Council supports bid to make Caledon “Home of Canadian Golf”

March 31, 2022 · 0 Comments

Golf Canada wants to move headquarters to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Alton

By Zachary Roman

A presentation about making Caledon the “Home of Canadian Golf” was above par, according to the Town of Caledon’s Mayor and Councillors.

At Council’s March 29 meeting, Golf Canada chief operating officer Garrett Ball asked for Council’s support in funding a multi-faceted plan that would see TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Alton become Golf Canada’s new headquarters.

Golf Canada is looking for $2.5 million in support from the Region of Peel, and the same amount from the Provincial and Federal governments. The funding it’s asking governments for is for phase two of the Home of Canadian Golf project, which is a “community benefit project.”

According to Ball, the Home of Canadian Golf project will cost about $27 million. Phase one of the project (costing around $20 million) is being funded by Golf Canada, Osprey Valley Resorts Inc. and private donors.

The project will augment the recently-announced $50 million privately-funded expansion and commercial development already happening at Osprey Valley.

In addition to Golf Canada’s national headquarters, the “Home of Canadian Golf” would feature: First Tee Canada national headquarters, a public-access free community putting green, an athlete performance centre, expanded Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, and more.

First Tee Canada is a youth development organization launched in 2021, designed to increase access to golf for kids from diverse backgrounds. First Tee would look to partner with local schools, after-school programs and youth-serving organizations to offer golf programming.

“What First Tee does, it uses golf, but it’s really life skills,” said Ball. “Our programs operate almost like the YMCA after-school, teaching kids about ethics. It just uses golf as a medium to get them participating in sport.”

The free community putting course would be located at the proposed First Tee Canada national headquarters in Alton. According to Ball, it’ll be 30,000 square feet in size and inspired by the Himalayas Putting Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.

“This is the part I’m personally most excited about. The first of its kind in Canada, the community putting course will operate just like your local soccer field, baseball diamond, cricket pitch — It will be a free to use and accessible outdoor recreational facility for the community of Caledon and Region of Peel, right on Main Street in Alton,” said Ball.

The athlete performance centre would host training camps for golfers ranging in skill from new golfers to Team Canada professionals. It will be a place for Golf Canada to identify and train the next generation of Canadian golfers, as well as improve coaching and sports science.

According to Ball, it will have an indoor short game complex, strength and conditioning centre, swing technique and technology area, wellness and sports medicine professionals, and locker rooms.

With the completion of the Home of Canadian Golf project, Ball said Caledon would be in a good position to host major events, including an RBC Canadian Open before 2030.

“The Home of Canadian Golf will be one of the most transformative moments in Canadian golf,” said Ball. “A multifaceted, world-class tourist facility that will support community recreational benefits; drive inclusivity, diversity, community among equity-deserving youth; and become a foundational pillar that supports grassroots participation and high-performance golf right here in your backyard.”

Councillor Johanna Downey said she’s enjoyed getting to know Ball and his team and that what they’re proposing would be a wonderful asset to the community.

She said she’d be happy to move a motion to support Golf Canada’s proposal to the Region of Peel at the appropriate time.

Mayor Allan Thompson said some of the best golfing that can be done can be done in Caledon.

He addressed Ball and thanked him for his presentation.

“I see nothing but a win-win situation for both Caledon and yourselves coming here, so I want to say welcome and we hope that this is now your future and permanent home,” said Thompson.

“To me, what I appreciate, what I really learned about Golf Canada is yes, you’re there for the professionals but you’re also there for everyone else as well. And you haven’t lost that vision.”

A motion for the Town of Caledon to support Golf Canada’s request to the Region of Peel for $2.5 million was carried.