Playing golf in Vancouver Canada (NO POLITICS!)

[KBong]

1 hour ago, myspinonit said:

It was Earl Francis for over 30 years  till 2008 per his LinkdIn.  Now has operates a Golf Academy in South Surrey. I remember Earl, but I didn't really play for about 10 years up to 2008  so I don't recall how things were under his  tenure.

 

I think Tom Monahan runs good shops and also has selected good staff that he seems to retain. Tom's company   also is responsible for Shadow Ridge in the Interior and Anmbleside Pitch and Putt and Gleneagles.  

 

The only Blue tee I like now at  McCleery  is on the 11th, and it's an anomoly IMO and I wish they put the  Tee 2 ("formerly White" ) on that side of the teebox regularly.   It plays a few yards longer from where the #2 usually is, but is easier to the extent that you get a much more open look at the hole. Sadly though I think Ive decided that I'm going to the  #3 tees  (formerly known as Red  tees) this year. Unless they come out with the #2/#3 Combo they  hoped to have ready for 2021 scorecards.

Yes, Earl...thanks.

Yes, I knew Tom is from the Interior, but did not know of his involvement with Ambleside & Gleneagles.

 

Yes, Tom does a good job at retaining staff,

Mason is over at Langara running things now....I like Michela (sp?) and Eva at Fraserview. I think you know Lincoln Li (Eva's husband)...he's now at Go Go Golf (I think as a partner)...he's a good guy and if you get know him...is reasonable in $ with repairs.

 

I don't know the staff at McCleery...I like McCleery but it's a bit of a pain to drive there for me.

Pat Dunn is retired on the Island now...supposedly was ill awhile ago (cancer??)

I used to know Pat at Mayfair before he went to McCleery...he's married to one of the May daughters...you likely know all this info about Pat.

Edited January 19, 2022 by KBong

[myspinonit]

4 hours ago, KBong said:

Yes, Earl...thanks.

Yes, I knew Tom is from the Interior, but did not know of his involvement with Ambleside & Gleneagles.

 

Yes, Tom does a good job at retaining staff,

Mason is over at Langara running things now....I like Michela (sp?) and Eva at Fraserview. I think you know Lincoln Li (Eva's husband)...he's now at Go Go Golf (I think as a partner)...he's a good guy and if you get know him...is reasonable in $ with repairs.

 

I don't know the staff at McCleery...I like McCleery but it's a bit of a pain to drive there for me.

Pat Dunn is retired on the Island now...supposedly was ill awhile ago (cancer??)

I used to know Pat at Mayfair before he went to McCleery...he's married to one of the May daughters...you likely know all this info about Pat.

Pat I recall was an assistant pro at McCleery when I first knew him in the early 1980’s before they redid the course in 1983 or so.  He had a  red Saab that he was real proud of and I recall razzing him a bit about it. I knew he moved to Mayfair, but not sure if I ever played there when he was there. He was back at McCleery when I came back to golf in 2008 and he retired not long after that I believe. The rest about him I didn’t know. 

 

Yes I know Lincoln and Eva and he’s done a couple of things for me since he moved to Go Go.  I thought of him immediately (with concern) when I read  the  article that the group buying Pagoda plans to build the new indoor facility on  Sweden Way which would be close to him.  On the other hand if they are just doing  indoor golf and not clubwork, it could be a good thing.

Edited January 20, 2022 by myspinonit

[Phireside]

13 hours ago, myspinonit said:

I knew McCleery was involved with junior golf camps, but I didn't realize the extent for inner city kids. The video is 28 minutes,  but the first couple of minutes provides some good insights on the program.

By the way if you do have old clubs, cart  etc.,   I've never had any doubt that dropping them off at McCleery for their junior golf will find good homes.

 

Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea it existed. Has anyone volunteered or supported in some way? Curious to see how I and my company can get involved. We've sent a large troop of volunteers to the Kids Safe tournament at UBC for a number of years.

[myspinonit]

7 hours ago, Phireside said:

Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea it existed. Has anyone volunteered or supported in some way? Curious to see how I and my company can get involved. We've sent a large troop of volunteers to the Kids Safe tournament at UBC for a number of years.

Cool. I’m. now glad I shared this too! I suggest you call  Kim Cooper the Pro Shop manager at McCleery and I’m sure she can put you in touch with Muncie Booth, give more program details etc.  Our seniors men’s group (WestPoint Golf Club) has had volunteers ferrying the kids to practice areas etc. , some annual $ donations, but not sure of  other involvement  than perhaps some private equipment donations. 

Edited January 20, 2022 by myspinonit

[KBong]

So no one can give me an update on McCleery's conditions.

 

I got lucky and got a tee time for Fraserview today. I was disappointed it was playing quite wet. The greens were slow. The greens in Dec were fast and smooth...so it was a let down today.

[Phireside]

I got MC tomorrow. Pull your pants down and bend over rates for January even for us players club folks.

