In the heart of Surrey lies Northview Golf and Country Club– an Arnold Palmer original featuring some of the most challenging courses in British Columbia. And at the heart of this 36-hole masterpiece is Director of Golf Operations Chris Hoy. We had a chance to talked to Chris about life on the links…
Tourism Surrey: Describe your occupation.
Chris Hoy: I’m the Director of Golf Operations. The Director of Golf is responsible for booking golfers to play, maintaining pace of play on course and ordering, receiving, displaying, pricing and selling merchandise. The Director consults with the sales and marketing team, the Food and Beverage Manager as well as the Grounds Superintendent in order to continue to offer the best golf experience possible. I’ve held this position for 20 years.
TS: How long have you been a part of the Surrey community?
CH: 21 years.
TS: What do you love about being a part of Surrey?
CH: Surrey offers a nice range of big city, small town and even country experiences within its borders. The many well-kept parks, trails, sports fields and arenas allow a full life experience for young and old alike. The schools and recreation centres are top notch and as each community changes and grows, the amenities grow right along with them.
TS: What’s the most valuable thing you provide Surrey?
CH: Northview Golf and Country Club provides Surrey with a PGA Tour quality facility that is open to the public. Our restaurants and practice facilities are second to none and we welcome everyone to visit to find out why Northview is so highly regarded.
TS: What’s the most valuable thing Surrey provides you?
CH: Surrey provides the perfect location to stretch out and expand our business while the community grows around us.
TS: What made you choose Surrey as the host city for your endeavors?
CH: As long time residents of Surrey, the Stewart family built a life and business that flourished and grew. This success allowed them to consider to create a 36-hole golf facility that the residents of Surrey could enjoy for many years to come.
TS: How has Surrey inspired you?
CH: It has been a real learning experience to watch a large city grow and find it’s feet as it moved from being a sleepy suburb of Vancouver to being the fastest growing city in British Columbia.
TS: What has changed the most about Surrey in the last ten years?
CH: The greatest change has been the attitude of our residents. Surrey is no longer a large meandering municipality divided up into smaller districts, each with it’s own identity. Surrey today is more unified and gaining a new reputation as “the place” to live and work in the lower mainland.
TS: Tell us something about you that people may not know.
CH: The main reason I moved and stayed in Surrey is how much it reminded me of south Vancouver in the 60’s and 70’s. Not many people know that I love that special mix of country and city that Surrey lives up to so well.
TS: Where do you imagine Surrey going in the next ten years?
CH: The creation of the downtown core with all the amenities expected in a modern big city. The growing arts and music community along with the sports stars that are being produced from our quality schools and recreation programs.
TS: Anything else you’d like to share?
CH: Surrey’s multiculturalism is a big part of the enjoyment of living and working here. In Surrey, the world truly comes to us!