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The Tee-Off Frequent Player Program is the most respected golf discount program in Canada. For $39.95, order the 2007 edition of Tee Off for B.C. OR Manitoba and Saskatchewan. If you're like the average golfer you'll pay for Tee-Off with just one or two uses and continue saving hundreds of dollars throughout the season. MORE>> |
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Around Saskatchewan Links
Construction has begun on a 300-person lakeside conference centre at Candle Lake Golf Resort (www.candlelakegolfresort.com). The conference centre is being built next to the existing clubhouse and will be attached via catwalk. It’s expected to be complete in the spring of 2008... The Royal Bank of Canada has stepped up to the tee with an estimated $3 million annually to sponsor the Canadian Open. The Canadian Open has been without a sponsor since Bell Canada bailed in 2006. The five-year deal should ensure the financial viability of this Canadian marquee event... Watched anyone playing the new Top Flite D2 ball? It was flagged by Time Magazine in its "best inventions of the year" issue for its unusual shape. There are dimples within dimples that manufacturers claim will give you a few extra yards ...
2008 Tourney schedule
The Saskatchewan Golf Association has announced its 2008 tournament schedule:
- Saskatchewan Women’s and Men’s Mid Amateur, Melfort Golf and Country Club, July 8-11
- SGI Canada Saskatchewan Junior Women’s and Men’s, Lloydminster Golf and Country Club, July 15-18
- Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Championship, Royal Regina, July 22-25
- Saskatchewan Senior Women’s and Men’s, Hillcrest in Moose Jaw, July 29-31
- Saskatchewan Women’s Rosebowl, Katepwa Golf Club, Aug. 6-7
- Saskatchewan Mixed Team, Jackfish Golf Resort at Cochin, Aug. 23-24
Fore more info, www.saskgolf.ca
Golf Oceanside!
Spectacular ocean and mountain views, central location, and year round playability are all par for the course in the Parksville and Qualicum Beach region.
Its beautiful countryside has attracted course designers for nearly a century, drawn by the year-round mild weather and stunning views. They've left a legacy of six great golf courses for you to enjoy, from a nine hole charmer all the way to PGA caliber championship courses.
With such a selection to choose from and within a half-hour drive of anywhere in the region, this is a golfer's paradise. www.VisitParksvilleQualicumBeach.com
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Q-Ray fined up to $87 million
While many golfers in Canada and the United States swear by the Q-Ray bracelet, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says their claims about pain relief and its scientific tests are misleading and false.
The federal district court in Chicago ruled in September 2006 for the Federal Trade Commission in its case against the marketers of the Q-Ray ionized bracelet. An appeal of the FTC vs. Q-Ray verdict was heard in U.S. court on Oct. 31, 2007 and is awaiting decision.
The federal district court found that advertising by Que Te (Andrew) Park and his companies was false and misleading in representing that the bracelet provides immediate, significant, and/or complete pain relief, and that scientific tests proved that it relieves pain.
The court also found that the defendants deceptively advertised their refund policy. Although the court has not yet issued a final judgment order, it stated that it will require the defendants to turn over $22.5 million in net profits and pay up to $87 million in refunds to consumers. The court also stated that it will impose a permanent injunction to prevent them from engaging in such deceptive conduct in the future in the United States.
More recently the company set up a Canadian office in Richmond Hill run by the company founder’s son, Charles Park. On Nov. 18, CBC Marketplace and Wendy Mesley took a look at the company’s operations and claims in Canada.
Among its paid endorsers is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Sandra Post which Mesley vigorously questionned about her involvement with the product, and its claims that it helps pain.
The bracelets, which cost as much as $499 in Canada, were also tested for ionization by a University of Toronto professor. The ionization claims were disputed by the professor who used an electron microscope. www.cbc.ca/marketplace
"This is an egregious example of false advertising," said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection of the federal district court decision. "These defendants lied about the so-called medicinal benefits of their product, and deceived people in pain. The judgment against them is a real victory for all consumers."
The FTC filed the case in May 2003, alleging that the defendants had misrepresented that the Q-Ray ionized bracelet "provides immediate significant or complete relief from various types of pain, including, but not limited to, musculoskeletal pain, sciatic pain, persistent headaches, sinus problems, tendinitis, or injuries," and that "tests prove that the Q-Ray bracelet relieves pain." The FTC also alleged that they falsely represented that defendant QT Inc.’s 30-day satisfaction guarantee permits "consumers to readily obtain a full refund of the purchase price if they return the Q-Ray bracelet within 30 days."
The court found that defendants QT Inc., Q-Ray Company, and Bio-Metal, Inc., located in Illinois, and their owner, Que Te Park, also known as Andrew Q. Park, had engaged in misleading and false advertising in violation of Sections 5 and 12 of the FTC Act. The court did not find defendant Jung Joo Park (Que Te Park’s wife) liable.
From September 2000 through June 2003, the Q-Ray bracelet was advertised on infomercials shown on cable TV channels, such as the Golf Channel, the Learning Channel, USA Network, and the Discovery Channel, as well as on Internet Web sites and at trade shows. Retail prices for the bracelets ranged from $49.95 to $249.95 - a mark-up of over 650 percent, according to the court’s findings. Net sales to consumers, during the time the infomercials ran, were $87 million.
