I went to the ultimate Clublink "source"

[4jag]

I wanted to post to the earlier Clublink thread but it was closed. Is there some reason we can't discuss this on this forum ?

Anyways I decided to go directly to the ultimate Clublink source, President Robert Poile, for info about Ottawa expansion. I did NOT mention SB or any other course in my email query to him.

Here is his response to me:

"Thank you for your interest in ClubLink. We are always on the lookout for good golf properties to add to our portfolio but we have nothing that is imminent in the Ottawa region. Did you have a specific course in mind? I would be happy to hear of any opportunities you may be aware of.


Regards,

Bob Poile."

[donh]

I wanted to post to the earlier Clublink thread but it was closed. Is there some reason we can't discuss this on this forum ?

Anyways I decided to go directly to the ultimate Clublink source, President Robert Poile, for info about Ottawa expansion. I did NOT mention SB or any other course in my email query to him.

Here is his response to me:

"Thank you for your interest in ClubLink. We are always on the lookout for good golf properties to add to our portfolio but we have nothing that is imminent in the Ottawa region. Did you have a specific course in mind? I would be happy to hear of any opportunities you may be aware of.


Regards,

Bob Poile."

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but. Do you really think that Bob Poile would reveal in an email that they are entering sensitive negociations to buy a prestigeous south Ottawa golf club???

I suspect that he would not.

Have a nice day!

[Kilroy]

Is there some reason we can't discuss this on this forum ?

It is getting to a point where the rumours are out of hand.
Rumours like this are bad for all the businesses involved.

How would it be if you owned a golf shop that was rumoured to be going out of business when it wasn't.
Customers would loose confidence that they could exchange or return items.
They may not even go by thinking you were gone.
Employees look for other work because they think thier days are numbered.
You are constantly answering the same questions day after day, trying to cork the misinformation.


These two recent threads were both started by the same person, first as Golfstud in this thread http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthread.php?t=7009 Over the course of the few days he was on the forum I removed more than 10 posts ranging from offensive remarks to potty humour. I banned him.

He was back in 3 hours as supergolfstar with a new version of the same thing http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthread.php?t=7205

This time his IP has been blocked, so he may have a bit more difficulty resuming his trolling.

This board does not exist so that people can entertain themselves by spreading misinformation and damaging local businesses.

[Big_duck]

I'm begining to think that Clublink is a cult. How do you golf in a sarong? Does your tambourine count towards your club limit?

I am in favour of all future CL/Stonbridge threads being closed immediatly with the tagline - DON'T DRINK THE KOOLAIDE!!

[mberube]

This is hilarious!

Dan, why not create some kind of filter prohibiting clublink and stonbridge in the same post?

[4jag]

It is getting to a point where the rumours are out of hand.
Rumours like this are bad for all the businesses involved. ...

This board does not exist so that people can entertain themselves by spreading misinformation and damaging local businesses.

Please note that my post was 100% rumour free.

BTW, I totally support your actions re: golfstud.

[4jag]

Do you really think that Bob Poile would reveal in an email that they are entering sensitive negociations

Of course not.

I was more surprised that he actually answered my email and that it wasn't a canned response.

[Kilroy]

Please note that my post was 100% rumour free.

I did note that
My reply was in answer to your question.

[Big_duck]

Of course not.

I was more surprised that he actually answered my email and that it wasn't a canned response.

Me too. March must be his "down" time.

[Kilroy]

It could be canned. I bet he gets asked a lot by people who start reading here

[Started2k3]

Dan,

Why not just make a new "discussion forum" for just the clublink rumours and discussions. You could call it "The Clublink Conspiracy". It could be a one stop "clublink rumour" shop.

That way the rumour mill could churn itself into a frenzy without the rest of us having to care. Think of the rumours a forum like that could create!

However, I would miss laughing at the fact that "clublink/stonebridge" thread has yet again risen from the ashes like a phoenix for yet another month.

[Kilroy]

I assure you it will return. Hopefully without the troll when it does.

[bambam]

I think that I will be able to put some light on the course that may be up. I had a discussion with a local golf course owner and the name that has come up is ?????. If you would like more info please email me and I will pass on the word that has been said to me. Check out my profile to see if I am credible.

[bambam]

Please if you would like to know more about my conversation. Please email me. I will not disclose the conversation on the forum. I will respect the courses name and employees. This transaction has not gone through yet and may not.

