Friends of Pine Valley dust off the clubs
By Bill Phillips
Will the Friends of Pine Valley come out to play the back nine?
The future of the city-owned par three golf course in the increasingly-commercialized strip of land along Highway 16 is once again in question.
Two years ago the “anything for a buck” council of Shari Green was ready to change nature’s greenery for man’s greenery. However, the public outcry, led by the Friends of Pine Valley, resulted in council deciding to give the “gem in the heart of the city” another chance. Many of the councillors of the day are still on city council, so it should be interesting to see what transpires. The previous council cowered behind in-camera protection when the decision was made, so we don’t know who voted to keep Pine Valley and who didn’t.
While there may be some new councillors around the table now, the issues facing Pine Valley haven’t changed since 2010, when the course first had a brush with not making the cut.
The course needs some fix-ups, can’t fix things up because there’s no money to do them, can’t raise the money because fewer people are golfing at the course, fewer people are golfing at the course because it needs some fixing up … and the spiral continues.
A city report says the course needs between $750,000 and $1.2 million in capital improvements, including new irrigation, safety netting and a driving range.
The operator of the course has not been able to secure financing to carry out the necessary upgrades because the term of the contract (two years) is too short. The current operating contract expires in March of 2016.
The driving range, of course, is a sore point for all the Friends of Pine Valley. The city sold off the driving range a few years ago and no one seems to know how much for or where the money went, other than into the black hole that is general revenue at city hall.
While city councillors are often adamant that the course should be paying for itself, many who support the course feel that the city owes the course at least some of the proceeds from the sale of the previous driving range. It’s a good point.
During last fall’s election campaign, Mayor Lyn Hall said council didn’t want to sink anymore money into Pine Valley and that was the reason it issued a request for proposal for someone to operate the facility. He said the city was hoping for a 10-year deal, but could only get a two-year one.
“I’m not interested in putting any public money into (Pine Valley),” Hall told the Yellowhead Rotary Club prior to last election. “When we talk about Pine Valley as a prospective development piece, from my perspective, it’s a real gem in the heart of the city.”
Hall said the idea has been suggested that if the site ever is redeveloped, perhaps a portion of the golf course could be retained with housing development around it.
“It’s something novel, something different that hasn’t been done in the city, so that has potential,” he said.
It does have potential, however, the city has to be the driving force behind keeping that “gem in the heart of the city.”
Simply selling the property off does nothing to achieve that potential.
So it’s round three for the Friends of Pine Valley. Do they still have it in them to fight city hall?
Bill Phillips is a freelance columnist living in Prince George. He was the winner of the 2009 Best Editorial award at the British Columbia/Yukon Community Newspaper Association’s Ma Murray awards, in 2007 he won the association’s Best Columnist award. In 2004, he placed third in the Canadian Community Newspaper best columnist category and, in 2003, placed second. He can be reached at billphillips1@mac.com
Comments
they could start by raising membership fees, green fees, 19th hole fees….
Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2015 @ 6:10 AM by bcracer
they could start by raising membership fees, green fees, 19th hole fees….
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The city raised the fees for the baseball and softball diamonds one hundredfold this year, I wonder if they’ll do the same for this dinosaur?
Sell of 9 holes, that’s all they need there anyways.
The driving range tuned into the Chevy and Honda dealerships. From an economic value perspective, it was definitely a better land use decision. I think the same argument can be made for converting the golf course land to commercial.
I have fond that when they change the coarse years ago they have made it that you now use the same clubs on al holes. Most hole yards are all the same distance take the fun out of the game. That is one reason I have quit playing there. No more challenge.
1. If Bill Phillips wants to know how much the driving range land was sold for all he needs to do is make a call to City Hall. Once a land transaction with the City is completed the amount of the sale etc; becomes public knowledge.
2. The numbers are up a Pine Valley this year, and there is no reason to believe that they will not continue to rise. Revenues will certainly rise once they get back a driving range.
3. Selling this land for commercial development may be a better use for the commercial interests, and perhaps generate some money for the City, however this doesn’t mean it is a smart decision. If other Cities tried to sell of some of their parkland/public golf courses, the people of those Cities would put the run on them.
4. Its time for the City of Prince George Administration and Councilors to take the necessary action to put this situation to bed. Fix the golf course, and allow people to use the facilities.
5. Prince George has thousands of acres of land for commercial development, and in fact they are developing these lands as we speak.
