Page 38 - GBC English Winter 2022

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Golf Business Canada
Strategic
Planning
FAQs
Is my business big enough to need a
strategic plan?
All size businesses can benefit from a strategic plan. From a sole proprietorship 9-hole golf course to the largest multi-course operations. Strategic plans help you grow and plan for the future.
I have a business plan; doesn’t
that cover it?
The two types of plans are similar but have some material differences. Business plans tend to be more operationally focused. Delivering on specific projects or aspects of that business. A strategic plan speaks to how you want to change your company to grow or be ready for the future.
How long should a strategic plan last?
Most strategic plans will look 3-5 years in the future. They are considered a living document and can be adjusted along the way.
Who should create your strategic plan?
It’s certainly possible to create a strategic plan without external support. However, the benefits of bringing in a strategic planning consultant includes:
• Independence. Having someone with an external
perspective avoids conflict of interest and almost as important, the perception of a conflict of interest.
• More effective. Bringing someone external encourages those involved to take the process more seriously.
• Buy-in. External validation and proper engagement encourage more stakeholders to believe in the results.
• Assessing the right skills. Strategic planning is a process, and you want to access the right skills to bring out the best answers and create the best results.
• Test the status quo. An external person can bring new perspectives to the same old issues.
• Ensure timely completion. Strategic planning can be a time-consuming process and the results are important to the success of an organization. Someone external helps expedite the process.
This made the golf course less than desirable for most potential purchasers who would see real estate development as an important asset (which is not allowed as part of the UNESCO status). Rydlo has a different vision.
“I see Duntroon as a ‘B minus’ golf course right now. We’re 15 minutes outside the booming town of Collingwood. We maintain a good track, but there are some design flaws we’ve already started correcting,” says Rydlo. “There are also some shortcomings that are hard to overcome given the limita- tions that come with being located in an area that falls under the development jurisdiction of the Niagara Escarpment Commission.”
Based on competitive analysis and demographic trends, Rydlo identified an opportunity for a ‘B plus’ golf course which can offer great value though a blended public- membership configuration. Rydlo’s vision is to build a multi-purpose and four-season retreat that takes advantage of the expanse of forested and protected land on his doorstep. Golf will be the focus, but his vision includes an event barn; hiking, mountain biking, snowshoe trails; pickleball courts; a destination cafe/ restaurant; eco-tours; and, day camps. A true retreat for day-trippers, weekend tourists, seasonal cottag- ers, and locals.