Five With... Publisher Jeff Sutherland

VanIsleGolfNews.com is asking golf people up and down Vancouver Island five questions. This time, we get publisher and Victoria resident Jeff Sutherland’s answers to questions running from the strangest items in his bag to his surprising selection of his favourite Van Isle golf course.

#1 Where is your favourite place to spend a day at the golf course on Vancouver Island?

There is one place that is the most chill/zen for me and maybe one that not too many might know... Long Beach GC in Tofino. No tee times, minimal dress code (you just can’t be naked), and nine totally separated holes where each is quite unique. Set in lush rainforest, you can search for lost balls in the salal to your heart’s content. Weather can be a factor here but the course is built entirely on sandy soil and drains amazingly quickly. They are always working to improve their course and it shows. If you can sneak your clubs into the car when going up with the family, getting out for a round will lead to trying to rationalize to your spouse why you should be allowed to squeeze in another.

#2 What is the weirdest thing you keep in your golf bag?

I have a range finder that is so old that it is about the size of a pair of large binoculars. Think Rommel keeping an eye on Patton’s tanks during World War II. It still works and seems to vary only by one to two yards max from the more sleek and compact ones my playing partners generally sport.

#3 What is your favourite club to hit?

Putter... drive for show, putt for dough. Add in a very suspect short game and you can sometimes see me attempting to cozy it up to the hole from 15+ yards off the green.

#4 Must-have golf accessory?

A second umbrella. Our Club has the best pull carts on the market... The Canadian-made Kaddy-Lac where attaching one’s umbrella keeps everything in your bag completely dry. But by bringing along another umbrella to take to the tee and onto the greens means you can stay totally dry over even 18 holes of rain. Lately, it seems that one of the people I am playing with has forgotten to bring one and I end up lending my second one as it seems a little rude to have two while they get drenched.

#5 Dream course to play?

James Island... We don’t seem to be hearing much about the Nicklaus design just off Sydney these days but a three-hour tour (plus a round of golf) on billionaire Craig McCaw’s fantasy island would be something special.

Bonus Question: Go-to snack to fuel up for the back 9?

Strongbow Cider... The tall can. Failing that, Magners Cider... again the big boy. #swingoil

Jeff Sutherland is the 30+ year president of media company Inside Golf Inc., western Canada’s largest provider of scorecards and publishing partner to British Columbia Golf, the Western Canada Turfgrass Association, and the PGA of Alberta. He can be reached via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..