Current Golf News & Events

Swing into Spring on Vancouver Island! Click and explore the incredible seasonal packages below and scroll on for news and events taking place in the coming months!

SWING INTO SPRING GOLF SPECIAL

COUPLES SPRING FLING PACKAGES

FINS & SKINS Golf and Fishing Packages

BC FERRIES - NEW VESSELS & COASTSAVER FARES!

Arrive to your Vancouver Island Golf Vacation in style on BC Ferries new Super C’s! It’s an exciting time for BC Ferries with the launch of three new Super C vessels – Coastal Renaissance, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration – sailingl between the mainland and Vancouver Island. The first of the three vessels, Coastal Renaissance commenced service on the Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver)–Departure Bay (Nanaimo) route in March. Not only does it have the distinction of being the largest double-ended ferry in the world, it has the latest in marine safety features and its diesel-electric propulsion system is the biggest and most fuel efficient of its kind. Coastal Inspiration (summer 2008) will travel between Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Duke Point (Nanaimo) and Coastal Celebration (fall 2008) will travel between Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (Victoria).  These ferries offer the ultimate in customer comfort and experience.

Coastsaver Fares are available on the Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Duke Point (Nanaimo) through until the end of June. Car, Driver & one passenger - only $30!!!

For further information, please www.bcferries.com

NEW FLIGHT - SAN FRANCISCO TO VICTORIA NON-STOP !
United Airlines will begin daily service between San Francisco and Victoria on June 5th. The flight will be operated by United Express® with a 66 seat CRJ 700.

The new flight will operate daily on the following schedule:

Departs San Francisco at 9:05 AM, arriving in Victoria at 11:14 AM

Departs Victoria at 11:52 AM, arriving in San Francisco at 1:56 PM

Golf Vancouver Island is thrilled with the recent announcement, enabling golfers to fly and golf on the same day!

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON VICTORIA GATEWAY
Opening Soon!
Golf Vancouver Island is pleased to announce the imminent opening of the Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway. Located just off of the Trans Canada Highway between the Bear Mountain and Olympic View Golf Courses, the facility offers quick access to both golf courses. The Four Points is close to numerous recreational sites including Goldstream Provincial Park, Hatley Park National Historic Site, the Great Canadian Casino, the Esquimalt Naval Base and the Butchart Gardens. A short 10-minute drive provides access into the heart of Victoria where guests will find fine dining, museums and galleries, a beautiful harbour-front and hundreds of shops to explore. Back at the hotel, guests can enjoy one of 119 modern guest rooms boasting fabulous amenities such as 42" flat screen TV's and free High Speed Internet. There is a suite for every style - some have a Jacuzzi tub, others a kitchenette, gas fireplace, connecting room, or balcony. Guests may enjoy the indoor pool, relax in a hot tub or sauna, break a sweat in the fitness centre, or get pampered at the Araina Day Spa. There is also the option of casual dining at the on-site restaurant or use the in-room dining service to unwind in the privacy of your room. Meetings can be held in style with more than 5,100 square feet of available meeting space.

For further information, please view the Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway's profile.

"GOLFBC FREE LESSON MONTH"
ARBUTUS RIDGE AND OLYMPIC VIEW

May 2008 -  Further to the success of last year's program, GolfBC is again pleased to offer  "GolfBC Free Lesson Month" during the month of May at all 9 GolfBC golf courses in British Columbi, including Arbutus Ridge and Olympic View Golf Clubs on Vancouver Island. "GolfBC Free Lesson Month" will be taking place Saturdays, from 4:00-6:00 pm, during the month of May, with Canadian PGA Instructors providing complimentary 10-minute swing tips. During "Free Lesson Month" times, participants will also be provided with practice balls and equipment at no charge. 

