Seattle's municipal greens are up for grabs, and Seattle Parks and Recreation is calling all golfers to the tee. They've initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new Golf Management Firm and are incorporating community voice into the selection process. Golfers and stakeholders are invited to join SPR staff at a series of listening sessions to pitch their ideas and concerns, with the aim of influencing the final RFP document that will eventually select a firm to manage Seattle's four public golf courses for the next decade.
According to an announcement by SPR Superintendent AP Diaz, the city oversees four municipal golf courses, with operator contracts renewing every 10 years. "We need input to put out a request for the golf operator group and get an operators on board for the next 10 years. I encourage users/golfers of our courses to participate," Diaz stated, emphasizing the necessity of golfer engagement in the selection process.
The sessions will take place throughout June at various golf locations across the city, starting with West Seattle Golf on June 17, followed by Jefferson Park Golf on June 18, Jackson Park Golf on June 20, and Interbay Golf Center on June 21. These engagement opportunities, running from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., aim to tee off a collaborative approach, providing a platform for the golf community to contribute insights and shape the future of their beloved courses.
By bringing in community input, SPR expects to tailor the Golf Management RFP to reflect the desires and feedback from actual users of the golf courses. The information gleaned from these sessions will be shared with applicants, thereby ensuring that potential managers understand the community's expectations and the changes they might be asked to undertake. The goal is to finalize a partnership with the chosen firm by the year's end—just in time to drive into a fresh start for Seattle's fairways in 2025.
