Never too young to take up golf...

Tiger was proof of that.

These five youngsters--visiting from Calgary--will be Tiger's competition in future.
The two proud Dads will happily lose a golf game to these kids in a few years.




And here's sixteen-month-old Denver who learned to diligently cover his bunker tracks.















"Sheesh", stammers Kia,
"He could'a just asked if I was a boy-dog or girl-dog!"

Turbine Component Damage from Massive Storm

Saturday's storm damage
The picture looks innocuous enough before the storm's onslaught. It may not sound like much, but an inch of rain in 20 minutes--in the North Okanagan--is unusual indeed. One could feel it in the air...and at around 2 p.m. Saturday, July 25th, the storm hit.

Plastic patio chairs and patio umbrellas went flying across No.1 Teebox. Lightning pierced the suddenly-formed clouds, where only moments before it had been a clear and hot day. Thunder was deafening and felt as though it came from the attic.

Four golfers--stranded on #2 green--braved incredibly strong winds for a few minutes and then wisely chose to return to the clubhouse to wait out the storm.

I panicked when I saw the wind turbine blades spinning as though a plane were taking off on the runway...it was spinning at 220 RPM.
The wind turbine's program was turning it out of the wind.
But on a hunch, afraid of damage to components, I activated the "Brakes" lever.

And then the hail hit.

We watched from the clubhouse as hail covered the putting green beside the clubhouse, melting only after a full five minutes in the 30C temperatures. It was as though ice cubes had fallen.

Rainwater--driven by wind--entered the clubhouse around the kitchen door and quickly left an inch of water in the kitchen area. The shop-vac was immediately employed to remove the encroaching water.

...lightning and thunder continued for the next 10 hours.

And wind turbine damage did occur.

Hail knocked out the sensor's delicate bearing on the wind turbine.
The turbine can still send electricity to the grid, but its direction must be on "hand" control until the part is replaced. On "Automatic", it would not now turn into a new wind direction, and lose considerable production.

But on the manual setting, there's a risk of the blades freewheeling if the "hand" setting is too straight into a strong wind...it'll be a case of raw nerves until the part arrives sometime next week.

"That storm scared the fur off me," confirmed Kia.

U P D A T E : POSTED August 17/09
DAMAGE SUSTAINED IN THE STORM WAS LIMITED TO "DOGVANE ERROR" WARNING LIGHT ON THE CONTROLLER, NOT A SENSOR BEARING!

Dogvane damage?" asks Kia, "I wasn't anywhere near it!"

Wind Turbine ceremony

MLA visit

Highlands Golf was pleased to welcome Eric Foster, MLA for Vernon-Monashee to commemorate the completion of the wind turbine project.

From the left, pictured are Bill Kennedy of Capri Insurance, Gerald Raboch and Phyllis Raboch, retired, formerly of Riverside Forest Products Ltd., Paul Wende of Energy West Power Solutions, Barb Mitchell, Eric Foster MLA Vernon-Monashee, Denny Wallace, Highlands Men's Night Manager.

Paul Wende detailed the growth of green energy in British Columbia, adding that the Highlands turbine is the largest in B.C. Hydro's net metering system (currently numbering 15 customers throughout the province).

The luncheon was followed with a visit to the Shop to view the two 6 kW inverters, the controller, and other electrical components.

As luck would have it, the event was held with nary a breeze to turn the blades!

"...just wait till I find 'Murphy' who turned the wind off during the ceremony," offers Kia, adding "seems that I spend half my summer chasing patio chairs."

A sincere thank you to Paul Wende for his presentation, and attendees for helping Highlands mark this special day.

...and Monica Duncan for a wonderful luncheon.
"...must've been good, I didn't get a crumb," whines Kia.

Man Walks on the Moon 40-year Anniversary

A framed print from the clubhouse:

A Small Step for Man, a Leap for Mankind.
The Miami Herald, Monday July 21, 1969



To Aldrin, it's 'Magnificent Desolation'
by the Herald Space Bureau
HOUSTON - "Magnificent desolation."

That was astronaut Buzz Aldrin's observation as he stepped on the moon's surface Sunday night to join Neil Armstrong in the historic climax to an epic journey from earth.

That was at 11:16 p.m. 20 minutes after Armstrong had placed his left foot on the dusty surface and said "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Thus America's moon-landing astronauts expressed themselves as they began their mission on the moon.

