Rally for the Valley needs golfers

The Rally for the Valley Open Golf Tournament is ready to tee off.

All it needs is for more people to pick up their clubs for the cause.

The third annual event, being held to raise awareness of the value Pine Valley Golf Centre brings to the community, is scheduled for Saturday at the city-owned par-3 course. But, with only 40 players registered as of Monday afternoon, organizer Don Chamberlain is considering whether or not to cancel.

The registration deadline is Wednesday. A decision on whether to go ahead with the tournament or pull the plug on it will be made on Thursday.

Chamberlain said last year’s Rally for the Valley attracted 136 golfers. He said the recent and ongoing smoky conditions in Prince George, created by the numerous wildfires in the region, may be to blame for the low number of registered participants thus far. As well, Chamberlain said a seniors tournament set for Aspen Grove this weekend could be taking potential players away from the Pine Valley gathering.

The tournament is slated to begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. For a fee of $50, participants (who can be of all ages and abilities) will get to play 18 holes of golf, followed by a barbecue dinner. Trophies for overall low net and low gross (men’s and women’s) will be up for grabs.

Several prizes will also be given away, including: $10,000 in cash, and Aeroplan points for travel anywhere in Canada or mainland North America (courtesy of Uniglobe Sunburst Travel) for the two hole-inone rewards; a draw prize of $350 worth of security monitoring from Graydon Group; and a draw prize for dinner at the Canadian Brewhouse, worth up to $360.

Gift certificates for Shogun, Moxie’s, Mr. Mikes, Art Knapps, several local golf courses and Victoria Nails Spa will also be available. Other packages include stays at the Treasure Cove Hotel.

Registration for the Rally for the Valley can be done at the Pine Valley pro shop.

The Friends of Pine Valley, of which Chamberlain is a part, have been trying to secure the future of the golf course for 11 years now. Because of the land it occupies (at the corner of Highway 16 and Range Road) it is considered a prime location for commercial redevelopment.

A five-year contract to keep Pine Valley Golf Centre operational has two years remaining on it, Chamberlain said. He and the Friends of Pine Valley are targeting October or November to hold a meeting with city council.