With what started as a side venture to assist a friend and subsidize farming transitioned to three decades of the Happy’s Golf Car Sales and Service serving the golf industry in Saskatchewan and beyond. In a Facebook post this week, Marie Happy announced she has sold the business to Wynyard NAPA and will retire.

Marie and her husband Don officially started the cart retail and service business in 1992, again as a side job along with farming but as their business grew farming was no longer possible and in 1998, they relocated to a property near Good Spirit north of Yorkton for its centralized location. Marie said as their business grew they watched courses such as Green Acres in Balgonie, the Wynyard Golf Club, Sherwood Forest, Flowing Springs and others develop as well over the years.

“We watched them blossom, some started with basically four cars in their fleets. These courses have grown to large fleets and new clubhouses. They have really blossomed over the years,” she said.

Don was highly regarded as a golf car mechanic and word travelled far and wide. Marie said in the founding days of the business he was on the road a lot paving his way to find work as well as customers that became vey loyal over the 30 years of their operation.

“That’s what really got our name out there,” Marie added. “Everyone recognized Don’s truck and he was at the regular courses we had fleets at or sold fleets to. He was there once every couple weeks kind of thing and when he was there they always said it was like someone threw fresh meat out because the flies just flocked, the customers would just show up.”

Over the years Marie said she got quite good at stocking Don’s truck with parts and items regular customers needed allowing him to do the work people required. She said clients from as far as Ontario would bring work to them. One gentleman transported a torn apart cart engine all the way to Saskatchewan to have Don rebuilt it for his cart. They serviced Manitoba regularly plus Alberta clients with Yorkton ties.

After Don passed away in 2018 Marie admitted she couldn’t just step away, their clients relied on them. Despite not having a mechanic anymore she continued with the business for three more years.

“I had become pretty good at diagnosing over the phone in a lot of cases,” she chuckled. “I followed Don around a lot as a gopher, so I was able to pick up on a lot of things. I just didn’t want to leave our customers empty handed; they had relied on us for 30 years.”

Aside from watching courses grow and develop into community hubs and meeting places Marie said they watched the overall sport develop from a white-collar senior based crowd into a game for everyone to enjoy, especially families taking up the game.

“When we started it was the well-established senior retirees kind of thing more so than the everyday working class, at least that’s what it seemed like from our perspective. Then it grew after that especially in the rural courses, it was the families and junior golf has really taken off,” she added.

As mentioned, Wynyard NAPA will take over the business and Marie will take time to herself likely devoting much of that to her two grandchildren and her daughter’s family. She said she hopes to find more time to golf now as well. She did want to send a message to their devoted clients over the 30 years of Happy’s.

“I just want to say thank you for the loyalty that everyone gave us over the years. It was really overwhelming that people kept coming,” she concluded.

Estevan born golfer Jayden Dudas has been named the 2021 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Rookie and Male Golfer of the Year after his first year at Medicine Hat College.

Dudas recently won the ACAC Championship after a three-round score of 213 (74, 69, 70) at the Alberta Springs Golf Resort. Dudas was three shots better than fellow Saskatchewanian and teammate Colby Friedrich. Friedrich, from North Battleford posted rounds of 72, 74, and 70 for a 54-hole total of 216.

The team won the championship at plus-14. Both Dudas and Friedrich will compete in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association in Windsor, Ontario starting on Oct. 12.

(*Golf Saskatchewan will hear from both players following their appearances at the national championship.)

Josh Nagy has his best college event under his belt. The Saskatoon product finished tied for third at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational in Lakewood, Ohio on Oct. 4 and 5.

Nagy drained nine birdies over the two days of the tournament to finish with a two-round score of 140 (71, 69). He helped the Colonials place seventh overall in the event. Nagy and his Robert Morris University teammates will travel to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania on Oct. 10 – 12 for the Bucknell Invitational.

Roman Timmerman has another college top-20 performance on his resume after the Saskatoon born Southern Arkansas University Mulerider placed in a tie for 19^th at the Battle of the Belt in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Oct. 4 and 5.

The senior shot rounds of 74, 72, and 73 at the Hot Springs Country Club. As a team the Muleriders placed third out of 11 teams.

The teams next event is the Tulsa Cup in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Oct. 25 and 26.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello also competed in the Battle for the Belt this week including Prince Albert’s TJ Baker. The second-year Weevil carded rounds of 78, 80, and 79, good enough for a 52^nd place finish. The team placed ninth overall at the 54-hole tournament.

Next up for the Weevils is the Sixth annual Ranger Fall Invite on Oct. 18 and 19 in Enid, Oklahoma.

