For over four decades Ross Ethier has poured his life’s work into the Emma Lake Golf Course, the now 60-year-old is starting to visualize life without the course that’s been in the Ethier family since 1979.

Ray Ethier purchased the then nine-hole course when Ross was just 16 years old. According to Ross, the purchase for his golf-fan father was a place for him and his two brothers to work in the summer and then go to university in the winter. He stuck with the course; his two siblings went off on different career paths.

 The course was built in the 1960’s by Paul and Peter Kachur and opened in 1967. Ethier described the course as “swampy” with “two-by-12’s” running everywhere so you could walk. They started with drainage, updated the irrigation system in 1987, automated the system in 1990 and in 1995 the process of constructing the back nine began.

“I had an ariel photograph and I plotted it out with a compass,” Ethier said. “I walked through the bush followed by a cat, that’s how I cleared because it was solid bush. I knew what I wanted; we started off with a trail down the middle. At this time Weyerhaeuser was still open, they had to buy our wood, so this guy came out, cut it for the cost of the wood, he just kept going until I liked what I had.”

The one wish Ray had in the design was that the ninth and 18^th hole must meet back at the clubhouse eliminating the need for a snack shack on the course. Ethier said he was able to appease his father, but the work essentially doubled at the club.

“Equipment wise needs, golf carts, staffing, now we have 10 guys cutting grass. We have 25 staff, the service part, the restaurant isn’t a huge profitable thing but it’s something you need to provide,” he added.

One section of the labour force at Emma Lake is the grounds crew and marshals. Ethier said a steady group of guys will “marshal” and play golf the next. One of those men was David “Shorty” Hryhor who unfortunately passed away in 2016. To this day players teeing it up on hole one at the course will see the initials S-H written in a dollar sign format in the grass remembering Hryhor.

“He was wonderful character, everyone loved that guy,” Ethier said. “Just such a lovable guy and it was a bad shock.”

Ethier admits he’s spent a long time learning about the golf industry especially the turf care aspect. Aside from the constant changes of technology and the world Ethier has turned his focus over recent years in lengthening the course. Although popular and busy most years a familiar term continued to leave Ethier in the rough, that being that Emma Lake is a “nice little golf course.”

“There are so many courses around that never change anything, they maintain, may improve a tee box or something, but when you’re adding yards, and updating greens, the length change and expansion that way, nobody else is doing that. I guess for good reason those courses feel they don’t need to, but people get bored with the same course,” Ethier said.

The course has seen 100 yards added to holes three, five, seven, and eight. They have added 50 yards to hole six and hole 17 is now close to 560 yards. Bunkers have also been added to a couple 300-yard holes for some added difficulty.

As Ethier ponders what’s next with the course being open to a sale in the right situation he said their two tournaments that they host and support the Victoria Hospital Foundation in Prince Albert.

The four-person best ball event held in July raised $37,000 for the foundation this year. The annual Ray Ethier Tournament (a two-person event) is held every fall. Between the two tournaments Ethier said over $500,000 has been raised for the foundation.

“I want to be comparable; I want to be competitive,” he said. “The greens, the conditions, we do as good as job as anybody, we have a great layout, you never have the same shot twice, I tried to make you use every club in the bag, I hope I succeeded,” he concluded.

It’s set to be an exciting week at the Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg for the PGA Tour Canada stop.

The qualifier on Monday went extremely well for two Saskatchewan professionals. Yorkton’s Kade Johnson shot the low round of the day with a 66 at Southwood to secure a spot in the Manitoba Open.

This will be Johnson’s first PGA Tour Canada event since the Elk Ridge Open which he also qualified for on the Monday ahead of the tournament at Waskesiu Golf Course. That event was cancelled due to heavy rain, the last full event the 2018 Saskatchewan amateur men’s champion played in was the ATB Classic presented by Volvo Edmonton in June.

