Four Saskatchewan golfers were nominated in their respective categories for this years Saskatchewan Sport Awards, but none of the four were named provincial finalists.

Sask Sport is tasked with selecting the top three candidates from nominees across all sports to be finalists for their awards. Golf Saskatchewan nominated Ella Kozak (Yorkton) for the Youth Female Athlete of the Year, Kim Walker (Regina) was nominated in the Female Athlete of the Year category, Keaton Kreklewich (Melville) was up for the Youth Male Athlete of the Year, and Brett Henry (Prince Albert) was nominated in the Male Athlete of the Year.

Sask Sport announced all the finalists on Wednesday. To read more click here.

The 2022 Saskatchewan Sport Awards will be celebrated gala on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at TCU Place in Saskatoon.

After returning to Saskatchewan last year, the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) will hold four events in the province in 2023.

On July 17 and 18 Deer Valley Golf Club will play host to the CJGA Saskatchewan Linkster Challenge and the CJGA Saskatchewan Showcase. The Linkster event is a one day format, the Showcase is two days. Deer Valley Head Professional John Greenough said their facility is excited to host the CJGA and expand junior golf opportunities.

“Deer Valley is a proud supporter of junior golf and we are excited to host juniors from across the province for the CJGA event this year,” Greenough said.

The nationwide junior tour returned to Yorkton last year, Deer Park Municipal Golf Course will host the CJGA again in 2023 on Aug. 1 to 3. The CJGA Saskatchewan Linkster Championship will run on Aug. 1, the CJGA Saskatchewan Championship will be played for three days. CJGA Director Tour Operations Tyler Torrieri said the organization

“We are extremely excited to bring the CJGA back to Saskatchewan for the 2023 season,” he said. “After the strong response to our event in 2022, we have decided to expand to four events in the province for the 2023 season. Continuing our relationship with Deer Park in Yorkton was vital, and we secured a new course in Deer Valley. We are ecstatic to continue to build junior golf in Saskatchewan in 2023 and beyond.”

All the events are part of the Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit (OMT) Tours.

More information on the CJGA can be found on their website.

When 14-year-old Andrew Harvie decided to take his love of golf and create content for the internet he never dreamed a decade later he’s nearing a completion of playing all 100 of Canada’s top clubs.

Beyond the Contour has grown to multiple writers and avenues alongside Harvie, originally from Lethbridge but now calls Toronto home. Recently Harvie spent two days in Saskatchewan’s north playing Waskesiu, Elk Ridge, and Cooke Municipal in Prince Albert.

The reviews on Waskesiu and Cooke are now available to view.
– Waskesiu Golf Course
– Cooke Municipal Golf Course

Golf Saskatchewan caught up with Harvie, a participant in the 2018 Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Championship at Dakota Dune Golf Links, to hear about the trip back to the prairies and his thoughts on the two iconic courses in Saskatchewan.

Regina’s Hallie Crozier has committed to college to continue her golf career and pursue a career in the industry.

Last week the Royal Regina Golf Club member announced she was going to attend Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI.

Crozier, 18, is going to study Professional Golf Management while attending with a goal of working in the golf business. Crozier spoke with Golf Saskatchewan Clark Stork and discussed her decision to join the Bulldogs.

Despite being particularly new to the golf industry, Calgary based Kailani Sports is finding success within the sport.

Launching two and half years ago, President & CEO Sean Alexander took a chance on trying to wedge into the golf industry this past season.

Alexander spoke with Golf Saskatchewan at the 2022 PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show to describe his company and how the expansion to golf, and the future.

Residents of Estevan and the surrounding area of southern Saskatchewan have a new indoor golf option.

Earlier this week Global Golf Plus had a soft opening in the city showing off their four GolfZon simulators, they also have two StrikeZon baseball simulators as well. Manager Sheldon Beatty told Golf Saskatchewan that the excitement in Estevan for indoor golf is evident.

“We had tonnes and tonnes of positive feedback,” he said. “Lots of people are saying when they walk into the place it gives off big city vibes.”

Owners Rob Peloquin and Pete Seregella travelled to a couple cnetres including Winnipeg and Red Deer before a final trip to Ontario settled the debate on what software and equipment to purchase. The ownership decided on GolfZon with Golf Vision Plus Plus technology.

“We have over 220 different courses available and they are adding more courses every week. A month ago there was only 180, now we’re over 200,” Beatty said.

Beatty said they are planning weekly ladies, junior, and men’s leagues for the new year and discussions have been in progress with TS&M Woodlawn Head Professional Amanda Minchin to host lessons and clinics in the city over the long winter months.

“We’ve been chatting with Amanda, she’s been in a couple times. We’re pretty sure she’s going to come in and do some junior lessons, and some private lessons,” he said.

Global Golf Plus is fully licensed with a pub-style menu ready to serve any size group. Beatty said with the soft opening and a buzz around the community more fun stuff is planned for after CHristmas.

“We’ll be doing other fun things, I can’t really say as of yet. We just want to get all these Christmas parties out of the way and the early bumps and bruises out of the way before we do that. When we do it, we want to do it right,” Beatty concluded.

To learn more about Global Golf Plus visit their website.

You can also hear more from Beatty in his interview with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork.

The PGA of Canada announced their 2022 award nominees on their social media Friday afternoon with several Saskatchewan professionals being given nominations.

Dick Munn Exec Professional of the Year | McLaren Taylor (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
George Knudson Teacher of the Year | Garrett McMillan (Wascana Country Club)
Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year | Brad Lovatt (Wascana Country Club)
Ben Kern Coach of the Year | Jeff Chambers (Elmwood Golf Club)
Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year | Ryan Wells (Elk Ridge Golf Resort)
Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year | Sloane Harder (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club

The award winners will be announced in mid-December with the winners being celebrated at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida on Jan. 26.

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.