Navigation

Letter to the Editor: Courteous Professionalism Experienced during Visit to Totem Pole

Recent letters in the Peninsula Pulse from Ruth Chase and Jason Daubner reveal important concerns and potential conflicts within Peninsula State Park’s great golf course. How can the course best serve golfers and accommodate others hoping to see the historical totem pole? How might golfers and walkers safely share certain spaces? 

No easy answers, particularly considering the unpredictable paths of both hikers and golf balls. No easy answers, given the diverse parties, risks and liabilities. The Chase and Daubner letters could cultivate a helpful discussion. 

For now, I would simply offer an account of the kindness of two staff members who certainly seem to be doing their best. 

On Oct. 1, my wife and I visited the course wondering whether, when and how we might be allowed to see the totem pole and portions of the course. We simply walked up to the starter booth and inquired. The starter radioed a ranger who, within minutes, arrived in a cart, drove us to the totem pole and then added a delightful 10-minute tour of several scenic areas. 

The starter and ranger could not have been more courteous or accommodating (and both declined gratuities). We were grateful, and we also wondered how, if at all, such a service could be extended to others.

We don’t know, but we hope the Chase and Daubner letters will stimulate a cooperative discussion. In the meantime, we can reassure readers that, if the starter and ranger we met typify the courteous professionalism of the staff, visitors are already in very good hands.

Charlie Schudson

Sedona, Arizona, and Ellison Bay, Wisconsin