Representatives behind the Westport Light State Park Westport Golf Links (WGL) project gave a comprehensive presentation to the Grays Harbor County Board of Commissioners at the board’s non-action meeting on Tuesday.

The initiative, which dates back to 2019, recently released its long-awaited 436-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and is now in the public comment period, which concludes on May 23.

A brief description of the project’s proposal reads, “WGL proposes to develop, operate and maintain an economically viable public 18-hole Scottish links golf course and ancillary facilities in Westport Light State Park under a long-term lease and concession agreement with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.”

The purpose and objectives of the project are to, “Develop an economically viable public 18-hole Scottish links golf course of a caliber that would attract championship play, provide a short course and golf practice range on the WLSP site to diversify opportunities for play by people of different skill levels and to encourage multi-day experiences within the park, (and) to develop ancillary facilities (on- and offsite) to support the golf course within the park.”

The brainchild of renowned Scottish golf course designer David McLay Kidd, who moved to Oregon in the late 1990s, and Seattle-based contractor Ryann Day, the idea behind the project is to create a golf experience that is part of the local environment with amenities for all.

“The essence of golf where I came from was to explore a beautiful landscape with golf as an excuse,” said Kidd at a 2019 open house. “Here in America golf is a sport. In Scotland it’s a social pastime, same as walking a trail or along the river.”

Day, project manager Mark Merkelbach and former commander of the Seattle district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Xander Bullock, represented WGL.

“We’re excited to share the results over six years of intensive study of the piece of property in Westport and in Grays Harbor County and really highlight much of the public benefit our project is going to bring to this region,” said Day. “Included among that is an annual economic impact of $30 million, with over $50 million during the construction process and over 300 jobs.”

After introductions, Merkelbach presented an overview of the proposed project.

“It’s not just about golf, it’s about using this project as a catalyst to provide a lot of public benefits, not only to the park, but also to Grays Harbor County, city of Westport,” said Merkelbach. “It is an 18-hole golf course that is along the perimeter of the site, coupled with that are practice areas (and) a short course. It also includes a lot of non-golf related aspects, which are all open to the public and they include expanded trail networks, an improvement to the Dune Trail, expanding parking, and we’re also doing some utility upgrades in this area.”

Merkelbach went on to discuss job creation and economic and fiscal benefits Westport Golf Links’ facility will bring to the region, and gave a brief history of the area, including the topography and (over)growth of local flora. He then talked about the genesis behind the idea, as well as the current stage and future phases of the project. Merkelbach indicated that Washington State Parks’ involvement with recreational golf courses is nothing new and pointed out Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park and Paradise Point State Park in Eastern Washington.

“It’s a Scottish links-style which offers a different recreational golfing experience than other opportunities. Part of the reason it’s walking only, it’s not resort golf with carts, it’s walking the course in three and a half to four hours. It’s also about exposure to elements,” said Merkelbach. “The type of folks that would want to play this course are going to be prepared for horizontal rain, the cold, all the elements that really is that experience that site fosters.”

The first phase of construction would create the managed golf surface and an extensive publicly accessible hard packed trail network that takes pedestrian safety into consideration. Phase II includes clubhouse and surf shack construction and Phase III would be a build out of lodging and restaurant facilities.

Expanded parking for beachgoers would also provide better access for emergency responders. The course would also use wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant for irrigation and find a recycling method for cleared biomass, possibly a regional biochar production facility.

“Because this project has a significant footprint, it’s over 200 acres in size, there will be wetland impacts and they can’t be avoided,” said Merkelbach. “We have positioned this site to maximize its footprint within upland areas, and we’ve overlaid it onto sites that were disturbed by the former golf project. The intent is to preserve the highest functional wetland areas within this site. The areas we are unable to totally avoid from an impact standpoint we have a very robust mitigation approach.”

Merkelbach also discussed shoreline resiliency and threats to coastal communities including erosion, sea level rise and wildfires and plans to work with local authorities to mitigate these risks.

The former commander of the Seattle district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bullock, said economic development along the coastline is one way to get the federal government to commit to protecting the shoreline.

“They’re trying to create an economic development situation on the coastline that kind of drives a stake in the ground that says look, we’re going to invest in a recreational opportunity here on the coastline that’s going to drive the ability for the federal government to protect and hold the coastline where it is,” said Bullock. “This I think is an excellent opportunity that the state’s been provided through pointed private interest in a golf course. … We’re talking about a walking recreational area with a group of people who have very pointedly put their investment toward preserving the environment in the area, environmental mitigation, working hand in glove with the tribes in the area … and driving a walking area that honors the tribal history in the area. … There’s a lot of good that is done by championing a private interest in what is an area that has been in the purview of Washington State Parks and Recreation that allows private investment and equity to protect public interest, the environment in the area, the tribal history in the area and drive coastal resiliency.”

Bullock went on to discuss the positive environmental impacts, especially regarding invasive species, and mitigation of fire risks the project would bring to the region.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the commissioners were afforded the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with the WGL representatives.

District 1 Commissioner Georgia Miller said she was impressed with how thorough WGL’s proposal and plans for the project are.

“They have really thought out so many things and seem to have come up with a solution for all the negatives that might come your way,” Miller said. “You have a plan for parking, you have a plan for wetlands, you have a plan for wastewater management. For me this checks a ton of boxes.”

District 3 Commissioner Vickie Raines believes the Westport Golf Links facility will have a far-reaching impact on the region.

“I think this will be a huge benefit to not just Westport, but to the entire county,” Raines said. “We’re a very tourism oriented county. I like the fact you’re involving the tribes, which I think is extremely important and to have the connection with them from the very beginning is going to benefit this project very well. I also like that you’re expanding beyond just golf. I think having something taking advantage of the trail systems that we have out in that area and also expanding the concessions or having availability for food trucks to be out there will be a huge benefit.”

If you want to comment:

Comments are now open and the DEIS is posted on the city of Westport’s website at http://www.ezview.wa.gov/site/alia_2007/37863/kibrary.aspx.

A printed copy of the DEIS is available for review at city hall and the Westport Timberland Library. Written comments, either by email or mail, will be accepted through May 23.

Email: wgl.wlso.deis.comments@gmail.com

Mail: City of Westport, attention Tom Cappa, SEPA Responsible Official, P.O. Box 505, Westport, WA 98595

In your comments, include name and address. If you have questions, call Cappa at 360-268-0131.

Comments on the DEIS will be answered with possible mitigation solutions, and included in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The city of Westport may approve, condition or deny project permits, starting with a required Shoreline permit.

Once the FEIS is issued, Westport’s Shoreline Administrator will prepare a detailed staff report to submit to the city’s Hearing Examiner. Next, a public meeting will be scheduled with the Hearings Examiner for decision-making on the Shoreline permit application, and to consider any appeal of the FEIS.

Westport Golf Links Westport Golf Links, the David McLay Kidd seaside links-design currently being planned in partnership with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in Westport, Washington, is now in a public comment period in response to the project’s Environmental Impact Study.

Westport Golf Links Westport Golf Links, the David McLay Kidd seaside links-design currently being planned in partnership with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in Westport, Washington, is now in a public comment period in response to the project’s Environmental Impact Study.