The PGA of Canada hosted the PGA Head Teaching Professional Championship of Canada and the PGA Head Professional Championship coincided with each other this week at Redwoods Golf Club in Langley, B.C.

Saskatchewan had four players in the field. In the head professional event, Brad Lovatt of Wascana Country Club led the locals tying for 21^st at 9-over par, 222. Royal Regina Head Professional Dean Brown shot 72, 75, and 76 for a tie for 26^th. Urban Golf Owner Kevin Deitz tied for 35^th at 15-over par. There were 68 competitors in the head pro division.

Four-time Saskatchewan Amateur champion Lindsay Bernakevitch was 14^th in the event at 5-over par. The Regina product is based at the Victoria Golf Club.

Phil Jonas was the lone local in the head teaching tournament. The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club based pro tied for fifth after shooting 74, 70, and 71.

PGA Show begins Thursday

The events preceded the PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show that begins on Thursday, Oct. 29. Corporate reps from across western Canada will meet with Saskatchewan course administrators, proshop managers, and professionals over two days at the Dakota Dunes Resort.

The PGA will hold their annual general meeting, the National Golf Course Owners Association will host a networking breakfast, and the PGA of Saskatchewan will announce their award winners Thursday evening.

Long-time Saskatchewan junior competitor, amateur, and now professional, Will Danielson trying to widen his golf knowledge through the brand Prairie Club.

Now a certified instructor the Millsaps College graduate is teaching to go alongside his clothing venture.

After a stint playing some professional events, the Saskatoon product wanted to stay closer to home, but somehow make a living in the sport, hence came start of Prairie Club.

Danielson spoke to Golf Saskatchewan about his career since graduating in the United States, playing competitively, and now his business venture.

Earlier this month Golf Saskatchewan announced calls for the first ‘Club Volunteer of the Year’ and Maple Creek Golf Club has sent in the first nomination.

Dale Gowen is being honoured for his work in the small southwest community. Jo Genert, the proshop manager and book keeper at the course said the following about Gowen.

Dale has been collecting aluminum can tabs for 30 years; he comes every week during the entire golf season to sort our recycle in preparation for delivery to SARCAN. During the sorting he removes the tabs. Dale collects the tabs for donation to build wheelchairs. It takes 1,600 tabs to equal one pound and 16,000 pounds to build a wheelchair. Aluminum is $1.36 per pound. Dale has collected roughly 600 pounds over the course of 30 years. He personally delivers them to the Regina Pasqua Hospital for donation. 

On behalf of the Maple Creek Golf club, I would like to thank Dale for his services and dedication.

Gowen will receive a prize pack from Golf Saskatchewan and be entered into the finals with a winner being announced at the Golf Saskatchewan Annual General Meeting in April.

If you would like to recognize a volunteer for their work at your club, email Clark Stork.

What Canadian golfers need to know about the end of the active season, winter golf trips and tracking indoor rounds.

There’s still time for at least one more round outdoors. But will that round count toward your Golf Canada Handicap Index?

As the active season ends across much of Canada, the answer depends on where and when you play.

Whether you’re squeezing in a final round at home, packing your clubs for a winter getaway or heading to a simulator, here’s what to know about recording your scores.

What is the active season?

The active season is the period when acceptable scores from courses in a particular area must be submitted for handicap purposes. Provincial golf associations establish these dates, which vary across Canada.

Scores from rounds played during a course’s inactive season do not count toward handicap calculations. Seasonal conditions can make a course play differently from the conditions reflected in its course and slope ratings. Learn more about active seasons.

A course can remain open after its active season ends. You can still enjoy a round, but that score won’t count toward your handicap index.

When does the active season end in my province?

A list of the following active seasons:

Some courses in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island may observe a year-round active season. Check with the course or provincial association if you’re unsure about its status.

Heading somewhere warmer? Keep posting your scores

Your home club’s inactive season ending doesn’t mean scores for rounds at all courses won’t count towards your handicap index.

If you belong to a club in Ontario and play in Florida in January, you must submit an otherwise acceptable score. Florida observes a year-round active season, so those rounds count even while your home course is closed for winter.

Before your trip, check the active season at your destination with the course or local golf association. Warm weather alone doesn’t determine whether a score is acceptable. Many southern U.S. destinations have year-round active seasons, but confirm before you play. Read Golf Canada’s winter score-posting guidance.

After each round, post your acceptable score through the Golf Canada App or online Score Centre. Select the course and tees you played and submit the score as soon as possible that day, before midnight local time. Golf Canada automatically accounts for the course’s active season.

If you maintain both Canadian and U.S. scoring records, make sure all acceptable scores appear in both. Golf Canada can help link Canadian and USGA accounts so scores transfer automatically. Contact members@golfcanada.ca for assistance in setting this up.

