Former Tobiano owner Ternier talks sale of golf course, vision for future under GreenTee, including hotel

KAMLOOPS — GreenTee Country Club Tobiano is under new ownership.

Michael Ternier sold the track formally known as Tobiano Golf Course to Coquitlam-based JK World Group (JKWG), a holding company with interests that include real estate, development, finance and golf.

“There are no immediate changes in Tobiano,” said Ternier, who will be the club’s acting general manager for the 2025 golf season.

“It pretty much will be run as it was in the past.”

GreenTee is the brand name JKWG uses for its golf family, which includes three courses – GreenTee Country Club Tobiano, GreenTee Country Club Westwood Plateau in Coquitlam and GreenTee Country Club Langley (formerly Pagoda Ridge).

“I have nobody that’s going to take the golf course over from me, so at some point I had to sell,” said Ternier, noting the deal began to materialize about two years ago after a visit to Coquitlam. “This was a great time for me. I get to be involved with the golf course for several more years and assist the new owners. It creates a much better opportunity for growth of Tobiano and for the staff, as well, now that we’re part of a golf family, with two other courses.”

Ternier said course, pro shop and restaurant staff will be retained.

“There are always concerns when there is a change, especially when they don’t know the group,” Ternier said. “When I purchased the golf course in 2017, it was a little different because they [staff] knew me from the real estate side. I’d already been here for three years dealing with them.

“With JKWG, they didn’t know them, but one of the directors was out on the weekend, met the staff and assured them that everything was going to be OK. All the staff has been retained. That was a key part of the deal. They did want to retain the staff.”

“I think eventually they will be bringing in some new people, but for this year, it is status quo.”

Membership and green fees will not change this season, according to Ternier.

“In discussions with JKWG, there are no big changes coming,” Ternier said. “They’re very passionate about golf. They’re interested in the quality and promoting the game. They’re here because they love golf, not just to make a bunch of money.

“There is one GreenTee employee up here now working with us. Their vision is to learn about it before they make any changes.”

Ternier said plans for the future include a hotel.

“The biggest one will be the hotel, which we’re probably still three or four years away from, but now the big thing we can do is begin some detailed planning off of our concept plans,” Ternier said.

“Just creating a better opportunity for golfers, for people to spend time here. It’s great for Kamloops as a whole, more people coming in and staying here. Great for golf. They might play one or two rounds here and go to a couple other courses. Big plus for Kamloops, Tobiano and the TNRD.”

Ternier was asked if out-of-town ownership will be able to offer the same attention to detail that has Tobiano positioned among the top tracks in the nation.

“They’ve rented a place here,” Ternier said. “The person [GreenTee employee] is going to be living here. The other directors are going to be coming up at least once a month, maybe twice a month.

“There is going to be a very local feeling of it. The previous owner, they didn’t have a place here. They’ve already shown they’re committed to Tobiano.”

Ternier said he is sad to relinquish the course, but proud of his tenure at the helm.

“Overall, bringing Tobiano back to the forefront,” Ternier said. “It was there and it went down, both the golf course and the real estate. Now, we’re back at the forefront of golf and at the forefront of real estate around here.”

He said accomplishments include forming a great staff, doubling the size of the dining room, kitchen and patio, expanding the clubhouse and donating money for Developing World Connections projects in Kenya.

Ternier declined to reveal the sale price of the course.

“It’s always sad when you let go of something like this,” Ternier said. “But I think it was the perfect time and the perfect group to take over Tobiano.”

JKWG CEO Justin Kim is expected to offer more on the vision for the future next week during an interview with CFJC Today.