Message From Semiahmoo Golf Centre Ltd.

The Save Eaglecrest Task Force has been asked to forward the attached letter from Mr. Paul Kim to our email distribution list and also to post it on our blog site.

It is our expectation that the information meeting will be of critical importance to all members of the community and strongly encourage everyone to attend.

Marlys Diamond/Jim Collie
Co-Chairs Save Eaglecrest Committee

Dear Members of Eaglecrest Golf Club,

Semiahmoo Golf Centre is a family operated business based out of South Surrey since 1990. We are looking for golf investment opportunities and were introduced to Eaglecrest Golf Club by Doug Bose, a local realtor whom we have had previous deals with.

After analyzing the golf club and its financial statements, we realized that Eaglecrest Golf Club is not "turn-key" business. There needs to be change. On January 4th, we will outline the current problems and present our proposed changes that will solve those issues.

Our information meeting will be on Thursday, January 4th, 2007 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. The schedules for the evening’s events are:

4:00 – 6:00 pm - View presentation boards and ask questions one-on-one
7:00 - 7:30 pm - Introductions and presentation
7:30 – 8:30 pm - Questions and answer period
8:30 – 9:00 pm – Fill out surveys


We ask that everyone attend so that we can solve these issues together. Your feedback and continued support is essential. Our goal is to have a financially feasible golf course that will be enjoyed by the community and its visitors for many, many years to come. Let’s save Eaglecrest!

Sincerely,
Paul Kim
Semiahmoo Golf Centre

News Update – December 22, 2006

The following announcement was made today by Mr. Peter Dutton, Director of Operations, Eaglestar Golf Inc.

Today was the date for the expected completion of the due diligence phase of the sale of both Morningstar Golf Course and Eaglecrest Golf Club; the following is the status of the sale for each course.

Eaglecrest Golf Club.

The date for the completion of the due diligence on the sale of Eaglecrest has been extended to January 10, 2007; there are still some issues outstanding that have to be resolved.

The golf course will be closing, as previously planned, on December 31, 2006, and a caretaker will be on site each day to ensure the safety and security of the site.

Assuming that the sale of the golf course completes as we expect, it is our understanding at this time, that the new owners will operate the golf course and that it should be reopening in the latter part of February or early March.

Effective December 28, 2006, Eaglestar’s Administration Offices will be relocated to:

Morningstar Golf Course
525 Lowry’s Road,
Parksville, B.C.
V9P 2R8

Phone - (250) 248 – 2244
Fax - (250) 248 – 8188





Morningstar Golf Club.

Morningstar Golf Course will not be sold and it will continue to be owned by the Operating Engineers Pension Plan and operated by Eaglestar Golf Inc.


The members lounge in the clubhouse will become the new site of the Eaglestar Accounting Offices.

BREAKING NEWS

In a meeting held yesterday between Mr. Paul Kim ( the prospective purchaser), Mr. Lionel Railton, CEO of Morningstar, and the “Save Eaglecrest Committee” it was announced that if the Kim deal proceeds, the closing date would be moved up to Dec 31, 2006 and the Kim’s would operate the property as a golf course. Mr. Kim cautioned that he still has until Dec 22nd to make his final decision and that his decision will be based on the viability of the property as a golf course and not based on development of property. They did not eliminate, however, the possibility of a possible development proposal at some future date.

Mr. Railton stated that the sale, if completed, will consist of the assets of the golf course only and not the business. Therefore, the outstanding issue of golf memberships will remain the responsibility of the Operating Engineers Pension Fund (i.e., Eaglestar Golf Inc.). Mr. Railton further stated that Morningstar Golf Course would no longer be part of the purchase agreement and Eaglestar Inc would continue to operate that course. He also reiterated that if the sale does not proceed it is still the intention of Eaglestar Inc to shut down the course on Dec 31, 2006

“Save Eaglecrest Task Force” Launches Blog Site

The following article was written by Jim Collie, Co-chair of the Save Eaglecrest Task Force, and was first published in the December, 2006, issue of The Eagle Eye, a newsletter of the Eaglecrest Residents' Association.

