The PGA of Canada has announced three new members of their Hall of Fame with Peter Semko being enshrined.

Born in Glaslyn, Sask., Semko moved to Saskatoon in 1941 before becoming an icon in the golf business in the City of Bridges and in Montreal under the tutelage of Pat Fletcher.

Semko was inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

The PGA of Canada released more details on Semko’s career on Dec. 5.

Peter Semko (Builder) (posthumously)

Peter Semko truly did it all in the golf industry. Over the course of his remarkable life in golf, he served as a caddy, golf professional, administrator, instructor, golf course architect and developer, and eventually a golf course owner. His influence on the Canadian golf landscape is profound, and his mentorship helped guide the careers of countless PGA professionals who continue to carry forward his legacy today.

Before finding his permanent home in golf, Semko excelled as a hockey player, skating for the Saskatoon Westleys, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, and even attending training camp with the Detroit Red Wings. Yet it was at the golf course where his passion and purpose truly aligned.

His journey in the sport began at just 11 years old in the back shop of the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, first as a caddy and eventually as assistant professional under his mentor, the legendary Pat Fletcher. The pair later worked together at Royal Montreal Golf Club before Semko returned to Saskatoon to accept the head professional position at Holiday Park Golf Course in 1961. There, he played a pivotal role in the concept, design, and construction of the facility’s Executive Nine, a project that helped modernize public golf in the region.

Semko’s leadership extended far beyond the tee deck. He became the City of Saskatoon’s supervisor of golf courses while continuing his duties as Head Professional. At the Association level, he dedicated six years of service as president of the PGA of Saskatchewan and later served as Vice-President of the PGA of Canada. Peter was instrumental in bringing the PGA Championship of Canada to the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club in 1971 — a historic first for the province.

A visionary builder, Semko contributed to numerous golf course designs and construction projects throughout the province. His boldest venture came in 1979 when he took what he described as a “leap of faith” in building Greenbryre Country Club. The course became a cornerstone of golf in Saskatoon, and Semko remained at its helm for 28 years until his retirement in 2007.

Semko’s exceptional contributions earned him wide recognition in his later years, including induction into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Saskatchewan PGA, along with lifetime memberships in both the PGA of Canada and the Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association — honours befitting a man whose work elevated every facet of the game.

Peter Semko passed away on April 23, 2023 at the age of 89.

Golf Saskatchewan published an interview celebrating Peter in 2021.

After 28 years and two stints at Nipawin’s Evergreen Golf Course, Head Professional Derrick Tallon is retiring from his position at the club

After four decades in the golf industry including an astonishing 28 seasons at Nipawin’s Evergreen Golf Course, Derrick Tallon has announced his retirement.

Tallon took his playability test in Moose Jaw at Hillcrest Golf and spent years at Cooke Municipal Golf Course, Waskesiu Golf Course, and of course Evergreen where he worked for a dozen years before going to Waskesiu then returning.

Talon, 61, sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss his extraordinary career in the game.

National Sport Organization welcomes former USC Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director to advance Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence

(December 3, 2025) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Paul Perrier has joined the National Sport Federation as its new Chief Sport Officer (CSO).

Born in Sherbrooke, Que. and raised in Aurora, Ont., Perrier is an accomplished and dynamic sports administration executive who brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in NCAA Division I athletics, most recently serving as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Southern California (USC).

As Chief Sport Officer, Perrier will oversee Golf Canada’s sport portfolio, including Team Canada high-performance and athlete development, National Amateur Championships, grassroots participation programs such as First Tee – Canada and She Plays Golf, and Safe Sport compliance. Reporting to CEO Laurence Applebaum as a member of Golf Canada’s Executive Team, Perrier will play a pivotal role in advancing Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence for the National Sport Organization.

“Paul is a dynamic sport executive and former high-level athlete with extensive leadership experience across sport including golf, coach development, compliance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and fundraising within both elite and public NCAA Division I athletic departments,” said Applebaum. “His experience managing complex sport organizations and building high-performance programs will help to further advance the sport and elevate Canadian golf on the global stage.”

