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.

The 2022 PGA of Saskatchewan annual Buying Show returned in full capacity this year.

Moving over to Dakota Dunes Resort from Prairieland Park, outgoing Executive Director Scott Allan spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about the season, the PGA of Saskatchewan awards, and the show.

The Pat Fletcher Foundation named the recipients of their 2022 scholarships with two people from Prince Albert being awarded funding.

A total of 20 postsecondary education students from across the country were listed including Landon and Colin Sosnowski who are both attending the University of Saskatchewan.

This is the third year in a row Landon has been named a recipient.

“We are so proud of this year’s recipients. They demonstrated leadership and character in their submissions, and we wish them the best of luck as they head back to university and college this fall,” said Ted Fletcher, Founder and Chairman of Mint Green in a news release. “These
are outstanding young people – hard-working, well-rounded leaders in their
communities. They share our desire of “making a difference” and we are proud to have played a small role in helping to shape their future.”

Since establishing the Foundation in 1985, The Pat Fletcher Foundation has awarded 565 scholarships, for a total of $800,000 to young Canadian golfers – giving them the opportunity to develop and reach their highest potential.

“While my father was always very passionate about the sport of golf, he was equally passionate about the importance of education. He took a genuine interest in working with junior golfers to help them reach their full potential, both on and off the golf course,” Fletcher added, who continues to administer the Foundation, along with a board of trustees.

The Foundation’s website, www.patfletcher.com includes the current list of recipients.

Coming off his first career collegiate win Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy closed the fall season of his senior year at Robert Morris University (RMU) with a top-five finish.

On Oct. 24 and 25 the Colonials were in Glen Cove, New York for the Nassau Invitational at the Nassau Country Club. Nagy shot 74, 69, and 72 for a 5-over par, 215, tied for fifth with two other players. The team was fifth thanks to Nagy’s team low score.

Nagy’s performance earned his the Chick-Fil-A RMU Student-Athlete of the Week as well.

The team is now off until the spring.

Prince Albert’s TJ Baker climbed six positions during the second round of the Lyon College Fall Invitational in Batesville, Arkansas on Tuesday to finish the 36-hole tournament in sixth place. The Waskesiu Golf Course member and University of Arkansas at Monticello junior shot 80 in round one at The Course at Eagle Mountain on Monday before rebounding with a 73 in round two to finish just eight shots back of the winner.

Weevils teammate Chase Gedak of Estevan was 11^th at the event with a two-day score of 13-over par, 157 (79, 78). The event featured just a trio of schools and 21 players in the field, the Weevils took second place overall. They are now on their winter break as well.

Will Danielson also has a win this season for Milsaps College, the Saskatoon product concluded his fall season with a tie for 11^th at the William Carey Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Oct. 24 and 25. He shot 79 and 76 at the Peninsula Golf Club finishing eight strokes behind the winner.

The Majors team tied fir third with the host team. They are now off until March.

Southern Arkansas University (SAU) was in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Oct. 24 – 25 at The Club at Indian Springs for the Tulsa Cup. Regina’s Luke Cote was competing as an individual in the 36-hole event, he tied for 41^st overall at 11-over par 155 (77, 78).

Cote’s Mulerider teammates placed sixth out of 17 schools competing in the tournament. They are also finished their fall season.

With a young family including three boys the Stupak family is hoping an indoor golf facility will grow golf and play a role in more recreational family-friendly options for Warman, Martensville, and the area.

Amanda and Justin Stupak are originally from Yorkton, the couple then relocated to Saskatoon for about a decade and now they call Warman home. After two years in the fastest growing city in Saskatchewan they have opened Stu’s Indoor Golf. Being a mother of three energetic kids Amanda said they wanted to open a facility that promotes an active lifestyle through golf and sports.

“That was a big reason why we wanted to open something leaning to the sports area and going towards recreation too then just trying to help the community build something within the community,” she told Golf Saskatchewan during a visit to the business on Central St.

Amanda was a competitive cheerleader growing up while Justin played baseball, hockey, and golf during his youth. The couple feels sports and recreation provided them with opportunities in their youth and wanted to pass that along in their city and region as well that they compare to their hometown of Yorkton.

“There is lots of families here with young kids,” she said. “We’re really hoping to grow on that and start targeting a younger generation for golf.”

Stu’s features four golf bays, their “VIP” bay will equip up to eight players and will have a multi-sport simulator as well including hockey, baseball, dodgeball, and others. The other three bays accommodate four players each. The simulators feature TruGolf hardware and E6 Connect software with approximately 100 courses. Justin added that giving local kids more sporting options no matter the weather is a positive for Warman and the area.

“When I was growing up you couldn’t find a way to play baseball all year, you couldn’t find a way to play golf all year, there was those sports that you could only play a few months. Now kids can train and do those things all year,” he said.

The Stupak’s have been collaborating on ideas with The Legends Golf Club and Head Professional Brent Eikelenboom. Details are still being ironed out, but Justin said the plan is to have the PGA of Canada member doing some coaching out of the facility.

“He’s going to be doing lessons here,” Justin said. “We don’t have it all finalized and booked up, but people can reach out to us or him. Then what we’ll do is get them set up with him, he’ll do what he does here in our place.”

