Sports | DrumhellerMail

Golf Association tees up helping schools teach golf

Tom Zariski, former principal of DCHS and a current Town Councillor, is giving new meaning to the phrase “going clubbing.”
   In an effort to make teaching golf affordable for local schools, Zariski is collecting golf clubs, through the Pioneer Trail Centre, to donate to local schools. The program is called Clubs for Kids.
   Last year, the Drumheller Community Golf Association helped provide golf education to Greentree and St. Anthony’s elementary students through the National Golf in Schools program. Through the program both schools were given sets of plastic clubs and balls to help students learn the basics of golf.
   From there, Zariski wanted to give junior high and high school students the tools to learn the sport as well.
   The problem was that golf clubs are prohibitively expensive. For example, a moderate quality set of new clubs can cost $500. Schools would need to buy multiple sets to accommodate students.
   Zariski, with support from the Golf Association, started an initiative to bring golf to the area schools and do a little housekeeping at the same time. Residents are encouraged to donate their old golf clubs to the Pioneer Trail Centre. Then, the Golf Association will pay for the clubs, thereby donating to the Pioneer Trail centre.
   Zariski also bought all of the Salvation Army Thrift Store’s clubs.
   The Newcastle Recreation Association and the Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society donated the funds needed to buy the clubs.
   “With all these golf clubs sitting around collecting dust, why not donate them to schools, who can’t afford them,” said Zariski. “For example, the Salvation Army had a basement full of clubs, so I figured let’s get them out of there and send them somewhere they will be used.”
   Golf has many advantages explained Zariski.
   “Golf is a great sport. It gets kids outside and walking around. It’s also a social occasion and a nice time to get our with friends,” said Zariski.
   Zariski first was introduced to the sport when he was a teenager in Edmonton. He and his friends would go shoot some golf in the river valley. Soon after though, Zariski stopped playing. It wasn’t until coming to Drumheller that he and fellow teachers picked up some clubs and the hobby again.
   Since then, Zariski has become an avid golfer, so much so that if the golf course was open in winter, he would at least consider playing a few rounds.
   “Golf is a sport for life. I used to play hockey, but couldn’t do it anymore as I got older. I can still get out and get some exercise playing golf,” said Zariski.
   For more information about the golf program, residents can contact Zariski at 403-823-4399. Residents who have unused clubs can take them to the Pioneer Trail Centre in downtown Drumheller.

Alumni sweep second annual St. Anthony’s games

    The new St. Anthony’s gym hosted the first competitive basketball games last weekend as former St. Anthony’s cagers took on this season’s squad.
   This was the second annual alumni games and was well attended as the school builds the new tradition. There was camaraderie in the court as well as in the stands.
   Athletics director at the school, Gavin Makse, said it was great to see the turnout.
   “It went over very well, it was good to see kids come back and nice to show off the new, beautiful gym,” said Makse. “The big thing was how any alumni had their parents come, it was good to see.”
   While St. Anthony’s did not put a senior girls squad on the court this season, junior high school players came up to participate. About seven alumni came out for the game and it was a close one. The alumni won 46-39.
   About a dozen former men returned to play this year’s St. Anthony’s squad, and age and size won out as the alumni cruised to a 61-27 victory.
   In all it was in fun and for a good cause. During the event they held a silent auction to sell the aging basketball uniforms, and so far they have raised $400 to purchase new uniforms. Former players and parents were snapping them up.
   “We only have 10 left; six of the boys and 10 of the girls,” said Makse.
   He said the uniforms are still available and for a bid of $25 a fan can pick up a jersey. A bid of $50 gets the shorts as well.
   They are continuing to build the tradition. Next year’s alumni game is already slated for the weekend after the provincial finals. They are looking at adding more events to the contest.

AJHL Enerflex Cup race down to final four

    It’s down to the final four in the battle for the AJHL Enerflex Cup. Two of those teams will soon be heading to the off season as the division finals wrap up.
   The division finals in the south came down to the Brooks Bandits, the favourites after dominating the southern division during the regular season, and the Olds Grizzlys.
   The Grizzlys are a surprise this year. In December, the Grizzlys were only a few points away from last place. After the Christmas break, the team pulled it together and climbed their way to fifth place.
   In their first two rounds, they were the underdogs against the Calgary Mustangs and the highly favoured Okotoks Oilers.
   As of press time, the Bandits were leading the series against the Grizzlys 3-0. The two teams played last night and if the Bandits won, they will be heading to the Enerflex Cup finals. If the Grizzlys won, it’s not over yet.
   In the north, the Spruce Grove Saints are up against their bitter rivals, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The two teams were separated by a mere two points in the regular season, with the Saints ahead, and occupied first and second place in the league.
   The Saints sat out during the first round, thanks to a bye, and then defeated the Drayton Valley Thunder. The Oil Barons had two rounds against the Grande Prairie Storm and the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
   The series between the two was 2-1 in favour of the Saints as of press time. The teams played last night. Either the Saints inched closer to the Enerflex Cup or the Oil Barons ruled the ice and tied the series up.
   For more information about the Enerflex Cup playoffs, visit www.ajhl.ca.

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