Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/165363
iG1308--proof2 8/27/13 4:33 PM Page 1 Ken Langdon Assistant Professional and Sales and Events Coordinator at Olympic View GC I think it's economic conditions. Really, it's not just a Western Canada thing; now that it's become a more globalized world - we're all at the mercy of the economy to some degree and external factors that we have nothing to do with affect our situation and so, yeah, I think it's really economics. When times are good, of course we notice an increase in the amount of golf and so we love those times and when they're not great then we notice the alternative - as we have for the last two or three years. You have to get creative, with discounting and it hones your skills as a manager, that's for sure. Jason Lowe General Manager of Arbutus Ridge Golf Club Loaded question. I would say, there's a lot of macro issues affecting the game and then we've got our own micro issues on Vancouver Island, specifically southern Vancouver Island. The macro issues of the game, obviously, are that it's too difficult, too time consuming - those are the main issues, the expense comes in there for some golf courses too. But for us, specifically, on southern Vancouver Island, there's been an over supply, just too many golf courses have been built, not enough research was done, in my opinion, leading into that situation to make sure that your financials are based on the local market and not on a questionable, destination player. So, we need to act as leaders for this situation for ourselves but as the population grows in our area, specifically southern Vancouver Island it is going to correct itself. But we're also at Arbutus really trying hard to fix the macro issues of the game, specifically people entering the game and then leaving too quickly. We're making affordable, good quality lessons a priority - making sure people know that if you're playing golf that 20 'suffering is optional'. We've got a motto at Arbutus Ridge, "You can't expect people to pay money to be frustrated." So, really, hiring good quality instructors, giving them the technology to make sure they can diagnose someone's swing quickly and help by giving them lessons in an affordable way through a 4-pack or a 10-pack of lessons is how we've approached that situation. And, yes, the industry has made tons of mistakes building golf courses that are just too difficult and that are 'carts only'. To me it's crazy that any golf course is golf carts only; I mean how do you grow your future market, which is juniors, when you need a driver's licence to take a cart? So there's design flaws, in my opinion. That is just a lack of vision. But at Arbutus we're very fortunate, we've got a very playable course and a good junior program. Mike Mather General Manager University Golf Club The biggest challenge in Western Canada, particularly in the Lower Mainland because we are so multicultural, is that there are a whole lot of families who, even though they have kids who are involved in many sports, the parents don't necessarily come from a country where golf is played to a large degree. Places such as India, Pakistan and even some Asian countries, especially say, China, places where the parents never played so the game doesn't come naturally in the household, so it's not necessarily the thing that parents would put their kids into. That is probably one of the biggest challenges we face, at least on the West Coast. Chris McGrath Manager Of Communications & Marketing British Columbia Golf I think, personally, that since we have such a wide array of ages that can play our game that the challenge is Continued On Next Page