Winnipeg's property and planning committee votes against sale of John Blumberg Golf Course

The City of Winnipeg's property and planning committee voted 3-1 against the sale of the John Blumberg Golf Course in Headingley on Monday afternoon, going against a public service recommendation.

Couns. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood),Janice Lukes(Waverley West) andCindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) voted against the sale, while Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas) backed the motion.

"There's no way this city can sustain itself with more population just five minutes outside the city that are using our services every day but not paying into those cities," Klein said prior to voting against the motion.

Lukeshad a similar response.

"I just can't bring myself to vote to sell this property," she said.

City council voted in 2013 to declare John Blumberg Golf Course and its 200 acres (roughly 80 hectares) of land surplus to the city's needs.

At the time, the city explored the possibility of selling off a total of 13 city-owned courses, but council only approved the eventual disposal of Blumberg.

Greg Stutskyhas been golfing at Blumberg for over 30 years. After retiring, he purchased a membership at the golf course for the first time last year, teeing it up more than 100 times.

Stutskysays over the past five years the condition of the golf course has improved immensely under the guidance of course superintendent Brian Campbell, which would add to the "devastating" feeling if the city decides to sell the land.

"You can see more and more people are coming out there. I guess the word's been getting around that the greens are all fixed up and on the weekends you can tell there's a lot more people out all the time," he said.

If the course is eventually sold, Stutsky says, he plans to join the Whispering Winds of Warren golf course.

The sale of the Headingley property heads to council's executive policy committee and then must come before council. The sale requires the approval of atwo-thirds majority of council.

LISTEN | Petition started to oppose sale of John Blumberg Golf Course: