Following a weekend Rules of Golf clinic this past weekend in Winnipeg and Montreal, 150 golf referees are now certified at Level 3 across the nation. The nation’s governing body has been holding seminars across the country leading up to the 2019 season.

Dan Hyant was an instructor at four of the clinics including the Winnipeg event. He said with approximately 150 new Rules of Golf changes coming into play this year there was some resistance among officials and recertifying but overall the sessions went well.

“Knowing the old Rules of Golf for a few years made it an easier transition for 2019,” Hyant told Golf Saskatchewan. “The new book is simpler to read so that made it easier. For those jumping in now they’ve never experienced the version that’s older and maybe a little more complex to read but for the most part everyone was fine with the changes.”

The new certified referees are the most Golf Canada has seen in the last five or six years according to Hyant. 170 people took part in the seminars with 20 attendees not receiving certification, but he said the success rate is good.

With so many changes taking place this year, Hyant said there are some challenges for current and new referees as well as instructors.

“I think referencing new definitions and terminology is certainly going to be challenging. I mean we’ve used the same old words so often. Just getting used to the subsections again, I think the rules are similar to the old code but certainly shortening them from 34 to 24 and knowing the subsections is going to take some time,” Hyant said.

Saskatchewan had four referees become Level 3 certified in Winnipeg. Terry Gaube, Jim and Linda Walker, and Kevin Duchscherer all recertified and are important Golf Saskatchewan volunteers. Among the course attendees in Winnipeg there was referees from Alberta, Manitoba, and Chicago, Illinois. Hyant said having someone involved from America brought a different perspective to the sessions.

“It was good to hear his perspective in terms of how things are operated down there, and how he has gone through his rule exercises,” he said. “Hopefully was can get him up here to officiate when he retires.”

Jack McDonald of Kamloops and Golf Saskatchewan Executive Director Brian Lee assisted in instructing the weekend course.

Any rule referees that have recently completed their Level 1 training can expect emails from Golf Canada regarding upcoming Level 2 sessions that will be taking place either this spring or next year.

The Harbor Golf Club & Resort recently upgraded their kitchen to keep up with a growing demand in the food service the course offers.

According to Operations Manager, Amanda Holland the clubhouse located on the shore of Lake Diefenbaker in Elbow saw the kitchen receive a “total gut job” ahead of the season. The space was expanded, and new equipment was purchased creating a more efficient work space. Holland said the need for expansion and upgrades were there due to increased demand.

“Our catering is growing as well,” she said. “Not only do we deal with the restaurant daily and catering for tournaments but we’re doing more catering for outside groups. Just having the space to do multiple events on one day made sense.”

The 18-hole golf course played host to Golf Saskatchewan’s 100^th Amateur Women’s Championship last summer as well as the Senior Women’s Championship. The Harbor also hosted Golf Saskatchewan for their annual volunteer appreciation day at the end of last year’s season.

Elbow’s population is approximately 350 people, but Holland said the summer is very busy due to their location on the lake. She said the club needs a top-notch clubhouse facility to deal with the increased traffic.

“During the busy season when there is more people here than just those that just live here year-round being able to accommodate and keep up in those times is important,” she said.

Holland said staffing levels have stayed on par in recent years despite being busier. She said the efficiency of the new space should help and for now they will stay status quo. She did say staff had a few things to learn but overall the kitchen is being well received by everyone.

“The first few days of opening there was some growing pains figuring out the new space but once they figure it out it will be so much better to function. The staff will be so much happier in their environment,” she said.

The par-71 course plays between 5,800 and 6,300 yards from the varied tee boxes. Several holes feature picturesque views along the lake making for a memorable round at the course. Holland said the ownership group and staff, including PGA of Canada President Mark Patterson work hard to keep up with the everchanging industry.

“It speaks to our majority shareholders, Rick Letts and Les McTavish and their vision to try to ensure this course stays current and improves. It’s pretty important to not only the community but the business as well,” she said.

The Spiritwood Golf Course already offers a fantastic 18-hole, grass green track for players to enjoy but within the next couple years, seasonal and overnight campsites will be added to the facility.

Ron Schira and four other partners, all with roots deeply planted in the small northwest Saskatchewan community purchased the course in 2013. Schira said keeping the course viable and entrenched in the town’s fabric was important to them.

“We wanted to see the Spiritwood Golf Course continue to offer that great service for the residents and the people that come to the area,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “It’s such a beautiful course, we wanted to protect the legacy it had developed over the past 20 plus years.”

