New owners for Morrisburg Junior B Lions

As he has every year since 2004, MP Guy Lauzon, holding the torch, declared “the 2013 World Cup Soccer in South Dundas open.” 

Before nearly 500 players and their families, the Torch was carried around the track by representatives from each of the soccer divisions. It was handed to MP Lauzon by the final two bearers, Kennedi Fetterly and Katherine Lough. 

Elizabeth Bygott led everyone in O, Canada. 

The South Dundas Soccer Association held its final games and celebrations on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 at the Iroquois Soccer Fields.

Beneath their bright national flags, the players and coaches  and helpers took part in the annual parade, following the Iroquois Legion, Branch 370, colour guard around the track to crowd applause.

“What an honour it is to be here,” Lauzon told the crowd. “Give yourselves a pat on the back for the spirit and enthusiasm that everyone is showing here today.”

Joining Lauzon in con-gratulating the players and the Soccer Association were guests Eric Duncan, deputy warden of SD&G, Evonne Delegarde, SD councillor and the reverend Geoff Howard, who prayed, “May the weather hold, may the sport be good and may we enjoy each other’s company.”

Also with president of the SDSA, Steve Bygott, was Doug Casselman,  present on behalf of the William L. Graham Memorial Fund. He accepted the sincere thanks of the group for $1,000 donated to soccer by the Fund.

Bygott thanked everyone at the games for their ongoing support as he and his very new executive ran their first World Cup weekend. “This has been a bit of a learning curve experience for us. Previous executives had it down to a fine art. We’ll get there,” he laughed.

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While area golfers are bemoaning the fact that winter just doesn’t want to let go, Morrisburg Golf Club greens chair, Shawn Hummel has been using the time to get all his ducks in order.

Hummel has been busy over the past few weeks, getting the work lined up to repair the two Morrisburg Golf course greens hardest hit by disease last summer. 

According to Morrisburg Golf Club president Jason Broad, the par three second green is to be resodded at a cost of $8,000 while the worst hit number three green, in addition to resodding, will be re-configured with new soil and  proper drainage put in to the tune of $25,000.

The Morrisburg club executive has lined up a qualified company and for “warranty purposes we are having them do all the work,” says Broad. “For the year, they will put us on a program. They are also going to work with us on a proper maintenance program for our other greens.”

Where disease had impacted portions of other greens, particularly the first and fifth, work was done last fall that appears to have had favourable results.

“Last fall Mick Mabo (club vice-president) and Lee Beaupre (greens staff employee), moved a lot of the best sod there was left from the third green to number one and five. It looks to have caught well and is starting to come on now,” says Broad.

As for the time line, Broad says, work is to begin on the third green immediately, up to the placement of the new sod. “We need the soil to reach a temperature of 50º F to have the sod laid, so this cold spring has really delayed everything.”

Once the desirable soil temperature is reached the new sod is laid, Broad says golfers can expect a minimum of four weeks before play can resume on the two greens. 

Drainage put in last year, has helped in several problem areas and up until the heavy dump of rain and ice rain this past Friday, April 12, the course was drying up very well. The grass was showing the benefits of Monday’s sunshine and warm temperatures and what was brown on the weekend was now beginning to green.

“The clubhouse is officially opening Sunday,” said Broad. “And if we don’t get to much rain the rest of the week, Shawn is planning to put the pins in on Friday.” 

Club vice-president, Barry Henderson has been busy getting the clubhouse in order, and advises that should the pins go in, the clubhouse is booked for a private function on Saturday. This will not affect play, but will temporarily restrict afternoon access to the clubhouse.

Sunday, he points out, “it’s wide open” and we are offering an 2013 Season Opening Special of $10 per person which will include both breakfast and golf from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The club’s first ladies night is set for Wednesday, April 24, while the men will kick off their season on Thursday, April 25. The junior program starts in mid May.

