Page 18 - GBC ENG Winter 2025

Jeff addresses the national media during inaugural National Golf Day at Parliament
Hill, with Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons and NGCOA Canada COO Nathalie
Lavallée, 2009.
GBC: NGCOA Canada has been an
active partner within NAGA. Why
has that collaboration been so
important?
JC: As our NAGA partners know
well, I am a big believer in allied
association cooperation. I have had
the honour of chairing NAGA for 7
different terms. Although each
association has its own mandate,
we have leveraged common
ground to achieve initiatives like
National Golf Days and the
Economic Impact Studies – which
benefit all sectors and would be too
expensive for any one association
to easily fund on its own. Allied
efforts like these are vital to
ensuring the golf industry’s
strength and sustainability for the
future. I would like to thank all of
the various partner CEOs over the
years from Golf Canada, CGSA,
PGA of Canada, CMAC, Canadian
Tour, CLGA and CGF.
GBC: As you look ahead, how do
you see the Canadian golf industry
evolving over the next decade?
JC: I think we are in a very good
place. Many courses just had their
best year ever, and I don’t see that
demand dropping much. Demo-
graphics are shifting to a more
diversified mix of golfers including
women, juniors and young
professionals who are replacing
aging baby boomers. On the supply
side, I don’t see very much new
course construction in the future due
to the lack of affordable, available
land and stringent government
regulation, aside from a few high-
end destination golf properties. I also
see the off-course golf entertainment
and screen golf continuing to expand
in Canada and that should further
propel golf’s widening appeal to
new golfers and the younger
demographic.
I also expect to see more
expansion of multi-course
management companies in
Canada. That industry is far more
developed in the USA and it’s a
trend that will gain more
momentum in Canada. Emerging
technologies will also play a
significant role in golf, some good
and some not. Another key
dynamic will be golf’s ability to
demonstrate and even lead on
sustainability. I encourage all
courses to take advantage of the
NGCOA Canada-CGSA-GEO led
Sustainable Golf strategies.
In terms of role models,
Canada’s PGA and LPGA Tour
players are very well positioned for
future success, which ought to
further drive latent demand to
active participating golfers. Hats off
to Brooke Henderson, Nick Taylor
and the rest of the Canadian team!
One concern I have would be
the future labour market. I’m
pleased to have launched the
NGCOA Canada’s Labour Solutions
Department as a leading initiative
to contribute to that future need.
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Golf Business Canada