Club members push back over proposed changes to Cedar Hill Golf Course
The president of the Cedar Hill Golf Club says a report from District of Saanich staff recommending changes to the operation df Cedar Hill Golf Course will hurt the club and its members.
The report, which was scheduled to go before the district’s council Thursday night, recommends an increase in fees and removing the club’s preferred tee time bookings. The report also recommends the club no longer have free use of the course’s clubhouse for functions and meetings.
“If they go ahead with the recommendations of the report and council adopts them, there are some key elements that will probably make members think twice about continuing their membership here,” said Cedar Hill Golf Club president Jeffrey Monty. “I know members will just simply say ‘we’ve had enough and we’re going to walk.’”
Monty says removing the perks the club has enjoyed gives members the impression that the District of Saanich is severing its ties with the club.
“Club members have a very deep interest in this golf course, we’ve had thousands and thousands of volunteer hours planting trees and other things,” said Monty. “It makes me really sad to see how quickly they are trying to sweep the club under the carpet.”
District of Saanich senior manager of recreation Tiana Solares says she understands the concerns of the club, but the proposed changes will make the course more accessible for all golfers.
‘What we are trying to do is provide a little more fairness and equity across the board and less exclusivity to a club-type relationship, which is very rare with municipal golf courses,” said Solares. “We would still like the club to be able to golf here, to book events and tournaments, it’s just the agreement that gives them those certain benefits that’s not sustainable anymore.”
The staff report, which was created with the assistance of an Ontario golf advisory company, includes a proposal that would see a private contractor run both the golf course and concessions in the clubhouse. Saanich will continue to maintain the course and will manage use of the event and boardroom spaces in the clubhouse.
“We periodically review most of our operations in recreation to ensure we are staying on top of industry trends and still providing value for residents,” said Solares. “This was a part of that and the last time the golf course was reviewed was 2009.”
The district has offered the 69-year-old golf club a one-year extension on its agreement with the municipality, which is currently set expire at the end of 2021.
“The whole origins of this golf course was started by golfers and it morphed into the Cedar Hill Golf Club, so we’re part of the DNA of this place,” said Monty. “People will move if they don’t feel part of the organization.”
The report will be presented for Saanich council’s information at Thursday’s meeting. Monty says that he, along with other members of the club, will be on hand to speak against the proposed changes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.