[Golfpeasant]

I dont even understand the rumour. If it happens, it happens...when it happens...who cares otherwise.

[bambam]

We should all care because this is like a Menopoly. This company will walk in and by up all the courses that r going under and our green fee prices are afected. I blame the government 4 the situation that these courses r going through. I no there is a problem when all these courses in the provinces taxes go from 18,000 a year to 48,000 in the matter of one golf season.

I hear people complaining every day that our prices are to high. As a golf course, how can you keep your prices at a respecful rate and not have any problems.

That is why we should all care.

[Started2k3]

I find it hard to believe that Clublink is going to get a monopoly in the Ottawa area.
http://www.ottawagolf.com/coursemenu/courselist.htm
Shows that there are about 114 courses in the greater ottawa area, of which only 9 are listed as private. Clublink accounts for (I believe) only 3 of those, hardly a monopoly.

If a course is going under, then someone has to "walk in" and buy up the course, or else it closes (goes bankrupt) which results in no golf. In this case it might be better if Clublink were the buyer because they appear to have very deep pockets to improve the course, but you are right this would cost something and hence higher prices.

There remain some quite inexpensive golf courses in the Ottawa area, but I don't know anybody who believes that golf is a low cost sport.

If property taxes have really increased that much in one year, then the golf courses should get together (form an association) and lobby the government. If an association like that could stuck to its guns then they could influence the government. Just imagine all Ontario golf courses refusing to let provincial members of parliment (and guests!) onto their courses ... the government might begin to move quickly. Failing that the course will have to increase their green fees and membership fees.

Sorry about the rant, but I am an economist.

[bambam]

The courses have been fighting this for the past year. Mark my words there will be more courses going bankrupt, or they will find another sucker to by them and they will find them in the same situattion.

[mberube]

The courses have been fighting this for the past year. Mark my words there will be more courses going bankrupt, or they will find another sucker to by them and they will find them in the same situattion.

For your information ClubLink buys courses in financial difficulties. They purchased the Dome cause the owners were going belly up. Same thing with Grayhawk. I talked to one of the top guys from Toronto at are meeting last year and he told me that they ultimately want two other courses in the Ottawa area. They made offers to EC and SB in the past but they were turned down. They were looking at other possibilities but nothing is even close to happen. The marked at the moment is in building and not buying. That’s why CL has built more courses the last 5 years then they purchased.

They wont buy all the courses cause its not in there interest.

[broken27]

The courses have been fighting this for the past year. Mark my words there will be more courses going bankrupt, or they will find another sucker to by them and they will find them in the same situattion.

And you talk like this AFTER you ask us to "check my profile to see how legit this is"?????

Any subscriber can put "one of 3 managers at a golf course" on our profile.... How does this lend legitimacy to the same old BS we've been trolled and SPAMed with here on this forum for years????

Saying that Clublink is thinking of buying another Ottawa Golf Course is like saying Donald Trump is contemplating another casino... It COULD happen, but there's likely not much more than smoke to your tale....

Emails from ANYONE at this point other than signing authorities for both parties, means little if not less.

I'm almost convinced you're the same guy who was banned earlier for starting this "educated reason" rumour...

And, bankruptcy for the most part happens for two reasons: 1 - Bad market / bad economic conditions (Ottawa for golf? doesn't sound right to me...) and 2 - Bad decisions / bad management (easily fixed by them having to sell low to someone who can do it right).

I would love if Clublink owned ALL the courses in Ottawa, because their conditions are superb for the most part that I've seen, and they only charge a $40 guest fee. I'd rather make friends than money, and in some cases, both can lead to good golf.

Dan



Dan

[Golfpeasant]

We should all care because this is like a Menopoly. This company will walk in and by up all the courses that r going under and our green fee prices are afected. I blame the government 4 the situation that these courses r going through. I no there is a problem when all these courses in the provinces taxes go from 18,000 a year to 48,000 in the matter of one golf season.

I hear people complaining every day that our prices are to high. As a golf course, how can you keep your prices at a respecful rate and not have any problems.


That is why we should all care.

I was speaking about the Stonebridge rumour specifically.

I have never found Ottawa golf course rates high.

I have zero fear that Clublink will be the only golf owner in Ottawa, and I still do not care about this rumour.

So everyone should care, but me.