Golf Saskatchewan will host eight individual championships this season but will not hold the Women’s Rosebowl or the Mixed Championship.

The governing body of amateur golf in Saskatchewan made the decision to go ahead with the individual events because the competitions are tee time formats and can safely follow COVID-19 guidelines as layed out in the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan golf regulations. Executive Director Brian Lee said the decision to play the events fall in line with health officials’ regulations.

“This is an exciting day for competitive amateur golfers from across the province,” Lee said. “The decision to go ahead with provincial championships was done in consultation with the Government of Saskatchewan and it will be following the Re-Open Saskatchewan guidelines. The events may have a different feel from previous championships however it will still be a chance to get out and compete against other golfers in a competitive but safe format.”

The Rosebowl, scheduled for Katepwa Beach Golf Club and the Mixed Championship that was slated for Candle Lake Golf Resort in August are shotgun start formats and include banquets for competitors. Golf Saskatchewan will hope to return to the two host sites in 2021.

The first provincial event is the 102^nd Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Championship at the Willows Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon from July 9 – 11. The provincial juniors will run from July 14 – 16 at the Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current. The Men’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships will take place at The Legends Golf Club in Warman from July 21-24. The Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert will host the Men’s and Women’s Senior Championships as well as the Mid-Master’s Championship from July 28 – 30.

Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Tournaments Steve Ryde said safety is the number one concern for everyone involved but Golf Saskatchewan will have all guidelines in place and host safe, successful events.

“I am very excited on the announcement of competitions to be allowed under the COVID-19 guidelines. As golfers we all enjoy playing the game, but with the added competition it makes for a truly amazing experience on and off the golf course. I look forward to seeing everyone very soon,” Ryde said.

National championships have been cancelled by Golf Canada. Golf Saskatchewan will award medals to the top three finishers in each event. The winner of the Men’s Amateur Championship and Mid-Amateur Championship will be awarded a quota spot in the 2021 Canadian events.

Registration for the championships will open on Friday, June 19. To sign up click here. Entries into the championships are restricted to Golf Saskatchewan members only. 

Golf has always been a positive addition to anyone’s healthy active lifestyle. More so now, as the world navigates the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, adding golf into one’s physical and mental health routines can provide a litany of benefits.

While the sport is a positive addition for these times, it’s also an idyllic activity for millennials who are perhaps feeling the pull of wanting to see friends, enjoy a cold Steam Whistle outdoors, and feel a part of nature again.

The only place all three of those things can happen these days is on the golf course.

Here are seven reasons why golf is the perfect sport of now for millennials:

1. The ability to get together with friends

The only place to get a group of guys or group of girls together—all from outside their family/household bubbles—for a couple of hours and have fun is on the golf course.

“The reality is that there are few activities available right now where people can get together and enjoy the company of friends and family,” says Brian Decker, the director of marketing and communications at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.  “Golf is uniquely positioned to give people a safe way to do just that, and we feel that if we can give people an outlet to get away from the stresses of this crisis, we’re playing a small role in our collective recovery,”

As millennials, we’re used to having constant connection with people.

Sure, we have been able to digitally connect with our colleagues and have made headway in virtual game nights or catch-up drinks over the last 90 days or so, but there’s nothing like in-person connection. Playing golf allows for that.

2. Digital-first communication

Millennials are strapped to their phone—there’s no way around that. It’s not as though phone usage should be looked as a negative, either. Phones these days are used for banking and work connections, not just games or dating apps.

Golf courses have done a fantastic job with their digital communication strategies as they open across Canada in the time of COVID-19.

You’d be hard-pressed not to find courses using new features on Instagram, like the ‘Story’ function to show the different things golfers can expect at clubs upon arrival and through their round during the time of COVID-19.

“All of our member communication about our COVID-19 procedures has been done through our broadcast emails.  We have also used video and provided the links,” says Dave Fox, the general manager at Islington Golf Club.

While many golf courses struggled to dedicate time and personal to marketing and communications, one thing COVID-19 has helped to boost is the social and digital relevancy of golf clubs.

This is a positive as many millennials, and many for the first time, will be searching and following golf courses they want to play. The information provided, through digital and social channels, is the perfect way to connect with millennials.

3. Social Sharing

Millennials are the earliest adaptors of social media, and as such, there are approximately 3.5 billion millennial social media users in the world. Golf provides the perfect canvas for millennials to want to share their experiences on social media.

Whether you’ve been able to get together with your friends for the first time in months, you’ve been able to buy a beer from a bar (or in this case, a halfway house or clubhouse) for the first time this summer, or you’ve caught the perfect late-afternoon light—posting about your day on a golf course is millennial friendly.

