Today,yet another mandate by the city fathers has come into effect, as of September 1st, 2010 no-smoking ban comes into effect in all Vancouver city parks, beaches, playgrounds and yes, golf courses. Fines for a first offence will up to $250.00 and increases of up to $2,000.00 for a subsequent offence.
While the city states environmental, health and fire concerns, many feel it is just another health enacted law in which fire concerns take a back seat as Vancouver city hall has slashed $4 million dollars from the Vancouver fire department budget for 2011.
Nothing is more disgusting than finding cigarette butts on a pristine beach, but most area golf courses have ashtrays at the tee as golfers are more likely a courteous lot.
Golf is typically a rich man's game,with Vancouver green fees at some area golf courses approaching $100.00 plus HST for a 18 round of play. Certainly a green fee that has most ne'er do wells looking for greener pastures outside Metro Vancouver where modest fees are around $40.00 plus HST, still pricey.
Now, how Gregor's newly formed Golf Police could find their way onto a golf course, two items required on many courses are golf shoes and you must have a set of golf clubs. Will the taxpayers be springing for this? Golf courses are certainly expansive, will golf carts be used, complete with sirens and flashing red and blue lights? Golf courses have strict rules about people like the Golf police wandering around the greens when 200 mile per hour golf balls are in play. It is a golf club liability insurance issue you understand.
Certainly if a police golf cart were used, would golfer see a high speed 2 mile an hour chase on the greens, complete with lights and sirens blaring. Perhaps this will interfere with many a golfer's game, not to mention the 200 mile per hour golf balls whizzing past an officer's head. After all it is a golf course.
Most golf courses serve alcohol, certainly a health risk as well, as a errant golf ball could be fatal swung from an inebriated golfer, but not banned.
The ban seems to be yet another call to arms by non smokers who feel the ill effects of second hand smokers, most likely on a beach or park, but certainly not a golf course.
Considering most golfers play in a group of 2-3 or 4 players, one smoker in the bunch (s) most likely this group would not complain. The group behind or in front of them who may be non smokers are usually 130 to 300 yards away, certainly away from 2nd hand smoke. If a non smoker can detect second hand smoke over 300 yards away, you have a viable future as a drug sniffer for the Canada Border Agency and any police agency.
Now it seems non Vancouver owned tennis courts, lawn bowling etc seem to escape this smoking ban altogether.
While the smoking ban affects Vancouverites visiting beaches and golf clubs, many Vancouverites may head to less restrictive areas outside of Vancouver where such bans are only in effect during High Fire Risks.
Certainly the annual Vancouver 420 marijuana day held every spring, smack dab in the middle of the city as citizens and tourists alike are greeted by second hand smoke from 5,000 pot smokers who congregate in front of the Vancouver library, filling the downtown core with a thick fog of acrid second hand smoke for miles for all non smokers to experience.
Funny this marijuana second hand health issue outside a No-Smoking Vancouver public building escaped the attention of Sheriff Gregor and his Law making Nancy Boys.
One wonders if 5,000 cigarette smokers congregated in protest in front of the Vancouver library would be offered the same courtesy?
Rules for some and not for others. The Golf Police, coming to a Green near you!
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