The award-winning Arbutus Ridge Golf Course in Cobble Hill has a new owner.
After 27 years of ownership, GolfBC has sold the course to Yi Jing Golf Club Inc., a company headed by Weihong Liu and her husband Zhao Zheng Fu.
The property includes the 18-hole semi-private course, the Satellite Bar & Grille, the Mount Baker banquet room and an indoor tennis facility.
“It was on the market for $6.8 million but I was able to negotiate with the owners and the purchase price was $4.5 million,” Constantin Popa of Sotheby’s International Realty said following the ceremony celebrating the sale last Friday.
Zhao Zheng Fu celebrated the transition with dignitaries including director Mike Wilson from the CVRD, Malahat First Nation Chief George Harry, Arbutus Ridge Community representative Zav Patel, South Cowichan Rotary president Gerry Giles and business associates.
Richard Ingle, who will stay on as general manager of the club, was the master of ceremonies for the event that included a performance by young First Nations dancers.
“We’re excited for what the future holds,” Ingle commented, as he introduced Zhao.
“I am so happy to take over, thank you all for your support,” said Zhao who is well-known in the South Cowichan community for his business interests and participation in the Rotary Club.
The Arbutus Ridge Golf Course was opened in 1988 as a nine-hole layout and was expanded to a par 72, 6,152 yard, 18-hole course three years later. It was designed by well-known Canadian golf course designer Bill Robinson.
Over the years the course has gained a reputation as an excellent course for beginners and pros. It received a four star rating from Golf Digest, Best Destination Golf Course in British Columbia by Golf Nerve Magazine, One of Canada’s Ten Best Courses for Your Money by West Jet and earned a Sustainability Award from Tourism Vancouver Island.
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Victoria’s Pacifica Housing has agreed to transfer its Oak Grove property in Duncan to M’akola Housing Society who will own and continue to operate the 27 affordable homes.
M’akola Housing Society is the largest Indigenous affordable housing provider in the province operating more than 1,600 homes including more than 170 in the Cowichan Valley serving more than 5,000 family members.
“We are very pleased to enter into this agreement with M’akola Housing Society since it will provide local hands-on service for people living at Oak Grove,” said Margaret Eckenfelder, executive director of Pacifica Housing.
“Nothing is more important than the security and happiness of our tenants, and with this new arrangement that will continue.”
The transfer in ownership took place July 1.
“This transfer is a demonstration of the partnerships we have with Pacifica Housing and all other affordable housing providers in the province. We have been serving the community of Duncan providing safe affordable housing for decades and we are excited to serve these 27 additional families,” said Kevin Albers, chief executive officer of M’akola Housing Society.
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Alec Wheeler, Events and Membership manager at the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce has a suggestion to help you make the most of your annual membership investment.
“Throughout July and August, we’ll be sending out Membership Matters eblasts. Each edition will feature one or two membership benefits or opportunities to promote and grow your business,” Wheeler explains.
“From educational workshops to presenting opportunities, and member-to-member promotions to event partnership ideas, it’s all about leveraging your annual membership investment and making the most out of the resources available to you through the Chamber.”
If you are interested in what is available and you’d like to discuss it further, please contact the Chamber at 250-748-1111.
