Mark Calcavecchia Commits To Playing 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2017-06-30
Mark Calcavecchia Has Had Great Success In Canada And Is Looking For More In 2017 The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship. 2005 Canadian Open Winner Discusses His Return to British Columbia in an Exclusive Interview. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons)
VICTORIA, B.C. (June 29, 2017) – Tournament Organizers have announced that 2005 Canadian Open winner and 1989 Open Championship winner Mark Calcavecchia has committed to playing in the 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.
Calcavecchia has won two tournaments in British Columbia on the PGA TOUR; the 1997 Greater Vancouver Open at Northview and the 2005 Canadian Open at Shaughnessy. Calcavecchia also won the 2012 Montreal Championship on PGA TOUR Champions.
In the spirit of Canada Day, the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship will be offering a 15% discount on all ticket options from July 1 – 31, 2017. Fans can enter promo code HAPPY150 to unlock this limited time offer at www.selectyourtickets.com
“Calc” as he is affectionately referred to by his fans, sat down with the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship staff to talk about his return to Canada.
Q:You have a PGA TOUR Champions victory in Montreal and two PGA TOUR titles at the 1997 Greater Vancouver Open at Northview and the 2005 Canadian Open at Shaughnessy. Is there something about Canada that makes you perform at your best?
CALCAVECCHIA: “I’ve always had a good time in Canada. I’ve enjoyed the golf courses that we’ve played, I’ve enjoyed the people, and I’ve always said I like the beer. It’s just such a great place — especially in the summer. I’ve just always enjoyed playing up there. I’ve always said, winning the 2005 Canadian Open was the second biggest win of my career. I was happy to see we had a tournament up there on Vancouver Island. I think it’s a pretty cool course.”
Q:You played in the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship. What was your experience like? What are you looking forward to this year?
CALCAVECCHIA: “Overall, it was great. I know I had a really good Sunday. I remember the scores were really low on Sunday. I think I shot six under and left with a really good taste in my mouth. I really enjoyed the area, the city — we went downtown a couple of times and did some sightseeing. It was a lot of fun. Everyone stays right there. The accommodations are fantastic, right there on Bear Mountain. You run into your friends at dinner. That one par three on the back nine (14), it was beautiful. I think the course is great and I’m looking forward to it again this year. “
Q:What has your experience been like playing on PGA TOUR Champions?
CALCAVECCHIA: “It’s been seven years now. It’s gone by really fast. I know time flies, but I can’t believe it’s been seven years. It’s been fun. I’ve won three times and had some other good chances to win, especially back in 2011 and 2012. I’ve let a few of them slip. That’s the nature of golf, you’re not going to win every time you have the chance, but it’s still fun. I still look forward to playing in tournaments and seeing where I finish.”
Q:You wore bacon-themed pants in Iowa this year. Can we expect any bold fashion statements in Victoria at the Pacific Links Championship?
CALCAVECCHIA: “The bacon pants are only for Iowa. I’m not even sure if they are going to make an appearance next year, but we won’t worry about that now. I’m not a super flashy dresser by any means, so I feel a little weird in those pants. I’ll leave the crazy pants patterns to John Daly.”
Q:What does it mean to have the support of your wife and two children?
CALCAVECCHIA: “It means a lot. My wife caddies for me most of the time. All but a couple tournaments a year actually. We have a good time out there, and she’s my biggest supporter and biggest fan and will do anything she can to help me. My kids are on the same boat. We still have a great relationship and I know they are pretty proud of their dad when he’s doing well. It’s a big help to have family support.”
Q:What do you like to do when you’re not playing golf?
CALCAVECCHIA: “My wife and I both love music. We have seen a couple of great concerts lately. Two weeks ago in Des Moines we saw Tom Petty. Joe Walsh opened up for him, so it was a great concert. This last week we were in Nashville for the week and we saw Iron Maiden. We are good friends with the drummer, so that was another great show. People like to ask me all the time, what do you like to do other than playing golf? Going to concerts is right at the top of my list. It’s so much fun to go to concerts and listen to music. I love it.”
Q:In some recent news, Brooks Koepka hit a 380 yard three-wood at the 2017 U.S. Open. What is your opinion on how the game is changing? How much do you credit technology and fitness to this change?
CALCAVECCHIA: “I see stuff like that and it does amaze me. The best I could do was use my three-wood and hit it about 250. To think a guy like Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson can fly it on the green really does amaze me as well as everybody else. You look at what kind of condition Brooks Koepka is in. He works out all the time, he’s strong as an ox, he's big and has a perfect swing. Along with the ball and driver technology allows him to hit 350-360 yard three-woods. I’m right with everyone else it amazes me.”
Q:What is something you want achieve before your career concludes?
