The sun is shining on a beautiful Saskatchewan day, you load your clubs ready to hit the links with friends, league night or for a quiet round on your own, but you see sand covered greens at your favourite course. The let down is there but aerating the putting surfaces of a course is crucial for the health of the greens.

Terry McNeilly has been the superintendent at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club (SGCC) since 1997. The Saskatoon product also worked at Beacon Hall in Aurora, Ontario and on the west coast at Furry Creek Golf and Country Club prior to coming home. He said there are several reasons clubs aerate their greens.

“We aerify to relieve compaction, get air to your roots, you want to release any gas build up below that could negatively effect your turf plant,” McNeilly explained to Golf Saskatchewan.  “We’re basically preparing the greens for winter and the heavy traffic of summer.”

The SGCC staff aerate their greens two times a year. Once in the spring and again in late August or early September. McNeilly said the timing of aerating is important to green health.

“We want to encourage deep roots, as the summer goes along and it’s hot and dry your roots tend to go from maybe six inches to four or less. You want to encourage deep root growth so they can take the wear and tear from the traffic of golfers and mechanical equipment,” he said.

Top dressing is an important aspect of the aeration process. McNeilly said proper sand must be used as well to do the job properly. He said the grains need to vary in size to allow proper drainage and water flow.

“The sand reduces compaction because it doesn’t compact,” he said. “It’s basically a bunch of different sized rocks you are putting in the holes and in between those rocks it allows oxygen and water movement down into the soil. It allows air in there that helps your roots grow.”

Weather plays a factor in the process as well. Weather dependant, McNeilly said it take two days for them to complete the aeration process.

“If your sand isn’t dry it tends to seal the holes when you drag it across the green and not drop down into the holes, so it almost trowels it. You want your sand to be as dry as possible, depending how sunny it is that day it has to sit there for a couple hours with direct sun for us to brush the sand into the holes,” McNeilly described.

The SGCC tries to work on the aeration process around golfer’s tee times and their annual September tournament. McNeilly said the process is not something his crew desires to do but it’s crucial to their green’s health.

“We’re not suckers for punishment, we don’t do this because we enjoy frustrating the golfers,” he said. “We do it for the health and future health of the greens. Aeration is the most important thing we do to the greens all year. It’s something we can’t get around and anybody that thinks they can is fooling themselves in my opinion.”

In July the best amateur men’s golfers will converge on the SGCC for the provincial amateur and mid-amateur championships. The course is in top form in early June and McNeilly said the players will have a tough test but nothing earth shattering.

“We’re not going to jeopardize the future health of our greens for any tournament or anything. We’re just going to provide them with a little quicker product than day to day but nothing crazy,” he said.

The Regina High School Athletics Association (RHSAA) golf championships took place Wednesday in the Queen City.

Almost 50 competitors took part in the one day, 18-hole tournament at the Murray Golf Club.

Martin Collegiate student Josh Babcock won the senior boys championship holding off Aiden Shanks and Adam Husli. Babcock fired 79 to edge Shanks by two strokes. Husli was only two back on route to a gold medal.

Junior Boys

Riffel High School student Hunter Kutcher is the junior boys golf champion for 2019.

Kutcher carded at 42 through the front nine at the Murray followed by a sparkling 38 on the back to secure the gold medal. Luke Cote and Will Blake, both out of Martin Collegiate won silver and bronze respectively. Cote was one back of Kutcher at 81, Blake posted a round of 84.

The boy’s results can be found here.

Girl’s Division

The gold medalist for the RHSAA girl’s category is Wascana Country Club member and Campbell Collegiate student Autumn Neiszner.

Neiszner cruised passed the field winning the tournament by 25 shots. She was the only golfer under 100 shooting a round of 78. Fellow Campbell athlete Alexia Gosselin won the silver with a round of 103.

Sol Park claimed the bronze with her round of 109.

The complete girl’s results can be seen here.

Most golf tournaments were cancelled during World War II due to motoring restrictions but started again as clubs reorganized in 1946. 

1940 Men: Moose Jaw Golf Club, July 2-5

Harry Burns of Regina Golf Club defended his Saskatchewan amateur title by defeating Angus “Scotty” Cameron, the winner of the Junior Championship.  The award for the best sand-greens player in the qualifying round went to Estevan’s Roy Sanquist.  After the first two rounds of Open competition Regina pros Tom Ross and Wilf Greenwood were tied for the title with 147 strokes.  The winner was declared the next morning after eighteen holes in the professional competition.  This turned out to be Wilf Greenwood who took both the Open and Professional titles.

