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The Mid-county Memo is your newspaper. We want to hear from you. Discuss an important issue or address a concern you want to call to the attention of the community. We prefer e-mailed letters to the editor sent to Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Please put “Letter to the editor” in the subject line. You may also mail your letter to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230 or fax it to 503-249-7672. Deadline for the January issue is Monday, Dec. 16
Transfer Glendoveer to city control
To the Editor:
In 1993, Metro assumed control of Glendoveer's two18-hole courses at Northeast 140th Avenue and Glisan Street, replacing Multhomah County.
It kept in place the courses' long-time local management company, Glisan Street Recreation, Inc., signing a multi-year contract, which ended a year ago.
As the contract neared its end, Metro began showing signs that it really did not understand how to manage the property. The 240-acre heavily-treed course has been a major community asset and point of pride. Its relatively modest green fees have encouraged play by area residents and the indoor tennis courts were used often. The property contains one difficult 18-hole course and a second shorter one that is ideal for seniors, women and beginners, and is among the best 18-hole courses for these groups in the city.
Two years ago, Metro announced plans to turn Glendoveer, with its two highly rated courses, into a “first rate” facility with appropriately higher green fees. Metro suggested that somehow this would still serve the surrounding neighborhood because, as Metro staffers saw it, the Glendoveer community is economically and demographically similar to that surrounding Red Tail (the former Progress Downs), near Washington Square; furthermore, it suggested turning the shorter 18-hole course into a park. A public outcry-10,000 signatures collected over 10 days-dramatically derailed those plans.
Over the last 10 years of its contract, GSR invested substantial money in the courses and wrote checks for $750,000 to $1,000,000 to Metro each year as part of the agreement. Metro invested nothing in the facility, using this money for other purposes. The tennis courts, along with a pro shop, driving range and restaurant-Ringside East-were added earlier by GSR (a $2.5 million investment) as part of its management agreement with Multnomah County. GSR paid nearly $30,000,000 in lease payments over the life of its agreement with Multnomah County and Metro.
Metro decided to take control of Glendoveer and collect all the revenue by opening up the management of the facility to bids at the end of its last 10-year contract with GSR. New management would be paid a fee, but Metro would receive the gross revenue. Against the recommendation of its advisory committee, it chose a California manager over a more favorable bid from the local GSR. In fact, the advisory committee ranked GSR's proposal first, but Metro staff reversed that and ranked the GSR bid last. GSR chose not to challenge the Metro staff decision, assuming long-term staff would be retained.
Much to the surprise of GSR, the new group got rid of nearly all existing management staff. It dismissed long time superintendent George Walker (40 years) and “made it attractive” for others to leave rather than accept lower wages and a loss of benefits. Subsequently, they were replaced with lower wage, no-benefit positions. This caused one observer to suggest, “Metro is trying to become the WalMart of the golfing industry.” It closed the driving range pro shop, leaving driving range users without staff support, and demanded that the golf pro work for lesson fees only; supportable in some affluent areas, but not in the community surrounding Glendoveer.
In a contradiction, the new California management company hired a golf pro from Arizona on salary after forcing the long-time Oregon golf pro (34-years) to leave that position.
Course managers from Arizona, California and Colorado were brought in to supervise. Under them, tees and greens deteriorated this year until the recent fall rains came. No licensed Class A course superintendent has been hired (as required by the contract with Metro) to replace Walker. In addition, following Metro's requirements, all proposals highlighted “green” practices in their applications. Under the new management, the recycling receptacles are emptied into a single dumpster along with the garbage at the end of each day.
Over the last year, the Glendoveer Men's Club has lost at least half its members. The long-running Duden tournament was cancelled.
As people who love Glendoveer, have spent most of their lives around golf in Portland, and have no financial stake-GSR has no interest in re-acquiring the management contract-we believe the interests of the Glendoveer golfing community, the Glendoveer neighborhood and the metropolitan area, would be better served if Glendoveer were turned over to Portland Public Golf.
Besides our deep love for Glendoveer, we think having two governmental bodies involved in public golf in Portland is inefficient and redundant. Why should Metro be in the golf business, too?
The city of Portland has a record of accomplishment of excellent course management at Eastmoreland, Rose City, Red Tail and Heron Lakes, effectively managing some of the finest municipal golf courses in the country. Furthermore, why send the annual fee ($138,000 and escalating annually-GSR's proposal was a flat $100,000 per year) out of state, when we have this nationally acclaimed local organization.
Metro does many things. It does some of them well. However, it has not shown itself to be a good steward for this valuable community resource.
Metro, which is also under fire for its handling of the convention center hotel, should opt out of its contract with the California-based course manager this December.
It is in the best interests of Glendoveer Golf Course and its stakeholders to find a local steward whose sole focus is golf course operations, with the experience and expertise to have a positive impact here.
We hope Metro will begin discussions with the city of Portland to explore transferring control of this valuable community resource.
John Wykoff
Glendoveer golf enthusiast
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Metro not trustworthy
To the Editor:
I feel Metro was disingenuous in their request for bids to manage Glendoveer Golf Course when the 10-year agreement with Glisan Street Recreation, Inc. came up for renewal last year. I am appalled that Metro has ignored most of the important requirements under the request for bids. This is both irresponsible and unfair. Their request for bids was well thought-out and gave hope that we could make significant improvements benefitting all users of the facility.
We were prepared immediately to spend $100,000 to build a golfer's room in the pro shop, including a covered patio in the area where the carts are currently stored and remodel the bathrooms to make them compliant with handicapped access requirements. Upon award of the contract, Metro was adamant these improvements be made promptly. We had a line of credit approved for $500,000 so we could proceed with improvements without the need for Metro to come up with cash and so that we could avoid delays making the improvements required under terms of the contract. We were not charging Metro interest on this financial contribution. These required improvements have yet to be made.
The fact that Metro has allowed the new operator to proceed without a class A course superintendent is a disgrace and in direct violation of the contract provisions. The failure of Metro to enforce the contract provisions regarding waste disposal is another clear violation of the contract provisions. This would require minimal investment on the part of the current operator and would demonstrate they were on board with Metro's desire for a green operation. The request for bids was explicit in calling for this to be done by the operator. The emphasis was on green operations and increased use of all the facilities. It is unclear to me how ripping out the practice putting green near the driving range, closing the driving range pro shop and siting a cart building in an area which will block use of the jogging path will increase use of the facilities for all stakeholders. If Metro were, in fact, sincere in its desire for green operations it would site the cart building where the current maintenance facility exists and remodel or rebuild that facility, which is the oldest existing structure and an environmental hazard.
These failures constitute a breach of the public trust and demonstrate that Metro has neither the experience nor the necessary staff to implement the changes required to meet the vision that it has for Glendoveer. The city of Portland has nearly a century of experience in operating first class golf facilities for the public. Portland Public Golf is the logical choice to meet the needs of the Glendoveer stakeholders. It has the experience and staff to execute the Metro plan. Just as important, the people running it have the public trust. Metro has demonstrated it is not trustworthy.
Jim Hickey - Former board member, Green Street Recreation, Inc.
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