Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/78601
ALL IMAGES CREDIT JEFF SUTHERLAND both golfers and maintenance workers out of wildlife corridors wherever possible." Ah yes, wildlife. Olympic View could be considered an animal lover's paradise. It's rare that visitors don't see deer grazing or eagles circling overhead. One place where eagle sightings are commonplace is the GBC Academy and practice facility. This top-notch range has a whopping 65,000 sq. ft. of tee deck and 17,000 sq. ft. of putting surface not to mention dedicated practice bunkers and chipping areas. Add in views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains and you have one of the finest places to learn in Western Canada. Adds Solski, "It's big enough that there is always perfect turf to hit balls on all the way through the season." CPGA Head Professional Kevin Maxwell (who won the 2009 PGA of BC Assistants Championship) is very proud of the Academy and GolfBC's approach to teaching. Asserts Maxwell, "The GBC Golf Academy prides itself in being an industry leader. With this in mind, all of our instructors must complete a comprehensive in-house training program before ever teaching a single lesson to the public." In charge of this training is Director of Instruction Jeff Palmer. Jeff can often be found on the tee deck offering free advise and tips and has the resume to back it up. Over the past 20 years Palmer has traveled the world learning instruction from the likes of Mike Hebron, Jim McLean, Jim Flick as well as working at some of the finest facilities in North America and China... most recently as the Director of Golf at Sheshan International GC in Shanghai home of the WGC-HSBC Championship. Somewhat coming full circle, Jeff's first job as an assistant pro was at Olympic View in1992. His return to Victoria appears be a happy one. Standing on the tee deck, he says with a smile, "This is my office. Can it get any better?" Joining Jeff is Gordy Scutt who has been teaching for the past five years. A local boy, Gordy has earned some impressive honours including a great double in 1998 when he won both the BC Amateur and Canadian Junior titles. Having played NCAA Div 1 golf as well as four seasons on the Canadian Tour, he can help both the aspiring college player (he is a U "Dub" grad) or aspiring touring pro but he enjoys teaching all levels of golf. Gordy is passionate about teaching, "It was always in my mind that I wanted to teach... and my teaching philosophy has always been to teach with the individual in mind, finding the best swing for you." Rounding out the instruction team is Matt Matheson who hails from Atlantic Canada where he achieved a rare double winning two separate provincial championships (PEI and Nova Scotia). This winner of three professional tournaments is also a certified SNAG Golf Instructor and certified Ping/TaylorMade Club Fitter. Says Kevin Maxwell, "Matt's fun, welcoming attitude makes him an excellent choice for your golf instruction." Adds Jeff Palmer with a smile, "He is great coach for kids... maybe it's because he is so friendly and approachable." Team attitude aside, service is a key component of customer satisfaction and GM Randy Frank is very proud that their Golf Shop sells equipment and not just soft goods. "We think it's very important to provide equipment with custom clubfitting on a world class driving range. It goes right along being completely committed to meeting our golfers' needs. On top of that we will meet or beat our competitor's advertised price. Plus with every purchase you can earn valuable GolfBC points, redeemable for free rounds of golf." While on the subject of price and value, it is hard not to mention the spectacularly sited Forester's Bar & Patio... its location looking down on the 18th hole is exceptional and really only exceeded by the quality of the "West Coast Contemporary" cuisine. Three standouts are the smoked salmon Benedict for earlier in the day and later on the fresh seafood chowder and lamb shoulder with fragrant curry sauce, naan bread, mango chutney & jasmine rice. These great meals are the creations of Executive Chef Melbourne O'Brien. Randy Frank can't say enough about how lucky they are to have him, "Mel has worked with some of the biggest names from Bernard Cassavant at Chateau Whistler to Ernst Dorfler at the Pan Pacific and has since been instrumental in making the reputation of some of Victoria's best restaurants. Now he makes OV his home." Making OV home has become a quite a popular choice for Victoria golfers. The Bill Robinson design has required only minor changes over the past 20 years and poses more than enough challenge for any level of golfer. Says Jeff Palmer who has seen the course mature,"At 6600 yards, it still stands up in terms of challenge tee-to-green with the 7300 yard layouts being built today. Echo's Pat Solski,"This course demands you keep it in play. You get used to it and when you go to other clubs you reap the rewards." And rewards seem to be what Olympic View is all about. For more information, visit olympicviewgolf.com or call 250.474.3673 / 1.800.446.5322 HEAD PROFESSIONAL KEVIN MAXWELL 83 INSTRUCTOR GORDY SCUTT (LEFT)