Dakota Dunes Golf Links hosts 2022 Tony Cote First Nation Games
Clark Stork
After being cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19 the Tony Cote First Nation Games took place on July 26 and 27 at Dakota Dunes Golf Links.
Over 60 players from First Nations across Saskatchewan competed in the golf event. The format was Stableford with two-player teams.
In the under-15 girls division Ada and Keliah Dillon of the Onion Lake First Nation won the gold medal with a score 53. Artisa Henderson and Bianca Eagle were second with a score of 39, Parker Laliberte competed as a single, she had a score of 30, good enough for the bronze medal.
In the under-17 girls category, Cassidy Strongarm and Hailey Thunderchild were competing for the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council and won the tournament with a score of 51. Onion Lake’s Tannis and Mylynn Lewis placed second with a score of 43, while Julia McCarthy and Cassandra Yuzicappi took home the bronze medal with a score of 37.
The under-15 boys winners were Woodland golfers Dade Bernatchez and Kael Ratt with a score of 65.
Yorkton Tribal Council players Laurie Delorme and Dylan Brass won the silver medal with a score of 64, Jonas and Ethan Badger-Rae of the Saskatoon Tribal Council was third with a score of 53.
The results from those age groups can be seen here.
In the under-17 boys division Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs competitors Gabriel Generaux and Keaton Gerard won the gold medal with a score of 126.
The silver medal was won by Theron Netmaker and Deegan Wapass who recorded a score of 109. The bronze medal went to Tavian Ermine and Chase Felix who posted a score of 103.
The complete results from the under-17 boys category are here.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has announced the 2021 Tony Cote Games will be postponed.
The postponement is due to COVID-19 concerns. The Games will be moved to 2023 and be hosted by the James Smith Cree Nation near Melfort.
The Games were last held in 2019 on the Flying Dust First Nation with Meadow Lake Golf Club being the host golf facility.
Multi-Sport Games
Brian Lee
Multi-Sport Games
PURPOSE
The purpose of Multi-Sport Games is to provide an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to participate in a multi sport event in preparation for a higher level of competition. A chance to represent their communities and compete for the province of Saskatchewan.
GOALS
To provide an athlete-centered multi-sport experience that compliments provincial sport governing bodies, long term athlete and coach developmental plans, generally in the LTAD ‘Train to Train’ stage of development.
To identify Saskatchewan participants with the potential to advance to higher levels of competition.(Provincial Team, National Competitions, Canada Games, Western Canada Summer Games, Tony Cote Summer/Winter Games, North American Indigenous Games).
To enhance community development through a sport legacy of upgraded equipment, facilities, experienced officials, cultural understanding and appreciation, and a core group of volunteers.
To motivate participants to achieve a higher level of sport skill and physical well being.
To promote athlete, coach and official development programs within all Districts in the province.
To provide a provincial showcase which increases public awareness and support for amateur sport in Saskatchewan.
To generate economic and tourism benefits within the host community and surrounding area.
The golf event will take place at the Lloydminster Golf & Curling Centre from July 21 to 24.
Each of the nine districts will be eligible to enter three players of each gender plus provide a manager and coach. Players must be under-18 as of the final day of the 2024 Golf Canada Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. The Canadian Junior Girls Championship ends on July 25, 2024. The Canadian Junior Boys Championship concludes on Aug. 16, 2024.
Golf Saskatchewan will oversee the team selection process that will consist of district playdowns.
Golf Saskatchewan will also take applications for coaches and managers, again with more details being released in the future.
The Games, that occur every other year alternating between summer and winter, will ran from Aug. 6 – 21. The golf competition at the Games was held at the Legends on the Niagara (Battlefield) from Aug. 17 to 20. Team Saskatchewan was represented by Ella Kozak, Hallie Crozier, Hunter Kutcher, and Darien Herlick.
For all the details and a recap of the Games including hearing from the four participants click here.
The next CSG will be held in St. John’s, Nfld. in August, 2025.
Tony Cote Summer Games
The Tony Cote Summer/Winter Games formerly known as the Saskatchewan First Nation Summer/Winter Games was initiated in 1974 by Chief Tony Cote and the Council of the Cote First Nation and their membership. They determined that the majority of First Nation youth under the age of 20 were excluded by mainstream sport systems. The inception of the Summer Games was to coincide with the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the signing of Treaty 4.
Over 60 golfers participated in the golf event at the 2022 Games hosted by the James Smith Cree Nation. The golf took place at Dakota Dunes Golf Links.
A recap of the medal winners and links to the complete results can be found here.
North American Indigenous Games (NAIG)
The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council is the International Governing Body for the NAIG exercising exclusive jurisdiction, either directly or through its affiliate members or committees, over all matters pertaining to the Games. It ensures the purposes and philosophies are reflected in all aspects of the games.
