The annual Drive & Dive out at Lovering Lake took place on June 23, luckily falling into the best weather of the weekend with good visibility out in the lake.
The event puts a twist on the usual expectations from golfers: rather than avoiding driving the golf ball into the water, the Drive & Dive encourages you to sink that ball right into the lake.
Later, once everyone has teed off all the balls they want, divers are tasked with submerging and collecting the golf balls — and whoever brings up the most takes a grand prize.
This year, there were only three divers, and it was Dwight Watson who gathered the most golf ball treasure from the bottom of the lake; honorable mentions go to Gregg Bathgate and Kelly Charpentier, who dove as well.
Of course, there were prizes for all the participants, drivers and divers alike. A BBQ lunch followed the conclusion of the event.
Drive & Dive is hosted by the Moose Jaw Barracudas scuba club, and serves as a fun way to gather together and spend an afternoon by the lake.
“It was a great time, with the divers we had, and visibility was great,” said Walter Zaluski, a member of the club. “It's really for anyone who wants to socialize and have a good dive. It’s a really fun event.”
There’s a small entry fee, to cover the cost of lunch, and the fun afternoon event is welcome to everyone. Although you do need certification to dive in the deeper parts of the lake, some of the golf balls land in shallower water that can be snorkeled instead.
Usually, the event is organized for the end of May, which gets a better turnout than the club saw this year; the Drive & Dive is set to return to its usual month next year.
