The District of Sechelt shut the doors and changed the locks at Porpoise Bay Golf Club (formerly Sechelt Golf and Country Club) on Monday, Jan. 9 after terminating two leases with Sechelt Golf and Country Club (SGCC) Ltd.
"We have taken as a consequence, control of the entire operation and that's to protect the assets of the golf club," said Sechelt Mayor John Henderson said at a media briefing Monday morning.
According to Henderson, the District of Sechelt owns the golf course land and they had an agreement with SGCC Ltd. to pay for use of the property, but Henderson said those payments were in serious arrears.
"What's owed to the District of Sechelt is $191,332 plus legal costs and so on associated with our efforts to collect," Henderson said, noting the District has also been advised other creditors are starting to take action against the company. "It's clear that the golf course was not going to survive in its present form. So really the action is being taken partly because we're owed money but mostly to protect the asset that we have."
The lands and assets of the golf course are now under the direct control of the District of Sechelt and they plan to retain key personnel and reopen the golf course after a complete inventory is undertaken.
They also plan to talk with the public about future options for the golf course at an informal meeting in the District of Sechelt council chambers on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m.
Henderson said the meeting will be more of a discussion about possibilities for the golf course and a chance for the public to ask any questions they might have.
For more on this story see the print and on-line editions of Coast Reporter on Friday, Jan. 13.