Prince Albert golfer Josh Guthrie was in action for the University of Alberta on Oct. 4 and 5. Guthrie competed in the Can West Championships at the Squamish Valley Golf Club. Guthrie shot rounds of 76 and 79, he placed in a tie for 33^rd at plus-11.

Regina’s Alex Schmidt had another solid performance for the Lewis-Clark State College Warriors on Oct. 2 and 3 at the Culturame Classic. Schmidt led the team and placed third overall in the event with a three-over-par 147 (71, 73).

The Warriors team also placed third at the event. The squad will finish the Fall season at the Bushnell Invitational on Oct. 17 and 18.

 Other Saskatchewan student-athletes in action over the next few days are Will Danielson (Oct. 7), Jacob Kydd (Oct. 8-9), and Connor Scissons (Oct 11-12).

Written by: Matt Johnson for Sask Sport

Thanks to the efforts of Kaia Thauberger, Lumsden and the surrounding area is set to become the 41st KidSport chapter in Saskatchewan.

Seventeen-year-old Thauberger believes that everyone should have access to sport, which led her to host a Golf-a-Thon called Rounds for Ralph in honour of her late-grandfather, that raised $12,700 to start the KidSport chapter. KidSport is a children’s charity that helps cover the costs associated with sports for kids ages 5-18 in the province.

“I was looking for a charity that kind of represented what my grandpa lived for with sports and kids, KidSport really made sense for that,” said Thauberger.

Thauberger has volunteered with KidSport Regina making the fit a natural one, but when she learned about starting a local chapter, she realized the true potential of bringing KidSport to her community could have.

Sport has given me so much confidence, it’s so great for my mental health and I’ve met so many friends through it that I can’t imagine someone not having that because it’s really made me a different person in a really good way.

Kaia Thauberger on why she wanted to start a KidSport chapter in Lumsden
“I felt that there was a need in our community for it,” said Thauberger. “I’m really excited for the applications to come in soon and get to see what that’s doing for kids in my community, and just the fact that that money is staying with people so close to you so you can really see the effects of it.”

The funds raised at the tournament should help support the chapter for up to two years.

Despite being only set to enter her final year of high school this fall, charitable initiatives aren’t anything new for Thauberger. She believes she hosted her first fundraiser at the age of 12, and five years ago, she organized a steak night also in honour of her late grandfather, who passed away 25 years earlier.

“This year I wanted to do something else in his honour,” said Thauberger.

Thauberger’s grandpa Ralph was an advocate of local sport, through his involvement in coaching, as well as an avid golfer—leading Kaia to the idea of a golf tournament to help raise the funds to start the chapter that he would believe in. And for Thauberger, who never got the chance to meet her grandfather, the ability to carry on his legacy is something she isn’t taking for granted.

While sport meant a lot to her grandfather, it always is a big part of Kaia’s life. An avid volleyball player herself, she’s seen the potential of sport first-hand.

“(Sport) has given me so much confidence, it’s so great for my mental health and I’ve met so many friends through it that I can’t imagine someone not having that because it’s really made me a different person in a really good way, “said Thauberger.

For Kaia’s mother Leah Switzer, her daughter’s passion for the community is something special to see.

“It makes me incredibly proud. It’s something that both her dad and I have always tried to instil in the kids. And it’s just giving back to your community and helping out when and where you can. So to see her embrace that and take it on to the degree that she has, is incredible,” said Switzer.

As for what’s to come, Thauberger, who will be entering Grade 12 come the fall, is keeping an open mind as to what her next fundraiser will be, but she just hopes for the chapter to take off and provide good in Lumsden and surrounding area.

“I’d really like to see KidSport get more kids in the community involved and just to see more awareness of KidSport in our community.”

And according to Thauberger, the news of the local chapter is already taking off in the community.

“I often hear from people ‘oh, I know somebody that uses that’ or ‘oh, that can help this person.’ Them connecting the fact that it’s going to help those around them is cool,” said Thauberger.

“Everybody’s pretty excited about it and they’re very supportive of it.”

After 12 years guiding Golf New Brunswick Tyson Flinn is stepping away from the position of executive director.

Flinn will be replaced by Luke Lacey on an interim basis.

Flinn sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss his time with the amateur golf body and what is next for him.

Dru Bolen was only in the position of general manager at the Weyburn Golf Club for about 18 months but he hopes the course is on it’s way back.

Bolen sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss his time in Weyburn, highlights, the future of the club and a recent trip to the Ryder Cup before his next career endeavor.

Regina’s Alex Schmidt continues to be in the hunt for her first college golf win.

The Lewis-Clark State College senior placed third on Tuesday at the Warrior Invitational in Lewiston, Idaho. Schmidt shot 74 and 73 helping the team to also finish in third place at the two-day event.

Next up for Lewis-Clark is the George Fox Invitational in Canby, Oregon on Oct. 2 and 3.