The group knew when purchasing the property there was plenty of work to do. Now six years into the venture, the partners feel they are at a place to expand and increase service to the region.

“Making money at a small-town golf course isn’t easy, it requires a fine-tuned operation. It took us a while to sort things out and get our hands around it. We think we now have it at a point where it’s operating as it should,” Schira said.

The management team announced in March that they will construct a seasonal RV campsite adjacent to the course. They will have 21 seasonal campsites and four sites used by overnight campers. With upwards of 50 lakes nearby and countless outdoor activities available in the region, Schira said giving visitors another option for accommodations makes sense.

“We think a lot of people would like to live on a golf course but probably see that as something that’s not realistic. Here they can live right on a beautiful golf course in the summer and have access to all those wonderful things and satisfy their golfing needs,” he said.

The course will see minimal effect throughout the construction. Two new greens will be built this season shortening two holes. Players won’t be affected by the work this season. Currently the track plays at just under 5,900 yards and is a par 72. That will drop to a par 70 next year. Schira said the integrity of the course won’t suffer, in fact the intrigue could increase for players.

“We’re going to turn one par four into a par three and one par five into a par four and another par four will change to a dogleg left. They will still have the same beautiful golf course to play. It will probably be even a bit more interesting because of how we lay it out,” Schira explained.

If the weather cooperates this season and the two new greens are ready for play this year, construction on the campsites will begin this fall. Schira said they will begin construction of the new greens in the very near future. If the green development lags for any reason, campsite work will be pushed to next spring, but campers should be settling in by 2021. Schira said news of the upgrades is starting to spread in the town and everyone seems to be excited.

“Everything we’ve heard has been positive,” he said. “I think the community is excited for us, they are excited to see what it will look like as a finished product. It’s going to impact the community; I think that’s important. We’re going to bring in people that don’t normally live there in the summer.”

The trickle-down effect for area businesses is exciting for Schira, who hasn’t lived in Spiritwood for 16 years, but he grew up and got his entrepreneurial beginning in the community before moving to Saskatoon for other business opportunities.

The course recently installed a new roof on their clubhouse ahead of this season. Installation of a water treatment plant for both the clubhouse and campground is also part of the plans.

The 2019 season will be a busy one tournament wise as well, the course will host their annual events such as the Spirit of the North Match Play Classic and the Dale Willick Memorial Golf Tournament. This year the club will also play host to the 2019 SUMA Golf Tournament in early July. Schira said landing that two-day event is more proof the Spiritwood course is among the province’s best.

“We had the provincial Knights of Columbus tournament last year; I think all these things help put the Spiritwood Golf Course on the map and to attract some of these tournaments allows us to say we can accommodate these events,” he said.

Golf is a huge part of Charene and Doug Kozak’s lives allowing the Regina couple to travel, meet new people, and see some success in mixed events along the way.

Most notably is the pair’s annual trip to Bermuda to play in the Pompano Beach Club’s Annual Couples Spring Tournament.  The four-day event features two rounds at Port Royal Golf Course, one at Tucker’s Point and one at Belmonte Hills. Coming in as defending champions, the couple posted a net, four-round score of 265, winning the event again by 13 strokes over the next nearest team earlier this month. Charene said winning is fun and the couple enjoy that experience, but the sport provides so much more.

“I love the competition, I love being outside, I love the game, I love what it offers,” she told Golf Saskatchewan over the Easter long weekend at their Regina club, Tor Hill. “I love that we get to play together, it’s four hours we get to spend together. We support each other in the game.”

The Kozaks began taking spring vacations in Bermuda five years ago when they decided to have their vacation include playing golf rather than “just spending a week sitting under a beach plalapa with a drink.” They decided to find a golf tournament to play in leading them to the Pompano Beach Club tournament.  They first competed in 2015; they missed 2016 due to an injury Charene suffered but have since competed every spring. On route to their most recent championship, Doug was able to sink an ace during the final round capping another memorable tournament.

“One of the fun facts this year was that I got a hole in one in the last round,” he said. “I’m telling people it’s my first international hole in one. I have four.”

Aside from their success in the mixed format tournaments the couple praises the people they’ve met and the now lifetime friends they have gained. One of those is a couple who lives in Pinehurst, North Carolina. That couple shared the news of a mixed event in nearby Southern Pines at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club. They entered the tournament and managed to win that event in November 2018 as well. Doug said sometimes the pieces fall in place with your partner.

