Dungeness Golf Course deal to close

2006-12-14
by

BY LEAH LEACH AND DIANE URBANI DE LA PAZ
Peninsula Daily News

DUNGENESS -- An agreement on the last sticking point in the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's bid to buy the Dungeness Golf Course has cleared the way to close the deal for about $3 million, said Ron Allen, tribal chairman, on Wednesday.

``We think we finally have reached an agreement. There were some complications with the membership that was making it very difficult to close the deal.''

``We'd like to find time next week to sign'' a revised contract, he said.

``It will be a Merry Christmas for everybody.''

Jerry Allen, assistant general manager of the 7 Cedars Casino, has been negotiating with the owners of the golf course at 1965 Woodcock Road northwest of Sequim for several months.

``We are on the precipice of getting this done,'' he said Wednesday.

Ron Allen said the tribe hopes to take possession by the first of the year.

``It was a matter of finding a number that worked for them. It had to work for us, too. It had to be a number that still made the property work. It's got to be able to run in the black and we think we've found that number.''

The Clallam County Assessor's Office had valued the parcels at 1965 Woodcock Road at more than $1.8 million.

Ron Allen said that once ownership has been transferred, ``we want to sit down with employees and make sure they are comfortable with our ownership. Everybody's jobs are secure.''

Rick Adell, director of golf and spokesman for the owners, was not available for comment late Wednesday.