ARMSTRONG, after he had placed both feet solidly on the surface, had begun the pair's dialogue about their experiences.

"Looking up at the I.M., I'm standing directly in the shadow now, looking up at Buzz (Aldrin) in the windows. I can see everything quite clearly," Armstrong said.

ARMSTRONG MOVED slowly in the strange world of gravity only one-sixth as strong as the earth's, but he appeared to have no difficulty.

He said the moon surface appeared hard and very cohesive.

"It has a stark beauty all its own. It's much like the desert of the United States. It's different but it's very pretty out here," the astronaut said.

"Ready for me to come out?" Aldrin asked at 11:10 p.m.

"Stand by for just a second," Armstrong replied.

"OK, you saw what difficulties I was having," Armstrong said as he guided Aldrin out of the ship's hatcheway.

"Hey, Neil, didn't I say we would see some purple rocks?" Aldrin said a few minutes later.

"Find a purple rock?" Armstrong asked. "Yep," Aldrin replied.

PRESIDENT Nixon, following the flight on television like millions of others around the world, called the two astronauts after they planted the American flag.

"Because of what you have done the heavens have become part of man's world," Nixon said.
"Thank you, Mr. President."
this front page story reproduction ends here.

Landscape's Like Southwest U.S., Armstrong says
by Robert S. Boyde, Chief of our Washington Bureau
HOUSTON -- Man landed and walked on the moon Sunday.

The fragile spaceship Eagle deposited American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin in the barren southwest corner of the Sea of Tranquility at 4:18 p.m., and six and a half hours later, at 20 seconds past 10:56 p.m., Armstrong planted his left foot on the moon.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind ..." were his first words.

In his normally calm voice tremulous with excitement, the first man on the moon radioed a graphic account of history's greatest adventure back to earth while a TV camera beamed live pictures of the eerie lunar landscape to a spellbound audience of millions.

Twenty minutes later, Armstrong talked Aldrin down the ladder of the Eagle onto the firm, powdery soil of Tranquility Base.

Thus was completed an epic journey charted eight years ago but dreamed of since man first lifted his eyes towards the heavens.

For two hours, 10 minutes Sunday night, there WAS life on the moon. Two-legged creatures from the plant Earth talked, walked, ran and worked on the crust of an alien world. They returned to the lunar module at 1:09 a.m. today. At 1:53 p.m. today, the astronauts will fire the big ascent engine to send them off the moon's surface to rendezvous with the command module.

The descent stage of the lunar lander will serve as the launch platform during blastoff from the moon.

THE ROAD to Tranquility Base was a quarter million miles long, but the last 200 feet were the worst.

In a heart-clutching finale to an otherwise phenomenally smooth flight, Armstrong snatched control of the Eagle from a computer and flew it to a safe landing on a level, rock-strewan plain pocked with thousands of small craters.

If Armstrong hadn't taken the helm, the Eagle would have fallen into a crater the size of a football ....end of page..."Turn to page 27A Col.1"
Note: This front-page edition ends here.

I'll howl at the moon tonight in their honour," offers Kia.

Liquor Primary Licence Site and Community Assessment Granted

After 7 months since applying for the new liquor licence, it's almost over.

A July 6, 2009, letter from the Deputy Manager of LCLB indicated that the Site and Community Assessment for the Liquor Primary Licence has been granted.

The last step is to "set the person capacity".

Since there will be no changes to either structural or seating capacity under the new licence,(clubhouse and patio seating remain at 49 and 80 respectively), this is likely simply a technical point to conclude all the steps of the process.

A great big thanks to Highlands' supporters for hanging in with me during some very trying times!

I'll dig up some of my fav chew bones to share with them," offers Kia.

Wind Turbine is up!

Wind turbine raised June 17/09.
The B.C. Hydro inspection went very well!

"I could howl with excitement," affirms Kia.

Nottingham, England visitors

Long distance referral

While touring Banff--some 428 km distant--and saying their next stop was Vernon, honeymooners Graham and Emma said they liked to play Par 3 golf courses.

"Highlands Golf in the Coldstream Valley just east of Vernon," was the suggestion.

Graham is a butcher; Emma a software programmer.

"Thanks, Banff!" adds Kia.

Highlands receives BCGA letter of support for new licence

Thrilled to receive this letter recently:

"The British Columbia Golf Association applauds what you have done for the sport of golf in British Columbia in creating a facility that is both fun to play for a novice golfer while providing for a great practice session for the accomplished player.

