By Adam Hickman
Tiger Woods won’t be there, but some Ottawa-Carleton golfers are getting set for an icy tee-off at Winterlude.
The Edelweiss Polar Bear Golf Classic is a tournament held on ice. This new attraction is scheduled Feb. 21.
The event is to take place on Dow’s Lake, where the course has been nicknamed “Winterlude Woods.”
“Being partnered with Winterlude allows us to attract bigger sponsors with a bigger event,” says Rob McCulloch, event organizer.
He says the event is to raise funds for the Lung Association and for Club Richelieu.
McCulloch says they’ve run similar golf fundraisers in the past but they weren’t attractive to sponsors.
He says this year’s event has more potential because of the creative ice theme of the contests.
McCulloch says the goal is to raise $20,000. The Lung Association share of the funds will be directed to its Asthma Education Centre, which opened last November.
The entry fee for the tournament is $60, which includes a free meal, t-shirt and a free golf cart ride to the course. McCulloch says participants can register at the Dow’s Lake Pavilion.
The tournament winner will receive free airfare to anywhere in the country, courtesy of Air Canada.
The contest is made up of three events: miniature golf, driving range and a par 3 course. Golfers will hit tennis balls instead of golf balls for safety reasons.
The miniature-golf event is 18 holes long. While traditional miniature golf courses have wooden walls, McCulloch says the walls will be made of snow and each cup will be five inches into the ice.
“A piece of green crapet will be carried around so each person has a good lie,” he adds.
McCulloch says it should take players about one-and-a-half hours to complete the course.
The golf course will be open to the rest of the public Feb. 23, where for $2 anyone can participate in any of the three different components.
Deborah Therien has signed up to play in the tournament.
“I’m a golfer by nature. The concept of winter golf sounds interesting and fun,” she says.
She says she doesn’t ski and hates the winter, so the golf event is a way for her to partake in Winterlude.
“It’s nice to try new things and it’s for a good cause.”
She says she hopes the golf event will become a yearly fixture at Winterlude.
Glen Pitts, operations manager at Chuck Brown’s Golf Co. Ltd. on Somerset Street,says the event is a fun idea.
“I’m sure they’ll get a fair amount of people wanting to showcase their stuff in winter.”