Kate Schwass Delhi News-Record
Thursday July 21, 2005

Delhi News-Record — Wholi-board can be described as a game similar to horseshoes, except you use washers and try to get them in one of three holes.
Or, wholi-board is like shuffleboard-frisbee. That’s how wholi-board tournament organizer Rick Kosynski described it.
“There’s so many different versions of it,” he said, noting the game is also known as Belgian horseshoes and if the participants want, “It can involve a little bit of alcohol.”
Kosynski, the manager of the bar at the Delhi Belgium Club and wholi-board player for eight years, is hoping to stir up some local interest in the game to hold a league in the winter. He was introduced to the game by friends at his trailer, where they play almost every weekend in the summer, but he said the game can easily be brought inside. The tournament on Saturday was held downstairs at the Club.
Many of the tournament participants were friends who also play wholi-board at their trailers. Barb Burt, of Niagara Falls, explained the rules of the game.

There are two boards with three holes and the holes are ranked as one, two and three points depending on how close they are to the thrower (one is the closet hole). The first person or team to reach 21 points wins; however, you must hit 21 right on. If you go over 21, then you actually lose those points.
“There’s not much to the game, but it’s fun,” Burt said.
Thom Price of Hamilton is credited by most of the group with introducing them to wholi-board. Price said he learned the game from his parents and played it at the cottage. He’s been playing for more than 10 years and said it’s a nice way to spend the afternoon.
“It brings people together,” he said. “It’s something to do when you’re drinking beers on the weekend.”
He added while it takes skill to win, the game is also part luck.
“A lot of times, there’s a lot of luck involved,” he said, adding, “Anyone can win.”
Luck wasn’t on the side of teammates Derek Davis and Amanda Schwoob of Hamilton. They were smoked in one match-up on Saturday afternoon, 21-2.
“We let them win,” Schwoob joked after the match, while Davis added, “We’re rookies compared to these guys. These guys are pros.”