HST Won’t Hurt B.C. Golf, But I Still Don’t Like It
May 25, 2010 by Kyle German
You may have heard that former British Columbia premier Bill Vander Zalm is going riding to riding, hoping to get enough names to force a referendum on the Harmonized Sales Tax, which goes into effect on July 1.
I’m not really paying attention because I don’t think he’s going to be able to pull it off. At first glance, it’s an admirable cause, but the cynic in me says he’s a politician.
However, a lot of people are up in arms about the HST in B.C.
I was driving home recently and there was a guy in my neighbourhood, sitting at what looked like a kid’s lemonade stand, an old table and a chair. He had put signs up around the neighbourhood that said `HST Petition’ with arrows pointing to where people could sign it and there was a lineup.
Needless to say, there aren’t many people happy about the HST and I’m sure it’s the same in Ontario.
As far as golf goes, I don’t think it will have much of an effect on the game. On a $75 green fee, what’s the difference? Most of the green fees on the Lower Mainland are under $100.
When a golf course raises its rates, a golfer can go somewhere else, but with the HST, everybody’s going to be in the same boat, so I don’t think individual golf courses will lose anything because of it and I don’t think it’s enough to discourage somebody from playing golf if they love golf.
The first few weeks after it comes into effect, when it’s still a shock to people’s systems, there may be a little bit of a backlash.
Even though I think the HST won’t have much of an effect on golf, that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Kyle German is the 2008 winner of the Canadian PGA Club Professionals Championship and is a teaching professional at Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, BC. He is also a longtime member of the PGA of British Columbia and the CPGA.
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Maybe Kyle German should give up his cushy ass job in Washington and come back to Canada full time. Courses with $100 green fees, give me a break Kyle, in my area the locals are struggling to get $48, and the HST is going to hurt big time. Just another example of governments doing what they want instead of doing what we want, after all as I recall it was us that elected them.
The who cares attitude, of people like Kyle German is exactly why they do it, cause people like him do not care.
Nice of you to actually READ the article Mike. It clearly states that the green fees in the lower mainland are UNDER $100. (which is in reference to Ontario where over $100 is quite normal) And if your paying $48 for a green fee (which represents my point extremely well by the way) and you love the game – will the extra $3 from the HST cause you to not play? If so, then you’re the first person I’ve talked to (and I talk golf all day) that this will drastically affect.
As for coming back to Canada Mike, you’ll be happy to know that I pulled over and signed the petition at the “lemonade stand” as I live in Canada and have since I was 10 years old and am very much against the HST. Just out of curiosity, where does it state that I “don’t care”? All the article is referring to is my opinion that I don’t think the HST will have much effect on golf in BC.
Here’s a suggestion … Instead of moaning and groaning, why not try to be part of the solution? I think you would make an excellent politician, with your friendly and approachable demeanor and obvious attention to detail. You could make some great changes. I can see it now.