Glen Abbey Survives as a Golf Course

[Peter Pallotta]

Reports were that (owner) Club Link wanted to put 3400 residential and retail units there; but yesterday the Oakville city council voted to "side with citizens" and grant the Jack Nicklaus course (and long time home of the Canadian Open) "heritage status". It will remain a golf course. In the words of the mayor: "Glen Abbey is Oakville and Oakville is Glen Abbey".
I grew up in downtown Toronto; Oakville was some 20-30 minutes west along the QEW (there was a lot less traffic then) -- and it was the place where fancy/wealthy people lived, the only 'suburb' (though it was never called that) in the entire GTA that was a desirable and prestigious address. Lots has changed since then, but I guess Oakville hasn't -- it still imagines itself as a place that would have 200 homes on 200 acres, not 3400 of them! But the "heritage status" for Glen Abbey still surprised me.
Peter

[Frank M]

The heritage status doesn't mean that Glen Abbey survives. There's still a very very long way to go and the still most likely result is Glen Abbey will be homes.

[Peter Pallotta]

Likely true, Frank -- but it won't be today. Meaning: even this one step surprised me in the face of what seemed (with Club Link involved) inevitable, ie yet another course becoming yet another new housing development.

[Frank M]

Peter, not to be argumentative, but Glen Abbey was never going to be houses today, next year or even a few years down the line.

The process was always going to be an extended one. I would be very surprised (and recommend Clublink hire someone else) if their consultants, planners, etc., didn't already advise them this Heritage scenario would be forthcoming in said process.

[Peter Pallotta]

Again, you're probably right on all counts, Frank - but it still interests me in terms of how a golf course can sometimes 'represent' for a community (in this case, Oakville) something more than just a field of play.
Peter

[Don Hyslop]

I find it puzzling why this golf course deserves protection as a heritage site. Among Canada's top 100 golf courses, it barely makes the list coming in at 85th. There are at least 46 golf courses in the Province of Ontario rated superior to it. The only reason it has been noteworthy is that it has been the scene of the Canadian Open for far too many years. That is more due to its location rather than its quality.  Today, modern golf technology has made the course rather easy for the PGA players. PGA pros do not find it a great challenge as evidenced by recent scoring and the average person has to dig deep in their pocket to afford the $235 green fee. With the exception of the valley holes, the design is rather blah. Why is it worth saving?

[Peter Pallotta]

Don - I dont know the answer to that, but that's part of the reason the news struck me as interesting, ie it brings to light some of the dynamics/factors involved in why some courses are NLE and why others continue to exist (even if, as Frank suggests, not forever).
Peter

[Ian Andrew]

It's a ploy by local residents in Oakville to stop development.
The mayor got on board because its a win / win for him ...


He either gets the revenue from taxes if they lose - or a political win if the course stays.




We have an OMB process to address councils exceeding their mandate the planning act.
Clublink will win this in court ... I have zero doubt ...

[Wayne_Kozun]

It looks as if Glen Abbey will survive, at least for now:  https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/other/glen-abbey-golf-club-in-oakville-e2-80-98saved-e2-80-99-as-owner-withdraws-development-plan/ar-AALYpfE