Golfers who overdo their game at the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Saanich might soon be able to get some feel-better treatment when they head for the 19th hole. Yoga anyone, or how about a massage?
The municipality has applied to the Agricultural Land Commission to rezone its clubhouse to allow therapeutic practitioners to set up offices there, said course manager Carole Ireland. Services would be open to anyone, not just players.
“The space we have is not a big space, but it could support more than one practitioner. I think we would go out to proposal and we would just have to see what would come in.” The new zoning would still be a parks zoning, but with a health and recreation stipulation.
Saanich is well aware how “very important” the course and its walkway is to the neighbourhood, she said. “They see it as a community asset. They really want us to do whatever it is to help that operation thrive and survive. We’re trying to be creative: How do we diversity and create predictable revenue streams so that that asset remains as it is in the community for them to enjoy?”
For the last three years, the Derby Road course has broken even. It’s even ahead of projections to raise nearly $1.2 million based on green fees of $43.50 to $48.50 for 18 holes. “And we hope to improve on that,” Ireland said, noting there has been a spike in golfers since the recent closing of two family-owned private courses at Prospect Lake and Royal Oak.
So far this year, food and beverage sales are slated to bring in $488,500 and golfers have access to an upgraded snack window on the patio and a peak-season food and beverage cart on the course.
It’s a welcome change from 2012, when the full service restaurant was heading for a deficit of $500,000, with another $300,000 shortfall projected from golf.
The restaurant was closed, replaced by a counter for light lunches, but banquet and catering services remain, Ireland said. The closing generated some high emotions, with full-service defenders noting the course did not have any signs letting non-golfers know there was public restaurant there.
Cedar Hill is the only municipally run 18-hole course on Vancouver Island, and is in great shape due to improvements in water conservation, irrigation and drainage, Ireland said. An application for Audubon environmental certification for maintaining natural areas on and around the golf course is in the works.
Beautiful grounds don’t come cheap. The cost of maintaining the grounds, the trail, park and greens comes in at $674,000, according to the Saanich 2016-2020 financial plan. Building maintenance costs another $203,000.
The rezoning issue came to light when municipal staff were developing strategies to improve the bottom line of the course, and discovered that the long-established pro shop was not incorporated under the current zoning.
New zoning would bring Cedar Hill’s buildings into the same status as the four Saanich rec centres and allow community programming such as yoga classes and health services in the pro shop and clubhouse buildings.
Because golf courses depend so much on the weather, such services would be predictable source of revenue not dependent on golf itself, a Saanich document said. “This will augment the more unpredictable golf and food service business streams.”
None of the new activities would require structural changes to either building, but would take advantage of under-utilized spaces.
The 1980s and 1990s were a heyday for golf and Cedar Hill was in the running for busiest municipal course in Canada, Ireland recalled. “We had the most rounds per year, not hard to do in our climate.”
Most golfers at Cedar Hill are seniors, given that 18 holes can take an afternoon to play. Nine hole rounds are another option. The course is on target for 50,000 rounds this year, “which has been increasing every year for the last four years,” Craig Rencher, the course’s head professional, said in an email.
But youth are the future of the course, Ireland noted, and ideas are in the works to attract more young players.
“We’re really working with schools and the Cedar Hill Golf Club,” said Ireland. “It’s an absolute pleasure to watch how warmly the juniors are welcomed.” Youth rounds cost $25 for those 18 and under.
Saanich will hold an open house on the rezoning before the application makes its way to council.
