You'll have a chance to provide input to the Seattle Parks Department on the new West Seattle Golf Course Driving Range on Wednesday August, 4 from 7 to 8:30 pm at the course located at 4470 35th Ave SW.

It's part of the Golf Master Plan that Parks is moving forward on (see our coverage on this from last year). The parks department operates the Interbay Golf Center, Jackson Park, Jefferson and West Seattle Golf Courses.

Colin Gants - PGA Head Professional and General Manager said, "These guys that are coming in are not just Parks employees. They are professional range builders and they are going to present other ideas that might include moving the range or even doing away with netting, so I'm very excited to see what they have to say."

A driving range at the course is not a new idea of course. Construction on West Seattle Golf Course began in 1935 and it opened in 1940. But aerial photos in the clubhouse show no range was present until 1953. Gants speculated that it might have been built in preparation to be the Host Site of the 1953 USGA National Public Links Championship. That event had strict requirements for the host course including locker rooms and other emenities, "So they might have built it prior to the event to qualify," Gants said.

The original driving range was torn down in "approximately 1980" said Gants.

"They've chosen the company to build it, committed the $800,000 and are going ahead, so I'm very encouraged," Gants said.

The Master Plan states:
"Two options were identified for adding a driving range at West Seattle, including

1) construction on the former range site between the 9th hole and 35th Avenue and

2) construction on the 9th hole.

While option 2 puts the range closer to the clubhouse, it also has additional costs associated with rerouting the 9th hole to the north and could negatively impact the hole’s playability. Option 1 was therefore pursued even though the range would be approximately 350 feet from the clubhouse. Costs were developed for both a single story and double deck range on this site.

In both scenarios the netting would reach a maximum height of 120 feet. Significant excavation and grading is necessary due to the site’s topography, resulting in higher costs compared to driving ranges at other location. For the most part the range will not be visible from 35th Avenue since it is set down in the hillside and the mature trees in this area serve as a natural screen. However, some portions of the netting near the north end of the range could extend approximately 30 feet above the surface height of 35th Avenue and may be visible above the trees. Visual impacts to local neighbors can be mitigated through additional tree plantings and lighting schemes that direct all light onto the range rather than the surrounding neighborhood.

A third option for constructing a range on holes 17 and 18 and adding two new golf holes on the City owned property south of Brandon Street was also identified by golf stakeholders. This option was ruled out, however, due to higher construction costs and the negative impacts a range would have on views from the clubhouse. Retaining the Brandon Street property in a natural condition may also provide leverage as environmental mitigation for other projects.

Single Deck Driving Range Option with 25 stalls
Estimated Cost: $3.06 million
Double Deck Driving Range Option with 50 stalls
Estimated Cost: $3.42 million (recommended, Option 4B)