“The beauty of these mixed events is there is formats where you only record one score. The bad ones you put in your pocket and lean on your partner. We’ve been lucky enough to ham and egg it a little bit,” he laughed.

The couple are also past champions of the Golf Saskatchewan Mixed Championship, they won that event in 2007 at Elk Ridge.

The couple has a cottage at Waskesiu and plays in the Lobstick events every year. Unfortunately, the 2019 Ladies Lobstick conflicts with the provincial mixed championship this year so they will miss seeing  their friends and regular Mixed Championship competitors at Golf Kenosee in August.

Doug said he is retiring from his shopping centre management job in May and the couple will spend more time in Prince Albert National Park playing the sport that keeps them close, social, and active.

“We always say the best thing about golf is you pick the people you get to play with when you play socially. You get to go for a four hour walk with your friends and if you can’t have a good time doing that you should pick something else,” he said.

City of Regina residents in the Regent Park area having their say regarding the redevelopment of the neighbourhood that includes the long-standing par-3 golf course.

Due to declining use over the years the city has made the 580-yard, par-27, nine-hole facility free to use for the public. However, since 2017 plans to rejuvenate the area have been undergoing. Several public workshops and online consultations have outlined four different plans for the site. None include keeping the golf course. Janine Daradich, the manager of planning and partnerships for the city said the keeping the course open isn’t viable.

“The par-3 has been underperforming for a number of years and we’ve also had plans like the recreation master plan and official community plan approved by council. Those plans have recommendations for the redevelopment of the site and for maximizing city land for housing opportunities,” she said.

Throughout the consultation process there was some interest among area residents and users to keep the course operational but Daradich said replacing the facility with other recreational options is better suited in the long-term.

“There was some expression from some residents to keep the golf course, but I think what was most important to them is we keep recreation amenities for the community,” Daradich said. “We’ve incorporated all those top options that the community brought forward through the workshops we’ve had.”

A soccer pitch, walking paths, spray pad, playground, picnic areas, and housing are all incorporated in the four plans. Daradich said the feedback will be delivered to city council and a decision could potentially be made through Regina’s budget process.

The golf course will remain open for the 2019 season.

This upcoming weekend (April 27 and 28) at The Willows in Saskatoon, the PGA of Saskatchewan will host a community coaching clinic.

The initiative is backed by extensive research into Canada’s volunteer training curriculums for sport across the country. Industry experts implemented the program to address the gap between PGA of Canada professionals and available volunteer support from family and friends according to the national PGA agency.

TS&M Woodlawn professional, Amanda Minchin is coordinating the Saskatchewan based seminar. She said the course is “perfect for anyone who wants to get involved in their local junior program or is looking at starting one.”

Current junior golf leaders and new PGA of Canada members are also encouraged to take part. The session covers safety concerns, legality of working with youth in sport, setting up golf lessons, and networking with other golf coaches.

Saskatoon’s Paige Lawrence took part in the clinic last year. She said it was beneficial to assist in developing a junior program.

“The tools and training I gained over a weekend were invaluable in helping initiate a junior program last summer in Wynyard. The mix of hands on practice and classroom theory makes for an engaging environment. It was also a great way to connect with other members of the golf community who are working towards the same goal of growing the game, we were able to share challenges and wins we each had encountered in our communities,” Lawrence said.

Online registration for the clinic is closed but anyone interested can call the PGA of Canada office at 1.800.782.5764 to get more information.

From April 22-26, Golf Canada will be celebrating all donations made towards the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program in support of the third annual Adopt a School Week.

The week represents a coast-to-coast celebration to mark the efforts of all Golf in Schools adoptions. Since the program’s inception in 2009, adoptions have accounted for close to 50% of the over 3,800 registered schools delivering the curriculum. Together, Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), and all provincial partners have aligned to celebrate the generosity of golf enthusiasts across the country.

“Golf Canada recognizes the many investments made by Canadians across the country in support of the Golf in Schools program,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer. “It is in the industry’s best interest to support the continued growth of the sport at the grassroots level, which in turn benefits the future membership of facilities.”

For the first 30 adoptions, any golf facility, PGA of Canada professional or individual who adopts a school into the Golf in Schools program from April 22-26 will see their adoption matched with a school of their choice. This matching grant is possible due to Golf Canada’s partnership with the Canadian Seniors Golf Association (CSGA).

In 2018, 263 new schools were adopted, introducing an average of 120 students per school to golf.

