Garden renovations and the cultivation of the gardens at Cordova Bay Golf Course are one of the favourite times for the Varied Thrush. 

These fat, pretty, robin-like birds love to forage in the freshly cultivated soil looking for bugs and worms. Generally, these are shy birds, but you will see them when food is available.

Varied Thrushes are about the size of a robin, but they are distinctly patterned and colored. The male is bluish gray on its nape, back, rump and tail. An orange stripe extends behind the eye over a black patch on the ear and cheek. Under-parts from the throat to the slightly mottled belly are orange, interrupted by a wide, black breast band. The wings are blueish with two orange wing-bars. Females are similar in pattern to males. Whereas males are bluish grey, females are grayish brown and the breast band is grey instead of black, while the orange is lighter.

Varied Thrushes live in dense coniferous or deciduous forests with lots of water, and on the shaded floor of the forest. They feed on earth worms and insects. If really hungry or just being pigs, they will hang out under my bird feeders waiting for dropped seeds. Varied Thrushes are good for the garden, because the really kick up the soil while looking for food.

Varied Thrushes require large stands of forest with a dense canopy to conceal nests from predators. The female builds the cup-shaped nest deep in the forest canopy. The outer layer of the nest is made of loosely woven twigs, leaves, lichen and bark, which support the middle layer of mud and grasses. Nests are lined with fine grass, moss and soft, dead leaves. Two to six sky blue eggs are laid and the female incubates the clutch for about 12 days. Both parents take part in the feeding. 

If you happen to see one of these shy woodland birds at the course, consider yourself very lucky. We have seen them mainly in the garden at 10 tee and foraging in the laurel hedge along No. 8. 

Many people have started their golfing careers at a par-3 course. Since The Ridge Course opened in June 1999, we know from experience that players who gain confidence and command of the short game usually benefit once they move onto a bigger, longer course. It takes time, patience and good practice habits to improve in all areas of the game. A good short game can make all the difference in how someone enjoys golf.

The Ridge Course is introducing new lesson programs for 2006 that focus on the short game, the full swing and very importantly on how to play the game.

When new players take up the game, it can be overwhelming trying to learn how to swing, chip, get out of a bunker, where to position themselves while other players are shooting, trying not to hold up the people with whom they are playing or those in the group behind. Many golfers get frustrated and either quit the game or limit their playing time, thus denying themselves the future enjoyment of this 'game of a lifetime.'

The Ridge Course instructors will address these areas of worry and strive towards helping each and every golfer achieve a level of confidence and comfortability on the golf course. Learn to Play lesson programs will give golfers a dose of reality into what is expected of them on a golf course, and how they can learn the basic fundamentals while gaining valuable experience in how to handle themselves each time they tee it up.

Assistant CPGA professionals Aaron Grice and Chris Stewart, along with head professional Mike Will, offer these new programs, starting in April. All sessions will be held at The Ridge on both the Short Game practice area and the course.

For more information contact the Ridge pro shop at 658-3996.

On behalf of your entire executive, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new members and, to our renewing members, hello again!

It is going to be a busy golf season with something to offer everyone, so be sure to attend our spring information meeting and find out all about it! (Bring your calendars to note important dates as you sign up for them!) For more details, see the messages from your other executive committee members that follow.

Here are some other things to keep in mind as the season opens:

You can e-mail your executive anytime you have a question or comment at info@cordovabaygolf.com. Or simply leave a note in the Ladies' Club folder at the pro shop.

Come say hello at the spring meeting!

From Jina McCaffree, Club Secretary:

It’s the start of a new season and as the song says “Here we are again – happy as can be – all good friends and jolly good company.” That’s the way I feel about the Cordova Bay Ladies' Club, and it is due in a very large part to so many ladies in the club volunteering in different ways over the years.