For additional information on "GolfBC Free Lesson Month", please contact the GBC Golf Academy at one of the participating GolfBC courses

VICTORIA SET TO WELCOME HISTORIC SEA FARING VESSELS! VICTORIA TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL - June 26 - 29th
There are few images that conjure a more romantic view of the sea than a tall ship. Voluminous sails catching a hearty gale, mighty masts reaching for the sky.all as these great vessels forge a path through the watery depths. And for organizers of the Victoria Tall Ships Festival, set to sail June 26 - 29, having the world's most famous vessel drop anchor during the four days of festivities promises to be a one heck of a seaworthy sight. The Bounty, built for MGM's sweeping Mutiny on the Bounty (a flick that famously cast Marlon Brando as villainous Captain Bligh against a treasonous crew), will moor its lines at Victoria's shores for the first time in nearly two decades. At an imposing 180-feet (54 metres), this square-rigged three-master craft was constructed in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, based on the original ship's drawings still on file in the British admiralty archives. With its obvious historic ties, the ship will sail seamlessly into the mix of the festival, which promises a line-up of new events that will explore the province's past. Maritime Mosaic, a multicultural showcase of exhibits and interactive displays will draw the masses, while guests will sample a bit of traditional fare at the History Bites food pavilions (Gold Rush menus and Afternoon Tea, anyone?). Mock cannon battles, live concerts and performances and a Pirate School for the little ones will round out the fun. Seems a fitting tribute for the festival - a marquee maritime event set to celebrate the province's 150th Anniversary. More than two dozen of the world's finest ships are expected to set sail during the festival (Victoria is the first port of call, and the only Canadian stop, for the full tall ships fleet participating in the 2008 Tall Ships Challenge®, a series of races along the west coast of Canada and the United States). Walk the decks, behold the sails and relive some of the greatest sea stories of all times. www.tallshipsvictoria.ca

THE WINE ISLANDS
British Columbia's Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, known as the Wine Islands, is the fastest growing wine region in Canada. It now represents one quarter of the wineries in BC. Ten years ago, there were only seven licensed wineries on the Wine Islands and today there are 32. The wineries of the Wine Islands are reporting between a 30-50 per cent increase in visitors over the last two years and cite active co-operation between the wineries and other culinary groups as a major factor for this increase. Collaboration between the Wine Islands Vintners Association and the BC Agritourism Alliance has produced a new Wine Islands visitor guide. It is all-inclusive representing all licensed wineries and producers on the islands who are making wine, cider and mead. It contains touring maps for 10 regions in the Wine Islands as well as a user-friendly guide of hours of operations and a listing of farmer's markets. It is free to visitors and an on-line version is also available at www.wineislands.ca.

TIPPLE TOURISM IN THE COMOX VALLEY
The Comox Valley, or "Land of Plenty," is widely known to produce some of the finest foods around, but a better-kept secret is the wide range of quality, locally-produced beverages. With two established wineries, a meadery, an upcoming single-malt whisky distillery and a microbrewery, the Comox Valley is set to become a major player in the culinary/viniculture sector of the tourism industry. Producing small quantities allows for hands-on care and attention of these delicious and unique beverages. Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery will harvest their first crop in 2009 but will open a retail shop and a small tasting room to the public in June 2008. A honey-based wine, called mead, is produced on Hornby Island by a young company called Middle Mountain Mead. They have created six varieties of the ancient drink including cranberry lavender, plum rhubarb and green tea elixir. Soon the Valley will also welcome a boutique whisky distillery and an artisan microbrewery. Shelter Point Distillery intends to take advantage of local mountain streams to distil a uniquely Canadian single malt whisky. Construction of the distillery is expected to be completed in spring 2008, with tours commencing shortly thereafter. Cream and fruit liqueurs will be available within a year, and the release of a highly anticipated single batch rye malt whisky should come within three years. Beer lovers will soon be drawn to the Valley as well, as a hand crafted microbrewery is slated to open in Comox next spring. Surgenor Brewery intends to offer a stout, a lager, a traditional pale ale and seasonal specialty beers crafted with fresh local ingredients. A tipple tour of the Comox Valley? - I'll drink to that! Visit: www.discovercomoxvalley.com.