Wayne Hachey (far left), who helped establish the Osoyoos Golf Academy program at Osoyoos Secondary School three years ago, was proud to announce he had arranged a trip to Vancouver to play the world-class Capilano Golf and Country Club for two youngsters who worked the hardest in practice as part of the golf academy program. The winners were Cole Rezka (second from left) and Scott Rausch. The good friends hope to play together at Capilano in July. Also on hand for the special presentation last Friday afternoon was OSS teacher and golf academy instructor John Seminoff (far right). (Keith Lacey photo)

Wayne Hachey (far left), who helped establish the Osoyoos Golf Academy program at Osoyoos Secondary School three years ago, was proud to announce he had arranged a trip to Vancouver to play the world-class Capilano Golf and Country Club for two youngsters who worked the hardest in practice as part of the golf academy program. The winners were Cole Rezka (second from left) and Scott Rausch. The good friends hope to play together at Capilano in July. Also on hand for the special presentation last Friday afternoon was OSS teacher and golf academy instructor John Seminoff (far right). (Keith Lacey photo)

Wayne Hachey knows better than most that there are no shortcuts to success in golf.

That’s why he came up with a plan to encourage the 13 Osoyoos Secondary School students enrolled in the Osoyoos Golf Academy full credit course to practice as hard as possible over the duration of the four-month course.

Last Friday, Hachey announced that the two young golfers who had put in the most practice time over the last semester would be rewarded with a special trip to Vancouver to play the private Capilano Golf and Country Club – one of Canada and North America’s most prestigious golf courses.

Hachey is the founder of the Desert Golf Academy in Osoyoos and he also helped develop the golf academy program at the local high school. He’s also the founder of the Evolve Pro Golf Tour in Spain and is a former teaching professional at Osoyoos Golf Club and over in Europe.

The lucky winners of the trip to Vancouver to play Capilano are Cole Rezka, 14 and Scott Rausch 15.

The two good friends, who were members of the Osoyoos Secondary School varsity team this past season, are hoping to celebrate their respective upcoming birthdays by planning a trip to Vancouver in July to play Capilano.

“I’m always trying to come up with new ways to encourage the kids to practice,” said Hachey, the owner of the Osoyoos Golf Academy and partner who helped establish the golf academy program at the local high school three years ago. “I came up with the idea of putting together an incentive package for the kids to practice, including giving them points for practicing putting, short game, specialty shots and spending time on the driving range.

“If they played nine holes, they would get 50 extra points and 100 extra points if they played 18 holes. We try and teach them the finer skills of golf in our program, but it’s hard to get better unless you get out and practice.”

Hachey is good friends with Brad Burgart, the current general manager of Capilano Golf and Country Club.

“Brad and I were apprentice professionals here at Osoyoos Golf Club back in 1984 and 1985 when we were much younger,” said Hachey. “Brad went on to be the pro at Fairview Golf Club in Oliver, then head pro at Predator Ridge in Vernon before he got the head professional job at Capilano.

“For the last two years, he’s been the general manager there and when I told him about what I was doing with the golf academy here in Osoyoos, he offered up two free rounds at Capilano.”

Rezka and Rausch put in dozens of extra hours of practice over the past three months and were the clear winners, said Hachey.

Being able to play one of Canada’s best golf courses is going to be a thrill, said Rezka.

“I’ve never played there before, but I do know it’s beautiful and I can’t wait to go,” he said. “Scott and I are good friends and I sure hope we can play there together.

“We both have our birthdays a couple of weeks apart in July so we’re hoping we can plan the trip to Vancouver and play Capilano as a birthday gift to both of us.”

Rausch was equally excited.

“This is just awesome,” he said. “Capilano is one of the best courses in the country and probably the nicest course in B.C., so it’s going to be a thrill.”

Neither teenager had any clue what the grand prize would be for putting in the extra practice, not that it would have made any difference.

“We’re here almost every day,” said Rezka smiling. “Scott and I play a lot together and we do practice a lot, but it’s nice to get a nice bonus like this.”

Capilano was designed by legendary golf course architect Stanley Thompson, who called the course one of his finest creations in the dozens of magnificent courses he has designed around the world, said Hachey.

“Capilano is easily one of the most beautiful golf course in North America,” he said. “I’m thrilled these kids will get to play a course of this calibre. I know they won’t forget it.”

If their parents can’t arrange the time to bring Rezka and Rausch to Vancouver to play Capilano, Hachey said he would take the opportunity to drive them down, visit Burgart and play a round himself.

Hachey said he hopes to offer similar incentives to encourage young golfers with the golf academy program to practice in the future.

“Talent will only take you so far in golf,” he said. “It’s all about taking that talent and refining it through practice.

“You need to practice to get better at any sport, but all golfers know that it’s especially important in golf because it’s such a difficult game to master.”

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times