Page 25 - GBC Magazine Winter ENG 2023

license plate identification, can help track down trucks as they leave your property.
VIDEO ALARMS ARE CRUCIAL
Better, cheaper, and easier to deploy ... video alarms are the newest layer of security for golf courses. They use your existing security cameras as an alarm system. Unlike traditional alarms, which only protect doors and windows, video alarms protect entire areas. Individual areas can also be turned on and off separately with one-click controls, so your golf cart barn can be secured while the clubhouse is still open for late- night business.
When motion is detected by your video alarms, a trained professional reviews the real-time action to determine whether there is an actual threat. When an emergency is detected, they can then request police dispatch and share the live footage with emergency responders. This leads to fewer false alarm fines, more appropriate emergency response, and faster dispatch. In fact, since cameras can see through windows and glass doors, video alarms can often detect someone breaking into your pro shop before they have gained entry!
CASE STUDIES: RECENT GOLF COURSE THEFTS
Here are three NGCOA Canada member real-world cases where video alarms could have helped reduce the loss associated with a major golf course theft event. The first two relate to the theft of multiple golf carts while the third relates to an afterhours pro shop burglary.
Incident #1: Rockway Vineyards Golf Course
In mid-November 2022 as the season was ending, 44 golf carts worth over $300,000 were stolen from Rockway Vineyards Golf Course in the Niagara Region, Ontario. Police believe that all the carts were driven 2 km across the course from the storage area. Then, the suspects cut a hole in a fence and drove the carts onto a vineyard service road to transport vehicles, where they were loaded up and quickly moved out.
“The value of the stolen carts was roughly $300,000,” confirmed Donny Churchill, PGA of Canada Executive Professional & Director of Golf Operations at Rockway Vineyards Golf Club. “A year later, they have not been found nor have there been any arrests. The general consensus or theory we have been hearing is that the stolen carts and
even vehicles are being put on shipping containers and going abroad because of the backup in production from COVID. Who knows if that is what happened to our 44 stolen golf carts?”
Beyond the financial impact, it can take an emotional toll on owners, management and staff. Club members may feel less safe on your fairways, which could lead to lower revenue in future seasons.
“It is a terrible feeling anytime something is stolen from you,” continued Churchill. “I was not totally surprised because the NGCOA Canada, Golf Ontario, and PGA of Ontario had warned that cart theft had been happening throughout the province. Unfortunately, we had been in discussions with our ownership about putting a better security plan in place, but it obviously didn’t happen in time. Trust me, it can happen to you! Get a proper security system in place. Cameras are not enough!”
So, how could video alarms have helped in this case? Video alarms can monitor entire areas, including your cart storage facility. When motion is detected, trained professionals review the live stream to determine whether there is a true theft. If one is detected, police dispatch is requested, reducing response times and increasing the chance of catching the thief.
Incident #2: Deer Run Golf Club
In July 2023, thieves broke into Deer Run Golf Club in Blenheim, Ontario, to steal eight new golf carts, worth well over $75,000. Four were 2022 models and the other four were 2023 models that had been delivered just weeks before! The owners did not know the theft had occurred until the next morning when they arrived onsite.
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