Fairwinds Community & Resort is celebrating its silver anniversary, and last Friday staff marked the occasion with a special barbecue on the club’s sun-drenched patio overlooking the golf course.
According to Kyla Karakochuk, assistant manager of marketing and communications, the BBQ, which also featured live music and a big cake decorated with a 25th anniversary logo, was the club’s way of thanking the suppliers and sponsors “who are a big part of what we do.
“Today is more of an appreciation day for the people we work with …it’s a chance to get to see them face to face instead of just e-mails,” she said.
Also on hand and in fine spirits was Fairwinds’ head pro Ward Stouffer, who has been there for the same 25 years and is one of a number of longtime employees with Fairwinds.
The award winning, 18-hole, Les Furber-designed course opened in 1980 and the community around it has grown with the club.
“We’re trying to focus more on the community around the course; the golf course is the centre piece of it all, but I think it’s more of a celebration of the people. Golf is just a game, I think it’s more the social aspect,” said Stouffer, adding that while 25 years isn’t that old when compared to the likes of other courses such as Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course (marking its 100th anniversary this year), “we’re proud of what we do, proud of the tournaments we host, and you’ve gotta have 25 (years) to make 50.”
A PEEK AT THE PAST
Twenty-five years ago Neil Scott, Al Slaughter, Bill Benner and Frank Herman saw the beauty and potential of Nanoose Bay and pursued their vision to turn the prime property into an 18-hole golf course and residential community. It would be a place where people could discover the charms of Vancouver Island and build their dream home, as well as a west coast destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Fairwinds Golf Club was designed by course architect Furber, but it came alive with the leadership of Neil Scott, Ben Colk and Jack Wintemute and the hard work and enthusiasm of many Vancouver Island University (VIU) students. Not many people know that the physical work was done in conjunction with VIU (then Malaspina College) trade students. These young leaders received valuable experience on the course that now provides memorable golf experiences.
The benefits of a golf course community stray far beyond the edges of the fairways. Fairwinds Golf Club supports many local charity golf tournaments. Golf for Life, a fun tournament dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation, is one that we have worked with for almost 20 years, and is celebrating their twentieth anniversary this year. The foundation raises money for the Nanaimo and District Regional Hospital which services thousands of people on central Vancouver Island.
According to Karakochuk, golfers travel to Fairwinds from across Canada and around the world to experience an award-winning golf course in a natural setting. Beckoned by the unique, oceanfront lifestyle that Fairwinds provides, visitors are consistently convinced to stay because of the laid back attitudes that most Fairwinds Golf Club members either possess or come to embrace.
Everyone arrives as a guest, she said, and the ones that become local residents appreciate the West Coast hospitality and natural ambiance which often influences the decision to becoming a member of the community and the Golf Club.
“Not a bad vision when you consider that 25 years later Fairwinds Golf Club still is considered a premier golf course and neighbourhood on Vancouver Island,” said Karakochuk. “Like any other place, it has its challenges and highlights, but as things change many will stay the same, such as the spirit of the game of golf, living on an island paradise, and the next 25 years to come.”