“Social media has always been a priority for us in communicating/marketing to the travelling golfer,” says Mark McLane, the executive director of Golf Prince Edward Island, who says the agency’s Facebook page prompted nearly 20,000 website views in April alone.

McLane says—with only 27 coronavirus cases on PEI and no deaths—the islands reputation for safety and tranquility has promoted groups who usually travel internationally (including to the U.S.) for golf wishing to come to the island.

A Canadian golf trip experience is an ideal platform for social sharing, and whether it’s wrapped in food, friendship, or, of course, the golf, millennials love the opportunity to snap a picture and click share.

4. Exercise

With no gym facilities open across Canada, millennials are looking for places to exercise that isn’t usually their kitchen, bedroom, or basement.

Golf Canada research suggests players burn approximately 2000-2500 calories during a round while walking a minimum of 9,000 metres. Golfers will exceed 10,000 steps over 18 holes.

My scores haven’t been great and that’s an understatement. But there were some numbers I liked from a recent round: 13,000 steps taken and 9 kilometres walked while climbing the equivalent of 23 floors. My mantra: Golf is good for me. https://t.co/lEm7xfuRVF

— Brad Ziemer (@BradZiemer) June 16, 2020

The golf course is not just a place to get together with friends for a hot dog at the turn, but it’s a place to burn off the one-too-many hotdogs from being quarantined.

5. Sense of Normalcy

If there were one place where millennials could feel as if they were participating in a “normal” activity, it would be the golf course.

Those lucky enough to have access to a car can jump in it, see their friends or family members at the parking lot of the golf course, play 18 holes together and catch up, and then drive home.

“The tee sheet has been busy. We couldn’t accommodate all the requests to play the first weekend,” says Fox from Islington, showing that people are just anxious to get back to something that makes them feel as if they are doing something as normal as possible these days.

From a business standpoint as well, the golf industry in Canada has a $19.7-billion impact on economic activity in the country. According to recent Carleton University COVID-19 stats, younger Canadians are more bullish about reopening the economy.

“Golf employs a ton of people,” says Sam Wills, a PGA of Canada Assistant Professional at Deer Valley Golf Club in Regina. “From an economic standpoint, getting golf courses getting open is a great thing.”

6. Responsibility for the greater good

A new 10-year-long study from the Case Foundation of 150,000 millennials revealed that one of the top-10 takeaways is that millennials care about social issues.

The ability for millennials to be part of the safe reopening of the economy while caring for the health and safety of their fellow man makes golf so important in the millennial ethos.

“We continue to evaluate our protocols daily in such an evolving landscape,” says Brian Mossop, the general manager of Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club. The club was closed for several weeks to have the opportunity to completely re-evaluate its services and service-related items. 

And while millennials continue to practice physical distancing, it can be done with aplomb on the golf course.

“Golf,” Wills from Deer Valley says, “is safer than going into a grocery store right now.“

7. Hope

While millennials have been blamed for everything from the demise of chain restaurants to cereal, one thing is true—this group has hope.

During an unprecedented time in our history, when you combine all the good things about golf (social health, physical health, mental health, fun, positive economic impact, environmental benefits, and more) it gives millennials hope for what can come on the other side of this pandemic.

“Shortly after we opened earlier this month, we received an email from someone who had played here and thanked the staff for a great experience and helping them to feel ‘normal for the first time in two months,’” says Decker at TPC Toronto. “That really hit home for our team and confirmed for us that golf can play a really positive role in these times.”

Whether you’re picking up the game for the first time, returning to golf after a bit of a break, or if you’re a long-time player just thrilled to be able to get back out there again for the 2020 season, it’s imperative to follow the guidelines as listed by your golf course or club. The new rules are in place to reflect government and health organization best practices as we all navigate this global pandemic safely. And although your time at a golf course may look different than in year’s past, one thing should remain the same: be sure to treat the golf-course staff with respect and understanding. We’re all in this together.

Chemical Engineering major and Canadian LPGA Tour golfer Brittany Marchand offers up a home schooling lesson where we investigate how the golf club’s loft effects the distance of the golf club.

In honour of marking the 10-year anniversary of the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame, Golf Saskatchewan is featuring the members that have been enshrined.

Keith Rever was inducted in 2010 among the first class of 19 people. He was a member of Saskatchewan’s lone Willingdon Cup winning team and is a two time men’s amateur champion.

