Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor | PenMet’s intentions regarding the future of Madrona

PenMet has made several public statements on its website and elsewhere that it has every intention of maintaining Madrona as a golf course.  The purpose of this letter is to test the validity of that assertion.

First, the offer PenMet made to ZTM to purchase its 14 acres did NOT contain a provision that PenMet would put any restriction on its parcel and on the ZTM parcel. ZTM’s offer to purchase PenMet’s parcel included a promise to place a 50-year restriction on both parcels that both must be used as a golf course. Ask yourself this: Why didn’t PenMet include this restriction in its offer to ZTM? Doing so would have provided assurance not only for ZTM, but also to those who use Madrona that it will continue to be used as a golf course for 50 years. Does PenMet want to keep its options open?

Second, since PenMet terminated the Tyson family lease, PenMet has stepped into the Tysons’ shoes as the party directly supervising Stutsman, the course operator. Since PenMet assumed that position, nothing major has been done to address any of the existing course deficiencies. This failure is the exact same failure PenMet is claiming the Tysons are responsible for. If PenMet were serious about continuing Madrona as a golf course, wouldn’t they be adamant in directing Stutsman to begin addressing some of the deficiencies?

Third, this is the time of year when golf courses in the Northwest, do much of their annual maintenance. The number of rounds being played is at its lowest during the winter months making it less disruptive to those wishing to play the course. If PenMet was serious about addressing these deficiencies, wouldn’t they be giving Stutsman some specific directions on what Stutsman needs to be doing now? Maybe they have, maybe they haven’t.

Fourth, since PenMet assumed the supervisory role over Stutsman, it has been noticed that PenMet is seldom on the course. Why aren’t they showing more concern if they feel the way things are being done justified terminating the Tysons’ lease?

Fifth, the course is continuing to deteriorate with each passing day. To my knowledge, Stutsman hasn’t been given any particular direction on what he should be getting done now. Isn’t this also the accusation they made against the Tysons? Is their own conduct the same or maybe even worse than the conduct they have accused the Tysons of?

Sixth, PenMet’s response to the ZTM offer accused ZTM of attempting to obtain a windfall profit by buying PenMet’s parcel at a price determined by its use as a golf course (this argument totally ignores the 50 year restriction that both parcels must be used solely as a golf course).  That value would be far below the parcel’s value at its highest and best use (most likely development into residential lots).  What guarantee do the taxpayers who support PenMet and the golfers who use Madrona have if PenMet acquires ZTM’s property through condemnation that the golf course will remain?  None except PenMet’s statements to that effect.  I ask you:  Which party has any potential for a windfall (meaning sudden and unexpected) profit?  ZTM would have to wait 50 years (so much for sudden).  PenMet, however, could buy  the 14 acres valued at its current use and then, at a time it selects (could be the day after obtaining title to the 14 acres), sell both parcels valued at their highest and best use at a huge profit.

Seventh, it’s hard to explain PenMet’s lack of interest in managing Madrona and its actions or lack thereof with respect to Stutsman without beginning to wonder what its end game might be.  One possibility:  PenMet, at some point, claims the course is too far gone and too expensive to rehabilitate  and operate leaving PenMet with no choice but to either change the golf course into some type of park or sell both parcels at a huge profit.  If you can explain PenMet’s current conduct with some other end game in mind, I would be anxious to hear your theory.

Craig McLaughlin

Fox Island

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