The City of Yorkton’s construction of a new clubhouse at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course continues into the winter months.

The city released a time-lapse video updating residents and their followers on the progress of the $7.6 million facility. Since the demolition of the 60-year-old structure crews have been at the site. Operations of the course in 2022 were conducted out of a double-wide Atco trailer. Yorkton Director Recreation & Community Services Darcy McLeod said the patrons at the course this season were very understanding.

Our golfers were awesome, they know what they are going to get I think,” McLeod said to Golf Saskatchewan on Thursday. “They were really good, we were all super pleased with the cooperation from everybody that came out golfing, it was really good.”

The weather didn’t cooperate at the start of the construction, that forced a backlog on various contractors and some mild confusion at the course, but McLeod said everything is now on track.

“It’s not completely sheeted in, there is some areas exposed to the elements in some areas. It’s almost sheeted in, the roof is almost complete, all the framing is up inside, it’s almost framed in then they can get some heat going and get inside,” McLeod explained.

The city expects to be welcoming golfers at the clubhouse in May.

In late October during the PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show Golf Saskatchewan caught up with several retailers including clothing company Rolo Golf.

Known for their “loud” patterns and bright colours President Ryan Gobeil speaks about the products and their future in the industry.

Back in February of 2021 the Eddy Golf Club board and members began a campaign to raise funds for an irrigation system for their nine-hole sand green course.

Almost two years later the project has moved along nicely starting with the fundraising according to long-time Earl Grey resident Robert Fyfe.

“We had another good year, we had 286 members this year, we had a couple of good fundraising tournaments, it went well,” Fyfe told Golf Saskatchewan when the organization reached out for an update on the project.

When the golf club originally posted on their Facebook page a couple years ago that the group was going to begin fundraising, they had about $7,500 of the $70,000 needed. Fyfe said they are “okay in that regard.”

Once this season ended a group of three base volunteers including Fyfe began trenching and installing the system. With the assistance of other locals, the backfilling was completed on Oct. 18. Fyfe said there will be some cleanup in the spring, but the excitement is building as the end nears.

“Everything is good, the pond is up and running,” he explained. “We’re using the Hunter TTS-800 Series sprinkler heads, so each head is controlled individually. You can program each one individually whenever you want. It’s going to be such a huge help.”

The group is searching for a one-phase pump to complete their system and it’s expected to be complete in the spring.

Next for the club is a new mower to keep up with the improved watering system.

“It’s going to be hard to keep up,” Fyfe chuckled. “I know sometimes when we get some good rains, two or three in a month we are out there quite a bit cutting.”

Fyfe added the board will be looking for volunteers to help with the clean up and any funds are still welcomed.

Team Saskatchewan has announced a list of 16 players that will work towards representing the province at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).

The development squads are:

GIRLS:
Hailey Thunderchild
Mya Whitecap
Vanetta Tipewan
Gabrielle Paskemin
Julia Mcarthy
Cassidy Strongarm
Chloe Young
Myah Thomas

BOYS:
Dante Gamble
Dade Bernatchez
Gabriel Halkett
Keedon Whitefish
Jagger Bitz
Keston Gerard
Tyson Naytowhow
Gabriel Genereaux

The 2023 NAIG will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia from July 15 – 23. The Saskatchewan golf team will consist of eight players. Two boys and two girls from each age group that include under-19 and under-17.

The team will be selected in the spring.

Saskatoon’s Adrian Cochet is a TPI Certified Physical Therapist and Fitness Professional and was recently at the PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show meeting with industry stakeholders and sharing ideas on how his services can benefit the golf industry.

Cochet spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork to discuss his specialties and what he can do for golfers and clubs going forward.

A recent golf trip to Phoenix for a Regina man has turned into a trip he will never forget.

Ken Selinger took a few years off of travelling to the United States due to COVID and some health concerns, but recently the 69-year-old and a group of friends went to Arizona to play golf only to come back with an amazing tale.

On Nov. 7 Selinger sunk not one, but two aces in the same round, a feat that happens an estimated one in 67 million rounds. The Wascana Country Club member spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork about the round he will will never forget.

Pilot Butte’s Austin Nesbitt was the highest placed local competing in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championship over the weekend in Orlando, Florida.

Nesbitt, 11, fired back-to-back rounds of 77 to finish tied for fourth in the peewee boys category at Orange Country National Golf Club on Sunday. He was 10 shots behind the winner. 12-year-old Lucas Sturgeon of Saskatoon shot rounds of 83 and 79, he finished in eighth spot in the peewee boys division.

Regina’s Tayla Perry and Grace Odnokon of Saskatoon competed in the girls under-15 division, Perry was eighth 183 (89, 94) while Odnokon was ninth at 194 (95, 99).

Hallie Crozer of Regina placed ninth in the girls under-19 category with a 36 hole score of 159 (79, 80).

In the bantam boys category Saskatoon’s Jack Maharaj made the top 10 thanks to rounds of 76 and 79. The 14-year-old was 13 shots behind the winner. Aricin Franklin of Saskatoon was also competing in the bantam group, the 13-year-old shot 80 and 78.

Saskatoon golfers Carter Bell and Jackson Wingert were also in Florida at the championship competing in the junior boys division. Bell was 18th at 161 (82, 79) and Wingert was 19th with an 84 and 80.

The complete results can be found here.

Saskatoon – Golf Saskatchewan has finalized the 2023 Saskatchewan amateur golf championship schedule.

As usual, the Saskatchewan Junior Women’s and Men’s Championships will tee up the season on July 4-6 in Swift Current at Chinook Golf Club. The junior championships were last hosted by Chinook in 2017, Melville’s Chloe Sies won her second straight championship that year, Humboldt’s Tayden Wallin was the junior men’s winner.

