Yorkton, Sk – The City of Yorkton unveiled a plaque dedicating the Deer Park Clubhouse to mark the completion of the construction project. In January 2022, City Council approved the Deer Park Clubhouse Construction Project with a budget of $7.2 million dollars. The budget included a new build, along with the installation of City water and sewer.
The Old Clubhouse had reached its end of life, as it was the oldest recreation facility in Yorkton. The facility at the time was not accessible, with washrooms being in the basement of the building along with a septic system and no potable drinking water.
Construction of the Deer Park Clubhouse began with the demolition of the Old Clubhouse in April 2022.
The construction work took 14-months to complete. The Pro Shop opened to the public on April 24,, 2023 and the keys to the rest of the building turned over to the City on June 5, 2023 with the Owl’s Nest Restaurant opening on June 20, 2023.
“The opening of our NEW Deer Park Clubhouse brings our city great opportunities moving into the future. City council has been unanimously committed to marketing our city for recreation, tourism & business growth!”, said Mayor Mitch Hippsley. “We are very proud to see this BEAUTIFUL building compliment our BEAUTIFUL golf course. This building has gone “above and beyond”, knowing it will be the talk of the Golfers World for many, many years to come!”
A generous donation was put towards furniture in the Clubhouse, which was made by Concept3 Business Interiors Ltd. and the Glauser Family. Garth Glauser was an avid golfer at Deer Park Golf Course and was a season pass holder for over 40 years. Garth passed away in 2006. Concept3 Business Interiors Ltd. was founded by Garth’s son Larry and his wife, Debra Kirk, and is currently operated by two generations of the Glauser family; Garth’s son Larry and grandson Stephen. As a thank you, the City is pleased to name the patio at the Deer Park Clubhouse “G.G.’s Patio” in memory of Garth “G.G.” Glauser.
City of Yorkton brass excited for clubhouse construction
Clark Stork
The city of Yorkton is committing $7.6 million to construct a new clubhouse for Deer Park Municipal Golf Course.
At the city’s Jan. 31 council meeting the group voted to move ahead with the project that should be completed in time for the 2023 golf season.
Golf Saskatchewan sat down with Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley and Director of Recreation and Community Darcy McLeod to discuss the construction and the excitement of replacing the current building that dates back 60 years.
City of Yorkton makes turn to back-nine on new clubhouse construction
Yorkton's Deer Park Golf Course could have a new clubhouse in two years.
Clark Stork
The City of Yorkton and Deer Park Municipal Golf Course are one step closer to a new clubhouse.
At the city’s council meeting on Monday evening a vote was passed to move the project to tender. Director of Leisure Services Darcy McLeod explained more after council’s decision.
“A budget of $7.2 million was presented, that includes water and sewer, roadway and parking lot asphalt, and asphalt around the clubhouse, landscaping, and the building itself. The total estimated value is that $7.2 million but we want to send it to tender to see what the market tells us this will cost for real,” McLeod told Golf Saskatchewan.
The current clubhouse is nearly 60 years old and well past its lifespan. McLeod said the building simply doesn’t stand up to standards and needs to be replaced.
“It’s been added on to several times, we have washrooms in the basement so if you have a hard time walking you have to go into the basement, wheelchair accessibility is non-existent. You must walk up into the restaurant and bar area as well, the only thing on grade is the pro shop, everything else is stairs with no wheelchair access. That’s the first and foremost biggest thing. Then it’s just an old building in need of a replacement, regardless of whether it’s a golf course or not it’s one of the oldest buildings we have, this is an asset management replacement,” McLeod said.
The plans for the new clubhouse allow for seating up to 100 people with room for another 60 on a covered deck with weather protectants. There will be an open deck much like the current facility does have. Although not heavily investigated there potentially will be other revenue generating possibilities such as events or weddings. The local cross country ski club uses the facility now in the winter.
Once tenders are received the final decision will be back before Yorkton council in January. McLeod said if the construction decision passes the old current clubhouse will be demolished this winter, a temporary trailer and washrooms will be in place for the 2022 golf season and the new building will open in time for the 2023 year.