The NAIG Council is the principle authority for policy development, rules and regulations for the North American Indigenous Games.
The NAIG Council works in a manner which is consistent with the cultural, spiritual and traditional values of the peoples it is representing. In their activities they promote and encourage holistic individual development that assures mental, physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
To see a recap of the 2023 golf event at NAIG, click here.
Tony Cote Games golf competition wraps up
The two-day golf event at the Tony Cote Games has wrapped up at the Meadow Lake Golf Course.
74 golfers took part in the event across four different age groups, two boy’s groups and two girl’s competitions. The two round event features a two-player scramble format under the Stableford scoring system. Players competing in the boy’s juvenile (under-17) and junior (under-19) age categories play 18 holes; the under-15 and under-13 boy’s age groups play nine holes. The girls, both under-17 and under-19 also play nine holes per day.
The winners of the gold medal in the Under-17/Under-19 boy’s division was Estyn Hyman and Hunter Paskemin. Teigan wapass and Grant Gardiner won the silver medal and Marcus Cameron and Matthew Ryder took home the bronze.
In the under-13/under-15 boy’s category, Keston Gerard and Lebron Thunderchild won the gold. Taking home the silver medal was Chad Robert and Dade Bernatchez, Payton Young and Tyson Naytowhow placed third claiming bronze.
In the under-17/under-19 girl’s competition, Avis Cook and Danica Daniels were the winners, Jayda Thomas and Vanetta Tipewan collected the silver medal and Tori McDonald won bronze. She did not have a partner to compete with and placed third playing her own ball.
The under-13/under-15 division was won by Mya Whitecap and Jennifer Ratt. Caress Bigeagle and Sidonie Pelly are the silver medalists, Aline Head and Chloe Young received the bronze medal.
The Tony Cote Games, formerly known as the Saskatchewan First Nation Games are open to athletes under 20 representing 13 Tribal Councils across the province.
Royal Regina Golf Club headlines 2019 provincial schedule
The men's amateur and mid-amateur championships will be held at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club this week.
Golf Saskatchewan has finalized the logistics to decide the province’s best golfers in 2019.
The provincial championship calendar will be highlighted by the 100th Saskatchewan Senior Men’s Championship at the Royal Reginal Golf Club (RRGC).
Rick Hallberg will look to defend his senior championship at the RRGC from Aug. 6-8. The senior women’s provincial championship will take place at the same time. Jo-Anne Schiller will defend her title in Regina and Jason Mohr will defend his Mid-Masters (40+) division title.
Yorkton’s Kade Johnson will look to defend his men’s amateur title when the 54-hole event lands at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club from July 16-18. The men’s amateur will continue to play with the mid-am field as well. Mike Herperger is the men’s mid-am title holder.
Moon Lake Golf and Country Club will be the host course for the Women’s Amateur Championship, that will run July 3-5. Carla Odnokon is the defending champion.
The junior boys and girls’ championship are going to be hosted by the Evergreen Golf Club in Nipawin. Josh Nagy and Brooklin Fry are the reigning champions. The junior tournaments will take place July 9-11.
Golf Kenosee will be the site of the provincial Mixed Championship on Aug. 24 and 25 and the Lynbrook Golf Club in Moose Jaw will be the venue for the 49th Rosebowl on Aug. 21 and 22.
Golf Saskatchewan will also be involved with the golf tournament at the Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current to be played at the Chinook golf course, the Future Links event being held at Deer Park in Yorkton and the 2019 Tony Cote First Nations Games in Meadow Lake.
Inclusive Golf
Brian Lee
Transgender & Non-binary Individuals
Golf Saskatchewan will continue to add to and develop this area of our programming in 2023.
We want everyone to know, golf is a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for all.
The eligibility language for the 2023 Golf Saskatchewan competitions now includes transgender and non-binary individuals are welcome and encouraged to compete.
In April of 2021, Golf Saskatchewan passed a new set of bylaws with gender neutral language.
Tony Cote Summer Games
The Tony Cote Games were first instituted in 1974 as the Saskatchewan First Nation Winter/Summer Games under the guidance of Chief Tony Cote.
The Games were instilled as a way to include First Nation athletes under the age of 20 into mainstream sports. The 2021 Games were hosted by the James Smith Cree Nation in 2023 after two years of postponements due to COVID-19.
Dakota Dunes Golf Links on the Whitecap First Nation hosted the golf event, for complete details and results click here.
More details on the Tony Cote Games can be found here.
The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council is the International Governing Body for the NAIG exercising exclusive jurisdiction, either directly or through its affiliate members or committees, over all matters pertaining to the Games. It ensures the purposes and philosophies are reflected in all aspects of the games.
