HL News

In the April 4, 2009 edition of the Globe and Mail, Lorne Rubenstein's column "Golf Courses get the shaft in funding program" talks about the absense of golf within the recently announced 'Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program', a $500 million government program that targets building or upgrading hockey rinks, swimming pools and other community recreational sites. The text of the column is as follows:

GOLF: FEDERAL BUDGET
Golf courses get the shaft in funding program
LORNE RUBENSTEIN
April 4, 2009

Why shouldn't golf courses be eligible for funds under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program (RINC) that the federal government announced in its Jan. 27 budget? The government has allocated $500-million over the next two years for building or upgrading hockey rinks, swimming pools and other community recreational sites. But it appears that even not-for-profit courses are excluded.

Repeated attempts for clarification from the office of John Baird, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, under whose jurisdiction the program falls, have been to no avail. But indications are that courses aren't eligible.

Bob Munro, president of the Golden Golf Club in Golden, B.C., pointed this out in an April 2 letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He added that Golden and other courses across Canada "provide both an economic benefit as well as a social/recreation benefit," and that many need repair or renovation. Munro wrote he's working with his local Member of Parliament, Jim Abbott, to try to change the exclusion.

The relevant section in the budget refers to "thousands of community recreational facilities across Canada, including hockey arenas, soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, and swimming pools," many of which probably require upgrading. Municipalities, First Nations, counties, communities and not-for-profit groups are listed as eligible for funding under RINC.

A not-for-profit society owns and operates the Golden Golf Club, which is open to the public and includes a membership component. The club wants to add a second course. Munro said it's the only course within 100 kilometres of Golden, and that it generates between $10-million and $12-million annually in direct and indirect revenue. The first phase of construction would cost $4-million.

RINC proposes contributing 50 per cent of required funds for projects if the organization seeking funds matches them, and if projects are "shovel ready." Munro said the club could match the $2-million it would request if eligible.

The Golden Golf Club is just one facility that could undertake projects if eligible under the program. Munro is casting a wide net to make sure other clubs across Canada know about RINC.

Most recently, Munro wrote to Kevin Daniels, the interim national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal People. First Nations groups own and operate some Canadian courses, including the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino near the B.C. cities of Kimberley and Cranbrook.

First Nations facilities are eligible for funds under the government program. But their courses appear to be excluded from eligibility.

As part of the effort that Munro is spearheading, the Royal Canadian Golf Association has weighed in. Executive director Scott Simmons wrote Baird to request an opportunity to discuss the program.

"Our position is that all golf facilities should at least merit the same consideration as other sports or recreational properties in Canada (i.e. hockey arenas, public parks, baseball complexes, etc.)," Simmons wrote in an e-mail when asked to elaborate on the RCGA's position.

Jeff Calderwood, executive director and chief executive officer of the National Golf Course Owners' Association of Canada, followed up with his view.

"The eligibility criteria must be extended to all Canadian golf courses, not just municipal-owned properties as is being contemplated," Calderwood said.

Otherwise, he said, courses that receive funds would gain "another unfair advantage over private enterprise courses who must compete with them."

It's difficult to see how private enterprise courses could qualify for funds, or even that they should. The larger point is that the feds appear not to have considered the possibility that golf is a recreation, in the same way as the other sports it has deemed eligible for funds. Golf gets kids and adults outdoors for hours while challenging them in many ways.

Officials involved with RINC should consult a couple of books to understand the place and scope of golf in society. They should consider Jim Barclay's magisterial work Golf in Canada: A History. They should also read George B. Kirsch's Golf in America. Kirsch is professor of history at Manhattan College.

"The main theme of my volume is the surprising growth of golf as a popular, mainstream sport in the United States," Kirsch has written. "I contrast its image as a sport for rich people with the reality of widespread enthusiasm for the game by people of both sexes from a wide range of classes, ethnic backgrounds, and races in the United States - long before the rise of Tiger Woods."

The same analysis applies to Canadian golf. Courses contribute to the country's sporting culture, and its economy. Government officials need to appreciate this, and act accordingly.

Campaign Update - December 2010

As the year draws to a close we wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Monument Project and provide you with an update on results to date and our plans as we enter 2011.

