BY CRAIG GILBERT
Peter Churan is moving fore-ward with a new
18-hole golf course in the Valley.
Churan, an associate broker at Sutton Group
Realty in Blezard Valley is in the process of developing the
Spruce Valley Golf Club about three kilometres
west of Hanmer and about two kilometres north
of Blezard Valley.
The main entrance to the course, which should
be completed within two years, will be on Dominion Drive.
Golfers will be able to access the course via
Dominion and Martin Road, which, marked by municipal rough road
signs, is in "brutal" condition according to Churan.
City staffers expect Churan to eventually
request improvements to Martin Road, but he says he'll let that
run its own course.
He expects to sign up about 150 to 200
members, but notes these days the real money is in hosting
tournaments.
The course, one of over 25 now in the city,
will be comparable in length to Cedar Green in Garson.
Though it will be no Timberwolf, it will be
among the better courses in town according to Churan.
"It's a nice spot with easy access," he
illustrated. "It's a country setting with very few houses
around, and it's quiet."
Churan is confident the course will be a
money maker.
"The Valley has one sixth of the city's
population but less than one sixth of the golf courses," he
said. "I feel safe where I'm going."
Most of the tee block and greens are ready
structurally, awaiting a nice coat of green.
Churan was before the planning committee of
council Tuesday in order to have the 130-acre property re-zoned
to A-Special, agricultural reserve
special from A, agricultural reserve.
The former zoning would have allowed for the
golf course itself but not the maintenance shack or the
proposed 2,000-square foot club house.
No city department objects to the rezoning,
provided Churan undertakes a hydrogeological study, basically
to assure the Sudbury and District Health Unit a new septic
system will do no harm to the property or the people that will
use it.
Churan will have to dig or drill a well,
since there is no municipal sewer or potable water service to
the property, and submit a report and engineering drawings
outlining how he will deal with municipal drainage and storm
water at the site to the public works department.
There isn't any municipal trash removal
service, either, so he'll have to hire a contractor.