Holly Knudsen and the Minot State University Beavers were in action this week at the Watkins Invitational hosted by Winona State on Sept. 27 and 28.

The Chaplin product finished in a tie for 14^th at 167 (83, 84). As a team MSU placed sixth overall. The event was the schools last scheduled event of the Fall season.

Saskatoon’s Will Danielson made his college debut this week for Milsaps College.

The Majors were in Georgia to compete in the Royal Lakes Fall Invitational on Sept. 27 and 28. Danielson fired rounds of 79 and 80 to finish at 15-over and tied for 71^st.

As a team the Majors were 13^th out of 18 squads.

The team will travel to the Black Bear Golf Club in Delhi, Louisiana to face Centenary College in a match play event on Oct. 7.

Brody Istace and the Columbia International University Rams were in Anderson, South Carolina to play in the Bruins Golf Classic on Sept. 27 and 28.

The Kindersley born golfer shot 78 in round one and 85 in the second round. He tied for 25^th at 19-over par. The Rams “A” team that Istace competed on placed fourth in the team standings.

Next up for CIU is the SAU Fall Invitational at the Deercroft Golf and Country Club in Wagram, North Carolina on Oct. 4 and 5.

Roman Timmerman led his Southern Arkansas University teammates into the MSSU Men’s Fall Invitational this week in Monkey Island, Oklahoma.

The Saskatoon product finished tied for 29^th at the 54-hole event hosted at the Shangri-La Country Club. He shot rounds of 72, 77, and 74. The Muleriders team was fifth overall as a club.

Their next tournament is the Battle for the Belt at the Hot Springs Country Club. That begins on Oct. 4.

Caden Loeppky of Saskatoon and the Waldorf University Warriors competed in two one day events this week. On Sunday, Sept. 26 in Albert Lea, Minnesota the team played at the Wedgewood Cove Golf Club. Loeppky shot two-over, 74, good enough for a tie for 20^th overall at the Waldorf University Invite. The Warriors were seventh overall as team in the 12-school field.

On Monday, Sept. 27 the scene shifted to the Rice Lake Golf and Country Club in Lake Mills, Indiana for the Waldorf Challenge. Loeppky shot six-over, 77, landing him in a tie for 21^st place.

The team was fourth of eight in that competition. Their next action is the Grandview Invitational in Ankeny, Indiana on Oct. 18 and 19.

For more information on all of Saskatchewan’s student-athletes click HERE.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg is looking back on another strong finish at a national championship with what should become fond memories.

Hallberg was the top local finisher at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship of the eight Saskatchewan golfers that competed in the tournament at Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Quebec.

Hallberg finished in a tie for 23^rd place at 18-over, 306 (73, 79, 79, 75). Overall, the Golf Kenosee member said the golf course provided unbelievable images.

“The four days were pretty good,” he said. “The golf course was in great shape; the conditions were really good. It was probably the most spectacular golf course scenery wise I’ve ever seen. The elevation changes were unreal. It’s like they built a golf course on a ski hill. It is a gorgeous golf course.”

Hallberg was one of three Saskatchewan players to make the cut including Rick Hillestad and Martin Ring. After being tied for third after the opening round Hallberg was stuck between clubs during the middle rounds.

“I had a hard time committing to a lot of my second shots, trying to factor in the elevation change and the wind, I just wasn’t fully committed swing a few times that cost me. The greens were difficult to read, I don’t think I did a bad job reading them, I just didn’t read them well enough to roll in the 10 to 15 footers you like to roll in every once in a while,” he added.

Hallberg is satisfied with capping his season with a finish inside the top-25 at nationals. He was also happy to reconnect with some golf colleagues across the country.

“There was a bunch of us on the same side of the draw, so we got to have a few meals with them and play practice round with Darren (Ritchie), Garth (Collings), and Timmy (Yorke), that was nice. Then the first two days of the tournament I got to play with Darren as well, he deserved the win. He played better than anyone else I saw and it was nice to see him come out on top,” Hallberg said.

Hillestad ended the championship in a tie for 38^th. The Riverside Country Club member was also seventh in the Super Senior (65 plus) age group. He was very happy with his 72-hole score of plus-24, 312.

“Yeah, absolutely I’m happy with the result,” Hillestad told Golf Saskatchewan. “Making the cut and playing that was a success.”

Hillestad said he was the highest finisher among players 70 and over as well. Much like Hallberg he was taken back by the elevation and beauty of the landscape while in Quebec.

“The course set up was pretty fair, but some people said it was a ski hill turned into a golf course, there was serious elevation changes,” he joked. “The third tee to the third green, 600 feet. It’s like Kenosee or Waskesiu on steroids.”