Since the November 2006 distribution of the Special Edition of the Eagle Eye, the "Save Eaglecrest Task Force", co-chaired by Marlys Diamond and myself, has been very busy.

We have had further meetings with Mayor Westbroek to ensure Town Council maintains the continued strong support that was committed at the Civic Centre meeting, and subsequently in various press releases. We also discussed the E.R.A.’s recommendation for a new bylaw. Its intent is to ensure that any vacant (unused) golf course land would be maintained to a significantly higher standard than is required by current bylaws. We have been extremely pleased with the support provided by the Town and it is hoped the new bylaw will soon be in place.

The Task Force continues to pursue all opportunities to purchase the golf course as a community member-owned course. We have been actively collecting golf course data from many sources and are well down the road in the development of a full business plan. This option will require the financial support of the community as well as golfers, but will really only be available to us if the selling price reflects the true market value of the property as a golf course. We have had many discussions with the Sales Agent and lately with the prospective purchaser, the Kim family, on this issue. To date both parties are only prepared to entertain a selling price that reflects increased "value" resulting from residential development. We now know that the motivation for the potential purchase of the property is the profit derived from development. We cannot support any development options that would jeopardize the long-term commitment to a sustainable 18-hole golf course.

The "due diligence" period for the purchase by the Kim family ends on Dec 22nd, 2006 and they have a decision to make: purchase the property and operate it as a golf course (which is unlikely); sit on the investment and hope Eaglecrest residents will eventually cave in; or pull out of the deal and find some other less-determined community to send their bulldozers. If the latter happens we would then have an opportunity to approach the manager of the Operating Engineers Pension Plan with ways to keep the golf course open.

It looks like the work of the "Save Eaglecrest Task Force" will continue well into the New Year. We have set up a "blog" at http://saveeaglecrestgolf.blogspot.com to post updates. You can also use this blog to submit your comments.

We continue to look for financial support to ensure we are able to fund the expected legal and/or pre-purchase costs. Further donations are welcome. Cheques should be made payable to "Save Eaglecrest Fund" and sent to Mr. Jim Gillies, 1305 Leeward Way, Qualicum Beach. V9K 2M1 (‘Phone 250-752-1178)

Can It Become Worse?

The following article was written by Lance Nater and Peter Abley and first appeared in the December, 2006, issue of The Eagle Eye, the newsletter of the Eaglecrest Residents' Association.

This past summer the Eaglecrest community made its views abundantly clear when asked to comment on the concept of walking trails throughout Eaglecrest. The predominant concerns raised were that trails would reduce property values, make our homes less safe from vandalism and theft, increase traffic, reduce privacy, and increase the risk of fire. We can only begin to imagine how these residents, and many other homeowners, must feel following the announced closing of the Eaglecrest Golf Club!

There are still many more questions than answers with respect to the Club and the course property. The current owners say Eaglecrest cannot operate as a viable golf course. There are many, including some in the golf club business, who question this conclusion, and the competency of the current owners to run a successful golf club. The bottom line is the course will close December 31. We have been told there are potential buyers who have until Dec 22, 2006 to finalize their decision to purchase. The course will close whether or not the purchase goes ahead. The current owner’s representative, who unexpectedly spoke on behalf of the potential buyer, stated that if the sale goes forward, the new owner would not operate the property as a golf course. Meanwhile, our elected officials have strongly stated their support for the current Official Community Plan, zoning, covenants, and land use regulations that govern the property. These regulations restrict the use of Eaglecrest Golf Course property to green space/open space/golf course use and do not permit residential or commercial development of the land. Unfortunately, as comforting as the comments from our Mayor and Councillors are, we all know of circumstances where zoning has been changed and developers ended up developing land that was previously considered unavailable for development.

The Eaglecrest golf course will become an abandoned property on January 1, 2007. What will this mean to residents of Eaglecrest? To some it will mean no wayward golf balls, no vocal golfers, and maybe the golf nets can come down. For many others, those who play golf, it will be a major lifestyle change for players who are forced to mothball or sell their golf carts, and for others to abandon their golfing buddies as they attempt to book playing time on other local courses. Membership at other local courses is not an option as they are now all full. Residents can expect other negative affects. The property will not be manicured to the level of a golf course. Safety and security will be reduced without golfers and a grounds crew operating every day. When the word gets out that this open space is no longer a golf course, will the “off road” mavericks move in? We’re talking about more incidents than we’ve experienced in the past with the possibility that unimpeded access to the property throughout the day could result in private property vandalism and break-ins becoming a problem. Without golf course irrigation, it is logical that the risk of fire escalates.

