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.

A chip in from the fringe was inches from falling to secure Pat Marcia a Scotia Wealth Management Open win on the 36^th hole of the event but as fate would have it the victory took another 600 yards.

Marcia could have earned the win on the 18^th hole at the Evergreen Golf Course on Sunday via sinking a chip but a solid second round effort from Lloydminster’s Clint Schiller forced a sudden death playoff in the event. Marcia went left off his tee shot during the playoff hole, the 600-yard hole one. Schiller was true up the middle, after two shots each golfer was just approximately 75 yards shy of the green. Schiller landed his approach on the dance floor; Marcia hooked his shot a tad too far and right onto the back fringe. The Regina based Canadian PGA professional showed some fantastic touch chipping in for birdie putting the pressure on Schiller and his 12-foot putt. Schiller just lipped out giving Marcia his first Scotia Wealth Management Open title.

“This feels fantastic,” he said after the win. “The Evergreen is one of my favourite courses in the province. I come back here all the time, it’s awesome.”

Marcia had a very similar chip shot on the 36^th hole to win and he just slid it by the hole.

“I just said I have one chance to win here, give it your best shot,” he told Golf Saskatchewan about the moment. “Luckily I was able to make par and get to a playoff and get it done.”

The victory was Marcia’s first in the event. He has been in the final group three times and has been second place on two occasions. He said getting the victory was a little bit surprising at this point in the season.

“I definitely didn’t see it coming, my game was not trending in the right direction, but I like where it’s at after this, this is great. It was pretty cool in the playoff to chip in there, it was a pretty special moment” he added.

After round one, Marcia was tied with amateurs Danny Klughart (Prince Albert) and Drew Kocur (Regina) at one-under, 70, the group was the last to tee off Sunday. Schiller was three back going into round two and posted a 70 of his own to force the playoff. Marcia said having an event with both professionals and the top amateurs across the province the field is tough to beat.

“Danny and Drew hit it so good, they are young guys with a lot of strength, they were pounding it by me all day. They are very impressive. This is really cool, there’s not a lot of tournaments in the province where us professionals get to play with amateurs and mingle. This is truly is one of the strongest field of golfers in the province because of it,” Marcia said.

Klughart ended up in a tie for third along with Regina’s Ryan McNall, who is fresh off a Regina Amateur Men’s win. Cory Sawchuk of Prince Albert rounded out the top five. A handful of players were tied for sixth at plus-five.

The complete results can be found here.

Golf Saskatchewan is dishing out over $12,000 in scholarships to golfers across the province.

The annual Saskatchewan Academic and Golf Excellence (SAGE) Scholarship program presents scholarships to assist deserving member golfers in their pursuit of high school and post-secondary academic excellence. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Sport and Championships, Steve Ryde said the organization always enjoys handing out the bursaries.

“Congratulations to all the bursary and scholarship winners this year. We hope the bursary and/or scholarships assist your studies in the classroom for the next stages of your life and also on the golf course. We’re very happy to assist the scholarship recipients in their educational pursuit,” Ryde said.

The following student-athletes are the 2019 recipients:

•Graham DeLaet Scholarship #1 (valued at $1,500)
Kade Johnson, Deer Park Municipal GC, Yorkton

•Graham DeLaet Scholarship #2 (valued at $1,500)
Carey McLean, Deer Valley GC, Deer valley

•Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Bradley Moser, Riverside G&CC, Saskatoon

•Ron Young Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Marc Sweeney, Willows GCC, Saskatoon

•Kozy Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Carson Harcourt, Golf Kenosee, Kipling

•Cooke-Kinnear Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Cory Sawchuk, Cooke Municipal GC, Prince Albert

•Fletcher-Reid Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Jace Carlisle, Estevan Woodlawn, Estevan

•Leddy-Heywood Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Griffin Wilson, Elmwood GC, Swift Curren

•Meredith MacPherson-Stalwick Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,074.06)
Veronika Duchscherer, Evergreen GC, Nipawin

•Dr. Garry Hayes Memorial Scholarship $1490.70/2 (valued at $745.35 each)
Tyler Buffalo, Golf SK Public player, Saskatoon
Joshua Guthrie, Cooke Municipal GC, Prince Albert

•Golf Saskatchewan High School Bursary (valued at $400)
Sarah Grieve, Willows G&CC, Saskatoon
Lauren Fox, Public Player, Creighton
Autumn Neiszner, Wascana G&CC, Regina

The scholarships are rewarded, based on their academic achievements in high school and post secondary programs.