As many of you know 2010 was a challenging year for many people as a result of the downturn in the economy and an uncertain outlook. This of course affected the Monument Campaign and while many people would have liked to contribute to the campaign they were not in a position to do so given the uncertainty. The second half of 2010 has provided indications of improvements in the economy and many people are feeling more confident about their personal situation and it is our hope that this will continue as we enter 2011.

As I stated in my last update (August 2010) we were able to reduce our campaign dollar target from $100,000 to $85,000. This reduction was the result of further discussions with the sculptor and foundry who will create the statue and plaques.

At present, with the contributions we have collected and the commitments we have garnered, we have a total of $50,000 towards our goal. As we move into 2011 we will continue to work towards achieving our goals and continue to look for supporters. To this end we will:

1: Continue to seek out contributors from within the golfing community at large. If you are reading this and know someone who may be interested in helping us reach our goal please ask them to visit www.friendsofstanleythompson.org for more information. Our site provides a wide range of information about the campaign and provides contact information should you need additional information or have any questions. Feel free to contact us at any time.

2: Continue to seek out contributors from the Cape Breton and Nova Scotia area. Clearly the people who have the most affinity to Highlands Links are those living in the area. While we have been able to reach out to many people in Cape Breton and Nova Scotia there are still many who need to be contacted and made aware of the initiative. We will continue to raise awareness in the community and hope to find additional contributors through these efforts.

3: Golf Tournament:
One of the options we have been discussing is the possibility of holding a Golf Tournament at Highlands Links in early summer 2011 and we would be interested to hear from you as to whether there would be interest in participating in such an event. If it is clear there is support for this we will move forward with organizing an event and provide further details on this site. If you are interested feel free to let us know at info@friendsofstanleythompson.org

Finally we would ask you to assist us in making your friends and family aware of the campaign. This will help further generate awareness and interest among a larger group of potential contributors and move us towards a successful completion.

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year

Best Regards,

Greg McMullin

PS: In addition to our website we have also established a Facebook page for the campaign. To reach this page simply go to facebook.com and search Friends of Stanley Thompson. Comments and suggestions welcome.

Reminder:
Contributors to the initiative receive a Tax Receipt - details are provided by clicking the "Click Here for Information on Contributing" link above.

Campaign Update Letter: August 2010

Dear Campaign Supporter,
    I am writing to provide you with a brief update on our campaign to raise funds for the creation of the Stanley Thompson statue monument for presentation and installation at the Highlands Links golf course.
   To date we have raised 50% of the funds necessary to complete the project. This percentage is based on a revised total dollar target of $85,000. This revised requirement is the result of additional negotiation work we have done with the sculptor and foundry.
   For the past 6 weeks we have been focused on the Ingonish community in terms of ensuring our message is getting out to the golfing community during the golf season. We have been fortunate to have received some help in this area through the efforts of a number of members of the community who have taken an interest in the campaign and we hope that their and our efforts will be successful.
   In addition to a focus on the Ingonish community one of our directors has initiated an effort to expand our campaign in the corporate community and this effort is ongoing.
   Finally, we will implement a “Campaign Update” page on our website which will provide ongoing updates on campaign developments. The website address is http://friendsofstanleythompson.org.
   If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to contact any of the Societies members or contact me at 905-846-2154 or gregmcmullin at rogers.com.

Sincerely,

Greg McMullin
Note: if you would like to be contacted via email you can forward your email contact information to me at my email address noted about.

February 4, 2011

The Honourable Peter Kent
Minister of the Environment
10 Wellington Street, 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H3

Minister Kent,

I am writing on behalf of the “Highlands Links Stanley Thompson Historical Society” to express our view that immediate funding must be allocated for the repair, improvement and ongoing maintenance of the Highlands Links Golf Course. We request this action so as to ensure the reputation of the course is not negatively impacted in 2011 and beyond.

