Community Partnerships

In the evolving landscape of membership engagement, finding innovative solutions to fulfill all of your membership’s wishes can be a challenge. When we face obstacles in our business, it is always good to look at how others have fixed similar issues, however, we can also include these businesses in our own solutions. Community partnerships can help by bridging the gap in your membership offerings or providing personal fulfillment to your membership through volunteer opportunities. Through this article, you will find how one Club in the Niagara Region connects with the community to offer more to their membership and help grow the game of golf through community partnerships.

Bridging the Gap in Your Membership’s Wants Through Community Partnerships

What do you do when your membership is interested in something that you do not have the space on your property for? When the membership of the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club asked for racquet sports, there arose a question of what needs to be sacrificed for this new construction – and from that question hatched a community partnership. In early 2024, management at a local private school finalized their plans for a new racquet facility that included outdoor tennis, and indoor squash and pickleball. The facility was set to open in September 2024, but a challenge was that the facility was too large for the current student body and the school was looking to offset some of their construction costs.

The Private School and Country Club had a rich history together, spanning over 150 years, and the school administration was highly involved in Club life, making them eager to work together. In March 2024, the School approached the Club and asked if their membership was still looking to participate in racquet sports. A deal was struck where members could add racquet sports and access the school’s athletic facility, and the School was able to have vetted members use the new courts and offset the costs. This community partnership solved both organizations’ problems and also fostered a closer relationship between the Club and the Community.

Inspiring Your Members to Get Involved Through Community Partnerships

Facilitated through Golf Ontario, the First Tee program uses the game of golf to develop children's life skills including managing emotions, conflict resolution, setting goals, and self-confidence. Typically, Golf Ontario runs sign-ups through its website and reaches out to large charitable organizations to offer First Tee programming. Clubs have taken things further by going into the local public school systems to teach one-day versions of the program for free. To offer these programs in multiple schools, all of the Golf Professionals at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club, and Member Volunteers were involved. Members were offered the opportunity to volunteer and went through the First Tee training program, and the Club covered their vulnerable sector Police Check. The First Tee Program also offers training for educators to allow the program to be taught in schools, however by partnering with Clubs, we can put people who are passionate about golf and who are already trained in the program in front of the next generation of athletes. This eliminates the need for teachers to reach out to Golf Ontario and allows Members the opportunity to make a real impact on the future of the game.

From there, the member volunteers used their contacts to further grow the program – leading to working partnerships with the Community Care Foundation, as well as two First Tee Programs run for the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Members who were involved with volunteering were more likely to be active in other club activities and reported feeling more connected to the Club’s Community.

As a result of the community outreach, the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club also saw a spike in their Junior Golf memberships. Kids would go home and tell their parents about the programming done at school, and parents would reach out for information. For lower-income families, the first tee programs at the Club were offered as a way to introduce kids to golf, and enrollment in the program grew 8% in just one year.

Although the First Tee program is run through Golf Ontario, similar programs are found within every activity. Other community programs that you and your club may want to view include Sail Canada’s “Sailing For All” fund or Curl Ontario’s “Sticks & Stones Project”.

These community partnerships highlight the power of collaboration in addressing member needs and enhancing community engagement. By fostering community relationships, Clubs are not only expanding their offerings but also strengthening their community ties, and demonstrating the value of working together towards shared goals for the benefit of all involved.

Emily Anderson is the Marketing Manager at St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, where she has worked for six years, gaining experience across various departments. When she’s not on the golf course or curling rink with her camera, Emily enjoys spending time playing water sports and engaging with the local community.