Kim Brown is the 2018 champion in the women’s Order of Merit (OMT) standings.

The Saskatoon golfer played four OMT events this past season collecting 2,025 points to claim the title. The Saskatchewan public player held off Lorie Boyle and won by 175 points. She said the OMT championship isn’t her main reason for playing on the tour, but the win is significant to her.

“It’s a nice thing for Golf Saskatchewan to have and recognize participation of players in Saskatchewan. It may not be top of mind I think it’s a really nice gesture and something nice to have,” Brown said.

She started her season with a win at the Prince Albert Ladies’ Northern. Brown was also victorious at the Ladies’ Lobstick in Waskesiu. She said those two events are staples on her summer schedule. She said having her family, including her three-year-old son attend the tournaments with her is special.

“He doesn’t understand anything, he just wants to run on the green and say hi to mom,” she laughed. “We had a nice summer. I’m from Prince Albert so I go back and play that tournament every year and Waskesiu is really close to my heart. I love playing in the Lobstick, I like the match play format so those are two I get to every year.”

Brown collected 500 OMT points for the Prince Albert win, the Lobstick was worth 750. She played in the Saskatoon Ladies’ Open and placed eighth picking up 175 points, her fourth-place finish at the provincial championship earned her 600 points. Brown qualified to attend the Canadian Amateur Women’s Championship, but her schedule didn’t allow her to participate. She said looking to next year she hopes to take another swing at qualifying for the national tournament.

“I would love to play in provincials again and if it’s possible I would go to nationals. I definitely check out the dates and look forward to finding out whether I’m able to play in those or not. I consider it every single year and next year will be no different,” she said.

You can see the complete women’s OMT standing here.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg entered the 2018 golf season with a list of goals and the Golf Kenosee player accomplished what he set out to do.

Hallberg is fresh of a 22^nd place finish at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in New Brunswick, plus he is the Saskatchewan senior men’s Order of Merit (OMT) champion for 2018. Hallberg said the OMT win is a nice touch to end a strong season.

“It’s nice to win that yeah, that was a goal of mine was to finish well in the OMT and make the senior team and get to nationals,” Hallberg said.

During the national championship Hallberg was as high as fifth on the leaderboard but dropped down to the 22^nd spot at the end of the event in Bathurst. One hole cost Hallberg several positions on the leaderboard but he was still happy with his placing. He said overall, he feels he can play with the best seniors in Canada.

“Once I got going out there I was playing well and sticking right with those guys. It gives a guy hope for next year that if I go out there and get it going I could win it,” he said.

Hallberg won the Saskatchewan tour with 2,550 points, 450 more than Golf Kenosee counterpart Paul Grimes. Hallberg gathered 600 points for a second-place finish at the Auto Clearing Senior Men’s Championship, he placed seventh at the Senior Publinx which earned him 200 points. He won the Mercator Financial South West Senior Men’s Championship which was worth 750 points and he picked up 1,000 points for winning the Saskatchewan Senior Men’s Championship on his home course in Kenosee.

After taking a couple years off competitive golf Hallberg said he will look to build off this season and try to improve on his results.

“I definitely want to play lots next summer too and get back to the senior nationals and maybe even take a crack at the mid-amateur nationals next year. I passed up going to the mid-am this year to caddy in the CP Women’s Open but that was another awesome experience,” he said.

You can see the complete OMT standings for the senior men here.

Another championship season has ended for Golf Saskatchewan and the province.

Year in and year out our provincial championships require endless hours of assistance beyond the staff, that’s where our volunteers step up to ensure top quality events across Saskatchewan. Without volunteers, sponsors, and the media telling the stories of our talented golfers none of this would be possible.

On Sept. 16, Golf Saskatchewan held their volunteer, sponsor, and media appreciation day at Harbor Golf Club and Resort in Elbow. The course was the host venue for the 100^th amateur women’s championship and senior women’s provincials earlier this season. Our year essentially launched at the fantastic 18-hole facility on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker and concluded at the same venue with the appreciation day and board meetings.

