What can you expect when golfing on Vancouver Island
#GolfVancouverIsland #GolfBC #ExploreBC
Updated September 27, 2022
Like you, we are passionate about golfing on Vancouver Island and about our home province of British Columbia. As British Columbians, we are working towards the common goal of keeping every community member and every visitor safe by enacting the most up-to-date safety protocols – by being responsible, kind, and strong, and by following the advice of our Provincial Health Officer.
If you are considering a visit to Vancouver Island for a golf vacation, here are some important things to know about your visit:
Provincial Travel Guidelines:
Please check Drive BC for an up-to-date list of the latest restrictions and advisories in relation to BC Highways.
Starting October 1, 2022, all COVID-19 border requirements, including vaccination, mandatory use of ArriveCAN, and any testing and quarantine/isolation requirements will end for all travellers entering Canada whether by land, air or sea. Until then, find out if you can enter Canada and use ArriveCAN before you enter.
Effective March 11, 2022: Wearing masks in public indoor settings is not required by public health. Wearing a mask is a personal choice. Masks are encouraged on public transit and BC Ferries, but not required. Individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue requiring masks on their premises. It’s important that we respect the choices of people, businesses and one another.
Effective April 8, 2022 – Proof of vaccination will no longer be required under public health order to access businesses, events and services. Individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue requiring proof of vaccination for entry. Federal proof of vaccination is still required for federally regulated travel, like air travel More details
Canadian Border Update: The Canadian border is open to all qualified travellers.
British Columbians who wish to travel this summer are advised to plan ahead and be respectful while visiting communities, especially smaller and rural towns. The provincial health officer has laid out travel guidelines for everyone travelling to and within B.C. and has recently announced further guidance for all residents and potential visitors . Before embarking on any trip, please ensure you are familiar with the rules and best practices for travel. These include:
Pre-trip planning and research on available resources at arriving destination; Respecting any local travel advisories to isolated and remote communities; No travelling for anyone who is sick, and if symptoms develop while travelling – self-isolate immediately and contact 811 for guidance and testing; Practising safe physical distancing of two metres at all times; Spending time in small groups and open spaces; Practising good hygiene, including frequent handwashing and cleaning; Please review resources and information from Destination BC for travellers – Know Before You Go ; Adhering to Dr. Bonnie Henry’s “Travel Manners”
Golf Courses:
Golf courses on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail are open for public play and are accepting tee time reservations, weather dependent. More info Food and beverage services are available on most golf courses and many are now operating their restaurants in some capacity. Golf courses have initiated a number of protocols to limit touchpoints for their customers including removing rakes from bunkers, placing inserts in golf holes so that balls can easily be removed from the cup without touching the flag, accepting payments by debit and credit rather than by cash, sanitizing common touchpoints after each use, and cleaning and disinfecting on course washrooms every hour.
Hotels :
Hotels may be running at reduced occupancy levels to maximize safety for both guests and staff. Pools, hot tubs, saunas, restaurants and other amenities will only be opened under the guidance of the Provincial Health Authority. Be sure to ask your Golf Vancouver Island vacation specialist what amenities are available at the hotel you are considering. Hotels do not require people to be from the same household to share the same room. In an effort to limit the number of people entering your room, room service deliveries may be left outside your door rather than delivered into your room. Daily housekeeping may not be provided depending on the hotel, but clean linens can be delivered to your door upon request.
Transportation :
BC Ferries is one of the primary ways to get to and from Vancouver Island. BC Ferries has implemented a number of safety protocols to ensure all travellers are safe and to help limit the spread of COVID-19 to ferry-accessed communities. There is seated service available in the restaurants on the ferries. People leaving their vehicles are encouraged to practice social distancing. You can keep apprised of all measures being enacted on BC Ferries by viewing the BC Ferries statement here .
Restaurants and Pubs:
Full capacity permitted, no more limits on table sizes, customers don’t have to remain seated. Restaurants are open for indoor dining, take-out and outdoor dining, reservations are strongly recommended as a result of these measures. Many restaurants are operating at a reduced capacity – reservations are strongly recommended as a result of these measures.
Casinos, Bars and Nightclubs:
Full capacity is permitted at bars and nightclubs. Mingling and dancing permitted, with masks. Casinos in British Columbia are open with reduced capacity and restrictions.
RESERVATION POLICIES
Quotes
Your package can be customized to your liking – so if there is something that you’d like us to change, please let us know.
Reservations
A credit card is required to hold your reservation. NO CHARGE is made to your card until all aspects of your trip have been finalized and you have reviewed the confirmed itinerary and given us the authorization to proceed with charges.
Payments
A 20% non-refundable deposit is taken upon your approval. The remaining balance is charged 30 days prior to arrival. You do not need to contact our office to make the final payment.
You’ll receive an email when payment is completed to confirm that your package is complete and that the vouchers will be emailed to the address that you provided us upon booking. If your trip is within 30 days, we will take the full balance when your booking is confirmed.
Inclusion, Changes, Cancellations & Refunds
Trips include all the items that are listed on the trip summary page. Items such as hotel parking, meals, incidental items that you charge to your room, pro-shop purchases etc are not included in the package unless specifically stated.
Trips can be altered twice at no extra cost. Additional changes may be subject to a $25 change fee.
If the provincial travel advisory extends into your reserved dates, you have the option to get a full refund of your payments (less the 2.5% credit card fees and any penalties the hotels or golf courses may impose for any last-minute cancellations) or rebook your trip to a later date. If there is no travel advisory in effect, with the exception of the 20% deposit, your trip is fully refundable up to your travel date (less any credit card fees, cancellation or no-show fees imposed by hotels and golf courses). Your 20% deposit is transferable towards another package of similar value for any date in the future.
Your credit does not expire . Contact us and we’ll can apply your deposit for golf or accommodations to a future date that works better for you.
If courses are rained-out we will fully refund your credit card for the green fee amount. The playability and conditions are up to the sole discretion of the pro shop on the day of play.
Travel Notices
Ferries
If you are travelling to or from Vancouver Island by ferry, please check with the relevant service provider for more information.
BC Ferries is operating all routes, with some scheduling and capacity changes. More details here .Coho Ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria BC information can be found here .Clipper Fast Ferry from Seattle, WA to Victoria, BC information can be found here .Washington State Ferries from Anacortes, WA to Sidney, BC information can be found here .
Airlines
If you are travelling to or from Vancouver Island by air, you are encouraged to check with both the airport and your airline carrier for the latest updates.
Air Canada is offering flights to multiple airports on Vancouver Island. More information can be found here .WestJet is offering flights to multiple airports on Vancouver Island. More information can be found here .Harbour Air Seaplanes is offering flights to multiple locations on Vancouver Island. More information can be found here .Pacific Coastal Airlines is offering flights to multiple airports on Vancouver Island. More information can be found here .
Airports
Major airports on Vancouver Island are fully operational and have implemented safety protocols to assist travellers.
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) has issued a statement here . Nanaimo Airport (YCD) has issued a statement here . Comox Airport (YQQ) has issued a statement here .
HELPFUL LINKS
March 13, 2020, by: Golf Vancouver Island