[vancouver81]

Northview Ridge was very decent conditions for the time of year. Fairways and tee boxes were quite good, greens were decent albeit not too quick. Definitely some muddy spots in the rough but all in all better than expected. $75 in January tho 😣

[myspinonit]

29 minutes ago, vancouver81 said:

Northview Ridge was very decent conditions for the time of year. Fairways and tee boxes were quite good, greens were decent albeit not too quick. Definitely some muddy spots in the rough but all in all better than expected. $75 in January tho 😣

Wow, if it was today I would have expected you needed a forecaddy😄.

 

A friend of mine caddied at Capilano in the 60’s. Way more fog then with people still burning wood in fireplaces in the 50’s and 60’s, probably still some coal still etc. Sometimes you couldn’t see more than a few feet where I lived near Grand Boulevard in North Van. 

Capilano members  would send them out to forecaddy in  morning fog and the caddies were terrified as no way could they see the ball if it came toward them from the tee. 

[KBong]

20 hours ago, Phireside said:

I got MC tomorrow. Pull your pants down and bend over rates for January even for us players club folks.

The only courses that aren't gouging are the muni's...but near impossible to obtain tee times.

[vancouver81]

1 hour ago, myspinonit said:

Wow, if it was today I would have expected you needed a forecaddy😄.

 

It was foggy yesterday morning but only really crazy bad for one hole. Couldn’t see more than maybe 50 yards off the tee. Fortunately I managed to find the fairway or I would have had absolutely no idea where the ball was. 

[Phireside]

well, MC was in great shape all things considered. Including the 2 bunkers I found myself in. Fog was not much of a factor. Colder than I expected but nice to get a round in.

[The Beav]

I miss playing Morgan so much.  We just haven't been able to snag any tee times there despite our best efforts.  Starting to regret renewing our Players Club.

[KBong]

1 hour ago, The Beav said:

I miss playing Morgan so much.  We just haven't been able to snag any tee times there despite our best efforts.  Starting to regret renewing our Players Club.

Lots of times at Swaneset and Belmont.🤣...likely muck holes???

[KBong]

On 1/22/2022 at 6:48 PM, KBong said:

So no one can give me an update on McCleery's conditions.

 

OK...I'll answer my own question.🤣

I played McCleery today.

Course was dry...greens were firm, fast and smooth.

 

I haven't played McCleery in 18+ months???....I like McCleery...but for me...it's a painful drive....ugh....coming from the North Shore.

[myspinonit]

New group: Vancouver Golf Players Association  for those interested to bookmark and/or subscribe for updates: : 

VGPA – An organization to promote, advocate for and sustain the sport of golf on Vancouver’s municipal golf courses.

The Vancouver Golf Players’ Association (VGPA) recognizes golf as the only sport in Metro Vancouver without a “Sport Specific” user group. Consequently, no organization speaks for all of Vancouver’s municipal golfers. The Association’s purpose is to fill this gap and to provide factual information that will lead to sustaining the excellent municipal courses in Vancouver.

The Association membership is open and free to all Vancouver golf players. Golfers are encouraged to join the organization to ensure representation in future Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation sport planning.

https://vancouvergpa.com/

[Haroputt]

On 1/26/2022 at 7:56 PM, KBong said:

OK...I'll answer my own question.🤣

I played McCleery today.

Course was dry...greens were firm, fast and smooth.

 

I haven't played McCleery in 18+ months???....I like McCleery...but for me...it's a painful drive....ugh....coming from the North Shore.

Play today  at McCleery dry enough  greens were nice except we got out too early in the morning 3 C degrees they put temporary greens 😔. Hate that.   
Got warmer by the later day that the greenskeeper put the pins back into the regular greens. 
Hows the other muni courses ? 

Edited January 30, 2022 by Haroputt

[KBong]

4 minutes ago, Haroputt said:

Play today  at McCleery dry enough  greens were nice except we got out too early in the morning 3 C degrees they put temporary greens 😔. Hate that.   
Got warmer by the later day that the greenskeeper put the pins back into the regular greens. 
Hows the other muni courses ? 

I won't play temps.

 

Langara is ok....Fraserview is mucky and the greens slow and bumpy when I played it last week....FV also had 2 temps on #4 & #17....WTH.

I hate the Vanc muni's have only 1 set of tee markers and play the par 3's off mats.

 

BM and Riverway are benchmark for winter drainage...BM greens were good 2 weeks ago.

[myspinonit]

Agree BM and Riverway are great for winter drainage usually, though have not played either this "off season".  (Though...does Riverway still get a lake in the winter over what is usually the 16th tee?)

 

Played Langara last Thursday, my first round anywhere in 3 1/2 months so I treated it as more as a walk and social and practicing short irons, so I played "reds" (Tee 3).   Tees were all together on a few holes but not all. Maybe more 1/2 (formerly Blue /White) were together. I have no problem using mats in winter on par 3's to preserve the tee areas. Or using temps for frost delays for the same reason to protect greens, though of course we all prefer play regulars.