A Golf in Schools donation includes the full program kit, which features safe, age-appropriate golf clubs along with a teacher-friendly learning resource. Developed in conjunction with the PGA of Canada and Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada, the learning resource incorporates Life Skills into the curriculum—placing added focus on transferrable skills both on and off the golf course.

The Intrapersonal Life Skills—perseverance, goal-setting and emotional regulation—are meant to instill focus while the Interpersonal Life Skills—honesty, teamwork and respect—embody a sense of sportspersonship.

Following Adopt a School Week, Golf Canada will be announcing all elementary, intermediate and high school adoptions conducted in 2019.

To adopt a school in your community, visit golfcanada.ca/adoptaschool

Canada’s top-ranked golfer and Canada’s iconic railway are partnering for five more years, both on and off the course. Canadian Pacific (CP) has renewed seven-time LPGA tour-winner and the No. 12 ranked female golfer in the world, Brooke Henderson to serve as its golf ambassador.

Since signing on with CP in 2017 as a golf ambassador, Henderson has won four more LPGA Tour titles, including her historic win on home soil at the 2018 CP Women’s Open where she became the first Canadian to win the National Open Championship in 45 years.

Joining the CP family is sister and caddy Brittany Henderson, who will also wear the CP logo as she supports Brooke as a team and family member.

“It is an honor to extend Brooke’s sponsorship until Dec. 31, 2023, and welcome Brittany to the CP family,” said Keith Creel, CP President and Chief Executive Officer. “Brooke remains the perfect ambassador for CP as we continue to grow the game of golf, advocate for healthy living through CP Has Heart, and build on the iconic Canadian brand that is CP. Adding Brittany to the CP family was a natural decision, as railroaders know that precision and excellence requires a strong team.”

CP continues to sponsor Team Canada, a relationship that marked the beginning of Brooke’s relationship with the railway. Both the Hendersons are graduates of the amateur program that supports young golfers as they pursue their professional dreams.

Brooke has also been named a repeat winner of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as the Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year. In addition, PostMedia recognized her as their 2018 Summer Female Athlete of the Year and Canadian Sport Awards named her their 2018 Athlete of the Year.

“I am so proud to continue my relationship as an ambassador for CP. As many of my own family members have worked for CP in my hometown of Smiths Falls, it is truly special for me to wear the logo and continue that long history as a member of the CP family. Furthermore, the sincere gesture to add my sister Brittany to the CP family is incredible, as she’s been with me every step of my career. We both look forward to celebrating many more victories with the CP family.”

Already in the CP family is four-time LPGA Tour winner Lorie Kane, who signed on as an ambassador in 2014 when CP took over title sponsorship of the National Open. Kane, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2017 and named a recipient of the Order of Canada in 2006, has an established reputation as one of the most personable and consistent players in the game, and has dedicated many efforts off the course to champion support for CP Has Heart.

CP recently named SickKids Foundation as its official charity beneficiary of the 2019 CP Women’s Open that will be hosted at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario. Through its CP Has Heart program, CP will once again make a substantial donation to support local paediatric care. Follow along this season as golf ambassadors Brooke and Lorie encourage fundraising efforts to help reach this year’s $1.75M donation target.

In the five years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open, $8.5 million has been raised to support children’s heart health in Canada. This will mark the third time in six years southern Ontario has hosted the CP Women’s Open resulting in more than $3.3 million dollars invested in London (2014 – $1.3 million) and Ottawa (2016 – $2 million).

Whose turn is it this week to treat golf as their whipping boy?

Mainstream media feed on the sport as a source of unsubstantiated headlines, many based on the fallacious stereotype of golfers as overweight entitled middle-aged men riding in golf carts while smoking a cigar and chugging a beer. (I do wish they would stop using my foursome as an example.)

For their edification, and yours, here are some verifiable facts about just one positive aspect of golf.

Last fall, Dr. Andrew Murray and his colleagues at Edinburgh University’s Physical Activity for Health Research Centre reported on the results of a review conducted by researchers into 5,000 existing studies about golf.

5,000 studies!

What they found was stunning.

Golf not only has physical and mental health benefits for everyone who plays, but those benefits increase with age. Older folks improve their balance and endurance as well as respiratory and cardiac health.

“We know that the moderate physical activity that golf provides increased life expectancy, has mental health benefits and can help prevent and treat more than 40 major chronic diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer,” Murray told the BBC.

“Evidence suggests golfers live longer than non-golfers, enjoying improvements in cholesterol levels, body composition, wellness, self-esteem and self-worth.”

