Corner Brook -
The man who founded Humber Valley Resort says he is not involved with the party which has reached an agreement to purchase the property's assets.
While he wished not to make any further comment until the deal is finalized, Brian Dobbin did tell The Western Star via email Wednesday that he is not part of the bid confirmed by Ernst and Young this week.
The deal to purchase the major infrastructure assets at the resort, which went bankrupt last December, could be finalized on or before Dec. 18.
Ernst and Young, which was appointed the property's trustee in bankruptcy, sold off some of the resort assets - including building lots, the Beach House restaurant and neighbouring Strawberry Hill - earlier this year.
According to Ernst and Young, the deal will involve all of the resort's remaining assets, but does not include any chalets, which are already privately owned. The available assets include the golf course and clubhouse, office buildings, roads, underground infrastructure and the bridge over the Humber River leading to the resort properties.
Gary Oke, the former manager of the Blomidon Golf and Country Club, operated the Humber Valley golf course this past season at the request of Ernst and Young.
Oke told The Western Star Wednesday that he has been contacted by an anonymous group, which communicated with him through the trustee and which asked if he would be interested in operating the course again in 2010.
"I could not reply to that," said Oke. "I can't agree to anything with a group when I have no idea who it is I am dealing with."
That does not mean Oke is not interested in being back at the course next year. He just wants to deal with the new owner face-to-face.
"It's totally dependent on who buys it," said Oke, who had heard an international golfing entity had been interested in the property, but has no idea who the current agreement Ernst and Young has worked out is with.
Whoever takes over the resort's assets, Oke advised them to ensure they operate much the same way he ran the course this season.
"We had an open-door policy with reasonable fees and it wasn't the exclusive club it was before," said Oke. 'That led to a lot more traffic this season than the course had in recent years. I think the chalet and homeowners living on the resort appreciated that."