[Riverway, (and I presume Burnaby Mountain also) doesn't play temps. Either the course is open or not.  I have gone there for winter golf and waited for maybe an hour and a half frost delay, after which the course is open, usually using 10 and 1 as first tees. That would be a pretty chilly hang around now though without even being able to gather in the shop etc to keep warm with Covid protocols.]

 

Back to Langara  last Thursday: Hole 13 (the short par 4 with water on the left) is the current one being done for drainage; played as about a 100 yard temp tee par 3.  Big improvement from the drainage work than when I last played it in winter or early Spring. Didn't really have to walk through any muddy area till after the drive on 16.  Doing it again, I'd walk on the cart path  to go around that stretch.  Presumably that hole still has to be done.

 

Greens were ok for the season, though of course fairly slow. But that won't continue if the  ball marks persist. We teed off at 8:45, so we must have been one of the first groups. Clearly players  ahead of us were not repairing ball marks as I was repairing at least several fresh ones besides my own each hole, and I didn't try to get them all.  I figure the ones that don't repair their ball marks are the same ones that b**** later on about bumpy greens. Like the I figure the folks that always gun it to run yellow lights  are the same ones that jack rabbit start off of green lights. Eventually that green light jumper is going to meet their alter-ego yellow light screamer in the intersection. 

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by myspinonit

[The Beav]

Played Morgan yesterday afternoon for the first time in months.  Probably not fair to judge since it was a frost-delay day, but the greens were as slow & bumpy as I've ever seen them.  There wasn't an easy 3 footer out there the way the ball was bobbling haha.  

 

Still, was nice to get back out there.  Such a great collection of par 4s that range from nice handshake birdie opportunities, to tough kicks in the nuts.  

[Phireside]

10 minutes ago, The Beav said:

Played Morgan yesterday afternoon for the first time in months.  Probably not fair to judge since it was a frost-delay day, but the greens were as slow & bumpy as I've ever seen them.  There wasn't an easy 3 footer out there the way the ball was bobbling haha.  

 

Still, was nice to get back out there.  Such a great collection of par 4s that range from nice handshake birdie opportunities, to tough kicks in the nuts.  

Lol. 10-11 is a like a 1, 2 kick to the jewels for me and then a nice pat on the back for 12.

 

At least with the left pin on 10.

[The Beav]

1 hour ago, Phireside said:

Lol. 10-11 is a like a 1, 2 kick to the jewels for me and then a nice pat on the back for 12.

 

At least with the left pin on 10.

Yeah.  Obviously 1 is tough but I personally love it.  10 and 11 usually determine how my round goes overall.  

Made a sand save par on 10 and a birdie on 11 yesterday.  Coupled with eagle on #7 it was a great day...until I vomited all over 17 lol.  

[Shushwap]

Costco  has the CBX 2.. 56 

Geeat deal for someone looking for a 56

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by Shushwap

[Shushwap]

Golf town re grip event is on.. Sale starts tomorrow in store.  My local store scanned the sale price today.. I am all stocked up for 22 now 

[Phireside]

I just installed the Champkey Traction-X from Amazon. $47 for the full set. Can't beat the price. Feel is good. One round on them. So far so good considering the price. We'll see how they look and feel at the end of the season assuming they make it that long.

[KBong]

1 hour ago, Phireside said:

I just installed the Champkey Traction-X from Amazon. $47 for the full set. Can't beat the price. Feel is good. One round on them. So far so good considering the price. We'll see how they look and feel at the end of the season assuming they make it that long.

My friend bought some Geolap grips off Amazon...no smell....and installed one on a wedge and it feels good.

 

Champkey got a good review.

This guy is a WRX member....goes by Adam

 

Edited February 2, 2022 by KBong

[Shushwap]

The thing that always worries me is how long those cheapo grips last... I change my grips every 2 years

[KBong]

1 hour ago, Shushwap said:

The thing that always worries me is how long those cheapo grips last... I change my grips every 2 years

Only way to find out is to buy some...they can be as low as 25% of OEM grips....so if you get 1 year....you're doing ok.

[Phireside]

8 hours ago, KBong said:

Only way to find out is to buy some...they can be as low as 25% of OEM grips....so if you get 1 year....you're doing ok.

Yup, if I get a full season out of these I'll be thrilled. And If I have to change half way through no sweat at $47

[myspinonit]

11 minutes ago, Phireside said:

Yup, if I get a full season out of these I'll be thrilled. And If I have to change half way through no sweat at $47

Good on ya. You might have been out of luck anyway if you had your heart set on the GolfPride ones from what I've heard about the broken supply chain. 

 

Fortunately, though I  use GolfPride grips (CP2)  I don't need a change this season and even have a couple of spares if needed.  An FYI that Peak Golf in Kits has some CP2 grips in stock (as of last week) if anyone is in need.

[Phireside]

I've been playing pure grips for a number of years. Those are good bang for the buck too