Bridges at Tillsonburg opens in defiance of Ontario Shutdown

[zeedub]

Looks like the boys in Ontario have had enough.

[4x4GGG]

And the picture is 2 guys sharing a cart. C'mon, do the cause better... 

[caniac6]

We never closed in NC. We had some modifications to cart use, clubhouse accessibility, pins and rakes, but with just a little bit of common sense, golf is one of the safer activities. Most of the guys I play with have been vaccinated. We are still being careful.

[cardoustie]

Great to see

[ohioglfr]

Golf, of all sports, should be opened up to all.  You don't share the same ball or clubs, and you're in open spaces outdoors.  I hope common sense prevails and things loosen up soon in Ontario.

[kozubs]

It really sucked when we were couped up all winter and the weekend most courses were finally opening they locked us down again literally the day before opening.  Our course had the metal ball extractors on the pins, plastic sheets in golf carts to separate riders, no rakes or ball washers.  Couldn't really think of a safer activity. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but after dropping over $7000 on memberships and only having a 5 to 6 month season its really frustrating not being out there.  But hey the beer and liquor stores are still open as they are considered essential.  

[MtlJeff]

I'm trying not to veer down the wrong thing given forum rules but it's hard to understand the closures from a logical perspective. @kozubs i don't think that's unfair at all to be upset about the financial aspect too. In Canada lots of people play golf because overall it's more affordable, my old club was all teachers and mostly blue collar guys. There's this thought that golf is all millionaires but that hasnt been my experience. So for a lot of people in Ontario, yeah paying 5000-10000$ to get maybe half a season kinda sucks

 

There's been a lot of this going around. Last year many soccer clubs around here took money from the parents for registrations etc, cancelled the season and kept the money. What are people going to do? File a class action and wait 10 years for a court date while your legal bills cost more than what you're suing for? And watch your kid get blackballed from the sport in the meantime....Nope

 

Anyway, hope you guys get out there soon.

[ZacR88]

Courses will be open next week by the looks of it. 

 

My club has opened the tee sheet for the 28th onwards along with many other courses, including St Georges. So they must know something we don't about an opening date. 

 

Also Mayor Torey on the news said that he does not have the power to switch Ford's decision but they will speak about the outdoor activity situation. 

 

Its utter nonsense. I mean most of these lockdowns are in general but outdoor activities? C'mon. Good for these guys going against it. If I lived a bit closer I would be there to support. 

[ZacR88]

Agreed. 

 

My daughter's soccer was cancelled. All I got was a credit for summer league.

 

I am by no means wealthy but I sacrifice a lot so that I can be part of a club. Save each month for due's next season, it is not easy to come with sometimes but I love golf, my daughter who is 6 gets to learn the sport and make friends because of it. 

 

When I asked my club to play devils advocate, what happens if we do not get to play any golf this summer? Well....dues do not get refunded, put towards future assessments and our F/B gets cut in half for the season. OUCH...

 

So you can see why people are upset over this. 

[MtlJeff]

BTW any news on what happened to these guys?

 

Did they let them play all day? Did the Po-Po show up and shut them down eventually?

[jvincent]

2 hours ago, MtlJeff said:

BTW any news on what happened to these guys?

 

Did they let them play all day? Did the Po-Po show up and shut them down eventually?

The OPP was there but only "observed".

 

AFAIK as of today neither the course or any golfers have been fined yet. They are still open and are booking tee times for the week.

 

If this ends up screwing things up for the rest of us there will be a LOT of PO'd golfers.

[golfortennis]

nm

 

Edited April 26, 2021 by golfortennis

[cardoustie]

I know a course just over the US border where 50 percent of members are Americans, they paid full dues last year and never played with the border closure

[BallerNate]

Really hoping the rumours are true and this horrible decision by the Ontario Government gets overturned early this week!

 

I don’t care if Ford does it in a press conference, on Twitter, or by carrier pigeon...JUST DO IT!!

[BallerNate]

Yup, saw this coming from a mile away:

 

[MPAndreassi]

14 minutes ago, BallerNate said:

Yup, saw this coming from a mile away:

 

[BallerNate]

1 hour ago, MPAndreassi said:

Haha! Yeah, the whole thing is ridiculous...courses shouldn’t be closed in the first place.

