Public to Quincy port: Stay the course

QUINCY — The advisory over the doorway of the room in the Quincy City Council chambers recommended not having more than 52 people in occupancy.

There were enough avid golfers in Quincy, apparently, to put the maximum to the test.

More than 50 people gathered in the chambers Thursday evening to let their feelings be heard regarding the Port of Quincy's possible purchase of the Quincy Golf Club.

The port had been approached before about taking over the operation, and asked by various members of the public to consider buying it, Commissioner Curt Morris said.

The three major issues the port needs to look at are the price, legalities of taking over the operation and water.

The legalities fall into something of a gray area for the port, Morris told the audience.

"As long as it was there to support industry and tourism, it fell within our reign of being able to look at, or sponsor or work on," he said.

The biggest issue might be the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District, Morris added.

"If that irrigation district all of a sudden decides irrigation water is not to be used for a golf course, even though it's been grandfathered in along the way, that will be a major problem," he said.

The majority of the people in the audience were for the port district moving forward and taking over control of the course. Arguments for maintaining operation of the course included attracting more residents into the Quincy area and offering an opportunity for Quincy area adults and youth, as well as housing the Quincy High School golf team.

Lenora Anabel said she, husband Charles and their youngest son first built the course.

"It's needed here in this area," she said. "We're really excited to think it's going to maybe come back."

Andy Goto thinks purchasing the course would be a worthwhile project for the port district.

"If they can get the start-up going in a short period of time, because as soon as the weather breaks like it is now, people want to go out and golf," he said.

Goto said the Quincy men's club has to set up its program for the whole year. Without the golf course, the club would have to merge with the Crescent Bar club on a nine-hole course and he number of members in the Quincy club would be dispersed.

The lone voice of dissent in the audience belonged to Mark Stansfield, citing negative impacts the last time the Quincy port district operated a golf club in Crescent Bar in the 1970s.

"I've got nothing against this golf course, I think it's great to go forward with it, but if the port does, you better be prepared to lose money," he said. Stansfield said the money to be made in golf courses comes from development of the land around it and not greens fees. "My advice is, let it go to somebody in the private sector … You do a good job with what you're doing right now, I think you've got a plateful, I'd like to congratulate you on getting new business and what you've done, and more power to you. My advice is, stay with what you do best."

Course owner Charley O'Banion said there was definite interest in the room, and more support than he was expecting, at a time when snowbirds are elsewhere.

"We're giving the city of Quincy a chance to keep it an 18-hole course," he said. "We've got a lot of different options available, but this is an asset to the community."

As the port investigates its options, O'Banion said he and brother/co-owner Randy would take the decision before their family and take everything into consideration.

"It's just a matter of figuring out what resources we have to deal with," he said. "All these people, they want the golf course open right away. If I can do it, I'd like to do it. I had to wait for this meeting to see what kind of public opinion they had here, and whether they really wanted to do it or not."

At the meeting's end, Morris and fellow port Commissioner Brian Kuest said the district would proceed with investigation of taking over operation of the course.

"Obviously they came here with the idea it was positive, and they wanted to show support for moving forward," Kuest said. "I think they understand the benefit is community-wide, not just for a few. That helps in our focus moving forward to know it's not just individual; it's community."

Morris agreed, saying the port's focus would be developing a community golf course, not a country club.

The port plans to look into the three issues. If the district receives positive answers, Morris said the commissioners need to consider how to operate and set up the course and consider appraisals, which Kuest said would be critical.

"If the appraisals don't meet their expectations, we go no further; we're done," he said, citing Washington law allowing the port to pay only appraisal cost.