“It was pouring rain leaving Calgary and continued unabated until we neared the turn-off to the Kananaskis Country Golf Course. The skies showed some clearing as we observed many cars in the parking lots and in the Clubhouse, golfers were enjoying a meal as well as either discussing strategy before playing, or recalling what happened on the course.
According to the lads, Bert, Peter, and Greg at check-in at the Pro Shop, the morning tournament played in “monsoon” weather conditions. Greg thought the Radar showed some clearing so Dianne confidently checked-in for a 1:21 p.m. tee time on Mount Kidd.
There was about a fifteen-minute delay according to Frank, our starter, due to rainy weather conditions. As we waited in the drizzle, when it came time to tee off, the rain stopped and there was actual clearing from the SW across the mountain peaks. We were introduced to Bill and Irene Thomas from Ponoka. Bill was 78 years old, and played from the white tees. Hamish chose to play from the blue tees in an effort to avoid driving the fairway bunkers. That strategy worked during his round. Dianne drove her ball off the red tees into the stream in front on hole 1, unusual for her but under the “heavy, cool air” circumstances, not surprising. It took us all about three holes to settle into our rhythm but it was apparent from the start that this elderly couple “had game”!
Hamish landed on the green with his drive on the signature hole 4 and got his par while we all marvelled at the glorious Mount Lorette setting in the distance for a picturesque photo opportunity with sunshine on the mountain peaks. As the weather improved, Hamish carded four pars in a row on holes 6 thru 9 rounding off a respectable 5 pars on the front nine for a total score of 41.
We felt after this round that we “stole one” from the golfing gods and couldn’t have been happier on the drive home after a delightful day in the Canadian Rockies in Kananaskis Provincial Park and Kananaskis Country.”
-Extract from the diaries written by golfers, Dianne E. Jorgenson and Hamish S. Cochran