Golfing in the - West Coast Winds Demographics
Transcription
Golfing in the - West Coast Winds Demographics
Toigo Takes a GIANT Swing at Golf/Real Estate Project Keith Baldrey on Politics Jim Pattison on Business Golfing in the Winds Mountain Winds spring/summer 2012 Jim Sinclair on Labour David Suzuki on Environment Are you trying to be all things to all clients? It doesn’t work! Time is money... and you are losing both! If you don’t have a receptionist, you are the receptionist! Don’t waste your valuable time on administrative and secretarial duties. A PROFESSIONAL, CORPORATE IMAGE IS YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE Make the move to success! Imagine having the prestige and convenience of Inviting Reception Areas with Friendly Receptionists, Executive Boardrooms and Intimate Meeting Rooms, Virtual and Full-time Offices, Counsellors’ Rooms, Video-conferencing – all at affordable hourly or monthly rates. 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CALL OR E-MAIL TO SCHEDULE A TOUR OF OUR PREMISES Phone 604.683.8604 or e-mail offices@execu-suites.com Suites 1000/1400 355 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8 www.execu-suites.com O Spin LaVerne Procyk, Publisher Business Answers in the Winds Jim Pattison Business Political Answers in the Winds Keith Baldrey Politics Writers Winds Swing Dick Zokol Golfing Teeing off in the Winds Doug Ferne Golfing Golfing Guest of the Winds Gilles Dufort Golfing Storm Winds John Winter Business Biking Guest of the Winds Roger Yip Biking Winds Warning David Suzuki Environment Biking Answers in the Winds Rob Venables Biking Contributing Writers: Julie Melanson, Andrew Penner. Winds photographer: Val Hazelman. Contributing photographers: Andrew Summers, Jason Martin, Peter Taylor, George Porteous. West Coast Winds Magazine is published four times annually by LP Communications. The Marine Building, 1000-355 Burrard St., Vancouver BC V6C 2G8 604.608.6187 Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission for the publisher. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE COLUMNISTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER. What’s in the 11 Facing the Winds Ron Toigo, Takes a Giant Swing! 0 6 Political Answers in the Winds Does Cummins Have The Charisma? by Keith Baldrey, Victoria Bureau Chief, Global TV 07 Business Answers in the Winds How to Survive in a Recession? by Jim Pattison, President, Jim Pattison Group 08 Storm Winds Lets Not Ignore the Natural Gas by John Winter, President of the BC Chamber of Commerce 09 Winds Warning And Another Oil Spill! by David Suzuki, Environmental Analyst 10 Cross Winds We Need Good Pensions For All by Jim Sinclair, President, BC Federation of Labour 13 Business Feature Restaurants Cope to Stay Afloat Dining in the Winds “In This business, you are only as good as the last meal you served. It’s wonderful to put smiles on peoples’ faces” Il Giardino 1382 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC 604.669.2422 inquire@umberto.com Umberto’s 1380 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC 604.669.2422 inquire@umberto.com Il Caminetto 4242 Village Stroll Whistler, BC 604.932.4442 caminett@telus.net Trattoria 4417 Sundial Place Whistler, BC 604.932.5858 trattoria@telus.net Villa Delia Hotel and Cooking School Via Del Bosco,9-Loc.Ripoli 56030 cevoli di Lari, Pisa, Italy www.hotelvilladelia.com inquire@hotelvilladelia.com inquire@umberto.com 4 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 Toigo practices his game of golf and real estate development. photo: Peter Taylor n the front page of this issue is business, John Winter, President of the BC ChamRon Toigo, founder and president ber of Commerce, writes about how imperative it of the Vancouver Giants, taking a giant is to not loose in the natural gas game, and enviswing on the greens of his new golf ronmentalist David Suzuki warns of the potential of and realestate development more oil spills. On the labour front, Jim Sinclair, Presiproject, Tsawwassen Springs. dent of the BC Federation of Labour writes Whether he is in a golf game, in about the need for everyone to have good an ice rink or in the boardroom, Toipensions. go gives it his winning shot. As a result, he Also in this issue, the ‘Golfing In The has evolved into a giant player in the busiWinds’ section consists of 23 pages, featuring a numness arena of junior hockey, golf and realesber of interesting business articles on the golf industate development. ‘Facing the Winds’, Toigo try, golf tips from the pros, and a discussion with gives an in-depth interview to publisher LaVerne Dick Zokol, PGA Champion Tours Member on how Procyk. He opens up about how his father gave him the game of golf is changing. Still on golfing, Doug the tools to become a successful businessman, and the Ferne, the BC Regional Director of the National Golf guidance to be ethical in all of his business ventures. He Course Owners Association, enlightens us on the also discusses his passion for hockey, and reveals why BC Government’s decision to refrain from banin the midst of a poor economy and soft golf market, he ning pesticides. took the risk to create a $400 million golf-real estate dePlus, the West Coast Wind’s golfing guest colvelopment. umnist is Gilles Dufort, general manager at the On politics, Keith Baldrey, Legislative Bureau Chief for Harvest Golf Club. He writes about the best Global BC, queries if John Cummins, and his BC Conservative way to lower your score. Party have what it takes, going into an election campaign. Also the ‘Mountain Winds’ section features On business, Jim Pattison, President of the Jim Pattison informative articles on mountain biking and Group, discusses how best to survive in a recession. Also, on road biking. Read on and ‘Get The Drift’. 37 Before the Game 38-39 Doin’ The Drive 40 The Taste of Italy 41-43 Dockside Decadence Mountain Winds 46 Biking Guest of the Winds Grass Roots of Mountain Biking by Roger Yip, President Brodie Bikes 47 Biking Answers in the Winds Is The Sky The Limit For Biking? by Rob Venables, Downhill Racer, owner Dunbar Cycles 48 Thrilling Tracks To Vernon 48 Ride and Live 49 Mountain Dining 50-51 Midway To Whistler Golfing in the 16 Clubs Win $3 Million Battle With ICBC 17 Winds Swing The Soft Golf Market Never Lies by Dick Zokol, PGA Champion 18 Teeing Off in the Winds No Ban On Pesticides by Doug Ferne, BC Regional Director, NGCOA Canada 19 Women Tackle Management Jobs 22 Golfing Guest of the Winds How To Lower Your Score by Gilles Dufort, GM, Harvest Golf Club 23 Courses Go More Green 24 Tee For Two on Vancouver Island 25 Keeping Out of the Economic Rough Tips From The Pros 21,22,26,27,28,30,31,34,36 Lovin’ The Links : 20-21 Lower Mainland 22 Kootenay Area 28-29 Vancouver Island 32-33 Okanagan 34-35 Kamloops Area Bear Course at Okanagan Golf Club Political Answers in the Does Cummins Have The Charisma? N o I don’t think so. People don’t even know who he is. I also don’t think he is in it for the long haul. Q. But why do the numbers of John Cummin’s and the BC Conservatives keep climbing in the polls? C Keith Baldrey A. He and his party are in a position a lot of politicians would like to be in, and that is they don’t have to offer anything, and they will still get support. The party has no great policy. Cummins is just getting support because he is not Christy Clark. A growing body of public opinion seems to have a visceral, incredible negative view of Premier Clark. Q. Do you think his lack of charisma could be detrimental for the party leading up to the election? A. Oh yes. John Cummuns could actually go backwards because of the leaders debate. He is going to be on stage with two relatively youthful opponents. And, with all her problems, Christy Clark is still a good communicator. photo: Val Hazelman West Coast Winds Photography Q . Does the fact that Cummins has a good track record as an elected MP help his popularity? Cummins trains for upcoming BC political Olympics A. That is something he has going for him . He can say that he has, during his political career been an elected MP for many years. And,he can say that he has been elected by the people, and that puts him head and shoulders above a lot of other politicians. Q. Do you think Cummins and his party are equipped to effectively handle the job of the BC opposition party, if the election plays out that way? A. Not really. I don’t get the sense that Cummins is in the game full time. He’s a bridging candidate. He’s going to try to get the party to a place and then hand if off. Q. But, is there anybody waiting in the wings, who has the required expertise and charisma to take over from him, and bring the party to a higher level? A. Not that I see. Both the BC Conservatives and the Liberals have problems attracting talented blood. How is Cummins selling his party and what does he tell potential candidates? Does he tell them they hope to win opposition and third party status? Unless they are really into politics for the love of it, potential candidates don’t want to be an opposition MLA. They want to be in government, be able to run things and effect change. Cummins and Clark can’t offer that. So, they are both finding it hard to attract quality candidates. Q. Do you think that the BC Conservative political machine should be doing a better job at promoting the party? A. They definitely should be doing a better job, and when the election campaign rolls around, they are going to be expected to do a better job. On the other hand, in 1991 Gordon Wilson, the head of the BC Liberal Party didn’t have much of a political machine. Some of his candidates never even campaigned, and he got voted in by people who never heard of this party. Nor did they hear of his candidates, many of whom never campaigned before, and they were voted in. So, that’s how fast an election can turn on a political party. A party can win 20 seats just by accident, if enough people say they dislike the alternative so much, they are voting for the other party. Another challenge Cummins has, and he admitted it to me on Shaw TV last year, is that he can’t afford to attract the so called ‘crazy element’. Q. I assume you are talking about the extreme right wing voters? A. Yes, the super right wings or social conservatives . That’s what happened to Daniel Smith in Alberta, where a couple of candidates were talking about homosexuals perishing in a lake of fire. A party’s support with the public can go down so fast, when you attract people like that. You might be able to win in a couple ridings, but your province wide support hemorrhages. So, Cummins has to be careful of the candidates he recruits. Keith Baldry is Victoria Bureau Chief for Global BC Business Answers How To Survive In A Recession? T he economic situation is not as good as, what had been projected. I think it is a good time to be conservative. Some of our companies are involved in the stock market periodically, so we did feel it. But our main businesses got through it ok though. Q.Is the fact that you expanded your companies to other parts of the world, the reason that your corporation has survived the recession so far? A. We are continuing to look at a lot of new opportunities, so yes that’s the case, maybe somewhat. We are moving forward slowly.The world is getting smaller, and we realize that. We are growing in both Canada and the United States and we recently bought some small businesses in Denmark. In addition, we spent some significant money, at least it is significant for us, in Australia. Our main thrust is in Canada and the US, but in the last few years we bought the Guinness World Records in London. To do business in London, this business deal was an interesting move for us. in the in a spectacular part of the province. Like I said, we are taking a wait and see approach to this situation, to watch how it all unfolds. There was a time when golf courses and real estate were a good combintation, but those times are gone. Jim Pattison is President of the Jim Pattison Group. Jim Pattison Q. Does it help in a recession for companies to diversity? A. Yes, originally I was a car dealer in BC and even back then it was very cyclical. Business was very up and down, so I made a move to try to broaden our range of companies. Q. Mostly in the US, the government got a lot of flack from American taxpayers over the huge bank and corporate bailouts. Do you think that bailouts are warranted, when tax payers who are struggling in the bad economy, end up financially supporting these large corporations? A. In the case of General Motors, they didn’t build the products or the quality that the public wanted. That’s what got them into trouble in the first place. So, I’m not sure that bailing out companies like General Motors is the right thing to do. But the banking system is different, because economic confidence is so important. And, the banks are interconnected, so I think it’s important for the banks. Fast, Frequent & Reliable With over 100 flights per week between Downtown Vancouver & Downtown Victoria Helijet gets you were you need to be. Book now 1.800.665.4354 helijet.com Q. Another group of companies needing massive funding are a number of golf courses trying to survive in the current soft golf market.The golf courses that have gone into receivership in the past few years were attached to real estate development, like Tobiano in Kamloops , the Rise in the Okanagan and quite a few more. You purchased some land at Tobiano, what are your thoughts on these courses running into financial difficulty? A. We will have to wait and see how it all plays out. Real estate attached to golf courses, was the way to go a while ago. Tobiano is a beautiful area over looking the lake. They were actually going to build a marina right near the golf course. This golf course development is 6 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 7 O And, Another Oil Spill ur province, indeed our whole continent, is on the verge of a new, cleaner energy future. The technical revolution that has led to the production of vast new supplies of unconventional gas is a truly remarkable achievement, one that will see natural gas finally come to play its longhoped-for role in our country’s energy mix. to consult first nations, and to demonstrate sound corporate responsibility. These new quantities, at the lower prices they deliver to the market, will once and for all make natural gas a reliable alternative to coal, will provide a source of clean electricity to our neighbours to the east and to many American states, and will propel Western Canada into becoming a globally significant energy superpower. This research could usefully focus on these five areas: surface and groundwater protection; air emissions related to volatile organic compounds; greenhouse gas emissions from the production and transport of natural gas and its methane content; community infrastructure impacts including road damage and waste treatment; and the mapping of subsurface structures to better understand and plan John Winter Government agencies can, through the provision of clear, unbiased and publicly available research about the operations and the impacts of unconventional gas development, provide the public with the information necessary to effectively engage in the debate about the future of this energy source. Premier Clark addresses Vancouver Board of Trade. photo: Val Hazelman The current technology is proven and used around the world, and other countries are looking to Canadian companies for technology and best practices. Yet we read far too often of questions regarding the environmental safety of fracking. Regrettably, some jurisdictions, in Canada and elsewhere, seemingly unsure of the technology, have introduced exploration moratoria that only serve to reinforce the negatives conveyed by such stories. Our task is great and our time is short. The petroleum industry can play a useful role here by presenting both its commitment to best practices and its estimates of what unconventional gas development can mean to the B.C. economy. The industry also will need to continue to work hard to get the governmental approvals required, to help the Crown meet its duties West Coast Winds Photography The task for British Columbia and its enormous unconventional gas potential is to avoid being placed behind a negative public opinion curve, and it’s a task that will become increasingly difficult if we don’t move soon. And move smartly.This new gas source can provide thousands of jobs, billions of dollars of business opportunities and millions of dollars of much-needed government revenues. for fracking and subsequent waste water injection.We need look no further than the recent groundwater research carried out by Geoscience BC for a model of how we might proceed. Certified Master Dry Cleaners Professional Dry Cleaning Premium Shirt Service Leather Cleaning Alterations and Repairs Drapery and Linens Cleaning Bridal Gown Preservation Specialists Open: Mon - Fri 7:30am - 6pm • Sat 8am - 6pm Phone: 604 872 1519 • 704 6th. Ave. W., Vancouver The job before us is, admittedly, a tall order but without access to credible science, the debate over our natural gas future will be characterized by bombast, fear and doubt. And we will all lose in that case. Our government also needs to expedite the development of the LNG infrastructure so that we can tap into a growing LNG market which is going to be otherwise filled in the next few years through long term contracts among competing exporting countries such as Qatar and Australia. