Future Looking Bright For Morningstar
The well-regarded facility in Parksville is now not just on solid financial footing... it will very likely have a new owner in early March.
A few years ago, the situation was not so positive.
With a few different owners since opening in 1991, the Les Furber-designed layout had gone into a gradual decline eventually ending up in receivership in mid-2018.
Looking to get the property back in the black and also back to the standard where it was considered good enough to host the then named “Canadian Tour” Q-School, the Court-appointed Receiver looked to Wedgewood Golf Management.
The company comprised of PGA of Canada Executive Professional Barrie McWha and the Riva brothers, Ray and Mike, assessed the situation and came on board in November 2019.
At the time, McWha said, “Our job is to turn the financial operation around and get it out of the red. The plan is to improve the operation and give people confidence that Morningstar is not going anywhere.”
And it did not take long. Even with a month’s closure due to COVID, 2020 proved profitable and just recently, McWha has been able to say they have reached full membership.
“Every aspect of the operation was affected by the economic downturn that the ownership at the time experienced. With the support of the IUOE Pension Fund, the secured creditor in the Receivership, the irrigation system was upgraded, equipment was upgraded, and sufficient staff was hired to elevate the Morningstar experience. Being a partner in the Vancouver Island Golf Trail has also been significant in attracting travelling golfers back to Morningstar and the central Island.”
Add together the course improvements and profitability, it should come as little surprise that at least two new possible owners have come forward.
Whoever does take charge, Morningstar will definitely regain its “championship” status when the Junior BC Golf Championships takes place on June 28 to July 2.
But lucky island golfers can check out the extremely well-wintering track long before that. See Morningstar’s extremely reasonable Winter and Spring rates.