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.

Phase 3 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan kicked in Monday including bars and restaurants being allowed to open for dining in, golf clubhouses are included in the allotment.

Courses across the province posted updates on their social media channels that their facility was opening at 50 per cent capacity with physical distancing still being maintained. The restrictions are lifted for outside patios as well, again at 50 per cent capacity.

Along with the opening of certain businesses indoor gatherings are increased to 15 people from 10, outdoor gatherings can be help with 30 people in attendance.

Other golf course alterations announced on Friday afternoon include:

• Golf cart restrictions have been removed. Individuals are encouraged to only share a golf cart with members of their extended household.
• Washroom facilities in the clubhouse and on the course can be opened with increased cleaning and disinfection, with only one individual allowed at a time.
• On-course food and beverage service (beer cart/snack shack, for example) can resume service subject to the Restaurant and Licensed Establishments Guidelines in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

Several courses have inquired with Golf Saskatchewan regarding the status of shotgun starts. Mass starts are still prohibited. Tee times are still set at 12 minutes apart from the first hole the course chooses.

Championships

Golf Saskatchewan is continuing to work with the province of Saskatchewan and the Business Response Team regarding the potential hosting of provincial championships.

Our organization will make an announcement on the status of the Saskatchewan amateur events in June.

We continue to focus on our volunteers and thank them for their countless hours giving back to golf. We caught up with Regina resident and current vice-president Larry Wagman this week.

Tucked away just east of Tisdale along the banks of the Doghide River sits one of Saskatchewan’s top nine-hole golf courses.

Nearing its 100^th anniversary, the Tisdale Riverside Golf Club (TRGC) winds over the water seven times with picturesque tee boxes over well-maintained fairways and greens. Playing from 2,500 to 2,900 yards and have slope rating of 110 to 133 the TRGC offers rounds suitable for all level of players.

Superintendent Marc Anderson, a born-and-raised Tisdale product said there are several holes that could be considered the club’s signature.

“There aren’t too many nine-hole courses close to us and we can probably say we’re the best because every hole is unique,” Anderson explained to Golf Saskatchewan. “Number one has a tree that’s over 100 years old in the middle of it and number four is with it. The two par-threes, one is hitting over a fountain onto a green, the next is across the river, a long par three. You get into back half where you are secluded by yourself, which is nice. Eight is another one along water. It’s a short par-four but it’s hard to play, it’s unique. Our greens now are probably better for this area than the 18’s around the area. People know we have some of the best greens around this region.”

Like most small-town clubs’ maintenance is kept at a steady pace. The club has recently planted trees, upgraded the cart path, build a new on course, fully serviceable washroom, and purchased new equipment. Five years ago the TRGC underwent a $250,000 flood mitigation project. President Shirley DeMarsh said the project was a huge development.

“Our course floods each year; a lot of the course is underwater, and it took a long time to dry and even after a major rain storm it took a long time to dry so we had a major project and we did a lot of fundraising. We had a professional (Golf Shape Construction) come in and do some landscaping to make it drain better. That’s helped us a lot, we have a lot more playing time now,” DeMarsh said.

Built in 1923, the club transitioned from sand to grass greens in the early 1970’s.

Also dating back in time is the beginning of the annual Falkner Men’s Tournament. This year is slated to be the 86^th annual event named after Don Falkner. The event features a match-play championship round and a live bagpiper at the first tee. The Lions host their annual tournament at the course as does the local RCMP detachment. The club conducts a club championship, a couples’ tournament and an annual women’s tournament. The Riverside launched a two-day member/non-member two-man event last year as well with solid success. The club hosts several leagues too with ladies playing Tuesday’s and Wednesday afternoons, men’s night is Wednesday, the seniors have their league on Thursday. The club has a few mixed nights sprinkled into the season as well.

The course is adjacent to a campground, baseball diamonds and has a driving range. Clubhouse and Campground Manager Bev Hamm said there is more than golf offered at the facility and in the town.

“We host anniversaries, class reunions, weddings, the swimming pool is here, mom and dad can drop the kids off at the pool and come for a round of golf,” Hamm said. “We really feed of the backs of each other in this community. Our RECplex is second to none.”

Hamm beamed that they had three weddings scheduled at the club this season, two unfortunately have been postponed due to COVID-19. She said last year a couple had their wedding at the course with the bride being from “beautiful B.C.” but when she saw Facebook photos of the TRGC she wanted her wedding at the course. The dance occurred under a tent on the driving range.

To learn more about the TRGC visit their website or call 306.873.42222.

The PGA of Canada will hold their annual general meeting virtually on Thurday, June 4.

The meeting was originally planned for May 21 in Elbow at Harbor Golf and Resort. The purpose of hosting the event on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker was to celebrate the two-year presidency tenure of Mark Patterson, the head pro at the club.

Golf Saskatchewan was able to sit down with Patterson, and PGA of Canada CEO Kevin Thistle to discuss the last couple years for both of them in their relatively new roles.

TORONTO – Due to border restrictions, mandatory quarantines for those entering Canada and gathering restrictions in all provinces because of COVID-19, the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announced that it is canceling its 2020 season.

“With growing uncertainty surrounding the border and the 14-day quarantine regulations, among other factors, we’ve weighed all of our options and concluded that it is not feasible to play this summer,” said Mackenzie Tour Executive Director Scott Pritchard. “With the safety of the communities we play in mind, as well as the well-being of our players, sponsors, tournament-organizing committees, volunteers and golf course staff, we came to the realization that this is the best decision for everyone involved.

