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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/813780
G O L F On the Right Course With the combined efforts of various golf companies and organizations, the future of the sport in B.C. is getting brighter every single day "G rowing the game" is what anybody and everybody in the world of golf is trying to do, but turning that dream into a reality can be quite the challenging task. However, with the passion and vision that several of the big players in B.C.'s golf industry have, any obstacles they may face along the way have not prevented them from getting results and gaining traction. Full menu of golf products In the City of Burnaby, assistant director, golf services, David O'Connor, says growing the game means offering a diverse menu of options and turning upside down the notion of what municipal golf is. Not only does Burnaby have two full- length courses (Burnaby Mountain and Riverway), both equipped with multi-level driving ranges. It also has a pitch-and-putt in Central Park and one at Kensington Park, which will soon be revamped into a nine- hole executive-length course. Golf Burnaby's vision, which comes with direction from the mayor and city council, is to offer golfers of all skill levels the best facilities. "We want you as a member for the day, whether that means seniors playing at Burnaby Mountain, kids playing with their grandparents at Central Park, or the bombers who want to challenge Riverway," says O'Connor. "We are realists in that we offer value at every level and that's the key to our continuous growth." That means keeping fee increases to a minimum and constantly upgrading facilities, such as the beautiful clubhouse at Riverway, the renovated driving range at Burnaby Mountain and, if everything goes to plan, the new nine-hole executive course at Kensington, which has a soft opening slated for autumn 2018. Attracting juniors, women and intermediate memberships Meanwhile, at GolfBC, which owns and operates courses in Greater Vancouver, Whistler, Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and Maui, growing the game means attracting different segments of the population to the game. "We have programs to get beginners and women involved," says Rita Rennie, director of marketing for GolfBC Group. "And while each local sales team builds programs that will work for their members, locals and visitors, they can also collaborate and share ideas with other GolfBC courses." That means junior programs for all ages, women's nights and even Quik Tees, which create a course of approximately 3,000 yards and allow anyone a chance to play without being daunted by length or too many forced carries. Rennie says GolfBC courses also offer flexible membership options which are designed to get people back into the game earlier. "There's a gap from when golfers finish junior golf and start to get settled into careers, to a few years later when they may have more time and resources to dedicate to golf," explains Rennie. "Maybe a full membership doesn't work for them at this stage, so we offer intermediate memberships, in the 20 to 39 age range, along with reduced dues and flexible payment plans, which are proving very popular." Growing also means marketing, and GolfBC is also the title sponsor and host— at Gallagher's Canyon—for the GolfBC Championship, part of the "BC Golf Swing" of the Mackenzie Tour — PGA TOUR Canada. "This is a great event to promote the S p e c i a l F e a t u r e Okanagan Golf Club Bear Course COUR T ESY OF GOL F BC