This year, the March Meadows Ladies Amateur Open will be held on Thursday, August 2.
This annual event has been hosted by March Meadows for at least the last 30 years, says Del Gamble, one of the organizers of the event, and a member of the British Columbia Golf Association.
The tournament is open to anyone who holds a membership with the BCGA and there is no age limit.
“We get ladies from Port Alberni down to Victoria, Uplands, and Cordova Bay,” says Gamble. “But nothing from off the island.”
The handicap for this tournament is 40, which is much higher than for say, the men’s tournament, says Gamble. “But we want to be able to accommodate everyone.”
The tournament is a shot-gun start at 9 a.m., and requires an entrance fee of $60. This price includes morning tea or coffee, and freshly baked muffins provided by Gamble herself.
She bakes four different kinds specially for the day. “Whatever I feel like cooking, they get,” she says.
The $60 also gets golfers a full luncheon, as well as the 18 holes of golf, and prizes.
Prizes range from top-notch items from the pro-shop, located at the golf course, to prizes purchased from businesses in the Cowichan Lake area who also donate an item to the event.
Businesses who donate yearly include Country Grocer, Dot’s Footwear, and Home Hardware, and Country Grocer also donates all the food for the luncheon.
The tournament recognizes two winners each year, one for low-gross, and one for low-net. Low-gross is for those who finish with the lowest score, and low-net is takes into account the handicap.
Though the tournament begins at 9, Gamble says that many players show up early to have coffee or tea and a muffin and socialize before they begin.
For more information go to marchmeadowsgolf.com, or call 250-749-6241.