Keith Rever bio | 1964 Willingdon Cup team bio

Golf Saskatchewan is distributing scholarships and bursaries to 13 student-athletes across the province.

The 2020 Saskatchewan Academic and Golf Excellence (SAGE) Scholarship recipients were announced on Monday with over $12,000 being awarded to golfers of a wide array of ages.

The scholarship recipients are listed below:

• Graham DeLaet Scholarship #1 (valued at $1,500)
  • Jace Carlisle, TS&M Woodlawn, Estevan
• Graham DeLaet Scholarship #2 (valued at $1,500)
  • Lauren Fox, public player, Creighton
• Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Bradley Moser, Riverside GC, Saskatoon
• Ron Young Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • TJ Baker, Waskesiu GC, Waskesiu
• Kozy Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Kade Johnson, Deer Park Municipal GC, Yorkton
• Cooke-Kinnear Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Joshua Guthrie, Cooke Municipal GC, Prince Albert
• Fletcher-Reid Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Josh Nagy, Riverside/SGCC, Saskatoon
• Leddy-Heywood Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Veronika Duchscherer, Evergreen GC, Nipawin
• Meredith MacPherson-Stalwick Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,070.56)
  • Alexandra Schmidt, Royal Regina GC, Regina
• Garry Hayes Memorial Scholarship $1485.22 (valued at $742.61 each)
  • Hudson Chernoff, TS&M Woodlawn GC, Estevan
  • Sarah Grieve, The Willows, Saskatoon
• Golf Saskatchewan High School Bursary (valued at $400)
  • Jackson Wingert, Riverside GC, Saskatoon
  • Autumn Neiszner, Wascana CC, Regina

The SAGE program annually presents scholarships to assist deserving member golfers in their pursuit of high school and post-secondary academic excellence.  The successful recipients were selected on the basis of being a Golf Saskatchewan member, academics and some weighting on sporting excellence.

For more details on our scholarship program or any of our other information visit http://golfsaskatchewan.org/sport-dev/#scholarships or contact our office.

OAKVILLE, ONT. (Golf Canada) – Due to continued health concerns as well as government restrictions on travel and group gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Golf Canada has cancelled all of its amateur golf competitions for the duration of the 2020 season.

The National Sport Federation had previously announced the cancellation or postponement of a number of its junior and amateur competitions scheduled through mid-June.

“National amateur competitions have been a proud focus throughout our 125-year history and while we share in the disappointment of competitors, our host clubs and event volunteers, the most important consideration is the health and safety of the people who come together at our championships,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Ongoing travel restrictions—both international and across some provincial borders—in addition to continued restrictions on larger group gatherings and limitations on player training were significant contributors to this decision. We are also sensitive to the needs of our host clubs to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their staff and members.”

The 107th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, one of the top-ranked women’s amateur events in the world that attracts many international athletes, was scheduled to begin in five weeks at The Royal Montreal Golf Club from July 21-24. In addition, the 116th Canadian Men’s Amateur which features a 264-player field was scheduled to take place at The Glencoe Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alta. from August 3-6 – marking the 125th anniversary of this storied championship. The cancellations will mark the first time since the second World War where these two national championships will not be conducted.

Golf Canada has also announced that the National Orders of Merit will not be awarded in 2020. The purpose of the points-based rankings is to identify and give recognition top-performing male and female amateur and junior golfers across Canada who have achieved success in the golf season. The decision to not award the Orders of Merit was made recognizing the varying access Canadian golfers will have to domestic and international competitions, and the resulting difficulty in running an equitable ranking system. Golf Canada will look to resume the Orders of Merit on September 1st, 2020 for the 2021 rankings. For more information, please visit the National Orders of Merit page by clicking here.

Golf Canada and Golf Ontario previously announced the cancellation of the 7th annual World Junior Girls Championship, scheduled for September 30 – October 3, 2020 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 20 championships nation-wide which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf referees, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific, Sport Canada, Levelwear, Titleist and FootJoy. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions.

Moe Martin has served Golf Saskatchewan in many areas over the last 15 years.

From starting as a board member the Regina resident has transferred to a referee and usually works a couple tournaments a year.

Today Golf Saskatchewan focuses on Moe Martin.

One-on-one and group lessons are now allowed for golf instructors in Saskatchewan.

One-on-one lessons (with social distancing) have been allowed since the start of the golf season, group lessons (while following health guidelines) were given the go-ahead this week.

Golf Saskatchewan’s Manager of Sport Development Steve Ryde is a PGA of Saskatchewan professional and registered coach. He is currently working with two junior players under the High-Performace Program but will also be travelling to member courses to provide lessons for clubs without professionals or community coaches.

