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鈥檛 talking about Caddyshack.
He certainly could have been, considering how many golf-loving guests 鈥� many sporting flaming-orange polos 鈥� packed the place for Bayview Place Cardtronics Open鈥檚 sponsors鈥� 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鈥檚 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 sa国际传媒 is also a sponsor.
There was unbridled enthusiasm for the 35th annual tournament that ends today at Uplands Golf Club.
This year鈥檚 proceeds will benefit Children鈥檚 Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.
鈥淵ou can already tell that the vibes from this week are so great,鈥� said Kevin Lucas, 25, a professional golfer from Folsom, California. 鈥淭he way this course is set up is fantastic, and the bleachers and grandstands are cool.鈥�
Ben Geyer, 25, from Arbuckle, California, is also here on his second Mackenzie PGA Tour sa国际传媒 stop. It鈥檚 his second time playing in the Bayview Open.
鈥淚 really like Victoria. It鈥檚 one of my favourite spots in sa国际传媒,鈥� said Geyer. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 play great last year, but we鈥檒l see what happens this year.鈥�
Strathcona Hotel owner Craig Olson, no slouch on the fairways himself, said he eagerly anticipates the annual tournament.
鈥淚 caddied for John Ellis during this tour for the past 10聽years,鈥� 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鈥檚 host hotel.
Tournament director Murray Thomas could barely contain his enthusiasm for this year鈥檚 roster of golf talent.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 players are literally unbelievable,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e the stars of the future. We have players from 12 countries and what they鈥檙e doing is as good as you鈥檙e going to see on TV.鈥�
Langford Mayor Stew Young said he wouldn鈥檛 have missed this shindig, as much because of his affection for Mariash as for his love of the game.
鈥淜en鈥檚 an amazing guy. He does things 110 per cent and gives back to the community,鈥� Young said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 one of the best developers on southern Vancouver Island for sure. Ken and his wife Patricia have a great vision.鈥�
Laughingly describing himself as 鈥渁 terrible golfer,鈥� Young said he felt privileged getting to play in a foursome with California golfer Preston Valder, 23, during Tuesday鈥檚 Carson Automotive Group Pro-Am.
鈥淗e鈥檚 gotta be, like, 110 pounds, but he did good. He shot a 67, so he was hoping to get in,鈥� said Young. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
Young was less concerned about improving his golf game than scoring another kind of victory.
鈥淜en is such a good promoter of Victoria, I鈥檇 like to have a guy like him in Langford,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 keep telling him, 鈥楥ome on out to Langford. You won鈥檛 have any roadblocks.鈥櫬犫��
One thing many guests had in common was humility about their own golf game.
鈥淚鈥檓 a better lover than a golfer!鈥� exclaimed CHEK News sports director Jeff King.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those things I do rarely, and badly,鈥� 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鈥檛 believe his eyes when he saw it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the second one I鈥檝e seen in Victoria today,鈥� said Batey, whose father Ian organized the Pro-Am. 鈥淭he other one was cruising down Oak Bay Avenue.鈥�
