When marijuana becomes legal in Canada on October 17th, golf courses will be just one of many industries affected.
With this in mind, a recent survey by BC Golf is asking thousands of golfers across the province what they think about smoking pot on the golf course.
Kris Jonasson, CEO of BC Golf, says they've already gotten thousands of responses in less than a week, and a difference of opinion is very apparent between certain demographics.
“More than half of the golfers under the age of 35 said that they would plan to smoke marijuana on the golf course if it was permitted,” says Jonasson. “But when you look at people over the age of 55, that drops to less than one in ten.”
Jonassen likens the topic to having cigars or alcohol on the golf course.
“I would argue that what we probably ought to be looking at is a modernization of the rules of etiquette relative to the game,” says Jonasson. “When it comes to the use of marijuana on the golf course, that’s fine as long as you’re not disturbing anyone else in your group.”
BC Golf oversees 56,000 members from 300 different clubs across the province. At this time, only 20 percent have policies in place around pot on the golf course, and Jonasson says municipal laws and provincial legislation will shape many of the regulations for public and community-owned golf clubs.
Any golfers are welcome to complete the survey at BC Golf's website. A complete report of the survey is due in mid-to-late September.