Kitchener Golf

[RangersFan]

Kitchener Golf
www.kitchenergolf.ca

http://www.kitchenergolf.ca/img/header.jpg

[RangersFan]

Doon Valley Golf Course opens pitch-and-putt
September 2, 2010 | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca//uploads/doc_634190178465462500.doc)

KITCHENER – Introduce the budding golfers in your family to the sport by trying out the new nine-hole pitch-and-putt course at Doon Valley Golf Course.

The pitch-and-putt opens on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 a.m.

Pitch-and-putt is an amateur sport, similar to golf. Players may only use one iron and a putter. The game is played from raised artificial teeing surfaces using a tee. The short, contoured par 3s (none over 90 metres or 100 yards) are set along a course where there are no hazards in play, making this a perfect course for those new to the game or those who want to practice their short game.

The new nine-hole pitch and putt is designed to give golfers of all ages the opportunity to try the game of golf without the anxiety of trying to play a full-length golf course.

The new short course is part of an extensive renovation of the Doon Valley course, which included the construction of new holes and a driving range. Doon Valley opened its new 18-hole course, along with a nine-hole course, earlier this summer.

[Section ThirtyOne]

The new holes are horrible, and are completely out of whack with the design of the rest of the course. With the naturalized areas in play on every one of the new holes, casual golfers are posting sky-high scores and losing lots of balls. I think the city did themselves a disservice with this layout, but only time will tell.

The range and pitch-and-putt are features which were a long time coming, and will definitely be taken advantage of by people in the area.

[UrbanWaterloo]

City Golf Courses Open Later This Week
April 11, 2011 | City of Kitchener | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?newsId=5oY25Wb6NEhDAwvD5lA5HKTIDQeQuAle QKITCHENER – uAl)

With milder weather in the forecast, Kitchener Golf plans to open Rockway Golf Course for the season this Friday, April 15, at 8 a.m. and Doon Valley Golf Course this Saturday, April 16, at 8 a.m.

The pro shops at both courses are now open and accepting tee-time bookings, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. To book a tee time at Rockway, call 519-741-2949; to book a tee time at Doon Valley, call 519-741-2939.

Whether you want to kick off the season with a full round of 18 holes at either Rockway or Doon Valley, or ease in gently with Doon Valley’s nine-holes or pitch n’ putt course or driving range - Kitchener Golf offers something for everyone.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Thanks for the update UW.

I checked out their online booking system, and Doon Valley is accepting tee-times for today. Perhaps they decided to open early?

[justcallmejuice]

The new holes are horrible, and are completely out of whack with the design of the rest of the course. With the naturalized areas in play on every one of the new holes, casual golfers are posting sky-high scores and losing lots of balls. I think the city did themselves a disservice with this layout, but only time will tell.

The range and pitch-and-putt are features which were a long time coming, and will definitely be taken advantage of by people in the area.

i totally agree - the new holes are ridiculous. i know the whole goal of golf is to hit the fairway then hit the green, but if i get into trouble i want to battle out of it and play my shots. if you miss the fairway and it's out of bounds and you can't get your ball - it's bogus! just adds unnecessary strokes to your game. there are far better courses in the region to play.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Community feedback sought on golf review
February 29, 2012 | City of Kitchener | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?newsId=4CaLnGrbufIUMcVvQ20sMAeQuAleQuAl )

Kitchener Golf will hold a community consultation, seeking feedback from residents on the findings of an external review of its current golf operations, as well as possible future opportunities that have been identified for the city’s two municipal golf courses -- Rockway and Doon Valley.

The findings of the review, which include a series of recommendations and possible operating models, were tabled for consideration during the community and infrastructure services (CIS) committee meeting this afternoon.

The purpose of the external review was to determine if and how the Kitchener Golf enterprise can achieve financial or operational improvements.

While the results review shone a positive light on the city’s current golf operations, calling both courses “well run” and applauding several recent efforts on the part of Kitchener Golf to reduce expenses, the findings also indicate there are still a number of actions that could have positive financial impacts over time.

The three main operating models contained in the review are:

Self operation
Management contract
Lease and concession arrangement

More information on these operating models will be shared with the public through the city’s website and during an open house during the first week of March. Details of the meeting will be posted online once they are finalized.

Staff will then prepare a report for the CIS committee meeting on March 19, which will include the results of the community consultation and recommend an operating model for consideration.

“There is some really good information in this report and I’m hopeful we’ll have the opportunity to hear from residents and local golfers - those who are in town now as well as those who may be away for the winter - before the issue comes back to council in March,” said Coun. Yvonne Fernandes.