We were impressed with your facility when you hosted the best amateur players in B.C. at your facility during the play of the BC Amateur Championship in Vernon.

If every facility was exactly the same then this wonderful sport might lose some of its allure. It is a well accepted fact that the major barrier for people trying the sport is a lack of time. Short courses such as Highlands provide a real experience with the sport without the huge time commitment championship courses require.

We wish you well in the 2009 golf season and support your applications for the necessary approvals to make your business successful.

Yours truly,
Kris Jonasson, executive director"

"I'd share my kibbles with Mr. Jonasson," beams Kia.

10kW Wind Turbine progress

Months of planning are now coming to fruition.











A two hundred metre length of tech cable was trenched, inverters and associated components were installed, and wiring is nearing completion. Concrete core tested out at 31.8 mpa (over 90 per cent) within 7 days; a second core test is scheduled for Monday and will hopefully achieve 35 mpa. Update June 8th = 36.5 mpa. Perfect!

"The thing reduces me to the size of a squirrel," laments Kia from the shade.

Golf course aims for parity

by Jennifer Smith, Morning Star Staff.
The Morning Star, Wednesday, May 27/09


Highlands Golf course is one swing closer to being on par with other area courses.

The Coldstream course is hoping to gain a liquor primary licence, which would allow golfers to take their beverages out on the course.

All other area golf courses currently have the proper licence to allow customers to enjoy a drink on the greens. But at Highlands, without such a licence, many golfers smuggle alcohol onto the course.

"All this is, is finally, after seven-and-a-half years, I get parity with other golf courses," said owner Barb Mitchell.

The District of Coldstream has forwarded the liquor licence application to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch -- which will make a decision on whether or not to permit the licence.

Initially Coldstream had laid out a list of comments to go with the application, but now council is keeping its mouth shut and leaving the decision up to the LCLB.

"There's no doubt it should be sent off, but I don't think it should be weighted one way or another," said Coun. Pat Cochrane.

But Coldstream is sending in all staff reports and public correspondence -- including 29 letters of support for the application and six against, as well as a petition opposed to the application signed by 92 residents.

"Here is all the information and do with it as you will," said Coun. Bill Firman, who was opposed to forwarding the application, along with councillors Gyula Kiss and Richard Enns.

Enns and Kiss raised some issues with the zoning of the site, which determines the hours of operation. It allows the business to operate until two hours after sunset.

Mitchell says that has and always will be the case, adding that the course is closed at dark and during the winter.

"Everything will be closed and shut down, doors locked, two hours after sunset. I promise."
But it's not the current operator that concerns some councillors.

It's the subsequent operator I'm concerned about," said Enns, who would like to see the zoning changed to ensure year-round operations aren't permitted.

"A subsequent operator??? "I'm worried about a meteorite," sniffs Kia.

Hold the Presses...

I've discovered that Council will indeed forward the LP Application to Victoria
"Without Comment"

You're likely wondering "Gee, were you really present at that meeting?"

I'm beginning to wonder that myself.

It was so confusing, with motions and amendments and discussions and votes.

After 5 months of this gut-wrenching process, seems my sanity is down a pint.

"No Comment," chuckles Kia.

Council condones alcohol smuggling...