Those winter rounds can change your Golf Canada Handicap Index.

Taking your game indoors? Keep tracking it

If you’re heading to a simulator this winter, use the Golf Canada App to record your indoor rounds and practice sessions at participating Golf Canada member facilities. It’s a useful way to track your indoor game, follow your progress and stay focused on your goals until spring. Learn about indoor tracking in the app.

Indoor scores do not count toward your Handicap Index. They still give you a record of your simulator rounds, whether you’re working towards a scoring goal, playing in a winter league or enjoying a game with friends.

The Golf Canada app is available as a free download from the App Store and Google Play. Download the app.

Does every outdoor round during the active season count?

The active season is one requirement. The round must also meet the other conditions in the Rules of Handicapping.

These include playing an authorized format, completing the required minimum number of holes, playing in the company of at least one other person and following the Rules of Golf. The course must also have current course and slope ratings.

If you’re unsure whether a round qualifies, ask your club’s handicap committee or see the Rules of Handicapping.

What should I do before the season ends?

Review your scoring record for missing rounds and ask your club for help correcting any omissions or errors.

For your remaining outdoor rounds, submit acceptable scores as soon as possible on the day you play, before midnight local time. That allows your score to be included in the playing conditions calculation and your handicap index to be updated for the following day. Find score-posting guidance.

Wherever you play this winter, keep the Golf Canada app handy. Post acceptable outdoor scores while travelling and record your indoor rounds to keep tracking your game until spring.

It was a much lighter schedule this week for Saskatchewan student-athletes south of the border.

Chloe Wills of Kyle continued her outstanding season with the Drury University Panthers this week with another top 10 finish. Drury was in Caseyville, Illinois on Oct. 19 and 20^th for the McKendree Bearcats Dual Gender Invite at Far Oaks Golf Club. The Saskatchewan Landing Golf Resort member posted rounds of 78, 72, and 74, good enough for a tie for seventh place overall.

The Panthers were third overall in the team category as they wrapped up the season and will now return to action in March.

Chase Pochylko of Saskatoon saw his first on course play of the season this week after battling a foot injury for most of the fall. Pochylko and the Nicholls State University Colonels were at the LaTour Golf Club in Matthews, Louisiana for the LaTour Intercollegiate on Oct. 1 and 20.

Competing as an individual, he signed for rounds of 80, 71, and 81 to place tied for 45^th. His Nicholls teammates closed the season with a third place finish out of nine schools.

Saskatoon native Justin Miller has also had a stellar campaign after transferring from junior college to NAIA school Tabor College. The Bluejays were in Dodge City, Kansas on Oct. 18 to 20 for the KCAC Matchplay Championships. The competitors played an 18-hole event first, Miller scored 76 and placed tied for 15^th.

The following two rounds were matchplay, Miller defeated Christian Flint of York 3&2. In the third round he downed Malachi Meador of York 4&3.

In the end Tabor was ranked third out of 10 competing schools. The Bluejays are now done for the season.

Another Riverside Country Club member was also on the course down south this week as Ben Staines and the Mount Aloysius College Mounties were in action. Aloysius was in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Oct. 17 and 18 to close the season at the Penn State Altoona hosted at Sinking Valley Country Club. The Mounties had two teams competing, Staines was on the ‘B’ team that placed sixth overall. Staines was 29^th with rounds of 80 and 85.

The Aloysius ‘C’ team was seventh.

There are still 10 Saskatchewan players with scheduled events before the season comes to a close.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) has awarded their annual players of the year and the recipients of over $70,000 in scholarships.

The Saskatchewan Order of Merit (OOM) champions for this MJT season are:

Under-15 Women | Alyxa Melsted (Wynyard) – Wynyard Golf Club

15 – 19 Women | Arwen Mosher (Saskatoon) – Riverside Country Club

Peewee Boys | Hudson Deibert (Regina) – Royal Regina Golf Club

Bantam Boys | Jace Munro (Swift Current) – Elmwood Golf Club

Juvenile Boys | Austin Nesbitt (Regina) – Wascana Country Club

Junior Boys | Oliver Matyczuk (Saskatoon) – Riverside Country Club

Mini Tour OOM champions:

9-10 Girls | Aria Shoffner (St. Denis) – Riverside Country Club

11-12 Girls | Kensi Bourassa (Saskatoon) – Saskatoon Golf & Country Club

Under-9 Boys | Aleksander Sierzycki (Prince Albert)

9-10 Boys | Jerry King Zhao (Regina) – Wascana Country Club

11-12 Boys | Caleb O’Brien (Melville) – Melville Regional Park Golf Course

Scholarship recipients:

Matty Schmiess (Swift Current) – Elmwood Golf Club

Ryker Gavelin (Rivers) – Golf Kenosee

You can see more details on the MJT’s Facebook page.

