Emilie Must

Rolling Greens is Lombard Glen Golf & Country Club’s new name as of April 1st—but it’s no April Fool’s joke. Toronto-based business partners Gordon Weiske and Joe Lopes officially bought the golf course from Jean and Dave Sherman at the end of 2018.

Rolling Greens’ new owners have big plans for the golf course and for attracting tourists to Smiths Falls in the coming year. The golf course will only be for those age 19 years and older, featuring a drive-in movie theatre, mini-putt and virtual reality games.

“Smiths Falls will become the new cannabis capital of Canada,” Weiske said. “We will have a friendly environment that sparks cannabis.”

Rolling Greens plans to be open year round with both local and celebrity musical guests and have outdoor winter games. It will remain an 18-hole golf course, but with an expanded outdoor patio and an updated clubhouse.

“We’re not in the business of selling cannabis,” Weiske said.

However, cannabis use will be encouraged on the golf course.

“Intoxication is intoxication,” Weiske said. “We’re working very closely with Smart Serve to promote designated driving.”

“There will be more entertainment in year one—locally and celebrity,” Weiske said.

A celebrity golf tournament featuring big prizes is already in the works for this summer.

“We’re visionaries looking way into the future,” Weiske said. “In the long term we want Rolling Greens to be a resort.”

Another big plan is to make Smiths Falls a transportation hub for tourists. Weiske and Lopes are working with a part of Porter Airlines that will have direct flights from Toronto to Smiths Falls.

“We’re predicting daily flights here that will expand to Montreal and across Canada,” Weiske said. “Adding this element is big business. We’re really promoting a weekend in Smiths Falls.”

Rolling Greens has no affiliation with Canopy Growth, but hopes the golf course will encourage other cannabis producers to come to Smiths Falls.

“We’re here to really connect with the community,” Weiske said. “A new energy will be put in place.”

Jean and Dave Sherman have owned the golf course since 1998 and in April of last year they put it up for sale, catching the attention of Wieske and Lopes in the summer.

“We were looking specifically for a golf course where alcohol and smoking is allowed. We found Lombard Glen and came the next day,” Weiske said. “It was very serendipitous timing.”

However, the Sherman family will not be retiring. They are now employed by Rolling Greens to mentor them during the transition.

“We needed someone who had a bigger vision than we had,” Dave Sherman said.

Weiske and Lopes own another cannabis themed business called Cannabis & Coffee located in downtown Toronto that focuses on educating the public on the benefits of cannabis.

Weiske is also co-owner of Canwoods Entertainment Company in Toronto and has worked in the movie industry for 20 years.