Sunland aims to entice new golfers

SEQUIM — As its new general manager, Michael Snyder looks to implement a new “bare bones budget” initiative to bring in more golfers and green to the Sunland Golf & Country Club.

Some of the initiatives include Discover Golf Day on Saturday, new public tee times Fridays and “Twilight Golf” after 2 p.m. weekdays at the course at 109 Hilltop Drive.

The club faced an estimated $250,000 shortfall as revealed this summer in club newsletters and at a special meeting Aug. 15 with the SunLand Owners Association, a separate nonprofit from the for-profit club.

Since taking on the new role Sept. 1 (while continuing as the 18-hole course’s superintendent after nearly four years), Snyder said he and board members continue to take a close look at all departments for ways to improve.

One of the club’s biggest deficits, he said, was found in the club’s food and beverage business. Board members agreed to suspended catering operations, and to close its cafe Tuesdays and Thursdays. Snyder said they honored their catering commitments through the end of September and were talking with numerous caterers to outsource food for the club’s various activities and events in its ballroom.

Personnel-wise, Snyder said 11 part-time and seasonal employees were let go across the club’s departments, leaving 16 employees in place through the club’s fiscal year March 31.

Because of the changes, Snyder said, “the initial shortfall is going to be much less.”

He attributes the effort to club board President Bruce Mullikin for being proactive.

“Membership has been very positive about stepping up, especially our board,” Snyder said.

Board members have volunteered to fill vacant spots in the club, he said.

Mullikin wrote to homeowners via email that the board’s new business plan started eight months earlier than scheduled, “to protect our only real shared asset, the beauty of a community surrounding an equally beautiful golf course.”

Following changes to the club’s food services, Mullikin wrote in the club’s newsletter, the board will focus on signing up new golfing and social members for the rest of 2018.

“We’re going to roll out initiatives at every level to foster a broader sense of community involvement,” Snyder said.

A big part of that includes more availability to the public.

Sunland Golf & Country Club now opens to the public at noon Fridays and has all-day play Saturdays and Sundays.

The public also can sign up for Twilight Golf packages where players can play a round after 2 p.m. seven days a week at $1 per hole for nine or 18 holes.

Snyder said the package encourages beginner golfers and/or new golfers to the course to visit.

Associate level, non-equity golf memberships have been simplified as well from age-based groups to flat fees, Snyder said.

Now, an individual associate membership costs $200 a month for unlimited golf while a family costs $275 a month.

Snyder said new members can pay the membership fees all at once or monthly so long as they commit for the year.

At an August special meeting, some club members said opening to the public hasn’t been a significant financial positive. Some residents said the public doesn’t care for the course the same way members do.

“Just playing golf is tough on a golf course,” Snyder said. “We’ll have to mitigate maintenance and with not having a lot of members, it doessn’t get a lot of wear and tear.”

Snyder said he and board members hope the initiatives generate more money before bad weather hits for the winter.

“We have to get more exposure to the golf course in order to grow membership,” he said.

“That’s the mantra if we’re going to succeed.”

Discover Golf

Another way Snyder seeks new players is through Discover Golf Day on Saturday, a special event designed to introduce Sunland to beginner and seasoned golfers.

Green fees will be waived for the first 100 golfers, he said.

They’ll also offer free golf clinics for 15 people each from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. that day.

Participants for the clinic must RSVP by calling 360-683-6800. Snyder recommends golfers check for tee times that day, too.

For more information about Sunland Golf & Country Club, call 360-683-6800 or visit www.sunlandgolf.com.

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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.