Stone Tree buying Owen Sound Golf and Country Club

By Bill Walker

Posted 9 hours ago

Stone Tree Golf & Fitness is teeing up a rebranding of the Owen Sound Golf & Country Club after announcing Thursday it is buying the 91-year-old course.

Michael Todd, Stone Tree's director of operations, said Thursday that the OSGCC will be renamed in February in an effort to distance itself from the bad publicity the course received in the summer after going into receivership.

"We're going to rename the golf course, but at the same time respect the history and the tradition that the 91-year-old Stanley Thompson (built) course has," said Todd, noting that the deal closes on Jan. 31.

"Through the summer and to this point it's had some negative publicity. We want to start fresh and start clean."

Todd would not say what the new name will be, but the field of contenders has been narrowed down to a couple.

"It will demonstrate a new image for that facility," said Todd.

Stone Tree began its quest to buy the OSGCC in the summer when the course went into receivership. The course was bought by Kinsale Investment Limited, a developer from the GTA.

Kinsale reached out to the golf community in the fall when it decided to put the OSGCC up for sale.

"We are home builders, not golf course managers," Kinsale president Ed O'Brien said in a news release.

"We have spent the past two months carefully exploring our options going forward with the golf course. We decided the best option for the golf course was to team up with Stone Tree."

Financial details on the deal were not released by either side.

The purchase agreement is for just the golf course.

It excludes the practice range and the additional land attached to it. It's expected Kinsale will develop that portion of the site. There are survey stakes along a stretch of Grey Rd. 1.

Todd said there might be a few minor physical changes at the OSGCC, initially in the clubhouse. The biggest change will likely be on the maintenance side as Stone Tree golf superintendent Mark Brooks will be in charge of both courses. They'll also share equipment in a bid to reduce costs.

"The purchase means we can apply our expertise and experience and return it to a viable and profitable operation," said Todd, who will oversee operations at both facilities.

"The economies of scale are what we need to be successful and the business model for us is to share expertise, management and equipment. Hopefully the buying power improves (as well)."

Todd said the plan is to open the OSGCC in the spring. There will be shared playing privileges for members at both courses and OSGCC members will also have privileges at Stone Tree's practice facility.

"This is a very important day for golf in our community," said Todd. "It's been quite a process and I remember saying it would a great day for golf in Owen Sound if this was to ever happen. I'm just elated."

Source: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3426862

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