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and government should ensure the regulatory processes do not undermine our ability to compete for this wealth. Revenues from this development are immense and will go a long way toward assisting the challenges we face in health care, education and social services. Too many of us seem okay with losing sight of the fact that hundreds of millions of dollars just waiting to enter government coffers can be lost by holding back industries for no good reason. A recent pipeline leak sent 475,000 liters of oil into Alberta’s Red Deer River. It could have been worse; nothing was being pumped at the time. The company claims the light sour crude may smell bad, but poses no risk to humans. one way and Middle Eastern condensate the other way across close to 1,000 streams and rivers will be different, we are assured. There will be world-class safety standards, safety control valves, 24/7 monitoring, and emergency responders. The spill happened as crews were cleaning a larger spill from last year at another of the company’s pipeline. That one dumped 4.5 million liters of oil into the surrounding forest and wet lands. The recent Red Deer River spill was also the site of a leak in 2008. Industry figures show that more than 3.4 million liters of fossil fuels have been accidentally released from pipelines every year in Alberta since 2006. One liter of spilled oil can contaminate a million liters of ground water. Where have the world-class standards been hiding until now? Enbridge only carries enough insurance to cover $575 million in damages, far less than what was incurred by the kalamazoo spill. Who pays the rest if a spill happens after the company and its Chinese stateowned backers get their way in Northern BC? Enbridge, the company that wants to build a dual pipeline from the tar sands to the BC coast, has had more than 800 leaks and spills on its pipeline since 1999, sending close to 27 million liters of oil into the environment. That included a 2010 spill in Michigan that dumped 3.8 million liters of diluted tar sands bitumen into the Kalamazoo River. Clean up costs for that are already $765 million, and the river is still contaminated. Bitumen is riskier than regular oil or gas. It’s heavier and sinks in water, making clean up difficult with longer-lasting negative environmental impacts. But, thanks to changes brought in under the federal governments Bill C-38, we’ll no longer have to think about potential damage to the waterways and land along the pipeline route, unless they’re home to fish that are part of commercial, recreational orAboriginal fisheries. A spill in Burrard Inlet would see the probable destruction of sea life around Stanley Park and along he beaches of English Bay and Point Grey. Another spill is not a question of if, but a question of when. Of course, the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, which will carry heavy bitumen 1,200 kilometers David Suzuki is a social-environmental analyst and President of the David Suzuki Foundation. Warning David Suzuki photo: Val Hazelman Let’s Not Blow It! West Coast Winds Photography Storm If the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline reaches fruition, oil tankers like this one will be carrying millions of liters of Bitumen oil through Burrard Inlet on a regular basis. John Winter is president of the BC Chamber of Commerce. 8 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 9 Good Pensions For All Toigo Sinks Putt to Win effort from BC’s business elite to wring every T helastlatest dollar they can out of the middle class is focussed the golf game, in the ice rink or in the boardroom, Ron Toigo,has I nbecome a giant in the arena of junior hockey, golf, and real estate squarely on the hard-earned pensions of working people. Sure, they will pretend that their calls to dismantle quality programs are meant to protect working people from the pension liability bogeyman. But the bogeyman doesn’t exist and they aren’t being honest about their intentions. As American companies struggled in the wake of an economic collapse caused by unbridled greed among the nation’s financial elite, pensions became a favorite target. Car makers were among the worst culprits. As management made error after error, they began underfunding their pension responsibilities, financing their poor management on the backs of their employee’s retirement funds. But that wasn’t the story we heard. We heard that overly-generous pensions were what Columbians know that we all lose when we join that race. Well, not everyone loses. The same investment bankers and financiers who caused the world economy to collapse, stand to gain a great deal. Lower wages, lower pension costs, lower benefits all add up to more profits and bigger bonuses. We can, therefore, expect a barrage of criticism of fair pension plans over the coming months from right-wing think tanks, from the BC Liberal party and from selfish business organizations.Their arguments will be based in rhetoric and projections of how the sky will most certainly fall, if big business isn’t able to squeeze more money out of the middle class. It’s time we got serious about allowing Canadians to live out their retirement in dignity, and not take for granted that the retirements that most working and middle-class Canadi- photo: Val Hazelman West Coast Winds Photography Jim Sinclair Facing the Many workers in BC are hoping their pensions will not be affected. were bringing these companies down. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t true. Clearly, Canada’s business elite were watching. They witnessed working people in America, back measures that took away pensions from workers who had earned them over decades. Since then, we have seen a number of trial balloons floated in Canada and in BC, along with increasingly amped rhetoric about pensions. We hear from Christy Clark and her big business friends that a good reason to take good pensions is that more and more people don’t have them. They are hoping that British Columbians without good pensions will be motivated by envy rather than ambition, and willingly get on board the race to the bottom. I think British 10 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 ans have now is nearly good enough. And it’s time we fight for good pensions for those who don’t have them. Canadians have a right to be angry about politicians who complain about middle-class pensions, while padding their own pockets. Surely our anger at Stephen Harper and Christy Clark shouldn’t translate into a desire to ruin the retirements of our friends and neighbors who have earned their pensions in good faith and through hard work. Every Canadian has the right to have a fair pension. Jim Sinclair is President of the Bc Federation of Labour development. Founder of the Vancouver Giants, Toigo has been involved in hockey since the 90’s. First, he owned and operated the the Tri City Americans Hockey Club, then he single handedly saved junior hockey in Vancouver, when he created the Vancouver Giants. Toigo then became the force behind the most successful junior hockey event in history, the 2006 World Junior Hockey Tournament. In 2007, the Giants, which are one of the best junior franchises in Canada, hosted and won the Memorial Cup. After many real estate developments under his belt, he most recently gave birth to a 400 million dollar golf and real estate development, called Tsawwassen Springs. Like the Energizer Bunny, Toigo just keeps on going and going. In ‘Facing The Winds’, he gives an in-depth interview to publisher, LaVerne Procyk. Q. Your career has been non stop. You are like the Energizer Bunny. What recharges your batteries? A. Satisfaction of seeing the completion of a project is what keeps me going. And, the more difficult a project is, the more inspired I get to do these things. Q. I wasn’t far off, when I referred to you as the Energizer Bunny? A. Well, I don’t think you ever stop working when you are in the kind of business I’m in? But, I don’t feel it’s really working, it is just a way of life. Q. You obviously love your job? A. Yes, I get up really early, because I have stuff to do, and I look forward to getting on with it. Q. Your father was a well known businessman. Did you acquire your business acumen from your dad? A. I learned a lot from my dad. He went through some very challenging times, as his businesses evolved over the years. Q. He was an ethical businessman, wasn’t he? A. My dad’s principles were second to none. He battled through some very tough financial times, because he wouldn’t back off on his principles. One of the things he always told us, is that we have one name that takes a lifetime to build. And, it takes only one bad decision to ruin it. My character, and my credibility is something that I guard, and always will. Q. Hockey is obviously in your blood. How much passion do you have for it? A. In any sports team you are involved in, there has to be a passion. It’s an environment like no other. You are scored on every game, whether you win or loose. Q. Is there a big difference between the game of hockey and the game of business? A. In business, it takes a long time to get a real measurement on where your successes are. In sports, especially in major junior, we quickly see the evolution process of 16 year old kids. Some of them move right along and become NHL stars, and others have a great four years and then go on to a different part of life. I get a sense of satisfaction from that. Q. Would you consider opening a second NHL franchise for Vancouver, maybe based in Surrey? A.No, there is no room for another franchise team in this market. The NHL is a real challenge. We actually looked at the Canucks about a year before Francesco Aqualini and his family did. The Canucks were loosing 30 to 40 million dollars a year, and for them to take a chance when they did, was risky.The Canadian dollar was 40 cents less than it is now, and there was red ink all over the place. But, they believed they could make it work, and turn it around. I have nothing but admiration for Francisco and his team. Q You talked about your passion for hockey. Why would you go from your hockey roots into golf course and real estate photo: Peter Taylor Cross Facing the Ron Toigo Gets Good at Sinking the Putt. development? A. Real estate I love, because you are creating an environment where people live. I’ve been in real estate development since the early 80’s. Q. Are you proud of what you have accomplished here a Tsawwassen Springs? A. There is a real sense of pride. It’s been six years and four more to go. The first phase is finished, the second phase is well on it’s way, and the 18 hole golf course will soon open. Q. Do you find that this development is more interesting than the others? A. Oh yes! This is a once in a lifetime development. These projects don’t come around very often, where you have this much land to work with and the design to do what you want. Q. Do your business partners in this project have equal shares? A. Michael Buble, Pat Quinn, Bruce Allen and Talisman Homes help promote the project , and play a big role. Shato Holdings, my company is the major share holder by a long shot and they are minority partners. Q. For a few years the golf industry has been terribly soft and the real estate industry has been down. Why did you take the risk to embark on this massive development? A. It is certainly not a very booming economy. But, sales have been extremely strong with the second phase almost 70 percent sold, and we’re at the beginning of construction. The environment that we have created here with the golf course, the shopping and other attributes, all helps. Plus, we have a golf course open all year around. Q. But other courses in the Okanagan and Vancouver Island, with the real estate component attached all went into receivership. How can you survive, whereas these courses did not? A. Those courses are so far out, so they need a real booming economy to work. When you’re looking to sell secondary housing in secondary markets, that’s a difficult, challenging business to be in. We aren’t secondary housing. We are selling primary housing 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 11 ADVERTORIAL BUSINESS FEATURE Hardy Bunn, owner of Offices in the Marine Building 12 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 photo: Val Hazelman While hundreds of BC restaurants have sunk in the past few the Tsunami of a depressed econoyears, a number of dining establishmy over the past couple of years. Alments have opened. Dyck thinks if though, there are still troubled wathe owners are smart enough, and ters ahead, many restaurant owners run their restaurants correctly, they are hopeful that the worst of the ecowon’t drown is a sea of massive bills. nomic storm is over. “Labour costs, food costs and sales Jean Francis Quaglia, proprietor make up the basis for success. The for the Provence Marinaside Resbest restaurants in the world only taurant in False Creek, is optimistic get 6 to 8 percent gross profit, if all that the strong winds of economic the expenses are in line. With that unrest, are subsiding. “ Business has little room for profit, it does not take picked up a bit since last year, and long to get into the the red,” he exthat is a good sign,” he says. plains. “Most people are not trained But, the economic storm is far for all the rules, laws, local bylaws from a gentle breeze and restauand other unforeseen expenses, rateurs must still maintain their such as equipment failure and other Provence Marinaside Proprietor Jean Francis Quaglia takes a break from the kitchen and his many other duties. course, and steer straight if they large expenses that are not budgeted don’t want to run aground. Quaglia seems to have the answer to stay- for. The restaurant industry is one the the hardest, in which to make a ing afloat. profit. Plus,’Cash Flow is King,’ in the restaurant business. You must have “You must maintain where you are at, and watch your controllable enough money to carcosts. Business has leveled off somewhat, but we still have to be aware ry the business for one, of our labour and food costs,” he explains. “For example, we have to be two or three months if more efficient with the schedules. Whereas before, we were not as con- something comes up.” cerned. If an employee didn’t show up on time, it was not a big deal. Now, Meanwhile, restauwhen someone is ten or fifteen minutes late, it is a factor to consider.” rants on CommerThe owner of Provence Marinaside, points out that creating interest cial Drive are having for the customers, is the key to sailing through choppy waters. “You to cope with an addihave to promote yourself. We have events like wine events and various tional problem. Parking promotions. We also work a lot with social media.” He adds, “the link to has become a real pain sports in this city is also important. And, even more so for the Provence for businesses on the Marinaside, because of the close proximity to BC Place and Rogers Are- Drive. Paolo Frau, prona. I am noticing that we do get a number of customers in for dinner prietor for Arriva Resbefore the BC Lions, Whitecaps and Vancouver Canuck games. And, we taurant operating on expect that number will grow.” Commercial Drive for From Marinaside in False Creek to English Bay and beyond, restaura- almost 30 years, says the teurs have their fingers crossed that the rough waves of the recession are city should be supplying Sylvia Hotel’s GM Ross Dyck, posses on the restaurant’s patio dying down. The Sylvia Hotel Restaurant and Lounge, which opened in businesses additional with the spectacular view of English Bay in the background. 