When The Seasons Change!
by Scott A. Sumner
The fall means a change of weather and for me a change of sports. It’s always good to have some interests you enjoy and for me they have always been golf and snowmobiling! In fact I like them so much I took the advice of a visiting business person in my office many years ago and started two unique publications one called NW Ontario Golfing News and the other NW Ontario Snowmobile News. They both allowed me to further explore my interests. Shorty after this I started the unique websites www.golfingnews.ca and www.slednews.com They allowed me totravel far afield to pursue my interests and get more indepth into the
sports.
This summer has been a good one for golf with pretty nice weather. I always feel lucky to be able to play a beautiful course right in our own backyards- Whitewater Golf Club! It took quite a bit of vision for the owner to build such an elaborate, professional course in a small market but the people are enjoying it. Next year will be the 20th for this course so reason to celebrate!
When the course closes I turn my attention to snowmobiling. In that sport I began as a 12 year old in Manitouwadge, Ontario. It has been fun to see the progression of the industry including the amazing development of the sleds themselves. Yes they are so advanced now with engines, suspension and different market segments. A major trend has been to longer tracked machines to allow for more deep snow off trail riding. This has really pushed the sport forward and accounts for much of the riding. Last season I was able to get a longer track machine for the first time and it was really like having four wheel drive on a snowmobile. Last season we had so much snow in the Thunder Bay region it was a good choice, even if it was made for me by the pandemic supply change issues.There is always a time wait between sports now a days. In the past I can remember going from golf one weekend to snowmobiling the next. Now the snow comes later and it might be a month or two before you can begin riding. Of course it is always worth the wait!