For the first time a Juvenile event was held for boys under age 16.  The trophy donated by D.P. Pile of North Battleford was won by Par Fletcher, son of pro Fred Fletcher.  The Junior changed to a 36-hole medal competition, as the juniors could also compete in the amateur.

Edmonton was supposed to host the national championship in 1940 but the RCGA cancelled it due to the war, disappointing western golfers in particular.  

1940 Women: The CLGU Saskatchewan section had planned to hold their championship at Riverside Country Club but cancelled it. 

1941 Men: Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, July 7-10

There were 102 amateurs entered, 9 pros, 6 juniors and 4 juveniles.  Army dentist, Captain Bob Reid, decisively won the Amateur Championship, defeating his SGCC clubmate Bill Thorpe.  Kelly Carin of North Battleford was Junior champion.  The best sand-greens player in the opening round was Ralph Carin.  In a repeat of last year’s results in the Open, Wilf Greenwood and Tom Ross were tied at the end of the first two rounds with 148.  Greenwood shot a sizzling 69 the next day to establish a course record as well as win the Open.

The SGA annual meeting voted to open amateur tournaments to golfers who, because of their location, were unable to belong to member clubs.  Fees were waived for future tournament entries from members of His Majesty’s Forces. 

1941 Women:  Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, July 14-17

Margaret Esson of Rosetown won her third provincial championship, 5 and 4 over Isabel Dalby of Saskatoon.

Eight local rules were in effect for the tournament, including: #2: “A ball embedded in the putting green may be lifted and placed without penalty, as close as possible to its original position but not nearer the hole.”  Rule #5 stated: “If a player’s ball is not found on a fairway where the ball is supposed to have come to rest and gopher holes are in the vicinity, the ball may be deemed to have gone down a gopher hole, and a further ball may be dropped in the vicinity and played without penalty.”

1942 – 1945

No Saskatchewan Golf Association or CLGU Saskatchewan section tournaments were held from 1942 to 1945 due to motoring restrictions during the war.  Twelve to fourteen clubs listing 800-900 members continued to pay affiliation fees to the Saskatchewan Golf Association.  Reduced fees of about $22 were paid to the RCGA during these years.

The provincial Senior men’s championship, organized separately, was held at Wascana Country Club in 1942 and 1944 and at Regina Golf Club in 1943 and 1945. 

1946 Men: Regina Golf Club, July 8-11

After the war Newt Byers took up the reins as president of the Saskatchewan Golf Association and was reelected to the post the following year.  Now, fifteen clubs belonged to the SGA claiming a total of 1324 members.  Tournaments were reinstated and Regina Golf Club was chosen as the venue for the first post-war event.  There was a new optimism on the golf course as things got underway.  A columnist in the Leader-Post mused:

As they tramped over the rich green, carpet-like fairways of the Regina Club this week, golfers must have paused a moment to recall tournaments that were held when the deck was stacked against them.  They played in Saskatchewan when yawning cracks gobbled up balls on the fairways and there wasn’t a blade of grass this side of Winnipeg.  The dust blew and hordes of grasshoppers covered what was left of the greens.  Those were grim days.  But the golfers were like the farmers.  They stuck with it and rode out the storm.  This week they are competing over a layout that is a reward for their faith.  The smell of good, prairie earth is in their nostrils.  They bite into the turf with iron shots and smile when they get that solid feeling in their wrists and divots follow the flight of the ball.  Golf is a game to enjoy again.  (Leader Post, July 9, 1946, p. 12, Dave Dryburgh column)

The 1946 Amateur final match turned out to be a repeat of 1936 with the Reid brothers, both dentists, playing for the title.  Dr. Bob Reid, 29 years old from Prince Albert, prevailed again over Dr. Ben Reid, 30 years old from Regina, in a match that went to the 36^th hole.

Wilf Greenwood as an amateur again, not a professional, won the Saskatchewan Open with 143, his third Open title in a row after wins in 1940 and 1941.

Saskatchewan sent a Willingdon Cup team to Nationals, with expenses for the train travel to Edmonton shared between the national and provincial associations.  The provincial junior champion was Ernie Greenley, whose trip to compete at Nationals was covered by the RCGA.  To conform with dominion rules, the provincial age limit for future junior competitions was raised from 18 to 20 by a vote at the annual meeting.