During the wind-up banquet, long-time volunteer Richard Smith (above) was recognized for his exemplary service to the organization.

From all of us within the province’s governing body of the greatest social game on earth, we say thank you to everyone that gives back and we will see you next summer.

The Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame will induct three individuals and a couple teams on Saturday including Otto Huber, a blind golfing phenom.

A hunting accident took the eyesight of the Lipton, Saskatchewan product. Prior to the incident he wasn’t an avid golfer, but he took up the game in his 30’s after meeting a local professional. Huber said he knew he had to continue to be active despite being blind.

“I think I took it up because I was a very active individual and I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for the snow to drop. I had my frustrations, you hit a little ball into the bush, find it or hit another into a hole. It didn’t make much sense, and it was silly,” he joked.

Huber turned out be one of the best golfers in the province winning the provincial blind golfers’ tournament seven times. He was also an advocate for blind athletes organizing tournaments and events while being the president of the western division of the Canadian Blind Golfers Association. He said adding a Hall of Fame induction to his resume is special.

“I’m excited, it’s unreal, I’m so honoured to be inducted,” he said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Huber competed in Britain, Japan, and across the United States during his decorated career. Despite his endless achievements Huber said he always had an out clause for bad shots.

“It was frustrating to not have the ball go to where you want it to go, but I have one advantage. I could just look at my coach,” Huber laughed.

Huber, Dean Brown, Kirk McGregor and the 1985 and 1990 Saskatchewan Senior Women’s teams will be inducted at the Royal Regina Golf Club on Sept. 22. Tickets for the banquet are available here until 12 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20.

Melville’s Chloe Sies has wasted no time picking up her first collegiate golf tournament victory.

Sies, 19, was the co-winner of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s North Regional on Sunday in Lac La Biche. Sies, who attends Red Deer College tied with Becky Martin at plus-23 for the win at the Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club. She said winning her first college tournament is a great feeling.

“Honestly, it’s surreal right now,” Sies told Golf Saskatchewan on Monday. “I texted my mom this morning and said can you believe, it was my first start, my first win? It’s so crazy, I can’t believe I actually did that though.”

Conditions at the northern Alberta course were less than ideal. Snow blanketed the area leading up to the practice round on Friday. Sies said the snow melted off in time to play on the weekend. She shot 18-over, 90 during round one but responded with a 5-over, 77 during the second round to tie on top of the leaderboard. Sies said she battled the elements and focused on her own play.

“It was cold, it was windy, it was raining, there was sleet, it wasn’t a fun tournament to play but I took the conditions as they were and played my own game,” she said.

Martin and Sies didn’t have a playoff, the tournament officials determined to leave the event with co-winners. She said winning her first event could set the table for a great first year in Alberta. Sies will compete in another three tournaments this season culminating with the national championship in Medicine Hat in October. She said the expectations are high for her and her teammates.

“I’m hoping so, we have a strong team with both men and women, we’re hoping to go all the way,” she said.

Next up is an ACAC event in Edmonton, Red Deer will host provincials followed by the national event.

DECISION 15/5 – Original Ball Found and Played After Another Ball Put into Play

QUESTION: Dave was unable to find his ball after a brief search, he drops another ball (Ball B) under Rule 27-1 and plays it (not where he previously played from). Dave then finds his original ball within five minutes after a search for it began. Dave lifted Ball B and continued to play with the original ball. Was this correct?

ANSWER: No. When Dave put the substituted ball into play at the spot of the previous stroke with the intent to play a ball under Rule 27-1, he proceeded under an applicable rule. Therefore, rule 20-6 does not apply (known as the eraser rule allowing the player to pick up his ball and proceed correctly), and he must continue with the substituted ball (see Decision 27-1/2). The original ball was lost when Ball B was dropped under rule 27-1 (see Definition of “Lost Ball”).

