Reed On The Greens, by Jeffrey Reed
February 5, 2016
Back in 2001, then Fanshawe Golf Course head professional Mike Olizarevitch crunched some numbers which pointed to an oversupply of local courses. Olizarevitch determined there were three times as many area courses as the immediate population can rightfully support.
London’s population has grown since then – the city’s population of golf courses has not. But with tighter purse strings and tighter schedules, even today’s avid golfer can be hard pressed to frequent the links. Couple that with the fact London and area is oversaturated with golf amenities – 55 in London, plus Middlesex-Elgin-Oxford counties, and over 100 in Southwestern Ontario – and you wonder why anyone would purchase a golf course in this neck of the woods.
On December 11, GolfNorth Properties Inc. of Conestogo, Ontario announced it had entered into a long-term lease for the operation of The Fox Golf Club and its property, an 18-hole public golf club in Granton off Highway 7.
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).
A mid-tier public golf course owner, GolfNorth now operates 28 Ontario golf courses, including Cobble Hills Golf Club in Thamesford (purchased in 2012). Click here for GolfNorth’s announcement yesterday regarding the acquisition of two additional Southwestern Ontario clubs. Last year, GolfNorth entered into a 42-year lease to operate Cape Breton Highland Links and The Keltic Lodge in Nova Scotia. In April 2015, GolfNorth took over operations of Ridgetown Golf and Curling Club.
GolfNorth was founded in 1994 by Al Kavanagh and former RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie (current GolfNorth sole owner). It’s operated by GolfNorth President and CEO Shawn Evans, and company COO Michael Garside, who see value in its latest move, according to Garside.
“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,” said Garside. The Fox now falls under GolfNorth’s Diamond-level membership, which Garside said keeps green fees about the same as they were before the new lease.
With north London exploding with new housing, Garside said he believes that will bode well for the Granton golf course, less than 10 minutes north of the city limits. Said Garside, “There is definitely potential there, and that is something we looked at when considering taking over The Fox. There has to be some marketability, and market support.”
In addition, Garside said a long list of improvements on the tee will also attract new members.
Garside said 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, in 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. It is our goal, as with any of our facilities, to create a product and service environment that exceeds our clients’ expectations, based on the amount they pay to play,” Garside said.
Garside wouldn’t reveal the exact length of the lease, nor a dollar value attached to club improvements.
GolfNorth has retained the services of The Fox director of golf and golf course superintendent Pat Brennan, who 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 Garside, “and we wanted to keep him here to add some consistency with the property.”
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.
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