In year’s past the release of the championship dates and venues hasn’t been finalized and released until the new year but back on Dec. 10 the 2019 schedule was released.

Golf Saskatchewan will return to the Royal Regina Golf Club for the first time since 2008 with the 10oth Senior Men’s and Mid-Master’s Championship. The Senior Women’s Championship will take place at the storied course as well.

Golf Saskatchewan will also use Moon Lake Golf and Country Club, Golf Kenosee, the Lynbrook Golf Club and the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, and the Evergreen Golf Club for their championship tournaments.

All the dates and details are available here.

Registration for the events will open in April.

We love growing the game and getting kids on the course, something La Ronge is doing well.

We did a story on golf in the north that readers enjoyed, the piece is the fourth most engaging article of the year.

You can see it here.

After winning several Saskatchewan events Regina’s Alex Schmidt has taken her game to the next level.

Schmidt is playing golf at Lewis-Clark State College now advancing her game. We caught up with the 18 year-old in November.

Alex’s rise is the fifth most captivating story of the year.

Young Regina golfer Autumn Neiszner enjoyed the CP Women’s Open at her own course but she definitely evolved on the summer on the course.

Neiszners’ year that included a career low at the Maple Leaf National event in Phoenix, Arizona.

A recap of her year is the sixth most engaging story of the season.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak has plenty of experience already competing in junior tournaments around the prairies but in 2018 she took her competitive spirit to a new level.

The 12-year-old Deer Park Municipal Golf Course member entered into the 100th Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Championship placing fifth overall and landing a spot at the national championship.

Kozak’s story on her venture into the women’s event was our number seven story of the year.

The Wakaw Lake Golf Course has had their share of water issues over the past few years but using spring run off to their advantage rather than combating the annual flow has worked wonders on the nine hole track.

We spoke with superintendent Dean Hildebrandt in July regarding the plans and how the renovations have turned out.

The story seen here, was our eighth most engaging post of the year.

Regina’s Will Blake had a tremendous season on the course taking the under-15 Order of Merit (OMT) championship as well as the bantam division title at the Saskatchewan Junior Boy’s Championship back in July.

The Royal Regina Golf Club member’s season is the ninth top story of 2018. You can see it here.

On route to the women’s Order of Merit (OMT) championship this year, Saskatoon’s Kim Brown won her second straight Lobstick in Waskesiu.

Our coverage of Brown’s victory was the 10th most read story of 2018 on our website.

Click here to read more on her victory.

A man from Virden, Manitoba who attended the CP Women’s Open in Regina along with his wife and his employer is receiving an extra special Christmas gift this year.

Doug and Michele Wright have won the 50/50 daw worth $28,117.50 after their winning ticket was drawn on Aug. 26, the final day of the championship at the Wascana Golf and Country Club. Tracking down the winner took some time but Golf Saskatchewan, who will benefit from the other half of the jackpot has finalized all the details to get the funds to the Wright family. Doug said he’s still in shock from receiving the phone call.

“It’s amazing, of course I mentioned it to my kids and they pretty much have it spent,” he laughed. “I said you aren’t spending any of it until I actually see it and know it’s for sure.”

The Wright’s attended the event from Manitoba with Doug’s company who had a VIP section next to the 18^th green. He said attending a professional golf event was something him and his wife of 32 years had always wanted to do. The couple, both avid golfers in Virden were both impressed with the event even without the win fall.

“We didn’t realize how much we’d enjoy it,” he said. “We’ve never been to anything like this, but it was very well organized. It was nice to see Brooke Henderson win it all too.”

Wright purchased his 50/50 ticket while walking the course and venturing away from the corporate tents along the final hole. The long-time golfer said he was impressed by the talent of the field in Saskatchewan’s capital.

“I’ve been golfing for a long time and I’m a bogey golfer at best but, it’s so routine for the LPGA players. They hit their drives, never in trouble, then they hit their second shot and I’m doing a cart wheel if I hit the green, but these ladies expect to be within 10 to 15 feet of the pin,” Wright said.

The 50/50 jackpot was a cherry on top of the experience the Wright’s took in. The tricky part now is deciding what to with the winnings. Doug said their three kids and four grandchildren have a few ideas.

“The kids were thinking we could go on a family vacation, so it might go to that or it might just be me and Michele going south and doing some golfing. I’m sure they will accept anything we graciously hand out so we will see what happens,” he said.

Golf Saskatchewan is benefitting, more importantly, junior golf in the province will see half the funds directed their way. Wright said that makes the ticket purchase a win-win proposition.

“I am so glad I bought it, I’m a golfer and I’m glad this will help with the junior programs. Keep up the good work because this was a great event,” he said.

This season was a “challenging” year for the Royal Regina Golf Club (RRGC) but there was some highlights and a historic tournament will write another chapter for the province’s oldest course next summer.

RRGC General Manager Dean Brown said, like most courses in the southern half of the province the past season was plagued with poor weather and tough conditions. Brown said with the Royal Regina being a private member club the green fees were there, but other departments of the club were hit hard.

“We aren’t quite at risk like a daily fee club because there are prepaid memberships so from that standpoint that revenue is fixed, and you are okay that way. The daily sales, the food and beverage sales, all that stuff you count on, that takes a hit when you drop 4,000 to 5,000 rounds because of weather. It’s such a short season, you don’t get it back in the fall,” Brown said.

In late September the RRGC hosted the eighth Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame induction gala. Brown and Royal Regina member Kirk McGregor were members of the induction class. Brown said the induction was a memorable night for them and the club.

“For me it was, I know Kirk had his hip replaced and didn’t play much golf this year but for both of us that was a great honour and a lot of fun. I think for both of us it was the highlight of the year for sure,” he said.

The club is turning their focus to 2019 and has locked down hosting a monumental event for Golf Saskatchewan. The 100^th Senior Men’s and Mid-Master’s Championship will be played at the course along with the 56 Saskatchewan Senior Women’s Championship. The course hosted the 100^th Amateur Men’s Championship as well. Brown said the RRGC is honoured to welcome the province’s top senior players.

“Our golf course is a good fit for that with our demographic,” he said. “Getting it in it’s 100^th anniversary and being the oldest club in the province is a cool thing, it seemed like a good match so we’re excited to get it.”

The announcement that the Royal Regina was hosting the event was made during this past season’s senior tournament at Golf Kenosee. The participants playing that event were buzzing following the news. Brown said that’s great to hear players are excited for the historic championship.

“We’ve heard it from a lot of our members too that say they are going to play that haven’t in the past. I’m excited for it, it should be a fun week,” he said.

The course layout will play well for both the men and women according to Brown. He said the RRGC amenities will be well received by the players as well.

“We have one of the best chefs in the city here, they will get treated to a dinner or two and some breakfasts, it will be a good event. The golf course will be a challenge for the players. The women will get the shorter tee, but they still have the same amount of trouble. The weather will dictate how thick the rough and that can be a little more of a challenge for the ladies,” he said.

The provincial championships will run from Aug. 6 – 8. Registration will be open in April.

National spots will be on the line in both championships, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship will take place in Osoyoos, British Columbia. The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will be held at Cedar Brae Golf Club in Scarborough. Ontario.