Victoria Golf Club

The Victoria Golf Club is one of the city’s historical gems and the site of a famous ghost story.  It’s also very scenic, located oceanside and within the upscale municipality of Oak Bay.  Established in 1893, it’s the oldest golf course in Canada remaining in its original location and the second oldest in North America! Even the clubhouse, completed in 1923, is a registered Canadian Historical Site, although it has been renovated and expanded many times since.

Playing this renowned course, the fresh salt air and picturesque surroundings must be somewhat of a distraction.  Draped over the rocky shores of Gonzales Point, sea breezes buffet and views of the Trial Islands and across the waters of Haro Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait to the mountains of mainland British Columbia and Washington state vie for your attention. It takes a certain dedication to the sport and keen focus on the task at hand!

All bets on playing well may be off if you encounter one of the most famous apparitions in Victoria – the April Ghost.  Her story is a tragic tale of love gone awry.  In 1936, young Doris Gravlin was murdered by her estranged husband.  His body was discovered in the water a month later, an apparent suicide.

There the story should end, but Doris is clearly not at rest… She appears regularly to astonished golfers and those walking or driving through the area, sometimes in daylight hours!  If you are visiting the Victoria Golf Club and see a young woman in a brown suit of decidedly old-fashioned looking style, or a long white dress, don’t be surprised if she rushes towards you and then suddenly vanishes.

This ghostly apparition hasn’t affected the popularity of the Victoria Golf Club, if anything, she lends an air of mystery to an already storied Victoria institution.

Jodi Baker

After attending grade school locally, Jodi enrolled at Camosun College, taking Business Administration and majoring in marketing. She graduated in 1991, the same year she was licensed as a Real Estate Agent and joined RE/MAX Camosun. Since then Jodi has been been building her career based on a desire to provide friendly professional service to people who want to sell or buy properties in Victoria, winning several awards along the way. In 2003 Jodi joined Geoff McLean and Associates, and she enjoys being part of his team of real estate experts. The team approach allows Jodi to balance her career and home life, something that every mother can appreciate, especially when the children are young! Jodi also enjoys cooking, camping, traveling and music. She shares her Central Saanich home with her husband and two children, two border collies and a cat. Connect with Jodi via email: jodi@mcleanrealestategroup.ca

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