Obviously the government couldn’t just let them blatantly break the rules and not have any consequences though.

[BallerNate]

Well, this article says that The Bridges at Tilsonburg are facing a fine up to $10 Million if they get convicted...and yet they’re still booking Tee times?! Wowzers...
 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/tillsonburg-ont-golf-course-charged-for-reopening-during-stay-at-home-order-1.6008574

[Golfnuck]

Good for them.

 

The reality is at some point people can see when something is wrong and then they are willing to do something about it.

 

Had 100% of the golf courses organized themselves and 100% of then opened and defied the gov what are they going to do take 100% of them to court?

 

Then let's see who has the power.

[BallerNate]

1 hour ago, Golfnuck said:

Good for them.

 

The reality is at some point people can see when something is wrong and then they are willing to do something about it.

 

Had 100% of the golf courses organized themselves and 100% of then opened and defied the gov what are they going to do take 100% of them to court?

 

Then let's see who has the power.

I agree with you to a degree. I think what The Bridges at Tilsonburg did standing against a rule with no scientific basis was very brave, but also very reckless and selfish.

 

I don’t think golf courses should have ever been closed, and I agree that if all golf courses across the Province banded together and re-opened it would force the government’s hand. But a lone wolf doing it alone is too easy to crack down on, and there are rumours that it could have played a part in delaying the re-opening of all other courses as early as this week.
 

 

[Golfnuck]

Don't know how to say this without invoking the wrath of the mods.

 

You guys ultimately have the last say ......  make sure all golfers make the gov aware of their displeasure in 3 years.

Edited May 2, 2021 by Golfnuck

[golfortennis]

9 hours ago, BallerNate said:

I agree with you to a degree. I think what The Bridges at Tilsonburg did standing against a rule with no scientific basis was very brave, but also very reckless and selfish.

 

I don’t think golf courses should have ever been closed, and I agree that if all golf courses across the Province banded together and re-opened it would force the government’s hand. But a lone wolf doing it alone is too easy to crack down on, and there are rumours that it could have played a part in delaying the re-opening of all other courses as early as this week.
 

 

 

Which if true, means that this is now about egos rather than health.  So even dumber than it was before.

[Kale_m]

The course is a business. They need a business licence to operate. The city could pull that, they don’t need a reason. Case closed . 
 

They could pull liquor licenses as well. 

[golfortennis]

34 minutes ago, Kale_m said:

The course is a business. They need a business licence to operate. The city could pull that, they don’t need a reason. Case closed . 
 

They could pull liquor licenses as well. 

 

The mayor has played it down the middle, but he hasn't been very critical of the course.

 

The owner made sure not to sell any alcohol.  The liquor license could be a tough one.

[BallerNate]

59 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

The mayor has played it down the middle, but he hasn't been very critical of the course.

 

The owner made sure not to sell any alcohol.  The liquor license could be a tough one.

Apparently numerous other companies in Tilsonburg are also re-opening and defying the Provincial stay-at-home rules. Read an article about it yesterday, but can't find it now. The respect for the Provincial government is completely gone and people are totally fed up.

[BallerNate]

1 hour ago, golfortennis said:

 

Which if true, means that this is now about egos rather than health.  So even dumber than it was before.

It's been all about political optics and ego for weeks now...it's a complete mess.

[Kale_m]

It’s a liberal world that we live in. Everyone has to be soft as baby poop. 

[BallerNate]

The saga continues...a 2nd charge against The Bridges at Tilsonburg, and now 5 golfers have been charged as well. 🙄

 

[BallerNate]

Aaaand here it is 🙄🙄🙄:

 

https://london.ctvnews.ca/opp-charging-golfers-playing-illegally-in-tillsonburg-ont-1.5411020

[Bargegolf]

Saga? Charges to course owners  and individual golfers were only a matter of time.

 

Continuing to Open even though charged? The authorities will continue to ramp things up. More patrols, and more charges…

 

The owners attitude and golfers playing the course are only making it easier for the Government to maintain its position to keep courses closed. We will be fortunate to be golfing after the 20th.