Birdies are a good thing on a golf course and eagles are even better. Cats, on the other hand, are nothing but trouble.
A band of feral cats, perhaps as many as 60, had been secretly living in the crawl space of the Enumclaw Golf Course clubhouse. Felines apparently care little about electrical systems and even less about insulation.
The unwanted, four-legged freeloaders were just one of the subjects addressed by Larry Fetter March 8 as he updated members of the Enumclaw City Council on recent upgrades to the city-owned links.
As director of the Parks and Recreation Department, Fetter has ultimate responsibility for the municipal course. The city, which took ownership of the course from King County several years ago, has been running things since Jan. 1. The city previously had a private contractor who managed all details at the 18-hole facility, but the operator chose to step away from the arrangement. Efforts to find a replacement brought unsatisfactory results, leaving the city in charge for the time being.
The city will again look for someone to take over operations at the course, starting the process later in the year. Fetter hopes to land a better field of candidates the second time around because many of the course concerns will have been addressed.
Some of the shortcomings have been tackled and eliminated, Fetter told the council.
For example, there are new countertops and plenty of new paint. But that was the uncomplicated part.
When work crews got ready to tackle some water-damaged flooring, it was discovered the underlying trusses had rotted to the point of being unsafe. That framework, below the clubhouse floor and above a storage area, were exposed so extensive work could be done.
That’s when the cats were discovered. Fetter said they had taken up residence and left damage in their wake.
“I knew this was a building that needed some TLC,” Fetter told the council.
On the bright side, getting the work done now “will add many years of life to the kitchen.”
In other golf course news, Fetter said the number of rounds played in January was up from those in previous years, while the number of rounds played in February was down.
“It has everything to do with the weather,” he said.
Also, Fetter noted course equipment has been rolling in, including a fleet of golf carts the city is renting.
On a final golf course item, a glaring deficiency has been addressed. Needing a concessionaire, the city put out a call for someone to provide the food and drink expected by golfers.
Getting the nod was Ed Coppin, owner of New York Deli in Enumclaw. He will be responsible for all equipment, staff, inventory, licenses and permits. In return, he will keep all the profits. Due to the temporary nature of the arrangement, the city is not asking for a cut of the revenues.
