Calling it a 鈥渘ew era of golf,鈥� a relieved Keith Dagg announced Thursday afternoon that the PGA Tour sa国际传媒 event will indeed be back in Victoria for at least three more years, but will now be known as the Bayview Place Island Savings Open.
The tournament, which will continue to be held at Uplands Golf Club through the 2016 season 鈥� with an option for two more years after that 鈥� will have the sa国际传媒 as a presenting sponsor. The newspaper drops its role as title sponsor, but remains steadfastly behind the tournament, which it has supported since the event鈥檚 inception in 1981.
The announcement was made on a gloriously sunny afternoon at the penthouse at Bayview Place where owner Ken and Patty Mariash played host to a news conference announcing their role as title sponsor, along with Island Savings.
鈥淧atty and I are very grateful for this opportunity,鈥� Mariash told the gathering. 鈥淚 think the sa国际传媒, David [Whitman] and his crew, deserve a lot of credit. It was very impressive what they have done the last few years and we will need their guiding help in this effort.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very pleased to share the co-title with Island Savings and looking forward to working with them. We鈥檙e generally involved deeply in all communities that we develop and invest in. Whether it鈥檚 Edmonton or Calgary or L.A., or any other city, we like to get involved in whatever the community is doing. Obviously we鈥檙e very honoured to have this opportunity.鈥�
A former amateur wrestler, who previously represented the country, Mariash said he will use his Bayview Properties 鈥� a 20-acre neighbourhood situated on the Songhees in Vic West 鈥� to host events during the tournament, which next year will be held June 1-8.
Dagg, who oversees marketing and sponsorships for the tournament, has been hard at work trying to save the event.
Operating on an annual budget of $450,000, the tournament was perilously close to ceasing operation in the sa国际传媒 capital, as it was back in 2003 when the sa国际传媒 stepped up from presenting sponsor to title sponsor. Island Savings joined as a second title sponsor in 2010.
The Mariashes 鈥� who own and operate Focus Equities 鈥� have now solidified the future of the tournament for at least three more years.
鈥淗ad they not stepped up, I would say it was gone,鈥� stressed Dagg. 鈥淚n 2003, if the sa国际传媒 hadn鈥檛 stepped up, it was gone. There just aren鈥檛 enough head offices in this town to do it.
鈥淭his is very exciting. I thought, maybe, that this [tournament] would be done,鈥� added Dagg, 鈥淭he Mariashes 鈥� what can I say 鈥� they鈥檝e helped jump up and support the Highlanders鈥� soccer program and now they鈥檝e stepped up with this golf event.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice to have Ken and Patty in town and, as you can tell by what he says, they really care,鈥� said Dagg, who has been negotiating with the business couple for more than six months as contracts were ending this season.
鈥淭o get to $450,000, you can鈥檛 do it alone on a bunch of $5,000 sponsorships. We do need those, as well, but the back is broken without having Bayview and Island Savings,鈥� said Dagg, who appreciates every single sponsor for the event, no matter what the financial assistance.
Thrifty Foods and the Carson Automotive Group are also back on board.
鈥淥ver the years, the tournament鈥檚 economic impact on the Victoria economy has been substantial,鈥� said Whitman, director of advertising for the sa国际传媒. 鈥淲e are proud to have been a major supporter for more than three decades, and we are proud that we will continue to participate in the PGA Tour sa国际传媒 tournament here, as presenting sponsor.鈥�
He added that the sa国际传媒 will continue to build awareness of the event in Victoria and across sa国际传媒 by remaining as presenting sponsor.
Much to the delight of Dagg and golf fans across sa国际传媒.
CHIP SHOTS: Thrifty Foods presented UVic golfer Megan Woodland with an athletic award at the gathering and Whitman and Bill Snell, of Island Savings, also presented a cheque from funds raised at the 2013 tournament that went to the Greater Victoria Housing Society.
