Page 46 - GBC summer ENG 2023

The Parting Shot
Message From The NGCOA Canada President • Daniel Pilon
Greetings fellow golf industry leaders! In my previous message, I shared some of my history and how I came to own a golf course. In this message, I want to share a bit more about my life beyond the greens and fairways, and how I came to be known as ‘the gentleman farmer’.
When the pandemic hit, my partner Catherine and I embarked on a little project that has now become a much larger endeavour. Our goal was to teach our son, Leo, how to take care of animals and the joys of spending time outside. So, we bought a couple of chickens and three rabbits!
Fast forward to today, and our little menagerie has grown exponentially. We have the original three rabbits and their 10 gener- ations, over three dozen chickens, a few turkeys and our two sheep, Michelle and Barack. By this summer, we will have more than three hundred grain fed chickens.
Recently, I wrapped up the production of our homemade maple syrup and we are now prepping the soil for our four thousand square foot garden.
Catherine and I embarked on this journey to embrace self- sufficiency, both for our home and for the Epicurean Dining Events that Catherine orchestrates from our home. Growing our own crops and raising our own meat has been a rewarding way to stabilize our costs. It’s a full circle economy: the
The Gentleman Farmer – Your President’s Alter Ego!
46 Golf Business Canada
leftovers nourish the chickens, the manure feeds the garden and we eat the vegetables from the garden. Thus, the moniker of the gentleman farmer!
But enough about me, let’s talk business. At our last Board Meeting, we struck a committee to tackle labour issues facing the golf industry. The good news? Staffing for this year seems to be less challenging than the past two years. To ensure the industry’s sustainability, the committee will now focus their efforts on creating assets highlighting all the great career opportunities in the golf industry.
Together with NGCOA Canada staff, the Board has introduced an exciting new program, Welcome to Golf. Set to debut the last week of May, this important initiative aims
to preserve the uptick in golf we have experienced the last couple of years. Check out page 36 for program details.
Speaking of programming, are you maximizing your Golfmax savings? I take advantage of as many Golfmax programs as possible, and the savings far exceed the cost of our membership. Last year, we bought a new GMC truck for our superintendent and saved almost $10,000 with Golfmax. On average, courses save over $8,000 per year – far more than your annual membership dues.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the annual Golf Business Canada Conference that will be held in my hometown, beautiful Montreal, from November 28-30. The team is already working hard to create a one-of-a-kind event.
As I wrap up this message, I hope your courses are open and buzzing with golfers. I wish you all a wonderful season and look forward to welcoming you to Montreal in November.
Sincerely,
Daniel Pilon, Owner
Club de Golf St-Zotique, QC