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...

Oh, the Fun!

Last weekend was our annual 2-day "VicFest Fall Scramble", sponsored by Sleeman Brewery. Saturday was more like a winter day: windy, cold, rain, then snow, then rain again. After an hour delay, though, the call was made to forge ahead and get the game going. Most of the players agreed that it was THE WORST conditions that they've ever played in.  Surprisingly enough, low score for the day was in the double-digits at 10 under.
Sunday proved to be a little better, weather-wise. It was cold, but no precipitation.
This event has been going on since the early 80s - maybe even the late 70s! As far as fall scrambles go, it's a popular one. This year was just one team shy of a full field (140 players). They played Victoria Park Valley on the Saturday, and the East course on Sunday. Winning score over 36 holes was 20 under.

Time for a New Clubhouse

The house that we renovated in 2011 at Victoria Park Valley to serve as our "temporary" pro shop and snack bar has done it's duty. Soon after "The Valley" opened in 2012, plans were beginning to take shape for a permanent building.

The last week of September was a whirl-wind of activity: we moved the operation - or bits of it, anyways - into a construction trailer, in preparation for demolition of the house. The staff worked hard, the trailer became functional, and the demolition began on October 2nd.

It didn't take long! By the afternoon of October 3rd demolition was complete and the site was cleaned-up. New construction is slated to begin after Thanksgiving. The plans for the new clubhouse are available for view in the trailer - come on out and have a look!