Hale’s Happy Place, Mind Games And Other Notes

Hale Irwin, who will play in the inaugural Montreal Championship in July, was in no way referring Tiger Woods, but what he had to say last week offered a delightful contrast to those of us who are weary of the scandal.

The three-time U.S. Open winner played in his 1,000th PGA Tour / Champions Tour event last weekend in Tampa, but before he did that, he talked about the upcoming Champions Tour event in Montreal and touched on longevity and the role of family in a player’s career.

Irwin, with his 65th birthday on the horizon, said golf was part of an overall lifestyle and the standard by which you live your life will be reflected in the way you play golf.

With a record 45 wins on the Champions Tour and 20 wins on the PGA Tour, the World Golf Hall of Fame member apparently led a good life overall if you go by that theory. Read more

Champions Tour Moves To ClubLink Course

The Champions Tour is returning to Canada for the first time since 2002 after the introduction on Thursday of the Montreal Championship to be played at Club de Golf Fontainebleau, a ClubLink Corporation facility in Blainville, Que., July 2-4.

Montreal-based Synchro Sports will be host organization and tournament promoter for the 54-hole event that will feature 78 players with an overall $1.8-million purse and $270,000 prize for the winner.

The event will be televised on The Golf Channel and Reseau des sports (RDS)

“We realize the strategic importance of growing the Champions Tour brand globally and establishing a strong presence in Canada,” said Champions Tour president Mike Stevens.

“Following the overwhelming success of the 2007 Presidents Cup, our players are excited to be back playing in Canada and looking forward to visiting and showcasing the Champions Tour in the world-class city of Montreal,” he added.

The federal and Quebec provincial governments will split $4.7-million in funding for marketing and promotion of the championship over three years.

Former Montreal Canadiens president Ronald Corey will serve as tournament chairman, while Synchro Sports vice president David Skitt will be tournament director.

Fontainebleau is 7,105 yards and opened in 2003.  A year later, it hosted the Telus Skins Game.

“Certainly, it’s a perfect set-up for the Champions Tour, but what’s great about it is the 15th hole comes back to the clubhouse and then, when you play 16, 17 18, it goes around a big lake,” said Skitt.

“From an event management perspective, the way we’re going to set it up with the skyboxes and grandstands, it’s going to create an amphitheatre,” he added.

“I certainly think it will look great on TV,” said Skitt. “What’s kind of fun from a spectator’s perspective is you can be sitting on the 17th green, but see exactly what’s going on on 16 and then, seeing what’s going on on 18, which is kind of fun.”

Skitt estimates that the tournament, which will change its working name and add a title sponsor in the near future, will have an economic impact on Quebec of between $22 and $25-million.

“We’re not in this just to be any event,” he said. “We want this to be a premier event on the Champions Tour.”

ClubLink Expansion Could Be On The Horizon

It isn’t being overly cynical to discuss the business aspect of what is being presented as a good for the game, feelgood story with ClubLink Corporation contributing roughly $4-million in cash and use of its facilities for Royal Canadian Golf Association programs and initiatives (See the News Now story for more).

It’s the way of the world.

“We’ve got approaching 20,000 members playing golf and we obviously want them to continue to love and enjoy the game of golf,” said ClubLink president and chief executive officer Rai Sahi

“Since my involvement going back 10 years ago, at the time, there were only 6,000 members. If you keep going at the same rate, we could have 30-40-50,000 members, so obviously, it is in our interests as well as the game of golf continues to grow.” Read more

ClubLink Invests Heavily In RCGA

ClubLink Corporation has entered into a 10-year agreement with the Royal Canadian Golf Association to support several RCGA programs and services.

ClubLink will invest close to $4 million, including the use of its facilities, into the National Golf in Schools Program, Team Canada, CN Future Links, the RCGA Foundation, Canadian University Colleges Championship and the RBC Canadian Open.

ClubLink President and chief executive officer Rai Sahi said supporting Canadian golf, especially at the grassroots level through the CN Future Links junior golf program and National Golf in Schools, was a driving force behind ClubLink’s decision.

