With school ending this week summer vacation plans are being put into motion for families across the province, and whether you are near the east-central area or don’t mind hitting the open road make McNab Regional Park a stop on your journey.

Nestled into the area just south of Watson, the park features everything a family, group, or single summer traveller demands for a memorable day, night, week, or longer. The park features an outdoor swimming pool, 30- and 50-amp campsites with both water and sewer service, and perhaps most importantly, a nifty nine-hole golf course. Interestingly enough, another area town with an adjacent park with similar amenities is approximately 30 minutes away in LeRoy. McNab manager Kim Mitchell said the step up the park near Watson has on nearby LeRoy Leisureland is location.

“We have travellers coming on Highway 6 which is always very busy, Highway 5 is always very busy,” she explains. “We tend to get a lot of people staying in our campground because we have a few more amenities in our campground. They stay and they come golfing.”

Like many small town Saskatchewan courses McNab’s is fairly wide open but tricky doglegs, water hazards, and longer distances for called for pars make the track a challenge for all levels of golfers. McNab is a par 35 and plays between 2,946 and 3,174 yards. With over 80 members in a town of 700 the club is profitable and features the weekly men’s, women’s, and mixed leagues. The course is also working hard to generate future members with a junior program according to Mitchell.

“Every Monday night, tee off is at 5:30 p.m. It is six dollars for the round of golf or whatever we do that day whether it’s different formats, best ball, scramble, or other games. We try to keep it fun for the various ages,” she said.

A round is very affordable for guests staying at the campground, nine holes is just $10.

McNab has a full slate of tournaments scheduled every year highlighted by their Watson Fire and Rescue Pink Ball Tournament on Sept. 8. The next tournament is the Ladies’ and Men’s 2 Person Scramble on July 14.

McNab is working with LeRoy Leisureland and two other nearby nine-hole courses on a neat summer promotion. If you pay the entry fee of $20 at your home course and keep your scorecards from St. Brieux, LeRoy and Hidden Meadows between now and Aug. 23 you could win a cash payout. Members pay half prize at the other courses; the promotion is labelled the Four Course Seasonal.

The full service clubhouse has recently seen renovations, they redid the carpet, took out a wall to make it more visually appealing and allowing in more sunlight plus the park purchased new tables and chairs. Mitchell said they have the staff and capability to add a few more revenue generating services.

“We are doing more catering and outside of golf events,” she said. “We can do anniversaries, weddings, grads, we can really do anything you need.”

The club is currently awaiting new cups, pins, and flags for the course and will be installed soon. Local sponsors will be featured on the hole locators and each member is asked to volunteer for few hours per season performing various tasks. Mitchell said they don’t mind and that the local support is crucial to their success.

“A tonne of local businesses and businesses from the surrounding communities that use this place give us what we need to run. I can’t thank them enough,” Mitchell said.

Aside from the golf course, the pool offers swimming lessons over the summer. The park is also installing a playground near the clubhouse.

McNab does cater to out-of-towners and that is a huge goal of theirs’s but providing summer time memories to locals is also critical for their board, bottom line and community.

“McNab Park is very important to Watson and the area,” Mitchell said. “It gives us the ability to have three kinds of recreation, golf, swimming, and camping. Without McNab Park here there would be people travelling larger distances to gets kids to a pool for lessons or an afternoon swim, and of course to golf.”

You can learn more about McNab on their website or call 306.320.7752.

With an original goal of raising $1,500 for Kidsport Saskatewan, Estevan’s Brian Fitzpatrick “crushed” the mark during his “longest day of golf” venture..

On June 22, Fitzpatrick and Carnduff’s Kris Carley played 115 holes at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course taking pledges and raising funds through gofundme for the provincial organization that helps kids get into sports that can’t due to financial difficulties. After playing for 17 straight hours, the sore and tired twosome spoke with discoverestevan’s Nick Neilsen.

“Today during the round quite a few donations came in through the gofundme page as well as people coming up to us saying you guys are doing a great job and giving us money,” Fitzpatrick said.

With a final tally of $4,300 raised as of June 25, Fitzpatrick was excited for the grand total.

“It was great,” he said. “I set a goal of $1,500 to start off with and we crushed that so it’s pretty amazing.”

Originally the plan was for Fitzpatrick to go about the initiative on his own with a goal of 90 holes, but Carley wanted to be involved in some way.

