January may have had its wintery and gloomy moments but February opened with a rich blue shine last Saturday during the 13^th annual Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley’s Snow Golf Tournament.

About 26 teams took part in the fundraising event held along the western edge of Lake Windermere’s Taynton Bay.

Along with hearing the somewhat surrealistic sounds of “fore” carrying on the cool breeze (it was perhaps the coldest day in the event’s 13 year history), first-time visitors to the lakeside community once again found curious joy in what they were beholding.

It was good timing for Columbia Valley Tourism, holding a special media fam weekend for a host of travel and newspaper writers from around Alberta and B.C.

Lake Windermere was a veritable beehive of recreational activity beneath a rich blue sky sided by the Rockies and Purcells, larger than usual in the commanding light.

Along with the Snow Golf Tournament, the third annual pond hockey tournament was taking place on Kinsmen Beach while the White Way (in beautiful shape) was teeming with users – from strollers to speedskaters to Nordic skiers. The Windermere-Invermere ice road was heavily used and the ice fishing hut villages were hopping (sometimes literally when a truck rolled by on the ice).

As usual, snow golfing foursomes rolled over the lightly snow covered lake ice on a variety of quad-pulled contraptions, many pulling barbecues and firepits.

The event ended with the drop of the sun in the Station Neighbourhood Pub where top-scoring teams received their prizes, with just enough good natured ribbing from the losing teams.

Organizer Steve Kuffler and the Kinsmen Club should again be commended for staging what is easily one of the most enjoyable golf tournaments running – all in the name of raising funds that are all returned to the valley community.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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