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03-19-19 03:21PM |
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MeaghanEdwards
Drawmaster
Registered: Aug 2018
Location:
Posts: 699 |
Sad to see (I live in Hamilton). The Thistle Club is also gone.
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03-21-19 10:45AM |
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Deliverer
Swing Artist
Registered: Nov 2016
Location:
Posts: 471 |
If I were looking around today to join a curling club my first question would no longer be "what are the annual dues" but how many members do you have". Why? Because recent history strongly suggests that if a club's membership is in the 200 - 225 range and there are six or more sheets of ice, my shelf life there may not extend beyond the current year.
With regard to the club which recently closed in the Hamilton area, I understand less than one half of the membership have indicated they will continue to curl elsewhere come September '19. Fortunately there are several other clubs in the vicinity so lack of choice will not be a problem. ( Just don't pick the wrong one! )
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03-21-19 02:22PM |
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nelsosi
Swing Artist
Registered: Mar 2012
Location: YYZ, Canada
Posts: 498 |
quote: Originally posted by Deliverer
If I were looking around today to join a curling club my first question would no longer be "what are the annual dues" but how many members do you have". Why? Because recent history strongly suggests that if a club's membership is in the 200 - 225 range and there are six or more sheets of ice, my shelf life there may not extend beyond the current year.
With regard to the club which recently closed in the Hamilton area, I understand less than one half of the membership have indicated they will continue to curl elsewhere come September '19. Fortunately there are several other clubs in the vicinity so lack of choice will not be a problem. ( Just don't pick the wrong one! )
Seems to me that most of the recent closings have been in facilities that are attached to golf clubs, where curlers tend to be considered second class.
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03-21-19 08:48PM |
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curlerbroad
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2668 |
quote: Originally posted by nelsosi
Seems to me that most of the recent closings have been in facilities that are attached to golf clubs, where curlers tend to be considered second class.
Sadly yes...however these golf clubs better start offering more or they could be turned into housing developments or parks
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Well Behaved Women Don't Make History.
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03-27-19 07:39PM |
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Deliverer
Swing Artist
Registered: Nov 2016
Location:
Posts: 471 |
quote: Originally posted by nelsosi
Seems to me that most of the recent closings have been in facilities that are attached to golf clubs, where curlers tend to be considered second class.
With regard to the Golf and Country Clubs in the GTA which ended up closing their own curling facilities, it would appear that in each case the curling club operation itself was not viable and unfortunately, the curling club executives were unable to make it viable. Additionally, in each case, the writing was on the wall, in capital letters, for many years so when you pull back the covers the curling club executives either did not understand the gravity of the situation or they simply failed to take the necessary steps to ensure the club's survival. Either way it was just a matter of time.
Golf and Country Clubs, like any corporation, must follow sound policies, procedures and practices to survive and be profitable. They are not eleemosynary institutions. And yes, it's unfortunate when closures do occur and curlers may be forced to move to another club but that should hardly be characterized as armageddon 101.
The idea that, as a rule of thumb, Golf and County Clubs tend to treat the curling membership as "second class" seems , at best, far-fetched. Who in their right mind would actually want to maintain their membership year after year in a club where they are discriminated against, where they don't feel welcome and where they are perceived as "second class"?
And conversely, why would any reputable Golf and Country Club want or allow any of their members to be treated in this manner?
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03-28-19 11:19AM |
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curlerbroad
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2668 |
quote: Originally posted by Deliverer
With regard to the Golf and Country Clubs in the GTA which ended up closing their own curling facilities, it would appear that in each case the curling club operation itself was not viable and unfortunately, the curling club executives were unable to make it viable. Additionally, in each case, the writing was on the wall, in capital letters, for many years so when you pull back the covers the curling club executives either did not understand the gravity of the situation or they simply failed to take the necessary steps to ensure the club's survival. Either way it was just a matter of time.
