Page 6 - GBC English Fall 2019

The First Tee
Message From The CEO, NGCOA Canada • Jeff Calderwood
So, whose land is it anyways?
Golf courses are unique businesses, so much so that the property you own can often be considered by the public and government as having some inherent obligation to always remain a golf course as is.
That’s a very unusual dynamic in a world where businesses normally evolve over time, allowing for the owners to align their investments with whatever market conditions and opportunities may arise. A travel agency might become the next great restaurant. A school may be repurposed to ll a need for another hotel. Agricultural businesses are often developed into real estate or golf courses. Parking lots can become of ce buildings, and so on.
The reality is that a golf course owner often stands alone when defending his or her right to make any such business decisions to convert from the property’s current use. Golfers will normally be
opposed, and since they are all voters, municipal councils will tend to be opposed too. The media is quick to turn these decisions into a sensational head- line, adding more opposition. The employees and suppliers of the course are also typically opposed.
These parties all have a self-interest in those opinions, understandably, but that shouldn’t trump the rights of the business owners, who made the substan- tial investments to build and operate the golf course, unless there is substantive evidence of serious risks to the commu- nity. Emotional connections should not be enough to prevent the business from moving forward with the times.
In addition, expropriation is a risk that golf course owners are more susceptible to than most other businesses. As harsh as it sounds, government always has the right to take over part or all of your prop- erty if they deem there to be some greater public bene t from alternative uses. That can lead to a complex determination of the process for such expropriation and fair compensation.
So, whose land is it? With the increasing number of situations where golf courses have been faced with these realities, the excessive costs required to defend your position, and in some cases the precedent setting nature of these disputes, our cover story, authored by Shawn Hunter, explores this very issue. From case studies to advice on ensuring any repurposing plans are positioned to demonstrate a positive net impact on the community, I think you will nd it to be a relevant and important read.
Also in this issue, be sure to take advantage of the articles focusing on F&B cost controls, cyberattack protec- tion, harassment and discrimination, and more.
Enjoy this edition of Golf Business Canada, and all the best for the balance of your golf season and any future plans you may have for repurposing your golf course!
Jeff Calderwood, CEO NGCOA Canada jcalderwood@ngcoa.ca
6 Golf Business Canada