The junior championships were also held in Swift Current in 2020 at Elmwood Golf Club.

The Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships will be hosted by North Battleford Golf & Country Club on July 11-14. The Amateur Women’s, newly added Mid-Amateur (25+) Women’s, and Mid-Amateur (25+) Men’s Championships will be 54-hole, three-day events, the Men’s Amateur will be 72 holes with a cut (top-25 plus ties) making the fourth day.

The last time the N.B.G.C.C. hosted a provincial event was 2017 with the Senior Championships being played.

The 2023 Senior Women’s Championship, Senior Men’s Championship and Mid-Masters Men’s (40+) Championship will be held at Cooke Municipal Golf Club in Prince Albert.

Cooke hosted the amateur championships this past season selling out with 150 players. The event will run from July 17-19.

“We are very happy to announce the 2023 schedule,” said Golf Saskatchewan Tournament Director Steve Ryde said. “Golf Saskatchewan is coming off an unbelievable season and look to build on that. Chinook is a top-notch club to host the best juniors in Saskatchewan, North Battleford has one of the premier golf courses in Saskatchewan, Cooke hosted the most successful tournament we’ve had in recent memory this year, these clubs will make awesome hosts.”

All individual championships will be qualifying events for Canadian Championships. Golf Canada will announce their championship schedule in the future.

Golf Saskatchewan is excited to welcome the Rosebowl at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club just south of Saskatoon on Aug. 9-10. The 36-hole two-day net-team women’s event has a strong history with over 50 years of the tournament being held.

The Mixed Championship will be held on Aug. 26-27 at Hillcrest Golf Club in Moose Jaw. Golf Saskatchewan last had an event at the course in 2021 when the junior championships were held there.

The season will end with the Champions Cup, a team event featuring club champion representatives from across the province. The one-day event will be hosted at The Legends Golf Club. The date is still pending; however, it will be played around the middle of September allowing clubs to finalize plans to send players to the tournament. Last season was the first year with over 60 players competing.

“Returning the Rosebowl to the schedule at fantastic Moon Lake and having the mixed at Hillcrest is exciting because it’s a fun course to play, the spa is there, just a great location for the event, and of course the Champions Cup will be bigger and better. 2023 will be great,” Ryde concluded.

Registration for all events will open on April 15.

There is a strong field of Saskatchewan players set to tee it up at the 2022 Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championship in Orlando, Florida.

The first of three rounds of the invitational tournament will begin Thursday morning at The Crooked Cat Golf Club.

Players from Saskatchewan competing are:

• Carter Bell (Saskatoon) | Junior Boys
• Hallie Crozier (Regina) | 15-19 Girls
• Aricin Franklin (Saskatoon) | Bantam Boys
• Jack Maharaj (Saskatoon) | Bantam Boys
• Austin Nesbitt (Pilot Butte) | Peewee Boys
• Grace Odnokon (Saskatoon) | Under-15 Girls
• Tayla Perry (Regina) | Under-15 Girls
• Lucas Sturgeon (Saskatoon) | Peewee Boys
• Jackson Wingert (Saskatoon) | Junior Boys

For all the details including results and tee times click here.

The R&A and the USGA have unveiled a regular update to the Rules of Golf as they continue to make the Rules easier to understand and apply. The new Rules will go into effect on January 1, 2023.
 
The 2023 edition continues the modernisation process, with an emphasis on both inclusion and sustainability. For the first time, the modified Rules for players with disabilities have been fully incorporated into the playing rules without the need to adopt a local rule. The governing bodies, supported by longstanding partner Rolex, will also promote digital and mobile app access to the Rules while significantly reducing the production and distribution of more than four million printed books.

Several penalties have been relaxed and language has been clarified to help golfers at all levels of play.

Key changes include:

• Modifications for Players with Disabilities: The modifications to the Rules for players with disabilities have been made part of the Rules and are in effect for all players who are classified in the categories covered in Rule 25.
• Handicap Usage in Stroke Play: With the continued growth of score-posting technology following the adoption of the World Handicap System™, players are no longer penalised for failing to put their handicap on their scorecard in stroke play. The committee will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of each player’s handicap.
• Club Damaged During Round: The Rule has been amended to allow a player to replace a club that is damaged during a round, provided the player did not damage it through abuse.
• Ball Moved by Natural Forces: A new exception provides that a ball at rest must be replaced if it moves to another area of the course or comes to rest out of bounds after being dropped, placed or replaced.
• Back-on-the-Line Relief Procedure: The back-on-the-line relief procedure, often used for penalty area and unplayable ball relief, has been simplified so that the player now drops their ball on the line, and the ball must come to rest within one club-length of where it is dropped.

Golfers will be able to learn more about the major changes and review the official 2023 Rules of Golf by visiting randa.org and usga.org/rules. Full updates to the official Rules of Golf digital applications will be available starting on 1 January.
 
Grant Moir, Director of Rules at The R&A, said, “We are continuing to improve and adapt the Rules of Golf to ensure they are in line with the way the modern game is played. That means making the Rules easier to understand and access for all golfers and making the sport more inclusive and welcoming for golfers with disabilities. We are also working to ensure golf has a sustainable long-term future and making more resources available digitally is key to achieving that goal.”
 
“The growing popularity of golf continues to guide our decision-making and modernising the Rules to promote inclusivity and accessibility is clearly a great step in the right direction,” said Thomas Pagel, USGA Chief Governance Officer. “This latest evolution is especially important to the community of golfers with disabilities, and we hope it will encourage more people to play and enjoy the game.”
 
Players are reminded that the current edition of the Rules of Golf (2019) still applies when playing or posting scores for the remainder of 2022.
 
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 modernise 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 game, from the sport’s leading professional and amateur competitions and organisations, to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.