A group of realtors who like to close their deals on a fairway with a golf club in hand now have full access to an outdoor office.
Garibaldi Springs Golf Resort hosted the first annual Realtor's Invitational Whack and Slash golf tournament on June 28 and the resort indicated in a news release that the tournament was designed to bring realtors and their circle of influence to the new development along Hwy. 99.
Tournament organizers Gerry Halstrom and Janice Grimes put together the unprecedented public relations initiative. The 55 tournament participants from North Vancouver to Whistler received a free unrestricted season's pass. An annual pass at Garibaldi Springs, according to Grimes, is worth just under $1,000. Along with the passes the realtors have access to special golf rates for clients.
"Relationships are everything," Halstrom said. "Word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool."The golf resort suggests realtors can use their seasons passes and access to special rates for guests so the golf course can be used as a place to do business.
"We are in the business of selling the lifestyle here, and what better way can we do that but to lead by example," said realtor Simon Hudson of Remax/Sea to Sky Real Estate in Squamish. "This opportunity will not only take my golf game to the next level and develop my client/business relationships; it demonstrates a powerful exchange of corporate goodwill."
Rostrum Developments Ltd. co-sponsored the tournament with SeeSwing, a company that offers a golf learning program. As part of the event, the realtors toured the Fairway homes and Rostrum Development's Seasonview.
After the real estate tours and a round of golf, the new members had dinner on a recently constructed deck overlooking the Garibaldi Springs course.
"This is a brilliant move and a cutting-edge approach to managing the relationship of business and golf," said Michael Cunningham of Corporate Golf Management Company, a special guest at the event.
Garibaldi Springs plans to make this program for realtors a long-term strategy that will continue after the 2005 season.
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