This past Saturday, I played my first COVID-19 era round of golf. I wasn't really sure what to expect. The exhaustive list of measures put in place to keep golf courses safe and allowed to operate made me wonder if it would feel like a mere shell of the game I fell in love with as a kid.
As our rented pontoon boat cruised towards the middle of Kamloops Lake, I cracked my local craft beer and took a reclusive moment to soak in the surrounding views. I reflected on the invigorating morning round we had just experienced at neighbouring Tobiano Golf Course and thought, I could sure get used to this.
We're all quick to turn into walking advice columns when we have even a modest amount of knowledge or experience with something. In the era of Google, we've become reluctant to learn things the old fashioned way. We're losing our ability to block out the noise and dig answers out of the dirt.
Whether you're a psychopath who starts their X-Mas shopping in November or just a person who likes to capitalize on a good opportunity, the next few weeks are for you. Not only is The Hat Shop freshly stocked, but we are also having a X-Mas early bird promotion.
There's a reason comeback stories resonate with us. There is something very human about adversity and hearing stories about those who overcome it fill us with hope and inspiration.
No matter why you play or where you play the game, consistently striking a golf ball towards your target with the distance, trajectory, and shape you want will never be easy. You'll inevitably face adversity, feel pressure, experience moments of doubt, and realize that every moment isn't always fun. And I wouldn't want it any other way.
One of my latest experiences was aimed to seek out the scenic value in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. This region features seven golf courses sprinkled around the charming towns of Kimberley and Cranbrook nestled between the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges. All seven of their golf courses are within a 24-minute drive of each other, which makes it a perfect spot for a filthy golf trip.
Gamble Sands was built in 2014 by the Gebbers family, who have been growing fruit in the region since 1900. They wanted to diversify their community, and even though they aren't big golfers themselves, they saw the value that golf can bring to a community. Turns out, they had perfect land for a golf course -- pure sand bluffs overlooking the Columbia River Valley.
I am thrilled to introduce yet another budding Canadian golf course architect, Keith Cutten, on our Q&A series A Casual 9. Keith has been partnered with his mentor, Rod Whitman, since 2007, and has also worked on an array of projects with architects Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, and Jeff Mingay. Keith established Cutten Golf Inc. in 2010 with a goal of creating fun, exciting, and strategic golf. His recently published book, The Evolution of Golf Course Design, takes a deep dive into the history of golf course architecture, and has quickly become a must-read for anyone with an interest in the craft. Please enjoy.
No matter who we are or what we do, we all feel pressure at times. Whether it's on the golf course or at work or when you're the emcee at your friend's wedding reception and everyone is counting on you not to stink. Achieving anything in life will have some level of pressure associated with it, therefore pressure isn't something we should avoid, but rather something we should embrace.
