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Mill River Resort has been awarded a contract to build and run a new golf course in Summerside that will be owned by the city.
Summerside city council voted Tuesday to award the request for proposal to Mill River for the course, following a July presentation on the concept.
“We think it can add to their already deep expertise in hosting sporting events and we think that this can be a fantastic golf course for locals as well,” said Mill River Resort president Geoffrey Irving.
The course is to be named Links at Malpeque Bay and would be an 18-hole, 72-par, links-style course spanning 6,781 yards.
Irving said Mill River has a strong golf management team with experience in building courses. The new course, he said, “bridges the gap” between its two courses at Mill River in Woodstock, P.E.I., and Eagles Glenn in Cavendish.
“It’s hard to get on the tee sheet these days and we think that this can help with that demand and be a great golf course for both residents and tourists.”
The proposed site for the Links at Malpeque Bay is about 100 hectares near North St. Eleanors, along Compton Road and Lyle Road. (Tony Davis/CBC)
The proposed site for the course is about 100 hectares, or 240 acres, near North St. Eleanors set along Compton Road and Lyle Road. About half of that is owned by the city and the other half is privately owned.
Irving said the area provides “fantastic views” of Malpeque Bay and its size will allow for competitive play.
He is confident the course will also be an economic driver for Summerside.
The proposed Links at Malpeque Bay would be an 18-hole, 72-par, links-style golf course spanning 6,781 yards. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC)
JP Desrosiers, Summerside’s chief administrative officer, said Mill River had a “really strong proposal” and rose to the top among the six submissions received from interested parties.
“They’ve mentioned to us that their objectives are to try and have almost every hole on the course have a water view of the Malpeque Bay. A links course on the Malpeque Bay has a really nice ring to it,” he said.
“They brought in design experts to put together what we see so far is a fairly strong proposal … in terms of the layout and the design of the course.”
The project is expected to cost approximately $12 million, half funded by Mill River which hopes the remainder can come from federal and provincial governments.
Irving said he hopes work can begin “as soon as possible.” If everything goes to plan, Irving said they would start “moving some dirt” later in the year and be in full construction mode in 2027 while eyeing an opening in 2028.
“We would love to start tomorrow,” he said.
“There’s one thing that’s kind of proven within the golf industry is that golf works in clusters. A tourist wants to go where there’s multiple golf experiences versus only one…. We think it can be a complement to the existing golf courses in Cavendish and to West Prince.”
JP Desrosiers, Summerside’s chief administrative officer, says Mill River had a ‘really strong proposal’ for a golf course. (Tony Davis/CBC)
It’s not yet known if Summerside will contribute financially, and Desrosiers said the city is working with Mill River “on the feasibility side of things.”
He added that the resolution is not that a golf course is officially being built but a confirmation that Mill River Resort was the “successful proponent.”
“People come to P.E.I. to golf and they want to do so and experience a number of different options,” he said.
“We’re eager, but we are also eager to do it right and ensure that we, you know, work through the feasibility and the design. And I know Mill River feels the same.”