Hello everyone, I am just about to celebrate ten years as a member of the forum. Those were very early days. But I have a lot to thank the forum for.
It was through the forum that in early 2010 I learnt that the counsel were looking for someone to operate the golf course in Llwynon road and the putting green in the happy valley. I was doing nothing. We had a meeting. I got the job.
I soon found out that the putting green was no longer viable so that soon closed. But the Llwynon road golf course now named by me as the Great Orme family golf went from strength to strength I am happy to say.
But all good things come to an end I suppose. I expect many of you will know I no longer run it. I was outbid. It is now run by a new operator.
In previous years the council just raised the rent most years by £100 or so. Fair enough. But last October they decided to change the system. They were going to advertise that it was up for grabs to the highest and/or the most attractive bidder. And I don’t mean attractive good looking haha. No. The one who could put money into it to improve it.
Of course I put in a bid. As far as rent goes I offered over double what I was paying in 2018. It was now a large outlay. I was reasonably confident that I would win it. But I was mistaken.someone beat me in price so I was out. Well, that’s how it goes. I couldn’t complain. But I can well and truly complain about how the council went about telling me. You bet.
As a lot of you know I spend the winter in the Far East. Why not. My daily rent is £4 50. I don’t need heating haha in Goa. So I was away. The council knew I was away. They knew when I was coming back a few days before the end of March.
The bidding ended at the start of March. After it was closed I waited a week. Then I enquired was I successfully. They replied they had a lot of interest (doubtful) and they were considering the applicants. They would let me know.
There was one local golf course that had a rather vague interest and the council put me in touch with them. They suggested that I carried on running it but they would assist with the buildings. I didn’t see much point in that. What buildings? Who was going to pay the rent etc. So because I was lukewarm that fizzled out.
Anyway we struggle through March. Several times I enquired as to whether they had made a decision. Several times I told not yet. Still evaluating.
On a week last Thursday I started my return journey to u k. A long bad journey which eventually took over 30 hours. No direct flights for impoverished people like me😁😁.
But about the Wednesday of that week the council told me by email they wanted a meeting with me of Friday. If I couldn’t make it Friday, then last Monday. I said I not able to make Friday cos on that day I on my way back. O k they say. It will have to be Monday.
On Friday afternoon as I was flying over the Arabian Sea I git an email. Sorry you have lost. The new owner takes over on Monday 1st April. That’s right. April fools day.
What could I do? Nothing. I continued my bad journey and eventually arrived well and truly jet lagged.
As soon as I came round on the Sunday afternoon I went to the course. There were two men doing some joinery outside the huts. I now know one of these men is the new owner.
They immediately set about me verbally. We taking over. We help you. We help you get all your stuff out. Over and over again. I opened one shed with my key. They straight inside how can we help, get mowers out etc etc. Me: hold on, hold on. I not even got a car (I had taken it off the road whilst inaway) I come on the bus.
They continued saying what you going to do. I continued nothing I can do immediate. And I left. In a daze. How can this be happening. I must be dreaming.
I don’t think I slept at all that night. It not jet lag now.far more serious.
I met three members of the council in a cafe in Colwyn bay on Monday morning. They said I must get all my stuff out immediate. No messing. Otherwise the council themselves would take it all away to the tip.
I shot round to the auction rooms and asked them to take everything they possibly could and I hired two large vans to get up there as quick as possible. They did. A lot of the big stuff which they thought saleable like mowers, strimmers, large tools went. But there was a mountain of smaller items and hundreds of golf clubs and balls which they, correctly, thought unsaleable. They took maybe 50 clubs and said that’s it. I up all night. By now I had my car. I dumping stuff onto my daughters lawn in town in the open.
Into the night.
Next morning early back up there to find all the locks and keys changed. Even the gate. No one there. I couldn’t get in. After a while the new man arrived. I cannot help you I too busy. Well I never asked him to help me. I could get help but I just didn’t have time. Now I couldn’t even get into the sheds. Unless he there and reluctantly let me in the new shed. I never got in the old shed which had most of my tools. Not once.
So now onto Wednesday. Up there, still struggling. Midday council phoned. We coming at 1 30 to take everything left. In the meantime the new owner said I had enough of you. You are barred from coming through that gate.
Oh charming. My trailer still on the course full to the brim with small stuff. The council arrive. A senior official, a large lorry and men. The lady official walks with me and we go through the gate. I tell her I barred. New man went to see me off. Probably didn’t know the lady official.
I just jumped in my car drove in hitched the trail and got out by the skin of my teeth and that was the end.
I better explain how this happened. When I first arrived nine years ago I bought clubs and balls off the previous man. Stored in the shed. But I did know that my licence ran from April 1 and October 31. And I did vaguely know I should empty everything each winter. But I thought it just in small print. No one would bother. But of course as the business grew, so did all the equipment. I had everything, purchased over the years. Like a water bowser and pumps in drought. Lost them
So that’s it. Thanks for reading all this.
