public comments, referendums, ballot measures, council meetings, mayoral over-rides, Tim Eyman, etc?

Mike September 25, 2014 (7:52 pm)

I honestly like some of the ideas for each hole. I do think it would add a bit of a nice touch if they did play up our quirky issues and landmarks.

Pibal September 25, 2014 (8:49 pm)

WAIT!

What about the absolutely essential 19th Hole?

My vote is for whatever establishment happens to exist on the corner of California & Edmonds.

No telling how long you’ll have to wait to place your order…

sam-c September 26, 2014 (8:41 am)

those are all hilarious! thank you

brandon September 26, 2014 (12:44 pm)

Classic comments. Why WON’T it work and why shouldn’t it work because of all the other important things. Yes, there are holes out here in WS on the streets and sidewalks. THEN DRIVE YOUR CAR!! Gas is getting cheaper. More miles means more gallons, which means more tax revenue for the city/state/locals. Look at the WS Stadium area, waiting for some good ideas to build. Football games. Track meets. Training. All driving people for easy, family fun entertainment. Perfect for mini-golf. Would love to see a batting cage and ice rink too.

Sorry, comment time is over.