“When he started the gofundme and there was money coming in I wanted to donate to it but I didn’t know how I was going to do it,” Carley explained. “As I got thinking about, one guy out here if the course is full he’s going to be pulling his hair out. I sent Brian a message and asked if he wanted company for the day and he said that would be great. By yourself it would have been pretty boring, I thought I would come on board and I set my donation on how I played.”

The better Carley played; the more money would be raised.

“I figured playing was the best way to do it, I set my parameters at a dollar for par or worse, two dollars for every birdie and $10 for every eagle and I would match Brian’s too. I think I got us to about $185 today through all the holes played,” he said.

The official longest day of the year is June 21, but the Woodlawn was hosting a tournament forcing the pair to move the date a day later. They did battle some wind and rain during the day but overall they are very pleased with the turnout.

Fitzpatrick is delivering the money to the provincial Kidsport office in Regina on Wednesday.

Beginning in May of each year the Nipawin Special Olympics group runs a six week long golf program that culminates with a tournament on the Saturday prior to Father’s Day at the Evergreen Golf Course.

This year 24 players took part from Nipawin, Prince Albert, Tisdale, and Regina. Last year 17 players attended the event.

Betty Blue has been working with the Special O organization for over 25 years and said the once a week golfing program is very exciting to the athletes.

“They absolutely love golfing, they really do,” Blue remarked to Golf Saskatchewan this week. “I thinks it is getting more popular all the time for Special Olympians. They also get to see new faces and make new friends.”

The program includes weekly lessons at the course over the six-week period for the local players. One participant even travels to Nipawin from Tisdale to take part. During the tournament, fun is the key basis. The more developed athletes will play nine holes, the beginners play a best ball format and get through as many holes as possible, this year they played four which was an improvement from the year prior.

The event ends off with an award ceremony with medals and prizes. The Spot at the Evergreen catered a meal for the group as well which is also a highlight according to Blue.

“We try to have a meal that they don’t get at home because they all cook for themselves, so we go for something extraordinary,” she said.

All in all the program was another success this year and Blue said they will be back for another year. She added the work put in by volunteers, staff and the participants makes the event a memorable one each year on the calendar.

“I think it’s a great program,” she beamed. “I’d like to thank Derek (Tallon) at the Evergreen. He gives us so much stuff, he allows us to use his stuff clubs and carts. I think the main thing is everything went well, and everyone enjoys it.”

Wascana Country Club member Ryan McNall has his second men’s Order of Merit Tour (OMT) win of the season and sits first overall in the standings after claiming his fifth Publinx Championship.

McNall defeated Carson Harcourt in a four-hole playoff on Sunday at the Tor Hill Golf Course in Regina picking up 500 OMT points and vaulting over Lobstick victor Danny Klughart. McNall said he wasn’t on top of his game and some luck may have been involved.

“I grinded it out really, I didn’t hit it very good, I didn’t have much going,” he said.

After being three-over through five holes during round one, McNall battled back to finish the round at an even, 71. Jace Carlisle was the first-round leader at 68. McNall opened round two with a bogey, parred holes two up to 11 before another bogey at 12 dropping him to plus-2 and trailing Kipling’s Harcourt and his brother Shawn McNall. However he managed to birdie the par-five 16 and 17, a “tough” par three. McNall had a chance to birdie out on 18 to win but had to settle for par and the playoff.

“I heard had Carson finished even so I knew I was in a playoff, but I got lucky at the end,” he admitted.

The playoff started on hole 18, neither player could grab the edge until Harcourt got into trouble on hole 3 North allowing McNall the victory. Harcourt does pick up 400 OMT points and sits third overall. McNall hasn’t finished lower than third in four events this season. He said the amateur tour is enjoyable when the players are so competitive.

“It makes it fun for sure, you don’t have one guy that stands out,” he said. “In a tournament like that there is probably eight different guys that could win it. It’s always fun when it comes down to the end.”

Shawn placed third just a stroke back and earned 350 OMT points, he’s fourth in the OMT race. Carlisle placed fourth in the tournament, Travis Fifi rounded out the top-five just three strokes off the leaders.

McNall hasn’t played a national event since 2017 at his home course of Wascana, the mid-am. He said his strong start to the year has refueled his passion for competitive golf.

“I’m going to play in more tournaments than I ever have this year. We will see what happens with the OMT. Last year I didn’t go to nationals so I’m planning on doing that if I can qualify,” he said.

