Cheam Golf Centre could be re-opening its gates as soon as the weather and ground conditions improve.
A recent court decision in favour of City of Chilliwack means it stands to recover 100 per cent of the costs associated with terminating the lease with golf course operator Bogey Enterprises last fall.
“We would like to thank the patrons of this golf course for their patience while we awaited the court’s decision,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “The city would also like to thank those members who expressed an interest and offered their ideas for the future of the course.”
City officials terminated the operator's lease in November 2011 for non-payment of rent and property taxes at the city-owned site on Luckakuck Way. The court decision has resulted in the lease with Bogey Enterprises being recently reinstated.
Chilliwack is due to receive payment of about $60,000, in addition to legal costs following the court decision on Jan. 20.
Unpaid lease payments and taxes were at the $40,000-mark by the end of October, and costs kept mounting. So city officials had no choice but to lock the gates and try to recoup their losses.
In fact there was only "minimal loss" of golf course use by patrons as it was being shut down for the season when the lease was terminated.
Bogie Enterprises was in its 15th year of a 35-year lease agreement with the city.
All Cheam Golf memberships purchased for the 2012 season will be honoured, Bogey officials told the city.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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