It will be a sad day for the community in November as the Petawawa Golf Course has been order to close their doors. Back in May the club received a notice from the Garrison that they will have until March 31, 2025 to vacate the property. Fast forward to September when the club received another notice from the Garrison saying that they have to be out by November 10, 2024.
Robert Nancekeville a member of the golf club and used to work for the Garrison for 38 years tells myFM that there has been many people in government and within the Garrison that started off helping them but has since turned quite.
There are over 150 members who will be out of a course to play on, Nancekeville also stated that the other golf courses in the area are already at full capacity, leaving the members with nothing. The Petawawa Golf Course isn’t just a course but is a place where many organizations and the community hold ceremonies, parties, fundraiser, weddings, and more. “The Soldier On Fundraiser was just held at the banquet hall and raised over $100,000, where are they going to do that now?,” said Nancekeville. The course has been up and running for 62 years with the Cotey’s owning and operating it for the last 13 years.
Within the first notice issued by the Garrison, it stated that the building was not safe and that was the main reason to the closure. Nancekeville explains that they aren’t getting the truth from the Garrison and they just want to know what is really going on.
Nancekeville and the members are advocating for an answer to all of this as there will be 25-35 people without a job.
Another group that will be affected by the closure is the 80 children who play in the Dave Findlay Memorial Golf Tournament every summer. And on top of that it will affect soldiers with PTSD and other mental health issues as it takes away a place for them to go, relax and heal. Nancekeville has seen many young soldiers use the course for their mental health.
At the end of all of this the Cotey’s, the members and the community are still left not knowing what is actually going on. The Cotey’s want to thank the community and members who have supported them throughout the years.
(Written by: Emma Butler)