Yorkton, Sk – The City of Yorkton unveiled a plaque dedicating the Deer Park Clubhouse to mark the completion of the construction project. In January 2022, City Council approved the Deer Park Clubhouse Construction Project with a budget of $7.2 million dollars. The budget included a new build, along with the installation of City water and sewer.

The Old Clubhouse had reached its end of life, as it was the oldest recreation facility in Yorkton. The facility at the time was not accessible, with washrooms being in the basement of the building along with a septic system and no potable drinking water.

Construction of the Deer Park Clubhouse began with the demolition of the Old Clubhouse in April 2022.

The construction work took 14-months to complete. The Pro Shop opened to the public on April 24,^, 2023 and the keys to the rest of the building turned over to the City on June 5, 2023 with the Owl’s Nest Restaurant opening on June 20, 2023.

“The opening of our NEW Deer Park Clubhouse brings our city great opportunities moving into the future. City council has been unanimously committed to marketing our city for recreation, tourism & business growth!”, said Mayor Mitch Hippsley. “We are very proud to see this BEAUTIFUL building compliment our BEAUTIFUL golf course. This building has gone “above and beyond”, knowing it will be the talk of the Golfers World for many, many years to come!”

A generous donation was put towards furniture in the Clubhouse, which was made by Concept3 Business Interiors Ltd. and the Glauser Family. Garth Glauser was an avid golfer at Deer Park Golf Course and was a season pass holder for over 40 years. Garth passed away in 2006. Concept3 Business Interiors Ltd. was founded by Garth’s son Larry and his wife, Debra Kirk, and is currently operated by two generations of the Glauser family; Garth’s son Larry and grandson Stephen. As a thank you, the City is pleased to name the patio at the Deer Park Clubhouse “G.G.’s Patio” in memory of Garth “G.G.” Glauser.

As the Chinook Golf Course prepares to host the 2023 Saskatchewan Junior Championships from July 4 to 6, across the southwest Saskatchewan city Elmwood Golf Club continues to be a premier facility.

The Elmwood is also where 19 year LPGA competitor Nancy Harvey got her start.

Now retired from playing and teaching in Australia, the 2010 Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame inductee spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about the importance of junior golf, Swift Current welcoming over 100 young players to city, taking the leap to play, growing the game, and stories of a Saskatchewan “late-bloomer” going on to play NCAA Division 1 golf and have the longest career at the elite level in provincial history.

Regina’s Kim Walker, the two-time reigning Saskatchewan senior women’s champion has started the 2023 Order of Merit season with a perfect record.

Back on June 17 and 18 at Dakota Dunes Golf Links Walker compiled a two-day score of 147 to win the Saskatoon Women’s Open by five shots over Brooklin Fry of Shell Lake.

Saskatoon’s Ann Kirkland was third, Rosetown golfer Sue Skinner was fourth with Kim Brown, also of Saskatoon placing fifth.

The results are here.

This week in the Queen City Regina’s Tor Hill Golf Course and Walker’s home club, the Wascana Country Club (WCC) hosted the Regina Ladies Open.

Walker earned another 500 OMT points with the eight shot win on June 27.

She shot 75 in round at Tor Hill before carding a 71 at the Wascana to hold off fellow WCC player Autumn Neiszner who was at 154 (79, 75).

Denise Hersikorn of Regina was third, a trio of players tied for fourth.

The results are here.

Walker leads the OMT standings by 170 points over Moose Jaw’s Lorie Boyle. The Saskatchewan Amateur and Mid-Amateur (25+) Women’s Championships are next on the schedule for July 11-13 in North Battleford.

In the senior men’s OMT race, Regina’s Ron Swan got into standings with a win at the Regina Publinx Championship at Tor Hill on June 25.

Swan was pushed by Rob Schneider and Kerry Scofield but won the 36-hole event by a pair of strokes.

Rick Hallberg leads the OMT standings thanks to impressive showings in the Auto Clearing Senior Men’s Championship and the Lobstick, Swan jumped up to seventh.

Delisle’s Colin Coben added to his impressive resume on June 22 with a win at the Auto Clearing. He’s in third in the OMT standings thanks to the 750 points for the 54-hole event win.

The men’s and seniors OMT will continue over the Canada Day long weekend with the Reliance Gregg’s Central Amateur at Saskatoon Golf and Country Club starting Saturday.

At the Publinx Championship Regina product Ty Zaba picked up the championship at Tor Hill on June 25.

Zaba vaulted 27 positions up the OMT leaderboard with the two shot win over Scott Mackay. Trevor Benson was third.

The full results are here.

To see all the OMT standings click here.

The last Saskatchewan junior primer ahead of the Junior Women’s and Men’s Championships was held on the weekend at Deer Valley Golf Club when the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour held a 36-hole event near Regina.

Hallie Crozier (pictured below) of Regina continued her strong season with another victory. The Royal Regina Golf Club member shot 74 and 76 for a total of 150 taking the 15-19 girls division.

Chloe Wills of Kyle was second, Payton Oakden of Brandon, Man. was third.

