Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville will play host to a pair of provincial championships in 2023 and 2030. (submitted photo/Morningstar Golf Club)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

tee off

Parksville’s Morningstar Golf Club to host pair of B.C. Amateur Championships

Aug 17, 2022 | 6:16 PM

PARKSVILLE — It’s the news Oceanside golfers had been waiting for.

Morningstar Golf Club, located in the north Parksville/French Creek area, will host both the 2023 and 2030 B.C. Amateur Championship. The week-long tournaments will bring around 150 of the province’s best amateur golfers to the Oceanside region.

Kris Jonasson, CEO of B.C. Golf, said during an announcement at the course on Wednesday, Aug. 17, awarding the event was heavily influenced by a successful 2021 B.C. Junior Amateur Championship held at the club.

“We determined last year…that the club not only has the facility, they have the engaged membership we require in order to provide a volunteer base and the golf course was just in superb shape and the support of the community was outstanding.”

The 2023 event will take place next July and will be the first time since 2007 Morningstar has hosted the B.C. Amateur Championship.

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Jonasson said not only bestowing the 2023 event, but also the 2030 Championship allows Morningstar to plan accordingly.

“To allow them to plan any capital expenditures, changes they want to make to the golf course and to allow us an opportunity to work with the local officials, the tourism officials, to make sure we capitalize the tourism potentials golf brings to this province.”

The awarding of two championships comes from work done over recent years to improve the course and restore the operation’s tarnished brand.

The course’s prior owner, MGCL became insolvent and a Supreme Court-approved sale to Realcor Golf Inc. owned by the International Union of Operating Engineers Pension Fund was completed in July 2021.

Uncertainty around ownership affected the course quality and membership numbers.

“It’s no secret that Morningstar has had some challenges in the past few years, but we have committed, stable ownership…the entire Morningstar staff are truly exceptional,” Chris Beach, chair of the Morningstar members committee, said.

“The golf course is back in great condition and it’s going to offer a tough, but fair test come 2023.”

Morningstar is 7,003 yard, 18-hole championship course built in 1991.

The course in north Parksville will be groomed to perfection ahead of the 2023 and 2030 B.C. Amateur Championships. (submitted photo/Morningstar Golf Club)

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