In the Spring issue of Pro Shop magazine Senior Editor Rick Drennan penned his column on the Root Problem with Golf in Canada. (Click here to read the story) Drennan touched on several problems with the development of golf in Canada and in particular the elitism and a focus on high-performance programs so Canada can have more players on the PGA Tour. Golf Canada is ignoring 95% of golfers in Canada as the majority are public golfers and very few know what Golf Canada does for them or the benefits.
In addition to the overwhelming response and comments below, Don MacKay owner of Muskoka Highlands Golf Links and a former member of the Golf Canada board responded and states very clearly the position Golf Canada takes with public golfers representing the majority of golfers in Canada. If Golf Canada only caters to the private club members and high-performance players and development, why did the government appoint Golf Canada as the National Sports Federation and provide them with millions of dollars? One would think the National Sports Federation for golf in Canada would be for all golfers and not only the elite.
Pro Shop magazine was granted permission to publish his comment. If anyone wishes to comment on the “Root Problem with golf in Canada” and voice your opinion or make and suggestions, please reply to randy@linksmarketing.ca. Your comments may be published in upcoming issues.
“When I was involved as a board member and chair of Membership at GC, we operated with the notion that we had to have a presence for Golf Canada so that the average golfer would at least see it somewhere in some context. Golf has no public brand and we were going to develop this from the ground up. A la Peter Puck or Tim Bits. People know Tims and Hockey – wonderful position in the market – sells both sides of the coin – young hockey and the coffee.
It was all laid out for the board and they voted it down because they did not want to commit to the program. We had tested the process and proved that $1 in brought $2 back – and as an annuity for future years. The cost of the program was going to be somewhat significant – but the value far surpassed it. I insisted on a vote so it was formally recorded they did not want to spend anything on the public golfer. Post vote over coffee and outside of the board room, I had a senior board member tell me that perhaps golf would just go back to the way it was.
Do the math – 6 million golfers – $40 pp = $240million revenue stream. And they get $12mm at most. Pathetic really. But the board are private club members and they do not see the public game with a true governance lens.
But we can afford a new $70 million head office!”
Don MacKay FCPA FCA
President
Muskoka Highlands Golf Links
The following are some recent replies to the editorial and comments showing on social media.
Apparently, the editorial got golfers talking on social media. Wonder if Golf Canada will take notice?
Got a Smile about Root problem with CDN Golf. Yep, do think part of problem may rest with
the Leadership of Golf Canada.
Really do have to question the move from Oakville to Caledon. “Kind of get” the Synergies involved.
But; coming from Kerr Street in Oakville to now living in Edmonton,
So do laff!!
Only in Canada!!
Best.
Bill Bamber
Edmonton Alberta
Excellent edition. My congratulations to Rick on his article and good for you for publishing it. Please pass on my support
Great article by you on Nick Taylor. Truly a wonderful accomplishment and all Canadians should be proud.
Wayne McDonald
Evenroll Canada
Editor’s Note: Wayne is a leading Canadian golfer who won the Canadian Junior, Canadian Amateur and many other golf events in Canada and US Tours
SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS
On social media here are some responses that represent what some public golfers think. Comments have not been edited.
1. That is a fair question, but let’s look at it from a different perspective.
That is, what does the average green fee golfer want or expect from Golf Canada?
2. A lot of the guys that I’ve played with in the last two years probably have never really heard of Golf Canada, much less formed any opinion or expectations of it as an organization. They are all very casual golfers who don’t keep indexes, they don’t play in competitive events (other than casual ‘beer’ leagues), they don’t agonize at all over the rules and are not familiar with recent or pending rules changes or the reasons for them. Generally, their main priorities are green fees, tee-time availability, pace of play, and local course conditions.
IMO, some of the more ‘high-minded’ initiatives undertaken by Golf Canada are of absolutely no interest to many golfers, especially the average green fee ones.
