The future of the Gilbert Plains Country Club could be decided this week at a board meeting, slated for today.
The local golf course was devastated by flooding in late June and early July. And while staff have been working on repairing the course, the board has also begun fund-raising to cover the $100,000 insurance deductible.
GPCC general manager Scott McCallum said they reached out to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to get a license to hold a 50-50 draw.
“The turn around time on that was four to six weeks and that was time we felt we didn’t have,” he said.
So GPCC reached out to the Dauphin Kings to use their 50-50 system and the draw began last month.
“We’re very thankful for that. And it’s going pretty well. It’s over $13,000 now and, l;ike anything, the bigger the pot, the more people will buy. So it’s going well,” McCallum said.
The draw will be made, Aug. 30, at noon. At this time, tickets can only be purchased online at DauphinKings5050.ca.
To assist with the fund-raising efforts, Park View Private Wealth Management Ltd. launched the Parkland Business Challenge with a $500 donation toward the deductible and is inviting other Parkland businesses to support the cause.
“It’s been very successful and people are being extremely generous. We’re just so thankful for everybody that’s thinking of us and helping out in whatever way they can. There’s certainly no donation too small,” McCallum said.
Seeing that support from businesses throughout the Parkland and beyond is incredible, McCallum said.
Golf courses throughout the province have also stepped up to support GPCC, with Dauphin, Neepawa, Minnedosa and Swan River offering discounts to GPCC members.
“There’s several golf courses that have reached out to us and they have some things planned for how they can help us,” McCallum said.
“And not only help us, but help our members, because, at the end of the day, our members are the ones that we’re most concerned about and they’re the ones that are losing their golf course. It’s sad, but it’s also something to celebrate to see how much people come together and support each other through times like this.”
Some courses, McCallum added, were able to take on some of the tournaments scheduled for GPCC this year.
“As sad as it is, it’s heartwarming in other areas at times,” he said.
McCallum thanks everyone in helping to publicize the fund-raising efforts.
“We’re a small non-for-profit golf course, but we know that we’re loved, obviously, by a lot of people. So it’s going to make things a little easier down the road,” he said.