Page 6 - GBC spring 2018 eng

Message From The Publisher • Jeff Calderwood
The First Tee
Marijuana: It may be the “new alcohol,” the “new jeans on the course” or the “new pesticide legislation.” I suppose it could turn out to be the “new Y2k”, a lot of fuss about very little in the end.
Nobody really knows how deeply the pending legalization will impact Canadian golf course operators, and it doesn’t help that the federal and provincial governments haven’t yet fully de ned all of the parameters. But, the reality is that you only have about 4 months left to prepare for all of the potential marijuana implications and, in the absence of well anticipated policies and procedures, your business could be at serious risk.
The New Reality
So, Golf Business Canada presents our feature story to provide timely consultation on what to expect. Susan Hodkinson is the leading expertise in our industry on this topic and has fully researched the dynamics of how this legislation impacts golf operations.
From staff to golfer policies, medical to recreational use, human rights vs. safety requirements, legal liabilities to marketing opportunities, Hodkinson draws your attention to the critical issues and recommends proactive marijuana management strategies. This article is a must-read for every Canadian golf course operator and will go a long way towards preparing for the “new normal.”
In addition, this issue of Golf Business Canada includes a great email marketing piece by the Wizard of Fun, Allison George that will instantly pay dividends for you. Chef Wayne McKay editorializes a typical F&B Dumpster Dive that may surprise you and will certainly boost your ROI in that department.
The family succession article by Danielle Walsh provides valuable consultation for any golf course owner intending to pass on the business to the next generation, and we feature an award winning “Text for Service” strategy that Play Golf Calgary has implemented very successfully.
These writers were drawn from our recent Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show in Ottawa, and a very successful event it was. The attendance was the highest since the Canadian golf industry peaked and delegates rated the effectiveness exactly equal to last year in Whistler, making those two successive conferences tied for the highest rated ever.
If you missed the conference this year, please save the date for next year, November 15-17, 2018 at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Calgary. It’s a guaranteed bene t to your golf operation’s bottom line, as well as a great time with hundreds of your golf industry peers from coast to coast.
This issue, you will also notice a reformatting of our magazine to include GreenMaster, the CGSA’s of cial publication. This innovative reversible read will effectively provide NGCOA Canada members with two magazines in one from now on. The additional focus on turf department content is a welcomed addition and nicely rounds out the value of your quarterly magazine bene ts. Both the CGSA and NGCOA Canada memberships are bene tting from this “new concept”.
Happy reading, Happy New Year and all the best for a successful 2018 golf season ahead!
Jeff Calderwood, CEO NGCOA Canada jcalderwood@ngcoa.ca
6 Golf Business Canada