Cheam Golf Centre will reopen under old management after a court allowed the course's operator his one and only mulligan.

The golf course was closed in November after the city, which owns the land, served notice that it was revoking Bogey Enterprises' lease.

At the time, city was owed nearly $40,000 in back rent and taxes. A city official told the Times that it assumed the operator was insolvent and would never be able to pay up.

According to a city press release, Bogey Enterprises and operator Earl Francis will have their 22-year-old lease reinstated, but the city will recover all of its costs associated with terminating the lease. The court ruled that the city will receive about $60,000 plus its legal costs.

A city staffer told the Times that civil law allows leaseholder a single "relief of forfeiture." That allows the leaseholder to avoid forfeiting a lease, provided he or she makes financial amends. A court will not grant a second relief of forfeiture if the leaseholder falls behind on rent or taxes again.

The staffer said the city hopes that will keep Bogey Enterprises paying its rent and taxes on time.

The closing of the course had members fuming at management, who had been peddling "early bird" memberships just weeks before.

According to the city, Francis "has committed to opening the course as soon as weather and ground conditions permit" and will honour all memberships sold for the upcoming golf season.

Ed Dube, who bought his membership for the upcoming season in November and spoke angrily about Francis when the course closed that month, said he is pleased to be able to golf at Cheam again this year.

"Cheam is just the right size and layout," he said.

Still, he says the sudden closure of the course in November still resonates.

"You kind of pay your memberships dues and that's the end of it and that's the normal way of life. Now you've got to be a little more hesitant at handing over the dough."

Dube was hoping the course would be managed by a new operator. Nevertheless, he said: "It will be alright. We're golfing not socializing with them."

tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com