Joining Johnson in the field is two-time reigning Saskatchewan amateur champion Roman Timmerman. The Saskatoon product earned an exemption into the Elk Ridge Open however he as entered as an amateur. Timmerman concluded his amateur career at the Canadian Championship in Vancouver earlier this month, he is now competing as a professional and making his debut in Winnipeg after winning a playoff Monday securing the final qualifying spot in the championship that begins Thursday.

For more on the Manitoba Open click here.

The long awaited first round of the golf competition at the 2022 Canada Games will begin Wednesday at Legends on the Niagara in Ontario.

Regina’s Hallie Crozier will be the first Saskatchewan player on the Battlefield course starting her opening round at 7:30 a.m. local (SK) time. Ella Kozak of Yorkton begins her first round 10 minutes behind Crozier on hole 10.

Hunter Kutcher will start his Canada Games at 7:40 a.m. Darien Herlick will be a group behind his Royal Regina Golf Club counterpart at 7:50 a.m.

The championship is a four-day, 72-hole tournament with no cut. The boys competition will be played at just over 6,800 yards. The girls event will be contested with a yardage of just under 5,900.

There is a provincial competition combined with the individual championships. Teams will count the lowest score from each gender each round and post a combined score. The tournament is slated to end Saturday but a weather delay day is available on Sunday if necessary.

Practice rounds continue today. Coverage of the final two rounds will be streamed online, to watch the golf coverage click here.

For complete details for the event, visit the Games Golf Genius page.

There were several events across Saskatchewan this past weekend as the 2022 Order of Merit Tours (OMT) wind down.

The Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) made a stop at Elk Ridge Golf Resort on Aug. 13 -14 for the Golf Saskatchewan OOM Series.

Grace Odnokon was the winner of the under-15 girl’s division, and overall winner with a 36-hole score of 169 (82, 87). Chloe Wills of Kyle was six shots back in second, Sarah Henderson rounded out the top-three in the age group with a score of 176.

Edmonton’s Julianne Burlet of Edmonton won the 15-19 girls’ category with a score of 187.

Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte was the lowest shooter in the peewee boy’s category with a two-day score of 160 (76, 84). Saskatoon’s Lucas Sturgeon was second just a stroke behind, Swift Current’s Matty Schmeiss was third at 164.

The bantam boy’s division was a tight contest with three players tied at 162 through 36 holes. Saskatoon’s Ryan Mosher made par on the first playoff hole to edge Bridge City counterparts Aricin Franklin and Brady Guenther.

Warman’s Dane Giesbrecht continues his strong season with another win in the juvenile boy’s age group. The Legends Golf Club member shot rounds of 72 and 76 on route to a one-shot win Jordan Heller of Regina. Carter Degelman of Saskatoon picked up a third-place finish with a 36-hole score of 153.

Reigning Saskatchewan junior champion Chase Pochylko was the boys overall winner with a score of 142 thanks to rounds of 70 and 72. Assiniboia golfer Davin Karst pushed Pochylko to edge falling a shot short. Carter Bell of Saskatoon was third at 146.

The complete results can be found here.

The MJT Mini-Tour was in Elk Ridge as well on Saturday, Aug. 13. To see the results from the one-day event played alongside the junior event click here.

In North Battleford at the Golf and Country Club the Auto Dealers Northwest Amateur took place over two days. The team of Tim Acaster and Wyatt Kasokeo were the winners with a score of 127 (62, 65). Danny Klughart and Cory Selander were three shots back in second place. Justin Wood and Jehremy Ryde were third at 128 (65, 63).

More scores can be seen here.

In Kenosee Lake the annual Moose Mountain Classic took place with women’s, senior, and men’s divisions.

Abra Thompson is the 2022 ladies champion after posting a 36-hole score of 165 (85, 80) at Golf Kenosee on the weekend. Shelly Big Eagle was second with a score of 167 (83, 84), and Sandy Marsellus rounded out the top-three with a two-day score of 169 (79, 90).

The complete results can be seen here.

Golf Kenosee member Paul Grimes won the senior men’s championship thanks to a steady 1-over par, 145 on the weekend. Ken Appell was second eight shots behind Grimes. Tom Dodd was third at 156 (76, 80).