The RCGA officially adopted the synthetic golf ball for all their tournaments in place of natural rubber balls.  Players could use either Canadian balls or the larger American ones.  (Bradley, p.89) 

1946 Women: Prince Albert Golf Club, July 15-19

In the championship match Rene Robbins of Regina achieved a hole-in-one on the 193-yard eighth hole on her way to defeating Alice Cooke of Prince Albert 2 and 1.

The annual meeting went on record as wanting the stymie to be taken out of match play.

[Note:  A stymie occurred in match play when one player’s ball was on the putting green between the hole and the opponent’s ball.  It could not be lifted out of the way unless the two balls were within six inches of each other.  When the USGA and the R&A finally issued joint Rules of Golf in 1952, marking and lifting a ball on the putting green was allowed regardless of the distance between balls.  That’s when stymies were no longer a factor in golf.] 

1947 Men: Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, July 7-10

Pat Fletcher, SGCC professional, won both the Saskatchewan Open and the Professional event, with Par Fletcher (young son of Freddie Fletcher) placing second in both.  The Amateur Championship went 39 holes, the longest in the event’s history, before Geoff Cooke, son of Prince Albert’s golf professional, prevailed over Elliott Andrew of Saskatoon.

The annual meeting of the SGA confirmed sending the junior champion and the Willingdon Cup team to Quebec City for nationals.  It was decided that in future the executive of the SGA would consist of the elected officers plus the presidents of affiliated clubs.  With a reduction in affiliation fees it was hoped that smaller clubs in the province would join the association. 

1947 Women: Wascana Country Club, August 25-29

Saskatchewan selected a team to go to the first post-war inter-provincial tournament in Toronto consisting of the two finalists in the provincial tournament, Mabel Palko and Gladys Rideout, along with Rene Robbins and Eileen Price.  Robbins and Palko were listed nationally as having handicaps of five and six respectively. 

1948 Men: Prince Albert Golf Club, July 1-4

In the Saskatchewan Amateur, Claude Shackell beat his clubmate from Prince Albert, Eric Ridington, on the 37^th hole.  Pat Fletcher, the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club pro, won both the Open and the Professional categories, taking home $300.  He broke the P.A. course record with a three under par 68 and finished with a score of 139, the best since the start of the Open event.  Ernie Greenley won the Junior Championship and a trip to nationals in Hamilton, ON, along with the Willingdon Cup team of Shackell, Ridington, Gordon Beattie, and Cliff Soberg.

At the annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Golf Association, Dr. Ben Reid was re-elected president, and vice-presidents were elected for both northern and southern regions.  A new “dollar plan” from the RCGA was adopted for collecting one dollar from each affiliated golfer to be split between the national and the provincial associations.  Saskatchewan contributed $625 for this year, up from the $60 it had been sending.

Ernie Holiday was Saskatchewan’s long-time representative to the RCGA.  In 1941 when he was reelected it was noted he had held that position “for some years.”  He was instrumental in the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club being awarded the 1950 Canadian Amateur.  He golfed at Riverside Country Club and excelled as a competitor in tournaments around the province.  The golf community was saddened when he passed away suddenly just as the 1948 Saskatchewan tournament was about to start. 

1948 Women: Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, August 2-6

The provincial team was chosen through a point system based on trials at their home course during the season as well as the annual tournament.  The champion, Phyllis Barclay and her final match opponent, Mabel Palko, were joined by Mrs. Van Impe and Rene Robbins on the trip to nationals in Saint John, NB.

The Saskatchewan Section of the CLGU consisted of ten clubs with 805 lady members. The annual meeting adopted the dollar-a-year plan to raise money for the team fund.  The provincial tournament was closed to golfers from other provinces.

1949 Men: Willowdale Golf Club, Moose Jaw, June 30-July 3

After the first day of competition at the provincial tournament the Star-Phoenix suggested that it would probably go down in history as the “big blow” event.  “Playing in a fifty-mile-an hour gale that almost blew the golfers off Moose Jaw’s rugged Willowdale course and sent scores skyrocketing, Tom Ross, veteran Regina Club pro, captured the Saskatchewan Open crown.”  (Star-Phoenix, July 2, p.14)  During two rounds Ross scored 183, 23 strokes over par.