The defendants’ advertising described the Q-Ray bracelet as "ionized," but the court found no evidence that the bracelet has any properties different from any other bracelet made of the same metals. Instead, it stated, "The Q-Ray bracelet was marketed as an ‘ionized bracelet’ as part of a scheme devised by Que Te Park and the corporate defendants to defraud consumers out of millions of dollars by preying on their desire to find a simple solution to alleviate their physical pain."
The court found that pain relief claims of the type made by the defendants should be supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence consisting of at least one well-conducted, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical study. The court held that the FTC met its burden of proof in establishing that the defendants did not have or rely upon any such data. The court also ruled that the claims were not supported even if some studies showed that the bracelets had a placebo effect, noting that, for a placebo to work, "the consumer must be duped" and that "the advertiser must trick the customer into believing that an inherently ineffective bracelet actually relieves pain."
The court also concluded that the defendants promoted the relationship between the Q-Ray bracelet and Eastern medicine as a marketing device, "which is a disservice to the practitioners of this ancient art." The court found that Que Te Park had made up the theory and that "he had no testing or studies to support this theory and that he testified that anyone can find the theory on Google." The court found that, "Defendants have sought to clothe the Q-Ray bracelet with the credibility of Traditional Chinese Medicine and thereby deceive consumers."
The court has advised that it will require the defendants to pay a minimum of $22.5 million, representing their profits from January 2000 to June 2003. They also will be required to provide up to an additional $64.5 million in refunds to consumers who bought the bracelets during that time period.
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The FTC has set up a hotline number, 202-326-2063, for consumers with questions about the court’s opinion and order. Details about the refund program will be made available as they become known. The decision and minute order (and the current appeal judgment when available) can be seen on the FTC’s Website at www.ftc.gov
For info about Q Ray in Canada - there are 36 outlets for Q-Ray in Saskatchewan - see www.qray.ca While all claims to relieving pain have been removed from the Canadian website, Q-Ray says the bracelet is based on traditional Oriental medicine and will "optimize your bio-energy, promote a more active, better lifestyle and provide an overall sense of well-being."
Greenbryre course sold
Greenbryre Golf and Country Club has been sold to developer Mini-Mansion Homes and will continue to run as an 18-hole course in 2008 or longer. "The focus will be to change people’s perception about Greenbryre," says the new general manager and head professional Brad Vinnick.
The course is making major upgrades in 2008: the clubhouse is being renovated, the maintenance budget is increased, 60 new power carts have been purchased, beverage carts will be available on course, and a tournament station will be added.
Gary Gaudet, head of Mini-Mansion Homes, is now the new president of Greenbryre. The longterm plans remain to add a housing development on the site. The development company is behind Casa Rio, considered one of the most posh acreage developments in the province.
The current housing proposal includes 113, ¾ acre lots, four condo units and 48 townhouses.
"There’s always some good memories, that’s what it’s all about," says Peter Semko, who began the course south of Saskatoon in 1978. Semko, a PGA member going back 51 years, has operated the course with his family. He’s retiring and the other family members are moving on to new challenges, says Semko.
SG & CC West closed
The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club has sold 54.1 acres of land on the north side of the CNR Mainline to Remai Ventures Ltd.
The existing Saskatoon Golf and Country Club (West Course) will be redeveloped and converted from an 18 to a private new nine holes. It will include a practice facility, short range, driving range and a three-hole practice.
Redevelopment of the 144 acres is being started in May 2008 and is scheduled for completion by July 2009. Ian Andrew, a golf architect, was hired to direct the project.
The sale of both a portion of Saskatoon Golf and Country Club (West Course) and Greenbryre Golf and Country Club is timely with the real estate market in Saskatoon one of the hottest in Canada during the past year or two.
The truth revealed
The following is not intended to offend fans of tennis, basketball, baseball or football. It is, rather an attempt to everything in its proper perspective. Ever wonder why golf is growing in popularity and why people who don’t even play go to tournaments and watch it on TV. The following truisms may shed some light:
Golf is an honourable game, with the overwhelming majority of people who don’t need referees. Golfers don’t have some of their players in jail every week. Golfers don’t kick dirt, or throw bottles at other people. Professional golfers are paid in proportion to how well they play. Golfers don’t get per diem and two seats on a charter flight when traveling between tournaments.
Golfers don’t hold out for more money, or demand more money, because of another player’s deal. Professional golfers don’t demand that the taxpayer pay for the courses they play on. He golfers make a mistake, nobody is there to cover for them or back them.
The PGA raises more money for charity that the NFL does in two. You can watch the best golfers in the world at any tournament, all day, for $25-$30. Even in the nosebleed section, a ticket to the Superbowl will cost you $300 to $1,000 from a scalper In golf you cannot fail 70 per cent of the time and make $9 million a season, like the best baseball players do with a batting average of .300.
Golf doesn’t change it s rule to attract fans. Golfers have to adapt to an entirely new playing area each week. Golfers keep their clothes on when interviewed. Golf doesn’t have free agency. In their prime, Palmer, Norman and other stars, would shake your hand and say they were glad to meet you. In his prime, Jose Cansenco wore a t-shirt that said, "leave me alone."
You can hear bird chirping on a golf course during a tournament. At a golf tournament (unlike a stadium game like baseball) you won’t hear a steady stream of four letter words and nasty name calling while you’re hoping no one will spill a beer on you. Tiger Woods hits a ball twice as far as Barry Bonds hits a baseball. Golf courses don’t ruin the neighbourhood.
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