News Release

For immediate release                                                   

October 19, 2007

BEN EOIN (NOVA SCOTIA) – October 19, 2007 - The newest addition to Cape Breton Island’s golf experience was officially announced today at a ceremony held in Ben Eoin. Ben Eoin Golf Club Limited will build an 18-hole golf facility in Ben Eoin, to be known as The Lakes Golf Club.

Designed by world-renowned architect Graham Cooke, The Lakes will be an “A” level, superior quality anchor golf course that includes a state-of-the art irrigation system, paved cart paths, bent grass tees, greens and fairways, sculpted bunkers and an overall strategic design capitalizing on the landscape and outstanding views of the Bras d’Or Lakes.

Board of Directors President, Michael Kenny, calls the day “momentous” as he describes the impact that this new course will have on the Island and the Atlantic region. “The development of The Lakes Golf Club has been long awaited,” he said. “Coupled with Cape Breton’s existing courses, The Lakes will wrap up Cape Breton Island as an international golf destination.” The course name and logo were officially unveiled at today’s event.

Graham Cooke provided today’s keynote address. Cooke and the GCA Team have designed and supervised the construction of over 100 golf courses worldwide and are now charged with the creation of The Lakes Golf Club. He said, “The location in Ben Eoin, with the beautiful Bras d’Or Lakes on one side and the rolling hills on the other, is the only canvass needed to develop one of the best courses in Atlantic Canada.” He continued, “The course has such variety and playability that we anticipate golfers from all over the world will soon be traveling to Cape Breton to golf The Lakes.”

The site is situated east and west of the existing lands currently held by The Cape Breton Ski Club. Kenny stated, “We are excited about our relationship with the Cape Breton Ski Club, an organization that has served this community very well over the past number of years.” He continued, “Both clubs will utilize our synergies for the success and long-term sustainability of our operations.”

The total cost of the project is $8.5 million. Funding for the creation of The Lakes Golf Club was made available through an equity investment of $3,000,000 from the Cape Breton Growth Fund.
 
“The CBGF’s support for the construction of this attraction is a strategic investment in tourism infrastructure in Cape Breton,” said Marlene Usher, Acting CEO of Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation. “Golf tourism is an economic generator and assisting with the construction of quality facilities will create long-term economic development benefits.”

Ben Eoin Golf Club Limited is a local company made up of a volunteer board of directors whose principal business activity is the operation of The Lakes Golf Course in co-operation with The cape Breton Ski Club, a non-profit company whose mandate is the development of recreational facilities in Ben Eoin.

The CBGF is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and is a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia with a mandate to assist in the transition of the Cape Breton economy.

For Further Information Contact:

D.A Landry
ECBC Communications
Tel: 902-564-3617

Rick Preeper,
The Lakes Project Coordinator
Tel: 902-270-2386