The senior results can be found here.

In the men’s division another local claimed the win. Wawota’s Theoren West picks up his first win outside of juniors. West played well on both days and ousted the field by six strokes. With a 69 on day one and a 68 in the final round West was half a dozen shots ahead of Carson Harcourt. Jace Carlisle was third at 144 (71, 73).

The complete men’s results can be seen here.

The OMT standings will be updated as soon as possible.

This week the Coca-Cola Junior Lobstick is underway in Waskesiu. The Senior Men’s Northern runs this week as well at Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert.

Created by Golf Canada, the national amateur golf governing body, the ‘Hole-in-one Report’ takes a look inside the stories of the memorable shots that create moments that stand with players forever.

Congratulations to everyone who has joined, or added to the hole-in-one club!

Hanif Hemani – Saskatoon Golf & Country Club | Hole 15, PAR 3, 185 yards

“It was men’s night at SGCC, and hole 15 is a bear of a par 3. It also happened to be a closest to the pin hole. 

Unbeknownst to me, the sign for ‘KP’ was about one foot directly in front of the hole (on line with tee box). The group directly in front noticed this, and suggested “what if someone could have got a hole in one, but the KP sign obstructed in?”.. So they took the liberty to moving it the same length (1 foot), beside the hole…and sure enough I hit a clean 4 iron and it rolled in…likely on the path that the KP sign was obstructing… So.. good lesson for all…the team ahead was obviously also quite excited – by their foresight!”

Arnold Shaw – Holiday Park Golf Course | Hole 2, PAR 3, 105 yards

“I was playing with the Senior Golf Club and hit a wedge on the second hole. The ball bounced once and landed in the hole. I bought beer for my friends after the round.”

Glenn Hoffman – Murray Municipal Golf Course | Hole 7, PAR 3, 198 yards

“I was playing men’s night with my usual group of Mike Merk, Donny Mah, and Scott Manz. The wind was left to right at 30 kilometres an hour. I hit a 4 Hybrid, it landed about 6 feet in front of pin, one hoped and went in!”

Nancy Forrester – Elmwood Golf Course | Hole 2, PAR 3, 112 yards

“My husband Glenn and our friends Tom & Bernice Ross, were out golfing celebrating July 1 as we have often done. My tee shot, flew straight to the hole landed about 10 feet away and we all watched as it slowly tracked to the hole. This was my second hole in one as I previously had one on July 26, 2010 on the 8th hole at Elmwood, needless to say I was ecstatic! We golfed with this same couple a few years ago when Tom got a hole in one on our 8th hole.

It was a great day out with friends celebrating July 1, 2022!”

Another scramble tournament in Saskatchewan and another big winner with a hole-in-one.

At the Ultimate Ace event in at the Wynyard Golf Club on Saturday, Karen Anderson put a one on her card on hole six and also cashed in a cheque for $30,000.

Anderson talked to Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork about the shot and winning the prize sponsored by Midway Ambulance.

The winners of the tournament were Bob Reynolds, Phil Johnson [who also recorded a big money ace this summer], Kent McMann, and Jim Anderson who are pictured left to right below.

Saskatchewan’s eight players have returned to the province following the 117th Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship in Vancouver, B.C. last week.

The top placing local was Saskatoon’s Marc Sweeney who shot 4-over par, 288 over 72 holes at two different golf clubs. The Riverside Country Club member started with a sizzling 68 in round one at Point Grey Golf and Country Club setting himself up for a solid second round of 73 at the Seymour Golf & Country Club. The 24-year-old ended up tied for 38th at the championship.

He spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork on Monday recapping the week.

Roman Timmerman of Saskatoon was the only other Saskatchewan player to make the cut finishing in a tie for 81st.

Ochitwa competed in his first national event at the Canadian Amateur Championship. He also spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about the week and his breakout year on the amateur circuit in the province.

