REDCLIFF, AB — The Town of Redcliff and the Riverview Golf Club has agreed to a deal to help keep the golf course open.
During the town council meeting on Monday, council passed second and third reading of a bylaw to loan $315,000 to the golf club, which has faced financial difficulties in recent years.
The loan, according to bylaw documents, is for 10 years, and consolidates several debts the club is facing, including debts to the town.
The bylaw passed 5-2, with councillors Larry Leipert and Jim Steinke opposed.
When asked on Wednesday why he voted no, Leipert declined to elaborate.
“I can only speak for myself, and I think I’m going to just leave that argument on the table,” he said. “I have given it my best shop in council, and I was unsuccessful.”
However, despite voting no, Leipert said he was hopeful the golf club would be successful moving forward.
Bill Duncan, the club’s vice-president, says the club is thankful for the town’s support.
“We’re quite please that we have the confidence of council, and obviously our members, to proceed with the golf course being open this year,” he said.
Duncan says the club has currently signed up 120 members during a recent membership drive, and they’re taking next steps to ensure the club remains financially viable.
“We’re going to pursue those members, get the ones back we may have lost when there was some uncertainty in the fall, and we’re going to pursue tournaments and other things, which was the best course in terms of greens and fairways,” he said. “We’re going to make sure it’s a user-friendly course. We’re going to make sure that the people that come here to golf enjoy it. It’s going to be for family, friends, it’s going to be social. Rather than being something we’re not, we’re going to be that.”
Duncan says the club is aiming to open the course in April.
