Feature Article April Fool's Isuue April 3, 2002
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Controversy surrounds Extreme Golf Tourneyby Jeff GreenThe proposed first annual Golfing on Thin Ice Extreme Golf Tournament, slated for April 13 on Sharbot Lake, has caused much concern among safety-minded residents, and may not take place after all.
The event is the brainchild of extreme golf promoter Jack Palmerston of Chicago, Illinois, who has run several of these events in the United States. The ice is not developing on our lakes anymore, so we are having trouble finding suitable courses, he told The News last week, and we also thought we should take the game international. The course we have planned for Sharbot Lake is one of the best Ive ever seen, and we are hoping there will be some ice left on the lake by April 13.
Palmerston is considered the guru of extreme golf, and is host of the popular television program Putting the 'Go' Back in Golf on the Extreme Sports Network (XSN) a cable TV network based in Atlanta , Georgia. He has also written two books on the subject, Extreme Golfing: A way of Life and Golfing in Shark infested waters (or How to concentrate on your putting, no matter what)".
Palmerston says ice golfing is a simple idea, really. We use a fluorescent orange, floating golf ball. The players either stand on the ice, or perch themselves on the edge of a safety sled or a ski-doo, or even a sea-doo. We use small islands for the putting greens. The players all wear wet suits, so the danger is mitigated by that, and the cottage owners on the islands arent put out, because none of them can get to the islands this time of year anyway. We always replace broken windows, and the ground on the islands is usually fine by the time the cottagers come back later in the spring.
Tournament organisers have run afoul of the Sharbot Lake Cottagers Association, who were not informed about the planned tournament. Cottage Association President Bert Badour has informed the local detachment of the OPP, in hopes the police can determine if the event is legal. While the water, or ice or whatever, is public property, Im sure it is illegal to land on someone's island and put a temporary golfing green on it.
The Volunteer Fire Department sees problems with the event as well. Deputy Fire Chief Sparky Underhill told The News "I think it is bad, very bad, for them to be making sport out of the danger thin ice brings to our community, and using equipment that is intended for saving lives to swing at golf balls is just despicable."Jack Palmerston responds by saying that tournament organizers have considered attempting to get permission from cottagers whose islands may be impacted by the event, although he seems to be doing this begrudgingly. We never have to do this stateside; the small communities there know a good thing when they see it, and the publicity this event brings with it will put Sharbot Lake on the map. The people here should be thanking me, not standing in my way. Ive even arranged to hire some local kids as caddies, he says, referring to young snowmobile pond jumpers that have been hired to ferry the ice golfers' specially designed ice and water golf clubs.
Sharbot Lake is a ideal location for Thin Ice Golfing, according to Jack Palmerston, and the Sharbot Lake Thin Ice Golf Tournament (SLTIGT) is poised to be in on the ground floor of an emerging sport. We are bringing 100 of the top extreme golfers in the world to Sharbot Lake for a one-day, winner-take-all event, to be broadcast live on XSN. Do these cottagers want the bright future of this area to be dimmed because of their -sighted, selfish concerns?
As far as the Fire Department concerns go, Palmerston says that a portion of the television revenue from the event will be donated to the volunteer fire department to purchase rescue equipment.
A public meeting scheduled for April 1 at the Oso Community Hall. Jack Palmerston says he will be present, and will explain in detail how the event has been designed and will be carried out. He is hoping this will pacify local concerns and allow the event to go on as planned.
