218 Saturday, October 17, 1992 & Golf is a good game to have a love- hate relationship with. Most golfers praise it as being the greatest thing since sliced bread when they do something good and, not sur- prisingly, curse and swear like some- one had just stolen their car when they do something bad. I am a great example of such a golfer, and I more than lived up to that reputation over the Thanksgiving long weekend. The fun all started last week, when the two other guys in editorial had rel- atives roll into town with golf clubs in tow. Deciding to kill two birdies with one stone, they came to spend some time with the kids and see why people from far and wide rave about golf in the West Kootenay. Knowing how poorly I had fared the last time out locally, I was a little hes- itant as to whether I wanted to join them since people I know might be around. As well, I think my excuse about a childhood bout with chicken pox af- fecting my golf game was starting to wear thin and that another one just wasn’t coming to mind. But, after hearing “Come on” and “It'll be fun” countless times, I decided to put my fears away and join the gang. Upon arriving and feeling the sun shining and a light breeze blowing, it was obvious that coming out was a much better move than staying home and degrouting the shower. Or was it? The problems all started out on the driving range, a good a place as any to find out whether you're ready for an afternoon of fun or frustration. For most people, the thought of sending drives a good 250 yards straight ahead or hitting every club dead centre would have them doing cartwheels. But for me, that’s generally a good sign that the best golf of the day will stay on the range, where it doesn’t count, and that the 18 holes ahead will be a lesson in futility. So with that in mind, Scott and Ma and Pa Harrison, Neil, Pa Rachynski and his buddy Sam and I headed for the dreaded first tee, where everybody stops to watch you hit it a colossal 10 feet. I’ve never been a big fan of the first tee area, especially at courses where it’s generally the place that people end up after coming in off 18. Sure, the 18th hole could be in the next county, but these people some how end up back at No. 1 to watch you hit it about as far as you can throw a shot put. But since the fear of everybody watching will never go away, a quick “Hey look, it’s Elvis and he’s in the meat locker” when your stepping on- to the tee box will have the gallery searching for the King while you con- JonathanGREEN centrate on sending the ball in the oth- er direction. Having escaped the throng now de- scending on the kitchen area, it was time to focus on the task at hand and that was to finish with fewer strokes than my playing weight. And, since I’ve dropped a few weight classes since my professional boxing days as a heavyweight, that proved to be a little trickier than I first imagined. To make matters worse, it was al- so team golf with money on the line and, so even though I’ve been known to lean toward capitalism, there was that possibility I might end up need- ing anew shirt after the day was done. With the Harrison trio setting the pace up ahead, we were a classic four- some of youth versus age, the rookies Local course records safe for a while and the veterans, the boys against the men. But as much as the billing looked to be Don King’s dream, the result was very similar to most of Mr. King’s pro- jects. It was over before it even started. Digging ourselves a hole that took us halfway to Australia by the end of nine, Rachynski Jr. and I looked like were playing with practice balls you hit in the living room in the middle of February. Sure, we managed to close the gap to something less than a dozen by 15, but I think it’s because Rachynski Sr. was using his putter in place of his driver and vice versa. Reality set back in shortly after and it was all over but the crying. Coming in off 18, I realized that al- though we had lost, a moral victory had been achieved, in fact two. Not only had I shot less than my weight (only because I was naked by 18) but I beat Rachynski Jr., who cleaned my proverbial clock last time. Things didn’t go any better the next day up at Kokanee Springs, but I sit at my desk now with the satisfaction that I can brag about a couple of course records I hold in Winnipeg. No one else has been able to avoid the swinging log on their first shot, or win as many free games by knocking it into the clown’s mouth at Playland than me. Just ask Elvis. Pressure Wash cleans up Devils ready and willing against defending champs Perry Hysen’s second goal with eight-and-half minutes left to @ Kootenay Computers shut down in early pins: season CRHL battle NEWS STAFF Known more by children, the see-saw became a part of some Castlegar Recreational Hockey League action Tuesday night. Defending champs Koote- nay Computers faced off But any hopes of building on that quickly dissolved when Ron Lindenaar put Pressure Wash back in the lead 17 sec- onds later. Gordie Walker scored his second and the eventual game winner two minutes later, and Lindenaar completed his hat trick with just under four min- NEWS STAFF Hang around Carlos Ama- ral if you’re looking for some confidence