CALCAVECCHIA: “I am able to play the British Open three more years. It would be a complete miracle if I won that again at my age. But right now I would love to win more tournaments on the PGA TOUR Champions. I would like to win a major, whether that be the US Senior Open or the Senior PGA or the Senior British Open. Having one of those would really be a feather in my cap. I’ll be really playing toward that in the next two or three years. It’s kind of my remaining goal on the Champions Tour. I would love to win some tournaments, but to win a senior major would be great.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.pacificlinkschampionship.com through the BUY TICKETS tab. Fans can choose from the following ticket options:
WEEKLY PASS – WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY: $99 (INCLUDES FREE PARKING & OFFICIAL PROGRAM)
DAILY PASS – FRIDAY, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY: $40
PRO-AM DAILY PASS – WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY: $25
CHAMPIONS CLUBHOUSE VIP PASS – FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY: $200
TRAVEL TICKETS – ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE ON PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES FROM VANCOUVER, KELOWNA, OR PRINCE GEORGE TO VICTORIA - VALID ON ANY TICKET: Starting at $175
To register as a volunteer, visit the tournament website at http://www.pacificlinkschampionship.com/ and click the REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER tab.
About Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship
The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship is an official event on PGA TOUR Champions featuring the world's premier golfers aged 50 and older competing for a US$ 2.5 million purse. Tournament play at the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship will be held on the Jack and Steve Nicklaus Co-Design Mountain Course at Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria, British Columbia, from September 11-17, 2017.
Tournament week in Victoria will begin with the Official Pro-Ams on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by 54 holes of championship play from Friday through Sunday, with no cut. All three competitive rounds will be broadcast live by Golf Channel to 200 million homes in 84 countries and 11 languages around the world.
Website: www.PacificLinksChampionship.com
Twitter: @PacificLinksVic
Instagram:@pacificlinksvic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacificlinkschampionship/
About Help Fill a Dream (Official Charity Partner)
Help Fill a Dream inspires hope, healing and happiness in children with life-threatening conditions. Help Fill A Dream makes dreams come true, improves the quality of life of sick children and assists families with care and financial support. Since 1986, Help Fill A Dream has touched the lives of 2,245 Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands’ children and their families.
Website: http://www.helpfilladream.com/
Twitter: @HelpFillADream
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelpFillADream/
About Pacific Links International
Pacific Links was founded in 2009 to provide members with a premium golf experience through an innovative international membership structure focused on the Chinese golfer. Pacific Links offers them access to the finest collection of high quality golf clubs in the world. Since 2012, the Pacific Links Network of Affiliated and Reciprocal clubs now stands at over 600 properties located in 27 countries around the world. With a strong membership base continuing to grow in China, the planned expansion into other parts of Asia and the aggregated population of members from all the participating clubs, Pacific Links is now expanding the brand platform to encompass more than just golf. We are positioning Pacific Links International to be the preeminent Lifestyle portal for China’s HNW customer providing high demand travel itineraries inspired by golf but encompassing concierge services, flights, accommodations, local tourism experience and travel butler assistance. The main feature of a Pacific Links membership is reciprocal access. In the next 10-15 years, PLI will further expand its international affiliate network to over 1,000 clubs in North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and the entire Southeast Asia. www.pacificlinks.com
About Bear Mountain Golf Resort
Located on southern Vancouver Island a region known for its year round golf climate, stellar fishing opportunities and strong local food movement - Bear Mountain Resort offers two outstanding golf courses that combined represent the only 36-hole Nicklaus Design golf experience in Canada. The Mountain Course, a Jack and Steve Nicklaus Co-Design, features impressive landscape and dramatic terrain that lead to breathtaking 180 degree views of nearby Victoria, the Pacific Ocean and the Olympic Mountains of Washington State. The course, a par 70 playing at 6,900 yards, sets atop a 1,100-foot mountain and has been assigned a slope rating of 142 from the back tees. The 18-hole, par 71 Nicklaus Design Valley Course, a spectacular golf setting that is nestled in a pristine natural 102 acres of mature forests, measures just under 7,000 yards. Surrounded by 3,000 acres of parks and natural setting so close to a capital city. More than a resort and an incredible community, Bear Mountain is also home to Golf Canada's National Development team, the high performance training centre of Canada’s National Mountain Bike team, and the construction of western Canada’s largest indoor/outdoor clay court tennis facility supported by Tennis Canada and Tennis BC is underway. The newly renovated Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa rounds out the amenities offering guests a luxurious getaway with outstanding fine dining options, the award-winning Sante Spa, and the Bear Mountain Golf Academy. www.bearmountain.ca
About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of golf’s most recognizable and accomplished players, age 50 and older, including 32 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. In 2017, the PGA TOUR Champions schedule includes 26 tournaments in 18 states, Japan, Wales and Canada, with purses totaling more than $55 million. The Charles Schwab Cup, which includes the Regular Season and the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, is used to determine the season-long champion. All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, telecasts air live, tape-delayed or in a highlights-package format in excess of 190 countries and territories, reaching more than 330 million potential households. The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Follow PGA TOUR Champions at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Matt Bontorin
Public Relations Manager
Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship
P: (647) 381-1463
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