Local golfers have until Oct. 31 to get on the green at Bradford Highlands Golf Club before it closes for good.
Residents have known for over a year now that Bradford Highlands Golf Club will be closing at the end of this season after the land was acquired by developer A.R.G Group to expand the Bayview Wellington Homes subdivision.
Six years ago, the golf course owners sold an interest in the property to the Bayview-Wellington Group, which built a subdivision next to the course off Line 6 and Simcoe Road. The golf course continued to operate under a lease agreement.
Bradford Highlands' Derek Thompson says he was hoping the course would be able to operate for an extra season since the developer is not yet permitted to start building due to town zoning by-laws.
"We tried to get another extension for a year or two, but it didn't work out," he said. "That's it we're closing for good, unfortunately."
Chief Administrative Officer for the town Geoff McKnight says the golf course lands are designated as “Rural” by the town’s official plan, lay outside of the Bradford Settlement Area Boundary, and are zoned “Open Space Recreational”. As such, the area cannot currently be developed for housing or any other urban purposes.
"If the property no longer operates as a golf course, we will expect that it be maintained in compliance with the town’s Clean Yards By-law," said McKnight.
He says the course has always been profitable, and wonders why the owners wouldn't want to stay open for another season.
"There is going to be a cost involved for maintaining this property, so it's kind of weird why they didn't want to keep the business going," said Thompson. "As far as I know the 31st is the last day, and unfortunately we're all out of work."
BradfordToday reached out to A.R.G. Group and Bayview Wellington Homes asking for the status update on the project but did not receive a response.
