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Virtual golf hub teeing up charity tournament

WizGolf event on Aug. 8 to benefit Okotoks Food Bank
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WizGolf's KJ Wi swings away on one of the Okotoks indoor golf venue's simulators. WizGolf is holding a charity tournament for the Okotoks Food Bank on Aug. 8. (Photo submitted)

Helping feed the hungry is as easy as a drive, chip or putt at a virtual golf hub.

The time is finally right as WizGolf, an indoor golf simulator, is set to host the inaugural Okotoks Food Bank X WizGolf Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 8 after putting the concept on the backburner for several months.  

“I thought about this idea last year before Christmas,” said WizGolf's KJ Wi. “I wanted to do something like this around Christmas and the food bank was busy with their facility moving and we were busy as well.

“Then we were going to do it in February and we had to close down because of COVID and now I thought it would be good timing for us to have something like this because a lot of people are coming off quarantine and all that and can take some time for people to enjoy golf with their friends and family.”

The nine-hole format is stroke play with individuals playing on one virtual course set-up within a two-hour time frames, with available start times running every two hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“All of our courses are Korean courses and I’m going to pick one on the easier side, but still scenic,” he said. “It’s pretty much the same as regular golf, you hit your drive, hit your second shot, chip, putt, all of that.”

The tournament is set up to not be overly competitive with an emphasis on families and friends coming together to enjoy the experience for a good cause.

“I want more families to come in with their kids, come in with their friends,” Wi said. “It’s not going to be a competitive where you get first, second, third-place prizes, it’s more we have door prizes, prizes like longest drive, most birdies, things like that.”

To maintain physical distancing there will be four simulators open at any given time to ensure a contactless tournament. Golfers are asked to bring their own clubs as WizGolf is currently not renting any amid the pandemic.

The cost of registration is $45 per person or $150 per foursome, which includes both the golf and food – provided by the fine folks at Cha-cha John’s. The individual entry fee is lowered to $25 with the donation of non-perishable food items.

Wi said he hopes to fundraise somewhere in the $1,200 to $2,000 range for the food bank.

For more information on the event contact WizGolf at 403-938-7733 or via email at contact@wizgolf

With files from Bruce Campbell


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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