Cliff Soberg eked out a 2 and 1 win over Bill Woolley for the Amateur Championship, and joined Gordon Beattie, Clarence Ashworth and Bob Gray on the Saskatchewan Willingdon Cup team.  Along with the Junior Champion, Bob Turner of Saskatoon, they travelled to New Brunswick to compete at nationals. 

1949 Women: Regina Golf Club, August 8-12

A 14-year-old competitor made her debut on the golf scene:  Joanne Goulet won the long-drive contest for the bronze division and made an impressive showing in her matches, causing the Leader-Post reporter to predict, “she’ll likely be heard from in future years.”

Rene Robbins and Phyllis Barclay, the finalists, along with Mrs. Van Impe and Eileen Price were chosen for the provincial team and competed in Vancouver at nationals.  Four Saskatchewan women golfers had a handicap of six or under.

Attracting a lot of attention at the 1946 provincial tournament were the Kaddy Kars brought in from Edmonton by Tom Ross, the Regina Golf Club professional.  These were described as “nifty little two-wheeled affairs for toting golf clubs around the course”.  (Leader Post, Jul.8, p.12)

This publication was produced by Saskatchewan golf historian, Lori Harvie. Golf Saskatchewan thanks Lori for the contributions. 

With what started as a casual golf conversation over coffee with a co-worker, Blair Lothian took it upon himself to get an eye-witness account of every 18-hole, grass green golf course in Saskatchewan, two decades later the bucket list is complete.

In late May, the retired 60-year-old SaskTel employee used the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club’s “member for a day” promotion to play his 60^th course and wrap up his provincial tour. Growing up in Carlyle, Lothian has always been an avid golfer, as his life progressed he stopped short of saying the sport has become an addiction, he simply says he’s passionate. The first “qualifying” course he said he played was Golf Kenosee, which makes sense being a youngster from the region. Lothian explained that he can’t recall the first course he played regarding this task, if he had teed off at a course prior to his idea to play the courses he didn’t make a point to revisit the club. Of all the courses he’s visited, he said one private club in Saskatoon stood out.

“Riverside Country Club,” he said to Golf Saskatchewan via email. “The entire course is so meticulously maintained and includes spectacular views along the South Saskatchewan River.”

Although he pointed to the Bridge City club as his favourite he said the province boasts several amazing facilities.

“There are many fantastic courses in Saskatchewan, Golf Kenosee, White Bear, the Evergreen in Nipawin, and Dakota Dunes all come to mind. My home course of Deer Valley has one of the most beautiful natural layouts in the province as well and the rebuilt 12^th green is only days away from being in play,” Lothian said.

Many of the rounds he played alone, but in 1998 a group of his co-workers started an annual trip playing courses in Saskatchewan. The group of golf fanatics “christened” the event the “The Spackler,” named after Bill Murray’s famous character from Caddy Shack. The friends even got their own green jacket for the winner to proudly where. He said one trip took them to Blueberry Hill Golf Course near Livelong, SK. During the round a proud peacock strutted onto the course. One of the group quickly quipped, “I wonder what those taste like?”

“It’s a pet!” replied the course owner, much to the hilarity of the rest of their playing partners.

When asked about memorable shots or moments Lothian recounted a mid-week round at York Lake in Yorkton, which is now a 12-hole facility that wouldn’t make Lothian’s list today. He said he was close to that magical ace, but he was alone.

“I hit my tee ball solid and right at the flag, but then strangely as the ball was in mid-flight I had a brief anxiety attack as it occurred to me that as I was playing alone, what would I do if it went in?” he said. “The elevated heart rate was short lived as the ball rolled over the edge of the cup and about six feet right past.”

He did secure his first, and only hole-in-one on March 27, 2015 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Aside from playing the many beautiful courses the province has to offer, Lothian said the people he’s met and just the roads leading far and wide across the province added to the value of his completed mission. He said many trips stand out for more than the golf.

“Perhaps most memorably was the trip on the July long weekend in 2014,” he recalled. “At this point I had four courses remaining to play, Riverside and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, and two in the northwest, Meadow Lake Golf Club and Northern Meadows near Goodsoil. My wife (Val) and I drove up there for the singular purpose of playing these two golf courses. We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Pierceland that was spectacular in every way. One is very far north and west at this point in Saskatchewan, so we drove 50 mins to Cold Lake, Alberta for dinner one evening.”

Lothian’s passion for the game continues and he is now spreading his golf experiences across North America and across the ocean. He recently attended a practice round at Augusta National during the Masters, he’s going to take in an Open practice round at Royal Portrush and in July he’s “fulfilling a lifelong dream” of playing the Old Course at St. Andrews.

The Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate (SSSAD) held their 2019 golf championships Monday (June 3) at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club.

St. Joseph student Sarah Grieve won the girl’s gold medal by four strokes over Halle Hindmarsh of Aden Bowman. Grieve posted a 43 through the first nine holes, she finished the back at 46 to cap the 18 hole event at 89. Jadyn Hue, also of Aden Bowman placed third after shooting 103.

In the senior boys age group, which is grade 11 and 12 students, Bedford Road’s Parker Dale edged Holy Cross student Josh Nagy in a playoff. Both golfers were tied at 78 at the completion of the round. The pair went toe-to-toe posting identical scores of 37 through the front nine and 41 on the back. Carter Wingert placed third, just a stroke back. The Centennial Collegiate golfer lost the deciding shot on the front nine of his round.

The junior boys (grade 9 and 10) category also went to a playoff with Centennial athletes Jackson Wingert and Alex Swinnerton battling for the gold medal. Wingert came out on top over his classmate. The pair swapped strokes over the 18 holes, Swinnerton had a four shot lead after nine holes but Wingert battled back after the turn to force the playoff with both players tied at 76. Chase Pochylko of Aden Bowman picked up the bronze medal, he was just a shot back.

You can see the complete results here, including the overall team standings.

ANCASTER, Ont. – Now that Mackenzie Hughes is a two-time winner of the Rivermead Cup as low Canadian at the RBC Canadian Open, he’s looking for a bigger prize this week.

The Dundas, Ont., golfer, who will tee it up about 10 minutes away from where he grew up starting Thursday at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club, is one of 26 Canadians looking to end one of those most prominent droughts in sport in this country.

“Being the low Canadian has been nice the last couple of years, but I certainly come here hoping to get a different kind of trophy,” Hughes said at a news conference Tuesday. “I know it’s a big ask and we only get one crack at the Canadian Open every year, but I feel like I’ve been trending in the right direction. Especially at this tournament the last couple years, I’ve been playing well. It’s just a matter of putting it all together for four rounds.”

Pat Fletcher was the most recent Canadian to win the event in 1954 – and the pressure only intensifies for Canucks with each passing year.

But Brooke Henderson managed to end another lengthy golf drought last year, becoming the first Canadian since 1973 to win an LPGA Tour at home as she captured the CP Women’s Open in Regina.

With eight Canadians seeing fairly regular time on the PGA Tour this season and many more getting their shot on the top circuit this week, there are plenty of opportunities for the host country.

Hometown fan favourite @machughesgolf chats #golf ahead of this week’s #RBCCO ??⛳️ pic.twitter.com/4Drwvn3Lfz

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) June 4, 2019

Hughes figures to have some of the most vocal support. He tied for eighth last year at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., the best result for a Canadian since David Hearn was third in 2015. Hughes also was low Canadian in 2017 at Glen Abbey, tying for 32nd.

The 28-year-old is coming off a tie for eighth at the Charles Schwab Classic and just missed his second career PGA Tour win earlier this year in the Dominican Republic, settling for a tie for second.

“I think there’s an advantage for sure (playing close to home),” Hughes said. “I’ve got some comfort and familiarity walking around the property knowing certain holes and how they play in different winds. Granted, it’s been a long time, but I still have the rounds logged here to know this place pretty well.”

Hughes made his PGA Tour debut at the Hamilton course in 2012, shooting 1-over 71 in both rounds and missing the cut.

“I didn’t know what to expect back then,” he said. “It was my first PGA Tour event and it was a little more deer in the headlights than it is now. Now, I feel quite comfortable and ready to play golf rather than just get caught up in all the distractions.”

Hughes knows he’ll see many familiar faces at the course – he ran into his Grade 6 teacher this week. He’s embracing the attention.

“I’ve been through this now the last few years. definitely the last two,” Hughes said. “When I came here in 2017, I had won the (PGA Tour’s RSM Classic) the prior fall. I had a bit of experience dealing with extra requests. It’s all part of playing in you’re home country, especially when you’re playing close to home. I don’t think it really takes too much energy out of you. It’s just about managing your time and making sure you need to get what you need to get it done.”

After a pro-am event Wednesday, the first round of the 72-hole tournament is Thursday.