Yorkton’s Deer Park to host 2024 Saskatchewan Junior Championships
Clark Stork
The 2024 Saskatchewan Junior Golf Championships will be held at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton next July.
Already a busy golf course for competitive junior events in the province including the Maple Leaf Junior Tour and the Canadian Junior Golf Association, Director of Golf Services Allan Sauser said they have noticed an uptake in junior golf in the city and the excitement of hosting the provincials will only help grow the game.
“It is really exciting for us,” Sauser said. “We have seen a strong resurgence with the junior membership this last year. With the Dr. Brass Academy, we have seen some solid golfers playing a little more golf and being affiliated with a school, that’s certainly the right direction for us.”
The 18-hole championship course last hosted a provincial event in 2020 when Sauser and the Deer Park staff took on the task of hosting the Senior Championships on short notice during the pandemic. The last time the under-19 championships were held in the east-central Saskatchewan city was in 2015. A pair of Prince Albert golfers were crowned champions that year with Brooke Hobson and Cory Selander each won in playoffs. Sauser was there for the event, and many others over the years. He said with the addition of the recently built clubhouse the event and course will provide the players with a great week.
“It’s been a few years, so it is exciting. It’s always nice to host a provincial tournament or a national tournament every few years. It’s exciting because people from other areas come to the golf course, also the new clubhouse, it’s also a good opportunity to get some fresh faces in there as well,” Sauser said.
Since the 2020 senior event the course has made some alterations not including the clubhouse. The signature par-3 hole-8 has been redone, still a magnificent par-3, plus the new seventh green will be in play as it was under construction in 2020. Sauser said those improvements simply add to an already fantastic layout at the course.
“Number eight has always been a fantastic hole and it’s hard to believe they could improve on what it was, so it’s turned out to be a great hole. The new green, the other one was flat, this one has more angulation and is definitely trickier. The new holes are definitely making the golf course a little more exciting,” he said.
The 54-hole championships will be held from July 3-5, with practice rounds being played on July 2. New junior champions will be crowned in Yorkton, as defending champions Sarah Armstrong and Luke Cote each graduated to amateurs. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Championships and Rules Alex Schmidt said Deer Park will provide everything needed for a great week of golf.
“Deer Park has always been a great place to visit and play,” she said. “The course is playable from all tees, the staff is always fantastic, and now with that beautiful new clubhouse, a couple hole renovations, I can’t wait to see how everything plays out in July in Yorkton.”
Registration will open on April 15.
Clubhouse progress continues at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course
Progress continues on a new clbhouse at Yorkton's Deer Park Golf Course. (Yorkton Parks and Recreation/Facebook)
The city released a time-lapse video updating residents and their followers on the progress of the $7.6 million facility. Since the demolition of the 60-year-old structure crews have been at the site. Operations of the course in 2022 were conducted out of a double-wide Atco trailer. Yorkton Director Recreation & Community Services Darcy McLeod said the patrons at the course this season were very understanding.
Our golfers were awesome, they know what they are going to get I think,” McLeod said to Golf Saskatchewan on Thursday. “They were really good, we were all super pleased with the cooperation from everybody that came out golfing, it was really good.”
(Yorkton Parks and Recreation/Facebook)
The weather didn’t cooperate at the start of the construction, that forced a backlog on various contractors and some mild confusion at the course, but McLeod said everything is now on track.
“It’s not completely sheeted in, there is some areas exposed to the elements in some areas. It’s almost sheeted in, the roof is almost complete, all the framing is up inside, it’s almost framed in then they can get some heat going and get inside,” McLeod explained.
The city expects to be welcoming golfers at the clubhouse in May.
2022’s top golf moments in Saskatchewan
Clark Stork
Every year golf provides amazing moments and memories with Saskatchewan being no different.
Despite our somewhat short season the sport had it’s share of remarkable recognitions courtesy of the game.
Here’s a look back on the top-10 stories of 2022 based on readership/viewership
City of Yorkton brass excited for clubhouse construction
The city of Yorkton is committing $7.6 million to construct a new clubhouse for Deer Park Municipal Golf Course.