For more information on our scholarship program click here or contact our office.

16.3 Embedded Ball

1. When Relief Is Allowed

(1) Ball Must Be Embedded in General Area. Relief is allowed under Rule 16.3b only when a player’s ball is embedded in the general area.

• There is no relief under this Rule if the ball is embedded anywhere except in the general area.
• But if the ball is embedded on the putting green, the player may mark the spot of the ball and lift and clean the ball, repair the damage caused by the ball’s impact, and replace the ball on its original spot (see Rule 13.1c(2)).

Exceptions – When Relief Not Allowed for Ball Embedded in General Area: Relief under Rule 16.3b is not allowed:

• When the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less, or
• When interference by anything other than the ball being embedded makes the stroke clearly unreasonable (for example, when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush).

(2) Determining Whether Ball Is Embedded. A player’s ball is embedded only if:

• It is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke, and
• Part of the ball is below the level of the ground.

If the player cannot tell for sure whether the ball is in its own pitch-mark or a pitch-mark made by another ball, the player may treat the ball as embedded if it is reasonable to conclude from the available information that the ball is in its own pitch-mark.

A ball is not embedded if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke, such as when:

• The ball is pushed into the ground by someone stepping on it,
• The ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, or
• The ball was dropped in taking relief under a Rule.

DIAGRAM 16.3a: WHEN A BALL IS EMBEDDED

For an interesting video of whether or not a ball is embedded, watch and listen to the Referee and Matt Kuchar at the Memorial PGA Tournament.
https://golf.swingbyswing.com/tour/kuchar-pleads-with-two-rules-official-for-relief/?e=[md5_email]&e1=[sha1_email]&e2=[sha256_email]

Remember the Rules Matter!

If you are interested in the Rules, start your Rules of Golf education here.

The Weyburn Golf Course’s (WGC) Ladies Club has teed off on a fundraising campaign for a new irrigation system for the facility.

The club recently contributed $15,000 back to the Weyburn course that is part of a fundraising campaign with a goal of almost $1 million that will revamp their watering system. Ladies Club President Andrea Corrigan said the group has put funds into other large expenditures, but the irrigation system needs help.

“We put new carpet in the clubhouse, we bought new tables and chairs, big ticket items,” she said. “We have nearly $20,000 in our bank account and we are always buying a dishwasher or flowers, but what can we do to help this course out? Well they need a million-dollar irrigation system, let’s start with that.”

The ladies Club has hosted a very popular tournament every year since 2000 that has raised substantial funds. The group also has their weekly league with skins and 50-50 draws to build up their account. Corrigan said the amounts add up.

“Over the years when you are only doing $36 in 50-50’s for a week or something but $4,000 later that helps towards that $15,000. We’re very proud as a ladies club to help out that way,” she beamed.

The Weyburn Golf Club is celebrating their 100^th anniversary this summer. They hosted a par three tournament on May 11 to help kick off the season. The club is holding their Legacy tournament on July 13 with all funds going towards the irrigation system and inducting two lifetime members to the course.

The WGC is also home to PGA Tour professional Graham DeLaet. Fixing the irrigation system and preserving the course is important to Corrigan for the community’s sake and DeLaet’s legacy.

“We’re very proud of Graham, anywhere we go we hear it. My husband and I have been to the President’s Cup when Graham was playing in it,” she said. “We’re very proud to be not only Canadian but that Graham is part of the Weyburn Golf Club, that’s where it started for him. It doesn’t matter where you live, we all need help and it starts with groups like us.”

Corrigan is a long-time board member with the WGC and said years ago they priced an irrigation system, at that time about ten years ago it was $425,000. The cost has since doubled, she said the time to rebuild the infrastructure is now and the city will benefit.