In an odd display of musical Black Hats/White Hats, Coldstream Council last night voted against the LP licence application by Highlands Golf to allow liquor sales onto the golf course, versus the present Clubhouse and Patio licence. Councillors previously FOR the licence are now AGAINST and, conversely, one or two AGAINST seemed to have swung. They could have amended the staff recommendation for full support, they could have decided to send the application off to Victoria without making a comment, they could have accepted the staff recommendation...lots of choices. Councillor Cochrane's comment, "We're not representing our constituents (on the petition) if we allow this," was a 180-degree turn. He appeared not to care that the petition was a travesty. Sigh. So let's review the petition: the ANTI group attended 57 homes in the surrounding area and said at each door that "Highlands Golf will become a year-round pub." Council's memory appears short, as they've forgotten last month's meeting where Jeff Mellows--presumably one of two who started the petition--squirmed and back-pedalled while he was at the microphone. "You mean it won't be open year-round?" Staff reply: "no, the facility is governed by zoning to be open only during the Okanagan golf season." "You mean it will close two hours after sunset?" Staff reply: "yes, the facility's hours aren't superseded by liquor licence hours." All of which was followed by considerable "umm...er....a....oh...." from Mr. Mellows. More squirming...and throat-clearing, concluding with "oh, thank you," as he backed away from the podium. The next day I wrote an email to the neighbour Schwartz--presumably the other petition originator--asking them to revisit those 57 homes and ask the correct question. No reply. No "corrected" petition. Now to a particularly distasteful part of recent history...the comments of Schwartz the neighbour. Or, more correctly, the comments made by James Cotter, the Schwartz solicitor, during the February 23rd public hearing, where he stood at the microphone and said "people exposing themselves to the children, urinating at the fenceline." Repeated in Mr. Cotter's written submission in the agenda. Yet--on March 15th--Sheila Schwartz wrote in an email to me: "I do not see anywhere in the correspondence to Coldstream council where we have stated that men are purposefully exposing themselves to our chiildren(sic) in a criminal manner." And Todd Schwartz' comment to me during a brief telephone conversation, "It's just a couple of goons, a couple of young guys." I logged the conversation on my computer, and sent it as a "clarification" to council. Shortly after, his wife denied he had said that. And on it went: "We have never burned illegally," begins an email from Schwartzes on May 2, 2009, "yet you keep saying that we do." a communique from the Schwartz household stated. (The smoke-on-the-patio photo, taken April 27/08 around dusk, was sent to the Bylaw Officer for his records). A stroke of luck -- a firefighter was here that night, appalled at what was occurring. He took a photo of the smoke too. "Wait longer yet," suggests Kia, "and the story will change again." How many versions are there? So the Liquor Inspector's recommendation for the LP licence was ignored by Council. Now what? I don't know of any pub that has a golf course. Do you? Unauthorized liquor is everywhere...even at Coldstream Park, behind Coldstream Elementary School. Right in Council's own back yard. Council condones liquor smuggling into Coldstream Park. Council had a chance to virtually end liquor smuggling at Highlands Golf. They ignored that opportunity. Is Council concerned about the sheer volume of liquor consumed at Coldstream Park? Are they keen to check people's picnic baskets and remove illicit alcohol from the myriad family reunions for which the park's BBQ area is rented each year? Nah... It's not an airport. Search and seizure is frowned upon at a park. And at a golf course," affirms Kia.

Report to Mayor & Council for their decision/resolution

Agenda for May 25th includes the following report from the Chief Administrative Officer of District of Coldstream "Recommendation: THAT the report from the Director of Development Services, dated May 15, 2009, regarding Barbara Mitchell (Highlands Golf) Application for a Liquor-Primary Licence at 7961 Buchanan Road, be received; AND THAT the following correspondence be forwarded to the General Manager, Liquor Control and Licensing Branch regarding the application for a liquor-primary licence at 7961 Buchanan Road: 'At the Regular Meeting of Council held on May 25, 2009, the District of Coldstream Council passed the following resolution with respect to the application for the above named liquor licence: THAT the District of Coldstream Council recommends the issuance of the licence for the following reasons: the impact is expected to be nominal. The nominal impact is based on the following considerations: the existing facility is currently licenced to serve alcohol; the licence change may result in better control of unauthorized alcohol consumption; the person capacity is not proposed to be increased; and, the hourse of operation are controlled by zoning (i.e. closed by 2 hours after sunset). AND THAT the District of Coldstream Council's comments on the prescribed considerations are as follows: (a) the location of the establishment is in a rural and agricultural area and suitably zoned for a golf course and club house; (b) the proximity of the establishment to other social or recreational facilities and public buildings are not close by and, as such, not a concern; (c) the person capacity and hours of liquor service of the establishment are to remain unchanged and the hours restricted by the C.5 Zoning to 2 hours after sunset; (d) the number and market focus or clientele of liquor primary licence establishments within a reasonable distance of the proposed location is not a concern as the closest licenced facility is 5.4 km away; (e) traffic, noise, parking and zoning are not of concern as the change in licence will not affect the existing conditions; (f) population, population density and population trends are not a concern as the change in licence will not affect the existing conditions and the immediate area is not expected to grow significantly in the foreseeable future; (g) relevant socio-economic information are not of concern as the change in licence will not affect the existing conditions; (h) the impact on the community if the application is approved is expected to be nominal. The nominal impact is based on the following considerations: the existing facility is currently licenced to serve alcohol; the licence change may result in better control of unauthorized alcohol consumption; the person capacity is not proposed to be increased; and, the hours of operation are controlled by zoning (i.e. closed by 2 hours after sunset). AND THAT the District of Coldstream Council endorses the comments provided in the report from the Director of Development Services, dated May 15, 2009, regarding Barbara Mitchell's (Highlands Golf's) application for a Liquor-Primary Licence; AND FURTHER THAT the District of Coldstream Council's comments on the views of residents are as follows: the input received from residents ranges widely. Many written submissions were received in support of the licence change and a petition opposing the change was received. The main topics of concern are: increased drinking and driving; general traffic safety; increased noise around the clubhouse and on the course; impact on hours of operations; possibility of this leading to other licences or type of operation (i.e. Pub); and, impact on police costs and demands. A Public Input Session was held on May 11, 2009 to collect views of the residents. The Session was advertised in the local paper and notice was mailed to residents within 3 kilometers, fronting Buchanan Road'." "Arf, Arf!" intones Kia, adding "How d'ya spell 'Hallelujah'? 'Hallelewya'? 'Hallelooya'? Never mind the spelling... Glad to see--after FOUR months--that there ARE people who can comprehend complicated issues. Now it's up to Council on May 25th. Oh...and there was an earthquake FELT near Revelstoke today...relax, everybody, it was just Kia jumping up and down!