3. Your average golfer has no clue about Golf Canada , I mean they represent the sport and a big part of their responsibility is to grow and promote the game so golf clubs can turn a profit and the sport is in a healthy position, let’s face the industry for most part as far as courses go were suffering before C19 and I would guess once the C19 boom truly slows down I think there will be lots clubs struggling to break even again , just my opinion, I could way off. And before you ask, I have no clue what they should be doing differently
4. The average golfer has no idea who or what Golf Canada is and what they do. They are concerned with availability and price mostly, and play for fun without handicaps and really don’t know the rules. Nor do they really care.
5. You are probably right, I just think that if 80-90% of golfers in Canada don’t know who Golf Canada is or what they do seems like a failure on Golf Canada’s part, as the article suggests, they cater to a very small niche market that doesn’t represent the sport as a whole. The golf course’s that pay to part of Golf Canada’s “network” in order to keep the game in a healthy place and ensure its future, weekend warriors and esp kids should be aware of least programs to introduce them to game. Would be curious to know the value paying courses get for being part of GC.
6. While I agree with some of your points, but when the future of golf relies on growth to keep the game healthy in years to come as boomers die off and the average age of golfers is 50 years old, I would think it’s paramount that kids play and are introduced to the game to keep the cycle going … and I think good chunk of that responsibility falls on golf Canada, now I understand golf is expensive and there are plenty of alternatives to golf for kids to enjoy in the summer months , soccer, baseball etc. Like I said, I’m probably wrong and Golf Canada is doing a bang-up job and all stake holders are pleased with what GC is doing, I guess we will find out in about 20 years what the participation is like. But when golf courses are paying to part of that network and most of the golfers playing their tracks aren’t aware of CG and don’t seem to benefit anything, you have to wonder what value GC is adding to these clubs or the sport in general asides from catering to the very small % of golfers that are at an elite level and take advantage of all the training and support that has been put in place for them and really them only.
7. Golf Canada could probably have a higher profile but aren’t they kind of dependent on their “partners” i.e., golf courses to help promote and participate in their stuff?
While there are exceptions do all/most public courses run and actively promote a junior golf program. How many tee times do they give juniors? How much is their daily junior discount? How many run/promote/advertise junior clinics? How many run or promote junior tournaments? How many run and promote/advertise introduction to golf programs, clinics, lessons, events? Most private clubs do this stuff so may partly explain why they have stronger links to GC?
8. Absolutely courses have responsibility to promote and participate in their stuff, but they are paying GC a fee and what are they getting in return? I don’t work in the industry but I’m guessing not much, as for clubs promoting golf to juniors … I don’t think a lot do, as the money in the short term isn’t great, but in long term it would pay off I think, it’s like the saying “stepping over dollars to pick up nickels” private clubs maybe do a better job but a big part of private clubs gaining new young professionals is to offer a family friendly experience, therefore they should or have to offer something for the kids and the wife’s frankly if they want those big initiation fees and yearly dues. But private clubs are very small part of what makes up our golf clubs, most clubs are daily fee not private.
9. I don’t know what courses get for their fees aside from a course rating. Might be things like reports, surveys, literature, access to seminars/programs etc. but if so, it would seem it’s up to the course whether they use any of the stuff or not. Have you ever been asked at a public course if you want to sign up for a GC membership which is also a major revenue generator for GC? My guess is no you have not and 99% of golfers would decline anyways. Privates just sign everybody up w/out asking and GC dues get sent in. Grow the game is a nice cliche but most have no interest in doing anything about it and maybe GC is not going to be able to do it all on their own.
10. I am sure they get industry data of some sort, what they do with it or how useful it is who knows, and yes, I see some courses not all including the GC Canada membership in the course membership. And I think you’re 99% of your average golfers have zero interest in GC membership, can’t remember what you get exactly, I think iron shaft bands that are personalized, insurance and handicap
11. Have often wondered what Golf Canada has been doing for the average green fee golfer
