The Oran
October 5, 2005
Rankin MacDonald
Fore!!!
World-class golf course for
Inverness
INVERNESS —
It took 10 years to
accomplish, but on Monday
all the hard work and
perseverance paid off.
The announcement of a
world-class links golf
course for Inverness was
made before an exuberant
crowd that was ready to
usher in a new era for the
community.
Rick Beaton, chair and
C.E.O. of the Cape Breton
Growth Fund, acted as emcee
for the joyous occasion,
saying they were there to
make "a good news
announcement."
Beaton said he first became
acquainted with the project
six years ago next January
when he made his first trip
to Inverness to meet with
the Inverness Development
Association (IDA) that felt
it had a good and worthwhile
project. In challenging
times, he said, the IDA
believed the project would
help stabilize the
community, add growth
potential and enhance the
tourism sector.
"I am ecstatic and pleased
to be here today, to
announce we have an
agreement with an investor
which will bring this
project to fruition," Beaton
said.
Beaton said the IDA’s
dedication was
second-to-none over a
10-year period.
"They had dedication in
spades," he added. "They
could have walked away and
said we don’t have the
energy anymore."
He praised MP Rodger Cuzner,
saying his dedication to
this project and this region
of Nova Scotia is second to
none.
Beaton said four or five
years ago the project was at
a low point, and someone had
to make a commitment for the
next step. It was then that
the Honourable Rodney
MacDonald and his cabinet
decided to do the
environmental remediation on
the site.
"We would not be here today
without it," Beaton
admitted.
He commended Warden Duart
MacAulay for his council’s
support and the developer,
Ben Cowan-Dewar, president
and CEO of GolfTI of Toronto,
for taking the leadership
role with the shareholders
to make this project a
reality.
Beaton said Tom Ryan,
project chair, was like a
"dog with a bone" who
announced the project
constantly but stayed in for
the long trek. He said there
were many discussions, some
pointed, but it was because
he loved the project.
MP Rodger Cuzner told the
overflow crowd that when
elected representatives come
to an event like this they
try to impress everyone with
figures and numbers.
"I have one number for
today....FORE," he said.
He said he was extremely
happy for those people who
got behind an idea, a dream
that had a gestation period
of 10 years.
Cuzner said it will enhance
the entire golf product on
Cape Breton Island.
The new company – Cabot
Links – will retain a world
renowned course architect to
manage the design and
construction. The golf
course will be a Scottish
links style and will be
situated on a parcel of land
between the Town of
Inverness and the Gulf of
St. Lawrence. The proposed
195 acre site was a former
mine site that was
remediated in 2003 by the
provincial government.
MP Cuzner stated that the
CBGF is to be commended for
its support to this project.
"Golf vacationers are
attracted to areas that
offer a variety of
high-quality courses with a
mix of landscapes and course
designs. A seaside
links-style course will be a
great addition to the
existing golf offering on
Cape Breton Island,
extending the stay of golf
vacationers," he said.
Cuzner recalled "when he
slipped off his medication"
and entered politics the
second question at the fire
hall in Inverness came from
Jim Ryan and was concerning
his support of the golf
project.
He said the project went
through a lot of different
phases, but the community
believed in it even though
"it took Tom to the bridge a
couple of times."
He said the IDA never lost
hope, and Rick Beaton backed
it which eventually has
given this community the
opportunity to grow and
develop.
Cuzner praised Beaton and
his staff for staying with
the project until an
investor could be found.
He also commended Rodney
MacDonald for getting the
money to do the remediation
which made the rest
possible.
He added that former warden
A.J. MacDougall, Warden
Duart MacAulay and
Councillor Ned MacDonald
were also key players in
today’s success.
"We needed everyone on the
same end of the rope to pull
something like this across
the line," he said.
The Cape Breton Growth Fund
will provide funding of $2.5
million in the form of an
equity investment, and Cabot
Links estimates it will
create 20 jobs.
Cuzner said it was Ben
Cowan-Dewar who gave this
project a real chance for
success.
Minister of Tourism, Culture
and Heritage Rodney
MacDonald sees the project
as a way for the existing
golf courses to reach new
national and international
markets. "Introducing
another partner who has
established contacts in the
Ontario market will mean
more promotional
opportunities for Cape
Breton golf packages, thus
increasing tourism
visitations," he says.
"Think it will happen?" was
the question most asked of
Rodney MacDonald over the
past six years.
"The game of golf is coming
to Inverness," he finally
said with certainty on
Monday.
"There were many balls in
the rough over the years,
but today we hit a hole in
one," he said.
He said the community owes
the IDA a debt of gratitude,
and he too commended all the
players who made it happen.
MacDonald said he first met
Ben Cowan-Dewar at a Golf
Nova Scotia supper in
Toronto where he overheard
him talking about the
potential of a golf site in
Inverness, Nova Scotia.
"Thanks for believing in the
community and the golf
project," he added. "You are
always welcome here."
He said with Rick Beaton’s
leadership the project
wouldn’t be here today, and
he pointed to Senator Allan
J. MacEachen who has always
been a big fan of the
project.
MacDonald also thanked
Premier John Hamm for his
belief in the project which
brought about the
remediation.
"Inverness is truly on the
move," he said. "It is an
exciting time for the area,
Cape Breton and Nova
Scotia."
Senator Allan J. MacEachen
said progress can be
achieved when people work
together with all levels of
government.
He said perseverance made it
happen, and there is nothing
more important in government
than perseverance.
"There were many reverses,
but one by one the problems
were solved, and I was happy
to be able to offer advice
along the way," he said.
