Golf

2007-05 - by Jerry Flaman     This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it It was just last month that we celebrated the arrival of spring in the Okanagan and reported on the wonderful golf that was available. It seems however that we were just a bit premature with our observations. Here in the South Okanagan we have indeed seen the arrival of spring with, if not consistent, at least regular spurts of warm, sunny days. However, my contacts in the North of the Valley report that some courses got off to a slower start - but will soon make up for lost time! It took awhile for Old Man Winter to release his icy grip on our fairways but now we should count our blessings if not our strokes. So, if the courses up the valley are a bit behind, you know that those in the South will welcome you. Bring down the RV and gradually work and golf your way north again. Could be the beginning of a great tradition! Another spring tradition worth considering is the fabulous junior programs available at many of these courses. Young players can receive great lessons and coaching at an extremely reasonable cost. They will be able to spend many happy hours through the summer months busily engaged in sport. Any grandparent looking for a Christmas or birthday gift might consider a junior membership. They'll soon be giving you pointers! Now, not all the courses are suffering under the pall of a late spring. Eagle River in Sicamous and Club Shuswap in Salmon Arm, both opened in March to good golfing and reasonably dry conditions. Mabel Lake opened on the 13th of April, and they offer a beautifully warm and welcoming restaurant lounge along with their picturesque course. Make a day of it and stay on for a rewarding dinner. Birchdale reports good conditions all round while River Ridge, Hillview and Spallumcheen all report really good spring fairways. As things improve, and if the sun would do us all a big favour and smile down upon us on a more regularized schedule, we will all be much happier and the wife will be the better for having us out of the house. Now there is a thought! If the weather is not to our liking why not take the time to improve the swing as well as the style. No one is too old to learn and didn't the teacher tell us that practice makes perfect? Well I'm not perfect and I know I need the practice so to add to our golfing enjoyment we have the Practice ranges. (I much preferred the Driving Ranges because one could go out and bash balls all day relieving stress and anxiety without hurting anyone else). So, make a special effort to patronize the golf courses and golf support outlets which have taken the opportunity to advertise in The Seniors' Choice and with their advertising dollars help our publisher get this fine seniors' newsmagazine into your hands free of charge. And remember; "To be Canadian means you are too blessed to be stressed".

 

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