1954, is not feeling the economic storm as much as some other dining es- parking facilities for customers. And, commercial establishments strugtablishments. The Sylvia’s general manager Ross Dyck, explains that that gling in this recession should be treated more fairly. reason for this, is the great location hugging English Bay, and a reliable “I can’t believe the city is doing nothing about the lack of parking. The return clientele. But he adds, any establishment can’t rely only on those businesses here have no parking for their customers, yet residents get factors. He points out that there are other aspects of the industry that whole blocks of residential parking. And, businesses pay a lot more in need to be addressed, in order to survive the economic storm. taxes than home owners do.” “Trained work forces and skilled labour in the kitchens, are a concern for He adds, “Underground parkades are built throughout the west end of most restaurants. The rising costs of products, are out of line with what the city. So, why not construct an underground parkade for Commercial guests are willing to pay. This is due to energy costs, as well as the global Drive?” weather changes like floods and droughts in some locations.” by Tyler Scott photo: Val Hazelman success. That is exactly why operating your business or practice out of an office business center (also known as “executive suite” or “packaged office”) is not only the professional but also the most cost-effective way to go. The advantages are many, starting with a furnished office ready to move into instantly, to highly competent administrative support staff who work efficiently and effectively to meet all your service needs. Whether you are a branch office of a national or international company, a homebased business ready for higher visibility, an entrepreneur starting your own business, a consultant needing the flexibility of accommodating contract personnel on an as-required basis, a single practitioner wanting a network of other businesses in a supportive friendly office environment, or a corporation down-sizing, expanding or upgrading, ‘Offices in the Marine Building’ provides the right setting. Renting at ‘Offices in the Marine Building’ gives you access to inviting reception areas, state-of-the-art business equipment, executive boardrooms, private meeting rooms and video-conferencing. The value of this instant framework for your business cannot be over-estimated. Why waste valuable time and money by doing it all yourself? Let ‘Offices in the Marine Building’ provide everything from a corporate address, answering service, virtual or full-time offices to word processing, transcription and much more. A friendly “live” receptionist, rather than a robotic voice recording, is there to answer your phone calls and greet your visitors. Hardy Bunn, founder and owner of ‘Offices in the Marine Building’, is aware that the public needs more awareness of the low While Hardy admits that coffee shops cost, convenience and time-saving measures compete for some of the virtual office comwhich emanate from operating their business ponent of her business, she points out that, or practice in a business centre scenario. “having a meeting in a crowded coffee shop “Our customers get office space and ser- doesn’t portray the professional and successvices customized to their unique needs. ful image that you want your clients to see.” And they don’t have to worry about hiring ‘Offices in the Marine Building’ offers competitive rates, unlimited flexibility, no longterm commitment requirements and no small print or hidden charges. Serving the needs of business since 1985, it is an independent, locally owned, owner-operated business centre on two floors in the world-renowned Marine Building, Suites 1000 and 1400, 355 Burrard Street, in the heart of downtown. It’s situated mere steps from the Vancouver Convention and World Trade Centre, major hotels and restaurants, financial institutions, university campuses, cultural and sports facilities, and world-class shopping, as well as easy access to all transportation. Phone us at 604.683.8604 or e-mail us at offices@execu-suites.com to schedule a tour of the premises, and check out the website, www.execu-suites.com. in Vancouver are R estaurateurs staying afloat, after being hit by West Coast Winds Photography n this time of economic uncertainty, a I professional corporate image is even more important as one of the keys to your Restaurants Cope to Stay Afloat West Coast Winds Photography Make a Move to Success and training their own staff or taking care of administrative chores. By delegating their office needs to our experienced support staff, our clients can focus on and do what they do best: running their businesses!” Another valuable benefit is that you don’t have to commit to signing a long-term agreement. As Hardy explains, “When you rent office space on your own, particularly in Vancouver’s downtown business district, you are likely required to commit to a five-year lease. We rent out offices for one hour, one day, one month, one year and more. Your office lease requirements are flexible with no investment in business equipment, furniture and other assets.” She then points out that moving into one’s own executive office at ‘Offices in the Marine Building’ can save up to 66% of the cost of leasing and staffing conventional office space. Hardy also advises that signing an office lease agreement for space of your own can often be challenging. “There is no need to be stuck with a lengthy office lease in these uncertain times. You need to do your due diligence and read the fine print when signing any office rental agreement.” Your Automotive Solution! *automotive repairs for all types of vehicles * certified mechanics * air care motor vehicle inspection 35 East 3rd. Ave. Vancouver. phone: 604.707.0919 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 13 Golfing in the Dick Zokol on Soft Market Doug Ferne on Pesticide Decision Tee For Two On Vancouver Island Lovin’ The Links in: Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island Okanagan, Kamloops Area, Kootenays Courses Win $3 M Battle With ICBC Women Tackle Management Jobs Staying Out of Economic Rough Tips From The Pros The Bear Course at Okanagan Golf Club Golfing in the Clubs Win $3 Million Battle With ICBC The Soft Market, a Game Changer fter more than a year of the National Golf Course Owners AsA sociation working diligently to address the unique cart and equipment licensing requirements by ICBC, justice has finally he soft market is indeed a game changer. It will take a lot to Tturn this broken down vehicle around. There will be more golf ed additional cost. Doug Ferne, NGCOA Canada BC Regional Director thinks the millions of dollars in additional insurance paid by BC golf operators was unfair. “Our issue was, BC was unjustly being singled out. Other provinces with the same insurance programs did not have to pay the additional fees for carts and equipment to enter parking lots and cross roads.” In these days of a dwindling number of golfers hitting the links, been served for golf course operators in BC. The efforts and over $90,000 in total costs have resulted in a significant advocacy win, saving the golf course industry in BC approximately $3 Million annually in insurance fees. For over 14 months, the NGCOA, Canada BC Chapter has diligently fought for changes to the Motor Vehicle Act, which would allow courses to operate golf carts without having to pay extra insurance to Tara Atkinson, GM at Princeton Golf Club finds insurance win, bittersweet. ICBC. After 32 presentations and meetings with provincial ministers, deputy ministers, MLA’s and senior government policy makers, the BC Liberals acquiesced, and passed legislation to change the Motor Vehicle Act. The new legislation provides most 18 - hole golf courses a savings of $10,000 to $15,000 a year. And, some golf operations like the University Golf Club, will be saving $35,000 annually. The issue reared its head back in May of 2009, when ICBC designated a golf course parking lot as a highway. Therefore, golf power carts and maintenance vehicles entering the parking lot or crossing roads from one part of a golf course to another, had to be licensed and insured thru ICBC. But, under existing golf course insurance programs, these areas of usage were already covered. And, the NGCOA argued that the $3 million annual fee was an unwarrant- Ferne thinks the $3 million in annual savings will help golf clubs cope with the economic burden of the soft golf market. “The legislation change is great news. Carrying double coverage for liability wasn’t enhancing safety for golf courses or golfers. He adds, “In fact, it was just creating more work and cost for golf courses, with no real benefit.” One of many golf general managers elated over the decision is Mike Mather of the University golf Club. “ Our yearly ICBC insurance costs were in excess of $35,000 for all our rolling equipment like power carts, course maintenance equipment, moving equipment etc.” He adds, “with all this equipment having to cross University Blvd. to access holes #2 throughout #9, it has always been of interest to me why we were required by ICBC to insure all this equipment. And, it must be noted that ICBC also required golf courses to insure this equipment for operation on the driveways and parking lots, not just crossing roads.” Meanwhile, Tara Atkinson, the general manager for Princeton Golf Course, says the change to the motor vehicle act is bitter sweet. “This change in legislation is saving us thousands of dollars. The sad thing, is they are still forcing private cart owners to purchase insurance for their carts. I am not sure how you can have different rules for one group and not for the other. It is causing hard feelings amongst members that are being told to get insurance.” At a time when courses are finding it hard to stay in the black, during the current soft golf market, Ferne adds, “we greatly appreciate the BC Liberal Government for working with us to address the situation.” by Tyler Scott 16 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 courses going under, before there starts to be some real changes ing golf developments that are attractive to the consumer. The high costs of designing, developing and maintaining golf courses has gone out of control. The business of golf hasn’t been sustainable for many years. And, the only time it was sustainable from a business point of view, was when over inflated real estate sales had to support the costs of building and maintaining the golf courses. So, when the real estate bubble broke and the courses were no longer able to sell the recreational and non recreational real estate component, then the viability of operating a golf course went into the toilet. The soft market will recover slowly. Swing Dick Zokol Dick Zokol is a PGA Champion Tours Member Fairwinds is one of many environment friendly courses, which is what the market wants. in the game. Now, we are seeing right across the board, that golf courses are lowering their prices in an effort to minimize their losses. It is good for the consumer, who can now play golf at a cheaper price. But, it will cause more courses to go bankrupt. Statistics from the National Golf Foundation reveal that 259 golf courses in the US alone, have gone under and only nine courses have opened. So, the pendulum is starting to swing. We will see even more road kill on the side of the roads, meaning more golf courses will not be able to survive. I think, it will take a while for the golf industry to get into a recovery mode. After all, it took 30 years for golf clubs to get into this bad position economically, and it’s going to be a slow process to turn the industry around. Owners of golf courses have been on a path of over indulgence in the past few years, by over spending, over creating and over build- New Lower Weekday Rates 18 holes regular Mon. & Tues. $49 Wed. - Fri. $53 18 holes senior Mon. & Tues. $44 Wed. - Fri. $48 Spectacular Golf A First Class Club House in a Panoramic Setting Only 25 minutes from Vancouver 3500 Morgan Creek Way, Surrey, BC phone: 604.531.golf toll free: 1.800.513.6555 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 17 Teeing Off No Ban on Pesticides in the he Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides has T presented its 118 page report concluding there is Doug Ferne insufficient evidence to warrant a provincial wide ban on pesticides for cosmetic purposes. The Committee has set a massive precedent for any further discussion regarding restrictive pesticide legislation. The Committee’s mandate was to examine, inquire into, and make recommendations with respect to the development and implementation of legislative provisions regarding what the terms of reference characterize as “the unnecessary use of pesticides in British Columbia” and to conduct consultations on this issue with the public and key stakeholders. The all-party Committee developed an inclusive strategy to learn about pesticides and pesticide use. It received briefings on the existing regulatory framework, heard presentations from 21 invited stakeholders, and hosted a two-month-long e-consultation that allowed British Columbians to submit written or video submissions or complete an e-questionnaire. Throughout the process, committee members focused on: understanding the scientific evaluation process that pesticides are subject to before being registered for sale in Canada; learning about the possible health and environmental effects of pesticides; and developing an understanding of how pesticides are sold, used, and regulated in British Columbia. The Committee dedicated a significant amount of time to examining research from stakeholders and the public that proposes a link between pesticides and negative health outcomes. It also heard about the possible negative effects pesticides can have on the natural environment. Submitters encouraged the Committee to recommend a province-wide ban based on the view that the precautionary principle is not being applied. Those, who presented a ban is unjustified, emphasized the thoroughness of the scientific processes the PMRA uses to determine that pesticides are safe for sale and use in Canada. They also stressed the important role pesticides play in improving the value and enjoyment of green spaces, in controlling invasive plants, and in supporting forestry and agriculture. Many BC courses like Canoe Creek, in Salmon Arm are happy with the no pesticide ban decision. e-club rewards points during your birthday BIRTHDAY BONUS Earn 350 Join our Everyone that joins gets a Free Round of golf month and receive a complementary during the month of their birthday. lots of greatnext visit! green fee*Plus during your golf specials. Join at www.sandpipergolfclub. REWARDS PROGRAM com Sign up to get your complimentary Classic Rewards Card. It’s as easy as 1,2,3…Free! * REGULAR GREEN FEE RATES APPLY Escape to a secluded guest cottage. All of the cottages overlook the majestic Sandpiper Golf Resort and ESCAPE TOanAinviting SECLUDED GUEST COTTAGE All ofand the convenience, cottages overlook the majestic Golf Resort offer warmth and rustic charm. For relaxation cabins are equipped withSandpiper replaces, jacuzzi balcony. Full and room rustic servicecharm. available. Or,relaxation stay at “The” Inn,convenience, ve luxurious bedrooms, complete with private and offertub, anprivate inviting warmth For and cabins are equipped with fireplaces, bathrooms offering balcony. the quiet elegance of a bygoneavailable. era. jacuzzi tub, and private Full room service Or, stay at “The” Inn, five luxurious bedrooms, complete with private bathrooms offering the quiet elegance of a bygone era. Tee Times: 1-877-796-1001 www.sandpipergolfclub.com 14282 Morris Valley Road, Harrison Mills, BC 18 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 As part of its inquiry into the feasibility of a BC ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides, the Committee reviewed other jurisdictions’ experiences with bans. While these bans generally share a common purpose — the protection of human health and/or the natural environment from perceived unnecessary exposure to pesticides — the approach varies from province to province. In examining what other jurisdictions have done, the Committee noted that to date no other province used an all-party parliamentary committee to investigate the cosmetic use of pesticides. Also, the Committee’s commitment to understanding pesticide regulation and the work and role of the PMRA appears to be unprecedented. In order to achieve the goals of reducing pesticide use throughout the province, and ensuring safe and proper use of approved products by unlicensed applicators, the Committee made 17 recommendations that include restricting the sale and use of Commercial-class pesticides, improving enforcement of existing regulations, and strengthening training and public education related to pesticides use. The Committee recommended regulatory changes to: bolster retail rules, improve sales monitoring, and enhance the training of certified pesticide applicator and dispensers. The Committee also recommended strategies to increase public knowledge of safe pesticide use, to encourage golf courses to fully embrace the pillars of integrated pest management, and to develop a superior pesticide-return program. Doug Ferne is Regional Director, National Golf Course Owners Association, Canada Women Take a Swing at Management Jobs omen in golf W club manage- ment have come a long way, since the days when members of the ‘Old Boys Club’ salivated at the prospect of banning ladies from enjoying a drink at the clubhouse lounge. Although, there are currently more female golf managers than ever before, male chauvinism is still lurking on the links of golf courses across North America. Tara Atkinson, GM at Princeton Golf Club swinging. In this country, of 100 male managers registered with the Canadian Society of Club Managers, only 5 to 10 percent are women. This statistic alone, should be enough evidence to put female golf managers on the endangered species list. It would be nice to think that the old boys of chauvinism, are now too feeble and way too old to carry on chanting their mantra of “gentlemen only-ladies forbidden”. But, unfortunately for women wanting to join the ranks of managers in the golf industry, it seems that the winds of change are not blowing strong enough. The golf industry is acutely aware that more women are needed to break the mold of the male dominated management force. Brian Butters, former Executive Director of the Professional Golfers Association of BC, says that the number of females in management jobs is too low. “It is true, that not many women have broken through into top level management positions as we would like to see. And, there is no doubt that women are able to do these jobs.” As a trail blazer for women in the golf industry, Loc Huynh, general manger of the Fort Langley Golf Club has worked tirelessly at golf clubs for 30 years. During the past 25 years, she has excelled in a management role, and agrees that there needs to be more force behind the winds of change. Loc Huynh, GM at Fort Langley Golf Club “I still see there is some difficulty for women entering the industry, as there is still the ‘old school’ mentality that the industry is an ‘All Boys Club’. But, this has improved throughout the years.” Huynh explains what it takes to be successful in this male dominated field. “It’s a very complex industry requiring one to be a ‘jack of all trades’ and a risk taker. As a women in the industry, you have to be strong, a go-getter and most importantly, believe in yourself .” Being one of the earliest and longest standing female golf managers in Western Canada, Huynh epitomizes the concept of being a trail blazer. “I guess you could consider me that. The industry is still a