New golf course could be in the works for Westport, Wash.

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Updated: December 30, 2022

In 2019, Westport Golf INC approached Washington State Parks with a proposal to construct, operate and manage a Scottish links style “artisanal” golf course and a 30- to 40-room inn as part of overall development of Westport Light State Park near Westport.

On Aug. 7, 2020, Washington State Parks and Westport Golf INC entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlining the process steps — or milestones — that must be taken for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to consider this request.

The milestones include:

    Pre-scoping (conducting ecological and environmental studies)

    Analyzing of site opportunities and constraints based on what was learned in the pre-scoping milestone

    Developing a master plan development

    Conducting State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) review

These steps will provide the Commission with enough information to consider approving the proposed master plan for Westport Light State Park. Throughout the process, State Parks, Westport Golf INC and the City of Westport will work together to host public and stakeholder meetings to keep the public informed and collect input.

The environmental and ecological studies for Westport Light State Park have been completed. Westport Golf Links Economic Impact Study has been completed.

The December 8, 2022 meeting updated the public on the progress and status of the ongoing master planning effort at Westport Light State Park to consider a Scottish-style links golf course. The presentation provided a summary of findings of the environmental and economic site analysis conducted, introduce the golf course conceptual design, and discuss next steps in the planning process.

Westport offers the perfect setting for an authentic links golf course and is reminiscent of the Old Course at St. Andrews, the home of golf, and the most famous links course in the world.

Golf course designer David McLay Kidd has left his mark all over the Pacific Northwest. Now comes another potential new project – as he is working on a new golf course in Westport, Wash., on the Washington Coast. There are not many courses along the Washington Coast meaning a course in Westport could be a welcome addition to the Northwest.

The course would be called Westport Golf Links.

“Westport provides a unique golf setting that mirrors many of the finest links courses along the Scottish and Irish Coasts,” said Kidd, who has designed Bandon Dunes and Gamble Sands.

Meetings and planning are early in the stages but a golf course could be on the way for the Washington Coast. Stay tuned.