Course owner denies pub talk

The Morning Star, Friday, May 15, 2009 Jennifer Smith, reporter The owner of Coldstream's own short-game excellence course is teed off by misinformation being spread about the golf course. Barb Mitchell says Highlands Golf Course is not applying to be a year-round pub and will not be increasing capacity at the clubhouse. Instead, the course owner has applied for a liquor primary licence with the intention of allowing beverage-consuming customers to take their drinks out on the course. By permitting this, Mitchell hopes to eliminate alcohol being smuggled onto the course. "It gives me the same licence Hillview and all other courses have and it's not a pub that they have," said Mitchell. A public meeting on the issue Monday saw a mix of support and opposition to the application. Many letters were received in support of Highlands' application, while a petition against the application garnered close to 100 signatures. "I ask council to consider all Buchanan Road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorists) who will face higher safety risks from drivers under the influence," said Sheila Schwartz, who was the first to sign the petition. Yet residents like Cora Smith feel the application will create a safer, better controlled situation on the course. "Do you want it (drinking) to continue being illegal and discreet?" Smith asked council, saying that Highlands deserves to have the same privilege that every other course has. "I can walk around at Hillview, have a beer and golf and why not do that at Highlands?" she said, admitting that she too has smuggled beer out on the course because it was not available. Coun. Richard Enns suggested allowing liquor on the course might put safety in jeopardy, and questioned whether it should be permitted since there are children on the course. Smith said it is no different than the many other courses where children are allowed, as is drinking by adults. Coldstream council is expected to make a recommendation to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch on whether or not Highlands should receive the licence. "The licence, if it does come, probably won't be until next year," said Mitchell, adding that if the licence is approved the clubhouse will not be expanded and will remain at 49 seats inside and 80 on the patio. "Plus I'm still legislated by Coldstream to be golf season only and council previously rolled back my hours to two hours after sunset." "Ain't this process fun?", grins Kia.

Liquor Primary licence Public Hearing

The world is run by those who show up... And this time, Highlands Golf supporters showed up. And spoke in favour of approving the application for the same liquor licence held by other area courses. Thanks to Dan, Al, and Cora for their insight and courage to get up in front of a microphone. And 27 others sent in thought-provoking letters of support. I'm very grateful. It wasn't all roses, though. The anti group presented a petition with approx. 92 names from 57 residences, opposed to the licence. Only one problem with their petition. They got the question incorrect. They had asked whether people were in favour of a year-round pub! Heck, I would've signed that petition myself! That wasn't what Highlands applied for. The Coldstream zoning by-law states Highlands can be open only during the golf season. And closing hours had been previously rolled back to two hours after sunset. ...Sound like a year-round pub to you? Didn't think so... Yet this petition will accompany the District's "views" to the liquor licensing branch in Victoria, B.C. for their decision. The petitioners had ample opportunity to read the entire application at the District office. What's the saying? "You can lead a horse to water..." ...but you can't ensure people comprehend what they're reading. "Should've given them an IQ test first," adds Kia.