The list of the nominees for the upcoming PGA of Saskatchewan awards was announced on their Instagram page Tuesday.

Below are the names of this years’ list:

Graham Coulter Head Professional of the Year

• Ryan Wells (Cooke Municipal Golf Course), Prince Albert
• Conner McGill (Valley Regional Park Golf Course). Rosthern
• Hannah MacNeil (The Willows Club), Saskatoon
• Brennen Gee (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
• Brad Lovatt (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• John Greenough (Deer Valley Golf & Estates)
• Paul Schatz (Waskesiu Golf Course)
• Geordie Miller (Riverside Country Club), Saskatoon

Peter Semko Executive Professional of the Year

• Marty Wheaton (Lloydminster Golf & Curling Centre)
• McLaren Taylor (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
• Darcy Myers (Cooke Municipal Golf Course), Prince Albert
• Craig Prentice (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• Mike Cyndroski (The Willows Club), Saskatoon

Class “A” Assistant Professional of the Year

• Chad Lavallee (Riverside Country Club), Saskatoon
• Jason Kim (Lloydminster Golf & Curling Centre)

Apprentice Professional of the Year

• Brandon Ho (The Willows Club), Saskatoon
• Dylan Bells (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• Brayden Nestman (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• Bryce Sebastian (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• Micah Tanjerd (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• Jon Warner (Deer Valley Golf & Estates)
• Tayden Wallin (Riverside Country Club), Saskatoon
• Aidan Shanks (Royal Regina Golf Club)
• Shawn Diacon (Royal Regina Golf Club)
• Chase Tippett (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• Nicholas Enns (Evergreen Golf Course), Nipawin
• Gray Lund (Elmwood Golf Club), Swift Current
• Cody Andrews (Lloydminster Golf & Curling Centre)

John Gaudet Teacher of the Year

• Zachary Taylor (The Willows Club), Saskatoon
• Mitch Bach (Clubhouse Golf), Saskatoon
• Clinton Schmaltz (Tour Path Academy), Saskatoon
• Cody Callaway (The Willows Club), Saskatoon
• Phil Jonas (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
• Patty Jonas (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)

Coach of the Year

• Cody Callaway (The Willows Club), Saskatoon
• Jeff Chambers (JCG Academy), Swift Current
• Jason Schneider (JDS Golf), Saskatoon

Junior Leader of the Year

• Zachary Taylor (The Willows Club), Saskatoon
• Tayden Wallin (Riverside Country Club), Saskatoon
• Brayden Nestman (Wascana Country Club), Regina
• Cody Callaway (The Willows Club), Saskatoon
• Phil Jonas (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
• Jason Schneider (JDS Golf), Saskatoon

Retailer of the Year

• Brennen Gee (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
• Darcy Myers (Cooke Municipal Golf Course), Prince Albert
• Garrett McMillan (First Tee Indoor Golf Centre), Regina
• John Greenough (Deer Valley Golf & Estates)
• Brad Lovatt (Wascana Country Club), Regina

The winners will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 29 during the PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show at Dakota Dunes Resort.

It’s been about a year since Geordie Miller has taken over for Earl Scott as the head pro at Riverside Country Club.

On Oct. 2, Golf Saskatchewan sat down with the 30-year-old to learn about his golf journey and the enticement of seeking the position.

The Wascana Country Club (WCC) recently honoured Greg Dukart for his contributions to the course from his first playing days in the late 1960’s to his retirement as general manager.

Dukart was recently inducted into the WCC Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the club.

He spoke to Golf Saskatchewan about his incredible career, the 2018 CP Women’s Open, and the meaning of the induction.

Amateur sport organizations, such as Golf Saskatchewan depend highly on volunteers to keep operating.

We have board of directors, referees, course raters, and more many people from across Saskatchewan contribute to the game making it better everyday.

The same can be said for golf clubs across the province, the nation, and the globe. Volunteers put in countless hours at clubs every year. Whether its volunteering on rules committees, local boards, mowing greens, cleaning up after storms, or tending flowers, every hand helps keep our courses running.

That’s why Golf Saskatchewan is recognizing volunteers at clubs Saskatchewan wide!

If your club has an extraordinary volunteer(s) and you want them recognized, submit their story to us!

Send a photo and a description of what you nominee does for your club!

Each nominee will be awarded a Golf Saskatchewan prize pack and featured on our website as well as notoriety for the course, plus a province wide winner will be chosen as the 2026 Saskatchewan Golf Volunteer of the Year.

Please forward all nominations to CStork@GolfSaskatchewan.Org. The deadline is Jan. 31, 2027.