“Here we are again” asking all of you to consider volunteering this year at the many events, functions and tournaments, particularly the Ladies' and Men’s Club Championship Tournaments. There will be 'volunteer lists' available for you to sign up at the forthcoming spring meeting on Tuesday, March 21.

Talking about the spring meeting – this year the registration desks will be in the pro shop – one for the new members and one for the existing members. We have 22 new members and you can recognize them with a green edge name tag. It would be nice for existing members to say “hello” to the new members and have a wee chat.

At registration, we will be handing out golf club packages that will include your RCGA cards, Ladies' Club information on this year’s events, tickets for the 'door prizes' and a card from the pro shop giving all members a price reduction when buying clothes over the next two weeks.

Come along and have a “jolly good time."

From Cathie Keener, Events Chair:

Hello Cordova Bay ladies!  

The annual flower count in Victoria is finished for another year, so it is time to turn our attention to the 2006 Golf Season at Cordova Bay .

To returning members, welcome back! To new members, welcome! The first event is the spring information meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. at Bill Mattick's Restaurant (complimentary wine and cheese. Enter via the pro shop).

Please join us to renew friendships, meet your new executive, sign up for various competitions: pin rounds, eclectic, interclub, learn about changes and events, and get involved ... it’s YOUR club!!

Door prizes, 50/50 draws ... it will definitely be a fun evening! We look forward to seeing you!

From Connie Dykstra, Vice-Captain:

Exciting news – we have two new interclub events this year, so even more of you will get to enjoy these match play competitions! Our first match of the year is with Arbutus Ridge on April 25 at Cordova Bay. The return match is July 19. The rest of the interclub events will begin in May and sign-up sheets will be available at the spring info meeting, and then posted in the locker room.

From Heather Clarke, Events Vice-Chair:

A huge welcome to all of our 2006 Ladies' Club new members! We are looking forward to another fun and exciting year, and hope you can join us for the following events that have been planned just for you!  

Saturday, April 1: New Members' Orientation at the club. Coffee/tea and muffins will be served starting at 9 a.m. This will be a fun and informal event to meet one another; cover using the computer to enter scores; the locker room and bulletin board; golf etiquette; local course rules; and to answer your questions.

Thursday, April 6:    New Members' 9 & Dine. Executive members will be playing with various foursomes. Fun prizes.

Sign up for both events at the spring meeting!

From Annette Hart, Sports Chair:

Welcome to the 2006 Ladies' Club. I hope everyone had a good winter and was able to get out and golf. The course is drying out and the grounds crew is getting it ready for our starting dates, Tuesday, April 4, and Saturday, April 8 – so come on out to Beat the Pro. 

I am l ooking forward to seeing all of you on the course.

New this year is the sign-up procedure for Tuesday and Saturday Ladies' Days. There will be a demonstration at the spring meeting, so come out and see how it works. (Not a lot of change, but it will reduce the work involved and require fewer volunteers.)

The dust has long settled on the Valentine's Massacre Tournament due to the last of the winter rains and even snow on March 10. We had four triumphant teams and four others that perhaps need a bit more practice, or maybe just more good luck from the golf gods.

* On Saturday and Sunday (March 18-19), the Captain's team will attempt to repeat its success from last year against the President's team in two-man team and individual match play competitions.

* Interclub team qualifying is March 25, April 2 and April 8; details are posted on the bulletin board.

How would you like to cruise the high seas with our very own Lance McCullough?

Well, you can do that very thing next Oct. 23.

Lance, head professional here at Cordova Bay, has been recruited as a guest escort on Norwegian Cruiseline's newest ship -- the Pride of Hawaii -- which is part of a Hawaiian golf cruise package. It includes a seven-day escorted cruise, port charges, green fees for four rounds of golf, cart and round-trip transportation to each course (Wailea Emerald Course, Poipu Bay Golf Course, Kauai Lagoons Golf and The Dunes at Maui Lani).

Those who book by May 3 will receive a complimentary one-hour golf lesson (for two people) from Lance.