male dominant arena, hence males are favored over females in lead management positions.” General manager for the Musqueum Golf Club in South Vancouver, Kumi Kimura , is an ardent believer that although a handful of women golf managers have come a long way, younger women attempting to work their way into top level positions, have a bumpy road ahead of them. “Yes, I believe we are still not taken seriously by men, and even some of the older traditional golf ladies. Definitely, I think male chauvinism has a lot to do with the low number of female golf managers on the job.” Meanwhile, the general manager at the Princeton Golf Club, Tara Atkinson attributes her success to attaining the attitude of, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’. “The ’Old Boys Club’ is still very much a part of the golf club atmosphere. But, I think that if you really want to be successful you have to push past these barriers and prove that you are the best for the job.” She adds, “sometimes you also have to just be one of the boys, and join them for a social drink and have a good conversation with them.” One of the almost extinct female golf general managers in the Okanagan, is Mary Bourne at Sonora Dunes in Osoyoos. She is a bit more optimistic and hopeful for a promising future for women attempting to make their mark in the industry. “ The ‘Old Boys Club’ still exists Mary Bourne, GM at Sonora Dunes Golf Club in golf, but it is becoming an unpopular standpoint. Now that women are securing themselves in the golf industry, I would expect to see more women in managerial roles as well. Women golfers are vital to the industry, and having one at the helm, is inviting to lady golfers.” While the majority of female golf managers I interviewed, think that the doors to management jobs are still difficult to pry open, JoAnn Saville, general manager at Glen Meadows on Vancouver Island disagrees, saying male chauvinism is an issue of the past. “I really think people who are hiring look for the most competent person, be them male, female, black or white. Society has come a long way over the years.” Meanwhile, Kimura at Musqueum Golf, thinks incentive programs for enticing young women to enter the industry is a must. “I think we need to encourage girls from a young age, that you can really do it. Did I think I would ever be calling the shots? Yes, however not ever in the golf business. But, the key is, I did have the dream to begin with.” By LaVerne Procyk Jo-Ann Saville, GM Glen Meadows Golf Club West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 19 Lower Mainland Golfing in the Lovin’ the Lower Mainland Links With the towering beaut y of the North Shore Mountains serving as a backdrop, Mayfair Lakes in Richmond is a genuine golf sanctuary, offering a Mayfair Lakes Golf Course secluded country ambiance that’s just minutes from Vancouver. The intrigue lies in the abundance of lakes and waterways that come into play on 13 of the 18 holes, adding as much challenge as aesthetic appeal to the course. In fact, this 6,641 yard Les Furber design has had the privilege of hosting many national tour events, and continues to rank as a favorite among tour professionals. Located 40 minutes from Vancouver, Peace Portal Golf Course is in sunny Surrey, minutes from the US border. Established in 1928, Peace Portal is one of British Columbia’s oldest courses and is a local favorite.A landing area surrounded Peace Portal Golf Course by water makes for a very intimidating tee shot. Once your drive has been safely negotiated, you are faced with an approach shot to a raised green, which always makes club selection difficult. The hole plays only 350 yards from the blue tees, but like most holes at Peace Portal, the emphasis is on accuracy not length. Bookings can be made online at www.peaceportalgolf.com or by phone 604 538-4818. The Mylora Mylora Golf The Golf Courses Courses TheExecutive Executive Golf Golf Courses Courses for The for Everyone Everyone Specializing in public golfing Come join our family and tournaments since 1976 Specializing in public golfing and tournaments since 1976 Mylora on Sidaway Mylora on Five 9911 Sidaway Road 9550 No. 5 Road Mylora on Sidaway Mylora on FiveBC Richmond, BC Richmond, 9911 Sidaway Road 9550 No. 5 Road 604-271-5626 604-277-1179 Richmond, BC Richmond, BC CallBOOK 604.271.5626 Call 604.277.1179 ONLINE AT WWW.MYLORA.CA 20 Book-on-Line www.mylora.ca (Sidaway only) West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 How to Chip it Close! Better Chipping Nestled on the banks of the Fraser and Salmon Rivers, Fort Langley Golf Course is a hidden gem in a country setting. Championship golf can be played from the blue tees measuring 6400 yards. The signature hole #16 is a daunting test of accurate shot making. Fort Langley Golf Course A drive of 240 yards is required to a tight landing area. From there a precise mid-long iron shot will set up your approach. An elevated green awaits a well struck short iron, which will give you an excellent birdie chance. The Derby Links Restaurant, open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch or dinner seats 75 comfortably in a warm, inviting setting complete with fireplace and a large screen TV. The patio accommodates 85 people and provides wonderful site lines of the 1st tee and the closing hole. Fort Langley Golf Course also offers banquet facilities for up to 250 guests all year round. Call 604.888.5911 or visit www. fortlangleygolf.com The Mylora Golf Courses are located in Richmond BC, minutes away from Vancouver International Airport and just a short drive from downtown Vancouver. The Myloras consist of two courses, Mylora on Sidaway Mylora Golf Course and Mylora on No 5 Rd. and are both family owned and operated since 1976. Both par 57 courses are challenging 18 hole executive style layouts that cater to both tournaments and public play at reasonable rates. The most avid golfers or beginners canhhave T e an enjoyable round. Our friendly staff take pride in making your day or event a most memorable and fun golfing experience by offerloramenus s that suit every budget. After your round relax in our Myand ing prices clubhouse or outside on our patio while enjoying our fabulous menu and full service T h e bar.MWe y l book o r a on line, or by phone one week in advance at both our courses. Golf Courses are located in Richmond BC, Musqueam is considered one of Canada’s finest training facilities. Fully minutes away equipped, it boasts a two tiered, 80 stall driving range with astro turf landfrom Vancouver ing areas that feature: simInternational ulated greens, bunkers and Airport and just a water, Astar video instrucshort drive from tion rooms, a short game downtown Vanpractice area, 18 hole mini couver. The Mygolf, a large practice green loras consist of andonthe centrepiece parfam60 two courses, Mylora on Sidaway and Mylora Five and are both challenging add up ily owned and operated since 1974. Both par 57 coursescourse are challenging to to anboth outstanding family 18 holes executive style layouts that cater tournaments and public play at reasonable rates. golf facility. Ranging from The most avid golfers can enjoy the challenge ofyards improving their 114 to 317 in length, short game and the beginners can enjoy all learning new excellent game and holes the feature have an enjoyable and fore-giving round.elevated Our friendly staffwhich take pride greens rein making your day or event a most memorable and fun golfing experiquire careful iron selection ence by offering prices and menus that suit every budget. After your on the approach shots. round relax in our clubhouse or outside on our patio while enjoying our Musqueam fabulous menu and full service bars. We book on line, or by phone one week in advance at both our courses, so choose your favorite course, your preferred time and come swing with us at the Myloras. lower mainland There are several keys to better chipping. Let the shot dictate the club selection. We have more control of the golf ball when it is on the ground, not in the air. When chipping the golf ball we want to get the golf ball on the ground and rolling as soon as possible. As such, the amount of green we have to work with should determine the club we select. The more green we have between us and the hole, the lower lofted club we should use. The less green there is between the ball and the hole, the more lofted the club we should use. We can chip with anything from a 6 iron through sand wedge. As a general rule of thumb, the ball should be in the air one third of the time and on the ground two thirds of the time. The Set-Up Most of the errors that are made in hitting a chip shot are as a result of a poor set-up. First, grip down slightly on the handle of the club. Second, narrow your stance so that the outside of your feet are no wider that the outside of your shoulders. Third, place about 85% of your weight on your foot closest to the target and move the ball position to the back third of your stance. Finally, make sure the club face is aligned square to the target line. Ted Swain, Director of Operations, Sandpiper Golf Resort shares his expertise. by Ted Swain, Director of Golf Operations, Sandpiper Golf Resort Putting on the Green Place the ball on the inside of your left heel and the width between your feet should be the same as your shoulders. Having 60% of your weight on your left leg, bend at the waist until your eyes are directly over the ball. Using a pendulum motion stroke back and forth using the same speed and the same distance. The putter will go low back to the ground and the grip pressure should be extremely relaxed. Use your arms and shoulders eliminating any wrist movement and don’t move your head until the ball has traveled at least 30% of the way there. Line up the logo on the ball so it’s pointing to the target then using the line on the top of your putter create a straight line with the logo. Now the ball and putter are aiming at the hole so only think of distance control. Any putt less than six feet you should listen and not watch the ball go in the hole. All the best out there. by Chris J. Lowe CPGA Golf Professional Fort Langley Golf Club the best is the 486-yard, par 5 fifteenth. The footprint of the legendary Sasquatch, guards the green on this signature hole. The pro shop is staffed with knowledgeable people and all the latest designer golf apparel and equipment. Sandpiper also offers you a FREE birthday round just for joining their e-specials club! For tee times call 1-877-796-1001 or visit the website www. sandpiperresort.ca. Also on the property is the historic Rowena’s Inn on The River, an elegant and charming bed and breakfast. Along with the popular guest cottages, each unique inn room is decorated with beautiful antique furnishings. Sandpiper Golf Resort A world class golf experience in your backyard…one of the most scenic golf courses in the Lower Mainland is the Sandpiper Golf Resort in Harrison Mills, near Harrison Hot Springs.When creating the Sandpiper course masterpiece, Canadian course design Ross Olsen did an amazing job of taking advantage of the spectacular water and mountain vistas. One of the best features of this course entails a number of outstanding holes, but one of Morgan Creek Golf Course is a Thomas McBroom designed championship golf course. It is a four season course with playing conditions that are second to none. After an invigorating round, relax at the upscale and casual Morgan’ Bar and Grill which specializes in delicious cuisine. Plan your next corporate event, tournament, or wedding with Morgan Creek. Morgan Creek Golf Course West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 21 Golfing Guest of the Gilles Dafort How To Lower Your Score Courses Jump On Green Bandwagon for Show and Putt for Dough.’ You may have D rive heard that expression before. What it means is, that deep plush green links blanketing T thehe golf courses throughout the prov- it is fun to outdrive your playing partners by 30 year’s and hit 8 irons for your second shot while they hit a four iron to the green. But, what makes you drop precious strokes off your game is the ability to put the ball in the hole. To do so, you have to rely on good putting and a good approach to the pin. If you ever wanted to see where amateur golfers priorities are, stop by any driving range and you will find it filled to capacity with golfers working on swing techniques acquired from the latest popular golf publications. According to PGA Tour statistics, the best players hit about 70 percent of the greens in regulation over the course of a season, and when you get below the top ten, the average starts sliding around 60 percent very rapidly. Now, let’s put this in numbers we understand. That means that most players hit in between 10 to 13 greens in regulation per round and still play par round or better, which means they are getting up and down a lot of time every round they play. Unfortunately, there are no official amateur statistics available for green hits in regulation, but it would be fair to say that players, novice or intermediate level may only hit three to six greens per round. There is no doubt that we were taught that golf means ‘Club hit ball.’, but that doesn’t mean it has to be as far as you can. It could also mean to roll the ball in the hole from a distance of five feet. I understand that it is not as thrilling to practice chipping or putting as it is to smack the ball at the far end of the practice range, but I guarantee that it is the shortest route to lowering your score. It was once said that the short game is a game within a game, but as far as I am concerned, it is ‘the’ game. In terms of technique, the short game is very easy to assimilate. The difficult part is to gain the feel to chip or putt the ball to the hole with precision. Unfortunately, the feel is not something you can withdraw from a bank, but something you gain by practicing and working at it consistently. It is up to you to decide whether you want to impress your friends with your driving power, or impress them by lowering your score. by Gilles Dufort, General Manager Harvest Golf Club Golfer practicing at Morning Star Golf Course Going Crazy For Kootenay Golf Creston Golf Course Balfour Golf Club At Balfour Golf Club, find the front nine carved through a forested region with sand and water hazards, while the back nine uses the mountains to provide elevation changes from tee to green. 1-866-669-4653 www.golfbalfour.com Castlegar Golf Club’s 4 star rating from Golf Digest is well deserved. It is a perfect mix of elevated tee boxes, wide fairways and manicured greens. 1-800-666-0324 www.golfcastlegar.com At Creston Golf Course, architect Warren Radomsky successfully maintained the character and difficulty of holes 8 and 9. It is laid out on rolling terrain featuring large elevation changes and small, undulating greens. 1-250428-5515 www.crestongolfclub.com Christina Lake Golf Club is a scenic 18-hole championship course has elevated trees, strategically bunkereed greens and fairways, multi-tiered greens and four holes featuring water hazards. Castlegar Golf Club Kokanee Springs Golf Resort Granite Point Golf Club 1-250-447-9313 www.christinalakegolfclub.com Granite Pointe Golf Club traverses challenging terrain and features a number of risk-reward holes. Surrounded by Kootneay Lake and the famed Kokanee Glacier. 1-877-677-6077 www.granitepointe.ca At the Kokanee Springs Golf Resort, every hole is framed by panoramic views of Kokanee Glacier and surrounding area. A Norman Woods original it challenges golfers of all levels. 1-800-979-7999 www.kokaneesprings.com The Redstone Resort is situated in a stunning valley below the historic town of Rossland. Architect Les Furber converted the 9 hole Rossland course into this championship 18 holes. 1-250-362-9141 www.redstoneresort.com The Birchbank Golf Club along the banks of the Columbia has spectacular views of the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains. The 18 hole layout is a treelined classic. 1-250-693-2255 www.birchbankgolf.com Last year at Musqueam Golf & Learning Academy: • Over 9 million range balls were hit • Over 550, 000 customers were served • 37,00 rounds of golf were played • 8,800 lessons were taught • 7,900 people joined our Rewards Club Program • Host to over 60 Golf Tournaments last year Thanks to our customers, Musqueam Golf & Learning Academy was voted one of the top 100 ranges in North America for the seventh consecutive year SWING BY AND SEE US TODAY! 