Amateur Championships begin Tuesday at Cooke Municipal
A jam-packed field of the province’s best amateur golfers will converge on Prince Albert’s Cooke Municipal Golf Course this week for the Saskatchewan Amateur Championships.
Stu’s Indoor Golf adds recreational benefits for entire region
With a young family including three boys the Stupak family is hoping an indoor golf facility will grow golf and play a role in more recreational family-friendly options for Warman, Martensville, and the area.
For Cole Jenkins, the thought of playing college sports has always been a dream but the Prince Albert product didn’t know what sport could lead him to his goal once high school was complete.
Coming off a record season of golf in Saskatchewan many are wondering how they can keep their game up or even improve their skills while the province is blanketed with winter.
Thankfully the province has an abundance of indoor facilities with top-of-the-line simulators to cure what ails hardcore players who want to keep swinging the clubs. First Tee owner and PGA of Canada professional Garret McMillan has told Golf Saskatchewan in the past that playing all year has several benefits if you choose to take your game indoors.
“The winter time is the perfect time to making changes especially if you want to commit to making big pattern changes,” he said. “There’s really no consequence, if you shoot a high number inside it’s easier on the ego than inside. You can really develop a new pattern over the winter and not be overly concerned about the consequence side of it. If you develop your pattern properly over the winter by the time you get to the course you hopefully have new shots in the bag you can roll with.”
If you are interested in playing more indoor golf this winter, there are locations with varying numbers of simulators and brands in no particular order.
Divots Indoor Golf – Regina | Seven simulators, 80 courses, men’s, ladies, and senior leagues
Nutrien Sportsplex – Moosomin | Four simulators, 100 courses, different leagues (men’s, ladies, snowbird, and yacht club), several other simulated sports options
First Tee – Regina | 10 simulators, 80 courses, men’s league
Aspen Links Golf Course – Emerald Park | Four simulators, 100 + courses, ladies and men’s nights
Golf YXE – Saskatoon | Five simulators, various leagues, and ladies/men’s nights
The Sweet Spot – Moose Jaw | Four simulators, 90 courses, various leagues four days of the week
Humboldt Golf Club – Humboldt | Two simulators, 95 courses, three 8-week leagues
Let’s Golf – Lloydminster | Four simulators, 27 courses, men’s, ladies, and couples’ leagues
*Information on locations is from web sources, if any errors or misinformation on facilities Golf Saskatchewan apologizes and will make corrections. Email cstork@golfsk.org if updates need to be made or if we missed any indoor facilities.
After three decades Happy’s Golf Car Sales and Service changes owners
Clark Stork
With what started as a side venture to assist a friend and subsidize farming transitioned to three decades of the Happy’s Golf Car Sales and Service serving the golf industry in Saskatchewan and beyond. In a Facebook post this week, Marie Happy announced she has sold the business to Wynyard NAPA and will retire.
Marie and her husband Don officially started the cart retail and service business in 1992, again as a side job along with farming but as their business grew farming was no longer possible and in 1998, they relocated to a property near Good Spirit north of Yorkton for its centralized location. Marie said as their business grew they watched courses such as Green Acres in Balgonie, the Wynyard Golf Club, Sherwood Forest, Flowing Springs and others develop as well over the years.
“We watched them blossom, some started with basically four cars in their fleets. These courses have grown to large fleets and new clubhouses. They have really blossomed over the years,” she said.
Don was highly regarded as a golf car mechanic and word travelled far and wide. Marie said in the founding days of the business he was on the road a lot paving his way to find work as well as customers that became vey loyal over the 30 years of their operation.
“That’s what really got our name out there,” Marie added. “Everyone recognized Don’s truck and he was at the regular courses we had fleets at or sold fleets to. He was there once every couple weeks kind of thing and when he was there they always said it was like someone threw fresh meat out because the flies just flocked, the customers would just show up.”
Over the years Marie said she got quite good at stocking Don’s truck with parts and items regular customers needed allowing him to do the work people required. She said clients from as far as Ontario would bring work to them. One gentleman transported a torn apart cart engine all the way to Saskatchewan to have Don rebuilt it for his cart. They serviced Manitoba regularly plus Alberta clients with Yorkton ties.
