EO Vancouver Golf Invitational
I am by no means an entrepreneur, and if I’m being honest with you, nor do I want to be. However, I have a friend who is and through him was able to attend this year’s EO (Entrepreneur Organization) Vancouver Golf Invitational.
EO is an organization that solicits like-minded people and create such functions for them to socialize and network within. Workshops, retreats, and dinners with a goal of becoming better leaders and individuals, for not only themselves and their businesses, but for the immediate community as well.
Today’s event was centred around a casual day on the green, inviting both experienced and causal golfers to GreenTee at Westwood Plateau. This was a day full of golfing across 18 holes, followed by a buffet dinner on the property.
GreenTee Country Club at Westwood Plateau prides themselves as being much more than just a golf course. They promote that they are a community comprised of residents, visitors, members and the dedicated staff that bring them all together. They have two locations, nestled on the Plateau of Eagle Mountain in Coquitlam BC. Each includes panoramic views and natural wildlife settings, only 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver, BC.
We played on the Sky Course (Country Club Course) which includes the 18-Hole Championship Golf Course, 35,000 Square Foot Clubhouse, 3 Private Banquet Rooms, Jess’ Sky Restaurant, and a Members Practice Area.
As we checked in, groups were assigned to their starting holes and own golf cart. As first timers we were luckily to be paired with newer, but more experienced golfers. Ones who could teach us the game, but who didn’t take themselves too seriously, and was looking for a more lax afternoon, just like us.
As a group, we all got along famously. Our foursome played with loose rules, competed in a golf kart race, and enjoyed beers and whisky shots on the green.
We didn’t have our own gear so had to rent clubs for the day at ~$68 and purchase our own balls. For the latter, many of which would be a write off. We would lose 3/4 of the box to the brush, not being able to find it nor wanting to spend too much time trying to.
Given the range of experience level the whole tournament was set up as Texas Scramble. In groups of four we take turns driving and pitching. The group would the follow and take the best and furthest pitch, in order to progress the game quicker. There was a bit of urgency as each team was assigned a hole and taking too long would create a back log, as player had to wait for you and your team to finish.
Each hole is assigned a par with the goal being to get the ball in to the hole with the least amount of swings. Thankfully we did not keep score as I am not great at driving or pitching.
The reality is my ADHD got me restless and golf is such a precise sport that calls for attention to detail, and taking your time to well plan and well pace your game play. After a few holes of maximum effort, we just starting hitting for the sake of getting it done, to be able to move on. This was a sport for the patient with time to kill.
Starting points were marked by coloured “G’s”. Blue and gold were expert, white and red standard, and green for women.
A few of the holes were sponsored by EO members and their businesses, or outside brands. These offered mini games and the chance to win branded prizes. This required chipping balls into hats or buckets, spinning the wheel for prizes, or simply showing up for a reward.
The owner is a member, so Peake Catering had their own booth offering tasters of a tomatillo Caesar garnished with a skewer of pepperoni, bocconcini, sweet pepper, and olive.
The same for Hello Nori, who had their team out preparing their hand rolls course side, with your choice of seafood filling.
There was even a chance to win $25,000 if you got a hole in one at hole 3. Sadly no player was able to claim this prize. Others did win prizes for Longest Drive and Best Dressed.
And for those keeping score, there was a winner’s cup that was awarded to the best player during dinner. There were also raffle prizes and I myself won an omakase experience for four from Hello Nori.
We would play causally from 11am to 4:30pm, to be able to be back at the club house and banquet hall for dinner at 5:30pm.
We were given four drink tickets to be used on the green with the beverage cart, or at dinner through the bar. Select drinks were available using drink tickets. More tickets and anything else could be purchased a la carte. It would be whisky ginger ale high balls and red wine for dinner, with a shot of tequila intermingled in there for fun.
Dinner was a buffet that included a prime rib carving station, fresh seafood on ice, salads, pasta, potatoes, and baked salmon.
You had the possibility of going back for seconds or thirds, or bee-lining it to the dessert table with cake and sliced fruit.
In closing, this was such a fun day and a great way to try a real game of golf for the first time.
GreenTee Country Club Westwood Plateau Sky
3251 Plateau Blvd, Coquitlam, BC V3E 3B8
(604) 945-4007
gtccwestwoodplateau.com
