Huron Expositor, 2000-08-02, Page 1414 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 3, 3000
Sports
Too many young golfers
ignoring golf's safety rules
"Danger! Golf • in
progress!" Several of these
signs. were prominently
displayed around the Old
Course at St. Andrews. They
are not just there during the
Open but all year round; to
warn golfers, spectators, and
trespassers that a golf course
can, indeed, be a dangerous
place.
The sign was not the only
thing that prompted me to
write this week's column
about safety on the golf
course. In recent weeks. I
have observed a number of
incidents that have convinced
me that golf can be a very,
dangerous undertaking for
the inexperienced.
While driving around
Seaforth and neighbouring
communities I have noticed a
strange phenomenon. Where
there once were youngsters
shooting baskets or swinging
baseball hats. there are now
youngsters swinging golf
clubs.
Front yards, back yards,
even at the park, kids have
putters and wedges instead of
hats or basketballs. Sidewalk
sales, yard sales. and second
hand stores are seeing
renewed interest in old golf.
equipment, either for golf
Memorabilia collectors or
beginners just taking up the
-game.
Perhaps it,'s the Tiger
influence. Perhaps it's the
aging boomers. In any case,
golf appears to be increasing
in popularity.
A friend's son has taken a
keen interest in golf. He
watches it on television and
follows it on the internet.
With the help of his parents,
he purchased a set of used,
golf clubs. bag. and cart at a
yard sale. Neither parent
plays golf or is very -familiar
with the game. but they were
both pleased at their son's
interest.
in spite of warnings about
safety and a review of basic
rules. the'son was sporting a
giant purple and blue bruise
on his side, the size of a golf
ball. when I stopped by to
visit one day. It seems a
friend came over, took a
whack at the ball and the
new golfer had no time to get
out of the way.
Another incident occurred
when a youngster was
practicing with whiffle ball
in the back yard. Whiffle
By Carolanne Doig
balls really won't hurt
anyone no matter how hard
you hit them.
These are the little plastic
balls with holes in them that
don't fly anywhere at all.
They are ideal for practicing
on the lawn.
It wasn't the ball that sent
the younger brother to the
hospital, but the golf club.
The little guy walked up
right behind his brother
while he took his hackswing,
the club caught the wee one
in the ear and it was off to
the hospital for a quick
check-up.
At a recent junior morning,
we asked the youngsters how
many had ever been hit by a
ball or a club. The number of
raised hands was alarming.
Years ago, there might have
been one or two. Nowadays,
there are far too many. One
youngster was sporting a
lifetime scar on his cheek
where he had been struck by
a club while "golfing" with a
friend.
There are basic safety rules
to follow for every sport.
Golf is no different.'Just
because there are no helmets,
shin pads or referees, doesn't
mean there is no danger. The
three number one concerns
are: being hit by a club,
being hit by a ball. and being
. hit by lightning._
The added danger of
misusing power carts usually
does not affect young people,
but parents need to know that
to drive a power cart at the
golf course you must be 16
years of age and have a valid
driver's license.
It's great that your little
ones want to take up golf.
Little clubs are easier to find
now. . ,
Junior lesson programs are
available and many
youngsters are keen to try
golf. You wouldn't buy your
kid a bike and send him up
the road without some basic
safety rules, and you
shouldn't do this with golf
clubs either.
Remember: Never hit the`
ball if there is someone in
front of you or nearby off to
the side: You are never sure
just where your ball will go
or how far you'll hit it; never
swing the club without first
looking around to see if there
is anyone within striking
range; always be alert for the
ball that's been hit by the
other player or the club being
swung by the other player; if
you think your ball is
heading towards someone
yell, "Fore!"; if you hear
"Fore!", cover your head
with your hands, duck down,
and count to 10 before
coming up. Never look
around to see who yelled the
warning; never walk ahead
of someone who is hitting.
Farthest from the hole hits
first; if you hear thunder,
head for the clubhouse or
nearest shelter right away -
don't wait for the siren;
never stand under a tree
during a lightning storm;
always use your best
judgement and err on the side
of caution, better safe than
sorry any day; remember
there's danger when there's
golf in progress.