After Don passed away in 2018 Marie admitted she couldn’t just step away, their clients relied on them. Despite not having a mechanic anymore she continued with the business for three more years.
“I had become pretty good at diagnosing over the phone in a lot of cases,” she chuckled. “I followed Don around a lot as a gopher, so I was able to pick up on a lot of things. I just didn’t want to leave our customers empty handed; they had relied on us for 30 years.”
Aside from watching courses grow and develop into community hubs and meeting places Marie said they watched the overall sport develop from a white-collar senior based crowd into a game for everyone to enjoy, especially families taking up the game.
“When we started it was the well-established senior retirees kind of thing more so than the everyday working class, at least that’s what it seemed like from our perspective. Then it grew after that especially in the rural courses, it was the families and junior golf has really taken off,” she added.
As mentioned, Wynyard NAPA will take over the business and Marie will take time to herself likely devoting much of that to her two grandchildren and her daughter’s family. She said she hopes to find more time to golf now as well. She did want to send a message to their devoted clients over the 30 years of Happy’s.
“I just want to say thank you for the loyalty that everyone gave us over the years. It was really overwhelming that people kept coming,” she concluded.
Wynyard Golf Club, Co-operative Place the envy of the region
Clark Stork
The town of Wynyard has a marquee multi-purpose sports facility which is the envy of the region between Yorkton and Humboldt, fortunately for the community along Highway 16, their nine hole golf course is a huge benefactor.
Costing over $8 million the town raised the money themselves without government funding and residents have reaped the rewards since.
Golf Saskatchewan sat down with Co-operative Place Clubhouse Manager Angie Madigan and Superintendent Dale Johnston to discuss the facility and course they call their own.
Men’s OMT schedule set
Danny Klughart (right) is the reigning Men's OMT champion.
The 2020 Men’s Order of Merit schedule has been finalized.
This year’s tour includes 15 events at 14 different courses across Saskatchewan. Prince Albert’s Danny Klughart was the runaway winner last year collecting four championships and almost 3,600 Order of Merit (OMT) points.
Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Championships Steve Ryde said the competitors will see a great mix of challenges and amenities at all the stops.
“We’re very happy to partner with courses across the Saskatchewan for the 15 events this year,” he said. “Every course has their own intrigue and highlights plus the overall experiences from tee to clubhouse and post round meals will all be part of a memorable 2020 season.”
The Regina Dental Group Men’s City Amateur in Regina kicks off the year on May 23 and 24. Tor Hill will play host to round one, the Wascana Country Club is the site of the second round.
The Legends in Warman will have their annual 2 Man Scramble the same weekend.
On May 30 – 31 the Evergreen Golf Course in Nipawin will see the province’s best amateurs and pros for the Scotia Wealth Open.
The fabled Lobstick at Waskesiu takes place from June 8 -13.
Weyburn’s “Crocus” Men’s Open will be played at the city’s golf club on June 13 and 14.
Tor Hill is back on the schedule for June 20 and 21 for the Saskatchewan Publinx Championship. Saskatoon’s Reliance Gregg’s Central Amateur will take over the Golf & Country Club from June 27 – 29.
The Scotia Wealth Management Saskatoon Amateur Championship on July 4 and 5 will be played at Dakota Dunes Golf Links and Riverside Country Club.
The Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships return the Legends in Warman for the third time and first since 2016. The am will be a 72-hole tournament running from July 21 – 24, the mid-am will begin on the 21st and conclude on July 23.
The Men’s Northern in Prince Albert at the Cooke Municipal is slated for Aug. 1 – 3. Estevan’s TS&M Woodlawn FrameTech Classic will be played at the same time.
On Aug. 7 – 9 Deer Park in Yorkton will host the Mark’s Blue Owl Men’s Open.
Wrapping up the schedule on the weekend of Aug. 15 and 16 is the North Battleford Auto Dealers NW Amateur at the North Battleford Golf Course and the annual Moose Mountain Classic at Golf Kenosee.
All the details regarding all the OMT’s can be found here.