3904 West 51st Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia Phone (604) 266.2334 www.musqueamgolf.com 22 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 ince are getting more green. A number of courses have spent a significant amount of time and money jumping on the environmental bandwagon. The ultimate goal is to get the majority of golf courses certified by Audubon International. Leading the way down this path to greener fairways is Golf BC’s Arbutus Ridge Golf Club. General manager Jason Lowe, says time is the major cost in the certification process. “It took us one year to get the initial certificate in environmental planning because you must with a high level of detail, do an inventory of all your ecosystems.” Time is money and the time factor in the process of getting Audubon certified could cost as much as a few thousand dollars. Deer poses for picture at GBC Golf Academy at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club “The hard cost for most facilities would be as low as $1,500. and as high as $7,000. For example, we need to spend birds,” he adds. “We also have a river that has salmon, steelhead and $5,000 on a wash pad system to complete the last of the criteria in cut throat trout.” In the Okanagan, Ken Oleschuk, general manager of the Summerour final category, which will soon be finished,” explains Lowe. Despite the fact that Audubon certification could add up to a land Golf Club, agrees that a golf course doesn’t need to be certified hefty bill of thousands of dollars, and given the fact that golf clubs to be environmentally responsible. He says some courses have difare struggling to survive in the current soft golf market, Lowe ferent reasons to be Audubon certified. “Some certified courses view Audubon certification as a marketing device, while others do not.” doesn’t think that the price tag to get certified should be lowered. So far Vancouver Island seems to be the champion when it comes “No, the cost is not a reasonable explanation for not doing your part. What you need is people on your team who are passionate and to the majority of golf courses getting Audubon certification, get the big picture. The Audubon Society does not charge much, so whereas the majority of clubs through the rest of BC are dragging it depends on how much time a given facility has to dedicate time their heels. Lowe explains why. “The southern part of Vancouver Island is particneeded towards this initiative.” But, if the cost of Audubon certification was lowered, would more ularly environmentally minded. Many of the post secondary education facilities have active environmental programs. It also helps that golf courses become environment friendly? Lowe, doesn’t think so. “No, and Audubon is just one form of achievement for environmen- we are surrounded by lots of vegetation, ocean and forests which tal stewardship. As an example, many Golf BC courses, including helps our population be very in tune with mother nature.” Arbutus Ridge have a Greening Committee that meets regularly to by Meriah Jones make a difference.” Meanwhile, the Director of Golf Operations for the Sandpiper Golf Resort, Ted Swain concurs with Lowe. “No, the cost is not an issue. Certification is to assist golf courses and course developments in providing wild life habitat, protecting water quality and improving overall environmental performance.” Although the Sandpiper is not a certified course, Swain says major steps have been taken to become more green. “We have to consider the environment around us, including the maintained and natural areas, wildlife habitat and the waterways. We are aware of our impact on the environment, whether it be the salmon run, black bears, coyotes, or eagles on the property. We also house a protected blue heron crane nesting area, which is designated as an environmentally sensitive area where access is restricted.” On the other hand, a number of golf clubs like Redwoods, believe the cost of certification is indeed an issue and clubs do not need to become Audubon certified, in order to be considered environmentally friendly. “The costs for Audubon certification can be expensive, and many courses are finding other ways to be environmentally responsible and cost efficient. Lowering the cost may entice more companies to get certified,” says Doug Hawley, Redwoods general manager. Although the Peace Portal Golf Club is also not certified, general manager Rob Faulk says that doesn’t mean they are not green. “We do everything we can to continue striving to become as green as possible. There are raccoons, rabbits, coyotes, squirrels and even a pair of cougars on the course,plus many bald eagles and other West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 23 VANCOUVER ISLAND Fairwinds Crowne Isle Stoney Creek Olympic View Tee ForForTwo on the Island a couples golf getaway admit it, my wife isn’t generally the O k,firstI’llperson I’d choose to go on a golf va- cation with. But, on a recent foray to Vancouver Island with my wife, we golfed our brains out and had the time of our lives. For those not familiar with Vancouver Island, there are a few things you need to know. For starters, the island is easy to get to. The Victoria Airport is serviced by a number of prominent carriers like West Jet, Air Canada, United and Horizon Airlines. Ferry access is also relatively easy via a number of mainland ports like Seattle, Horseshoe Bay, Bellingham, Port Angeles and Tsawwassen. The raw, natural beauty of Vancouver Island is stunning. And the golf courses are spectacular as well. After leaving the kids at grandma’s house, we hoped on a quick flight to Comox Airport, rented some wheels and took the short drive to the Crown Isl. Golf Resort. It’s a lush green, championship course with interesting contouring, great views and tons of variety. The next course on our trip was the Stoney Creek Golf Club, near Campbell River.The course is carved through a secluded forest with wildlife everywhere. And, it doesn’t matter what level you are. It’s a great course for couples. The next day, we cruised down the beautiful oceanside highway, and pegged it up at Fairwinds. I’ve noticed that gals, typically don’t require 7,400 yards and 154 slope ratings to enjoy themselves on the course. That said, Fairwinds is the perfect couples course. It’s short, sporty, scenic, fun and has a great patio to unwind at after the round. In addition to 11 wineries, picturesque marinas, antique shops, artisan galleries and farmers markets, the Cowichan Valley also Staying Out of Economic Rough nce your ball ends up in the rough, it puts a damper on the Ogame. Unless of course, you are good at what you do, and focus Arbutus Ridge Bear Mountain Vancouver Island Golfing in the has excellent golf. Arbutus Ridge, the Cowichan Valley Golf & Country Club and Duncan Meadows golf courses are all friendly, unpretentious places featuring enjoyable layouts that gently roll through lush environments. For a couple afternoons, while my wife checked out a winery, went for a stroll and read by the beach, I tested my luck on the links. With just the right amount of challenge and plenty of one-ofa-kind golf holes, Arbutus Ridge was a course that really grew on me. Our last night was spent at the luxurious Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria. It has dynamic views, island greens, impeccable playing conditions and 18 unique holes. For more information visit www.golfvancouverisland.ca/couples To reserve your Couples Golf Getaway, contact Golf Vancouver Island at 1.888.465.3239 by Andrew Penner Go Coastal. Golf Vancouver Island, BC. Save time and money on your custom golf vacation! 2 Nights & 2 Rounds of Golf from $279 per person on the task at hand, which is getting back onto the greens. In the game of business, it is no different. Being in the economic rough can create havoc for any golf management team. And in this current, extremely soft golf market, more and more courses are falling into the rough part of operating a business, and staying out of the red. Dave Petryk, CEO for Tourism Vancouver Island understands the pitt falls of meandering through an economic down turn. “We are confident that our close-in markets will minimize the overall impacts to the Vancouver Island region, even though the slow economy has definitely had a negative effect on our overseas markets.” Petryk thinks there is a way to combat the problem of a dwindling number of tourists from the Lower Mainland and other parts of BC and the US, who are opting out of visiting Vancouver Island because of the increased gas prices, high ferry rates and the US dollar almost at par. “In order to attract more visitors, we need to educate people that the time and expense to travel to Vancouver Island is really no greater than a drive to the interior of the province.” He adds, “From our point of view, we need to be competitive with other destinations and focus on the value of the Vancouver Island Region.We have adjusted our marketing efforts to focus in on our close-in markets of BC, Alberta and Washington State.” Jason Lowe, general manager for the Arbutus Golf Club points out that in todays poor economic climate, it is not easy staying out of the rough. And,there are specific challenges to operating a golf course on Vancouver Island. “Managing increased competition has been the most difficult element on southern Vancouver Island. But, as much as it affects the supply and demand ratio for local golfers, it helps draw in new destination golfers.” The other unique and difficult aspect of running a successful golf operation on Vancouver Island, is the fact that the majority of the courses, are open all year around. “Being open year round is great, but you have to manage the business carefully in the winter to bring costs into alignment,” adds Lowe. From Vancouver Island to the Fraser Valley to the Okanagan and beyond, there is no escaping the current soft golf market. Ted Swain, director of operations for the Sand Piper Golf Resort near Harrison in the Fraser Valley asks, “Where are the golfers? He says, ”Overall golf courses are seeing that the green fee play is down and therefore, revenue has decreased overall.” In the Okanagan, the golf clubs are also struggling to stay out of the rough. But, Ken Oleschuk, general manager for the Summerland Golf Club points out that golf management must change their ways in order to stay in the game of turning a profit. “The price of golf in the public and resort courses needs to be closely examined. And, membership in clubs needs to be more flexible and managers must recognize that the new members may not be the die hard golfer of yesterday.” He adds, “Club managers must rec- Tips and Drills Westcoast ClamBake Golf Weekend Sept 14-16th 24 “Vancouver Island has plenty of gold medal worthy golf” GOLF Magazine “Best Island Destination in North America” Condé Nast Traveler Magazine West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 1.888.465.3239 golfvancouverisland.ca To correct the problem of decelerating on short putts practice this drill. Place a tee a few inches behind the spot where you address the ball. This tee will limit the length of the backstroke and ensure that you accelerate the putter head to get the ball to the hole. Acceleration will help keep the putter and ball on line. by Kevin Trott, golf professional Duncan Meadows Golf Club ognize the changing demographic of the current and new golfers.” Over at Gallagher Canyon, general manager Peter Hopley markets to newlyweds, but although weddings add to the overall annual revenue, that move alone won’t get any club out of the rough. “ On the days that the course is full, you need to look to ways to grow your business. But, a large chunk of revenue is not generated from weddings. It represents less than five percent of our overall revenue. “ by Tyler Scott FAIRWINDS GOLF CLUB • 71 Par Course • Audubon Certified • Loyalty Program • Family Golf (weekends) • Stay & Play Packages • Real Estate Opportunities • 360 Slip Marina 1.888.781.2777 l teetimes@fairwinds.ca Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island www.fairwinds.ca/golf Sensational Golf in Duncan Green Fees (before hst) 18 Hole Green Fee $49. 1st. Twilight Rate (after 2pm) $40. 2nd. Twilight Rate (after 5pm) $28.57 Senior Rate (Mon. to Fri. excluding holidays) $40. Junior Rates (18 and younger) $24.11 9 Hole Rate (for everyone) $28.57 Located at 6507 North Road, Duncan. Phone 250.746.8993 email: golf@duncanmeadows.com web site: www.duncanmeadows.com West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 25 Vancouver Island Golfing in the The Kiss Theory Getting More Distance One definite way to improve your game, is to engage in the ‘Kiss’ theory. How is your game from the fringe? How much time do you set aside to practice shots from just off the green? Like the putting, this is an area of your game that can provide immediate results through minimal dedicated practice time. 1. From the fringe: Select 4 spots (use the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock theory) to Practice the ‘bump and run’ at 20, 40, and 60 feet from the pin using a variety of different slopes to the hole. Try this shot with several different clubs ranging from the PW to the 5 iron to see what is most comfortable for your game. 2. The Bump and Run: To keep this simple, consider your putting stroke with a different club in your hands. Move the ball towards your back foot as the club gets more lofted and continue to use a simple putting stroke. The golf club will lightly brush the grass through the hitting area and the stroke itself is very short and fluent. People are constantly coming to me for lessons on how to increase their distance. Many of my tips include a reference to keeping your hands relaxed rather than tight. I am continually reminding my students to loosen their grip on the club, and keep their hands “soft”. This is much easier to do if the grips on your clubs are in good condition. It is easy to overlook the importance of this aspect of your equipment. Many golfers that want more distance have old, worn out, slippery grips on their clubs, almost guaranteeing that their hands will be too tight or too tense. Replacing your grips is an easy, simple, and economic way to breathe life back into your old clubs. Even if you don’t plan to replace your grips, at the very least, make sure they are cleaned, tacky or textured in some way. If they’re made of rubber (which most are these days) and aren’t very old, you can usually rejuvenate them with warm water and dish soap, an abrasive cleanser or even very light grit sand paper. Having grips that are in good condition, will go a long way towards having a relaxed grip and hitting the golf ball farther. by Winston Michell, CPGA Golf Professional Cottonwood Golf Club by Brett Standerwick PGA of Canada Golf Professional Fairwinds Golf Club Tune Up Your Game VANCOUVER ISLAND Is this the year for you to improve your golf? Lower scores, better ball striking, whatever? Here is a sure fire way to do it. • Set a realistic goal for yourself (how will you know you’ve arrived if you don’t know where you’re going) • Find a qualified CPGA coach you’re comfortable working with to help you achieve your goal. • Practice with a purpose and dedicate 50% of that practice time to your short game. Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott of ‘Vision 54’ fame challenged 2011 British Open champion Darren Clarke to get up and down 18 times in a row from random locations around the green. It took him 6 months to complete this task!! Maybe set your goal at getting up and down, three or four times in a row in a short game practice session. by Peter Oliphant, Director of Instruction, Arbutus Ridge Golf Club Arbutus Ridge Golf Professional Peter Oliphant teaches his craft. Putt Like a Hero If you want to putt like a hero, the following exercise will help you immensely. Take your putter in your trailing hand (right for righties and left for lefties) and make some one handed strokes to gain a feel for how the club head should swing. Relax or unlock your joints and feel how the head swings on a natural arc back and through. Whatever you do, try not to worry about breaking your wrist but just let the club swing. Now roll a putt a few balls this way just feeling this relaxed motion. Next attach your putter to your mid section, belly putter style, gripping the putter with both hands. Try to feel the same thing that you did while putting with just one hand with your wrists and elbows, a relaxed motion with your joints unlocked. The only difference is that your putter is attached to your body. Now stroke some putts with both hands on the club with your joints unlocked. You should feel that the club head swings back on a natural arc and the result should be that the ball hugs the turf towards the hole. You will make more putts after practicing this technique. by Jeff Palmer, Director of Instruction, Olympic View Golf Club Tee Times: 1.800.567.1320 www.morningstar.bc.ca GR EAT ISL A ND GOLF! COW ICH A N G OLF CLU B 1-877-744-5333 w w w.cowicha ngolfclub.ca 26 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 27 Vancouver Island Golfing in the Arbutus Ridge Golf Club’s Tourism Sustainability Award and Four Star Golf Digest Rating make it the first choice for golf on Vancouver Island! The Satellite Bar & Grille in the clubhouse offers ocean and island views teamed with a wrap around patio. Arbutus Ridge was specifically designed to Arbutus Ridge offer some of the most stunning views on Vancouver Island amongst the characteristic Arbutus tree. The front nine weaves through a seaside community and the back nine climbs a ridge to overlook the Satellite Channel. The golf course is directly surrounded nine wineries and was rated One of the Top 10 Golf Courses in Canada for Value by Westjet Up! Magazine in 2010. Glen Meadows Golf & Country Club is 6859 yards from the Blues yet it is so player friendly you don’t have to hesitate in bringing out your driver most of the time! You can play it long or play it short from the front tees at 5485 yards. The layout has challenged many while trying to qualify for the Canadian Tour. Local residents voted it their Favorite Place to Swing a Golf Club in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The course is undisturbed by houses and city noises. Wander among the majestic Gary Oaks and enjoy the views of Mt Tuam and the Malahat. We are only ten minutes from the BC Ferries and only five minutes from the Victoria International Airport. Throughout the winter you can rent a sheet of Glen Meadows curling ice and stay dry The Ultimate Island Golf Experience 18 holes • Par 72 • All Green Fees $58 or less Glen Meadows Golf & Country Club Interesting Island Links inside. We also have three tennis courts for those with extra energy. You are welcome to enjoy a beverage or meal in the clubhouse. The dining room and deck overlook the golf