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Are you tough enough? The average Westmanite wouldn’t even ask — just the act of getting out of bed and house on a mid-winter day is more than answer enough about being tough.The above ‘tough enough,’ however, is actually the motto of the Virden-based Tundra Golf AssociationCAFE WESTMAN(TGA), where simply refusing to putDarri Clarkeither equipment or enthusiasm intoseasonal storage separates the averageTiger McLellan’s tundra tour statusmen from these old boys.“There’s nothing like a green Christmas to make you think golf,may be in jeopardy, however, eventhough he is a charter member. Theyynewly retired Doug and wife DebbieDoug McLellan said in reference to have temporarily traded Westmanthe 2001 unseasonable temperatures white for Florida green this winter,that first spurred him and Barry O’Grady to get the clubs out of the closet. And when Norm Baxter andthough I’m sure the fact that their exodus was carefully timed to fall betweenthe Sombrero and St. Pat’s Open willBob Heaman got in on the action on New Year’s Day, 2002, the TGA was born.be a mitigating factor.While he admits that golfing inshorts beats a snowsuit, McLellan willEach calendar quarter has its cham- hit the links shortly after landing backpionship, complete with a thematic trophy and post-game festivities, and ashome to keep his and O’Grady’s streak of 58 consecutive months of at leastbefitting legends in their own mind, one game of golf alive and swinging.these all-season swingers have evenadopted animal abases that speak toAnd though they’re obviously a bunch with a little too much snow intheir alter egos — and “pelts” are con- their bunkers, these boys of winter suresidered the currency of wins and losses, know how to birdie the blues away.There are also 28 other equally-• ••crazy Canucks now infected with this TEST EVENT...virus that never runs its course, includ-PTGAing an officially-affiliated (Pacific Tundra Golf Association) branch with McLellan’s brother DaveAs befitting an Olympic year, it looks like another Virden crew has alsoturned to unseasonable sport to prop(The Eagle) headlining a cast that nat-up their seasonal spirits.urally also boasts an Ogopogo.“We’re just two silly old fellows,” Jack Flett said when I contacted himafter their photo appeared in theVirden Empire-Advance. “We (Archie:• sY/VA-j/.svX-lv£inLamont) and I have been doing this as often as possible, weather permitting, every month since last spring. And weather has fortunately permitted us most days this winter.”Like the TGA “funatics” above, these long-time buddies refused to trade horseshoes for snowshoes and their winter regimen puts many younger folks to shame.“We get in a game of horseshoes most mornings, then go out crosscountry skiing in the afternoons,” Lamont said, as he came online to counter the “lies” he feared I might be fed by Flett. “Though the bad language can fly as fast as the shoes when the other guy makes a good shot, we have a pretty good time.”Who knows... maybe Virden can apply for special sport funding as the community off the beaten tour!• • •TOPICS ON TAP...Last week I put out a call for Cafe readers, old and new, to send in their memories, likewise old and new, of community orchestras and old-time dances. Don’t forget to send those in ASAP to either 725-9234 or clarkdl@mts.net for inclusion in next week’s column.And remember, even though I do like to acknowledge our Cafe contributors by name, don’t hesitate to call in if being individually identified is an issue. Anonymity will always be another option on our weekly menu.Community contributions are the Cafe’s soup stock. It only takes a moment to send your story tips and photos to clarkdl@mts. net and perhaps turn your hometown hero or hoedowti into next week’s special!
Newspaper Details
Brandon Sun Community News
Brandon, Manitoba, CA
Thu, Feb 23, 2006
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Kevin S.
CA 04 Sep 2020
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