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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

You Run On Adrenaline During Open Week

Motivation is an important consideration when you and your staff are putting in long hours when your club is hosting the RBC Canadian Open, as St. George’s Golf and Country Club is doing this week.
Some of your greens staff will be working 18 to 20-hour days. The greenskeepers have to be up early and get [...]

Great Service Gets You Through Tough Times

It seems that this year, the golf industry is really stepping up its service levels.
Before last year’s economic downturn, people maybe had the attitude of build it and they will come. Maybe, they thought that, `We’re doing pretty good here, so why change things? If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.’
I think that, in the [...]

Industry Still Pulls Together For Common Good

Joe Murphy and Keith Bartlett from the St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto have been writing in their GNN blogs about how clubs in the area are getting involved leading up to and during next month’s RBC Canadian Open.
The golf business, as I’ve said for years, is a small business, a very tight [...]

The Simple Things Offer The Nicest Touches

Very often, a simple change leads to a nice touch for members and their guests.
This year, I’ve got a greeter out front who acts a bit like a concierge and it’s made quite a difference.
One of our greeters said, `I think we should serve coffee in the morning,’ so she was out there with a [...]

St. George’s Will Be A Great Open Venue

My own opinion is that, when all is said and done, the St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto will prove to be a great venue for this year’s RBC Canadian Open.
Personally, I’ve always thought St. George’s is one of the top courses in Canada. I’ve been on a lot of ranking panels and [...]

Canadians Will Just Get Used To HST

I’ve been told about a movement in British Columbia to at least stall the imminent kick-in of the Harmonized Sales Tax there, but I haven’t heard of anything like that here in Ontario, where it is also due to come into effect on July 1.
I don’t know if a revolt across the country against the HST [...]

Economic Recovery Is Across The Board

A real positive aspect of the economic recovery is that it appears to be across the board instead of exclusive to specific companies.
Large manufacturers have mentioned to me that they’re seeing a big increase in their business over last year and it may be the economy, the confidence of consumers or the early start to [...]

Golf Canada Has Coppinwood’s Support

I love what the Royal Canadian Golf Association did with its Golf Canada rebranding and the new logo and I’m throwing my support behind it.
Last year, Coppinwood hosted the national team media day and I think what Golf Canada is doing now is a huge step toward connecting with all facets of the game – [...]

Tour Pros Do Help Grow The Game

I’ve been tipped off that the topic of this week’s GNN Poll is the effect of PGA and LPGA Tour players on golf participation.
I think it’s huge, but not so much because it gets people into the game, but it does have a positive effect on people who are already into the game, whether they’re [...]

Tip Of The Hat To Supers Early In The Season

The season is beginning here at Coppinwood, where we’ve been enjoying glorious weather as part of an early spring here in Southern Ontario.
Because this is the first full year for Coppinwood under new ownership, I really want the course to be great right out of the gate.
It was tempting to open early, but this year, [...]

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