Frequently Asked Questions About Restoring Eaglemont

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Eaglemont golf course was opened as a public course in the mid-nineties based on a City of Mount Vernon permit that required it to be open as a public golf course. It was closed and put on the market in April 2020 by its foreign owners just as Covid was emerging. In May 2022 it was purchased by Beacon Hill International Ministry, a nonprofit organization. The purpose of the organization according to its Executive Director, Tim Langenberg, is to develop and operate a pastoral retreat center. The funds for the purchase were provided by a company called Romano Capital from Vancouver, WA. Changing use from a golf course to a religious ministry is not allowed by the permit and would require an extensive effort to change the Planned Unit Development terms and would be strongly opposed by the community. 

After assuming ownership Mr. Langenberg stated repeatedly and publicly, including at a City Council meeting and in a TV interview, that he neither had the funds nor the intention to open, maintain and operate a golf course. The course was consistently mowed until May, 2023 but it was not watered nor were any nutrients applied. The greens are largely destroyed due to lack of maintenance and without consistent mowing, some areas previously in play have grass well over three feet tall. In early June the fire department responded to a grass fire near the third green which took two hours to put out. It is fortunate the nearby forest was not engulfed.

Communication with the new owner made it clear it was not possible for this owner to re-open the course. The City of Mount Vernon provided information on the legal cases of other golf courses in similar situations where homeowners have gone to court to compel the owners to open, maintain and operate a course based on covenants, promises, and permitting documents. Two homeowners who live on the course hired attorneys Bill Knudsen from Bellingham, and Andy Schuh from Mount Vernon to take legal action. Given the inability and unwillingness of the owner to comply with the City permits and the covenants with home owners, the Court was asked to appoint a receiver as the only remedy available because of the financial harm to homeowners and the loss incurred by the whole community.

A court hearing was scheduled for April 28, but was delayed twice due to the owner's lack of payment to attorneys hired to defend him. On June 9, 2023 Skagit Superior Court Judge Laura Riquelme heard the petition and reply and, while indicating she accepted the homeowners' claim that a receivership was the appropriate remedy, decided that a trial was needed to establish additional evidence in support of the claims of the promises and commitments to homeowners.

The trial is now set for October or November. The costs of the receivership petition to date has been covered by the generous support from over 100 homeowners including some who live outside the neighborhood but who enjoyed the golf course, clubhouse and amenities. Given the additional costs of going to trial, the homeowners are reaching out to the broader community.

The receiver to be appointed was in the June 9 hearing and he explained he would immediately move to restore the course to full operation and then sell it to a qualified buyer able and willing to operate it. The receiver has extensive experience in receiverships and specifically in golf course receiverships. He also previously owned a golf course in the region. His contacts and experience would likely result in a sale to a qualified buyer.

All contributions to the legal funds go directly to an escrow account managed by Guardian Title. These funds are for paying legal costs only. No homeowners handle these funds. The petition submitted asked the court to refund the legal fees upon sale of the course. It is uncertain if this request will be granted. If it is, all funds will be returned. If more funds are raised than are needed to pay the legal costs, contributors will receive a pro-rate refund.

The owner as the Executive Director of the non-profit Beacon Hill has stated publicly on a number of occasions that he has neither the money nor the intentions to open the course. He said this in a City Council meeting, in a letter to the homeowners' attorney, and in the KING5 news story:

https://www.king5.com/video/news/local/homeowners-fight-to-keep-mount-vernon-golf-course/281-99d26fec-2ffa-4dac-8350-6a080cc3f551

There are a number of reasons to believe why he would not be able to restore and operate the course, even should he change his mind and communicate that he will do that. Those reasons will most likely come out in court when the trial occurs.