10/17/07
Firewheel Golfers Gain National Attention -
Categories: Fire Department, Parks & Recreation -
Douglas
@ 11:05:50 pm
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Garland Fire Dept Rescue Team members ferry stranded golfers to safer ground. Photo source: WFAA-TV (wfaa.com)
Click for CNN Video link. |
Rain started falling Monday morning about 8 a.m. It delayed the start of a golf tournament at Firewheel Golf Park but the tournament was able to get into full swing when the rain stopped a couple hours later.
Well after skies had cleared and the rain had stopped, one tournament group suddenly found themselves literally surrounded by a water hazard. Rowlett Creek that runs through the course was rising rapidly and swallowing much of the course, making islands where there should not have been any. Extremely heavy rains north of Garland dumped large quantities of water over the area—water that caused the creek to swell to levels not seen even during the recent monsoon season.
The golfers used their phones to alert relatives and golf course management of their predicament. There appeared to be no panic as they used their time waiting to practice chipping and putting. It was reported that they did lose all their balls in the water.
The Garland Fire Department quickly arrived onsite with a rubber raft to ferry the men to higher and safer ground while news helicopters circled overhead.
Virtually all the local television stations carried the story, including Channels 5, 8, and 11. The story was rebroadcast in Austin and then on UPI. The story was reportedly seen on CNN, Good Morning, America, and the Weather Channel.
I don't know specifically how the ongoing training by the Fire Dept figured into this rescue but I do know the crews at Station 10 on Brand Rd, just across from Firewheel, have staged and planned many rescues from the golf course since moving to the new station. The focus I've heard has been getting to various holes as quickly as possible in the event of a heart attack or other emergency. Obviously flooding is on the list.
Many moments of a golf tournament can result in a lasting memory but even more lasting memories can come from not being able to finish the tournament.
