Financial pressures have teed up, leaving a half-century old golf course aiming to land some local support.
The Lumby Golf Club, which has been in operation since 1961, is facing declining revenues and increasing expenses, paired with declining membership, as members age.
“They’re running into a little bit of trouble with finances,” said Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton.
The club made a case for support from Lumby Monday, and the village is already looking at ways to keep the nine-hole course in operation.
Called “Lumby’s best kept secret,” the club is actually situated on municipally-owned land and run strictly by volunteers. With no water on site, the course is made up of sand greens.
“It’s pretty unique to B.C., perhaps even Canada,” said Acton.
However many factors are adding up to an uncertain future for the club, including: increased insurance costs, ongoing repairs to machinery and possible replacements needed, increased fuel costs and the need to replace the antiquated clubhouse/shelter which has plastic sheeting for windows, a badly sagging roof and rotting lower portions of the walls.
“The club is taking steps to attract new members and to operate as efficiently as possible, but it appears that assistance will be required in the short term to maintain this local recreational facility,” said club President Dennis Windsor and Vice President Vern Abney in a letter to Lumby.
The club has asked the village to consider an annual contribution, inclusion of the club’s insurance under Lumby’s insurance policy for facilities and operation, donation of used mowing and maintenance machinery and provision of timely repair and maintenance of the club’s grass cutting equipment.