course. Olympic View always rates among top golf courses on Vancouver Island. Accentuated by magnificent waterfalls, beautiful mountain views, roaming deer and soaring eagles you will understand why Olympic View ranked 10th Best Public Golf Course in BC by Score Golf in 2011. After your outstanding golf experience visit Forester’s Bistro & Bar to enjoy the fresh locally inspired menu while soaking up the panoramic views of the eighteenth hole. Olympic View Golf Club always appreciates nature’s beauty that Olympic View surrounds this one of a kind golf course and is a proud member of the Audubon Society. Make GolfBC’s Olympic View Golf Club your first choice for golf! Located in the beautiful oceanside community of Parksville, just 25 minutes North of Nanaimo, Morningstar is one of the province’s most challenging and beautiful golf courses. Morningstar The challenging layout can be stretched to 7018 yards from the back (Golf ) Tees, but allowing for comfortable yardages to suit all players. The Les Furber design blends links (1 and 2) to forested areas of magnificent cedar and pine throughout the classic design. Cottonwood Conveniently located 15 minutes South of Nanaimo directly behind the Nanaimo Airport, the Cottonwood Golf Course is a full length par 72 golf course ranging from 5200–6200 yards offers golfers of all abilities an affordable experience. Their full service licensed restaurant, patio and lounge present all patrons a variety of appetizers along with our daily lunch and dinner menu’s complimented by our chef’s daily specials. VANCOUVER ISLAND Duncan Meadows The many lakes and ponds at Duncan Meadows Golf Course create an eco-culture that is home to many types of water fowl. And from every tee, golfers are rewarded with unforgetable mountain and valley views. Duncan Meadows has a deserved reputation as a player’s course that rewards forethought and patience. Testament to the course’s qualities are the players who have emerged as champions there. Both LPGA player Paula Creamer and PGA player, and BC native Chris Baryla have won major competitions at the course, “Where champions are crowned.” Pheasant Glen Golf Resort is a par- 72, 6,739-yard championship course in Qualicum Beach. The slogan, Nature’s Golf Course, perfectly suits this secluded enclave, devoted solely to great golf in a natural setting. Pheasant Glen is undisturbed by houses and highways and the golf is delivered with customer service second to none. Pheasant Glen’s front nine winds through high grass, meadows, and creeks, all framed by the peak of Mount Arrowsmith, while the back nine zigzags through a heavy stretch of Douglas fir and features a finishing punch that may be the most memorable in the province. The 16th hole is a narrow, 520-yard par five that dares big hitters to try for the green in two. Go too far and the ball splashes down into the hazard that wraps around the back of the hole. The 17th is a 427-yard par four with water squeezing the fairway on both sides of the landing zone. The 18th measures 582 yards from the tournament tees and, after giving it all you’ve got from the tee and fairway it demands accuracy with your approach to stay out of Pheasant Glen Golf Resort the water and bunker left and bunker right. Fairwinds Golf Club Known as one of the premier courses on Vancouver Island, Fairwinds Golf Club offers a variety of playing options for women, from weekly Ladies’ Nights to a monthly Ladies’ Nine and Wine, which provides beginner’s with a relaxed and fun introduction to golf. Fairwinds has a female instructor onsite, and the welcoming atmosphere makes it a great place to learn the game of golf. The award-winning Les Furber designed course is challenging, and attracts players of all levels. Located only one kilometre away from the golf course, Schooner Cove Marina welcomes transient boaters with overnight and weekly moorage. Complimentary clubs rentals and shuttle to the golf course are also available with overnight stays. For more information on Fairwinds, visit www.fairwinds.ca or contact us at 1-888-781-2777. Keep Consistency Book online or call 250-656-3921 www.glenmeadows.bc.ca 1050 McTavish Road, North Saanich, BC Only minutes from the BC Ferries and Victoria International Airport. 28 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 All golfers have 9 hole stretches or even a whole round where things work out as planned. We all play for that career day, which keeps us coming back. However most days work the other way and leave us wondering why we can’t do it every day. Consistency is what most of us strive for, and the key is fundamentals. If we can have a proper grip, posture and setup our chances of duplicating our swing improve drastically. Posture in particular helps us return the club to its original start position. If we bend at our hips we can keep our back straight, only a slight bend at the knees and remember to keep your chin and shoulders high. This will help you have more career days and less of those dreaded others. by Robin Hutchinson, Head Golf Professional, Glen Meadows Golf & Country Club www.pheasantglen.com 1-877-407-4653 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 29 Okanagan Golfing in the Make More Short Putts Day in and day out the difference between a good round of golf and a “not so good” round of golf is often the number of three, four or five foot putts that are made...or missed. Whether you are a low handicap golfer or a higher handicap golfer, I have a tip that can increase the amount of short putts you make (or don’t miss!!)...and it is as simple as this....close your eyes! That’s right....close your eyes before you putt!! One of the most common causes of a missed short putt is movement. Whether the movement is caused by the player following the putter head back and forth with his eyes, shifting his weight during stroke, and or even following the ball before the stroke is completed, movement makes the putter face open and close and that causes missed putts. Closing your eyes has an immediate effect on movement...it eliminates it. When your eyes are closed your body remains still...a still body means less movement...and less movement means less opening and closing of the club-face... which means MORE PUTTS MADE. The process is simple...line up your putt how you normally would (eyes open)... address the ball as per normal and even take your one or two practice strokes as normal (eyes open)...then when ready to OKANAGAN Hold The Finish The finish position in golf is one of the most important aspects of the golf swing. All you have to do to see this is turn the TV on late Sunday afternoon and watch the pros. It seems that on every shot they take they come to a perfectly balanced finish. The key here is “balance”. With good balance through the golf swing finding the proper finish, and holding it, becomes a whole lot easier. This proper finish is one where the hips and chest are both facing at the target and your back foot is up off the ground with the toe pointing down. Trying to hold this position until the ball lands is a great way to incorporate good habits into your golf swing, as well both your ball striking and distance should improve. Dan Matheson Head Golf Professional at Okanagan Golf Club, lines up his shot. putt, relax...exhale...CLOSE YOUR EYES...and make your stroke. I promise you will be AMAZED and the increase in the number of short putts you make during practice AND during play. As I mentioned at the beginning...the difference between a good round of golf and a “not so good” round of golf is the number of 3-45 foot putts made!! So if you want to make more short putts...CLOSE YOUR EYES!! by Dan Matheson, Head Golf Professional & GM at Okanagan Golf Club Josh Fleming, Asst. Golf Professional at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club observes his student’s swing. by Josh Fleming, CPGA Golf Professional, Gallaghers Golf Club Warming Up to Golf is a Must! It is important to remember that golf is a sport which requires our muscles to be loose and ready to perfom. To properly prepare our bodies and minds, we must warm up and this is done through stretching and hitting range balls prior to teeing off. Not only does this allow us to help to execute our golf swing properly, it also prevents injury. So plan your day around your golf game. Arrive at the golf course early enough to relax, clear your mind from work and daily stress and enjoy the beauitufl surroundings of the golf course you’re about to play. Your shot making ability to score will happen sooner in the round which always makes the game more enjoyable. Call us and we will be happy to work with you and make your golfing experience a success. And remember to warm up before you golf, to prevent injuries. by Tyrel Babkirk, Head Golf Professional, Summerland Golf Club GOLF DAY SPECIAL Rated as one of the best in the country, Gallagher’s Canyon is a spectacular par 72, 18-hold championship course full of challenging fairways, well-protected greens, and awe-inspiring vistas. Throughout the course, you’ll marvel at the scenery around you as you play through tall groves of ponderosa pine and along the very edge of the picturesque canyon. Just minutes from downtown Kelowna and Lake Okanagan, the warm arid climate and brilliant sunny days common to this part of the province consistently serve up ideal conditions for exceptional golf. $50 for unlimited golf & free lunch at Sonora Dunes Grill Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club 4320 Gallagher’s Drive West, Kelowna, BC Located at Nkmip Resort, 1300 Rancher Creek Rd., Osoyoos Phone 250.495.GOLF (4653) www.sonoradunes.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Tee Times: 250-861-4240 or online at www.golfbc.com Events: Leah Zimmerman — lzimmerman@golfbc.com Tee Times: 1.800.i.GolfBC (446-5322) gallagherscanyon @GallghersGolf Tyrel Babkirk, golf pro at Summerland Golf Club on a break. 30 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 31 Okanagan Golfing in the Outstanding This course can be fun to play for any level of golfer. The original front nine has numerous dogleg holes that challenge every golfer’s club selection. With more open fairways it can save many a golfer’s stray shots. The back nine that was built in 2000 is a challenge to all. It has many scenic views with 3 elevated par 3’s and 3 challenging par 5’s. It plays along the edge of the old Amber Lodge Ski Hill and has narrow fairways with pine trees that can intimidate most golfers. While playing the course look for wildlife everywhere including deer, elk, eagles, bears, and of course, our infamous badgers. Great Stay and Play opportunity at our 32 site RV Park. Located next to the 13th hole, there are great views of the course, and close proximity to the clubhouse. Princeton Golf Club Established in 1928, Princeton Golf Club has developed into one of BC Interior’s best hidden secrets. Located at the Gateway to the Okanagan between Hope and Penticton, this 18 hole course has all the amenities of a resort course with small town friendliness. It’s challenging terrain among Ponderosa Pines and high elevation views make it a must play destination for all golfers. Okanagan Golf R ated as one of the best in the country, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club is a spectacular par 72, 18-hole championship course full of challenging fairways, wellprotected greens and awe-inspiring vistas. Throughout the course, you’ll marvel at the scenGallagher’s Canyon er y around you as play through tall groves of ponderosa pine and along the very edge of the picturesque canyon. Just minutes from downtown Kelowna and Lake Okanagan, the warm arid climate and brilliant sunny days common to this part of the province consistently serve up ideal conditions for exceptional golf. Gallagher’s Canyon offers the quintessential Okanagan golf experience: rugged, yet defined. This golf course will challenge masters and apprentices alike. After an exhilarating game of golf, visualize your approach to the well appointed clubhouse. OKANAGAN gional lifestyle developments – where a leisure and wine culture lives in harmony with ancient native legends. Nestled among the rolling desert hills and lush vineyards of Osoyoos, this par-35, 2508-yard golf course is surrounded by the breathtaking natural beauty of Canada’s only true desert. The clubhouse features a pro-shop, a restaurant with covered patios, and open deck areas overlooking Osoyoos Lake. Osoyoos enjoys hot summers with little precipitation and the mildest winter climate in Canada, allowing Sonora Dunes to be accessible almost year-round. Okanagan Golf Course The Okanagan Golf Club boasts 36 holes of spectacular golf. Each of the courses ;The Bear, a Golden Bear design ,and the Quail ; a Les Furber design, are distinctive in their own right Meandering through majestic ponderosa pines and undulating terrain ,each hole provides a unique playing experience for golfers of all levels. A complete practice facility with grass T areas, putting & chipping greens and practice sand bunkers make your day of golf near perfect. The Okanagan’s Bear Course can prove as ferocious as a grizzly or as gentle as a teddy, depending on which set of tees you choose. You’ll need accurate shooting to bring down the 6,794 yard Quail Course. Summerland Golf & Country Club In 2012, Summerland G & CC will be the proud host of the BC Men’s Mid Amateur Championship, June 11th to 13th. While the golf course does provide ample challenge to the competitive golfer, it is equally as much fun for the recreational golfer. Summerland provides itself on offering a tiered green fee rate, offering discounts off regular green fees the later you play in the day. As well there are a number of loyalty play options as well. Summerland Golf & Country Club has provided Summerland and area residents a quality golf experience since 1980. A Semi-Private Club, it welcomes the keen golfer who wishes to play frequently and will benefit from membership; but also welcomes the casual golfer and the many tourists who visit the area through the summer months. The Club’s pristine location, challenge, and quality grooming have contributed to it being selected to host 3 provincial championships in the last five years. The Club welcomes the Vanilla Pod Restaurant as its new partner operating the VP Grill @ Summerland Golf & Country Club. Their reputation and excellence in food and service helps round out the overall experience at Summerland Golf & Country Club. A full service Golf Shop, electric power carts and a 300+ yard Practice Range with grass teeing area will all add to a most enjoyable experience at Summerland Golf & Country Club. SUMMERLAND GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Twin Lakes Golf Resort Twin L akes G olf Resor t features spectacular golf in a serene mountain setting. This beautiful 285 acre resort is nestled in a scenic valley surrounded by towering rock cliffs. The course features elevated tees, strategically bunkered greens and fairways, and water hazards on four holes. Multiple tee blocks on each hole ensure all players are challenged yet provides optimal playability. The restaurant & lounge offering good food, friendly service, and a variety of local wines and micro brewed beers. The outdoor patio provides a relaxing place to take in the incredible view overlooking the 1st, 9th & 10th holes. Twin Lakes Golf Resort also features a 39 Full Service RV Park to provide one of the best golfing RV holidays for you to enjoy. Clean wash rooms, free showers, laundry, communal fire pit, TV 2 channels, free WIFI, are a few of the amenities offered at the RV Park. Don’t forget your pets are welcome too. 18 Hole – 6,600 Yard Championship Lay Out 300+ Yard Practice Range Power Cart & Club Rentals Fully Equipped Pro Shop & Full Service Restaurant Green Fee Rates: Opening to 1:00 $57 Mid Day 1:00 - 3:30 $47 Twilight: 3:30 - 4:30 $37 Super Twilight: After 4:30 $30 “Home Of The British Columbia Golf Men’s Mid Amateur Championship” 32 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 Sonora Dunes Sonora Dunes, a desert-style 9-hole golf course offers a unique golfing experience. Golfers of all abilities will enjoy the solitude offered by this one-ofa-kind natural setting. The professionallydesigned layout is an integral part of one of British Columbia’s most fascinating reWest Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 33 Kamloops Area Golfing in the Only a scenic 45 minute drive east of Kamloops lies the Talking Rock Golf Club and Quaaout Resort. Centrally located between Salmon Arm and Kamloops the Talking Rock is the perfect golf course for the seasoned player, or the less experienced golfer who wants to experience the thrill of playing a longer course. After the game, stay at the beautiful Quaaout Lodge. Enjoy this spectacular golf destination. www.talkingrock.ca Talking Rock Golf Club Golf is Cool in Tobiano Golf Course Rated best conditioned golf course in the Okanagan/Shuswap by by BCGolfGuide.com Two great properties in the Thompson Okanagan/Shuswap one easy phone call! Individually or combined the & are highlights in our region. Book today! Accommodation, Tee time, etc. or one of our great golf packages starting from only $145.00. Call Mike: 1.800.797.7713 Visit our great new web sites: stigr.com l canoecreekgolf.com Find us on: & . T h e s t u n n i n g p a n o r a m a o f To b i a n o h a d t h e s a m e effect on celebrated golf course architect Thomas McBroom as it has on every visitor to the former site of the fabled Six Mile Ranch just west of Kamloops, British Columbia. McBroom has travelled the world mastering his craft and in that pursuit has walked virtually every imaginable terrain. On this spectacular