today. The coach of the Hi Arrow Devils, Amaral has only one feeling heading into today’s game against Trail in the West Kootenay Men’s Soccer league quarterfinals. “A strong feeling because we've got a good team,” he said. “I believe in the guys that they can do it.” Inactive since a 3-1 loss to Fruitvale two weeks ago, the against Castlegar Presure Wash in a high scoring affair and, when it was over, the Computers had been shut down 8-6. Rob Hill scored his first of two for the Computers a minute-and-a-half into the game, but Tim Cousins replied for Pressure Wash less than a minute later to even it up. The lead see-sawed back and forth well into the second period before Jeff Townsend gave Pressure Wash some breathing room at the eight minute mark, making the score 5-3. Hill was back for his second with just under two minutes left, and the Computers went into the dressing room down utes left. Duane Weir replied for the Computers in the final minute, but it was a case if too little, too In other league action, Dean | °” the road. MacKinnon scored three goals and Garry Sauer added four assists in Castlegar Sports Centre’s 7-5 win over Pressure Wash last Thursday. Lindenaar and Dave Ter- third-place Devils were win- ners of both matches with the Silver City Selects this sea- son, 7-4 at home in May and late. a 1-0 default win last month Amaral thinks his squad will continue the winning streak over Trail and build on it heading into a Sunday se- mi-final match with league- leading Nelson Savoy. L_ “I feel that we'll win Sat- urday and, hopefully, Sun- day,” he said, adding that he'll leave it'up to the compe- tition to mess things up. “Hopefully they'll make the mistakes themselves and not us.” ended up as losses. everybody there.” come out on top.” The Devils were hit hard by injuries and missing play- ers in the last few games of the year which, predicatbly, But with the layoff, Ama- ral thinks everybody should be as good as new for today and the rest of the playoffs. “As far as I know, all our guys are healthy now” he said, “so we should have And though having a full squad today isn’t a sure thing for Amaral, one thing is. “I know we are ready, that’s one thing I am sure of,” he said. “Hopefully, ATHLETE OF THE WEEK GRAIG SWANSON Castlegar Rebels Scored two goals and assisted on four others in games against Nelson and Spokane last weekend By CASTLEGAR SPORTS CENTRE informed Competant Professional Service + Hockey Equipment + Skate Sharpening (FIGURE AND HOCKEY) « NHL Replica Jerseys + Used Skates 365-8288 2177 Columbia Ave., Castlegar we'll hune each had two goals and an assist in a losing cause. Saturday, Chuck Lind scored his third goal of the game with 1:54 left to give the Computers a 5-4 win over Sports Centre in a rematch of last year’s final. Sauer had a goal and two assists for Sports Centre. Saturday’s other game be- tween Pressure Wash and Banjo’s Pub was postponed. For APPROACHABILITY Vote @ Saturday, October 17; 1992 Nine to FIVE Your business is our business Neil Rachyski 365-7266 HOME BIZ The Kootenay Home Business Association will be holding an open house Monday at 7 p.m. in Nelson's Chamber of Commerce building. The group estimates one in four Canadian households run some type of business. For more information call 352-3878. BANK ON 1993 The economic forecasters at the Toronto- Dominion Bank are looking towards 1993 for signs of economic growth. They expect a September drop in the Canadian dollar and improved international transactions will result in some gains on the domestic front. GET TOUGH A report states General Motors’ directors have told chair Robert Stemple to “get tough” with its United Auto Workers union. The directors expect Stemple to speed up downsizing efforts with the union or he could lose his own job by the end of the year. The company has 300,000 UAW employees in the U.S. GM lost $7 billion last year in its Canadian and American markets. WorkRPLACE Castlegar women find success Castlegar’s Kim Tassone gets all fueled up by the challenges she takes on as manager and co-owner of Woodland Park Shell. Although running the combination gas sta- tion-convenience store-car wash keeps her on the run, she was well pre- pared for it by her child- hood. Her father owned an Esso bulk plant for 25 years and when he retired six years ago, Tassone and her husband Bruno decided to take over the station, which became Woodland Park Shell. “Tt was a business I was comfortable with — some- thing I had grown up with,” says Tassorie. “Now I just couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I love it.” She likes the chal- lenges that arise as the business grows. So far those challenges have in- cluded becoming involved in the operation of anoth- er family-owned station in downtown Castle- gar, adding a maintenance and repair service, and computerizing accounting operations. Tassone, 31, has also been trained by Shell Canada as a fire and safety instructor and now trains staff at other Shell stations in the Koote- nay area. On Oct. 19, Tassone will be one of about 100 local businesswomen attending the Business Success for Women Conference at the Fireside Motor Inn. This will be the first time Tassone has at- tended a Business