The West Seattle Golf Course Mens Club Board of Directors received a letter this week from acting Deputy Superintendent of Parks Eric Friedli that was a response to the emails, letters, and comments made at three public meetings, in which golfers shared their concerns over the proposal to locate the range on the 9th fairway which would require a redesign of three holes. Friedli's letter even goes so far as to suggest the driving range may not be built at all.

"Dear West Seattle Golf Club Board of Directors,
Earlier this morning I was forwarded an email sent to your membership concerning plans for the driving range at the West Seattle Golf Course. I appreciate you asking your members to continue to express their thoughts on the project. I want to let you know that Acting Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams and I have closely reviewed the proposed plans for the course, the public comment that has been submitted via letter, email, and during the public meetings, and the costs and funding available for the project. We have asked staff to conduct an additional review and analysis of the West Seattle Driving Range project in the context of the entire Golf Master Plan for our review in early January. In your 'call to action' email you indicate that the City plans to "press ahead with the [driving range] project." I want to assure you that we are reviewing the project and it is entirely possible that we will not press ahead with the driving range project. I appreciate your ongoing interest and passion for golf at West Seattle. We want to make sure that if the project at West Seattle does move forward it is consistent with the history of the course and meets the needs of the golfers (I have reviewed the many comments that indicate it does not) and if it does not go forward we are able to adjust the overall Golf Master Plan in a way that meets the needs across all our municipal courses.

Again, thank you for continued interest and patience as we conduct this review. We will be back in touch in mid-January.

Sincerely,
Eric Friedli