League play will be offered plus the business is fully licensed and has a kitchen with pub-style food.

Justin and his father-in-law spent many hours over the last couple months constructing the business that was opened with a “soft opening” earlier in October. They are planning a grand opening celebration in November.

Amanda said the feedback from the community has been unbelievable with Christmas, birthday, and anniversary parties already booked. She noticed excitement growing even when the construction was underway.

“As the construction kept moving people kept coming by, walking in and asking if we’re open, a lot of good response that way and we’ve had a lot of fantastic responses on social media,” she said.

For more information on Stu’s Indoor Golf visit their Facebook page or website.

After a couple years of cancellations four more inductees into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame were able to officially be enshrined.

On Oct. 22 at Riverside Country Club Pat Buglass, Brad Birnie, Blaine Fagnou, and Brad Phelps were inducted as part of the last couple years of announcements.

The group join four more that were honoured in Regina on Oct. 1.

The three acceptance speeches delivered during the gala can be seen below.

For more details on the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame including the nomination process and the inductees click here.

College teammates Colby Friedrich and Jayden Dudas have concluded their college golf seasons with a national appearance earlier this month.

Friedrich finished fifth at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships that occurred from Oct. 18 – 21 at the Deer Creek Golf and Banquet Center in Ajax, Ont. The Battleford product was in the hunt all tournament, but a third round score of 84 took him out of the mix. Friedrich was happy with the finish and his improvement on last years result.

He spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork after the Medicine Hat College Rattler returned to Alberta.

Estevan’s Jayden Dudas helped the Rattlers to a fourth place team finish, just two shots outside the medals. The TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club member placed 12th in the 72-hole championship including climbing three spots on the final day thanks to a day-low round of 69 that he admitted should have been a 68.

Dudas also spoke about the national experience and his season in Medicine Hat.

The complete results of the event can be seen here.

The PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show is back for the first time since 2019, this year at Dakota Dunes Resort.

Tuesday night after day one of the two-day show the organization held their annual awards banquet. Saskatoon’s Phil Jonas was the big winner taking home three honours including the Frank Fowler Trophy, Scott Knapp Trophy, and the Peter Cushner Trophy. The Saskatoon Golf & Country Club based pro spoke about his season and sharing the night with colleagues and his wife Patty who coaches alongside him at the club.

Saskatoon Golf & Country Club General Manager McLaren Taylor took home the Graham Coulter Trophy for Professional of the Year which he was presented by Coulter during the gala.

Taylor also presented the Bill Taylor Award, named after his father to 2022 winner Conner McGill of Valley Regional Park Golf Course in Rosthern.

The Junior Leader of the Year went to Long Creek Golf Club’s Brad Lovatt in Avonlea for the success of the junior program in Avonlea.

Lovatt has recently be named as a new assistant pro at Wascana Country Club. He talked about the honour of winning, the junior program at Long Creek and the mixed-emotions of leaving the club and advancing his career.

Guillermo Salazar has a college win to conclude the first half of his freshman year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The long-time Waskesiu Golf Course member went 73, 75, 69 this week at the PSAC Championship in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to claim the event by a shot. The Calgary product helped the Crimson Hawks win the event alongside fellow Waskesiu player Alex Swinnerton who tied for third thanks to a 54-hole total of 220 (73, 72, 75).

You can hear from Salazar who spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork after the win.

Estevan’s Jace Carlisle was in action this week at the Sacred Heart University Fall Classic in Milford, Connecticut. Competing for Post University at the Great River Golf Club the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club member placed 45^th with rounds of 82 and 79.

The Eagles were sixth overall in the team competition. That was Carlisle’s last event of the fall season.

Also competing in his final fall event for Houston – Victoria University (UHV), Eston’s Cort Tunall tied for 35^th a the UHV Fall Classic in Victoria, Texas this week. The Kindersley Golf Course member shot rounds of 78, 85, and 81 at the Victoria Country Club.

Tunall was competing for the UHV ‘B’ team at the school’s home event, the team placed seventh. The UHV ‘A’ team won the event to close the fall season.

North of the Border

Battleford’s product Colby Friedrich is in second place after 36 holes of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship in Ajax, Ontario at Deer Park Golf and Banquet.

Friedrich is two shots behind the leader. Fellow Medicine Hat College teammate Jayden Dudas of Estevan vaulted 11 spots up the leaderboard on Wednesday into 11^th place.

Follow the leaderboard here.

Regina’s Hunter Kutcher is one of a dozen recipients of the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) Herrendorf Family Foundation (HFF) scholarships.

The MJT scholarship program has benefitted an extensive alumni list with their post-secondary endeavours for over 20 years. Courtesy the generosity of the Herrendorf Family Foundation, twelve $1,000 scholarships have been awarded in 2022, with a financial need consideration, to the following MJT members who demonstrated achievements in athletic, educational and personal endeavours. Now playing college golf for the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat, Kutcher said the MJT funding means a lot.

“The MJT has been an integral part of my junior career and development of my golf game. Meeting lifelong friends while playing in events that have elite competition has allowed me to take my game to the next level. I am thankful for this scholarship because it helps me continue my golf game at a high level while being able to receive and education at UBCO,” Kutcher said.

More information on the Herrendorf Family Foundation can be seen here.