“We’re the skating rink of the summer, they don’t understand that and it’s tough sometimes, but we need to get this done.”

The course now has a fundraising thermometer displayed in the clubhouse tracking their goal.

THE THIRTIES

Golf courses were plagued by drought conditions and grasshoppers during the Thirties and the provincial economy was disastrous.  The Saskatchewan Golf Association continued to operate with income derived from affiliation fees paid by golf clubs in the province, totaling between $160 and $195 a year.

Championship tournaments were held every year for the men’s Amateur, Junior and Open events.  After collecting tournament fees, paying out Open cash prizes of $50 for first place then $25, $15 and $10 for the next placings (or purchased prizes if the winners were not professionals) and paying an honorarium to the secretary, the association showed a small profit most years.

1930 Men: Moose Jaw Golf Club, July 14-18

Home course must have been an advantage since two Moose Jaw players were in the final match of the Saskatchewan men’s amateur, with Tom Russell winning 6 and 4 over E. Alguire.

After sending a team to Jasper last year, the Saskatchewan Golf Association voted to support further inter-provincial team play with a $50 contribution.  A committee was set up to choose a Saskatchewan team resulting in four young amateurs being sent to compete at the Royal York Golf Club in Toronto – Tommy Russell and Dale Belford from Moose Jaw, and Phil Morse and W. Kinnear from Saskatoon.  Over the decade rail travel expenses were paid for teams to attend five other inter-provincial competitions in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa, London, and Montreal.

1930 Women: Regina Golf Club, August 11-15

Forty-six golfers entered the provincial women’s competition – eight from Moose Jaw, five from Saskatoon and thirty-three from Regina.  Mrs. Gill of Moose Jaw set a new course record with an 86 on Tuesday, but ultimately lost the championship final to Gladys Rideout 7 and 6.  Myrtle Creighton was elected the new president and also took the putting contest. 

1931 Men: Riverside Country Club, August 17-20

Most golf clubs in northern Saskatchewan were represented as 170 competitors registered for play in the amateur and open tournaments.  Twelve professionals from the three prairie provinces competed in the Open followed by a Professionals’ two-day event at the new layout at the Saskatoon Golf Club.  Matches were scheduled four minutes apart.  Twenty-two-year-old Phil Morse of Saskatoon GC won his third Saskatchewan amateur title in four years, defeating A.R. (Buck) Buchan of Regina Golf Club who was playing in his first major tournament since arriving from Scotland three years earlier.  N.C. Byers was thanked for his financial assistance for the Willingdon Cup team.

1931 Women: Saskatoon Golf Club, August 17-21

The women’s tournament was at the Saskatoon Golf Club while the men played Riverside, but that must have presented some difficulties as they voted to schedule a different week in the future.  The association planned to further junior girls’ golf in affiliated clubs.

Gladys Rideout won her third consecutive provincial title and her fourth overall by defeating Hilda Yule of Riverside, four and three.  There was a lot of interest in the mixed two-ball foursome handicap event as forty-two couples took part.

1932 Men: Regina Golf Club, August 8-11

Saskatchewan Golf Association president Russ Smith and his son Ken both made the quarter-finals of the Amateur.  Two 17-year-olds from Saskatoon, Otto Anderson and Jack Millar were the Amateur finalists, playing in heavy wind and a steady drizzle of rain.  A hardy Regina gallery of about 100 followed the play which was won by Millar 4 and 3.  The junior competition kept getting pushed back as the young men competed in the Amateur and a junior champion still had not been declared at the end of all other play.  This led to a discussion about the age bracket for the junior event.  Otto Anderson eventually won the junior competition.  Joe Lund was declared the Open winner and Hugh Fletcher the runner-up.

The 1932 Senior Men’s Championship was held in Moose Jaw with eight players registered.  Brigadier General George Tuxford won on the 13^th green over James Balfour of Regina.

