Everett’s Legion Memorial Golf Course and Walter E. Hall Memorial Golf Course are two of Washington’s most venerable 18-hole public facilities.
Niki Desautels / The Herald
In 2005, Legion Memorial totaled over 56,000 rounds, an impressive mark given that many public courses are in the 35,000-45,000 range for a single year. Still, what Legion Memorial accomplished pales compared to the lofty figure of approximately 66,000 rounds at its cross-town sibling, Walter Hall.
Also, the combined total of about 122,000 rounds for Legion Memorial and Walter Hall was the city’s highest since 1994.
So why the recent golfing boom in Everett? Well, to reword a phrase from the movie ”Field of Dreams,” ”If you cut prices, they will come.”
That’s right, it costs decidedly less to play at Legion Memorial and Walter Hall than it did a year ago, when golfers paid $34 to play at Legion Memorial on weekdays (excluding Friday), and $38 on weekends and holidays. At Walter Hall, those same costs were $26 and $30.
Last June, though, the city council, following the recommendation of Everett mayor Ray Stephanson, enacted a large cut in green fees. The cost to play Legion Memorial fell to $28 on weekdays (excluding Friday) and $30 on weekends and holidays. At Walter Hall, the new price was $18 on weekdays (excluding Friday) and $20 on weekends and holidays.
Predictably enough, the golfing public was delighted. In particular, they flocked to Walter Hall, where the $18 weekday rate is the most inexpensive round of golf in the county, save for a couple of nine-hole courses and maybe a discount here and there.”
According to Everett parks director Susan Francisco, the rate decrease was prompted by a significant shortfall in golfing revenues. Although ”there was probably some risk involved,” she said, a consultant’s study had shown that lowering green fees would actually help point the two courses back toward profitability.
”Though it may seem like a contradictory effort to reduce rates when revenues are in a shortfall,” Francisco said, ”for us it worked. And to have an increase in the rounds like that is phenomenal. We’re very pleased about that.”
Of course, achieving an initial boost in play by slashing prices is one thing. Sustaining that increase with a quality golf experience is the ongoing challenge.
For Legion Memorial and Walter Hall, the aim has been to absorb the influx of extra golfers without anyone noticing the difference. The city wants returning customers, not one-time guests, and few golfers will abide six-hour rounds on clogged fairways, no matter the price.
To keep play from lagging, Legion Memorial and Walter Hall use first-tee starters some 12 hours a day and marshals make their rounds 10 hours a day. The idea, explained Bruce Christy, director of golf at both courses, is to get golfers off the opening tee at alternating eight- and seven-minute intervals, and then keep them moving around the course at a reasonable but steady clip.
”Having that many golfers on a golf course at one time is like putting everybody on the freeway at once at 8 o’clock in the morning,” Christy said. ”One slow group impacts everybody behind them for hours. So unless you put some controls over it, it’s going to increase the pace of play.”
Generally speaking, Legion Memorial and Walter Hall are maintaining their popularity. The best evidence is the number of rounds, which continues at a good pace, even though poor weather has slowed play this spring.
John Hulbert, a men’s club member at Legion Memorial, says the course ”is as good a public course as you can find. In my mind, for playability – for the good golfer, for the average golf and maybe even the beginning golfer – Legion is the best in the county.”
As for the new prices, ”I thought it was a reasonably priced golf course at $34,” Hulbert said. ”But at $28 it’s a bargain.”
Roy Rumery, meanwhile, has played Walter Hall since it opened 34 years ago and is today the men’s club president. Despite the crowds, he said, course officials ”have maintained the marshals’ procedures fairly well. Just having them out there keeps play moving along pretty well.”
The new green fees, Rumery added, ”are really good rates in this day and age.”
Everett officials cannot say if 2006 will end up being as successful as 2005 for the two courses, but compared to a few years ago when ”golf was really hurting,” Christy said, the outlook is generally rosy.
”Golf in Everett right now is a positive,” he went on. ”The people in Everett and in the surrounding areas have definitely shown that they enjoy these facilities because of the quality of the golf courses. We’d also like to think it’s because of the customer service aspect, and the fact that they can see we’re really trying to make that experience a real positive for everyone.”
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