| Everyone’s heard of campfire tales. But how about weird tales from the outdoor rental shop?
It turns out that folks borrowing gear from the University of Calgary supply an endless stream of funny, weird and unusual stories. In fact, the staff used to keep a notepad next to the phone to scribble down these peculiar tales. Calum Macdonald, rentals manager, passed on a few of the better ones:
"One group of campers rented a tent and were shaking up some white gas and spilled it on the tent. They thought it was dry and checked it by lighting a match." Needless to say, they had an uncovered doorway afterward.
"We’ve had people use canoes as tabletops," Macdonald says, adding that one group put a two-burner stove on top and melted it through the bottom. (Not sure how they got back home.)
He wasn’t positive, but thought the same group, one year later, again rented canoes and this time turned them over to use as seats around the campfire. On this occasion, one of the $1,700 crafts was returned with a badly burned nose.
Not all strange stories occur in the summer either. "In the winter, people ask if we rent landmine detectors," Macdonald says. "And people phone and want to rent an avalanche detector. We recommend they take one of our avalanche courses."
As strange as those requests may be, this one takes first prize: "Someone called to rent a canoe but wanted to know if the Bow River was a two-way stream – otherwise ‘how do we get back?’"
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Somebody asked recently who are better golfers, Calgarians or Edmontonians. A scientific study conducted by Fast Forward provides exclusive proof that those in the northern city come out a few strokes ahead.
In an Online search of 15 capital city courses and 16 Cowtown courses, researchers proved that Calgarians have a higher propensity of putting their noses in the air. This, of course, leads to more duffed shots, often worm-burners, and consequently, higher scores. Keeping your head down is a must in golf.
Here’s where the research uncovered the reason behind the poor head position: an 18-hole round of golf with no carts costs over $10 more here than in the frigid city north on Highway 2. Of the courses surveyed, it averages $45.65 a round in Calgary, but only $35.63 a round in Edmonton. (The Calgary figures do not include the courses in Canmore that cost over $100 per round.)
The difference in ownership leads to this price discrepancy, the research shows. Of the courses surveyed, nine of the Edmonton courses are public, compared to three in Calgary. Ten of Calgary's courses are semi-private compared to three in Edmonton. Four local tracks are private versus three up north. That $10 savings also means those in the "City of Champions" are likely able to get out and play more often, too, also improving their ability to turn in better scores.
OK, while not overly scientific, researchers are still left with one question: what gives?
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Speaking of golf, there's a bit of interesting history connected to the Shaganappi Point Golf Course. Many tales are circulating about prior use of the land under, in and around the links.
At one time the nearby cliffs that lead to the Bow River were used by local Indians as a buffalo jump, meaning the land now used for people to practice their swearing was the last solid spot before the hairy beasts experienced the devastating effects of gravity.
The site was also supposed to have been used as a Metis camp, and as a graveyard. Word has it the land wasn’t well suited for holding the dead, so the cemetery was moved, although not all the bodies made the trip.
So if you happen to be out on the course – voted one of Fast Forward readers’ favourites in the annual Best Of Calgary issue – don’t want take too deep a divot, you never know what you might turn up. |
