Page 34 - GBC English Winter 2022

Gib Patterson and his family celebrate a moment together and the success of their 3 Ottawa area facilities.
before returning back home years later with renewed vigor to help the family reach a new level. Steeped in event management, Barry has created a casual but responsible approach to the club’s new face. COVID lockdown spawned a take-out meal service that saw 1200 meals provided for Easter of 2020. The following spring when COVID shut down courses again, he opened the course for 3 weeks for picnic lunches that more than 1,000 people took advantage of on the course with blankets, chairs and lunches. Then there are Sunday evenings that host family outings for the Broccoli Patch Pitch & Putt series that require the
purchase of dinners.
Today social media is the tool that has replaced
traditional forms of advertising and commun- ications to reach out to your market place. Barry has become the face, the in-house influencer that connects, commits and holds his customer base. The growth to over 6,000 Instagram followers of the lynch pin pied piper of Copetown Woods has been predicated on a studious program of a casual, self-deprecating vignettes who can relate to the wacky weatherman or insane influx of a turkey invasion.
ACE group – Anderson Links, Cloverdale Links and Emerald Links, Ottawa, ON
3 courses totaling 72 holes, est. 1990
At 84 years young, Gib Patterson is still onsite on a regular basis. In 1971, Airport Golfland was Gib’s first exposure to golf. “Only” a driving range he subsequently opened 18 holes at Emerald Links in 1990. Business was good and in 1996, Cloverdale came into being as 9 holes to be followed by the back 9 in 1998. 2003 increased Emerald Links to 27
The 4th generation is hard at work at Scotswood Links’ clubhouse ground-breaking celebration. Looking good - Raelene Gardiner, Clark Sisson, Scott Sisson, and Connor Sisson!
holes. But there was still more business to be had so Anderson Links sported a further 18 holes by 2007. Within 5 years it too became a 27 holes operation. So now you have it. 27+ 18+ 27 totaled 72 holes of Ottawa golf.
Gib’s children - Martin, Mark, Kevin and Jill - were very busy. This next generation is consumed by keeping up Dad’s grand vision. During the pandemic, they were scrambling to host over 800 golfers a day. With 12 grandchildren in the wings, surely Martin, the chief cook and bottle washer, will be able to get back to his first love, the strawberry patch and the serenity of his tractor.
Scotswood Links, Elm Creek, MB
18 holes, est. 1987
In 1987, brothers Bill and John Sisson turned a portion of their cattle farm into 9 holes of golf, with a creek. It would take 10 years to support the opening of the back 9. Elm Creek had a population “boom” of 20% according to the 2021 Census that reported 405 people living in 145 private dwellings. With the need to draw from such a large geographical area their mantra was to provide great golf at a very reasonable price - a lifestyle driven by their farming resiliency and strong work ethic.
Over the last 35 years, the steady, methodical growth development governed by astute cash flow management has delivered a remarkable facility replete with a substantial bright and cheery clubhouse that in 2016 replaced an 80-year-old metal building. The next generation is well prepared to attract regional tournaments, banquets, weddings and community gatherings. Three siblings have taken over daily operations from Bill who continues actively as the major shareholder.
Golf Business Canada
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Golf Business Canada