From Sea to Sky

Heather Flyte — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:36:18 +0000

Victoria, B.C.’s Bear Mountain Golf Club

By Tony Dear

For a world-class international golf getaway, there’s no need to look past our own Northwest Borders.

The minutes from Arbutus Ridge’s Nov. 14 Greening Committee meeting say a lot about where the course’s priorities lie. Sprinkled liberally throughout the document are words and phrases like “composting,” “recycling, “habitat management,” “Audubon certification” and “aggressive conservation program.” Chairing the Greening Committee is Gracie Wilcox, who works in the golf shop and who is clearly determined to make a difference at Arbutus Ridge, located in the Cobble Hill community 10 miles north of Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city. “I just didn’t want to feel helpless about waste and the impact it has on our environment,” she says. “Golf courses have a bad reputation when it comes to the environment. I really felt I needed to do something.” On top of her duties in the pro shop, Wilcox seemingly exists to reduce Arbutus Ridge’s carbon footprint. “That’s our goal,” says Wilcox. “To become totally self-sufficient and completely carbon-neutral.” It’s taking a while, but the improvements to the course and clubhouse that have resulted from the committee’s actions are beginning to be noticed. “We have over 80 bird species out on the course now,” says Wilcox. “There are 30 species of mammal; moose, bears, rabbits, cougars, deer, raccoons and so on. But we don’t make a big deal of what we do. Our guests are certainly beginning to notice the impact, though.” All this is obviously good news — and not just for golfers with a similar desire to improve the environment around them. Those for whom green issues don’t weigh as heavily as, say, the speed of the putting surfaces or the price of a post-round beer, also benefit. “We definitely think the visitor’s experience has been enhanced,” says Wilcox. Visitor experience is a big deal for Vancouver Island courses which, like other destination courses in North America, have a great deal of competition and can’t rely solely on scenery to attract guests (although in the case of Vancouver Island, the scenery does go a long way). You’d think it wouldn’t take much to enhance the golfer’s experience here — this is the Pacific Northwest (or rather, the Canadian Southwest) at its best, with regal mountains capped with snow; forests dense with evergreens; lakes, rivers and streams so clear you can see the markings on a Steelhead, Cutthroat, Coho or Sockeye eight feet down; wildlife darting across the fairways or poking a head out from behind the pines. It is only in the last few years, however — specifically, since the 2003 opening of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Mountain Course at Bear Mountain Golf Resort, just a few miles north of Victoria — that Vancouver Island has become a genuine option in most Canadian and American golfers’ travel plans.

Putting In Paradise

Brian Beaky — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:45:35 +0000

Malaysia is exotic and making a global name as a true golf destination

Experience the exotic in Malaysia.
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Anyone who plays golf on a regular basis knows that it’s more than just a game — heck, if the only pleasure you got out of a round of golf was putting the ball in the hole (or, more accurately, trying to put the ball in the hole) there would be a lot more clubs in garbage cans than in golf bags. Golf is an experience — a chance to unplug from the world for a few hours, take pleasant walk in a scenic natural environment, and share some quality time with friends and playing partners. It’s an experience Malaysia’s golf community is taking to the next level. With an array of expansive golf resorts and courses, sure to provide golf enthusiasts with the challenging and diverse greens they love, Malaysia is fast becoming the world’s No. 1 golf vacation destination. The exotic Southeast Asian country features more than 200 professional-standard courses, many of which were designed by golf greats like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Max Wexler and Ted Parslow. These fairways have also been graced by the likes of Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara. And there’s hardly a more unique experience to be found worldwide. Tee off in the clouds at Hornbill Golf and Jungle Club in Malaysian Borneo, which hosts courses sitting at 6,000 feet above sea level. Perfect that backspin at The Golf Club in Datai Bay, Langkawi — voted the Most Scenic Golf Course in Malaysia. Or, see the greens in a different light with Night Golfing in Kuala Lumpur. Don’t just take it from us, though — even the world’s top golf organizations are beginning to flock to Malaysia’s breathtaking courses. The World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) returned to Malaysia for the 15th-straight year in March of 2008, the latest in a growing line of world-class tournaments to grace the nation’s fairways and greens, including European PGA Tour events, the PGA Tour Volvo Masters of Asia, and the Malaysian Open. In 1999, Tiger Woods and partner Mark O’Meara won the World Cup of Golf in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. The experience doesn’t end, either, when you pick your ball out of the cup on 18. City-lovers can enjoy Kuala Lumpur, the country’s bustling capital and home to the world’s tallest twin structures, the Petronas Twin Towers; eco-tourists can explore Sabah’s lush rainforests; while those looking to unwind can find refuge on the unspoiled beaches of Langkawi and the Pangkor Islands. In 2008, Malaysia is a must-see and must-play destination for golfers worldwide. For more information, visit www.tourismmalaysiausa.com. Remember — the time is now, the place is Malaysia!

Cascade Golfer Online » Travel Bag

From Sea to Sky

For a world-class international golf getaway, there’s no need to look past our own Northwest Borders.

Putting In Paradise

Malaysia is exotic and making a global name as a true golf destination