By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Feb. 23, 2012.
Developer Doug Day had envisioned it as a friendly get together of neighbours, but the meeting at the Executive Inn Hotel on Wednesday, Feb. 22, was anything but that.
Doug Day faced the wrath of his neighbours, who took him to task for ignoring their demands for revival of a golf course and for allegedly threatening them with lawsuits.
Readers will recall the council voted to reject Day’s gift of the park for small-lot houses on north and south of his golf course.
Through letters in the paper and the post, Day has displayed his impatience and some would say a churlish disrespect for the town, its people, and the councillors.
On Wednesday, residents of Tantalus Road subdivision seemed to get back to him, relishing the barbs they hurled at Day.
There was an edge to every voice that spoke.
“You have proven to be a tyrant and a bully in your letter-writing campaign to the councillors and to all of Squamish,” said Craig Murphy.
“I think you are a dinosaur. If my child behaved half as bad as the way you acted in the newspapers, I will put her over on her knees and spank her ass.”
People clapped as Murphy vented his anger. Doug Day’s face reddened, but he maintained his poise.
The meeting wasn’t convened to discuss any development proposals.
Day just wanted to hear from neighbours and he heard one thing quite clearly: The majority of those who had gathered said they wanted the golf course to be revived.
But that won’t happen, Day said.
“Let me tell you something, the previous owner lost eight years and $800,000 trying to make the golf course profitable,” he said.
But residents were adamant it should be revived as a golf course.
“What do you think this place was built here for,” asked Kelly Burd.
“There are liens on this place because the golf course shut down.”
Doug Day was in a no mood to relent.
“If the community doesn’t want the park, so be it, but I’m not here to discuss any golf course.”
He also said people trespassing on the golf course should be aware that it is a private property.
Eron Herd, who lives on Rockridge Place, said he was threatened by Doug Day regarding the retaining wall that encroaches on golf course land.
“You have called my workplace and threatened me with legal action. Now, that is not very neighbourly,” said Eron Herd.
Herd said the wall was not built by him, but by Wilf Dowad with the permission of Sid Brickman.
The design of the 5o-foot rock wall was to incorporate utility easement, Norm Dowad, Wilf Dowad’s son, said speaking to the Chief last year.
In November last year, council rejected Day’s proposal of 80 acres of park in lieu of a small-lot subdivision in the north and the south part of the park.
Day said he had no plans to move forward with any legal action over the wall.
And despite being rejected by the previous council, Day hopes that his earlier plan of giving golf course as a community amenity in lieu of small-lot homes would work.
It’s a new council and he hasn’t given up hope just yet, he said.
HS says
“Day has displayed his impatience…allegedly threatening them with lawsuits…wrath of his neighbours…ignoring their demands…not very neighbourly…impatience… churlish disrespect.” It would appear that the resident taxpayers have made their views quite clear. Will be fascinating to watch how this Mayor and Council fall out on this topic.
Riun Blackwell says
Great work from The Squamish reporter for illuminating the renewed level of public interest and involvement. Our community is challenged by this and many other issues that will need us all to be engaged to find the best resolve. We are entering a new era for our town and these issues will certainly be interesting to follow in this publication. Good work Gagandeep!
Glenne Campbell says
The saddest point of the evening was mr day handing out pamphlets he had pilfered from Van Dusen Gardens with the comment that this is what he might do with his property previously known as a golfcourse.
Not alot of thought or effort put into the event.
What was this to accomplish?
Donny says
The landincorporated a golf course as a means to develop a real estate development. Buyers of the residences did not get , and presumably never asked for covenants to maintain the land as a golf course simply assuming that golf courses never go bust.
At the discounted golf dues paid by players , it was bound to fail ,and no one would pay the price of a round that was needed to make money. It was a lost cause before it began.
So why on earth do all these people expect the new owner to throw bad money after good. Mini puts , par 3s and 9 holes won’t fix the cash drain.
Just let it go back to the wetland from whence it came.
Elliot says
Is there not one rational person in Squamish?
Donny says
Come on Elliot, tell us what a rational person believes the solution to be .
Don Patrick says
Do not forget that a lot of money was spent by the first developers to convince the powers to be that the habitant and fishery would come out ahead of the game. Those folks met all the rules and regulations concerning environmental impact etc and were given the go ahead to commence with the development… now just because it has failed does not mean those same reasons can be disrgarded with respect to future use. I feel for the folks that purchaced units in the hotel and the surrounding area based on someone elses dream. Someone has to take the bull by the horns, but dictatorships are not popular theses days.
Irene says
Be careful people…You don’t want to be on Day’s list..
Don Patrick says
2nd thot… getting dangerous. If the first golf course operators went broke on an assessed property of something like $7mil… the costs to service the debt must have been very high at the time they werre borrowing… now DD comes along, by his own admission paid next to nothing for the property… now considering insurance, taxes, payroll, equipment costs and all the other hidden costs to do business in today’s monetary situation….maybe with the proper mgmt, the potential cash flow could support a smaller golf operation. Or do we have an arogant, self-centered person telling the folks that it is this way or the highway ? Just wondering…. money does allow some people to just become legal undesirables in Society these days.
Murray McCorriston says
How about a nice Squamish based Water park for all the community and people staying at the hotel to use . Something covered so it could be used all year round !
Craig says
There are too many so called “high-end” courses that have been built in BC over the last 10 years. Golf is too expensive and the market is overbuilt. People today would rather mountain bike, kite board, wind surf, ski, hike, climb, snowboard, dirt bike or just find adventure rather than drop $100 to golf. There are currently 7 golf courses in BC for sale by court order today. What this tells me is that speculation built these courses and the market just can’t sustain it. Squamish doesn’t need a golf course and simply can’t sustain another one. This one burned through $800k just like 7 other courses in BC. Built for a luxury market that doesn’t exist anymore.