Marquee groupings for the first two rounds include a trio of Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., with Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald, a threesome featuring Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., with previousCanadian Open winners Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk and an all-Canadian trio of Mike Weir, Nick Taylor and David Hearn.

Four of the top six golfers in the world rankings are in the event this year – No. 1 Brooks Koepka, No. 2 Johnson, No. 4 Rory McIlroy and No. 6 Justin Thomas.

Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation, along with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton Catholic District School Board, announced today a number of youth initiatives that will make the 2019 RBC Canadian Open more junior-accessible than ever before, while creating a meaningful golf legacy in the Hamilton Wentworth region.

When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you play good. If the old adage is correct, adidas Golf Canada should have you playing some solid golf.

Whether it’s shoes, pants, shorts, polos, outerwear, or hats, the global company has you covered right here at home in Saskatchewan. When you think adidas, the first thing that does come to mind is shoes. Saskatchewan-Manitoba-Lakehead Territory Sales Manager Paige Lawrence said they are led by the new Tour 360 XT Spikeless but the brand has much more to offer.

“We have Sports Performance which is what most people are used to,” Lawrence explained to Golf Saskatchewan. “That’s where you will see our standard polo that we’ve been selling for 20 years it has seen technology improvements through the years. It’s also where our Ultimate Shorts is as well, the number one shorts in golf. We actually just released a Sergio 20^th anniversary polo, it’s a great showcase of how styles and technology have changed over the years”

With golf becoming a more stylish, cool sport adidas is working to keep up with trends both on and off the course. Part of that venture is the Adicross silo launched last year.

“It’s more of an on course, off course business or casual line,” Lawrence said. ‘We still have polos, but we have Range Henley and t-shirts offered as well. That’s something you will see guys on the range with, it doesn’t have a Tour presence just because it is a little more casual. With golf becoming a more accessible sport we’re trending more casual as well so we’re seeing Adicross doing well in it’s infancy.”

Prairie golfers are well acclimatized to the ever-changing weather patterns during the summer, not just daily but often hourly. Morning and evening players will experience the fluctuations more regularly and Lawrence says they have that aspect covered as well.

“Within all our silos we have lots of different options,” she said. “We do a Climawarm which you will see within the adidas brand overall. It’s true to its name, it’s meant to be worn on those cold mornings, so nothing stops you from getting on the links”

adidas is staying ahead of the curve through their various brands but the company is staying true to their roots as well with the Adipure line. The brand was relaunched in 2017 Lawrence said.

“That is true to our heritage, true to golf,” she said. “It’s a little bit more traditional and you only see it at golf courses. Adipure pays attention to detail making it a great business line on and off the course”

Top ranked PGA Tour players Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are on the adidas golf roster assisting in making the brand very popular among men, but their LPGA roster is helping boost the profile of women’s golf as well. Danielle Kang, Paula Creamer, and Jessica Korda are sport adidas on the women’s pro tour. Lawrence said the growing demand is something they are working hard to keep up with.

‘We’re trying to grow that business as well. Within adidas Golf after the divestiture we have seen a big change. Our adidas Golf Canada team is almost 50 percent women now so obviously new insights will allow for new ideas. We are looking to continue serving all areas of the marketplace and become Best in Class within the industry” Lawrence added.

adidas Golf Canada is available at proshops across Saskatchewan as well as GolfTown and SportChek stores and online.

Saskatchewan’s reigning Women’s Order of Merit Tour (OMT) champion has kicked off her 2019 with a victory.

Saskatoon’s Kim Brown cruised to a seven-stroke victory on Sunday in the Ladies Northern at the Cooke Municipal Golf Course. Brown fired two consistent rounds of 76 and 78 to outlast Pauline McDougall and Sherry Anderson. Brown said opening the campaign with a victory is a great way to start the season.

“The Northern is always my first tournament of the year so you never know how it’s going to go when you haven’t been playing a lot, but everybody is in the same boat, shaking off the rust,” Brown told Golf Saskatchewan. “It felt good, it was good to have good weather on a great golf course, it was really nice.”

Brown admitted she got off to a rough start on day one but fired one under par on the back nine during round one to set herself up for a chance to win her first Ladies Northern. A solid start to round two opened a wide lead before she stumbled with a triple-bogey on hole 14 set her back. She said she rebounded nicely and finished strong on route to the win.

“I faltered a little bit coming in,” she laughed. “I had enough of a lead, and I hung in for the next few holes and I ended up birdying 18, so I finished strong. That happens, you have your ups and downs and I guess at the end of the day it was enough to get it done.”