Success for Women Confer- ence. She hopes it will give her a chance to meet other women in business and discuss mutual concerns — how to handle different aspects of your career, how to juggle business and family responsibilities (Tassone has three children), Kim Tassone wouldn't do anything else but run the family business. and how to succeed in your chosen field. “I enjoy learning different things and I want to see what else is out there,” she says. Another local trepreneurial spirit is Heather Bonnett. woman with the en- And her well-dressed, satisfied clients can attest that she has succeeded. Bonnett, of Bonnett’s Men’ Wear, has improved her business knowledge and skills through various business-related courses during the past three-and- a-half years since she be- came owner and manager of the store that has been in her family for many years. “You dive in, then learn as you go along,” she says. Since taking over, Bon- nett has renovated, updat- ed and changed t he clothing lines that the store carries. Now she is fo- cusing strongly on service. “In small towns and in small businesses, one of the biggest features to build on is your service,” she says. Bonnett, who recently business owner. married, has encountered some special challenges as a “One of those challenges is lar problems. The other challenge is the obvious one of being a wom- my age.” She’s 29 and some people initially questioned whether she had the experi- ence to handle their particu- Heather Bonnett’s clothing store suits a sharp dressed man. an running a men’s store — with a staff of four female employees. “But who better to help men choose cloth- ing?” she asks. “Who is going to give you a fair, honest point of view?” Now Bonnett finds that most men who come in, particularly her regular customers, appre- ciate their input. Other challenges are those experienced by all retailers. “I’m very committed to the business,” she says. “It’s not an easy task to keep it going — you have good days and bad days like every- body else.” Her biggest concern prior to taking on the business was whether she could learn the clothing business. She had been in the restau- rant business previously and had not been in- volved with her father’s store until she took over completely. “You learn the hard way. You make mistakes and they cost you.” She feels events such as the upcoming Busi- ness Success for Women Conference, can go a long way towards helping women find out how to avoid costly mistakes and enhance the efficien- cy of their operations. Personally, Bonnett hopes the conference will reinforce the fact that she is not the only busi- nesswoman who has ex- perienced problems. “It’s important to un- derstand that it’s not just you. That moral support is very important.” Bonnett has some ad- vice for any woman thinking of starting her own business, “Keep your goals realistic, stay organized... and remem- ber to pamper yourself.” New councillor in for more than bargained for Well, here I sit, long before the winner of the byelection is known, and I’m all set to tell the new city councillor how to do their job. Rest assured, I won't be the only person to do that. First off, dear newcomer, my condolences. You have succeeded in securing a political post that rewards you with $6,274.58 a year. Oh.boy. I can see that mortgage burning party now. Here’s what you get for coming forward with your good intentions and fresh ideas: You will be doggedly chased by the media hounds asking ‘why this’ and ‘why that.’ If you had a rough campaign ride, you haven’t seen anything yet. When you're in the D > EY ~~ nd = — sa The Bottom Line NeiiRACHYNSKI supermarket looking for a good deal on lean ground beef, residents will thoughtfully give you an earful in the dead meat aisle. You’ve offered to become an expert on civic affairs and nothing less than perfection is expected is from you. People don’t want to hear their city operates with a margin for error — even though it’s inevitable. Keep a stiff upper lip, but please don’t forget who voted you in. Don’t represent. And don’t forget why you got yourself into all this in the first place. After your initiation to council, I hope you still look at everything through the eyes of the common individual. Stick to your guns. There’s no room for intimidation. I know, I know. There’s all kinds of talk about how it takes teamwork to develop an effective city council. Let us not get teamwork confused with ‘playing ball.’ Besides, I was never one to buy into that locker room pep talk garbage. You’re stepping into a city forget who you council that has come under some heavy fire lately. So much so that Councillor Doreen Smecher admitted they have to take some steps to change perceptions of the city — even if they are only misconceptions. Dear Newcomer, this is an appeal to nothing more than your common sense. You’ve been elected to a position of trust to act on our behalf. If ever we question your actions, give us answers. Don’t retreat to the excuse that you have the support of the electorate and know what’s best for us. There are a lot of people out there hoping you will be a breath of fresh air. The game is afoot and the hounds are loose. See you Tuesday at the council session.