The Island View Golf Centre in Central Saanich is on the market for $1.65 million under a court-ordered sale resulting from a default on a mortgage.
This 9.75-acre site at 7081 Central Saanich Rd. houses a driving range that was the subject of a long-standing dispute with neighbouring farmers and an 18-hole miniature golf operation. Silver Rill Farm is next to the site and its owners had complained about errant golf balls flying into their fields.
A lawyer for the golf centre said that, in 2007, about $300,000 had been spent to raise the height of the nets erected to stop balls from leaving the property.
Although the driving range is not operating at this time, the mini-golf is open for business, Rick Pettinger, real estate agent with DTZ Victoria, said Thursday.
A lawyer for the golf centre said in 2007 that the business had spent about $300,000 raising the heights of its nets to contain the golf balls.
The property went on the market about three weeks ago, he said. Its facilities, particularly the mini-golf operation are in good condition. The strip of land runs from the Patricia Bay Highway to Central Saanich Road, with Silver Rill farms on the north side and Island View Road to the south.
The two-level driving range, with 26 stalls on each level, was built in 2004. At 16,140 square feet, it includes a pro shop as well. A three-bedroom house is also on the property, the DTZ listing states.
In June, B.C. Supreme Court Master William McCallum granted Five Star Paving Co. Ltd. the right to sell the golf centre to recoup monies owing on a mortgage to Island View Golf Centre Ltd. A total of $230,994 plus interest was due as of February, court documents state. Four other mortgages are also held on that property.
Craig McNulty is listed on Five Star’s website as one of its owners. He is also a director of the golfing centre, according to B.C. company registry documents. He could not be reached Thursday.
Back in 2007, Ken and Wendy Fox, owners of Silver Rill Corn Ltd., won a court decision relating to their disagreement with the neighbouring golf centre.
The B.C. Supreme Court ruled the driving range was in contempt when it allowed 93 balls to fly off the range on to the Fox's field. The driving range was fined $5,000 and the Foxes were awarded court costs. Although the golf centre put up higher fences, balls flew over in defiance of a June 2006 B.C. Supreme Court order.
Silver Rill had kept its workers out of a five-acre field because of fears they could be injured by flying golf balls.
In 2005, Wendy Fox was so steamed about the matter that she showed up at Central Saanich municipal hall with 34 boxes, holding 10,000 golf balls. Central Saanich officials declined her request to ship the balls to the Agricultural Land Commission, which Fox blamed for allowing the golf use in the first place.
Anyone interested in the property should do their due diligence, Central Saanich Mayor Alastair Bryson said in a statement Thursday. That could “include talking to Central Saanich planning staff to understand what the permitted uses are and they should also be aware that the property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
“If prospective purchasers have other ideas in mind for the property than are currently permitted, then they would need to make any necessary applications to the District of Central Saanich and the Agricultural Land Commission.”