Winners of the Open Pool
were: Graham Nesbitt, Brad
Maddigan and Marc Robinet.
Winner of the U.S. Senior
Open pool was Bobby Mair.
The Ladies Invitational ,
was held last Thursday with
100 ladies from all over
southern Ontario taking part.
The team of Sophie Fenton
,from Pike Lake and Barb
Sturgeon from Sunset,
successfully defended their
title by shooting a two over
par 73.
-Barb and Brittany
Caldwell from Seaforth
finished well in the low net
division. Other Seaforth
participants were Heather
Robinet, Linda Doig,
Drusilla Leitch and Olave
Little.
Winner of the weekly draw
was Jack Pounder while the
July winner was Andrew
Leitch. The ladies Fun Night
is Aug. 10 and all ladies are
reminded that it is a potluck
that night. The ladies are
expecting close to 100 guests
for golf and dinner.
Optimists sponsor fish fry
for Firefighters' convention
Senior shuffleboard
continues every Wednesday
afternoon at the Scaforth and
District Community Centres
from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Last
week's winners were:
Ladies: Kathie Tippett - 303.
Helen MacKenzie - 298 and
Mary McMillan - 295.
Men: Ken •Preszcator - 361.
Harry Pennings - 317 and
Ken Lingelhach - 257.
Fish Fry
The Scaforth Optimist
Club will be sponsoring a
Fish Fry in conjunction with
the Firefighters' convention
on Sunday, Aug. 6.. The
dinner will be from 4:30 - 7
p.m., dance from 8 p.m. to
midnight and the BIAi
Beautification Campaign Car
By Marty Bedard
Draw will be held at 8 p.m.
Cost for all this is $15.
The fish fry only will cost
you $10, the dance only will
also be $10, children under
12 are $5 and toddlers are
free. The dance will feature
the band "Blackwater Draw."
The fish fry and dance will
he held at the Seaforth and
District Community Centres.
Tickets arc available at Nifty
Korners, Ice Dreams,
Tuckers Mcat Shop, Pete's
World-class athletes
have local grandparents
Two Seaforth residents
have grandchildren that
have recently become
world-class athletes.
Anna McNichol, of
Seaforth, is the grandmother
of Canadian Women's
basketball team member Joy
McNichol, of Waterloo, who
will he going to the
Olympics in Sydney,
Australia this September.
Joy has been a member of
both the junior and senior
national basketball teams,
won two Ontario university
championships and helped
the national team fight for a
bronze -place finish r, the
Olympic trials last year in
Cuba.
She also played basketball
professionally for two years
in Spain.
Margaret Gorwill, of
Maplewood Manor. is the
grandmother of Peter Van
Rooijen, of Brockville. who
is competing in a world
rowing competition in
Zagreb. Croatia this week.
As part of a four -man
team which has won medals
consistently over the last
two years, Val, Rooijen has
been rowing in rough water
twice a day to build up
endurance for the race.
Paper Clip or Bob's Barber
Shop. For more information
please call Leanne at 522-
0115 or Dianne at 527-0448.
Firefighters' Convention
Other activities you can
come enjoy during the
Firefighters' convention
from Aug. 4 - 7 will be a
pumper pull on Friday
evening at 8 p.m. on the race
track, a hospitality area with
a bar and food booth at the
Agriplex, breakfast on
Saturday. Sunday and
Monday morning at the
Agriplex, demonstrations,
firefighter games. and two
parades on Sunday and
Monday mornings.
Summer Showcase Hockey
Game
The annual Summer
Showcase Hockey Game will
be played on Thursday, Aug.
17 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Seaforth and District
Community Centres.
The game will feature the
Dave McLlwain Hockey
School staff against area
players who play Jr. A, B.
NCAA, CIAU and the pros.
Admission will be S 3 for a
high school student and
under, $5 f r adults and $15
per family Proceeds will be
donated to the Seaforth and
District Minor Hockey
Association.
wArr
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