6. Selling of prime parkland land and recreational land in the city is about as short sighted as you can get.
7. When we look at the money funneled into the Prince George Tennis Club, and the Prince George Golf and Curling Club over the years we can see that there has been very little money put into Pine Valley Golf Course. Is this because the people who use Pine Valley are not **connected** and have little influence on City Hall?? Just askin.
Lets quit all the BS and do the right thing, and keep this golf course for the future use of juniors, seniors, mobility challenged, etc;
Played the course a few weeks ago. I usually golf at “real” courses but it was Sunday night and I didn’t have five hours.
Greens were fine, good value in $25 for a quick pitch and putt…enjoyed myself. However…it seemed like 80% of the holes were between 150-160 yards. My 7 iron got some great practice but it begs the question, why bother with a full 18 if 9 or more of the holes are the exact same?
I think it`s important to note that this is the only local golf club that offers summer golf camp programming to children. The CN Future Links program is a great way for kids to learn the game, course etiquette and have a welcome entre into a sport that may otherwise be `too exclusive“ for for them. It`s also the only golf for kids available for working parents (drop off). I don`t see the other clubs in town working this extensively in youth dvelopment other than via expensive one-on-one coaching or via the occasional workshop. There are aspects to supporting this golf course that go beyond seniors issues and greenspace. Our City needs to stand behind maintaining the facilties that grow our own -that support users of all ages and stages. Once it`s gone, it`s just gone and we`ll never get back these oasis-like sections of our city that break up the monotony of chain-stores and big box retailing. I love that we have access to those businesses, for sure, but we can`t be so short-sighted as to replace spaces that host healthy living, social congregation and civic pride with more cinder-block retail.
This is arguably some of the most valuable land in the city. People are asking the city to dump money into this failing business. I for one do not agree with the city in competition with private business. There are other golf courses in town that do not have their advertising come from tax payer money. This land represents hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax income for the city. Not to mention the millions in capital it would produce from its sale. Lets sell the land and put up businesses that actually make money and provide revenue to the city. Instead of bending to the vocal few start making business decisions and bring money in so my property taxes don’t have to rise year in and year out.
To make Prince George a enjoyable and attractive place to live, we need a balance of green space and concrete. The OCP calls of green space in that area, and the Pine Valley Golf Course should remain as it is.
sellitall would probably sell his/her first born if the price was right.
“I think it`s important to note that this is the only local golf club that offers summer golf camp programming to children.” – wrong. All the other clubs offer summer golf camps and programs. The PGG&CC offers an amazing junior program that is well known in the golf community.
Junior programs are completely different. Parents are looking for day camps their children can attend. Junior programs are overarching programs with some facilitated clinics and access to coaching and reduced greens fees. The PGG&CC junior program is fabulous, and they should be proud – but they don’t have day camps.It’s a huge difference for people/kids new to golf, and children under the age of 12.
sellitall it a prime example of those who would sell off anything to make a buck.
Perhaps he should go to Vancouver, and tell them they can make millions by selling off Stanley Park, and then on to New York and advise them to sell Central Park, they could make billions of dollars.
The citizens of these cities would tar and feather sellitall and run him out of town on a rail.
We have Pine Valley because we have spent the time and effort over the past 30 plus years to keep it. The City never paid a dime for this property because it was gifted to them by the Federal Government to be used for recreational purposes in perpetuity. The City has tried in the past to make an end run and sell off this property to satisfy some commercial interests, and to make a dollar, however to date they have not been successful.
Pine Valley costs the City very little (if anything) to operate, and has made a huge amount of money for the city over the years, and will continue to do so.
The City has plenty of property in Prince George to sell without wrecking this golf course. They have already sold off the driving range and batting cage property, and the property that used to be the PG Tennis Courts. Where did that money go. Did sellitall get a reduction in taxes from these sales. Not bloody likely.
Lets not forget that the Pomeroy Group wants to build a hotel East of the PG Golf and Curling Club, and North of the Playhouse Theatre.
Nowwwwwww. What do you think the City will do with the Playhouse Theatre. Is it possible that they plan to sell off the property?? My guess is that is the plan, and perhaps the money from the sale will go toward building a new Performing Arts Centre.
Its also possible some of the money from the sale of Pine Valley will also go towards a Performing Arts Centre.
Perhaps sellitall can explain to us how his taxes will go down, when the money from the sale of city property goes to other city projects??
Wow, when I read “friends of Pine Valley dust off the clubs” I was expecting the story to be about a rumble down at the golf course.
Carry on.
metalman.
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