b'Border closure creates tough path for Northwest coursesOBVIOUSLY THIS ISNT your typical golf season.In most states and provinces, golf closed down for over 40 days, in what just happened to be a mild-weather spring. Restrictions on protocols and safety procedures added a twist never-before experienced in our lifetimes. Regardless of all that, weve all done our best to make it normal, especially where golf is concerned.And rounds are up at most Northwest courses, even as other revenue streams like food and beverage, special occasion (weddings and parties), and pro shop spending may be off a bit.But there is a corner of the Northwest struggling to keep up, and its all about geography.The U.S.-Canadian border is still closed. For courses near the borderon both sides of the borderthat depend on those border- knows that he is geographically placed better than some.crossing golfers, its like half of the golfers decided to leaveI consider us to be smack dab in the middle of the courses their clubs in the garage this season. getting crushed by border closure, and the ones thriving due In the Northwest corner of Washington, courses suchto golf being one of the only activities available, Kruhlak as Sudden Valley, North Bellingham, Shuksan, Homesteadsaid. We are basically flat with respect to rounds played Farms, Cedars at Dungeness and Loomis Trail have all beenfrom 2019, which was our best year ever, so I feel very impacted. Among many other courses are Chewelah (Wash.)fortunate for that.G&CC, The Idaho Club in Sandpoint and The Wilderness ClubThat said, it has taken a personal toll on Kruhlak, as in Montana.about 10 percent of Sudden Valley members are Even Semiahmoo in Blaine, Wash., now.its like halfCanadian, as is Kruhlak himself.private, has been impacted by the border closure,I am gutted for them not being able to as 50 percent of its members are Canadian andof the golfersaccess their property and the relationships many have second homes on property.decided tothey have here with their American friends and Its been hard not seeing all of ourfamily, Kruhlak says. Thirty-five years ago, customers and members from Canada, saidleave theirwhen I first came to Sudden Valley, membership Josh Williams, general manager at Loomis Trail.and public play dynamic was exact opposite Loomis has always been a second home toclubs in thewith 90 percent of member and public play many golfers from B.C. Historically, Canada hasgarage thisbeing Canadian. If that were the ratio today, we been around 65 percent of our business. would be devastated.About 10 miles west of Loomis Trail,season. Its a different picture for those courses on Homestead Farms in Lynden has a similar story. the north side of the border. Peace Portal Golf About 70 percent of our rounds are typically playedCourse and Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club in Surrey are by Canadians, said Mick OBryan, general manager atthe closest courses to the border. Not only have they not Homestead Farms. It has forced us to get creative toexperienced the downturn, they have had Canadian residents attract more local play or play from the south. And that hasreturn to playing these courses on a regular basis instead of increased, but as recently as a month ago we were lucky to gettraveling south. Even though close to the border, they are still 25-30 rounds a day. close enough to the major metropolitan area of Vancouver.Brian Kruhlak, general manager at Sudden Valley inWhat has been affected in Canada is the destination Bellingham, can certainly identify with the challenge, andgolf properties. Without international travel, and with 20PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|SEPT 2020'