Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor | PenMet has not put money into Madrona Links

Back in 1977 my Father in Law Ken Tyson, his Son Dennis Tyson and I built and developed Madrona Links Golf Course. Ken paid for the construction costs 100% out of his own pocket. The City of Tacoma approved the design of the course, but paid nothing out of their funds.

The City owned 70 acres which was not enough to support a regulation size golf course but Ken was able to purchase an adjoining 14 acres without help from the City to make the golf course possible. In return Ken Tyson was given a 50 year lease of the property owned by the City. My Father in Law passed away in 1983 and I left two years later to pursue my ambition and retired in 2017 after 40 years as a Golf Course Superintendent managing course maintenance at Canterwood Golf and Country Club, TPC @ Snoqualmie Ridge, Director of Golf Course Construction and Agronomy for OB Sports, Vice President of Golf Course Construction and Agronomy for Intrawest Resorts and finally Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert California.

Three years later Dennis Tyson left and my Mother in Law Lillian Tyson was left to run the golf course and leased the course operations to Lloyd Montgomery who retired in 2014 at which time she leased the course to the current operator Matt Stutsman who had worked for Lloyd. In 2021 my Mother in Law passed away.

The course is now almost 50 yeas old. During this period of time neither the City of Tacoma during their ownership nor PenMet during its ownership have put any money into Madrona. PenMet has received almost a MILLION DOLLARS from the lease during its ownership and has put ZERO dollars back into Madrona. The 1977 lease does not require the tenant operator of Madrona to replace capital facilities. The only persons who have put money into Madrona are the Tyson family who built the course from their personal funds and the golfing public who have paid green fees over the last 50 years.

PenMet has owned their land at Madrona for over 16 years and has not spent a penny on the course despite receiving almost a MILLION DOLLARS in lease payments. If you own something you have a duty to take care of it. PenMet has for the last two years tried to make the tenant operator make up for PenMet’s failure to invest in the course for the next generation of golfers. The tenant operator is obligated to maintain the course in good repair subject to ordinary wear and tear. There has been almost 50 years of wear and tear and the tenant operator has no obligation to improve the course above what is the conditions of a 50 year old course that has received no investment from its owner PenMet.

There have been maintenance issues which I have worked with PenMet and Matt Stutsman to address. These issues arise in part because of the age of the course and the natural and created features of the course. The NGF report addresses some of these issues such as the now large trees that have negative impacts on the condition of the grass and damaging cart paths with their roots. The 1977 lease will expire in a few years. The NGF report states PenMet will have to invest MILLIONS of dollars in capital improvements at Madrona for it to be in good condition for the next generation of golfers. PenMet history of no investment since taking ownership in 2008 make me worry that PenMet will not make the investment described in the NGF report.

Tyson partnership sold its 14 acres to Zack Rosenbloom and Mark Owen because they have a vision for the future of Madrona after the expiration of the 1977 lease and have the financial means to turn the aged course around. As part of the sale I committed to consult with them on golf course operations and business matters. We would make a great team. But PenMet has refused to consider this team of qualified golf professionals and financial investors.

Instead of working with us, PenMet says Zack and Mark are not qualified and don’t have a plan for the future of Madrona. How can PenMet know what Zack and Mark will do if they will not consider having Zack and Mark operate the course in consideration for capital improvements, just like the City of Tacoma did when Ken Tyson built the course. More importantly, what is PenMet’s plan for the future of Madrona? Their plan is stating PenMet has “reserved” a million dollars for improving the golf course. If PenMet has a million dollars to use on the course why aren’t they using it? Also the NGF report states it will require multi-millions of dollars to get the course ready for the next generation. Madrona exists because of the vision, hard work and real dollar investments by the Tyson family.

PenMet has put nothing into Madrona. The question is what is PenMet’s plan for Madrona into the future? Tyson Family has done its job and now it is time for PenMet to do its job.

Mark Cupit

Tyson Limited Partnership

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