Page 47 - GBC Fall Eng 2016

ALGOnQUIn cOLLEGE
In addition to preparing fantastic food daily, and fine dining on Friday nights, they work out of a kitchen that was built to house a snack bar. It does not have all the equipment to make a chef’s job easy, but with planning and organization, they prepare and serve lunch and dinner to 288 players.
The largest women’s golf tournament in North America, “The Hot 89.9 Women’s Open” is hosted at Greensmere each year and is so popular; it sold out online last year to 288 players in 17 minutes. We had so many positives happening at Greensmere, but we knew it was time to upgrade the clubhouse. We knew the direction for the renovation...but how were we going to accomplish it with limited structures and resources? We had to apply what we were taught, and think outside the box.
ALGONQUIN COLLEGE COMMERCIAL DECORATING PROGRAM
In the fall of 2014, Steve approached Tyler, with an idea to upgrade our clubhouse with free design and decorating ideas, by using Algonquin College students.
Algonquin College, in the west end of Ottawa, has a Commercial Decorating Program whereby the students work on designing and renovating restaurants, bars, etc.
Most of their work is done on imaginary projects. When Tyler contacted the Professor, she jumped at the chance for her students to work on a tangible project with actual walls, floors, objectives, and budgets.
We made an appointment for her and her class to meet with Tyler and myself at the club, in early winter 2015. The class was divided into six groups of five to seven students. We spent over an hour answering questions, describing our vision, the time-line, and the necessity of splitting it up into phases over a number of years because of budget constraints.
After our question and answer period, the students spread like ants over the entire clubhouse measuring everything in sight: the windows, counters, tables, etc. This was a living, breathing project that mattered to the students. Nothing was left to speculation. We stood back, watched and answered every question that arose.
In addition to our building, which houses the pro shop, lounge, kitchen, and offices, Greensmere also has a 40’ x 60’ marquis tent. For events such as the Hot Women’s Open, we bring in an 80’ x 60’ tent.
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