It’s the golf course where Adam Sandler was filmed screaming “the price is wrong” at Bob Barker in the hit comedy Happy Gilmore.
But now that word has got out about the sale of the Furry Creek Golf & Country Club, at least one worker appears to have decided that the price may have been right, now that she’s received word she’ll get to keep her job.
After news spread that Chinese company Fine Peace Holdings is buying Furry Creek Golf & Country Club as of Oct. 10, there was concern among some workers about their employment.
However, in a recent meeting, a representative from Fine Peace is said to have told workers that business will go on as usual.
A grounds maintenance worker who was at the meeting said seasonal employees will be able to continue working on the course until December. The season runs from March to October, so this is actually an extension.
“I am happy with this,” said Patricia McDowell. “When we talked to one of the four new owners, he explained to us that it was just going to be a continuation of what we would normally do for a season, plus extra weeks of work if we wanted.”
She added that a Fine Peace spokesperson has told her that current employees will be given first priority when work begins in March.
“[They’ve] already promised me a job,” said McDowell.
She noted that the representative said, “Anyone who wants to come back, can come back.”
Pay will remain the same for now and will be renegotiated in March, which mirrors what happened under previous management, McDowell said.
She added that the spokesperson told workers it plans on turning the land into a resort.
McDowell said that the company hopes to build attractions aside from the golf course. There are considerations for a hotel and a restaurant, among other things, but few other details were shared.
The Chief contacted Michael Geller, the Vancouver property developer who helped orchestrate the deal for Fine Peace.
He confirmed the Burrard Group would be selling the golf course to Fine Peace for an undisclosed amount.
“It’s all true,” said Geller. “It’s all correct.”
Geller reaffirmed previous reports saying Fine Peace intends to upgrade the clubhouse and the golf course. He said the company is considering bringing a mixture of 250 townhomes and low-rise apartments as well.
However, he was tight-lipped about further details.
Journalist Bob Mackin reported on The Breaker that the three officers of Fine Peace Furry Creek Holdings Ltd. are Liang Kaiwen, Wen Musong and Zhong Shan.
All three reported Nanning, Guangxi, China addresses to the B.C. Corporate Registry, according to Mackin.
The company was incorporated on Sept. 25, he said.
Before being bought by the Burrard Group, Furry Creek was developed by Tanac Development Canada, a subsidiary of the Tanabe Corporation of Japan.
The Burrard Group is owned by Caleb and Tom Chan, who were estimated to be worth $1.08 billion by Canadian Business. The pair made it into the publication’s Top 100 rating of Canada’s richest people, placing 88th.
UBC’s Chan Centre bears the name of the two businessmen because of a significant donation.
