Kayak Point Golf Course Property

7703 150th Pl NW. Stanwood, WA 98292


Kayak Point Golf Course is 270 Acres located only 12 miles from City of Marysville. This property was acquired from Atlantic Richfield in 1972 with the rest of Kayak Point Regional Park.


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As new information becomes available, this page will be updated to inform our neighbors and potential vendors/operators on the status of the property. To subscribe to our newsletter, click here, then subscribe to "Updates from Snohomish County Parks".


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UPDATES

2021

The RFP process was completed. The operator that was selected for the course is providing disc golf at the site. They have installed two courses, which are seeing excellent usage and they are planning to install another two courses. Learn more about the Kayak Point Disc Golf Resort.

December 2020

  • After reviewing the RFP proposals and evaluation scores from the October presentations, recommendations were made to the Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department Director. There is a qualified respondent that the Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department is currently in negotiations with.
  • Department response to NextDoor comments/concerns can be found here.

October 2020

  • Questions and answers to an email inquiry from one of our Kayak Point Golf Course property neighbors can be found here.
  • In response to that email, we have also attached a scanned copy of the existing concessionaire license agreement here.
  • 10/9/20: Update on RFP (request for proposals) 003-20SB - Two (2) of the four (4) proposers who submitted a written proposal related to the golf course property, via RFP 003-20SB,  provided a presentation to the RFP Evaluation Committee on Friday, October 9, 2020. Snohomish County Parks staff will review the proposals and evaluation scores and make recommendations to the Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department Director.

September 2020

Similar to the prior three (3) operators of the Kayak Point Golf Course property, Disc Golf Resorts, aka Chainbangers, applied and received a permit to sell alcohol via the State Liquor and Cannabis Board.


February 2020

  • Updated 2-11-2020 (RFP extended to 2/28/2020)
  • Updated 2-3-2020

RFP 003-20SB, (Request for Proposal) is now available on Snohomish County’s Purchasing webpage should you wish to turn in a hard copy, written proposal for the  Kayak Point Golf Course property or other Snohomish County Park locations as well. Purchasing Contact: Shannon Barker, 425-388-3344 


You will need to direct all phone calls, questions or conversations from January 31, 2020 – February 28, 2020 through the Snohomish County Purchasing Contact, Shannon Barker, 425-388-3344 who in turn will forward those questions or inquiries to the appropriate parks department employee to respond.


You will need to REGISTER AS A VENDOR TO VIEW THE RFP AND TURN IN A WRITTEN PROPOSAL to the county purchasing department. The link below will take you to the Snohomish County Purchasing Portal where you can register as a vendor.

https://snoco.procureware.com/home


December 2019

  • Updated 12-13-19

Snohomish County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism recently entered into a one year Concessionaire License Agreement with a vendor that turned in a written proposal through the most recent RFP (request for proposal) process.  In the near future the vendor will be operating a 72 disc golf course and will be making some minor improvements to the grounds to accommodate disc golf play and possibly open up the mini golf putt-putt course as well.


In addition, the vendor has also signed a Volunteer Caretaker Service Agreement and will be living onsite in an RV to provide additional monitoring and security to the club house building and the grounds as well. County Park Rangers will also continue to monitor the property on a daily basis as well.


September 2019

August 2019

July 2019

July 2019

  • Updated 4-29-19:
    • The second RFP ( RFP 09-19SB ) titled “ Public – Private Partnerships for Snohomish County Parks” where Kayak Point Golf Course Property was prominently highlighted was advertised on March 1, 2019 and closed on April 5, 2019. On April 9, 2019 the RFP Evaluation Committee met and evaluated all seven (7) of the written proposals received with five (5) of those being proposals to manage and operate the Kayak Point Golf Course property. The Evaluation Committee recommended to the Parks Department to contact the two (2) proposers that indicated they have nationwide golf course property management experience and hopefully the financial ability to partner with Snohomish County Parks in helping to manage and operate the 270 acre park property.
    • On April 12, 2019 County Park staff had a phone conversation, question and answer session, with the two strongest proposers. At the conclusion of that phone conversation it was agreed that the one company that indicated in their proposal that they would have an interest in perhaps contributing capital dollars at the park property if a long term agreement could be signed and executed was scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2019.
    • On Friday, April 26, 2019 County Park Staff and two representatives of that firm met, walked the site, and discussed their overall impression and evaluation of what options or recommendations they would propose. It was agreed that they would send county parks a letter outlining their recommendations and the associated costs. County Parks anticipates receiving this information in the next 2-3 weeks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why did the golf course close? 