Next up on the tour is the Reliance Gregg’s Central Amateur at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club on June 29 to July 1. The province’s top amateurs will look to use the event as a tune up for the Golf Saskatchewan provincial amateur and mid-am at the same venue two weeks later.

Johnson finishes tied for sixth at Glencoe Invitational

Yorkton’s Kade Johnson finished in a tie for sixth place this past weekend at the rain shortened Glencoe Invitational in Calgary.

Sitting as high as fourth at one point with five birdies in round one, Johnson closed the second, and last round with back-to-back bogeys to finish the 36-hole tournament at two-over par. The event is a three-round championship, but Saturday’s 18 holes were rained out.

Saskatoon’s Ty Campbell was also in the field, he finished in 46^th place at 17-over par.

Kozak posts top-10 finish in Manitoba

Meanwhile in Manitoba at the City and District Championship in Carman, Yorkton’s Ella Kozak posted a 31-over par to claim a top-10 finish at the event.

The 13-year-old shot a 15-over, 87 during round one and an 88, 16-over during the second and final round of the championship that featured a field of 23 women amateurs, Kozak was the only junior entered.

Kozak’s card featured one birdie, 10 pars, 18 bogeys, and seven double-bogeys.

When dropping in taking free relief or penalty relief, your ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the defined relief area.

Click here to learn more.

When you decide your ball in a bunker is unplayable, under the 2019 Rules you have an extra option that lets you drop “back-on-the-line” outside the bunker for total penalty of two strokes.

Click here to learn more about the Rules of golf.

The RBC Canadian Open is always an event to remember. To make this a successful championship, RBC and Golf Canada rely on the hard work and dedication of volunteers.

Click here to learn more.

The Lynbrook Golf Club has a new 18-hole record holder.

As a dad of a four-year-old boy, Moose Jaw’s Nick Lepine will always feel special on Father’s Day, but the 2019 edition will have a lasting memory. Lepine shot an eight-under, 63 at his member club to set a new mark. Lepine didn’t start playing the sport regularly until he graduated high school but had Trevor and Craig Benson pushing him along the way. Lepine started off decent at the game and has continued to improve and enjoy it.

“Off the start it was just getting outside and doing your own thing, growing up I was a nature boy.” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “We’d go to northern Saskatchewan like Waskesiu and Elk Ridge, we’d get the first tee times and I just loved being out there.”

Lepine was fortunate to be a “mid-80’s” player when he first started but he’s worked on his game, took part in tournaments and had some success. He’s also participated in a trio of Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur Championships. However when he set out with friend Brett Sentes on June 16, he couldn’t forecast what was coming.

“I didn’t feel like it was nothing special,” he said. “I birdied the first two, but they are shorter par fives, so I was just playing my game. I got through number four, I usually give one back there because there is an out of bounds on the left and water on the right, it plays with your head a bit. I managed to get through that one unscathed. There is a couple shorter par fours, especially number six, I like to get a birdie there, but I just parred it. Then when I dropped the one on number eight for an eagle on the par four the brain started thinking, maybe this is the day? It could be a low one.”

He finished the front with another par on nine, the back began with another par before he sunk a second eagle on hole 11. Three straight pars got him to hole 15 with a solid chance at Trevor Benson’s low mark. Lepine then birdied both 15 and 16 setting up the final two holes needing to just stay even.

“There was a foursome on 17 and they were letting us through, as we were driving by Brett shouts out, oh Nick’s going for the course record!” he laughed. “That got me a little nervous, I was like what are you doing? What are you doing, he just laughed at me. I squeaked out two more pars and there it was man.”

“I can’t say I was doing anything different; it was just one of those rounds where the golf gods were watching me,” Lepine added.

He quickly did provide credit to his two friends and mentors at the Lynbrook.

“Golfing with Trevor and Craig, I know they have put up some pretty good rounds out there. To be able to beat Trevor’s record is a good feeling knowing where I came from. Golfing with them and getting to this point shows the way they taught me, all the good stuff that I picked up was all from them. I am very grateful to have them as friends,” he said.

He was also quick to give back to the sport and not become too secure in his game.

“That’s what attracts a guy,” he said. “I shot the 63 and then, it was windy, but I went out the next day with a buddy and shot 85. I was like what the heck?” Lepine chuckled.