“This partnership is a natural progression of our longstanding relationship with the RCGA and, like them, ClubLink and our 18,500 members are vitally interested in helping to grow the game of golf,” said ClubLink president and chief executive officer Rai Sahi.

“ClubLink has always taken a long-term view and it is obvious from our commitment of almost $4 million over the next 10 years, that we wholeheartedly support the RCGA’s goals of broadening the interest and participation in golf in the country,” he added.

The relationship between the RCGA and ClubLink dates back to the RCGA’s sale of Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., to ClubLink in 1999.

Through its involvement with the Golf in Schools Program, ClubLink will sponsor a minimum of 11 schools per year as part of the program’s ‘Adopt a School’ initiative.

A ClubLink Scholarship of Excellence program will also grant two $5,000 scholarships per year to students attending a Canadian university, while the corporation will also become presenting sponsor of the RCGA’s University College Golf Championship.

ClubLink will also continue to contribute to the RBC Canadian Open’s through the Mike Weir Foundation, the event’s national charity.

For more on this story, see Hutch’s Blog.

Industry Answers A Loud Wake-Up Call

Take a look at the GNN Poll and you’ll see a strong majority of respondents have re-examined their policies after charges were laid last January against ClubLink Corporation, directors and servers after three young people were killed in 2008 in an accident following a night of drinking at the Lake Joseph Club in Ontario cottage country.

Charges against 11 ClubLink executives were recently dropped, but the corporation and three staffers are still facing charges. The fact that people are reconsidering their own policies as a result of this incident doesn’t surprise Jim Hylands, vice president of Simmlands Insurance.

Hylands says that, since the charges were first laid early this year, he has been approached to discuss such matters “certainly more than we would have and certainly, one of the hot topics was, `Could this happen to me at my club?’

“The answer is clearly yes,” said Hylands. Read more

Did You React To The ClubLink Incident?

By now, you’ve probably read that charges against 11 executives of ClubLink Corporation have been dropped after the tragic deaths of three youngsters following an evening of drinking at the Lake Joseph Club near Bracebridge, Ont. in the summer of 2008.

If you haven’t read the story, it’s in the News Now section.  It was determined that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction of the ClubLink executives.

We could get into some deep philosophical discussions on this matter, including personal responsibility of the person who is drinking, or whether controlling that person should be a legal or moral responsibility on the part of the establishment.

It could be – and has been – argued that an example was being made of executives who weren’t even on hand at the time, especially since two of the original 16 who were charged originally weren’t even with ClubLink at the time of the accident.

We can talk about right and wrong, what the law says and what our personal opinions are, but in the end, there are some nasty realities that don’t change. Read more

Charges Dropped Against ClubLink Execs

Charges have been withdrawn against 11 people who had been named for allegedly allowing public drunkenness at the Lake Joseph Club, a ClubLink Corporation facility near Bracebridge, Ont., that led to the tragic death of three young people last year.

Charges were dropped against Paul David Campbell, Patrick Brigham, Scott Davidson, Egidio Caravaggio, Charles Lorimer, Neil Osborne, Bruce Simmonds, Donald Turple, Robert Visentin, Rai Sahi and Jack Winberg

For local coverage of the story, click http://www.gravenhurstbanner.com/article/149166.

The Abbey Bites The Media

If I find out that ClubLink Corporation is having a sale of previously-owned golf balls (are we allowed to say “used” anymore?), I plan to write Charles Lorimer a sternly-worded letter.

The congenial vice president of sales and marketing for ClubLink came up with the bright idea of having media hacks play from the gold tees during the Canadian Golf Media Championship at Glen Abbey on Monday.

The golds come in around 6,900 yards, which is the minimum the Abbey will be played at when the RBC Canadian Open takes place a couple of weeks hence.

The rough was about four inches and word is that a search party has been dispatched to find a couple of my vertically-challenged colleagues, who may still be lost among the blades that comprised a mini-jungle thanks to all the rain in the area this year.

