Golf course for sale so owner can 'golf more'

The owner of Glen Afton golf course says the 60-hectare property is up for sale so she can enjoy life and "golf more."

"It's time for me to slow down," said Merina Currie. "I'd like to spend less time bookkeeping and more time with a golf club in my hands."

Asking price for the 18-hole golf course in Nine Mile Creek is $1.5 million.

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Three generations of theCurrie familyhave helped make Glen Afton what it is today.Delmar Currie, Merina's father-in-law, founded the course in 1972.Merina and her latehusband,Harley,took over operations 16 years ago.

The couple's son Jonathan took over his father's duties at Glen Afton when his dad passed away.

Handicap?

"I knew nothing when we started," said Currie. "I heard the word 'handicap,' I thought it meant someone who walks with a cane."

I'm willing to help with the tournament, whoever the new owner is. Merina Currie, Glen Afton Golf Club

Today, the business employs a staff of eight.

According to the real estate sales listing, the par-70 course includes "possible development of homes directly on ocean."

"There's room to build along the water, and still have 18 holes," saidCurrie.

Paid green fees up in 2016

Interest in golfcontinues to wane worldwide, but Island courses haveposted a strong season so far in 2016.

Paid green fees to the end of August are up 16 percent over the year before, according to Golf PEI.

"This is shaping up to be our strongest season in the past six or seven years," said Golf PEI executivedirector Mark McLane.

Hopes charity tournament will continue

P.E.I. currently has28 golf courses. Four are owned by the provincial government and have been up for sale since 2007.

Currie hopesGlen Afton's future ownerswill continue to host anannual charity tournament her family founded: the CurrieMemorialBenefit Golf Tournament raised $12,230 last month for a 9-year-old girl in O'Leary who is dealing with serious medical issues.

Merina Currie believes the annual event may be one ofher family's most important contribution to the golf industry on P.E.I.

"It's what I'll remember most," said Currie. "I'm willing to help with the tournament, whoever the new owner is."

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