If you are a golfer, whether you are from the Kootenays or beyond, chances are you have heard of the Balfour Golf Course. The 18-hole championship Les Furber designed course offers challenging play surrounded by pristine nature and breathtaking views. Superintendent Larry Olson and his amazing staff keep the course in immaculate condition! Couple this with the exceptional service in the pro-shop by Director of Golf Craig Wilkinson, and his staff, Balfour is a must-visit course for any golf enthusiast.
We caught up with Craig to find out what makes the course special, why he is passionate about his job and why he loves calling Balfour his home!
How long has your business been in the Balfour/Harrop area?
The course opened with 9 holes opened and expanded to 18 holes in 2002.
What services do you provide? What makes your business special?
A beautiful 18-hole golf course, full length driving range, short game practice area, PGA of Canada Golf Instruction, full-service restaurant and lots of off-season winter activities.
What do you love about our area and how does it affect business and how you operate?
What is not to love about this area?! There is so much outdoor opportunity in Balfour and our golf course is just one of many great reasons to call this area home! In terms of business operation, we try to follow the ‘Kootenay Vibe’ and keep things simple and down to earth. Our operation reflects our passion for providing great course conditions and a great golf experience while also paying close attention to our tag line “A Les Furber Design, Inspired by Nature”.
Tell us a little about yourself! What drew you to the area, how do you enjoy the area when you’re not working? What do you love most about your job?
I was born and raised in Victoria BC and started getting into golf at age 13. I always loved to compete and the individualism of the sport had me from the get go. I played many team sports throughout my youth and once I found a game where success or failure was all on you, I pretty much dropped everything else and it was full on golf from there.
I was fortunate enough to have grown up a skier as well so when the time came for me to make a move from my long-standing position in Victoria, the West Kootenays seemed a perfect fit with multiple ski hills in the area. I honestly knew zero about the area before moving to Castlegar where I took a position as Assistant Professional there which I held for three years. When the position in Balfour became available, it was a natural step for me on my career path. Little did I know how amazing of a place I was about to move to and that 10 years after assuming the Head Professional position, I’d be here typing this out. I feel more passionate about the future of our golf course and the Balfour Recreation Commission than I have ever before and hope to be a part of our continued growth for the foreseeable future!
Are there any features or promotions you would like people to know about right now?
We strive to have a seasonal golf product that will fit with the lifestyle of any golfer. Between our BGC Advantage Program, our Osprey Small Business Partnerships and our Season Pass program that bucks the industry norm, we really do have something for anyone who would want to call Balfour their home for golf.
Find out more about the golf course on their website at www.golfbalfour.com ; sign up for their newsletter to keep up with the most up to date info http://eepurl.com/gzP9Jj ; and follow them on Facebook @balfourgolfcourse and Instagram @Golfbalfour