Municipal golf courses back on financial fairway after River Road closure
Golf is once again paying for golf as London’s municipal golf course system is on more secure financial footing.
The news comes after council made the bold decision to permanently close River Road Golf Course several years ago.
Highlights from the 2023 season
- 1,804 members
- 120,295 rounds played
- $411,846 contribution to Golf Reserve Fund
- $3,333,184 Golf Reserve Fund balance
“Last year with about 120,000 rounds, between Thames Valley and Fanshawe, it was the most in recent years,” said Mike Vandertuin, manager of sport services. “It was extremely successful.”
Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis praised the rebound, “We have a golf system that's healthy, that's thriving, that's seeing, a bit of a boom period right now,” he said.
In 2021, a report by city staff warned that the financial outlook for municipal golf was bleak.
Council agreed with a recommendation to permanently close River Road Golf Course and focus on the remaining four courses.
The closure was contentious with many long-time members lamenting the loss of the course in east London.
But the data shows that the number of rounds played at the four remaining courses have steadily grown since the closure.
A chart showing the annual number of rounds played at London’s municipal golf courses (Source: City of London)“Because we're not putting money into a course that's losing money, we've actually had revenue that has been able to be redirected to improve, our other two courses,” explained Lewis.
Vandertuin added, “We've invested in the clubhouses at both Thames Valley and Fanshawe and started to do some investments out on the golf course to make them more playable for all levels of play.”
Lewis is eager to see a staff report being prepared about how much of the former River Road Golf Course can be sold for development and how much will remain as parkland.
“The private sector is doing the same thing,” the deputy mayor says. “At the planning committee this past week we approved a residential development at the Sunningdale Golf Course.”
Since 2021, the Municipal Golf System has consisted of Fanshawe Golf Course, which includes two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole fully accessible course; and Thames Valley Golf Course, which includes an 18-hole, and a 9-hole course.
London’s municipal golf system dates back a century to 1924.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7021823.1725146389!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Trudeau, steel plant worker have heated exchange during Sault Ste. Marie visit
After meeting with transit workers and the local mayor on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continued his visit to Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., where he canoed down St. Marys River and hosted a meet and greet at a local steel plant.
Johnny Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, remembers husband in heartfelt social media posts
The widow of Johnny Gaudreau called her husband 'the absolute best dad in the world' and thanked him for 'the best years of my life' in two Instagram posts shared Saturday.
More people than ever are eating alone at restaurants. This is why
The stigma of single dining has faded as more people live alone than ever before. Today, more people are making reservations for one.
18 drivers charged for filming vehicle crash site on Hwy. 401
Ontario Provincial Police were busy on Saturday morning issuing tickets to distracted drivers allegedly using their phones to film a serious crash on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario.
Man charged after alleged 'indecent act' in family shower area at Toronto pool
A 35-year-old Toronto man is facing charges after allegedly 'committing an indecent act' in the family shower area of a public pool.
Orangutan swung in 'cartwheel-like motion' before climbing down tower to escape: Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo says it has learned how one of its orangutans escaped from its enclosure earlier this week.
A Norwegian princess marries an American self-styled shaman in front of a star-studded audience
Social media influencers, reality stars and TV personalities were among the guests as the Norwegian king's eldest child, Princess Martha Louise, married an American self-professed shaman on Saturday in a wedding ceremony following three days of festivities.
Rapper Fatman Scoop dies at 53 after collapsing on stage in Connecticut
Fatman Scoop, the rapper who topped charts in Europe with 'Be Faithful' in the early 2000s and later lent his distinctive voice and ebullient vibe to hits by such artists as Missy Elliott and Ciara, died after collapsing on stage at a show in Connecticut, according to officials and his family.
Driver clocked at 175 km/hr claims water bottle rolled under gas pedal
An OPP officer clocked a man from Nottawasaga travelling on Highway 401 at 175 kilometres per hour on Friday.