When an enthusiastic golfer remarked that the action at Roundhouse at Bayview Place on Wednesday night seemed like a scene out of a movie, he wasn’t talking about Caddyshack.
He certainly could have been, considering how many golf-loving guests — many sporting flaming-orange polos — packed the place for Bayview Place Cardtronics Open’s sponsors’ reception.
The reveller was referring to Pup Star, the family movie.
Fiddler Daniel Lapp and his band played on a set that was built for Pup Star when it filmed here.
The repurposed movie set was part of the elaborate decor depicting the fictional Roundhouse Saloon and other western environs for the bash, which attracted 600 volunteers, sponsors, spectators and VIPs.
The eclectic crowd literally crossed the tracks to enter the historic Roundhouse Car Shop, future site of developers Kenneth and Patricia Mariash’s railway-themed community marketplace and entertainment centre.
The 8,000-square-foot venue is one of five national historic structures on the massive retail and residential harbourside Vic West development.
After six years of support, the Mariashs stepped up in 2013 as co-title sponsors of the golf tournament. The Times Colonist is also a sponsor.
There was unbridled enthusiasm for the 35th annual tournament that ends today at Uplands Golf Club.
This year’s proceeds will benefit Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.
“You can already tell that the vibes from this week are so great,” said Kevin Lucas, 25, a professional golfer from Folsom, California. “The way this course is set up is fantastic, and the bleachers and grandstands are cool.”
Ben Geyer, 25, from Arbuckle, California, is also here on his second Mackenzie PGA Tour Canada stop. It’s his second time playing in the Bayview Open.
“I really like Victoria. It’s one of my favourite spots in Canada,” said Geyer. “I didn’t play great last year, but we’ll see what happens this year.”
Strathcona Hotel owner Craig Olson, no slouch on the fairways himself, said he eagerly anticipates the annual tournament.
“I caddied for John Ellis during this tour for the past 10 years,” said Olson, referring to the San Jose, California-born pro golfer who became assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Oregon.
Olson applauded Ellis for bringing along three of his college players, all guests at Olson’s host hotel.
Tournament director Murray Thomas could barely contain his enthusiasm for this year’s roster of golf talent.
“This year’s players are literally unbelievable,” he said. “They’re the stars of the future. We have players from 12 countries and what they’re doing is as good as you’re going to see on TV.”
Langford Mayor Stew Young said he wouldn’t have missed this shindig, as much because of his affection for Mariash as for his love of the game.
“Ken’s an amazing guy. He does things 110 per cent and gives back to the community,” Young said.
“He’s one of the best developers on southern Vancouver Island for sure. Ken and his wife Patricia have a great vision.”
Laughingly describing himself as “a terrible golfer,” Young said he felt privileged getting to play in a foursome with California golfer Preston Valder, 23, during Tuesday’s Carson Automotive Group Pro-Am.
“He’s gotta be, like, 110 pounds, but he did good. He shot a 67, so he was hoping to get in,” said Young. “We did best ball and we were minus 21 at the end of the day, but I got closest to the pin so I was happy.”
Young was less concerned about improving his golf game than scoring another kind of victory.
“Ken is such a good promoter of Victoria, I’d like to have a guy like him in Langford,” he said. “I keep telling him, ‘Come on out to Langford. You won’t have any roadblocks.’ ”
One thing many guests had in common was humility about their own golf game.
“I’m a better lover than a golfer!” exclaimed CHEK News sports director Jeff King.
“It’s one of those things I do rarely, and badly,” smiled Pat Meehan, 70, who turned heads outside, where his dark blue, black-top 1912 Model T Ford Torpedo Roadster with brass trim was part of a classic car display.
Victoria native Matthew Batey, visiting from Calgary, couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw it.
“It’s the second one I’ve seen in Victoria today,” said Batey, whose father Ian organized the Pro-Am. “The other one was cruising down Oak Bay Avenue.”