Access Golf ended their operation at Kayak Point Golf Course on October 21, 2018.  Access Golf could no longer meet its contractual obligations of paying Snohomish County a flat fee of $90,000 per year in addition to the Surface Water Management Fees (SWM), 5% admission tax, and lease hold excise tax, etc. Snohomish County renegotiated the flat fee in 2017 for 2018 from $170,000 to $90,000 with the hope that Access Golf could continue to financially afford to operate the golf course with a lessor flat fee.


Why can't Snohomish County subsidize golf? 

Unlike cities that can choose to subsidize the cost of a government owned golf course, Snohomish County does not have the financial ability to do so. In 2017, the City of Bothell purchased the Wayne Golf Course and discontinued golf there while offering a passive-use park, public parking, and off-leash-dog-areas instead. The City of Everett has also indicated they are re-considering whether to continue to subsidize golf at Legion and Walter Hall Golf Courses. 


Why did Snohomish County go out for an RFP?

The RFP for the Kayak Point Golf Course property went live to the general public on 9/17/18 – 11/1/18 through the County’s purchasing website and via a wide spread press release. The RFP also went out to a national golf operator’s publication, over 60 interested or potentially interested vendors and neighbors, was on the front page of The Everett Herald and covered by The Seattle Times. Informative emails to concerned neighbors and park advocates went out from 9/17/18- 11/1/18.  All of these things happened in the hope we would attract golf course operators and/or a vendor interested in utilizing the 270 acre golf course property for other outdoor or indoor activities and events. 


What were the results of the first RFP (2019)? 

We received three (3) written proposals. One from a California company that wanted Snohomish County to pay them an annual fee of $45,000 plus $1,500 per month for accounting services, lease fifty (50) golf carts, and purchase, maintain, and repair other golf carts and all maintenance equipment. The second proposal received was from a local golf course operator of one golf course. The third proposal was from a disc golf operator. We asked the second and third proposers to present their business plan and strategy to the RFP Evaluation Committee and to the Snohomish County Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director. The Parks Director determined that neither standalone proposals were finically sustainable but did like several components of their proposals related to upgrading the restaurant, offering special events, and outdoor activities, etc. See below for info on RFPs in 2020.


Will any change affect surrounding property values? 

The change shouldn’t affect the surrounding property values even if the property is utilized as a public park. Property values around the nation have shown to increase 20% or more when near or adjacent to a public park. 


What is the future of this property? 

We are hoping with the next RFP to attract proposals from vendors interested in upgrading and improving the restaurant, scheduling or providing space for weddings, receptions, and other outdoor activities such as disc golf, cyclo-cross, equestrian events, etc. 


What is the next step in the process?

As of September 2020, there have been four (4) RFPs (request for proposals) with the 1st RFP including only the Kayak Point Golf Course property. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th RFP highlighted the Kayak Point Golf Course property along with the other 109 county park properties and trails. The four (4) proposals related to the Kayak Golf Course Property have been asked by the County Purchasing Department to put together a visual/oral presentation on Friday, October 9, 2020, which will be evaluated and scored by county park staff and county purchasing staff.  


Will a change to the property need to go to a vote of the Council?

Parks will conduct at least one public meeting with the neighbors at the golf course club house and invite comments to the county council when a determination(s) has been made for the short or long term plans for the property.