During his tenure at USC (2019–2025), Perrier was a member of the Executive Leadership Team, with oversight and support for 23 varsity programs and 600 athletes. He led strategic planning, resource allocation, and performance initiatives and fostered inclusive, collaborative cultures that drove innovation and excellence. Perrier also managed the men’s and women’s golf programs, guiding them to multiple NCAA championship appearances and supporting elite athletes who advanced to the LPGA and PGA Tours.

Perrier, who will work collaboratively with the Golf Canada Foundation, also brings experience in fundraising and donor relations, having helped drive capital campaigns at USC and Rutgers. He also oversaw a $750,000 renovation of USC’s golf training facility and served as Tournament Director for the Trojan Golf Classic. His ability to build trust-based relationships with donors, alumni, and corporate partners has been a hallmark of his leadership.

Perrier joins Golf Canada at a time where the organization is experiencing strong momentum with a rise in participation and rounds played, Canadian continued success on the global stage and increased investment in the game from donors and corporate partners.

The opportunity to return to Canada to champion further growth is an opportunity for Perrier to apply his executive leadership experiences across a sport that has been a longtime passion.

“Joining Golf Canada is an incredible honour, and I’m inspired to help accelerate the sport’s growth and impact across the country,” said Perrier. “Together with our athletes, coaches, donors, and partners, we will continue to build pathways that drive participation and elevate Canada’s success on the world stage.”

Previously, Perrier served as Senior Associate Athletic Director at Rutgers University (2015–2019), where he helped develop a five-year strategic plan, oversaw sport programs, and led compliance and governance during a critical transition to the Big Ten Conference.  Prior to joining Rutgers, Perrier held several progressive leadership roles with USC including Associate Vice President for Athletic Compliance.

Perrier also co-founded the NACDA Sport Administrator Leadership Institute, served on the Big Ten Olympic Sports Oversight Committee, and was selected for the NCAA Pathway Program, a national initiative preparing senior administrators for CEO roles.

He holds a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Oswego State, where he was also a student-athlete (hockey) and co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A proud Canadian who is married with two sons, Perrier has started in the CSO role and will be relocating back to Canada in the coming months.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) has tentatively announced their Canadian schedule for next year which includes seven events in Saskatchewan.

The MJT will play their first event in Estevan at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club on May 2 and 3. Swift Current’s Elmwood Golf Club will play host to the second event as the city usually does on May long weekend. The lone 54 hole event on the Saskatchewan schedule will run from May 16 to 18.

Humboldt Golf Club will play host to an event in 2026. The Saskatchewan Amateur Championships host from this year will have the MJT on June 13 and 14.

Tor Hill Golf Course in Regina will have a championship on June 27 and 28. One month later Moon Lake Golf and Country Club welcomes the MJT for a two day event on July 27 and 28.

The MJT will return to Elk Ridge Golf Resort on Aug. 15 and 16 and the season will conclude with the annual tournament at Warman’s Legends Golf Club on Aug. 29 and 30.

One day MJT Mini Tour tournaments will run alongside each event as well.

All MJT events will be part of the Golf Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit schedule with points awarded to competitors for the overall title and exemptions into a provincial event of each winners choosing.

To see the complete nationwide schedule click here.

The Order of Merit schedule will be released early in 2026.

Adam Stanley/ Golf Canada

When the first flakes of snow fall, many Canadians from coast to coast realize that, as unfortunate as it may be, golf season is ending. Or is it?

From downtown lounges with craft beer taps to makeshift setups in basements or garages, golf simulators are reshaping how people practice, play, and socialize around the sport.

What began as a high-end training tool for elite players has rippled into a consumer wave that’s expanding access and changing perceptions of golf across the country.

Market numbers show there’s no slowing down; the simulator sector is expanding quickly, and revenue projections show the golf simulator market in Canada is set to almost double over the next half-decade or so as both commercial venues and in-home installs increase.

At the heart of the exciting expansion is the technology of it all – evolving faster than most realize. Modern systems pair radar and camera-based launch monitors with physics engines and ultra-realistic course mapping, such as from Foresight and TrackMan.

