An Indoor Golf Simulator - in 1966??

Here's a head-scratcher! From the November 1966 "Golf and Club News" magazine is an article about - drumroll please - an indoor golf simulator. Sure, it wasn't run with an i-Core processor, but I never would have guessed the concept began in the mid-60's. And judging by the picture, it looks very familiar to what we see today (with the exception of the clothes).

Thanks Murray McLaren, teaching pro at Victoria Park Valley, for finding this publication. I love this stuff.

What the Heck?

It's been a crammed month of June. I think the later start this year, coupled with the poor Spring weather during May, has pent-up the demand for golf. And now we're seeing it!

But I've finally carved a few minutes out of the day to do a way-overdue blog post.

The new Clubhouse at Victoria Park Valley is finally open, and the exterior landscaping is looking great! It was a tough few weeks back in May, when the building was being used while landscaping and construction vehicles were kicking up a dust storm! However, it's looking great, and the customers love it.

At the East course, we're getting ready for our 40th Anniversary celebrations - to include a public golf special on July 5, and a Members Field Day Luncheon on July 6.

At both courses, we are trying a unique public golf promotion: "Pay What You Think It's Worth" green fee: June 29 at the Valley and July 5 at the East. We're confident this will drum-up a lot of interest, and hopefully entice some players who haven't golfed at our courses before! naturally, we'll have a friendly staff member at the 18th green to greet the golfers at the end of their rounds and collect payment. I've heard of this promotion at other types of businesses, so we'll see what happens!

Here's a great picture of the East course's 1st Tee (now the 10th tee) taken in 1975. Notice the 3-wheeled cart!

Welcome Back

With the 2014 golf season FINALLY here, it's time to get back on the bandwagon.
The last 6 months were one helluva ride.

Many of you have asked about my wife Jane: she has been battling breast cancer for just over a year now, and I very happy to say, the battle appears to have been won. It's hard to appreciate the toll it takes until you live through it - or, more properly, are in a relationship with someone who's going through it. As best as can be said at this point, Jane is done with the emotional and physical crash that is cancer, and we look forward to a full recovery. Thanks to all of you for your best wishes throughout the year.
Here's a great picture of Jane and I with Reid and Madeline at my nephew Will's confirmation last November (Alexander is missing!)

Despite the weather, I've had a very busy spring, with lots happening in the background. Technology kept me hopping: a new server, changing all of our workstations away from Windows XP, and doing my part for the new clubhouse at the Valley has been a challenge. We're all looking forward to getting this great new building open & working. Come out for a visit!

Not This Year!

As we shiver into Spring, we can now safely say that the likelihood of a March opening for the golf season is, well... not a chance. Too many of us remember March of 2012, when we were fully open on the 17th! Here's a screen grab of the Weather Network's 14 Day Trend for Guelph, and it doesn't look like we'll get to above seasonal!

But we're still busy gearing up for it. The new clubhouse at Victoria Park Valley is aggressively under construction (check out David's blog), and new stock is arriving in the East course pro shop!

Oh, the Poor Golfer!

Here's a fun take on golf and golfers, by American comedian Lewis Black. Some colourful language, so not necessarily safe for work!

Great News for Jennifer Kirby!

It's great news when a Canadian player qualifies for the Pro tour. Especially from Ontario!
Here's the report from Golf Canada:
http://www.golfcanada.ca/news/article/professional/jennifer-kirby-captures-lpga-tour-card-2014/

We got to say hello to Jennifer back in July just prior to the Manulife Financial LPGC Classic. My daughter and son were impressed with her display of skill - Jennifer was at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, courtesy of Investors Group, for question-and-answer session and clinic. Great going Jennifer!

Victory in Victoria

I just returned from the annual National Golf Course Owners Association annual conference and trade show, held this year in beautiful Victoria, BC. It was my turn to go - lucky me! I've been to Vancouver, but this was my first visit to Victoria. And what a venue for a conference: the grand old dame of Victoria, the Fairmont Empress.

Anyway, we find it a good experience to attend these conferences. There's a great cross-section of the industry that's represented, from mega-upscale resort course owners to 9-hole rural "mom & pop" operations. 

The thing I enjoy most is sharing stories and concerns with other golf course operators from different provinces, and it's uncanny how, despite some very real regional differences, many of the challenges facing us are common. How can we attract more golfers without discounting ourselves to death? What can we do to encourage kids to take up the game? 

The last day of the conference features an event called The Idea Forum, where groups of us submit ideas in the morning session, and by the afternoon a "selection team" chooses the 10-best. How about "soccer-golf" at your golf course? I don't know...