Joey Payeur
It’s a hybrid event that promises enough fun to fill the house—and then some.
The inaugural “Sticks and Stones” event will take place Sept. 27-28 as a joint venture between the Fort Frances Curling Club and Kitchen Creek Golf Club.
Curling club president Ron Silver said the co-operative effort is back on track after being postponed last year due to issues with the club’s ice plant.
“The theory is that we want to entice golfers to come out and try curling, and vice-versa,” explained Silver.
“Hopefully, an event like this can increase membership in each sport.”
The two-day affair begins with a six-end curling game beginning around 7 p.m. at the curling club, with participants invited to stick around afterwards to socialize in the upstairs lounge.
The following day kicks off with a nine-hole, best ball competition at Kitchen Creek with two teams of four battling each other as they play each hole together.
After a lunch at the golf club (which participants must pay extra for), the event moves back to the curling club for a short game at 3 p.m. (most likely a four-ender).
A barbecue dinner catered by Todd Moxham will follow the game, with another four-ender after the meal.
“We want to make it clear this is a very non-competitive event,” stressed Silver.
“The prizes for the winners at the end will be very minimal.
“It will be formatted in such a way that the novice curlers and the novice golfers will not be embarrassed as the scoring system will work in the favour of the less-experienced players,” he noted.
Registration for “Sticks and Stones” is $200 for a four-person team, with the event open to mixed teams and youth.
The entry fee covers the curling games, the green fees for golf, the golf cart rental, and the Saturday supper.
Silver said space is limited and encourages those interested to pick up registration forms soon at Kitchen Creek or print them off the curling club’s website (www.fortfrancescurlingclub.ca).
Anyone wanting more information can call Rick Grenda at the curling club (274-6667) or come to the club’s registration night for the upcoming season this Monday (Sept. 9) at 6 p.m.
