Opinion - with Boyd Lockhart
The absence of
colorful characters
Over
my years in this great sport, I have had the opportunity to visit many golf
clubs throughout the Maritime Provinces. Most of the time it was for tournament
play, but nearly as often, for some casual games with friends. For the most
part, I enjoyed the experiences of these outings, shot some good scores and
others we won’t discuss, but always added to the lasting memories of the golf
clubs that I visited.
However, in more recent years, I have had a sense that something appears to be
missing - the absence of colorful characters, so often found at nearly every
club in the region. I can recall, many times, enjoying the tales they told. Most
were blessed with contagious humor, camaraderie and a zest for the game. They
were not always the best players at their clubs, but in their unique way they
all added volumes to the enjoyment of others and a wonderful experience, for me,
whenever I talked to them.
Changing times and the changing atmosphere of the game at a lot of golf clubs,
for better or worse, has taken the stage from these great entertainers in our
sport. Sadly, I fear, we are beginning to lose the extra, free entertainment
that we had all become accustomed to and enjoyed for so long
- Boyd Lockhart is a Life
Member
of the Canadian PGA