For more details on Golf Saskatchewan’s junior programming including lessons, Golf in Schools, and Future Links call 306.290.4880 or email sryde@golfsk.org

With all golf courses across Canada permitted to open, golfers are encouraged to post their scores when they tee it up this season.

Posting your scores is absolutely important to maintain a consistent Handicap Index as part of the unified World Handicap System.

As a safety measure under COVID-19 protocols, golfers are not permitted to use kiosks found at local clubs or pro shops until further notice to reduce social touch points.

Login at golfcanada.ca 

• Visit golfcanada.ca
• Click “Post a Score”
• Login using your member credentials
  • If you have forgotten your password, follow the prompts or click here
    

    

Post your score

• Choose the golf course
• Enter all applicable information
• Members are encouraged to post scores hole-by-hole in order to ensure the correct adjustment of Net Double Bogey (your maximum hole score for handicap purposes)

Post using the Golf Canada mobile app 

• Open the mobile app on your Apple or Android device
• Tap the Post a Score button
• Choose the golf course
• Members are encouraged to enter hole-by-hole scores
• Post your score

How do I track my stats?

• Members can enter their statistics for each game by selecting which stats they wish to maintain such as Fairways in Regulation (FIR), Putts, Penalty Strokes, Driving Distance etc.
• Post their score Hole-By-Hole and select “Yes” in the “Track Stats” bar.
• Enter in the statistical fields they wish to track and click “Post Score.”

How do I delete or edit a score?

Members can edit their scores at any time but can only delete an unedited score within 24 hours from the time the score was posted. After 24 hours or if an edit has been made, only the club administrator can delete a score. Scores that are edited will be denoted by a “#” beside the score in the scoring record.

• Click on the “Pencil” icon to the right of the appropriate score.
• Make the adjustment(s) to the score and click “Post Score.”
  • There may be some clubs that have changed their default setting (which may not allow golfers to edit or delete at all).

What if the course I played isn’t found in the directory?

If the club a golfer is looking for is not listed, please notify Golf Canada at members@golfcanada.ca or 1.800.263.0009 x4520. All member courses in Canada will appear in the course directory. Please note that courses that are not current members in Canada do not have valid course and slope ratings and scores from these courses cannot be entered for handicap purposes.

Not a member? Join Canada’s largest golf community here.

TORONTO – Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC have confirmed that the membership of St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto has agreed to host the 2021 RBC Canadian Open, with nearby Islington Golf Club housing the official practice facility for the tournament.

The two facilities were scheduled to host the 2020 RBC Canadian Open this week (June 8-14), prior to the event being cancelled because of international travel and government restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, we are very pleased with the overwhelming support by the members of St. George’s Golf and Country Club to host the RBC Canadian Open in 2021,” said Golf Canada CEO, Laurence Applebaum. “The cancelation of our 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic was disappointing and there is now a great enthusiasm as we pivot our full efforts alongside our partners and team of volunteers to making 2021 a great success. I want to thank the membership and the board of directors at both St. George’s and Islington for continuing in this journey towards what will be a truly special edition of the RBC Canadian Open.”

“We are thrilled to host the 2021 RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf and Country Club,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “As one of the top five golf courses in Canada, and one of the top 30 in the world, St. George’s is not only an incredible golf course but a world-class venue. Building off of last year’s momentum, we look forward to working together with our partners at Golf Canada and the PGA TOUR to make next year’s event one to remember.”

 

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We’re pleased to announce the 2021 RBC Canadian Open will be held @stgeorgesgcc with @islingtongolfclub as the Official Practice Facility ⛳️

A post shared by RBC Canadian Open (@rbccanadianopen) on Jun 10, 2020 at 6:55am PDT

A date for the 2021 RBC Canadian Open is not yet confirmed and will be made public as part of the PGA TOUR’s 2021-22 tournament schedule announcement.

St. George’s Golf and Country Club has previously hosted the RBC Canadian Open on five occasions, dating as far back as 1933 and most recently in 2010.

Part of the FedExCup and conducted by Golf Canada for more than a century, the RBC Canadian Open provides an opportunity for Canada’s top talents to compete against the world’s best golfers while also leaving a significant impact in the event’s host community. The RBC Canadian Open is proud to support the Golf Canada Foundation as the event’s official charity partner. Established in 1904, Canada’s national open golf championship is the third-oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC, Audi, Acushnet, Steam Whistle, Hilton, Levelwear, Coca-Cola and the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.