Golf and Country Clubs, like any corporation, must follow sound policies, procedures and practices to survive and be profitable. They are not eleemosynary institutions. And yes, it's unfortunate when closures do occur and curlers may be forced to move to another club but that should hardly be characterized as armageddon 101.
The idea that, as a rule of thumb, Golf and County Clubs tend to treat the curling membership as "second class" seems , at best, far-fetched. Who in their right mind would actually want to maintain their membership year after year in a club where they are discriminated against, where they don't feel welcome and where they are perceived as "second class"?
And conversely, why would any reputable Golf and Country Club want or allow any of their members to be treated in this manner?
Actually one of those that cancelled their curling was viable. There was a hugely successful learn to curl clinic a very successful open house in March in which close to 100 people showed up. Some old naysayers were leaving which was bringing a more positive energy to the curling section. Nope it was a few board of directors who for some reason hated curling that ended it. Financial figures show that curling was viable.
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Well Behaved Women Don't Make History.
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03-30-19 09:28AM |
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Deliverer
Swing Artist
Registered: Nov 2016
Location:
Posts: 471 |
quote: Originally posted by curlerbroad
Actually one of those that cancelled their curling was viable. There was a hugely successful learn to curl clinic a very successful open house in March in which close to 100 people showed up. Some old naysayers were leaving which was bringing a more positive energy to the curling section. Nope it was a few board of directors who for some reason hated curling that ended it. Financial figures show that curling was viable.
After the accountants had completed their Financial Viability and Sustainability Analysis some five years earlier, it was clear, or it should have been clear, that a consistent, minimal membership level of 400 was an absolutely necessity in order to sustain the club's long-term viability. The basic problem, however, was that they were never able to achieve/realize a membership level close to that number, let alone maintain it.
The fact that the club held a successful curling clinic in March was somewhat encouraging, but that was pretty well negated In August, 2018, when all of the curling members were informed they were facing a whopping 30% increase in annual fees. The immediate impact of that announcement was, as you know, Devastating and a harbinger of what was to follow.
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03-31-19 10:43AM |
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curlerbroad
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2668 |
ML, you’ve hit the nail on the head...when their club closes, many simply quit. A 10 minute drive has turned into 30 to go to another club. For a once a week recreational curler, it’s not worth it.
I’ve gone from 10 min to 25 min on a toll road...but I like having a fun winter activity so I won’t quit.
Some of my former curling colleagues joined a very busy club & complain how crowded it is. Others love the busy environment...bottom line club closures = people leaving the sport.
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Well Behaved Women Don't Make History.
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04-01-19 03:27PM |
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hogged again
Drawmaster
Registered: Mar 2019
Location:
Posts: 659 |
FYI MLegend
Rossmere doesn't have curling, something happened to their infrastructure.
Transcona CC closed long time back.
Asham sold Valour Road to the Thistle people after their club burned down.
Not surprised when clubs close anymore, our leagues have maybe 25% players under 40, most well over 50 and the renter leagues have almost no young people.
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04-01-19 06:23PM |
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hogged again
Drawmaster
Registered: Mar 2019
Location:
Posts: 659 |
quote: Originally posted by Manitoba Legend
Checked the Rossmore web site and it still shows curling as a membership option. Same thing with Transcona CC - owned by a sketchy Wpg entrepreneur named Al Golden.
Transcona serves as a hub for banquets, socials, anything alcohol-related. So long as curling pays some bills and spends money on food & liquor Golden won't boot them out.
Rossmere website under curling has notice of suspension of curling this year due to pipe problems. No word on whether they will fix problem and reopen.
As for Transcona, there has been no curling ice there for at least 25 years.
Few more clubs to add to your closed list. There were a couple forces rinks-CFB Westin (Weston?Westwin?) and another by Lipsett Hall (CFB Fort something). And don't forget the biggest, the good old Highlander with 12 sheets for renters, 6 for Strathcona and 6 more for Maple Leaf.
Last edited by hogged again on 04-02-19 at 01:57PM
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