"It is a new venture
bringing changes that are
often difficult to make, but
Ben is investing heavily in
us, so we must have a
positive attitude and hold
on to it," MacEachen added.
"It is also safe to say that
Rick is a key figure in this
proposal."
"We see the new face of
Inverness with the
sidewalks, Visitor
Information Centre, the
lights and now a new golf
course," he said.
The decision to establish in
Cape Breton was an easy one
for the company’s CEO, Ben
Cowan-Dewar. "The praise
that the property has
garnered from golf
architects and writers who
have visited the site
confirmed our own beliefs
that this was a spectacular
opportunity not to be passed
up," he said.
"The rolling nature of the
land, with its subtle
elevation changes and cant
towards the sea, makes for a
golf setting unlike anywhere
else in Canada, and one of
very few pure golf
experiences in the world.
These factors, along with
the site’s proximity to the
Cabot Trail, led us to name
the property Cabot Links."
He said that with each visit
to the area his appreciation
of the land and community
grew, and as he saw the many
great links courses in Great
Britain and how these
properties were part of the
fabric of the community, he
envisioned that for
Inverness.
Now Cape Breton will have
the Fabulous Five.
He said Rod Whitman, one of
the best golf architects in
Canada and the world, will
design the course.
At the peak of his career,
he will design something
very special, "the best
course in Canada."
He said he will need the
support of the community; as
the tourists overflow into
the entire community he
expects the friendliness
will continue for our new
guests.
He praised the IDA for its
vision and passion which
brought this golf course to
Inverness.
"Without them, there would
be no course," he said.
Cowan-Dewar said we are
lucky to have
representatives like Cuzner
and MacDonald who never say
anything bad about each
other.
He concluded by saying that
Rick Beaton and his staff
made it possible as he
proceeded to put the project
together.
"It is an exciting day for
Inverness and Inverness
County as a whole," Warden
Duart MacAulay said.
He too commended all the
partners for their long-term
belief in the project,
saying that the county was
always there to help in any
way.
"It is unbelievable how much
work the IDA puts into this
community," he added.
Beaton remarked that it is
always a risk, but with the
funding partners, the Growth
Fund for $2.5 million and
Cowan-Dewar making up the
rest of the $6 million
project, the project is
ready to succeed.
Tony MacDonald, president of
the IDA, said most had dark
hair when they started this
project 10 years ago.
He said the IDA will
continue to support all the
partners, and he thanked the
people of Inverness for
their encouragement and
patience over the years.
"It was a long wait, but
there is no doubt that it
was worthwhile," he said.
Tom Ryan, the chair of the
golf project, looked back to
June 9th, 1995: 10 years,
three months and 24 days ago
when he first mentioned a
"links" golf course to IDA
coordinator, the late Bruce
Jardine.
"I will never forget the
look that came over him. His
eyes grew like saucers...and
our journey began," Ryan
said. "He and Rankin
MacDonald, and, shortly
after, the rest of us, got a
roller coaster ride."
"The Inverness Municipality
was with us from the early
days. They committed their
land to our project, gave us
money for the first study
and never hesitated in their
support of us. Former
wardens Ed MacDonald, A.J.
MacDougall and now Duart
MacAulay and Ned MacDonald
our counselor have led the
way, but the other
counselors, Jim MacLean,
Gloria LeBlanc and Daniel
Boudreau have been with us
as well. I must add the
names of Kate Beaton, John
Cotton and Joe O’Connor to
those who deserve
recognition," Ryan added.
Ryan thanked Allan J.
MacEachen, Rick Beaton,
Rodney MacDonald, Rodger
Cuzner and Ben Cowan-Dewar
who knows what makes a golf
course great.
"It is important as well to
recognize those who donated
property to make up the 170
acres of land we need for
the course. Our municipal
government has committed
about 70 acres, the MacLeod
family has given about 20
acres, John Chisholm, 6
acres and the Department of
Natural Resources 6 acres
more. Without their
generosity we would be able
to do nothing," he added.
"Ben, we hope you have a
long and successful
relationship with the
community of Inverness,"
Ryan said.
"This day marks the
beginning of a new day for
this community. This is the
start of a time of great
possibilities. We need you
to be prepared for
opportunity and to be ready
for some change. Inverness
will become a destination
for people who want to
vacation in an energetic,
happening place. It will be
a community for people to
retire to, and maybe a place
to do business. Perhaps we
can slow the constant
outflow of our young people
by giving them opportunities
here. Perhaps some of our
children will be able to
return to raise their own
families. Now there’s a
chance for all this to
happen," he added.
"We have a safe, clean
environment, great scenery,
fantastic hiking trails,
warm saltwater beaches,
boating, fishing, live
harness racing, a great
hospital and a vibrant
culture, including the
Inverness County Centre for
the Arts, the Inverness
Miners Museum – and, of
course, the area is full of
music. On top of this we
will soon have a world
class, British-style links
golf course. This course
will be different from the
other courses. It will run
along the coast in a place
of wind and sea and sun
below the village of
Inverness. It will offer
lovely views and
breath-taking sunsets for
you as you walk over the old
mine fields of Inverness.
For golfers it will be a
true experience."
Ryan said the IDA’s mandate
is to use the land for the
betterment of the community,
and to this end the
agreement protects community
ownership of the beach and
boardwalk, provides access
to the beach with paths
along Beach Road #1 and near
Beach Road #2, while giving
the community a world-class
golf course.
Ben Cowan-Dewar said the
planning and design will
continue over the fall and
winter with construction of
the course getting underway
in the spring.
He hopes the course will be
ready by mid-2007.