“We also wanted to be considerate of our players and their desires to play golf,” Pritchard added. “Understanding the complexities that this pandemic has caused, we knew it wasn’t fair to leave our members in positions that might prevent them from pursuing other playing opportunities elsewhere while waiting to see what transpired in Canada.”

The 2020 season was set to be the Mackenzie Tour’s eighth, with 13 scheduled tournaments— the most in the Tour’s history.

“We had built a lot of momentum coming into this season, and we were excited to continue making a positive impact in the communities where we play, while also providing opportunities for our players to progress to the PGA TOUR,” continued Pritchard. “Our commitment to our tournaments and their local communities, as well as our players, is unwavering, and we’re going to use this time to come back stronger in 2021.”

The Tour has already sent Mackenzie Tour members information regarding eligibility for the 2021 season. Status for prior members will be based on Order of Merit results from the 2019 season, with the top-60 players exempt.

Meanwhile, players who earned status at the three-completed 2020 Qualifying Tournaments will retain status for the 2021 season, and those Qualifying Tournament entrants yet to compete will be guaranteed spots at a 2021 qualifying site.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the formation of the Golf Industry Advisory Council, a volunteer group comprised of experienced professionals who will bring a golf industry voice to support Golf Canada’s Board of Directors and management team.

Reporting to Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, the Golf Industry Advisory Council will be composed of eight to 13 members with backgrounds, skill sets and experiences from across the golf landscape. The Council will include course owners and operators; club general managers; golf course superintendents; PGA of Canada professionals; and executives from the golf equipment, apparel and footwear industry.

“Deepening our engagement, dialogue and collaboration with course operators and the Canadian golf industry at large is core to Golf Canada’s strategic plan and the catalyst to forming the Golf Industry Advisory Council,” said Golf Canada President Charlie Beaulieu. “The expertise of the Council will be extremely impactful in providing the Board and our management team greater understanding of the priorities and critical activities of our golf industry partners with whom we share a commitment to the overall health of the sport. ”

The Council Chair will be designated by Golf Canada’s Board of Directors and may serve a maximum of two one-year terms. Members of the Council will be nominated by the Officers of Golf Canada (President, 1^st Vice President, 2^nd Vice-President and Immediate Past President) along with CEO Laurence Applebaum in consult with the Chair and staff representative of the Council.

Golf Canada Adjusts Composition of its Board; Welcomes Two New Directors

In addition to the formation of the Golf Industry Advisory Council, Golf Canada’s Board of Directors has also adjusted the composition of the Board from a fixed number of 11 members to a more flexible model of eight to 13 members which will include the new Industry Advisory Council Chair as well as an additional Director at Large.

With this adjustment, Golf Canada is pleased to welcome two experienced golf industry leaders as new Directors on the Board—Clublink Chairman and CEO Rai Sahi as well as Shawn Evans, President and CEO of Golf North Properties. Between Clublink and Golf North, Sahi and Evans collectively represent 85 of Golf Canada’s member clubs.

Sahi and Evans join the Board of Golf Canada which includes Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que. (President); Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont. (1^st Vice-President); Dale Jackson of Victoria (2nd Vice-President; Rob MacDonald of Winnipeg; Susan MacKinnon of Calgary; David McCarthy of Toronto; Adam Daifallah of Montreal; Jean Stone-Seguin of Ottawa; Patrick Kelly of Vancouver; Paul Beaudry of Calgary; and Alison Chisholm of Miramichi, N.B.

adidas Golf Canada has had to alternate their approach to selling products during COVID-19 but Territory Manager Paige Lawrence is looking forward to another season.

Based in Moose Jaw, Lawrence also covers Manitoba making her season a little tougher to navigate during the pandemic. She admits there was some questions heading into year and getting courses prepared ahead of proshops and stores opening, but the brand is working through the pandemic.

“This year obviously looks quite a bit different,” Lawrence told Golf Saskatchewan. “Stuff is slowly coming together. I think every course is a little different to depending on where they’re located. Like I said, we’re working together to come up with a plan and hope we can make a successful year with something that might have been a step back to begin with.”

Proshops were able to open with restrictions in Phase 2 of the “Re-Open Saskatchewan plan on May 19. That includes golf shops such as Golf Town.

“It was crazy, it all happened pretty quick,” Lawrence added. “We could kind of see the writing on the wall, but middle of March the world looks a lot different. At the beginning we were finding everything is changing so quick so we’re trying to come up with our best model of business to help our proshops out. Now we’re hitting our stride and we’re understanding what the proshops our needing, what our customers are needing, we want them to have the most successful year they can.”

New for 2020

A new spikeless shoe termed Code Chaos by the global brand headlines their 2020 golf footwear line.

Lawrence said the company expanded from their comfort zone with the design but produced a fantastic product.

“It’s a great performance piece,” she said. “We have a mid-cut boa that is a little bit younger trending. That doesn’t mean you have to be young to wear it, but it’s different looking shoe so I think it took some people by surprise. Being a footwear company we’re looking to push the envelope a little bit and see how comfortable the golf industry is with trying some new stuff out.”

“If you’ve ever had an adidas runner ever in your life you know what you are getting into. We keep growing and we keep new trying stuff, but they’re pretty tried and true,” Lawrence added.

Lawrence said the adidas staff is continuing to work from home. She mentioned they could expand travel and in-person visits but for now home is still their bases and safety of their clients, customers, and themselves is top priority.

Lawrence joined Golf Saskatchewan via Zoom earlier this week.