In mid-April, I had the pleasure of traveling to the Nova Scotia Golf Association’s spring meeting – an unofficial launch to the province’s golf season. The gathering’s new educational format featured speakers from Golf Canada, the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), and the USGA sharing valuable insights about membership, course rating, handicap, golf communities and pace of play. We all left energized and ready for the start of another great season. There was just one problem: only a single course was open throughout the entire province with lots of snow still lingering. The weather did not look as though it would provide any relief with cool temperatures on their way to keep the snow in place.
Our club visits in Nova Scotia brought us down to West Pubnico GC – the first club open this year. It was certainly refreshing to see flags waving on the greens and some golfers enjoying a cool but sunny day. Shirley d’Entremont, President of the NSGA, took Dave Campbell, Executive Director of the NSGA, and I on a tour of her home course and it was delightful to feel the start of another season.
Once the season is in full swing, Nova Scotia is home to countless treasures. On a trip to Nova Scotia last fall, our visits took us up to Amherst and through some of the surrounding area. One small quaint town near Springhill had a storied history surrounding a coal mine and a nice golf club supported by a tireless group of volunteers. Parrsboro was another beautiful little 9-hole course in the area with a vista overlooking the exquisite Minas Basin. As golfers, we usually think of the bigger destination courses when travelling, but it is important not to miss out on the many lesser known gems along the way. You will not be disappointed.
After our tour, I had the thrill of spending some time on a lobster boat with Carl d’Entremont who was kind enough to take Dave Campbell and I out for a ride. What an opportunity to enjoy a slice of life in West Pubnico! The sea, the lobster, the fishermen – all parts of the passionate Nova Scotian lifestyle. With its seasonality, working in the concentrated lobster fishing season is in many ways similar to the drive that it takes to be in the golf industry in Canada.
Fast forward six weeks: the west has enjoyed a fabulous start; the prairie provinces were a little late, but are now rounding into form; and the Atlantic is now just starting to see some warmer temperatures. Unfortunately, the same type of ice damage that affected Ontario last year is now an issue throughout parts of the Atlantic Provinces.
But with warming temperatures, it does seem as though that golf is finally underway throughout the country and hopefully, Mother Nature will provide some good weather for everyone to make some great golf memories. As the season unfolds, why not share those memories with all of Canada?
Tell us your story on golfcanadagolf.ca and read all about your fellow Canadians’ golf journeys or share your thoughts and pictures through social media with the hashtag #GolfCanadaGolf. I love telling you about my stories “On the Road” and would love to hear where you’ve been and what our great game has shown you.
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Christine Dengel is a PGA of Canada golf professional with more than 30 years of experience in multiple facets of the golf industry, and a lifelong passion for and commitment to the game of golf.
Prior to joining Golf Canada, she was a Territory Sales Manager for Callaway Golf Canada for 18 years. During her time with Callaway, Dengel managed the GTA and Southwestern Ontario territory from 1992-2005 and has managed the Southern Ontario territory since 2006. |