In other words, conditions were perfect for a beating of the media, a group that thinks a “round” is something they get when it’s their turn to buy and “fore” is the number of ales that’s required. Read more

Kids Play Free at ClubLink Facility

ClubLink has announced a Junior Bonus Program in which children 16 and under can golf for free, Monday through Friday until Aug, 31 at its Rolling Hills Golf Club in Stouffville, Ont.

The child must be accompanied by an adult 19 years of age or older.

The program includes children and junior guests of ClubLink members who are 19 and older.

“The Junior Bonus Program is aimed at making it easier to not only introduce children to golf, but also to build and sustain their interest in the game,” said Jon Larter, director of operations at Rolling Hills.

“Now that’s school’s out, this is a great way for parents to spend quality time with their kids and to get them interested in a sport they can play for the rest of their lives.”

Bond Head To Offer Two Choices

ClubLink Corporation has announced that The Club at Bond Head will offer Gold Level memberships that will allow for both daily fee and member play.

Bond Head, located about an hour northwest of Toronto, opened with 18 holes in 2005 and expanded to 36 last year with the opening of its new North Course. With its large clubhouse, it also has a teaching facility, The Institute at Bond Head.

ClubLink entered into a 21-year leasing arrangement with Bond Head in April.

Bond Head and ClubLink associate members will have access to each of Bond Head’s courses on alternating days, with the other available for daily fee play.

“It’s an innovative concept that works well for everyone,” said ClubLink president and chief executive officer Rai Sahi said. “Our members are able to experience both courses on a rotating basis, but we also have plans to give them access to both courses during high-demand periods.

“In 2010, the full member event schedule will be available, ranging from men’s and ladies’ nights to club championships and inter-club competitions,” added Sahi.

“It will also continue to be a wonderful place to host golf tournaments, weddings, meetings and other non-golf events and for the daily-fee player to experience.”

ClubLink Lands Another One

The Club at Bond Head in Bond Head, Ont., has entered into a 21-year lease with ClubLink Corporation to become one of its daily fee golf clubs.

Bond Head opened in 2005 with 18 holes and expanded to 36 last year with the opening of its new North Course. With a large clubhouse, the facility also has a renowned instruction centre, The Institute at Bond Head..

“We feel this is a beneficial arrangement for all parties,” said Joe Caruso, managing director and secretary of Bond Head Golf Resort Inc. “We have developed one of the top golf facilities in North America and we are proud to partner with the largest golf company in Canada.”

“The Club at Bond Head fits the ClubLink image perfectly,” added Rai Sahi, president and chief executive officer of ClubLink.

“The facility combines two excellent courses with world-class amenities and superlative service standards. “Similar to the arrangement at Glen Abbey, ClubLink members will have reciprocal access to The Club at Bond Head.”

Tour Event Changes Course

The Jane Rogers Championship, an event on the Canadian Tour, will move from Lakeview Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont., to Greystone Golf Course, a ClubLink facility, in nearby Milton.

The tournament will be played Aug. 6-9 at Greystone. Tickets are $10 per person with children, students and seniors admitted free. Also, anyone with a 2009 RBC Canadian Open ticket will be admitted free if they show that ticket at the gate.

A pro-am will be held prior to the event on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Teams wishing to play can call Landmark Sports Group at (905) 949-1910, ext. 232, or e-mail srogers@landmarksport.com. Sponsorships are also available.

ClubLink Charged After Fatal Crash

Executives and employees of ClubLink Corporation have been charged after a car accident in Ontario’s Muskoka region resulted in the deaths of three young people who had allegedly been drinking at the Lake Joseph Club last summer.

The crash claimed the lives of Tyler Mulcahy and Cory Mintz, both 20, and Kourash Totonchian, 19, after Mulcahy’s car left the road and crashed into a river near Minett, Ont. Another passenger was injured, but escaped.

The 16 people facing two charges each – supplying liquor to people who are apparently intoxicated and permitting drunkenness on licenced premises – include people working in the restaurant at the time and Clublink directors and officials. ClubLink also faces two charges.

If convicted, ClubLink could receive fines of up to $250,000 for each count and the individuals could be fined up to $100,000 and receive 12-month jail sentences.

The accused are to appear in court on Jan. 27.