Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 28/98) - When it comes to tee times, golfers are often in the hands of Tara Cummings.

Cummings runs the Yellowknife Golf Club's pro shop.

Her responsibilities include booking tee times and running the retail side of the pro shop for about 800 members and a host of others looking to ace the city's distinctive course.

A combination of a record number of members and a bevy of weekend tournaments has led to a huge demand for weekend tee times, she said.

On Thursday and Friday mornings, she has found herself swamped with calls from eager golfers looking to book weekend spots.

"We book times two days ahead so Thursday and Friday mornings were crazy, especially in May and June. Between eight and nine in the morning it was a zoo," she said.

The club plans to add nine new holes to the course which should lessen the congestion.

Cummings added that her working at the club has prompted her to take up the game. But she broke her wrist during a slo-pitch game, sidelining her swing for much of the summer.

"I've been able to play for about the past two weeks. I chip and putt well, but I need to work on my long game."

Cummings, originally form London, Ont., moved North last year from Banff. She took recreation at Lakehead in Thunder Bay. This was her first summer at the golf course.

Asked about her summer highlights, Cummings noted the staff glowball party and the Midnight Sun tournament.

"The staff party and glowball tournament were put on by the board with members. It was great having the group organize the event for us."

On the Midnight Sun tournament, Cummings said lots of people she knows from down south have heard about the event so it was interesting to see it first hand.

"We had a llama here, (referring to a llama Glen Zelinski brought as a caddy)," she said.

Another great thing is calling the Yellowknifer about the latest hole in one, she added.

Yet another neat part of the job was fielding a call from John Bekale Sunday night.

"He called to find out who won the club championship. He had to catch a plane and didn't know he'd won."