1932 Women: Moose Jaw Golf Club, August 15-19

Scorching sun made the climb through the ravines and gullies of the Moose Jaw course exhausting for the competitors.  The championship consolation flight became known as ‘the waffle iron flight.’  A beautiful green-handled electric waffle iron was the much-admired and discussed prize donated by the National Light and Power Company and it ultimately went to Saskatoon with the flight winner Mrs. G.H. Anderson.  Myrtle Creighton, Saskatoon, won the championship over Mrs. W.L. Taylor of Regina, 5 and 3.

Miss Agnes Rorison of Moose Jaw was mentioned as presiding over the annual meeting, and later as past-president, so she must have taken over from Mrs. J.H.S. Garrett who had been elected president at the 1931 annual meeting.

1933 Men: Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, August 14-17

The provincial amateur tournament attracted 162 entries plus twelve professionals in the Open.   Dr. George Bigelow became the first Saskatchewan player to win both the Amateur and Open at the same tournament.  He had been Saskatchewan Junior champion in 1926 then became a member of the golf team while studying at Edinburgh University.  He entered the British Amateur in 1931 before he returned to Regina with his dental degree.  He defeated William Turnbull of Saskatoon 6 and 5 for the amateur title.  Bigelow and Tom Ross of Regina were tied at 150 after the regulation two rounds of the Open but Bigelow won the nine-hole playoff by one stroke.  Ross received $50 cash for the Open, followed by R.C. MacWilliams of Regina, Hugh Fletcher of Moose Jaw, and Walter Kinnear of Saskatoon.

1933 Women: Regina Golf Club, August 7-11

Gladys Rideout of Regina regained the provincial title, defeating Mabel Palko of Saskatoon 4 and 3.  Over 200 spectators followed the final match and they clapped in appreciation at the quality of golf they saw.

Wilkie women’s golf club became affiliated with the CLGU Sask. branch.

1934 Men: Regina Golf Club, July 30-August 2

Ken Smith of the Regina Golf Club won the amateur championship, resulting in his name being engraved on the Balfour Cup eight years after his father Russ Smith won in 1926.  His hole-in-one on #7 contributed to an excellent round.  Tom Ross won the Open.

The Taylor Cup was an annual award presented to the amateur player from a sand greens course (not Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw or Prince Albert) with the lowest score in the qualifying round.  Roy Sandquist from Estevan won it in 1934 and in 1935.

The SGA decided against sending a team to Montreal for the Willingdon Cup.  A committee was tasked with investigating handicapping systems in other parts of the country with the objective of having a similar system in Saskatchewan.

1934 Women: Riverside Country Club, August 6-10

Virginia Brown of Regina defeated Nan Winton of Saskatoon one up for the provincial championship.  Sir Frederick Haultain presented the prizes to winners of the four flights, the handicap events, and the mixed foursomes.

The women’s association wanted to send a competitor to the Canadian championship and voted $100 toward the expenses of the provincial champion or runner-up.  “In the event of the champion or runner-up being unable to make the trip to the east, it was decided that any member of the Saskatchewan Section in the East at the time of the tournament with a handicap of 16 or under be asked to represent the province in the tourney.” (SP Aug. 8, p.11)  However, no Saskatchewan representative attended the national event.

North Battleford G&CC became affiliated this year.  Inter-club matches were encouraged between smaller clubs.  A junior competition was desired for the next year.

1935 Men: Moose Jaw Golf Club, July 15-18

Dr. George Bigelow, now a dentist in Tisdale, won his second Amateur after being runner-up the previous year and winning in 1933.   “He is the cleverest long iron shot player in the Province and his temperament is ideally suited to tournament golf” was the opinion of Star Phoenix reporter Riddell. (July 19, p.15)  He won 5 and 4 over Gordon Beattie of Regina.  Hugh Fletcher took the $50 top prize money in the Open.

1935 Women: Moose Jaw Golf Club, August 12-16

Virginia Brown of Regina easily defended her provincial title by defeating Mabel Palko 6 and 5.  Host club Moose Jaw won the team competition and a local couple won the mixed foursomes.

In 1935 inter-provincial matches became part of the national championships being held in Vancouver.  Mabel Palko (SGCC) and Jean Menard (MJGC) were the first Saskatchewan women golfers sent to a national competition.