McDougall, a ten-time Cooke women’s champion shot 77 on day one and 84 during round two. Anderson (right) ended up as the senior champion carding rounds of 79 and 83. Abra Thompson and Ann Kirkland tied for fourth at plus-18.

Women’s Golf Day

Every June 4, Women’s Golf Day is celebrated by players, courses, and facilities around the world. Saskatchewan and Canada are true to form working tirelessly to promote the game across all genders.

Brown has been involved with golf almost her entire life going back to being on the course with a best friend. As she grew and continued to play and become an excellent athlete, so did her list of friends and colleagues. Brown said that’s what makes the game special to her.

“You have so many good friends that come back year after year. The course and tournaments are a place you get to see your friends,” she said. “Obviously you enjoy spending time with them, the bonus is we’re doing something we love to do. We get to be outside, play golf, and do our best.”

A prime example of the comradery and supportive mentality of the women’s game was on full display in Prince Albert this past weekend. Both McDougall and Anderson shaved their heads in support of Carole Rucks, who is a cancer warrior. Rucks was in the field of the Ladies Northern. A fundraising event involving the head shaving was held at the Rock and Iron Sports Bar at the PA Golf and Curling Centre. Brown was among the attendees and said the event spoke volumes for women’s golf and sports in general.

“I think that really summed it up,” she said. “I said at the course on Sunday when I addressed the players that were there, I said this is why we’re here. We’re here to support each other, remember each other, and have each other’s backs. What Sherry and Pauline did is a real testament for what we can do for events and supporting each other.”

The “Cuts for Carole” campaign resulted in approximately $13,000 in funds raised that will be directed to the Victoria Hospital Foundation and the chemotherapy room.

Junior girl’s golf is also something near and dear to Brown’s heart. She mentioned how a good friend of hers was a young golfer, so she got into the game to spend time with her. Eventually the skill set developed and Brown found ways to play along boys in events or other supportive avenues at her golf club. She said now the leaders of courses and coaches need to branch out, think outside the box and find creative ways to not only elevate competitive female junior golfers but positive recreational opportunities as well.

“There is going to be very competitive girls and it’s going to be about that, but there is going to other girls where it’s about having their friends and having a social circle around them. We have to find ways to offer those things that are going to keep that one girl,” Brown said.

Women’s Programming

Golf Saskatchewan has several programs in place for women’s programming. Ada Mackenzie Day is a 10-day long event that raises funds for junior golf development. You can fill out a form prior to playing a round at a member club, contribute two dollars and be entered to win prizes.

Upwards of a dozen courses offer Canada Day events over a stretch of days at the end of June and into early July. Again, two dollars can get players involved in across any handicap bracket.

Golf Fore the Cure events have also teed off in Saskatchewan with many more to come. Money raised during these one-day events goes back into battling cancer and raising awareness against the disease. Last year Elk Ridge’s event brought in well over $20,000. Their tournament will be held on July 11.

 Celebrating Saskatchewan’s Best

The province has had several women golfers accomplish amazing feats on the course, and off it.

The Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame has 11 women inductees led by the late, great Joanne Goulet. You can see all their accomplishments here.

Currently the Saskatchewan woman making the most noise on the course is Saskatoon’s Anna Young. The five-time women’s amateur champion is playing Mini Tour events and chasing her LPGA Tour card. She recently competed in the CP Women’s Open last year in Regina at the Wascana Country Club, making her LPGA debut. She has two professional tournament victories.

World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, World No. 4 Rory McIlroy and World No. 6 Justin Thomas along with past Major champions Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson and Henrik Stenson headline exciting field for Canada’s National Open Championship

Canadian tournament exemptions include 2019 Web.com Tour winner Michael Gligic; European Tour player Austin Connelly; PGA TOUR China winner Richard Jung;  PGA TOUR Latinoamerica winner Drew Nesbitt; and Team Canada members Joey Savoie, Josh Whalen, and Chris Crisologo

Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson, and Mike Weir headline list of 20 Canadians set to compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club from June 3-9.

HAMILTON (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the US$7.6 million purse at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

World no. 2 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will try to defend his title against a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars led by World No. 1 and 2019 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. World No. 4 Rory McIlroy along with World No. 6 Justin Thomas will make their RBC Canadian Open debut and will be joined at Hamilton by former Masters champions Sergio Garcia, Danny Willet and Bubba Watson.