Background

The need for the review was identified during the 2011 budget process, at a time when the golf enterprise had an unbalanced budget due to declining revenues and increasing expenses.

A number of factors likely contributed to the decline in revenue, including economic conditions, declining interest or time to play golf and periods of inconsistent weather -- setbacks that affected the golfing industry at large, not the city alone.

Kitchener Golf implemented a number of measures to reduce and maintain or grow previous revenues, including:

Eliminated two management positions
Created administrative efficiencies
Contracted out food and beverage service
Reduced winter staffing and created other off season efficiencies
Adjusted the annual capital allocation
Reduced the dividend
Undertook more aggressive sales and marketing strategies
Re-introduced unlimited play memberships and cart membership
implemented reasonably priced green fees with a goal to increase volume of play
Created a more customer focused service approach

These steps achieved a virtually balanced budget with the 2011 year-end financial statements.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Golf courses set to open next week
Rockway and Doon Valley golf courses set to open next week
March 15, 2012 | City of Kitchener | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?newsId=MyEqk4KFV3MywF36eniSbQeQuAleQuAl )

With continued mild weather in the forecast and drier-than-usual ground conditions, weather permitting, Kitchener Golf will open Rockway Golf Course for the season next Thursday, March 22; and the full-length classic nine course, nine-hole pitch and putt, and driving range at Doon Valley Golf Course next Saturday, March 24.

Due to environmentally sensitive areas, Doon Valley’s championship 18-hole course won’t open until early April.

Should weather conditions change, and these planned openings are delayed, information will be posted on www.kitchenergolf.ca

The pro shop at Rockway will be open starting Monday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tee-time bookings can be made online or through the pro-shop staff at that time. The pro shop at Doon Valley will open Friday, March 23.

Kitchener Golf offers something for everyone – with two championship 18-hole courses, a full-length nine-hole course, a nine-hole pitch and putt, a driving range and a practice area – all within city limits.

For more information on rates, to book a tee time or to stay up-to-date on course conditions, call 519-741-2949 for Rockway or 519-741-2939 for Doon Valley or visit www.kitchenergolf.ca

[UrbanWaterloo]

Golf course operations and maintenance stays with the city
March 19, 2012 | City of Kitchener | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?newsId=BkjCqOZvxYitqNdJP4gxkAeQuAleQuAl )

The community and infrastructure services committee sided with the public this afternoon, endorsing a plan that will see operation and maintenance of Rockway and Doon Valley golf courses stay with Kitchener Golf.

The decision, based on information contained in an operational review by National Golf Foundation (NGF) and feedback from the public during a recent consultation, mirrors Kitchener Golf’s current blended model of operation. This model sees the management of the pro shop contracted out, and a concession lease agreement in place for the golf academy at Doon Valley, as well as the food and beverage functions at both courses.

Approximately 95 per cent of the public feedback received listed the self-operation and blended model as the top choice, indicating a strong preference for the city to be involved in the operation of the golf courses.

“It really is important to keep our mission in mind, that our courses are for both the recreational golfer and the avid player,” said Mayor Carl Zehr. “So we have to keep asking ourselves, ‘What’s the vision of Kitchener Golf five, 10 or 20 years from now?’”

The NGF operational review outlined three main operating models, with two additional variations that could be used to operate the city’s golf courses. The main models are:


Self-operation
Management contract
Lease agreement

The blended model will also help Kitchener Golf achieve long-term economic stability and sustainability by:


Reduction in operating expenses;
Ability to link performance bonuses to improvements in customer service and increased revenues;
Streamline administrative functions;
Growth in expertise in multiple areas of the golf operation (pro shop, academy, food and beverage, course maintenance).

The NGF operations review was conducted partly in response to Kitchener Golf’s accumulated deficit balance of $1.75 million.

The deficit can be attributed to economic conditions, declining interest or time to play golf, high fees or inconsistent weather conditions - factors that have adversely affected golf courses across North America. The City of Kitchener has a dividend policy in which Kitchener Golf pays dividends to the tax base. Kitchener Golf has, for the last number of years, contributed additional excess dividends in the amount of $1 million; this has also contributed to the deficit.

The city’s dividend policy for golf requires that a dividend equivalent to the notional value of property and income taxes be paid to the city annually.

With this knowledge, the committee supported refunding the amount the golf courses have overpaid - a decision that will reduce the deficit to $750,000, which must be eliminated through the performance of golf operations.