Fifteen clubs now belonged to the Saskatchewan Section of the CLGU.  As usual, pars managers and handicap managers were elected for both the North and South of the province.

1936 Men: Prince Albert Golf Club, July 13-16

This was Prince Albert’s first occasion to host the provincial tournament.  Two young brothers from Regina Golf Club, 19-year-old Bob Reid and 20-year-old Ben, both won their semi-final matches on the eighteenth hole to reach the championship final.  Bob dominated the final match 11 and 10 and also won the longest drive contest during the week with a 272-yard drive.  The inter-provincial team of Bob Reid, George Bigelow, Cam Willis and Ken Smith traveled to Winnipeg for the nationals, with their meals and rail tickets of $192.90 covered by the SGA.

It was decided that next year there would be a second day of play for pros to compete for a money prize instead of their participation only in the one-day Open.

As had been the case for many years, the prize presentation ceremony was presided over by Sir Frederick Haultain, the Chief Justice of Saskatchewan, and an enthusiastic golfer himself.

1936 Women: Wascana Country Club, August 10-14

Fifty-six golfers registered for the tournament, with sixteen from outside Regina.  Two of the younger players pitched a tent near the course as their home for the week.  The tournament committee’s innovation of serving sandwiches and cold drinks to players as they went to the tenth tee was much appreciated.  A busy social calendar was scheduled including a banquet with entertainment at the Regina Golf Club attended by 100 guests.

As the tournament progressed it was noted that some golfers “developed a serious case of ‘creekitus,’ a disease commonly found near the Wascana course.  They found that high balls from most of the tees often hit hard slopes and popped, without hope of recovery, into that winding waterway that crossed or bordered seven or eight fairways.”  (StarPhoenix, Aug 12, p.10)

The headline in the Leader-Post stated “Golfing history written as 15-year-old rules the roost.”  Margaret Esson of Rosetown had been impressing all week and a large gallery admired her easy-going swing and hard, straight shots when she prevailed 4 and 3 over Margaret (Marnie) Macmillan of Riverside Country Club in the final.  Unfortunate mix-ups and the high cost prevented Esson from travelling to nationals in Montreal to represent the province.

After a discussion at the annual meeting, it was unanimously agreed that only registered caddies could be used in the future, not relatives.

1937 Men: Riverside Country Club, July 12-15

103 players competed in the 1937 men’s amateur with Arnie Lozo of the Saskatoon G&CC finishing one up over Eddie Wiseman of Regina for the title.  Wilf Greenwood of Regina defended his Open Championship title.  Regina pro, Tom Ross, won the professional event with 293, topping fifteen other competitors.  Mickey Pyke of Humboldt won his first junior title.  The inter-provincial team of Bob Reid, Cam Willis, George Bigelow and Arnie Lozo travelled to Ottawa for the national event.

1937 Women: Saskatoon Golf & Country Club, August 9-13

A field of 82 played the SG&CC course with the women’s par at 78.  Club pro William Kinnear’s daughter Mae was the qualifying round leader after shooting 88.  The championship match saw Gladys Rideout, who was outdistanced off the tee by young Margaret Esson of Rosetown, use her deadly short game to her advantage, only winning on the eighteenth hole.  Rideout’s first provincial championship was in 1926 and this was her sixth time claiming the title, as well as   one time when she lost the final on the second extra hole.

The first Saskatchewan team of four was sent to nationals in Winnipeg and consisted of Rideout and Esson along with Virginia Brown of Regina and Mrs. R.W. Thorpe of Saskatoon G&CC.

1938 Men: Waskesiu Golf Club, July 4-7

Waskesiu Golf Club hosted the provincial championships for the first time and there was an excellent turnout of 139 competitors.  “This week’s tournament will offer an excellent test of golf as it will be the first provincial tourney ever played on all watered fairways and greens” stated the StarPhoenix.  The number of trees golfers faced at Waskesiu compared to prairie courses awed the competitors and gave rise to a parody quoted by Walt Riddell (StarPhoenix 1938, Jul.6, p.11):

I think that I shall never see

A hazard rougher than a tree

A tree o’er which my ball must fly

If on the green it is to lie;

A tree which stands that green to guard

And makes the shots extremely hard;

A tree whose leafy arms extend

To kill the mashie shots I send;

A tree that stands in silence there,

While angry golfers rave and swear.

