Mariash, however, will be joined by a new playing partner on that first tee as DirectCash Payments Inc. was introduced Tuesday afternoon as the replacement for Island Savings as the co-title sponsor for the 2017 tournament, to be held June 4-11 at Uplands Golf Club.
The annual stop on sa国际传媒鈥檚 tour will now be known as the Bayview Place DC Payments Open presented by sa国际传媒.
Jeff Smith, president and CEO of DirectCash Payments Inc. 鈥� one of the world鈥檚 largest deployers of ATMs with operations in sa国际传媒, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico and New Zealand 鈥� and co-founder of DC Bank, is no stranger to this tournament.
Smith started his career with Payless Gas back in the mid-1980s and was involved in the tournament with Keith Dagg, director of the Victoria Open Golf Society, when it was known as the Payless Open.
鈥淚 was pleased earlier this year when Keith repeatedly called me and told me he needed some help in the golf tournament,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淜eith is like a dog with a bone, when he gets hold of your leg, there鈥檚 no stopping.
鈥淚 was involved with Keith in my early 20s. I was pleased to be on the board then. It was a fantastic tournament then and it continues to be a fantastic tournament now. I鈥檓 pleased that DC Payments and DC Bank, two businesses that I am involved in, can participate,鈥� Smith added. 鈥淚 think this is one of the greatest [events] for Victoria and it has great community support.鈥�
Mariash and his wife, Patricia, remain a key component to the annual event, which is the oldest tournament on the Mackenzie Tour (formerly the Canadian Tour).
鈥淲e have to keep it afloat,鈥� said Mariash. 鈥淔rom a golf perspective, especially for Victoria, it鈥檚 remarkable for such a small place to have such a big deal. To lose it, it would be gone because it鈥檚 hard to get these world-class tournaments. We couldn鈥檛 do this without all the other sponsors.鈥�
Mariash, a former national champion wrestler, spoke of the importance of golf in the area and how critical keeping the Mackenzie Tour is for the region.
鈥淜eith tells me at 80 years old he鈥檚 running out of shoe leather and he says he starts raising money the day after the tournament ends so he can cover the $500,000 the next year. Believe it or not, things keep getting more expensive,鈥� Mariash said with a chuckle. 鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to be involved and to be working with Jeff.鈥�
No one was more delighted to introduce both Mariash and Smith than Dagg.
鈥淚f those two title sponsors hadn鈥檛 stepped up, it would be all over,鈥� added Dagg, who, celebrating his 80th birthday today, continues to feverishly work at attracting sponsors for the event.
Smith jumped in at a time when Island Savings dropped out.
鈥淚sland Savings鈥� involvement went well beyond their financial involvement, it included their expertise, volunteer staff and incredible enthusiasm which came every year of the six years of their involvement,鈥� said David Whitman, chairman of the Victoria Open Golf Society, who in particular thanked Rod Dewar, who brought Island Savings on board.
鈥淚鈥檓 also pleased to confirm that the sa国际传媒 has re-newed our presenting sponsor role for the 2017 tournament. The TC has been a title, co-title or presenting sponsor from the very beginning, which would take us back to 1981,鈥� added Whitman, the director of advertising, sales and marketing for the sa国际传媒.