Calgary golfer Olivia Johnson won the under-15 girls category just edging Regina’s Tayla Perry by one shot. Grace Odnokon was third just six shots off the lead.

Regina’s Yuna Lee placed fourth.

On the boys’ side, it was Saskatoon’s Carter Degelman (pictured below) taking the overall win in a playoff over Solomon Ness. Both Saskatoon players were tied at 153 before Degelman picked up the championship.

Davin Karst of Assiniboia was a shot back in third place.

In the bantam age group Saskatoon’s Aricin Franklin won for the third time in three MJT events. The 14-year-old Riverside Country Club member was four shots lower than Ethan Hunter of Casa Rio, Sask.

Hunter Oakden of Brandon, Man. claimed third place.

The juvenile boys’ winner was Saskatoon’s Jack Maharaj. The 14-year-old went 74-81 for a 36-hole total of 155, good enough for a three-shot win in the age group (under-17) and just two back of the overall win.

Swift Current’s Ryder Woods was second, Aiden Walker of Regina finished in third place.

To see all the results of this event and the Mini Tour one day tournament click here.

Registration is still open for the Saskatchewan Junior Championships that begin on July 4 at Chinook Golf Course in Swift Current, click here for all you need to know about the event including accommodations.

An op-ed from Golf Canada’s chief sport officer, Kevin Blue on the importance and value of municipal golf courses.

Kevin Blue, a graduate of Stanford University, where he played college golf, is Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. A Toronto native, Blue got his start in golf as a junior pass holder at the city’s five municipal courses. Here, he writes about the value of such golf courses for the most-played sport in Canada.

In recent years, some people have called for municipalities to repurpose city-owned public golf courses for other uses like housing or parks. They believe that golf is a sport exclusive to the affluent and that the land used for municipal golf courses does not cater to a broad or diverse group of residents.

As the national governing body for golf in Canada, we fundamentally disagree and encourage people who hold this view to learn more about the modern realities of our sport. Golf will be played by approximately 6 million Canadians from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds this year. In fact, golf is now the most-played sport in Canada.

Municipal courses provide affordable golf opportunities for people of various ages and economic means. They also serve as community hubs for recreation, events and gatherings that bring together people from all walks of life. In Canada’s major cities, it’s common to see people hopping on public transit or riding their bicycles with golf bags on their back as they head to their local municipal golf course for social time outdoors and away from their screens.

City governments should treat municipal golf courses as community resources that support the health and well-being of residents. Recent research has shown golf is a sport that encourages physical activity, mental well-being, cardiovascular health and muscular strength and flexibility, while also providing safe and fun opportunities for in-person social interaction. Golfers walk between six and eight kilometres over 18 holes, burning up to 2,000 calories.

Municipal golf courses are especially welcoming for kids and offer high-quality youth recreation at an affordable price. For example, an annual junior pass providing access to all five of Toronto’s municipal courses costs $378, with financial aid also available for qualifying families. An annual pass to Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria costs $325. Membership at a municipal golf course provides kids with an entire spring, summer and fall’s worth of outdoor activity and in-person social time for a cost that is more affordable than many other activities.

Some junior golfers at municipal courses dream of becoming the next Brooke Henderson or Nick Taylor, while others simply enjoy having fun with their friends. Several municipal golf courses across Canada allow junior golfers to play for only $5 per round through Golf Canada’s Youth on Course program. And other municipal courses also operate First Tee, a program that introduces golf to Canadian youth of all backgrounds and teaches them life skills through the sport. RBC, a major sponsor of professional golf, including the RBC Canadian Open, has also invested significantly in these grassroots programs to help them thrive at municipal courses.

In addition to being affordable, municipal golf courses are highly utilized outdoor green spaces. They are constantly occupied from sunrise to sunset due to golf’s format, which allows for a continuous flow of players. Different than soccer fields and baseball fields, municipal golf courses are used all day by golfers engaging in physical activity, whether it be during early morning tee times or late afternoon rounds. And in winter months, municipal golf courses are used for non-golf outdoor recreational activities of all kinds, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Municipal golf courses are important sources of health and physical activity for a broad cross section of Canadians from varied socioeconomic backgrounds. By prioritizing them, municipalities can demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of their communities, while also providing accessible and affordable opportunities for residents to enjoy the numerous benefits that golf offers. We encourage city governments to think of municipal golf courses just as they do other recreational facilities — as key contributors to healthier, more connected and inclusive communities.

The PGA Tour Canada’s Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open will continue this weekend without any local contingent.

Four players from Saskatchewan that earned exemption into the field of 156 failed to shoot their way to the two under par cutline.

Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy was the lowest shooter from the province finishing at 143, he opened with a 74 and shot a solid 69 on day two.

Chase Pochylko earned his first start in a professional event after punching his way in through at Monday’s qualifier. He also shot 69 on Friday, but an opening round of 75 was too much to overcome.

Ty Campbell of Saskatoon was in the field thanks to his conditional status, the Riverside player shot 75 and 70 Thursday and Friday.

