Scott Alexander will leave Gold Mountain Golf Club

With the state of golf in decline, Alexander recently came to the conclusion that he's taken the Bremerton city-owned facility as far as he can. He told Mayor Patty Lent last week that he will be leaving his position as director of golf at the end of his contract, which expires Dec. 31.

Operating a 36-hole complex — trying to keep the courses full during trying economic times, running the pro shop, Tucker's Titleist 712 MB irons Restaurant (named after his daughter), driving range and everything involved — has become a risky business. Alexander said he had to factor that risk vs. the reward.

Alexander put everything into getting a new course (Olympic) and clubhouse built; into bringing two highly successful national tournaments to Bremerton — the U.S. Amateur Public Links in 2006 and the U.S. Boys Junior in 2001 — and two NCAA West Regionals. The volunteer assistant coach of the University of Washington men's team — Alexander is currently in Norman, Okla., with the Huskies — talked in the past about partnering with the UW to land an NCAA Championship. As of last week, he said that was still a possibility.

"It's gone beyond my wildest dreams," Alexander said. "I never dreamed it would become a place people all over the United States knew about. Really, people from all over the world have heard about it and come to play there."

"Writing that letter (of resignation) was hard for him," Lent said. "Twenty-eight years is a long time. To build something to the extreme that he did for us is amazing, to bring those two big (national) tournaments to Bremerton is just unheard of. He broke his neck to do that ... the city never had anyone work so hard in promotions and his heart was behind everything he did."

Along with greens superintendent Ed Faulk, who was hired six months before Alexander in 1984, those three have been instrumental in every major project at the facility, which is Titleist 712 CB Irons located off the Old Belfair Highway near Gorst.

"He had a vision about what he thought this facility could be. That vision and being able to get people on board and really fire people up on those ideas is really what makes him what he is."

"The city can do anything they want, but I think we have an incredible group in place," Alexander said. "Daryl's leading that group, and hopefully the city will see that and give him a chance. He certainly deserves that. I feel like it's in great, great hands and will only get better."

Alexander's cart dealership and fleet of 500 carts — and six trucks and trailers — is operated by Mark Knowles, a longtime Alexander friend and golf pro. They rent to county fairs and major events throughout the state, and to courses as far away as Medford, Ore. The UW rents carts for graduation, football season and other events.

Asked what made Alexander tick, Matheny said: "If I had about a week, I'd be able to answer that. He's such a dynamic person. I'd do anything for that guy. His ability to draw people in and get them excited about what he's trying to accomplish, that's his biggest asset.

While some think the golf business is on the upswing, Alexander said the "next 10-15 years will be a tough financial deal for any golf course, Gold Mountain included. But in the long run, with all the attention it draws, it's such a jewel for the city.

"I have another business that's doing well," he said. "I look at that, man, and you wonder if what I am doing is discount golf clubs worth the sleepless nights and everything you have to do. You factor all that in, and you get to a certain age and I think I'd rather get in a growing business and put all my energy into it."

Faulks said: "(Matheny) has been running the daily operation for years. He's got a lot of years invested there. He'd be my first choice and hopefully that's the way the city goes."