This coming weekend's Cariboo Open at the 108 Golf Resort will feature one of the largest fields the tournament has seen in years.
The annual tournament can accommodate 120 golfers and was close to full a week before the tournament, says head professional Andy Wahnschaff.
“The Cariboo Open was one of the most prestigious tournaments in the Interior of the province for years. We've rejuvenated the golf activity at the 108 and our membership is way up.
We're the only tournament we know of that has increased its numbers this year. We're going to be up 20 per cent from last year.”
Members are saying the course is in “fantastic condition ... the best it has ever been” ahead of the tournament, which goes Aug. 30-Sept. 1 and offers $15,000 in prizes.
“The trend of golf seems to be down,” Wahnschaff says
“But, we're bucking the trend here at the 108 Resort for rounds played, membership rounds played and tournament rounds. We're up in every department and we're proud of that.”
The Cariboo Open has been running on Labour Day weekend since 1974. Eight father-son combinations will be teeing off Friday, something Wahnschaff attributes to the tournament's long history, devoted participants and Day 1 format.
“People come home for the Labour Day weekend to play in the Cariboo Open. We run the first day with a benevolent twist.
We allow participants to select who they'd like to play golf with. Certainly we have a lot of fathers or sons who come back to play. After that, the tournament is done strictly on score, like any other tournament.”
The Open will have a new champion this year, as defending champion Shane Wilkie is out with a medical injury.