Architects’ Report Card Is Great Input

We recently had representatives of Tom Fazio out to Coppinwood, so they could take a look at how the course has matured since it was completed.
We wanted to see how we’re doing, what we’re doing well, what we can do a little better and what they think of how the golf course is maturing.
The golf [...]

It’s Shocking How People Don’t Respect Lightning

It says in our membership terms and wherever we post anything that we will sound the horn if we know there’s lightning in the area, but it’s a golfer’s responsibility to get off the golf course and seek shelter.
The problem is that they use the horn as their only warning, but the weather at the [...]

I Want To Believe Golf Is Rebounding

The first two weeks of August were probably the busiest I’ve ever seen it for that time of year.
I’m not sure if the reason is the improving economy and, to be honest, I really don’t need an explanation. I’ll just take it. I think a big part of it is that we’ve had such good [...]

Entering A New Phase In My Career

We started another season down at The Core Golf Junior Academy in Orlando this past week and each year, we grow a little bit more in number of students and in solidifying our programs. 
We have added Bob Skura as our director of mental performance. He will be there on a more consistent basis along with [...]

Financial Information Is Not Mine To Give Out

There’s been plenty of discussion on this website over the past week or so about the Rounds Played program that the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Canadian PGA are running in partnership.
In reply to the current poll being conducted on the home page, my answer is that if it’s confidential and our name [...]

Invitational Brings Players/Members Together

We recently held the Coppinwood Invitational, a tournament played by the top amateurs and professionals in the area and while it’s a competitive event, it’s also a great way to bring members together.
The club really gets behind this event. It’s really kind of exciting because some members came out and caddied and some did scoring. [...]

Emergency Response Plan Is Critical

We’ve had a number of incidents that illustrate the importance of a good emergency response plan.
Recently, two guys were out fishing on the Bow River. One of them came running up and said, `Call 911.’ The other man was in diabetic shock, but he was showing signs of a stroke.
We had one golfer last year [...]

Let’s Hope Fires Don’t Affect B.C. Tourism

We’re nowhere near the fires that are burning in the interior of British Columbia. We’re probably about three hours, at least, away from it.
I guess it’s conceivable that it could affect us here on the Lower Mainland, but it’s pretty low risk because most of the fires in B.C. are started by lightning. If we [...]

We’re Ready To Spend Some Dough

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog about how we were holding off until later in the summer to decide on major capital expenditures for next season.
We’re actually putting plans together right now for what we might do this winter, with the main focus being the clubhouse.
Last year, we did paving and a locker room [...]

Low Scores Are A Risk You Take As Open Venue

When conditions softened at St. George’s Golf and Country Club during this year’s RBC Canadian Open, I got to thinking about the concerns with Angus Glen when I was there for two Opens in 2002 and 2007.
The two Opens at Angus Glen resulted in 16-under scores winning, while Carl Pettersson’s victory at St. George’s came [...]

Environment And Evolution Will Shape Golf

The appearance of giant hogweed, which can blister skin and potentially blind somebody, out east is an example of how the environment can change.
Hopefully, hogweed doesn’t affect golf courses out there or spread west, but it illustrates the point that, as golf courses, we have to be aware of the environment.
We need to be on [...]

We Plan To Turn Students Inside-Out

In my last blog, I introduced the mental performance program we are bringing to the Core Golf Junior Academy down in Orlando this winter.
It’s called Inside Out coaching. We plan to create a similar program for both our Academies in the Greater Toronto Area at Pipers Heath and Willow Valley
The gentleman leading the program is [...]

Bats Are A Creepy Way To Battle Little Pests

We’ve constantly got West Nile Disease warnings up around the golf course and so far this year, it’s been pretty quiet despite the mosquitoes that have been absolutely atrocious here.
Mosquitoes are part of life. We’re out in the country. We’re right along the Bow River and, as I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, we had an [...]

HST Could Have A Delayed Impact

Here in Ontario, the Harmonized Sales Tax came in with little or no bang as far as golf goes, but there could also be a delayed effect that carries over into early next year.
One of the good selling features on memberships leading up to the implementation of the HST on July 1 was save on [...]

Preparing For My Second Major At St. George’s

Keith Bartlett, the superintendent at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, has been contributing a regular GNN blog as he prepared the course for last week’s RBC Canadian Open. In this contribution, he looks back at the week that was and ahead to getting the course ready for the club championship, which gets underway Aug. [...]

Open Was A Positive Experience For St. George’s

Joe Murphy, general manager of the St. George’s Golf and Country Club, has been writing a regular blog leading up to this year’s RBC Canadian Open and now that it’s over, he deals with the experience from a club perspective and the question of whether St. George’s would consider hosting the national championship again.
 
I haven’t [...]

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