Hillestad was able to handle the conditions no shooting higher than 82, that came in the second round. His bookended the event with 77’s and added a 76 in day three. He has attended many large scale golf events in his amateur career and the 2021 will be looked back on positively.

“We really enjoyed it; the hospitality was terrific everywhere we went from the golf course to the community. It was really well done,” he concluded.

Carlyle’s Carter Morrison hasn’t played in many golf tournaments, but the 17-year-old already has a top-10 finish at a Golf Canada Canadian Championship.

 Morrison got his start in the sport via the common route of tagging along at the course with his dad and brother. He said he enjoyed the game early on and played as early as he can remember. When asked what created a like for the game Morrison said the individuality is unique.

“I like how it an individual game,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “If you make a bad shot you can come back, you are always focusing on you not someone else.”

Morrison competed in the Saskatchewan Junior Champion in Moose Jaw this summer, he also entered the Moose Mountain Classic at Golf Kenosee, just eight kilometers from Carlyle. However the highlight for Morrison was a trip to Toronto to compete in the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship on Sept. 23 and 24.

He shot 80 in the first round and 86 in round two. His score of plus-26, 166 tied him for 10^th overall in a field of 29 players. Morrison said he was very happy with the result and experience.

“It’s an amazing course, one of the nicest I’ve ever played on. The week went well, I had my ups and downs, but I can’t complain, I finished top-10. That was my goal for the week,” he said.

The appearance in the championship, which came to fruition after his mother was notified of the event, has provided a spark to Morrison and elevated his golf goals.

“Now I am ranked (World Ranking for Golfers with Disability) and I am excited to hopefully play in some more tournaments around the world. I just have to improve and get better, get to the best I can be and maybe go back next year and win this tournament,” he added.

For more details on the All Abilities Championship click here.

You can hear more from Morrison below, he spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork after returning from the All Abilities Championship.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak has capped her competitive golf season with a Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association championship.

The 2021 Saskatchewan Amateur Women’s champion added the high school win to her resume this season on Saturday at Valley Regional Park Golf Course in Rosthern.

“It was good, I am glad I went,” she told Golf Saskatchewan. “I haven’t been to a high school provincials, that was my first one that I’ve been old enough to go to because last year was cancelled. It was really nice to be there and play with new people. It was nice because there was lots of girls too. Everything came together that last round.”

Kozak opened with a 78 on Friday before using much more favourable weather conditions on Saturday to shoot 70 for a 36-hole total of 148. Kozak said winning the championship was important to her and is meaningful.

“I’d say it’s pretty special to win a high school provincial championship. I am really proud of myself, I thinks it’s a big accomplishment,” she said.

Sarah Henderson of Saskatoon was second at 170 (89, 81) while Hallie Crozier of Regina won the bronze medal with a two-day score of 174 (88, 86).

On the boy’s side, Estevan’s Ryan Chernoff was the champion with a score of 142 (74, 68). Chernoff said he’s happy with how he played on route to the championship.

“I just played my game,” he said. “I hit my driver good, I gave myself good spots to stick my wedge shots close and putts were going down. The game just finally clicked together; it was a good feeling.”

Much like Kozak and most of the field, Chernoff’s score was better on day two with the near perfect conditions. He said using some motivation from a fellow competitor also helped him shoot 68, the low round of the day.

“At the start of the round, one of my buddies from Warman came up to me and was like, ‘oh Ryan you better play a good round today or Team Warman is going to beat you.’ That fired me up a bit, I wanted to help Southeast win, so I knew I had to play a good round. I hit 17 greens in the second round, that was the difference,” Chernoff explained.

Martensville’s Myles Johnson was second at 149 (73, 76). There was a tie for third overall, Darien Herlick of Weyburn and Keaton Cote of Kindersley each shot 36-hole totals of 151.

Chernoff admitted that without Saskatoon golfers being in the field as they have their own high school athletic association the event was missing some top juniors from that centre but he’s still proud of the victory.

“It’s a provincial event, obviously its not Golf Saskatchewan provincials but it’s a provincial event and a big achievement,” he said. “To get a win under my before Maple Leaf Junior Tour nationals it’s a good feeling.”

The complete results of the tournaments can be seen here.

Carlyle’s Carter Morrison is returning from the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship in Toronto with a top-10 finish and possibly the experience of a lifetime.

Morrison shot rounds of 80 and 86 to for a 36-hole, two-day total of 166. He tied for 10th at plus-26 at Humber Valley Golf Club in Toronto.

The national golf championship featured players from across Canada with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. 

Originally scheduled to launch in 2020, but delayed due to restrictions from the pandemic, the Canadian All Abilities Championship supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

*Golf Saskatchewan will hear from Morrison after he returns to Carlyle.