Chilliwack Golf League member Daniel Caton says match play offers a fun twist on an old game. The league hosts its tee-off breakfast March 10 at Chilliwack Golf and Country Club.
Photograph by: Tyler Olsen , TIMES
For those who like their golf with a side of (friendly) trash talk, a Chilliwack league that pits hackers head-to-head is looking for new members.
The Chilliwack Golf League is entering its 15th season and looking for a few more golfers to fill out its roster of 64 players.
The league features eight divisions of eight golfers each; competitors square off against each other twice in match play. Games are played in a home-and-away style, with "home" players choosing the Fraser Valley golf courses of their choice.
Daniel Caton said he likes the thrill of match play "because it has a certain strategy to it."
In match play, golfers compete to win each hole by competing it in the lowest number of strokes. The player who wins more holes wins the game; it doesn't matter if he or she had a couple nightmare holes involving more sand and water than a Caribbean vacation.
That means that sometimes a golfer loses with what, in traditional "medal play" golf, would be considered the lowest score.
The nature of match play can make the game a little less formal than traditional golf. It's not unheard of, Caton joked, for one player to slyly note a lurking water hazard waiting to gobble up the opponent's ball.
That sense of fun is coupled with a different style of competition.
"You don't worry so much about your score," Caton said. "Sometimes there's a little bit of pressure and it comes down to a putt or two to win a match."
The league hosts its tee-off breakfast March 10.
The cost to join is $125, which includes the breakfast along with prizes and discounts at some courses.
The league also hosts two tournaments throughout the year, including a Ryder Cup-style event to close out the season in September.
? For more information visit www.chilliwackgolfleague.com or contact Richard Smith at 604-858-5116 or 604-799-5545.
