Colin Gants is the golf pro at West Seattle Golf Course where he has been for the past 19 years. He's a busy man whose work involves everything from administration duties, controlling costs to providing instruction. He only gets a chance to play about once a week, but said he genuinely loves his job.
Whether you are a golfer or not it's worth knowing that West Seattle is home to one of the best golf courses in the Northwest.
The man to know there is Colin Gants, father of four, who loves West Seattle, the game of golf and especially his golf course. He's been the golf pro at the West Seattle Golf Course for the past 19 years.
"It's absolutely the most beautiful place you can find in the City of Seattle," said Gants. "Every day I come to work, i have not said the words, 'I don't want to go to work today'. I just love the facility, love the golf course and love it's rich history here in West Seattle."
Gants' four children all attend Holy Rosary School. He attended the University of Washington and has been involved in golf ever since he was a boy.
Surprisingly, while he does get to play in tournaments and other events, he is so busy with instruction and administration and only plays on average once a week.
West Seattle Golf course was opened in 1940, construction began in 1935 and over the years the course has been "softened" through mowing patterns and budget restrictions. But the last eight years has seen an effort to restore the course to the 1953 standards.
"We've taken steps like re-shaping the fairways (...) re-shape the greens and finally we've had a chance to add 24 new white sand bunkers," said Gants.
What's his own best round?
"I haven't gone low here (...) That's why I love this place so much because it's so difficult and challenges the better players," he said. "The lowest round I've had here is 67 which is only five below par. I've gone much lower in other facilities. But this course challenges you in different ways."
