SEQUIM — After months of public speculation about the purchase, the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe is on the brink of buying the Dungeness Golf Course.
“We’re really close,” said Jerry Allen, assistant general manager of the tribe’s 7 Cedars Casino.
“The contracts are on my desk.”
His brother, Ron Allen, chairman of the Jamestown tribe, said Thursday that he expects the deal to be completed about Nov. 1.
“We’re excited,” said Allen.
The purchase will make a golf course available as part of the Jamestown tribe’s prodigious plans to build a destination resort.
The 18-hole course at 1965 Woodcock Road in northwest Sequim is located 14 miles from the Blyn casino, about 25 minutes away by car.
“This is another step for our overall resort project,” which includes a seven-story hotel just south of the casino on U.S. Highway 101, a Country Store and Gathering Place with a gas station east of the casino and an expansion of the casino itself.
The golf course would remain open to the public.
“We’ll keep the ‘Dungeness,’ but we may tweak the name.
“We’re thinking though: How do we adjust the name, so it reflects the resort?”
Rick Adell, Dungeness Golf Course owner and golf director, did not return calls for comment Thursday.
Allen declined to disclose the terms — including the sale price — but said the tribe will make many improvements.
“We’re going to upgrade the course itself,” improve cart paths and sand traps, replace carts and bring in new maintenance equipment, Allen said.
“The immediate thing is to bring in more players, to bring in the revenue that will pay for later upgrades.”
The new owner will make no staffing changes at the golf course, which includes a pro shop and restaurant.
“Their jobs are safe,” Allen said, adding that a few new positions may be created after the sale is final.