Re: “Fees at Chambers Bay too high for residents” (Your Voice, 8-26).
I respectfully disagree with Lee Schriver regarding the green fees at Chambers Bay Golf Course.
Chambers Bay was designed to hold high-level tournaments and to attract golfers from around the world. It has achieved that in its first year of operation. The U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open will be conducted there in 2010 and 2015, respectively, and golfers from dozens of countries have played there.
Thousands of golfers from Pierce and surrounding counties have played Chambers Bay and enjoyed the experience immensely. Many have returned several times. These local players relish the chance to play a U.S. Open course without traveling to Pebble Beach and other sites at a much higher expense.
The current fee structure is appropriate for maintaining the integrity and character of the course. Overuse of a new course can lead to rapid deterioration, which is why the number of rounds played on it should be limited until the course matures. The current fees based on the appropriate rounds of play will ensure there will be sufficient revenue to properly maintain the high quality of the course.
I applaud John Ladenburg’s vision for a golf course so special it has captured the golf world’s attention and praise since its opening in June 2007. Chambers Bay provides Pierce County citizens a special place where they can enjoy golf, walking, beachcombing, concerts, picnics and other activities for generations. (Kuo is president and CEO of Cascadia Development Corp.)
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