If in the past the passion for golf greens brought them together, it is undoubtedly now in the courtrooms that the Tovo family and the representatives of the Loisirs Solutions group should meet. The first planned to sell the Allot estate golf course to the latter. The transaction fell through… And in conditions that some will consider unclear.
Far from the bunkers and traps, the affair, at the start, seemed to roll like a ball on a fairway: the 1is May 2023, an agreement is thus signed between the parties. With a singular operation which was to lead to an official sale on June 30, 2024, a little over a year later. After years on the market, the Boé golf course had apparently found a buyer in the person of Jean-Sébastien Muet, representing the Loisirs Solutions group. An outcome that never came.
As a bonus, the former buyer has remained on site until these days. That is, six months beyond the limit set by the agreement. Hervé Tovo explains.
The sale of your golf course did not go as planned…
That’s the least we can say! The previous buyer sold us a dream. And, the worst thing is that, on June 30, when he told us that he would not buy, he did not leave. We had a lot of trouble getting him to leave the place. He left on December 8, when I finally took over the business.
So for five months, he operated the site without owning it?
That’s exactly it. He no longer answered the phone, we only communicated by text messages or emails. Finally, at the beginning of December, a favorable outcome arrived for us, with his official departure.
However, he had big plans for the golf course and the castle.
Develop and modernize the course, create a restaurant, a 3 or 4 star hotel. This was truly the project my family had been waiting for. But here it is…
Did you lose money in this operation?
Without fail. The sale didn’t happen, and then we committed funds to the deal. This December 18, an interim order was launched. We are asking for compensation. Obviously, this matter is going to end up in court.
Over the last 18 months, everything is not gloomy, is it?
With his director, the buyer put the golf course back into positive operation. The site is well maintained, a reliable and competent team is in place on the administrative level and the maintenance of the course.
How are the golf course and its restaurant doing?
The restaurant is doing well, there are people regularly. As for golf, we have 180 members. That’s good, but we would need to reach 250 to ensure balance. I have no doubt that we will reach them soon.
There’s no way we’re going to let this all go to waste. I’ve never given up on anything in my life, it’s only going to start now.
Exactly, what is the future?
The Tovo brothers are taking over management of the golf course and the castle, which belong to us. I say it with great conviction: the Allot golf course will live. The potential is there, this course is the only 18 hole in Agenais, it is young and promising. There’s no way we’re going to let this all go to waste. I’ve never given up on anything in my life, it’s only going to start now.
There is another golf course in Agenais which is also growing…
In Bon-Encontre, the management method is completely different. It is an association on public land. They do not have our financial burdens and our constraints. I think there is a form of inequality between us.
Are you still a seller?
Yes, because it is now up to others to develop this equipment full of promise. But until then, we will maintain the club with determination.
“I don’t want to say anything”
Contacted, Jean-Sébastien Muet, representative of Loisirs Solutions, declared: “Yes, Hervé Tovo resumed on December 8. » Not wishing to express himself further, he concluded: “Nothing is clear and I don’t want to say anything. The entire file is in the hands of the lawyers. I won’t say anything until we have an agreement. »
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