The NAIG Council is the principle authority for policy development, rules and regulations for the North American Indigenous Games.
The NAIG Council works in a manner which is consistent with the cultural, spiritual and traditional values of the peoples it is representing. In their activities they promote and encourage holistic individual development that assures mental, physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
For more information on the NAIG Saskatchewan team click here.
Please go to www.naig2023.com and follow NAIG Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts @naig2023 for updates.
About NAIG 2023: The event will be the largest multi-sport and cultural event ever to be held in Atlantic Canada. More than 5,000 athletes, coaches and team staff from 756 Indigenous nations will take part in cultural celebrations, and compete in 16 sports across 21 venues, with the help of 3,000 volunteers. NAIG 2020 was originally due to take place from July 12 to 18, 2020 in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), and Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia and has now been set to take place July 15 to 23, 2023.
About North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council: The NAIG Council is the International Governing Body for NAIG and helps actualize the collective potential of the bodies, minds, and spirit of our people and their hopes and dreams. The Council oversees all matters pertaining to the Games, including the inclusion of purposes and philosophies during the event that are consistent with the cultural, spiritual and traditional values of the peoples represented in the games. In all activities, the Council ensures the promotion and encouragement of holistic, individual development that assures mental, physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
SoloRider
SoloRider delivered to North Battleford
Golf Saskatchewan owns three SoloRider adaptive golf carts. The cart is used for amputees or people with mobility issues, spinal cord injuries or impacted by aging.
The SoloRiders are housed at the Silverwood Golf Course in Saskatoon and the North Battleford Golf and Country Club. Transporting the carts for special events is possible with permission from Golf Saskatchewan.
Investments such as the SoloRider elevate life experiences for persons with SCI and other physical disabilities to achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation.
Adaptive technologies – like the SoloRider – allow persons with SCI and other physical disabilities to stay active within the community, and to continue with activities that may have been enjoyed pre-injury. These adaptive technologies also allow individuals with SCI and other physical disabilities to enjoy new experiences and participate in inclusive activities.
To quote four of our clients regarding different adaptive technologies that allow them to continue to participate in sport and recreation:
“I have been more a social golfer, and this will be helpful for me to go out with people once in a while, hit the ball, and hopefully not lose too much money.” – North Battleford’s Ron Inkster
“It’s a way to be active, doing something I really love with friends and family.” – SCI Sask Client DB
“It’s given me something to wake up and strive for every day.” – SCI Sask Client BL
“I find it easier to hit with one hand compared to two.” – SCI Sask Client KF
Without adaptive technologies, many individuals with SCI and other physical disabilities would not have the opportunities to continue being involved in activities they love.
*SCI – spinal cord injury
Special Olympics
Special Olympics Nipawin Chapter
Special Olympics Saskatchewan has been working with children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability for over fifty years. Special Olympics offers year-round sports programming for over 1,200 athletes in 16 communities across Saskatchewan.
Their Mission: Special Olympics Saskatchewan is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with an intellectual disability through sport.
Their Vision: Our vision is that sport will open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities and create inclusive communities all over the world.
Each year the Nipawin chapter of the organization hosts golf lessons and a year end celebration at the Evergreen Golf Course. You can read more about the events below.
Regina’s Taylor Carter is one of the most decorated Special O golfers in Saskatchewan. He has won a national medal and provides tips through a YouTube channel for his peers.
Gerry Nelson and Chris Villeneuve are the 2023 U.S. Blind Open Golf Championship winners. (Submitted photo/Daryl Wood)
You can still play!
That’s the motto of Blind Golf Canada, the governing body for the sport in the nation. Blind Golf Canada’s mission is to develop and promote competitive golf and sportsmanship for blind and visually impaired golfers.
The International Blind Golf Association has 14 member countries with tournaments hosted across the globe. Canada hosts the Canadian Open Blind Golf Championship twice a year. Canada has also hosted the World Championship on two occasions, Winnipeg, Man. in 2002 and Truro, N.S. in 2012.
Saskatoon’s Gerry Nelson is one of the most accomplished blind golfers in the world. He is president of the national organization and sits on the international board.
To visit the Blind Golf Canada Website click here.
Saskatchewan also has a website devoted to blind sports, to visit their website click here.
Golfers with hearing impairments have opportunities to attend national and world championships.
The Canadian Deaf Sports Association (CDSA) oversees 13 sports including golf. The 2021 Canadian Deaf Golf Championship will be held on July 19-22, 2021 in Lasalle, Manitoba.
Dissolution of the Canadian Deaf Golf Association can be read here.
Golf Saskatchewan aims to promote and encourage a love for golf and being active for all individuals. We hope to enrich people’s lives through empowering an understanding of how to lead healthy, happy lifestyles, both physically and mentally using our great game.
