EDITORIAL & OPINION — ODDS ‘N’ SODS — In the rough

During a recent golf outing, I was asked how long I had been playing and what got me interested in the game. I replied that I was introduced to golf in a rather unusual fashion.

Back in 1969, we were preparing to open the Eagle gold mine near Joutel, a small town in northwestern Quebec. There really wasn’t much to do in the off hours. Since we had to clear trees at the mine site, some of the fellows figured that we could set up a driving range by clearing trees in an area bordering the Harricana River.

We borrowed heavy equipment from the mining contractors and, with their help, bulldozed the area. These activities were, of course, performed in the evenings, when the local bugs were not on their best behaviour.

Paul Penna, one of the principals involved in the Eagle gold project, visited the site at regular intervals and, on one such trip, noticed the well-groomed area on the bank of the river. He asked what it was intended for, and was delighted that we had taken the initiative to make a driving range. He promised to supply us with drivers, rubber mats and practice balls.

About three weeks later, a freight truck appeared at the mine site. The driver inquired if he had the right address, for he was to deliver some golfing equipment, and thought there had been some kind of mistake. Reassured that he was at the right place, he drove down to the warehouse to unload.

Arriving at the warehouse, we found that Mr. Penna had sent everyone on staff a complete set of clubs, including golf bags, driving mats, baskets and practice balls. We started hacking away. Not having played golf before, this is exactly what I was doing — hacking.

Some time later, on another of his visits, Mr. Penna inquired how things were going at the driving range. He was told that few of us golfed and that if we continued much longer, the waters of the Harricana would rise from all the balls we plunked in there.

Mr. Penna said he would help, and a few weekends later, two golf pros arrived on site to help us with our game.

— The author, a mining consultant, resides in Beloeil, Que.