The Meadows golf course in Pemberton could be under new management this spring if current owner Gord Bell is successful in finding a buyer.
Pique reached Bell on Tuesday after hearing his companies, Pemberton Meadows Golf Inc. and Hanily Golf Management Inc. took out an advertisement making people aware of the auction. According to Bell, the main reason for the sale relates to lifestyle. "It's been good, but I live in Squamish and the community (of Pemberton) is an hour and 15 minutes each way, at the end of a 12- or 14-hour day, and I'm looking for balance in my life. I want to liquidate my assets up there and pursue opportunities closer to home."
The Meadows assets — including the clubhouse facilities, machinery, irrigation system and the lease, which is good for another 20 years at $1 per year — are all included in the sale, with a minimum bid of $350,000. Qualified bidders will receive an audited financial statement from last year, a profit and loss (PnL) report and a list of assets to review before the sealed bid auction, which will close on Mar. 15, 2013.
With that date in mind, and given the state in which the course was "put to bed" at the end of last season, Bell says the new owners will have no issues having everything ready for opening day, which is typically in late April or early May.
As well as the assets, the new owners will also gain tenure to a new 60-lot RV park that was approved by the agricultural land commission last year, and all revenues from that facility.
