Curling operations come to an end at BGCC

The rich history of curling at the Brantford Golf and Country Club has come to an end as shareholders have voted to discontinue curling operations.

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“A very large, unexpected bill last year, before we got started, gave us a two-month delay in starting our season,” explained BGCC general manager Dave Newsome. “We had a leak in one of our pipes required to make ice. A large portion of our (curling) members left and went over to the Brant Curling Club because our season was delayed in getting started. They were planning on coming back but until they actually did, you never knew.”

Shareholders attended a special meeting two weeks ago where they were told that the floor of the 62-year-old curling rink would likely need to be replaced in the next two to three years at a significant cost, and a similar leak could happen in others pipes that are in the same condition.

A majority of shareholders voted in favor of closing down the club’s curling operation.

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As a private, not-for-profit club, BGCC members hold a varying number of shares depending on the type of membership they have and own the financial responsibility of the entire club. That means the costs for infrastructure repairs or upgrades can result in a financial assessment going to the membership.

“There’s not enough capital in the bucket to spend on what we need to have for curling,” Newsome said. “They just said the curling program is not busy enough to sustain the operating losses of curling.”

Newsome cited the rising cost of hydro as an example, costing $30,000 for the six-month curling season.

“We need an ideal number for curling: 75 members per sheet of ice. We have six sheets of ice, so that’s 450 curlers,” he said, adding that the curling membership last year was less than 200.

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“Unfortunately, curling is on the downturn,” the general manager stated. “Yes, it’s a popular game in Canada and we do very well in the Olympics but it’s not driving the business in a way that is (good) to the club’s bottom line.”

He expects that trophies, photos, and championship banners will remain displayed in some manner at the club for years to come.

Meantime, a survey was sent to shareholders seeking input for possible future use of the curling space, listing potential uses including a swimming pool, golf simulators, or racket sports.

Newsome said a lot of younger families are now coming to the club with junior programs and leagues that are quite successful, so feedback on the types of new activities desired by members is important.

He does, however, acknowledge that the decision to discontinue curling operations will be taken hard by some.

“It’s a very emotional time for us right now,” Newsome observed. “As you would imagine, those who have enjoyed curling for years and years may feel like they’ve had the rug pulled out right from underneath them. It’s a very sensitive time.”

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