Other notable additions to the field for the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include FedExCup leader Matt Kuchar, Major champions Zach Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Jason Dufner, Padraig Harrington, Keegan Bradley and Jimmy Walker, along with former world No. 1 Luke Donald.

Johnson, a 20-time winner on the PGA TOUR, and Kuchar, a nine-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players at Hamilton Golf and Country. Team RBC has seen unprecedented success in 2019 as Ryan Palmer, Graeme McDowell, Canadian Corey Conners, Johnson, and Kuchar have all won on the PGA TOUR.

Other Team RBC players competing including world no. 19 Webb Simpson, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion, including at Hamilton in 2006; along with fellow Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, and Roger Sloan round out the contingent.

“The field is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory and we’re ready to welcome the best players in the world teeing it up at the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship,” said Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “This year’s championship features a great mix of stars from all around the world, more than 30 combined Major titles and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to challenge for our National Men’s Open title. Along with great golf, we’ll be offering fans so many great on-site experiences from our key partners, a new food initiative to try some of Hamilton’s best restaurants, and thanks to the RBCxMusic Concert series, fans can take in music from Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons on Friday and Saturday.”

In total, 156 players will compete for the US$7.6 million purse next week in Hamilton when the RBC Canadian Open returns to the storied club for the first time since 2012 and sixth time ever.

Click here for a full field list for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open

PGA TOUR Season Winners…
A total of 11 in-year PGA TOUR winners (accounting for 13 PGA TOUR titles in 2018-19) will compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club led by two-time winners Brooks Koepka (THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, PGA Championship) and Matt Kuchar (Mayakoba Golf Classic and Sony Open). Other 2018-19 season winners include Kevin Tway (Safeway Open), Adam Long (Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open), Dustin Johnson (WGC-Mexico Championship), Rory McIlroy (THE PLAYERS Championship), Graeme McDowell (Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship), Corey Conners (Valero Texas Open), Ryan Palmer (partnered with Jon Rahm at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans), and Sung Kang (AT&T Byron Nelson).

Past Champions…
Two past winners at Hamilton Golf and Country Club will be returning to familiar territory this year as 2006 winner Jim Furyk and 2012 winner Scott Piercy are in the field this year. Furyk also won the 2007 Canadian Open. Two other past RBC Canadian Open winners in the field at Hamilton are Brandt Snedeker (2013) and Dustin Johnson (2018).

The 2003 RBC Canadian Open was contested at Hamilton and won by Bob Tway. His son, Kevin Tway, will be in the field.

Twenty Canadians to compete for the National Men’s Open Title…
Leading the Canadian contingent at Hamilton will be Abbotsford, B.C. native and world No. 77 Adam Hadwin, who will return to Hamilton to play in his 10th RBC Canadian Open. Other confirmed Canadians include past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes of nearby Dundas, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. round out Canada’s PGA TOUR contingent along with Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir, making his 28^th start at the Canadian Open.

Canadians receiving exemptions into this year’s RBC Canadian Open include Ryan Yip of Calgary along with Toronto natives Richard Jung and Drew Nesbitt.

Three members of Canada’s National Men’s Team—Joey Savoie of LaPrairie, Que., Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. and Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont.—have also received exemptions.

Dual-citizen and European Tour player Austin Connelly of Claire, N.S., who was recently announced as one of Canada’s representative for the upcoming Pan-Am Games in Lima, Peru, will play his third RBC Canadian Open.

Burlington’s Michael Gligic, a winner on the Web.com Tour in 2019, has earned a spot in the field as the highest-ranked golfer on the Web.com Tour’s season-long points list who played on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada in 2018.

Marc-Etienne Bussieres of Quebec earned a place in this year’s RBC Canadian Open after finishing No. 1 on the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit in 2018.

Local resident Michael Blair of Ancaster, Ont. won the Ontario Regional Qualifier to earn his spot in the field and amateur Matt Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. earned his spot by winning the Quebec Regional Qualifier.

Each of the 21 Canadian players in the field will look to become the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat in 1954.

Two-time reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur Zach Bauchou of Forest, Virginia along with 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Joseph Deraney of Lexington, Kentucky will also compete at Hamilton.

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
Following the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, the winner will earn an exemption to play in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

The final four exemptions into the field for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Qualifier on June 3, to be played at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.

Tickets for available rounds of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open can be purchased at www.rbccanadianopen.com.