Last fall, the Morrisburg club members, realizing the potential negative impact of the diseased greens, decided to reduce 2013 membership rates, in a effort to hold onto members and attract new members. With single memberships starting as low as $450 and a very attractive $75 for junior members, the club is hoping to hold its own through a difficult time.

Also the club will run without a head greenskeeper as it enters into a new setup that involves ‘greenskeeper sharing’ with other clubs. “This is a new trend that small golf courses are trying in an effort to cut costs,” says Broad. “So at this point we are not hiring a full-time greenskeeper. We want to look at it in an effort to keep our costs low. We can always undo or go back.”

“The cost to redo the third green is $25,000,” says Broad. “It’s frightening isn’t it. Most of the cost is for the materials, including tile drainage, soils, sand, irrigation and sod. I don’t think many people are aware of what golf course greens are worth.”

“The executive has been very busy getting ready for the season, and Shawn (Hummel) has had a lot on his plate, getting everything arranged for the greens. He’s done a lot of work.”

For more information or to pay memberships, please contact the Morrisburg Golf Club at 613-543-3282 or drop by the clubhouse beginning this Sunday, April 20.

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The Morrisburg Curling Club’s annual women’s invitational bonspiel is history for another year, and Alice Thompson thanks all of those who helped pull it off. The food was great, the volunteers were awesome, and we sent home 48 happy curlers from various clubs in the Ottawa and Seaway Valleys. Also, the profit for the club was the best ever. Special thanks to Linda Murphy who filled in for one of our Prescott invitees. 

The winners in the early draw were the Cornwall team skipped by Luce Lalonde, while the late draw was captured by Virginia Cunningham’s Kemptville foursome. Thanks to our decorating committee for the fine holiday appearance of the clubhouse.

Sid Morrell took a team to a bonspiel at Metcalfe last week. The fellows won their morning match against a Winchester quartet skipped by Malcolm MacGregor, had a fine lunch, and then returned to the ice to face a tough Rideau opponent. It was a very close match, but our local men prevailed and took home top money as the champions. Others on our team were Jack Barkley, Neil Williams and Keith Robinson.

Gretta McGann was in Ottawa at the Navy club for a bonspiel there. Curling with her were Joanne Baker, Alice Thompson and Claire Locke. They won their first game against the R.A. Riverside team, but dropped their afternoon match with Richmond. They finished just out of the prizes, although Alice brought home a $10 prize and a huge basket, with a two-bottle wine theme. After finishing off half of the liquid that evening, Alice generously donated the empty basket to our curling club for future use. All heart, as usual!

Pete Zeran, George Rutley, Karl Duncan and Earl Jeacle competed in another men’s bonspiel, this time in Prescott. They lost their morning game to Gananoque, but they won against Winchester in the afternoon to finish in the money on the day. 

On Saturday the club held a Christmas funspiel. There were a number of guest curlers, including Sheila Bush from Prescott, one of our favourite skips from that club. In the early draw, Jack Barkley, Sonja Laurin, Bud Perry and Paul Gunther won out over Pete Zeran, Arnold Barkley, Bert Smail and Jim Locke. In the second draw, Sam Locke, Wendy Casselman, Andy Patenaude and Bob Youmelle defeated Al Harriman, Carolyn Beckstead, and Paula and Claire Locke for the title. It was a great day, with a delicious meal (pulled pork as the main course, with scrumptious desserts for the participants.)

Future events include two two-person bonspiels which are planned for December, one of which is for this Sunday. The sign-up sheets are in the lounge. Also, the OCA Zone 1 intermediate playdowns are here on Dec. 22-23, and a couple of rentals are booked for over the holidays. 

Invitational bonspiels for senior men and senior mixed curlers are planned for January, while the Alzheimers and Heart and Stroke charity bonspiels are scheduled for Jan. 19 and Feb. 16. For those looking for more detail, the club’s website is www.morrisburg.ovca.com.

That’s it for now. Good curling!

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