When Dave lifted Ball B, he incurred a penalty of one stroke under rule 18-2. When he made a stroke with the original ball after it was out of play, he played a wrong ball (see Definitions of “Ball in Play” and “Wrong Ball”) and incurred a penalty of loss of hole in match play or an additional penalty of two strokes in stroke play (Rule 15-3). In stroke play, the player would be disqualified if, before playing from the next teeing ground, he did not correct his error (rule 15-3b).

Although this decision seems hard to believe, it happens almost every week in recreational play. Remember, playing under the rules doesn’t take more time but it will save you a few strokes in the long run.

Recovering from hip surgery, Kirk McGregor jokingly attributes 500,000 “bad swings” to the issues but honestly the long-time golfer likely hit more fairways than hazards during his decades old career.

McGregor will be honoured for his golf career on Sept. 22 when he’s inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame at his home course, the Royal Regina Golf Club, McGregor has played out of the club for 40 years. He said he had to work hard for low scores during his competitive career.

“I was more than a grinder than a skilled player. I don’t mind that at all, that’s what I was,” McGregor said. I’ve had a wonderful life of golf and I’m thankful for it.”

He said it all started at the Wascana Country Club where his mother purchased him a membership in his early years. A junior golf highlight was playing at Winnipeg’s St. Charles Country Club when he was 15-years-old. He said experiences growing up were key contributors in his life on and off the course.

“My golf experiences, the events and championships have influences on you but there’s also life skills. As I said, I was just blessed by having these kinds of opportunities.”

He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Otto Huber, a blind golf phenom, Regina’s Dean Brown, and the 1985 and 1990 Saskatchewan senior women’s teams. He said it’s special to be enshrined with the 2018 class as well as joining the other inductees.

“It’s a huge honour to join legends like Jim Scissons, Joanne Goulet, and Doug Mader in the Hall, it’s a wonderful experience. To have it at the Royal Regina where I spent the last 40 years is great,” he said.

McGregor will have friends and close friends at the induction gala later this month. Through the presentation ceremony we will learn more about his career. Putting aside the stats and accomplishments, McGregor said he wants to be remembered for his outlook on the game.

“Winning and doing well is fun and nice but it’s temporary,” he said. “I just want people to think I was good to play with and that I am a good guy.”

Tickets for the gala are still available by calling 306.975.0850 or online.

The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders have their first tournament win of the season in NCAA Division II golf.

Saskatoon’s Timmerman carded a 54-hole total of 204, 12-under at the GAC Preview in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Timmerman shot an opening round of 67, his second round, played on the same day was even better at 6-under, 66. The final round was played Sept. 11, Timmerman carded a 1-under, 71 to place second overall. Yorkton’s Kade Johnson was third at 11-under for the event. The reigning Saskatchewan Amateur Champion fired back-to-back 69’s during rounds one and two. Johnson shot 67 during the final round to finish at 205.

As a team, the Muleriders shot a course record total of 35-under par, three strokes lower than SE Oklahoma who finished second in the eight-team tournament.

Johnson and Timmerman will be in Monkey Island, Okla. on Sept. 24 and 25 for the Missouri Southern Fall Invitational in their next competition.

“Where Champions Are Crowned”

Although it’s the marketing tagline for Duncan Meadows Golf Course on Vancouver Island, site of the recent men’s Canadian Amateur Championship, it could be adopted by any of the scores of courses across Canada that play host each year to provincial and national championships.

Ming Hui, owner of Duncan Meadows, says the course hosted its first event, the B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship, in 1999. Since then, the course and its members have welcomed a veritable spectrum of tournaments: provincial junior and amateur championships, Future Links events, the Canadian University/College Championship, the Canadian Women’s Tour, and even an American Junior Golf Association tournament where, says Hui, a young Paula Creamer set the women’s competitive course record before heading off to LPGA Tour stardom.

“The overall experience is fabulous,” Hui says. “Although the members have to give up their course for a few days, it’s a positive experience for everyone. It’s good for our course because it gives us exposure and visibility and it’s good for the game overall.”