He said he plays a couple rounds a week at the club, and another weekly nine holes with his son who likes to tee off and putt, and of course, drive the cart.

Rain may have washed out one of the rounds at this weekend’s Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) in Swift Current but 68 golfers took part in the event at the Chinook Golf Course.

In the MJT portion of the tournament 47 golfers took part across five different age groups. Regina’s Will Blake, 15, was the overall low shooter with a score of 70.  The Royal Regina Golf Club member was eight strokes better than Saskatoon’s Hudson Malinoski and 11 shots ahead of Chase Pochylko of Saskatoon in the boy’s juvenile (15 – 16) division.

Steven Duchscher of Saskatoon was the winner of the 17- and 18-year-old age group. He shot 73 on Sunday to hold off Kindersley’s Kyler Cote by two shots. Medicine Hat golfer Sam Bratvold, Cole Jenkins of Prince Albert and local product Griffin Wilson tied for third at 76.

In the bantam (13 and 14) category it was Alex Swinnerton taking the victory. The Saskatoon product shot 74, five shots lower than Weyburn’s Darien Herlick. Thomas Danielson (Saskatoon) and Brett Leonard of Corman Park tied for third with rounds of 80.

In the youngest age group, the peewee boy’s division (under 12) La Ronge’s Dade Bernatchez won his first MJT event with a round of 87. 10-year-old Jayden Chernoff of Estevan was second with a 92. Orkney golfer Cashton Yaremko carded a 99 to finish third.

Regina’s Autumn Neiszner was the lone female in the event, she shot a round of 82.

All the results can be found here.

The event also featured a round for younger golfers on the MJT Mini Tour. 21 players entered the tournament, the youngest being six-year-old Forest Wiebe of Swift Current.

He finished third in the under-eight category with a 112. Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte won the age group with a 94, Kellen Ross of Shaunavon was second at 108.

In the 9 – 10 boy’s division Jack Maharaj of Saskatoon won with a 90, 17 sots ahead of Quinn Cote of Shaunavon. Kyle’s Jace Wilson placed third with a round of 129.

Coben Taylor of Saskatoon won the 11 – 12 division with a round of 82. A pair of Eastend golfers tied for second, Jace Egland and Blake Girard posted a round of 88. Shaunavon’s Lyndron Ross shot 96.

Five girls were in the field broken up into two age groups, 9 – 10-year-olds and 11 – 12. Saskatoon’s Grace Odnokon won the younger division with a round of 111. Chloe Wills from Kyle shot 105 to be victorious in the older group.

All the Mini Tour results can be seen here.

The Saskatchewan MJT event is June 29 – 30 at Moon Lake Golf and country Club.

Saskatchewan has a second 12-hole golf course.

York Lake Golf and Country Club just outside Yorkton grew from a sand green, nine-hole course in the 1920’s to a full scale, picturesque 18-hole grass green track designed by coveted architect Les Furber but Mother Nature has since done some damage.

The course suffered severe flood carnage on two occasions in 2011 and 2014. With the back nine essentially destroyed by rain water the board of directors made a business decision to cut six holes and get to work.

“The floods destroyed pretty much everything,” Rick Schrader, the vice president of the board told GX94’s Benny Walchuk on Friday. “They tried to get the course back online but unfortunately we had another event in 2014 and it flooded again. If courses are set up to run as an 18-hole course and they go to a nine-hole course it’s like cutting your business in half.”

The board essentially decided to join Saskatoon’s Greenbryre as the second 12-hole facility in Saskatchewan. York Lake held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday to mark the occasion. Schrader said downsizing the course was the best route to take for financial stability.

“Being a business man all my career I look at cost over value, basically a 12-hole course time frame wise and cost wise is the most effective system in place right now for golf courses going forward. Time frame for people golfing and of course 33 per cent less grass to cut and 33 per cent less fertilizer and all those items,” Schrader said.

The weekend at York Lake is full of events to commemorate the redesign. On Saturday, the club is offering a special for golfers to try out the new 12 holes, you can golf the course for $12 per round. Schrader said there are many people to thank to the get the course where it needs to be.

“It was about two years of labour to get it all done and put it together. It worked out quite well, we had our own staff, we ran around, we did our own irrigation, everything was done by the guys working here and the volunteers. It was pretty decent,” Schrader explained,

The course is part of the York Lake Regional Park located just off Highway 10 near Yorkton. The club originated in 1926.