Regina golfer Will Blake got his spot through his Scotia Wealth Open win. The Royal Regina Golf Club member shot 77 and 74 in his first professional event as well.

The complete results from the Elk Ridge Open can be seen here.

The 2023 Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship has come and gone at Nipawin’s Evergreen Golf Course, but by all reports the event went fantastically.

Golf Saskatchewan and Evergreen Golf Course President Kevin Duchscherer helped plan the event and was on hand all weekend for the championship.

Brock Ochitwa ran a Saskatchewan amateur men’s golf gauntlet last week on route to his first Men’s Lobstick championship at Waskesiu Golf Course.

The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club player defeated Dave Stewart, 2020 champion Trevor Bloom, Mike Smith, Danny Klughart and eventually Brent Ryan in the final Saturday to put his name in the historic record books of the event.

Ochitwa spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about the win.

The complete results of the Lobstick can be seen here.

Elsewhere in the Saskatchewan golf circuit, five players travelled to Calgary last weekend for the Glencoe Invitational.

Ella Kozak of Yorkton was the lone Saskatchewan female in the event, she placed tied for 14th after posting rounds of 76, 74, and 73 to finish at 7-over par, 223.

In the amateur men’s division Chase Pochylko led the way with a stellar sixth place performance at 1-over par, 217. An opening round of 75 pushed the Riverside Country Club player behind, but he improved each day firing 72 in round two and 70 in round one.

The Saskatoon product followed the top-10 showing with a 3-under par, 67 on Monday at the Elk Ridge Open qualifier at Cooke Municipal Golf Course. He will join Ty Campbell, and Josh Nagy in the field of the PGA Tour Canada event.

Back in Calgary, Alex Swinnerton was the other local to play an extra day after the plus-5 cut at The Glencoe.

The Saskatoon native posted back-to-back 72’s before dropping to 78 in the final round, Swinnerton was a solid 17th.

Swinnerton missed out on the Elk Ridge Open through the qualifier, but will play in the Mickelson National Invitational from July 5 – 7 at the Mickelson National Golf in Calgary.

Josh Nagy was a shot off the cut line at 6-over par, Marc Sweeney finished 11-over par.

The results are here.

South of the border Weyburn’s Darien Herlick competed in the North Dakota U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier, he fired 74 and just missed qualifying for the national prestigious event.

The results are here.

Cala Korman of Killarney, Man. and Kye Fisher from Leduc, Alta. are the 2023 Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship winners,

The 54-hole tournament returned to Saskatchewan for the first time since 2019 with 67 players competing for 12 spots at the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships later this summer.

In the girls event Korman was victorious holding off Regina’s Hallie Crozier by three shots. Winnipeg’s Addison Kartusch claimed third place. Chloe Wills of Kyle earned a spot at nationals joining Crozier.

Sela Ogada and Jeri Lafleche also earned exemption into the Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

In the boys championship, an opening round of 75 didn’t slow down Kye Fisher of Leduc, Alta. He posted rounds of 68 and 67 to win the event by seven shots with an impressive 6-under par, 210 over the weekend.

Fellow Alberta golfer Seth Mottershead-Yee was second and Cayden Kwan of Unionville, Ont. made the podium in third.

Saskatoon’s Tommy Danielson was the top Saskatchewan player tying for fourth and earning a national spot. Luke Cote of Regina also qualified for the Canadian Junior Boys Championship winning a two-hole playoff claiming the sixth and final exemption alongside Kenny Taylor of Edmonton.

Martensville golfer Myles Johnson also had a shot being in the playoff, he will seek a spot at nationals at the Saskatchewan Junior Championships in Swift Current from July 4 to 6.

For all the results of the championship click here.

Photos from the event are available here.

Regina’s Hallie Crozier continued her solid play in Nipawin at the NextGen Prairie Championship and will enter the final round one shot off the lead.

The Royal Regina Golf Club member fired her second straight 77 at Evergreen Golf Course Saturday leaving her at 10-over par, 144 gong into Sunday’s championship round.

Crozier is behind Manitoba’s Addison Kartusch who has led the event since Friday’s first round.

Manitoba’s Cala Korman will join the pair in the final group Sunday that will tee off at 11 a.m.

On the boy’s side there is still a two-way for the lead at 1-under par, just like after Friday’s round one, but two new players sit atop the leaderboard after moving day.

Spruce Grove’s Seth Mottershead-Yee and Kye Fisher of Leduc will enter the final round with scores of 143. Fisher had the low round of the day stroking a 68 after 75 in round one. Mottershead-Yee has rounds of 73 and 70 on his card.

Cayden Kwan of Unionville, Ont. will play in the final group with the Alberta golfers.

The top Saskatchewan player remains to be Saskatoon’s Carter Bell. The Riverside Country Club player was tied for the lead after day one, but a second round 76 dropped him to a tie for fifth at 3-over par, 147.

Myles Johnson and Luke Cote are the other two Saskatchewan players inside the top-10 going into Sunday’s final round.

The final group will tee off at 10:10 a.m.

To see all the results from the championship click here.