Coaches routinely use simulator data for swing diagnosis and club-fitting, while recreational players can instantly compare numbers and replay shots in slow motion.

And, well, the virtual golf course designs these days? They just look really cool.

On the commercial side, indoor golf lounges and training centers are popping up in downtown cores and suburban plazas across the country.

Ottawa is a perfect example of this as Canada’s capital city boasts a golf simulator bar about two blocks away from Parliament Hill where, yes, you can even hit balls on a virtual driving range set up on Parliament’s front lawn, plus plenty others in its growing suburbs, like Silverwood’s Golf and Lounge where menu bites like braised beef crostini and the Augusta wrap (featuring pimento cheese, obviously) are on offer. 

“We knew that golf was always going to flourish in something like this, but the thing that tops you up is providing the top-notch service,” says Eric Glynn, the owner and director of operations of Silverwood’s. “The first position I hired was the general manager, who had tons of food and beverage experience and a passion for golf. Kitchen manager and head chef also have a passion for golf.”

These spaces market themselves as more than places to bang balls – they are social destinations as well. Friends can play Pebble Beach in 60 minutes, companies can host team-building events, beginners can swing sticks for the first time in a low-pressure setting, and even young kids can try to ‘destroy’ cars and trucks.

Silverwood’s has this something-for-everyone set up perfected. They have bays with regular bar-stool seating, VIP rooms that are fully glassed in where golfers can play their own music and watch what they want on TV, and then even quieter private rooms for the more serious player.

“We figured out how to amalgamate that and put things together and create a series of classes within our facility,” says Glynn, whose facility is celebrating its two-year anniversary in 2025. “It’s an entertainment place where people would be happy to come and escape from whatever the case may be.

“You can come in for an hour, book your real estate, and enjoy yourself. There are women with babies and strollers. There are ladies who just want to socialize. It morphed into more than just golf.”

Operators are quick to emphasize the convenience: full rounds of golf on iconic courses are condensed into tight time blocks, reservations are easy via apps or online booking portals, and the environments are climate-controlled. It’s a mix of social entertainment and serious practice time for low-handicap players. The same technology on the range at a PGA TOUR event is what these simulator facilities also use.

Indoor simulator facilities are drawing in younger and more diverse crowds who, well, appreciate a place for a good hang. It’s simple, really, simulator facilities remove the biggest obstacle for golf in Canada – weather – while also making the experience shorter and less intimidating.

That accessibility is nudging new demographics toward the game — women, younger urban residents, and busy professionals who want a post-work social hour of sport. Operators and national bodies are starting to see simulators not as a threat to traditional clubs, but as a funnel that can introduce players to outdoor golf when the season allows.

On the consumer side, basements, spare rooms, and garages are being converted into multi-purpose entertainment hubs. While big-time Tour tech can get up there in price, there has never been more affordable technology than there is now. Entry-level systems mean even weekend warriors can get meaningful feedback or have virtual fun without breaking the bank.

While the calendar limits golf outdoors to certain times of year, the simulator now does more than extend the season — it’s helping reshape golf into something even more social and accessible, one (virtual) shot at a time.

Niya Friesen of Swift Current has decided on her collegiate golf destination.

Friesen, 17, has signed with the Seattle University Redhawks beginning next fall.

She grew up in Swift Current and got into the game playing alongside her dad Joel. A multi-sport athlete growing up, local coach Jeff Chambers saw potential in Friesen and encouraged her to advance to competition, first on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) followed by Saskatchewan Junior and Amateur Championships.

Friesen competed at national events and recently the Junior Girls Americas Cup in Arizona for Team Alberta. She has been in Calgary attending Edge, an college prep school working with golf coaches there, and with the esteemed Henry Brunton in Florida.

All the advancement has led to a commitment to the Redhawks joining the growing list of Saskatchewan born student athletes.

Golf Saskatchewan spoke to Friesen this week.

Following the PGA of Saskatchewan Awards that were held Oct. 30, the PGA of Canada has announced their 2025 nominations.