The “Highlands Links Stanley Thompson Historical Society” is a group of native Nova Scotian’s who have been active for two years in raising private funds for the creation of a bronze monument that will be gifted to Parks Canada and located at a prominent location on the grounds of the Highlands Links Golf Course. Our campaign is now 55% towards our goal and we have contributors from across Canada. The monument will consist of a life size bronze statue of Stanley Thompson and two large bronze plaques dedicated to the community of Ingonish
and those persons whose contributions have made the monument possible. The monument is meant to highlight that Highlands Links is Stanley Thompsons masterwork, that Highlands Links offers a unique and special golf experience in the world of golf and that the local community is integral to the visitor’s experience. (Further information is available on the www.friendsofstanleythompson.org website)

As is common knowledge, Highlands Links Golf Course is considered to be among a very select group of distinguished golf courses worldwide. Indicative of this is the fact that the most authoritative publication on the subject of golf courses “The World Atlas of Golf” includes Highlands Links among the top 100 courses in the world, a distinction it shares with some of the most iconic course ever constructed
including Augusta National, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pinehurst, Carnoustie, Banff Springs, Winged Foot and other world class courses.

While this designation is not news to many, what is new to many prominent golf aficionados is the fact that Highlands Links overall conditioning has been falling for a number of years and the impression being formed is that Parks Canada has and is neglecting their responsibility to provide the appropriate level of funding necessary to ensure that course management and their staff have the resources necessary to maintain and enhance a national treasure as they want to do. Needless to say, if this impression were to become the norm, the result will have a further negative effect on the reputation of the course and result in less tourists seeking out Highlands Links as a must play course. This of course would have a negative impact on tourism and the economy of the Ingonish community in particular and
Nova Scotia in general.

An important event which will affect Highlands Links is the development of the new course being constructed at Inverness, NS and due to begin operations on July 1, 2011.

Cabot Links is a course that is being eagerly anticipated by a large group of influential golfers worldwide who have an interest in playing the best courses the world has to offer. This interest in Cabot Links is driven by a number of factors including press coverage in a wide range of publications and websites including Golf Digest, the Ottawa Citizen and the Toronto Star. Add to this the reputation of the
courses developer, Mike Keiser, who has developed one of the most successful golfing destinations of the past 20 years - Bandon Dunes, Oregon - as well as the fact that Cabot Links will be unique in terms of what it offers the golfer. I personally have spoken to a number of people in the golf industry and have been told that the “buzz” that Cabot Links has generated in the United States is something that has
not been seen in many years. The conclusion we draw from these facts is that Cabot Links will be successful in attracting an important segment of the international golf community who will then spread the word in their various publication and to the online community via their golf blogs and Facebook pages.

When this segment of the golfing fraternity travels to Cabot Links it is most likely that many will use the opportunity to also visit and experience Highlands Links and it will be in everyone’s best interest to ensure that their impression and experience are in keeping with the world class nature of the reputation that Highlands Links has built up of many decades. Our groups concern is that should these visitors form
a negative impression of Highlands Links, due to condition issues, that this negative opinion would then become accepted fact and contribute to fewer visitors to the course and area, not more visitors as it should be.

As will be the case with Cabot Links, these golfers will be publishing their impressions and opinions to a world audience using modern on line websites. We believe it is critical that measures be taken to ensure that these visitors will become ambassadors for the Highlands Links experience and spread a positive message to the golfing community at large.

We ask that Parks Canada immediately commit to actions that ensure visitors to Highlands Links in 2011 and subsequent years come away with a positive impression, want to return again and are pleased to recommend the Highlands Links experience to their friends and associates.

I thank you in advance for your consideration and look forward to positive steps being taken to ensure Highlands Links remains a National Treasure to be enjoyed for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Greg McMullin

Chairman - Highlands Links Stanley Thompson Historical Society
www.friendsofstanleythompson.org
Ph: 905-487-6331

cc: Alan Latourelle - CEO Parks Canada

      Chip Bird - Director CB Field Unit Parks Canada

      Helene Robichaud - Parks Superintendent CBH

      Graham Hudson - General Manager Highlands Links

      Mark Eyking - Member Parliament

      Michael MacDonald - Senator

      Percy Paris - Economic Development Minister NS

      David Wilson - Cultural Minister NS

      John Lynn - CEO Enterprise Cape Breton

      Tom Peters - Journalist

      Lorne Rubenstein - Journalist

      Robert Thompson - Journalist

      Chris Shannon - Cape Breton Post

      Leroy Peach - Cape Breton Post

      Bill Spurr - Halifax Herald

      Ian Andrew - Golf Course Architect

      Jeff Mingay - Mingay Golf

      Bill Newton - Stanley Thompson Society

      Ben Cowan-Dewar - Cabot Links