The sun is shining. It’s warm out. And even though he could use a break, it’s still difficult for Brian McDonald to sit back – and not get out his clubs.
Fairview Mountain Golf Course is officially closed for the season. The last day for play was this past Sunday – sunny and warm, of course.
I caught up with McDonald, General Manager at Fairview Mountain Golf Course, Friday morning.
And although Brian admitted he would love to still be playing, he is certainly enjoying the down time.
“I’d say it’s probably a bit of a relief. Our season here in the Okanagan is so intense. We start in March and go hard through the end of October, and September is our busiest month of the year,” explained McDonald. “There’s so much work to do (in the off-season). Our maintenance team has a ton of work to do. We’ve got Christmas parties which the food and beverage team is preparing for, and the golf team is preparing for all the events of next year.”
In the hockey world, it’s a known fact that the off-season is the most important time of the year, given the need to recruit players, and prepare for the next season.
It’s no different for a golf course.
“We just finished our managers meeting. We have three new managers this year – a head professional, Charlie Martin, a food and beverage manager, Troy Knight, and a new assistant superintendent (Josh Webb) working with Art (Riome), who has been here about 27 years,” offered McDonald. “All those guys are getting prepared, and understanding the importance of using the off-season correctly, which is crucial. If you don’t, you’ll start the next season behind and wonder where all the time went.”
While we chatted, a fairway mower could be seen cruising back and forth along the 18th fairway, trimming grass for what is likely the final time.
And that’s the thing about Fairview Mountain. It’s always in pristine shape – recognized as a member of the Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada by Score Magazine and consistently rated a Four Star “Must Play” Golf Facility by Golf Digest.
Fairview Mountain saw 36,000 rounds of golf played during the season, with 16,000 being daily fee, or outside green fee rounds.
McDonald was asked why the course is so admired by players.
“The golf course has probably never been in better shape. What makes Fairview so unique is that it’s very forgiving off the tee. It’s not a tight golf course that beats people up. Our greens are fast all the time, and undulating,” offered McDonald. “What makes the course unique is that it’s got a gorgeous setting, in a great community. When people come here, they have a good time, and that’s what we try to promote here – from our staff to our golf team, everyday. I think that’s what sets us apart and why we keep finding ourselves in these Top 100 lists in the country, which for a community like Oliver, is amazing really.”
As for the layout itself – the golf course has been expanded to 7,000 yards and bunkers have been added to a few holes in recent years. McDonald expects the status quo when the 2017 season begins in March – at least as far as the course itself is concerned.
Fairview Mountain hosted two major events in 2015 – the Men’s Amateur and Pro Championships in BC. and next season will see the debut of a major, local, event.
“The new tournament we’re going to have in 2017 is a Men’s Pro-Am. We’ve always had a Ladies Pro-Am, which usually sells out five months in advance.We’re going to do that same thing on the men’s side,” announced McDonald. “We’re going to turn the Men’s Open into a Men’s Pro-Am and bring some golf professionals into it – and get it back to where it used to be with a couple of hundred players. It’s going to be held in the first weekend of June. We’re all excited about this new pro-am.”
And we’re all excited about the next golf season – even if it seems like a long time until March.
-Dale Cory