Eight Saskatchewan professionals who won awards at Dakota Dunes last month were named as nominees on Wednesday.

The list of nominees are as follows

• Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year | Paul Schatz (Waskesiu Golf Course)
• Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year | Darcy Myers (Cooke Municipal Golf Course)
• George Knudson Teacher of the Year | Mitch Bach (Clubhouse Golf Academy)
• Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year | Jason Schneider (JDS Golf)
• Ben Kern Coach of the Year | Jeff Chambers (Jeff Chambers Golf Academy)
• Retailer of the Year | Brad Lovatt (Wascana Country Club)
• Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year | Cole Ginther (The Legends Golf Club)
• Stan Arnold Class “A” Assistant of the Year | Chad Lavallee (Riverside Country Club)

According to the PGA’s release, “each of you have exemplified the core values of the association and what it means to be a PGA of Canada Professional.”

Award winners will be announced in the following weeks with the honourees being celebrated at the PGA Show in January.

The number of golf rounds posted on the Golf Canada Score Centre app increased in 2025 in Saskatchewan, and across the nation.

According to data collected from the Canada’s governing body of amateur golf, rounds posted through the app, at the member club itself, or on desktop during the scoring season topped 11.26 million rounds. Golf Canada stated that’s a new record and a six percent increase over 2024.

In Saskatchewan the province was on par with the nation in score posting growth at six percent. Last year over 275,000 rounds were posted in Saskatchewan, this season just over 292,300 scores were entered. Golf Saskatchewan Executive Director Brian Lee said it’s no secret golf is extremely popular, but to see the app utilized for score posting and other features is positive to see.

“The Golf Canada app, available to all members is a fantastic tool for many reasons, with score posting and World Handicap Indexing technology,” Lee said. “Enter scores as a round or use the hole-by-hole scoring [and GPS] for inside analysis such as putts made. We have seen a large increase year over year and with more scores posted the golf industry is thriving.”

Since 2019, fueled by the increased playing of golf due to Covid-19 round posting has increased 30 percent in Saskatchewan. That benchmark is lowest among all Canadian provinces with several jurisdictions reporting increases of over 100 percent. Lee said those stats show the sport has been strong for years prior due to a boost in 2020.

“We have seen a boom for the sport as the stats show, it’s not just rounds reported by the players, courses are reporting overall rounds have skyrocketed at Saskatchewan clubs as well. Ladies’ nights are more popular than ever, junior golf is expanding border to border, and tee times are at a premium from what we hear and what the data shows,” Lee said.

Three of the four Maritime provinces reported increases over 100 percent. New Brunswick saw rounds go up 118 percent since 2019, only Nova Scotia at 71 percent was below the 100 threshold.

Nationwide the increase of rounds posted is 55 percent. In 2019 over 7.2 million rounds were accounted for, 2023 was the first year over 10 million were entered.

The 2026 scoring season opens on April 15. Until then, we hope you visit on of the indoor facilities across the province, make a trip to a warmer climate, or just consume golf content on your digital device or television.

Paul Schatz, the head professional at Waskesiu Golf Course is the 2025 Graham Coulter Trophy winner at the PGA of Saskatchewan awards in late October.

This is the Regina products first Coulter Trophy win and fifth PGA of Saskatchewan award of his career. Schatz won Junior Leader of the Year three times, from 2019 to 2021 and also won the Assistant of the Year in 2013.

Schatz has been at Waskesiu since February of 2023 taking over for Andrew Hnatiuk.

Schatz spoke after the awards about his connection to Coulter and having what he calls the “best job in Canada.”

Max Murchison hasn’t been in Saskatchewan long, but the Calgary native is making a strong impression in the golf industry.

Taking over for Ken Rodgers, as the Acushnet Golf Saskatchewan sales rep, Murchison was recently honoured with Sales Representative of the Year at the PGA of Saskatchewan awards reception in late October.

The recognition meant plenty to Murchison, the son of a PGA of Canada professional and a solid player in his own right.

He spoke after receiving the award at Dakota Dunes Resort.