Comox council has unanimously approved a 25-year lease extension for the Comox Golf Club, paving the way for long-term investments in critical infrastructure upgrades while preserving the course as a key recreational space.
Council voted in favour of the extension on Feb. 18; the agreement provides the club with the stability needed to secure financing for major repairs and improvements, including upgrades to irrigation systems and grounds enhancements.
The lease is between Courtenay Golf Club Ltd. – a corporation in which the Town of Comox is the majority shareholder – and the non-profit Comox Golf Club.
Mayor Nicole Minions said the long-term agreement will help protect both recreation and economic vitality in the community.
“Recreation and green space are an essential part of our community’s well-being and Comox’s economic vibrancy,” Minions said in a release. “With this long-term agreement in place, the club can continue to plan for the future, and together we can explore new opportunities to strengthen our connections and better serve the broader community.”
In addition to maintaining the course as an active recreational space, the agreement introduces the potential for expanded public-use areas. Concepts under consideration include space for a public town square, a community garden and an active-use park – initiatives aimed at enhancing public access to open space and supporting downtown Comox.
Jack Hornstein, president of Courtenay Golf Club Limited, said the decision builds on more than a century of history.
“Courtenay Golf Club Limited has been in existence for over a hundred years. We are pleased to see the relationship between us, the Town of Comox and the Comox Golf Club continuing for another 25 years,” Hornstein said. “This is an important day as it continues to honour the legacy of Robert Filberg, one of the Town’s most prolific philanthropists.”
The Comox Golf Club has operated since 1928. Board chair Ash Megalli said the lease provides much-needed certainty.
“This lease provides the stability we need to invest in the course and its amenities,” Megalli said. “We are proud to work with the Town to maintain this important recreational space while also exploring new ways the property can continue to serve the evolving needs of the community.”
Further details about future public access areas will be posted on the Town of Comox website.
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