Page 4 Friday, May 5, 1978 CASTOR REVIEW Peter Van Dusen Golf: game of pleasure and... $%"%$ ... patience, blush Woebegone would I have been if I had lived some 500 years ago in Scotland where the game of golf is believed to have originat- ed. As early as 1457 there existed statutes prohibiting the practice of this sport lest it should interfere with the more popular sport of archery. I am glad that since then golf has become a more accepted sport. Iam probably as big a fan of the game of golf as you will ever see or meet. I took up the game about three years ago and for the last few weeks before the snow melts I find myself wearing leather golf gloves instead of the more conventional winter wear. Back in 1457, if you could drive a golf ball 200 yards you were considered a herculian hero, a man of iron, a veritable strong- man. Nowadays, tee shots of 275 yards or more are common among seasoned players and style counts as much as strength. Every spring the warm weath- er brings out a swarm of golf enthusiasts and the word from area pro-shops is that the courses are in excellent condition for this time of year. Winter damage to the greens was minimal and the recent hot, dry weather has dried out fairways substantially. Until three years ago, the word "'golf", to me meant spending a Sunday afternoon watching a seemingly boring game on the tube. At the time I think I would have more enjoyed watching milk curdle. The game simple had no appeal; slow moving, apparently nonsensical, knocking a hen's egg up and down open fields. Shame on me. Shame. How could I know? Now I'll lock horns with anyone who demeans the game. You have to play the game before you can appreciate it: the open-air, the exercise, the sheer pleasure of seeing a superb 9-iron shot land a few paces from the flag - Bravo. There are several advantages to playing golf. You don't have to worry about your knees getting battered as is the case in football and sometimes in hockey. In golf you can set your own pace with time for a slight respite after the ninth hole and an opportunity to compare scores over some liquid refreshment after the eighteenth hole. Golf is truly a social sport. There is time between holes for plentiful conversation and con- sultation on the proper club to be selected. There is one thing about the game of golf that I have never been able to master. It's the constant test of patience. If you are unfortunate in having a short temper every attempt must be made to bridle sudden outbursts of aggression arising out of hooked, shanked or turfed shots. I myself am presently minus a 3-wood because of my untethered rage. I had been having an extremely good round when I had the misfortune of '"'topping" a shot. As a demonstration of revenge, against the golf club naturally for one seldom has the foresight to assess the balance of blame in such situations, I wrapped the pliable shaft of the club around the handle of my pull-cart. That was three years ago and I realize now that perhaps the club was not entirely to blame. I am confident that similar situations will arise this season as well, however, I shall endeavour to be more level-headed. In the final analysis friends, golf is a game of patience... . patience. Hardy hopes shattered Embrun Panthers lucked out in their bid for the Hardy Cup at Fredericton, N.B. last month as they went down to defeat at the hands of the fan-favored Camp- bellton Tigers in the Canadian Intermediate A Eastern Canada hockey final. The Panthers were downed 5-2 in the final contest of a very successful season. Embrun reached the final by hammering the host Fredericton squad 8-1. In that game Panther scoring aces Jean Payette, Dave Dixie and Dave Hunt tallied for 11 scoring points. Dixie, on right wing along with Ralph McSwayn on defence placed on the tourna- ment all-star team. Campbellton now goes west to meet Vancouver or Prince George for the national crown. The Panthers management would like to thank all the fns who so faithfully supported the club this season and looks forward to icing another top-notch team next season. Warner's Funeral Home 445-2830 JAMES EADIE FARM SUPPLY -- Sales & Service -- 445-2990 RON 445-2048 VEH BUILDER & DESIGNETe Renovations @ Additons Custom Kitchens ® Bathrooms Free Estimates RUSSELL DON MAY Electrical Residential Commercial Farm FREE ESTIMATES 445-5332 It is conceivable that Russell may have a participant in this summer's Commonwealth Games to be held in Edmonton, Alberta, August 3-12, 1978. Brigitte Bittner pictured above of 308 Church St., has been a Russellite for just over two years now and you may have rememb- ered seeing other pictures of her high jumping right here in our local paper. Well, Brigitte has set her sights on being a team member and hopefully a medal- list at the prestigious Common- Commonwealth hopeful wealth Games, an event held every four years. Brigitte is not a newcomer to the Games, having won a bronze medal in 1974 at the last Games held in Christchurch, New Zea- land. At that time she cleared 1.80 m. (5' 11") to capture a bronze medal. Since then she has remained within the top 10 on the Commonwealth Countries rank- ing list and this summer she hopes to climb up on the podium again as a medal winner in 1978. STAR WARS STARS Metcalfe Skating Club "Star Wars" stars Monica "C3P0"' Van Dam and Kelly '"R2D2" MacFarlane. (Mary Rowsell Photo) In preparing for the Games, Brigitte has gone to the Univer- sity of Tennessee in Knoxville, for April, May and June to take advantage of the warm weather for outdoor training while contin- uing with her school courses. Local competitions are also abundant, which affords some sight-seeing to places like Mem- phis, Tennessee where Brigitte recently visited Graceland, Elvis Presley's mansion. Two weeks ago Brigitte won a competition with a jump of 6', which was impressive enough to precipitate an invitation to com- pete in one of the largest inter- national meets in the world this year, being held in Santiago, Cuba, in late May. The competit- ion, called the Barrientos Mem- orial, includes invitaions to athletes from 20 nations, includ- ing 5 athletes from Canada. We wish Brigitte good luck and we hope to keep track of her per- formances as she prepares for the Games Trials and hopefully for the grand event itself. Star Wars '78 The Metcalfe Skating Club, in association with the Metcalfe R.A., presented Star Wars '78. Magnificently attired in special costumes, about 75 young figure skaters went through their rout- ines almost flawlessly - the result of many hours of practice and much dedication. Colored spot lights followed the skaters in the darkened arena adding an addit- ional touch of professionalism to the program. Most of the characters from the movie were there including the pilots, robots, Sandpeople, star- ships, Starladies, and Hans and Chewbacca played by Janet Crerar and Patty Palmer. Solos were performed by Krista Mc- Laren, Stacey Campbell, Debbie Rowan, Cathy Young, Sarah Jane Nightscales, and Sonja Wammer.