The Edinburgh University study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and is part of the Golf and Health Project, which is led by the World Golf Foundation.

A visit to the Golf and Health web site www.golfandhealth.org is a revelation. (Highly recommended for those mainstream media types mentioned above.)

Other studies show that walking 18 holes is equivalent to an eight-kilometre hike. That hike can drop blood glucose levels by up to 30 per cent in older golfers and helps everyone with weight maintenance and physical fitness. Walking and carrying your clubs can burn up to 2,000 calories per round. Even if you can’t carry, get off the power cart and use a manual or electric push cart (what the Brits call “trolleys”).

Heck, even being a spectator at a golf tournament is good for you.

“Spectators at golf events have been reported to walk significantly further than the 7,500 to 10,000 steps recommended daily for health,” according to Golf and Health. So you don’t have to actually play the game to reap the health benefits associated with it.

Even if the preceding hasn’t persuaded you to get out and golf, how about this for a kicker?

The death rate for golfers is 40 per cent lower than for non-golfers of the same age, sex and socio-economic status, according to a study of 300,000 golfers by Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet. That equates to a five-year increase in life expectancy for regular golfers.

When the Edinburgh University study was released, the London Daily Mail ran this above the story:

“Play golf and you’ll live longer.”

Now, that’s a headline you can believe.

KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Brooke Henderson didn’t join the LPGA Tour thinking she would end up amongst the best Canadian golfers of all-time. At least not so soon, anyway.

Henderson tied the Canadian record for most career victories on the LPGA or PGA Tour on Saturday when the 21-year-old captured her eighth career title by shooting a 2-under 70 to win the Lotte Championship for the second year in a row.

Sandra Post had eight career victories on the LPGA Tour between 1968 and 1981, while Mike Weir and George Knudson equalled that on the PGA Tour.

“When I was younger it was just a goal to be on the LPGA Tour, to win my first event,” Henderson said.

“And when that happened and I won my first major the year after, things kind of just started to fall into place. I knew the record was eight. Just kept creeping toward it the last three years, which was really exciting.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., won last year’s event in Hawaii for her sixth Tour victory and followed that up in August 2018 as the first Canadian in 45 years to win the CP Women’s Open.

“I think starting last year I sort of saw that it was within my reach if I had two good seasons. Last year put me into great position, and coming back this year it’s been on the back of my mind every week that I tee it up. I’m just really happy that I have finally done it.

“Looking forward to overtaking it now.”

She finished 16 under on Saturday at Ko Olina Golf Club to beat South Korea’s Eun-Hee Ji by four strokes.

All the highlights from Brooke’s repeat performance in Hawaii ???? pic.twitter.com/XDRFo8KBht

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 21, 2019

Nelly Korda, tied with Henderson for the third-round lead, finished with a quadruple-bogey 8 for a 77 that left her seven strokes back at 9 under. She hit into the water twice on 18, then threw her ball in after finishing. The 20-year-old American also had a double bogey on the par-4 seventh.

“Pretty bad,” Korda said. “I mean, it was a tough day, but I ended really poorly and I’m pretty disappointed in that. … It was an unfortunate final round, but there is nothing I can do about it anymore.”

Ariya Jutanugarn (73) and 2016 winner Minjee Lee (74) tied for third at 11 under.

Henderson bogeyed her first hole, but that was the only blemish in the final round as she followed that up with three birdies and 14 pars.

She looked to be in some trouble on the par-4 16th, but saved par when she hit a put from off the green.

“It’s really amazing to even be mentioned in the same sentence as Mike Weir, George, and Sandra,” Henderson said. “This week was really special. I always love coming to Hawaii. Last year was such an incredible week for me, to be able to hoist that trophy for the first time. Coming back I knew I knew the golf course really well.”

Fellow Canadian and Olympic teammate Alena Sharp watched Henderson play out the round and joined her in celebration.

“Congrats my friend ?BrookeHenderson! Unbelievable title defense and tying Sandra Post’s record for most wins by a Canadian on the ?LPGA tour. So freaking proud of you!,” tweeted Sharp (72), who finished 2 under for 40th place.

Henderson takes home US$300,000 for the win. Through seven events in 2019, she has made six cuts, has one victory, three top-10 finishes and one top-15 finish for $498,151 total earnings.

Henderson, ranked No. 12 in the world, has one major among her tournament victories, winning the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after beating Lydia Ko in a playoff when she was only 18.