Niblicks were made for fools like me

Who cannot ever miss a tree.

Dr. George Bigelow won his third provincial championship, defeating Doug Lemery of Saskatoon, one up.  Tom Ross won both the Open and Professional events.  The inter-provincial team of George Bigelow, Ken Smith, W. Spriggs and H. Kilburn competed in London, ON. 

1938 Women: Prince Albert Golf Club, August 1-5

Fifty golfers took part in the women’s event but it turned out to be ‘Margaret Essen week’ in Prince Albert.  The 17-year-old had the lowest score in the qualifying round, set a course record with a score of 76, helped the Saskatoon Golf & Country Club win the team event, then won the championship title over clubmate Mable Palko on the seventeenth hole.  It had already been decided that she would represent Saskatchewan at nationals in Ottawa based on scores turned in during the season.  There she turned in a score of 85 in the qualifying round then defeated former Scottish and British champion Nan Baird 6 and 4.  In the second round of match play Margaret took thirteen holes to dispose of Winifred Evans of Vancouver who had just defeated Ada Mackenzie.  A gallery of four hundred turned out to watch her next match, unnerving the teenager, as she lost to Mrs. Walker, a British Curtis Cup player.  Margaret was listed in the national rankings with a handicap of two.  

1939 Men: Regina Golf Club, July 3-6

Two Regina Club members met in the amateur final, with Harry Burns handily defeating Dr. Ben Reid 7 and 6.  Tommy Ross, pro at the Regina Golf Club, set a course record of 65 (seven under par) the day before the tournament started.  He went on to win the Professional title for the fourth consecutive time, scoring 292.  Mickey Pyke won his third junior championship in a row, playing out of North Battleford this year instead of Humboldt.  He also won the award for the best sand-greens player in the qualifying round.  The team of Doug Lemery, Bill Turnbull, Don Ross and Mickey Pyke travelled to Montreal for the inter-provincial championship.

The Saskatchewan Golf Association honoured its long-time secretary, J.P. Runciman of Regina, upon his resignation.

1939 Women: Regina Golf Club, August 7-11

The fourth time that Mabel Palko competed in the championship final was a breakthrough as she finally won the title on the eighteenth hole over Mrs. Balbirnie of Regina.  Close to 300 spectators followed the match.  Other events held during the week were long drive competitions, pitching, putting and mixed foursomes.

The national women’s championship for 1939 was cancelled.

A new driving range in Saskatoon in 1932 gave golfers an opportunity to hone their game.  ”The  Swat ‘Em Golf Course on Avenue A North near the Normal School is one of the few driving ranges in western Canada.  At this course, golfers may practice shots for hours without the trouble of walking after or looking for balls.  In addition, there is a competent golfer in charge to give advice to players having trouble with their drives or iron shots.  A putting green forms part of the layout and is useful for practice.”  (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, May 12, 1932, p.18)

Golfers looked forward to trying out a white rubber golf ball being introduced by Bobby Jones after three years of research.  “It will clean more readily than a painted ball and will carry at least five yards farther.”  (Star Phoenix, May 12, 1932, p. 19)

The 1939 CLGU Yearbook advertised golf clubs designed for women by Walter Hagen, available in three styles at Simpsons priced from $4.00 – $5.75 for irons and $5.00 – $7.00 for woods.  Spalding also featured special women’s clubs.

For those interested in a golfing holiday outside the province in 1935, Canadian Pacific advertised a package trip to Banff for $100.  It included a first-class rail ticket from Regina to Banff with a lower berth, accommodation and meals at the Banff Springs Hotel, and green fees for seven days.  The golf tournament was the sixth annual competition for the Prince of Wales trophy.

This publication is courtesy of local golf historian Lori Harvie.