Reed On The Greens
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com
February 18, 2016
While golf is a grand game, it’s also an industry generating billions of dollars annually, including millions for charity. And when you consider that there are 55 golf courses in London and area, plus more than 100 across Southwestern Ontario, then you know just how much golf means to the local economy.
It’s always nice, then, when people are considered a great asset in addition to dollars and cents. Conestoga, Ontario-headquartered GolfNorth Properties Inc. buys into this thinking with its new operation of The Fox Golf Club in Granton, just north of London. By retaining director of golf and head golf superintendent Pat Brennan during its takeover of the 18-hole public links, the mid-tier public golf course owner recognizes perhaps the club’s greatest asset.
On December 11, GolfNorth announced it had entered into a long-term lease for the operation of The Fox and its property. In early-2015, a local ownership group, including former Thames Centre Ward 1 councillor Mike Bontje and his wife, Connie, of Thorndale, along with Connie’s parents and two sisters, had listed The Fox for sale with an asking price of $1.85 million. Former City of London director of golf, Bill Fox, designed the front nine (opened in 1994), while his son, Bill Fox Jr., designed the second nine (opened in 2001).
This month, GolfNorth also announced the acquisition of three additional area golf properties: Forest Golf and Country Hotel in Forest; Sand Hills Golf Club in Port Franks; and Whitetail Golf Club located in Little Britain. GolfNorth now operates 29 Ontario golf courses, including Cobble Hills Golf Club in Thamesford (purchased in 2012), plus Cape Breton Highland Links and The Keltic Lodge.
Yesterday, the Great Lakes Tour announced the new GolfNorth Series of tournaments within its 2016 schedule.
The Fox has always been a favourite local course, and much of that stems from the tireless efforts of Brennan, a true Celtic golfer who had initially reached out to GolfNorth. Brennan has been instrumental in improving course conditions since he was hired in September 2003. Hailing from County Cork, Ireland, Brennan studied turf management in St. Andrews, Scotland. Upon graduation in 1998, he worked at the Home of Golf before making the trek to Canada in 2002, joining his wife, Amy, who hails from Stratford.
“He’s definitely an asset,” said GolfNorth COO Michael Garside, “and we wanted to keep him here to add some consistency with the property.” He added, “There is some synergy for our members, with Cobble Hills just 20 minutes down the road. Those who have Fox-only memberships will also have playing privileges at Cobble Hills.”
GolfNorth was founded in 1994 by Al Kavanagh and former RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie (current GolfNorth sole owner). It’s operated by Garside and GolfNorth President and CEO Shawn Evans.
Garside said a long list of improvements on the tee will attract new members to The Fox, which has been crying out for updates. Clubhouse renovations, including décor updates, new lounge flooring and bathroom upgrades will be completed before opening day. The parking lot and clubhouse exterior is also being updated. When weather permits, workers will begin a series of course improvements, including cart path leveling and resurfacing, bunker improvements, tee box leveling, landscaping of hole No. 15 landing area and the introduction of beginner’s tee blocks “to promote the growth of the game,” Garside said.
Some renovations will be completed prior to or just after opening, and other projects will be assessed and carried out throughout the season.
In September 2015, GolfNorth sold the nine-hole Canterbury Golf Course in Port Perry to Geranium Corporation, which plans to redevelop the lands into a single-family residential development.
In recent times, there has been a trend to pave paradise. But with its long-term lease of The Fox, GolfNorth hopes to reverse the trend for local golfers. And in keeping the amiable and capable Brennan, GolfNorth has hit a solid drive off the first tee.
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