The trio of Timmerman, Alex Swinnerton, and Brett Henry (pictured below) made up Team Saskatchewan in the Willingdon Cup race, the group placed seventh at 17-over par. Quebec won the inter-provincial event with a score of 3-under par.

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship wrapped up in Ottawa, Ontario on July 29 with Yorkton’s Ella Kozak being the top local placing 47th overall.

Kozak, 16, carded rounds 77, 76, 79, and 77 for a 72-hole score of 21-overpar, 309. Prior to competing at the Canadian event Kozak travelled to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the United States Junior Girls Championship where she missed the cut by just two strokes.

Kozak chatted with Golf Saskatchewan to recap a busy month leading up to the Canada Summer Games in Niagara later this month.

Kyle’s Chloe Wills also competed in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship as well, her first national event.

Wills missed the cut in her national debut shooting 53-over par. She also spoke to Golf Saskatchewan about the experience and potential for more opportunities.

To see all the results of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship click here.

Located on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River Outlook’s Riverview Golf Club has been providing the small community with memories for 50 years and on Saturday the town will celebrate have a century of golf.

Mario Chabot transferred to Outlook from Gull Lake for work in 2009, he settled into the community for a couple years before joining the board a decade ago, now the president Chabot said the club has etched itself into the fabric of Outlook but like many other smalltown courses COVID-19 has revived enthusiasm around the facility.

“We kind of got exposed to new clientele and members because COVID shut down a lot of other sports, so people were coming out,” Chabot said. “We got a long of new members and even when restrictions were lifted people stuck around because they found the golf course accessible for beginners, or the player that goes out five days a week.”

According to the club’s website the curse was established in 1972. The course offers three sets of tee boxes and plays between 2800 and 3100 yards depending on the tees a player chooses. The clubhouse is licensed with a fully serviced proshop, plus after your round or if you just need to relax a covered deck overlooks hole nine. Chabot said getting to 50 years is an accomplishment and that can be attributed to longtime community members.

“The fact that it’s been around for 50 years and still thriving today just shows the level of commitment from our senior members that have been around since the start. The people that were there before me showed an excellent commitment and it’s something we want to keep going,” he said.

The course has an entire day of activities lined up for Saturday to celebrate the milestone including a pancake breakfast, $10,000 hole in one chance for members, raffle draws, a bar-b-cue supper, and a karaoke night to wrap up the day. Chabot said the board’s goal is to get everyone together and celebrate the accomplishment of 50 years.

“It will be a nice, relaxed atmosphere and have some fun,” he said. “We’re hoping some longtime members are around and share a few stories and highlight some of the people that have been instrumental in the course. Men’s and ladies’ nights are always different so were hoping everyone comes out and talks about the special place we have.”

As for the next 50 years, Chabot said the plan is to continue to upkeep the course, make all experiences positive and “plug away and make sure we offer the best course we can to the members and public.”

Over the August long weekend, Estevan’s TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club hosted the Frametech Classic and Cooke Municipal held their Men’s Northern Championship.

In Estevan Paige Wheeler won the ladies event with a 36-hole score of 27-over par, 171 thanks to rounds of 87 and 84. She was 12 shots lower than Maxine Starkewski who placed second. Heather Heath finished in third place with a score of 43-over par, 187.

The complete results can be seen here.

In the men’s championship Daryl Donovan won for the second consecutive year.

Donovan carded rounds of 73, 70, and 71 on route to a five shot win.

Chase Gedak and Nolan Rohatyn tied for second at 3-over par, 219. Jace Carlisle was fourth, Logan Chernoff rounded out the top-five.

The complete results including the senior championship that was won by Rick Hallberg can be found here.

You can hear from Donovan as he spoke about the win with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork.

Prince Albert’s Cory Selander has his second Men’s Northern Championship victory.

Selander was the low shooter in the qualifying round and then went on to beat Brady Leachman, defending champion Greg Swenson, Danny Klughart and Ashley Ziegeman in the match-play final on Monday.

Selander also spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork after the win.