Tee 2 Green with Barry Sharpe - - January 28/09

Drinking alcohol in the bar or restaurant of a golf club does not normally attract the type of negative publicity we've seen in recent months but two incidents have drawn attention to the fact that anywhere alcohol is sold and consumed requires special attention and good judgment.

In the case of three young Ontario men who lost their lives in a car mishap after dining and drinking at a golf club, two club executives who were among the16 representatives of the club facing charges have now been cleared of any wrongdoing.

In the first court appearance since 34 charges were laid under the Liquor Licence Act earlier this month, the Crown has conceded the two were not employed by the Bracebridge club owned by Clublink when the men reportedly drank there. That leaves 14 people still facing charges for allegedly allowing drunkenness and continuing to serve apparently intoxicated individuals. Those charges have been adjourned until March 19.

Police have said alcohol and speed were definitely factors in the deaths.

In the months following the crash, the father of one crash victim has embarked on a crusade to toughen provincial drinking laws. In a press release issued last week, which revealed the four friends had paid for 31 drinks before leaving the restaurant, the father said he's not out to blame anyone for the tragic accident and isn't seeking redemption for his son's death.

"I believe that this case is a very complex one which will likely set a precedent one way or the other on the ultimate responsibility of the serving of alcohol by a licensed establishment," he said. "I have never held anyone responsible or blamed anyone for the accident, however I do hope that future lives are saved due to this terrible tragedy."

The maximum penalty for a corporation if convicted is a $250,000 fine; an individual would be fined a maximum $100,000, or be imprisoned up to a year, or both.

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In the second incident, perhaps you read this week about the contractor who is suing British Columbia's Squamish Valley Golf Club over an April 2007 incident in which the contractor claims he was assaulted by intoxicated members of a stag party.

In a statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Thomas Donohue says he and his wife were dining at the club with a small group of people when some of the 20 men in a bachelor party approached the bar adjacent to the table where he was seated and demanded to be served alcohol.

According to the statement of claim: "The combatants [in the party] then began jostling and fighting. During the melee, one of the combatants was thrown into the plaintiff's table, upending the table and knocking some persons seated at the table off their seats to the floor." After a further scuffle Donohue says he suffered "massive" injuries to his left shoulder, requiring surgery, as well as pain in his left arm, neck and back.

Donohue claims the Squamish club failed to supervise the stag party, did not stop serving the men alcohol and did not attempt to stop the fight or protect him and his party.

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The 2009 PGA Merchandise Show, North America's biggest annual golf show of the year, is underway in Orlando, Florida.

The Vancouver Golf & Travel Show takes place at BC Place Stadium February 14-15 with many of the same features we see each season.

The Portland Golf Show, taking place February 13-15, has apparently grown considerably, and now requires two halls to contain all the unbeatable bargains and indoor skills games, it's also the most kid-friendly, with free admission to all children under 12, plus a complimentary club, round of golf and instruction for all kids - absolutely free! - courtesy of The Children's Course.

The Seattle Golf Show at Quest Event Field Center is slated for March 13-15.
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If California's Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has his way some new taxes will be applied to all rounds of golf, auto repairs, veterinary care, amusement park and sporting event admissions, as well as appliance and furniture repairs. It's part of his strategy to erase a nearly $42 billion budget deficit over the next year-and-a-half.

"We're old and retired. We don't need any more taxes," said Fred Mayers, as he played a round of golf recently at a Sacramento public course. "The only luxury we have is playing golf. They can't charge us any more."

The California Alliance for Golf, an umbrella group that represents courses, golf course employees, golfers' groups and course suppliers, started a Web site to oppose the governor's proposal to tax greens fees.

"You don't see a tax on movies," said Bob Bouchier, executive director of the California Alliance for Golf. "You don't see a tax on bowling. You don't see skiing. You don't see a tax on any other sport." He said expanding the sales tax would further damage an already reeling economy.

Not all golfers oppose taxing golf. Sean Grace, a home remodeling contractor from the Sacramento suburb of Elk Grove, said die-hard golfers will find a way to pay the tax if lawmakers approve it.

"Ten percent is not too much," he said before slamming a long drive down the fifth fairway at Sacramento's Land Park golf course. "You've got guys paying $100 (for green fees). What's another $10? They're going to find it somewhere."

Schwarzenegger and lawmakers have little time left to strike a deal. The state controller has said he will have to impose a 30-day delay on tax refunds and other payments starting Feb. 1 because of a cash shortage. The governor also has ordered tens of thousands of state employees to take two days off a month without pay, starting Feb. 6.

That could mean two extra days off for playing golf and contributing to a new golf tax.