canvas, McBroom managed to create a golf course that is as haltingly beautiful as the surroundings. The distinguished panel of golf experts for Canada’s leading golf publication, SCOREGolf Magazine, recognized a singular artistry when Tobiano was named the Best New Course in Canada for 2008. Canoe Creek Golf Course Canoe Creek Golf Course is an eighteen hole Championship Course in Salmon Arm BC. It is Canadian golf legend Dave Barr’s first course design. Built in the style of a British links Canoe creek uses the natural terrain to make up a unique blend of open fairways lined with native fescue and elevation’s change marked with tree lines. Canoe Creek Golf Course is famous for its pristine course conditions being named BC Golf Guides best conditioned course in 2011. A beautiful golf shop and Bistro provide guests of Canoe Creek with all the merchandise and food a golfer visiting Canoe Creek could want. Ball Position Is Important “The rooms are beautiful & the Inn itself is fabulous” Kamloops Area KAMLOOPS AREA Many amateurs struggle with their golf shots because of their ball position. Ball position is extremely important for hitting the ball without a slice or a hook as well as controlling the trajectory of a shot. To make your ball position more consistent always walk into your shoot and stop to the side of your ball (left of the ball for right handed players) with your feet together then simply move one foot CPGA Golf Pro Jesse Crowe shows how to line up either towards your tarthe perfect shot at Canoe Creek Golf Course. get if you want the ball back in your stance or away from your target for a ball up in your stance. You should play wedges to seven iron off your belt buckle and six iron to driver should move one ball closer to your front heel for each club more you are hitting. If you want to hit the ball high move it forward if you want to hit low shots play it back. by Jesse Crowe, CPGA Head Professional, Canoe Creek Golf Course Nestled in the hills above the South Thompson River and carved into the c h a n gi n g to p o g raphy, each hole at Eaglepoint offers new exciting challenges and spectacular views. Eaglepoint was designed by architect Robert Heaslip. It is a full chamEaglepoint Golf Course pionship length 18hole course featuring five reflecting ponds, a waterfall and over fifty bunkers. Encompassing 165 acres with a total length of 6,762 yards, with a slope rating of 126 from the back tees, Eaglepoint is accessible to players of all levels and abilities. In the resort experience, Eaglepoint Golf Resort is a beautiful centerpiece of both recreation and natural splendor. Improvements for 2011 season include imported bimini sand upgrade in 18 greenside bunkers. Golfing at its Best! www.golfeaglepoint.com Tee times preferred, walk-ons welcome & Talking Rock Golf Club the “natural” choice for business travelers conference space from 10–400 1663 Little Shuswap Road West, Chase BC, 45 minutes east of Kamloops off Hwy 1. • 1.877.663.4303 • www.talkingrock.ca 34 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 8888 Barnhartvale Rd. Kamloops BC V2C 6W1 From Hwy #1 look for turnoff Dallas Dr./Barnhartvale Rd. Golf course is 9 km south of HWY #1 Pro Shop: 250-573-2453 Fax: 250-573-4810 info@golfeaglepoint.com West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 35 Kamloops Area Golfing in the Make Your Set Up The Same First of all, make your setup the same every time; this means you have to have the same grip, stance, and posture for every shot. Make sure you setup your club-face first, then your feet and then your posture. This will build your stance from the club-face out making sure that you are going to be the same distance from the ball and ensuring your posture and setup are consistent. Having the same setup every time will help produce the same Dining in the swing. If you setup to the ball differently every time, your swing will change because you’ll rely on hand-eye contact. Another key point to remember about consistency is to make sure that you make the same smooth swing every time. Don’t try and kill the ball; the backswing should be slow and controlled and the downswing shouldn’t start until the backswing is finished. Take things slow. by Michael Chmilar, CPGA Head Golf Professional, Sun Rivers Golf Course Before the Game La Casita Why have a hot dog at BC Place when La Casita, offering delicious Mexican cuisine is only a 10 minute walk from the stadium. It’s the perfect place to stop off before the game, for a traditional Mexican meal. The handmade quesadillas are delicious, as are all the menu items and lunch and dinner specials. With a number of large screen tv’s, La Casita is also the place to catch the sports action. Maybe watch a Champions League game, or the Lions, Whitecaps or Canucks. LaCasita also caters to groups of up to 50 people with their private downstairs dining area. For parties, you can order off the menu or have a set menu. Also, on the weekends after the game,awesome drink specials are served. LaCasita is the popular place to party. Located at the corner of Cordova and Abbott. Phone 604.646.2444. • Carnivorous and Vegetarian lunch specials from $8 to $10 • Exciting dinner specials not on the menu • Blended and top shelf Margaritas • Lots of Tequilas to choose from ( 100% agave only) • Handmade Quesadillas • Cater to parties up to 50 in our private room • 4 large screen tv's • Open till 2 on weekends 101 W. Cordova St., Vancouver BC (604) 646-2444 The Place For a Cold Beer After Work or Play Casual Waterfront Dining We specialize in fresh west coast seafood and traditional British fare. Open for lunch and dinner. Cheshire Cheese Restaurant and Bar 36 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 Over 40 Taps (many from locally sourced micro breweries) plus Great Food & Lots of TV’s to watch your favorite Game St. Augustine’s 2360 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Phone 604.569.1911 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 37 Dining in the Doin’ The Drive A Quaint, Romantic Cafe on the Drive International restaurants representing almost every culture in the world, line the bustling Commercial Drive. Strolling down ‘The Drive’, you will see the street dotted with Italian expresso shops, European delicatessens and bakeries, fruit and vegetable markets, unique boutiques, casual eateries, cozy pubs and some fine dining establishments. As you meander down the drive, you will find the Libra Room. It’s the perfect place to let your hair down, enjoy some fabulous food and drinks with friends, and have a great time.Groove to the live music every night. It’s also one of the many places on the drive to watch the game on big screen TV. At the Libra room, you will experience a casual, and cozy atmosphere. Located at 1608 Commercial Drive. Phone 604.255.3787. As you continue to stroll along the drive, you will find the taste of the true flavors of Mexico. tio pepe’s restaurant mexicano, offers authentic Mexican Cuisine. The menu and ambiance reflect everything that is traditional about Mexico. Tio Pepe’s welcomes you to their award winning Mexican cuisine. Sink your teeth into specialty dishes or enjoy the scrumptious Enchiladas, Burritos, Tostadas or Tacos. These are only a few of the delectable items on the menu, and you can enjoy daily specials. Go Mexican for your special occasions, and let the friendly staff at Tio Pepe’s take care of you. The restaurant also offers take-out and free delivery. Phone 604.254.8999 1134 Commercial Drive, Vancouver. Enhance your dining experience, by enjoying traditional, Italian Serving Succulent North and South Mediterranean Cuisine A vast selection of wines 15% promotional food discount at Lunch Hour Reservations 604.215.0661 1851 Commercial Dr., Vancouver Live Music Every Night Great Food, Cozy Atmosphere Great Place to Watch the Game on Big Screen TV 38 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 cuisine at Arriva Ristorante. This cozy restaurant is situated in the heart of Vancouver’s Little Italy District.After 25 years in business, Arriva has become a land mark on Commercial Drive. It is a family run restaurant, and the owners believe that traditional Italian cooking relies on the best and freshest ingredients available and, as usual doesn’t disappoint its’ diners. All dishes are prepared fresh daily on the premises including the gnocchi, sausages, pancella, sauces, bread and desserts. Located at 1537 Commercial Drive. Reservations call 604.251.1177. Carthage Cafe is a small romantic cafe exclusive to Commercial Drive in that the menu offers Arriva a north and south Mediterranean fare that will be sure to please! The chef and owner, a native Tunisian takes great pride in all his dishes, and adds to his carefully selected menu with wonderful daily features. The impeccable service staff is truly there to help make any occasion a memorable one. The wine list incorporates both new world, and traditional classic options, but ask your server for a recommendation as they do have a large selection not offered on the list. Reservations are recommended as the popularity of this place is growing fast. Try it, and you will surely love it. Urbanspoon reviews are at a 90% approval rating, and Carthage Cafe offers a 15% promotional food discount at Lunch hour. Bon Appetit. Reservations call 604.215.0661. Why spend the expense and time traveling to Thailand, when you can experience the authentic taste of Thailand cuisine right on ‘ The Drive’? The traditional Thai dishes at this cozy restaurant, is complimented by the friendly staff and superb service. The daily food specials are delicious, as is everything else on the menu. And, if you don’t have time to experience the Thai hospitality that dining in will give you, there is take out service as well. Open Monday to Thursday for lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm and dinner 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm. Located at 1859 Commercial Drive. Phone 604.215.9969 by Mark MacIntyre Affordable, authentic Thai Food with friendly service Find Traditional Mexican Cuisine Enjoy authentic Thai Dishes Daily Specials Dine In and Take Out Award Winning Mexican Cuisine | Daily Specials 1859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver V5N 4A6 Phone 604.215.9969 authentic italian cuisine 1537 commercial drive 604-251-1177 on the Drive Offering Take-Out or Free Delivery 1134 Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC V5L 3X2 Canada Phone: (604) 254-8999 | Fax: (604) 677-0926 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 39 DOCKSIDE DECADENCE DOCKSIDE DECADENCE The Taste of Italy Traditional Italian Cuisine in a Cozy Atmosphere Authentic Italian Dishes Horseshoe Bay Strolling through the main street of Horseshoe Bay, you will experience the seaside charm and small town hospitality amidst a breathtaking backdrop of the waters of Howe Sound and the majestic Coastal Mountains. After only a 25 minute drive from Vancouver, you will experience the waterfront village of Horseshoe Bay, which has blossomed io into an exciting seaside at P n destination. so ga o Right in the heart of Horses T s shoe Bay, hugging the churnGu er n ing waters of Howe Sound and the w o s back drop of the majestic Coastal mouning or tains, you will find a piece of Greece. The Bay o yM M o o r i n g s R e s t a u r a n t combines traditional Ba Greek cuisine with authentic Greek decor to create the taste, the adventure and the romance of Greece. Dine on the delectable Greek specialties like Roast Lamb, Mousaka, Dolmades and more. For starters you can dive into an appetizer of homous or tzatziki with pita bread. Or, you can dine on the more regular dishes of mouth-watering seafood, steak and pasta dishes. And, to compliment these sensational entrees, choose from is a good selection of wonderful wines. The experience of dining at Bay Moorings will linger with you, until you return again. Reservations call 604.921.8184 or 604.921.8185. Walking along the main street in Horseshoe Bay, you will stumble across a cozy pub called the Troller Pub. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is remarkable. Actually, that is what sets the Troller Pub aside from most other Pubs. They actually serve much more than the regular pub fare of hamburgers and chips, chicken wings and nachos. The cook creates tantalizing dishes like chicken, steak and pasta, for you to sink your teeth in. And of course they have a large selection of beers to choose from. Phone 604.921.7616. hy rap tog ho sP ind tW as Co est :W oto ph The Taste of Real Italy Dining in the photo: Val Hazelman Photos: West Coast Winds Photography Find the authentic culture, taste and ambiance of real Italy, located only a short 15 minute drive from Vancouver. The area knows as ‘Little Italy’ has shifted from Commercial Drive to East Hastings Street. Hugging the Vancouver border, North Burnaby has become a mecca of tantalizing and traditional Italian cuisine. After savoring your first bite of delicious pasta at La Villetta, you quickly realize that the authentic dish you are experiencing is probably more tasty than the meal you would get if you were in real Italy. And, you can’t get a more traditional, culinary experience than that. The superb Italian creations at LaVilletta are unsurpassed. Enjoy a romantic dinner for two, or a larger party. LaVilletta serves it up, the Italian way. So, why travel to Italy, when LaVilletta offers you a piece of real Italy, only a short drive from Vancouver. Located off Boundary at 3901 East Hastings. For reservations call 604.299.3979 Down the street a bit, lies Anducci’s Italian Restaurant, where the fresh, handmade pastas and sauces are made from the recipes of the owners Italian grandmothers. Anducci’s recently opened its doors after renovations because of a major fire a few months ago. But, now Anducci’s is better than ever, and serving Italian dishes that are out of this world. The 75 seat restaurant and 60 seat patio are perfect for private parties and events. They also offer generous “Book Out,” packages for their customers. Anducci’s is also proud to offer gluten free pasta options. Located at 6011 Hastings Street Burnaby, Phone 604.299.8002. Meanwhile, stepping into the doors of Anton’s Pasta Bar, you immediately get the feeling of old Italy. This cozy eatery proudly serves a wide variety of traditional and original Anton’s Pasta creations. The casual Italian decor and friendly staff, are what keeps people returning the Anton’s time and time again. Located at 4260 East Hastings in Burnaby. Phone 604.299.6636 Anducci’s West Coast Winds Photography Dining in the EXPERIENCE THE TASTE, ADVENTURE AND ROMANCE OF GREECE Succulent Seafood Authentic Greek Specialties One of the Best Views on the West Coast Large Covered and Heated Patio 6330 Bay Street, Horseshoe Bay, West Van. Phone 604.921.8184 or 604.921.8185 Best Pub In Horseshoe Bay The Perfect Pl ace to Dine Before The Ga m e Open for lunch Tuesday–Friday 11:30–2:00 and dinner Tuesday–Sunday 5:00–11:00 Reservations 604.299.3979 3901 Hastings Street (at Ingleton, 2 blocks off Boundry ) 40 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 The Troller Pub Daily Food Specials Starting at $8.50 Full Menu of Great Pub Food & Light Appies Cold Beer, Wine & Cider To Go 4260 East Hastings, North Burnaby 604-299-6636 604.921.7616 6422 Bay Street, Horseshoe Bay West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 41 DOCKSIDE DECADENCE Dining in the False Creek tography inds Pho W st a o C West Meandering along side the towering skyscrapers of Yaletown, False Creek has become a bustling water way of sailboats and motor boats, dancing with the waves of the oncoming tides. The most recently developed part of False Creek is Marina Side. The perfect place to gaze out at the sensational waterfront view, while socializing with friends and experiencing the culinary delights of some of the more outstanding dining establishments in Vancouver. 601 Stamps Landing, False Creek Waterfront Vancouver 604.877.1351 www.monkmcqueens.com Visit us on 42 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 West Co ast Winds P hoto Offering breathtaking views and an exceptional experience for you and your quests. de Marinasi Provence View from graphy Extraordinary Waterfront Weddings! icane Grill View from Hurr View fr om Monk M cQueen s Nestled of the shores of Marinaside in False Creek, at the foot of Davie Street lies the Provence Marinaside. Walking through the doors of this quaint restaurant, you are immediately transported to the South of France, without experiencing the ill effects of jet lag. The atmosphere emulating real France, makes the Provence Marinaside the perfect place to relax and socialize in the dining area, at the bar or on the patio. You can gaze out at the action in the marina and the seawall. The award winning food, warm ambiance and friendly service turns every meal into a special occasion. The Provence Marina offers fresh local seafood, a raw oyster bar, an anti pasta showcase and an extensive wine list. The restaurant has a private room for parties and there is a take out service. Plus, you can order gourmet picnic baskets. Phone 604.681.4144 or visit www.provencevancouver.com. Monk McQueens boasts a stellar waterfront view of the city, and specializes in succulent seafood dishes like fresh oysters, wild BC salmon, and other cutting-edge and creative menu ideas. Monks has recieved numerous awards for location, menu, wine list and service, and was the winner of the Where Magazine award for best patio. Located only minutes from most downtown events and concerts, Monks caters to the local neighborhood with guest programs such as Monks Dinner & Game & the complementary shuttle service to the Canucks, BC Lions & Whitecaps home games. McQueen’s upstairs is our exclusive Wedding and corporate event venue. Our great space includes custom menus, dance floor, coat check, private bar and dedicated kitchen. We are able to host events for 50–150. Visit our facebook page for the latest photos of the room and past events. Monks is now open for Weekend Brunch at 10am – Monks is offering a great way to start weekend. Join us for award winning service and the best waterfront view of Vancouver, only minutes from most downtown events and concerts. From the vantage point of the Hurricane Grill at Marinaside, you can see the slender herons glide over the marina dock, as the masts of the sail boats rise high in the background above the waves of False Creek. This cozy restaurant is one of the best places in the city to socialize with friends over a scrumptious dish and soothing beverage. The Hurricane Grill is committed to providing a relaxing upbeat atmosphere, mouth watering food and genuinely friendly service that will make you want to come back for more. Whether you are looking for a fun place to take the family, somewhere to watch the game, or a restaurant where you can tantalize your taste buds within the internationally inspired menu and cocktail list, the Hurricane Grill has something for everyone. You can plan your large or small social event at the Hurricane Grill and choose from one of three party packages. The Hurricane Grill is the perfect location for Holiday cheer this Christmas Season. by Mark MacIntyre Food, Service, Atmosphere For special events large or small – choose one of our three party packages. Hurricane Grill is the perfect location for Holiday cheer this Christmas Season! 