KAF Abbey

Heh...we've talked before about golf in Kabul, but this is the first time I've ever heard of golf in Kandahar:

It took Pigden, tournament co-chairman Gilles Langlois of Kingston, Ont., and a host of volunteers three days to lay out KAF Abbey, which stands for Kandahar Air Field.

The Royal Canadian Golf Association provided technical information about the Glen Abbey course, which they laid out in miniature. The 18-hole course was set out in a small field in the middle of "the boardwalk," the centre of recreational life on the sprawling base, and it was complete with artificial turf greens.

"We've reconstructed it down to the correct scale . . . with the exception of water and trees. Not a lot of those," said Pigden.

That must have been one heck of a project to undertake. Of course (and yes, that little pun was intentional), it was for a great cause:

Proceeds from the tournament - it cost $20 to be part of the tournament or $5 for drop-in play - raised $1,500 for Soldier On, which helps wounded soldiers get involved in Paralympic sport as a means of recovery and rehabilitation.

For those who don't know much about Soldier On, you can read more - including how to donate - here.