Swift Current’s Jeff Chambers received some “surreal” news to cap the 2018 year from the PGA of Canada last month.

While taking part in the PGA of Canada Head Pro Championship in Arizona, Chambers, 43, was told the news he was the PGA of Canada coach of the year from Canadian PGA president Mark Patterson. Chambers said hearing of the honour from another Saskatchewan pro was a great touch.

“That made it a little more special too,” he said. “It was pretty nice. It was a big shocker for sure, definitely a little surprised.”

The award comes after Chambers picked up three other honours during the PGA of Saskatchewan awards ceremony in November. He’s the head professional at the Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current but has turned his focus most recently to developing junior golf through his academy. Chambers said having his efforts recognized both provincially and nationally means so much.

“I see the demand and I see the difference in the players that come through, it’s kind of fun to take more of a coaching role in the province. It’s paying off and changing the way I do my business and run a business,” he said.

Chambers said he received several messages following the announcement including a congratulatory note from Garrett McMillan, an “up and coming coach” according to Chambers. He said bringing the coach of the year award to Saskatchewan was a team effort and something he wants to share with the entire group of professionals and coaches.

“Every award I’ve got, I’ve said just push hard, go out, do this and great things can come out of Saskatchewan,” Chambers said. “There is always a feeling the only things happen in B.C. or Ontario just because of size, I’ve always said Saskatchewan is on the map and we can do great things.”

The national PGA organization has handed the award out since 2010. The criteria to be eligible is intensive and much of the training Chambers has received occurs at the PGA Orlando show where he will receive the award later this month. He said he’s not done learning and will take part in more education opportunities while he’s in Florida.

“I’m very fortunate because over my years I’ve gotten to meet the best in the world, work with them and actually become friends with many of them. It’s nice to have that network because when I have issues, or I can’t figure out something there is always someone to call. I’m looking forward to being that guy to so many in our province,” he said.

This year’s gala in Orlando will be the eighth time the coach of the year will be recognized. The awards are chosen by an anonymous group of three people with no connection to all the winners. Managing Director of Membership and Support Services Darcy Kral said they don’t take the award lightly and Chambers is a worthy recipient.

“It’s certainly different to win, you are going against qualified people. The nominees are going up against prominent people,” Kral said.

Previous winners in recent years include Alberta’s Paul Horton, Team Canada Men’s National Coach Derek Ingram and Golf Canada’s Tristan Mullally.

In a span of just under a couple weeks this past summer Saskatoon’s Taylor Afseth went on an unimaginable run on the course.

Whether it was acing a par three during the men’s amateur at Dakota Dunes Golf Links or holing out on the course with a buddy, Afseth miraculously hit three separate hole in ones over a 12-day span.

We caught up with the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member and heard all about the feat leading to to our most popular story of 2018.

The 2018 Saskatchewan Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships didn’t start great for Yorkton’s Kade Johnson or Humboldt’s Mike Herperger but the end results were what mattered.

Johnson shot an opening round of 75 during day one of the event at the Dakota Dunes Golf Links before shooting back-to-back rounds of 66 on route to the men’s amateur title.

Herperger also shot 66 in the final round to climb all the way to second overall and the mid-am title on the final day. A win he dedicated to his hometown of Humboldt and Marilyn Hay, the mother of Tyler Bieber and a longtime family friend. Bieber passed away in the Broncos’ bus crash in April.

Johnson’s torrid run and Herperger’s emotional day is our second most popular story of the season.

Golf’s new Rules have been published by the The R&A and USGA in partnership with Golf Canada ahead of their effective date on Jan. 1, 2019.

For the first time, a new Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf is being introduced to provide a shorter, more user-friendly version of the Rules for golfers at all levels of the game. This version, which will serve as the primary publication for all golfers, features:

• A more intuitive organization with 10 simplified topical groupings
• A “Purpose of the Rule” description at the top of each Rule, to better define why the Rule exists
• Easy-to-follow, full-colour diagrams and charts to aid in understanding
• A simpler, more direct writing style

The Player’s Edition is being launched alongside the modernized full Rules of Golf book, which includes some of the most significant changes made to the Rules in more than 60 years.

Adam Helmer, director of Rules, competitions and amateur status at Golf Canada said, “We are embarking on one of the most significant changes to the Rules of golf in the history of our sport. Today marks the start of the education process to communicate the modernized Rules with additional resources and publications available to all golfers, member facilities and referees in Canada and worldwide.”

Thomas Pagel, senior managing director, Governance for the USGA, said, “From the project’s inception, our one goal was to make the Rules easier to understand and apply for all golfers. It sets a new standard in the way we write and interpret the Rules and is central to our efforts to ensure a healthy future for golf. We look forward to continuing that process in the years to come.”

David Rickman, executive director – Governance at The R&A, said, “We are delighted to be rolling out the modernized Rules of Golf today. This is the biggest set of changes to the Rules in a generation and a major step forward in our efforts to make the Rules, and the sport itself, more accessible and more in tune with the way the modern sport is played.”

A new Official Guide to the Rules of Golf is also available in digital format and official apps today, with a printed version to be released in November. Designed for golf administrators and club officials, the Guide features Interpretations on specific Rules (which replace the current Decisions) and includes the first jointly-produced Committee Procedures document, providing practical guidance to Committees for running competitions and overseeing general play.

Another key feature is the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities. This document is released alongside the Rules of Golf and enables players with disabilities to play fairly with other players with the same or different types of disability and, importantly, with those without disabilities. The Modified Rules were developed in close consultation with the community of players with disabilities and disability organizations.

All of the new books are available in digital formats online and a range of explanatory videos and resources is available on and websites to enable all golfers to learn about the 2019 Rules.

Extensive educational programs are being conducted around the world, with the assistance of national and regional associations, to ensure that golfers and administrators throughout amateur and professional golf are ready for the new Rules when they take effect on Jan. 1.

The process to modernize the Rules began in 2012 with the aim of making the Rules easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to help make golf more appealing and accessible for newcomers.

Some of the key changes in the new Rules include new procedures for dropping the ball when taking relief, the elimination or reduction of several penalties, relaxed putting green and bunker rules, and rules that encourage improved pace of play.

Golfers are reminded that the current Rules of Golf remain in effect for the remainder of 2018. The Rules of Amateur Status and the Rules of Equipment Standards were not part of the review process.

As an extension of its support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A and the USGA’s efforts to modernize golf’s Rules. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the sport, from the leading professional and amateur competitions and organizations to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.

Click here to learn more about the Rules of golf.

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.