1137 Marinaside Cres., False Creek 999 Marine Dr., North Van. 604.488.0555 604.983.9444 www.HurricaneGrill.ca West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 43 Mountain Grass Roots of Mountain Biking photo: Jason Martin, JPics Sky’s The Limit For Bikers STRANDS is celebrating ammonia-free, permanent hair colour since 1990. Enjoy a FREE personalized scalp and hair treatment, or a customized relaxing mini-facial. Please call 604.681.3341 for an appointment * NO CASH VALUE. FIRST TIME CLIENTS ONLY. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE. Mountain Dining Thrilling Tracks in Vernon Ride and Live Midway to Whistler Mountain Biker in Kalamalka Park, Vernon of the Grass Roots of Mountain Biking he sport has strong roots in British Columbia since T the early 80’s. Mountain biking is now just one genre photo: Andrew Summers Roger Yip cost of entry to mountain biking and time required, plus the travel to a destination to ride. I find it similar of many different types of cycling. We live in the per- to golf, where you need to travel to play, or ride in the fect location for mountain biking, many innovators and case of bikes. The time required to mountain bike rebrands roots came from BC and specifically the Lower quires planning to a destination, and proper riding equipment. Also required is a sense of knowing where Mainland. to go and how much sigMountain biking is gainnificant time allotment ing popularity on the loyou should set aside. Escal mountains. The North pecially in the city, where Shore has always been it is easier to get a quick famous for it’s many deone hour ride from your veloped trails, riding inhouse on a city bike route, frastructure, amazing terand be time efficient. This rain & scenery. The North is different in rural areas Shore is “legendary” and where mountain biking is known world wide for a backyard activity. mountain biking that will As far as the future, mounchallenge the extreme tain biking will have rider to and past their some hurdles if trails get limits. The mountains are closed or maintenance is known to produce some not kept up. I believe as world class mountain bik- Mountain biker blazes through trail on North Shore a genre of biking, mouners, and the proximity to tain biking is here to stay. Vancouver makes it an unique experience only minutes There are just too many backroads and mountain trails from the city center. Meanwhile, Squamish & Whistler have evolved to compared to paved parts of the world. It’s a form of become the bike riders dream trifecta for all types of cycling unlike all the others, and more of a back to namountain biking, cross country, downhill, single-track, ture type of experience. The two main sectors of either trials. From the beginner mountain biker to extreme mountain or road biking, will always remain in the two athlete, the Sea to Sky region has every rider covered. major categories. But, how you define the two, and deWhere else does such a corridor of options exist within termine what equipment you need, will merely be a faca short distance from a major city, and a world class ski tor of where you ride your bike and the design of a bike. Some bikes are more versatile than others. hill? The area is indeed, a mountain bikers mecca. Getting away from mountain biking, cycling is on the growth stage, but mountain biking has given some Roger Yip is a biking enthusiast, and President of market share to road or city riding. Partly due to the Brodie Bikes Is The Sky The Limit For Bikers? mountain biking is going to get much bigger. We A bsolutely, believe it will catch up to skiing, and eventually surpass it for numbers of participants. Q. Why has the mountain bike and regular cycling sport gained momentum over the past few years? A. Cycling has been getting much more main stream. Road biking is already increasing at an exponential rate and will continue to do so, as more people realize how great an activity it is. It is an incredible, low impact sport that is fun and keeps you healthy.With rides like the BC Lung Trek, the Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Gran Fondo, road riding has really taken off. Regarding mountain biking, the growth has been slower, but still improving every year with more and more bike parks opening up every summer. Q. Are all the new bike lanes in the city and the prospect of more bike lanes opening up in the city, creating more interest in cycling generally? A. All the new bike lanes get people thinking about cycling for sure. But, I think more importantly, what the bike lanes do is make drivers more aware that they are sharing the road with cyclists. With more awareness, comes safer routes, and that will get a lot more people thinking about taking their bike to work instead of the car. Q. Is the North Shore and Squamish area becoming somewhat of a mecca for mountain bikers? Why? A. The North Shore and Squamish are already meccas for mountain biking! The trails in our backyard are incredibly famous around the world and have been featured in countless films such as “Made”, “The Collective” and “From the Inside Out”. The trails around here are world class and with Whistler mountain just an hours drive from the North Shore, there is no place on earth with as much to offer mountain bikers! Q. Should there be more emphasis on educating mountain bikers about the dangers of the sport? A. It probably isn’t that necessary. Most people are already aware that there are dangers involved with mountain biking, as the dangers are quite obvious. They know, If you fall off your bike, it will hurt. It’s not like skiing where there are forces of nature that you need to understand such as avalanches. The positives that come from mountain biking far outweigh the potential dangers and prevent serious injuries. Biking Answers in the Rob Venables Robert Venables is a successful downhill racer, and owner of Dunbar Cycles photo: George Porteous Biking Guest Rob Venables, downhill racer and owner of Dunbar Cycles, isn’t eating anyones dust! Grab your gear and make tracks to Vernon! photo by Jason Martin Check in, check it out, choose your days, make your mark, blaze a trail, get up with the birds, sing a song, play along, mountains perfect for biking, hike to far reaches, valleys made for cycling, make it yours! SKISILVERSTAR.COM 46 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 1-855-640-6406 www.tourismvernon.com West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 47 Mountain photo: Jason Martin Pics Mountain Dining Thrilling Tracks In Vernon Superb Traditional Japenese Cuisine The best seat in the resort to gaze at the spectacular mountains, and people watch on the two level patio of carved volcanic stone 4272 Mountain Square, In Whistler Village Ph: (604) 932-3330 Mountain biker has exhilarating ride on trail in kalamalka Park, Vernon T here is nothing more thrilling than blazing down a trail with the wind at your back. And, the type of trail you encounter, determines how special your ride will be. For a spectacular mountain biking experience, the Vernon area offers a variety of mountain biking for all abilities,ranging from recreational riding to the serious downhiller. Fast flowy single track can be found in Ellison Provincial Park overlooking Okanagan Lake, a popular camping destination for visitors, as they wake up and ride from their campsite onto the singletrack trails. The trails are sign posted, and riders can identify the trails using relics, such as the ‘old truck’, situated along the paths. Downhill riders can shuttle into Kalamalka Provincial Park, where they can start their ride with a view and finish it by cooling off with a dip in the lake. Over the past six years, the North Okanagan Cycling Society (NOCS) has worked closely with BC Parks to build and maintain trails in the Vernon area parks. This year saw the evolution of ‘Gingerly’, an easy grade 8km connector trail from the park entrance to the Cosens Creek trail system in Kalamalka park. The Cosens Creek system, situated on the west slope offers cross country riding for all levels. For the advanced rider, the arid conditions of the Okanagan allow for technical riding through rocky outcrops, mixed with fat single track in the hard packed trails. A favourite ride, is climbing to Twisted Sister, a blue run, at the top of the trails, down what most call fun single-track through the trees, right down to the lake. One has to keep an eye out riding past the Turtle pond, for rocks on the trail that have legs and move. All trails are sign posted, and maps of the Ellison and Kalamalka Park mountain bike areas can be purchased at the local bike shops. Proceeds go to NOCS who work to promote cycling in the community through maintaining and enhancing mountain bike trails, social events, and raising awareness of bike etiquette and safety. by Julie Melanson Ride Like The Wind And Live To Enjoy It There really are few things better then riding you favorite trail on a beautiful summer day. One aspect of biking that makes it so unique is fact every one of us rides a bike a little differently. We all have our own little piece of the sport. However there is always something new to learn that will make your ride just that much better. For example, techniques like looking down the trail in the distance that way you know what’s coming up and have time to react. By doing this you also are able to pick the smoothest line to get down the trail. Breaking is another key aspect of riding that is easily confused. It is never a good idea to jam the breaks hard locking them which can result in a crash or loss of control. When breaking modulation is key to slowing down quickly and effectively. Modulating breaks is simply finding that sweet spot in the stroke of the lever. These are just a couple things that can make your biking experience even better. As the passion for mountain biking gets bigger and bigger so has the importance of having a well maintained bike. The truth is that most mechanical issues start from something as simple as a loose bolt. It’s always a good Idea to clean your bike and go over it after every few rides. As you clean your bike inspect all the components, checking that they are good to go and tight. Going over bolts can go a long way in keeping your bikes mechanical issues to a minimum. by Eric Price, Biking Safety Manager, Silver Star 48 West Coast Winds Spring / Summer 2012 Mountain Located in the heart of the village. Nicely nestled at the foot of Whistler Mountain. OPEN FOR BREAKFAST–LUNCH–APRES–DINNER FROM 7AM TO 1AM Located at the base of both Mountains 604.932.6408 4270 Mountain Square, Whistler, BC Whether your pleasure is steak, organic chicken, or our wild-caught top-layer fish and shelfish, you can be assured that your meal is created from the freshest and the best. We do it this way because we are pleased to welcome you to Ric’s. And we would love to see you again. 4154 Village Green, Whistler Phone (604) 932.RICS www.ricsgrill.com Located in the lobby of the Crystal Lodge Hotel Casual Dining - Fun Atmosphere In the Delta Whistler Village Suites 4555 Blackcomb Way, Whistler. (604) 905-5422 Mountain Vancouver . . . t o y a w d i M Squamish Nestled in the Squamish Valley, lies the quaint town of Squamish. Located halfway between downtown Vancouver and Whistler ’s high alpine, Squamish is where the ocean meets the Mountain in Sea to Sky countr y. The town lies at the crossroads between incomparable outdoor recreational and unforgettable West Coast culture. Everywhere you look you will see rugged landscapes and stunning vistas come together to create memorable adventures like hiking, mountain biking, golfing and more. After a grueling day enjoying your favorite sport, indulge in a sensational dining experience at one of the outstanding restaurants Squamish has to offer. And, why drive back to Vancouver or the North Shore, when you can stay overnight at one of Squamish’s great hotels, at a lower cost than what you would pay at Whistler. The Sandman Hotel & Suites is the perfect place to stay for a short get-away, or a longer visit. With great mountain views, the hotel features recreational amenities including a fitness facility. The Sandman also has a business center and offers a meeting/conference room and business service. Complimentary wireless internet access is available in public areas and a complimentar y breakfast is served each morning. Also parking is complimentary. For reservations call 604.848.6000 Sushi S en is an authentic Japanese restaurant delighting Squamish residents and tourists since 2007. The traditional Japanese cuisine is prepared with fresh local fish and high quality ingredients from Japan. The excellent sushi dishes are what the Squamish locals love hief about Sushi Sen. And less than 45 minutes from The C Whistler, Vancouver area residents have the perfect place to stop off for dinner on their way to or from the resort. Come and enjoy authentic Japanese food and feel the Japanese classic atmosphere. Open Mon.–Fri., lunch 11:30 am–2 pm; Mountain ...Whistler Whistler Mon.–Thurs., dinner 5 pm–9 pm; Fri., dinner 5 pm–9:30 pm; Sat., dinner 4 pm–9:30 pm; and closed on Sunday. 40382 Tantalus Way, Squamish behind Extra Foods. Phone 604.898.8235. The traditional cuisine of India awaits you at the Essence of India Restaurant. Less than 45 minutes away from Whistler, you can savour the special curry dishes the Punjab region is known for. For starters, why not sample some scrumptious appetizers like the Papri Chat, which is a yogurt dish with potato, chick peas and wafers served cold. Or the vegetable Samosa made of seasoned potato and vegetable, wrapped in a light pastry and served with either chutney or chick pea curry. Also enjoy spectacular entrees like Tandoori Chicken, Tandoori Ribs or Tandoori Wild Salmon, marinated in yogurt and Indian spices, and then cooked in a tandoor oven. Or, enjoy Lamb Roganjosh, which is lamb cooked in onion, tomato, yogurt, coconut milk and a touch of cream. Vegan and allergy free dishes are also available. Lunch and dinner specials, take out, catering and delivery is also available. 15% off dine in only. Open for lunch Thurs.–Sun. 11:30 am–2:30 pm and for dinner Wed.–Mon. 4:30 pm–9:30 pm. Closed on Tuesdays. Located two minutes off the Sea to Sky Highway in Squamish behind Extra Foods at 40367 Tantalus Way in the Garabaldi Highlands. Phone 604.898.1000. s ll a F n At Pepe & Gringo’s, you can count on outstanding Shanno service and food that far exceeds your expectations. So don’t be fooled by the laid-back vibes and rustic decor. The chef here takes his table d’hote very seriously, delivering fare that is beautifully prepared and presented. Indeed, this kitchen blends traditional techniques with a fun, creative style, and all who enter are the beneficiairies. The menu shows influences as varied as Indian, Asian, Southwestern, Italian and Tex-Mex. For a remarkable dining experience while passing through Squamish, Pepe & Gringo’s has a well known reputation as being one of the best restaurants in the area. Phone 604.898.3606 by Mark MacIntyre Experience Authentic Indian Cuisine A LW AY S T H E S M A R T C H O I C E So Many Reasons To Stay: Executive and family suites available | Complimentary high-speed Internet | Fitness facilities | Indoor pool & whirlpool | Complimentary parking | Business centre | Complimentary continental breakfast GARIBALDI HIGHLANDS BC Phone 604.898.3606 50 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUMMER 2012 40367 Tantalus Way, Squamish, BC 1 800 SANDMAN (726 3626) 39400 Discovery Way | Squamish, BC | V8B 0R5 West Coast Winds SPRING / SUmMER 2012 51 Voted one of the top 25 hotels in Canada Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice 2012 ® www.nitalakelodge.com 2131 Lake Placid Road, Whistler, BC VON 1B2 Reser vations: 1.888.755.NITA HUGE TENT SALE up to 90% off Aug. 29th - Sept. 29th Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 9pm Sunday 10am to 6 pm 150-3100 St. Edwards Drive, Richmond Phone 604.270.8829