Torrential rain and record heat: The 2023 season is one of the worst in the last quarter century for golf course managers and players in the province. For many, the whims of Mother Nature are holding back the momentum the sport has picked up since the pandemic.
“Regardless of the region, there were days of closures due to heavy rain and thunderstorms that we have rarely experienced,” notes Stéphane Dube, Director General of the Association des Clubs de Golf du Québec (ACGQ).
Golfers in the Quebec region had a complicated 2023 due to rain and extreme heat. Vincent Desbiens
In his opinion, the “terrible” weather has never caused so much inconvenience on the greens in the last 25 years.
“Even if it stops raining, there are clubs that have no choice but to close because the ground is completely soaked. This makes maintenance even more complex and it is certainly not possible to achieve the best possible quality as we cannot use all the machines.”
Enjoy it while it’s there
During the journal’s passage at Quebec’s Lorette Golf Club, members sometimes looked anxiously at the sky, which became cloudy on Monday afternoon.
Friends Denis Charrette and Bruno Durand competed during the Journal’s visit at Lorette Golf Club on August 7, 2023. Vincent Desbiens
“We hurry to take advantage of it today because in my opinion it will not be open tomorrow because of the announced rain. This season it’s hell: when it’s not raining, it’s super hot! points out Marcel Bilodeau, a retired golf enthusiast, as he refines his short game before tackling his daily round.
While Bruno Durand and his friend Denis Charrette are less aware of the weather issues because they are still working, they are aware that Quebec’s golf courses are not in the best of shape.
“The interview is very good, but there are things that you cannot control. The greens are very fat and the grass lasts a little longer than usual. We still have to adjust a bit, but we can still have fun.
Slow it down
At Golf Beauport, the number of departures is down 10-15% compared to 2022, according to general manager Jacques Bélanger. The latter claims that the weather has a lot to do with it.
“This year is more difficult than 2021 or 2022. I think the rain is a big factor, but people also have more options for trips and I think that’s reflected in our traffic,” he notes.
Golf Beauport General Manager Jacques Bélanger Jr. Photo Jérémy Bernier
The general manager of Sherbrooke Golf Club, Steven Brown, also assumes that there will be further cancellations this year. These lead to significant financial losses.
“We have four or five months to make money and make the business profitable. If you lose a month when there isn’t much profitability, it affects all global operations because there are fixed costs on a golf course,” he says.
The situation is similar for Golf & Académie Longchamp, also in Sherbrooke. According to calculations by the administration, traffic fell by 20% in July.
The ACGQ’s chief executive acknowledges that the first two years of the pandemic have been very beneficial for golf, as it was one of the few recreational activities allowed despite the restrictions. In his opinion, the weakening observed in some places is no cause for concern.
“The sport is healthy and we have seen a lot of growth in the last 10 years. I assume there will be a slight decline. […] Yes, it rained a lot, but many of our members increased their traffic on nice weather days.
– In collaboration with TVA Nouvelles
Hélène Thibault, member of the Lorette Vincent Desbiens Golf Club
what they said
“It’s a bit frustrating. Yes, the season lasts longer, but it’s no better if we lose nice golf days in the middle of summer due to climate change. Luckily the clubs are very accommodating and allow us to move our reservations.
– Hélène Thibault, member of the Lorette Golf Club
“It has been a difficult year in terms of maintenance and traffic. Luckily we have a lot of members and feel the impact less than on a public golf course so we can limit the damage. We hope it doesn’t become the norm to close so often.
– Jean-Bernard Paquet, general manager of the Lorette Golf Club
“Retirees I usually play with tell me they’ve gotten about 75% of the rounds they played last year at this point. It doesn’t get much better in the Montreal area and in Estrie.
– Denis Charrette, golfer from Laval visiting Quebec
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