Let’s go back to the quality of life implications. Nothing is forever (except death and taxes). Ultimately the property may be developed, signaling the end of the only green space area in our community (except for Yambury Park) and resulting in the destruction of our treasured environment, including its open vistas, wildlife and ecosystems. There is another group who in their way are just as unique to our community and to whom the closing of the golf course is nothing short of traumatic. I refer to the many senior members whose life revolves around the social and physical opportunities provided by the club. The clubhouse would be sorely missed as the traditional meeting place of many community groups including your Residents’ Association. There is no doubt the golf course closure will directly or indirectly negatively effect the physical and emotional health of many of our residents.

To sum up, very few of us have anything positive to gain from the course closing – but we do have much to lose. We should all be concerned, angry, and a little scared about the future of Eaglecrest. We should also be determined to stop unwanted development from taking place in our community. That means we stand together and demand of the current owner and any prospective buyers, that the course continue to operate as an 18-hole facility, and further that we continue to support the Town’s Administration who share our vision.

We would like to hear your thoughts via Eaglecrest_Res_Assoc@shaw.ca or P.O. Box 582, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1T1

Eaglecrest Residents' Association - President's Report

The following article was written by Marlys Diamond, President of the Eaglecrest Residents' Association (ERA), and appeared in the December, 2006, edition of the Eaglecrest Residents' Association Newsletter.

ERA directors assumed their new term in the midst of what might be described as the Perfect Storm—the startling announcement of the potential sale and closure of the Eaglecrest Golf Course, followed by two wild rainstorms plus two traffic-stopping snowstorms.

Despite weather challenges, the newly formed Save Eaglecrest Task Force continued to meet frequently. Each meeting furthered the strategy to see our community continue to enjoy the ambiance provided by having the golf course in the heart of our community. With around 100 new homes being built in Oceanwood and The Bluffs, the addition of 200 more in Eaglecrest would have huge ramifications for our community. The traffic generated by all the building equipment and trades people would be followed by increased vehicle traffic as new residents moved in. The tranquility of the open green spaces and soft, quiet treed neighbourhood atmosphere we enjoy would disappear forever. Instead of living in our beautiful place of choice, we might as well be living in almost any other community—built-up and cemented in to the nth degree. What a disturbing thought!

The Oct. 10 announcement of the proposed closure of the golf course ensured a huge attendance at the Oct. 23 A.G.M. We are grateful for the decision made by our mayor and council to allow the meeting to be held in the Civic Centre. It has been said that close to 800 people attended. There was standing room only, with many town residents coming in support of our community. A Task Force update by Co-chair Jim Collie appears on page five. The creation of a "blog" site will be helpful in sharing new developments as they occur.

On Oct. 23 the business of an annual general meeting was handled quickly, without adequate acknowledgment and appreciation for the work and planning of the original format for the A.G.M. Past President Trevor Wood led the organizing committee in arranging for an enjoyable business and social evening. Twenty-four community members were willing to display and share their artistic talents, and ten door prizes were to be drawn. These plans, along with the refreshments, would have ensured a great social evening, with neighbours gathering to enjoy each other’s company. All this had to be cancelled. Perhaps next year!

Our community is indebted to Trevor Wood for his commitment to the E.R.A. He served an extra year as president, worked with the newly formed Neighbourhood Emergency Watch (N.E.W.), was diligent in attending council and O.C.P. review meetings, and represented our community on behalf of E.R.A. in so many ways. Luckily, he is still here as past president. Indeed, we are fortunate that almost all 2006 directors chose to continue in 2007. They are a congenial, hard-working and committed group of community-minded people and I salute them all on your behalf.

For the holiday season, try to put the thoughts of our community being in jeopardy aside and enjoy a Merry Christmas and happy holiday celebrations with family and friends. The New Year must be brighter!!