A double-double is more than a cream-saturated coffee for the group that meets at the Okotoks Elks Club twice a week.
A double-double might have been the combination some of them made to earn a trip to the National Elks Club Darts tournament this May in Yellowknife, NWT. The Okotoks Elks had 10 of its members make the 16-person Alberta team at a qualifier on March 12.
The Okotoks Elks earned their berths on Team Alberta due to their performance at the Elks provincial championship which was hosted by Okotoks on March 12.
Okotoks’ Priscilla Caines was the top woman at the Alberta championships.
“It was pure luck,” Caines said with a laugh. “I was just on my game that day, that’s all.”
The provincial tournament competitors played three games of 501 against each of the players in their respective division. Players whittle down their score from the 501 to zero, but the catch is you have to land exactly at zero and you must double out.
For example, if a player is at 16, he or she can end the game by hitting “double 8” (the double is the outside ring on a dartboard).
“I like to be going for double 16,” she said. “Because it’s an even number. If you miss, you can go for double 8. If you miss then you can go for double 4.”
Caines said she can recall losing a national championship with Team Alberta when none of the women could double out. When all was said and done, all five members were trying to end the game by hitting double ones.
“Trying to double out on threes is the worst,” she said. “Because if you miss, you are stuck with trying to double out at three. That means you have to hit a single one and then a double one.”
Caines finished the provincial tournament with a 17-7 record.
Sam Young will also be representing Okotoks and Alberta at the nationals.
“I start thinking about how I am going to double-out when I get to about 100,” Young said. “A triple 20 and then a double 20 — that’s a good finish.”
Young was on Team Alberta, which won the national championship in Moose Jaw, SK three years ago.
Joel Turcotte was the top Okotoks member at provincials with a third-place finish.
He bristles when it is suggested darts is just a bar game.
“Absolutely not,” Turcotte said. “Sure darts can be associated (with drinking and socializing) but look at the professionals on TV and they are all sober.”
Turcotte was able to end one of his games on his last turn (three darts per turn) by doubling out from 100 with a double 20 (40), single 20 and then another double 20.
Young said the Tuesday and Saturday dart get-togethers at the Elks Club are for all levels of players. Their aim is to have fun, not trying to double out from 170.
“It’s not something you have to make a big commitment to — just come out have some fun,” he said.
However, Caines warns not to have too much fun.
“You got to have a few drinks to relax you but then you can’t drink no more — or else you can’t see the board,” she said with a laugh.
The Okotoks Elks Club is located at 62 Elizabeth Street.
