A historic Vancouver Island golf course that was in danger of closing has found an unexpected buyer. The Town of Qualicum Beach is stepping up to purchase the sprawling Eaglecrest Golf Course.
When Harvey Hurd steps up to play golf, he feels his age of 85 years disappear. Still the powerful slinger of a drive that defies gravity, he plays his favourite golf course, Eaglecrest, in Qualicum Beach five times per week.
“It has challenges, it’s really good,” said Hurd, a Lantzville resident who drives 30 minutes each way to play Eaglecrest Golf Course.
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The 50-year-old golf course is built on the nearly century-old McRae family farm, and is full of mature towering trees, rolling greens and ocean air.
“It’s part of our history. Part of our culture,” said Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek.
So the Town of Qualicum Beach is stepping up to save the 100 acre course that is in danger of closing.
“Well if we don’t take this opportunity now, this golf course will be shut down. The owners told us that. If this deal doesn’t go ahead. It will be closed,” Westbroek told CHEK News on Monday.
To avoid the town having to raise property taxes to pay for the $8.5 million purchase, the town plans to sell off 10 acres of the golf course, to be developed into housing.
“I think this is one of the greatest things that is happening in the area right now. I mean, we’re so full of people that want to play golf, that the wait times at other courses is extraordinary,” said Hurd.
News of the plan was well received on the golf course Monday.
“I think the proposal is perfect. It’s good for the community, it’s good for the golfers and I think it will pass with flying colours,” said Eaglecrest golfer Jim Collie.
“We don’t want to leave up to speculation, what might happen in the future,” said Westbroek.
So far, the town and the owners of Eaglecrest Golf Course have reached a conditional agreement to purchase, but Qualicum taxpayers will make the final call, whether to play on. Public consultations on the plan will begin in August.
