Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club is cancelling golf memberships and the future of its curling rink is questionable now that the 131-acre property has new owners.
Golfing will be under a “pay-for-play” model, Dustin Miller, who represents new owner Hong Hua Hu, said on Monday.
As for the six-sheet curling rink, he said the new ownership is “still evaluating what we want to do with it.”
The Criddle family developed and owned the 53-year-old North Saanich facility at 1050 McTavish Rd. They sold it in December.
Glen Meadows also includes a club house, tennis courts and a parking lot.
When asked about the future of the overall property, Miller said: “We are still working on plans.”
Robin Hutchinson, the pro at Glen Meadows, called golf club members and curling members in mid-February to inform them of the changes.
Golfers were “pretty disappointed,” he said.
Glen Meadows has 62 golf club members, some of whom had been there for 50 years. He added that most had been members for 10 years or more.
The final day of this season’s curling is March 16. Members have been told that curling will not resume, Hutchinson said.
He said the 168 curling members “have been trying to find other places to play.”
Curling usually runs for half the year, ending in March and resuming Oct. 1.
Curling facilities are expensive to operate because of costs to maintain ice, Hutchinson said.
Percy and Rae Criddle and their six children turned a former sheep farm into the golf course.
A few years ago, the Criddle family had attempted to develop a 30-acre parcel which is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, but the proposal was turned down by North Saanich.
The plan was to develop that piece into 35 large-lot residences and donate 100 acres to the municipality. As well, a 50-year lease at $1 would have provided the golf course, rink and tennis court to the municipality.