At any given time, Golf Canada is in contact with hundreds of courses in order to secure sites over the next three to five years for the 30 or so tournaments they conduct each year, says Adam Helmer, Golf Canada’s director of rules, competitions and amateur status.

“Lots of advance notice and excellent communication is key,” he says. “Once a course hosts an event, they realize it is a positive and lasting experience for all concerned. Some courses want to showcase major changes, celebrate a significant anniversary or get more recognition. Others may target a specific championship because they have strong players in that category and it never hurts to have local knowledge.”

Phil Berube, executive director and CEO of Alberta Golf, agrees. “We are very fortunate in that many clubs in Alberta see this as an opportunity to showcase their facility and demonstrate good will for the golf community.” He says the key is a “partnership” between the golf association, the members and staff of the host club, and the players themselves.

Finding the appropriate number and type of facility is a formidable task for Golf Canada and the provincial associations. Although smaller provinces conduct a relative handful of competitions, Ontario runs more than 50 qualifying events and two dozen championships.

“It’s a very compact season and it’s difficult to schedule them all in during Ontario’s short summer,” says Rob Watson, Golf Ontario’s coordinator of next generation and competitions.

Some provincial associations offer nominal remuneration to host clubs and that has made the experience more palatable for some courses, but there’s much more to the equation. While British Columbia, for example, does so, the association “works with host clubs to help them understand the local economic impact of hosting an event as well as revenue opportunities for food and beverage as well as local sponsorship,” according to Kris Jonasson, CEO of British Columbia Golf.

Golf Canada, says Helmer, is working toward a new hosting model that would leave behind a “lasting legacy” commemorating their contribution to the game. That legacy could include donating Golf In Schools kits to local schools or some other support for growing the game locally.

One of the most memorable events during my 30 years at my club was when I volunteered last year for a Future Links tournament that had a Special Olympics component. We have hosted a men’s Ontario Amateur and some other events over the years and, with our centennial coming in 2019, our club is pursuing another significant championship. An unspoken motivation could be that we’ve got a very good golf course that we’re sick of being referred to as a “hidden gem.”

No matter what your motivation, reach out to your provincial association or Golf Canada to see what’s involved in hosting an event.

If for nothing else, do it for golf.

Most golfers with a knack for the game are on their local course in early school aged days, Regina’s Dean Brown considers himself a “late bloomer.”

Brown, 46, didn’t take up the game on a regular basis until he was nearing his teenage years when he started playing at a par-3 course in the Queen City. By 15 he joined the junior program at the Royal Regina Golf Club and hasn’t looked back. Brown, the general manager of the Royal Regina will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame later this month. He said the honour wasn’t expected.

“When I got the call I was shocked,” Brown told Golf Saskatchewan. “I always thought something like this is for people that are winding down their career. I feel like I have more left.”

Brown likely does have more to be accomplished being in just the mid-40’s. He’s played many professional events during his career across several tours. He was a member of the 1995 Willingdon Cup team. He’s also an eight-time PGA Saskatchewan Zone Champion and the Assistants’ Champion nine times between 2001 and 2018. Most recently he was able to take part in a Pro-Am at the CP Women’s Open in his home city. He said he hopes to be thought of as more than one of the province’s best professional calibre golfers.

“I hope people remember me as a good golf professional, a good coach. I want them to remember me for what I gave back to the game,” he said.

Brown attended university in the southern United States on a golf scholarship before returning to Regina to work at the Royal Regina. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Royal Regina member Kirk McGregor. He said the group including Otto Huber, McGregor, and both the 1985 and 1990 Saskatchewan Senior Women’s teams is an honour to be a part of.

“I’ve known Kirk for years being a member at the Royal Regina, Otto’s accomplishments are exceptional, and the women were great for golf in the province. I never would put myself in their or the current inductees in class,” he said.

You will be able to learn much more about Brown’s career and the rest of the inductees at the gala on Sept. 22 at the Royal Regina. You can purchase tickets by calling 306.975.0850 or online.