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.

As the weather turns and the golf season ends in Saskatchewan players are seeking an indoor option to keep their game on track for the winter and now a new option is available in Nipawin.

Locals Trevor and Becky Demmans are the proud owners of Game Day Simulators. Trevor was a star for the Nipawin Hawks Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team before leaving for university and a lengthy professional career. He said when he was back in his hometown the family didn’t have a lot of entertainment options for their kids and he wanted to change that in the town.

“Growing up, birthday parties and stuff like that you look for stuff to do, there wasn’t much available in the hometown,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “I just thought this would add an extra aspect where people don’t have to drive to do a family event like that.”

The two simulators Demmans purchased have over 30 course options for people to play. The number is lower than many golf simulators usually offer, but he found another enticing system.

“I stumbled on to this multi-sport simulator with the golf,” he explained. “You can do anything from hockey, football, baseball, dodgeball, shooting with guns, it’s a blast.”

The Demmans opened the facility in May of this year. The timing seems to not suit a business benefitting from Saskatchewan’s lengthy winters, but Trevor said the spring unveiling was part of their plan.

“The community has supported it awesome. We had a grand opening closest to the pin the other weekend, businesses supported it with prizes. Everyone is behind it, and we really appreciate everything the community has done for us,” Trevor said.

Nipawin is home to one of Saskatchewan’s top golf courses, the Evergreen Golf Course. The club closed for the season on Thanksgiving Monday. Trevor said with colder weather on the way, and the Evergreen shuttered for the season expansion is a possibility.

“We have two simulators for right now, but we have a growth opportunity to go to three if this winter is good. I fully expect it should be busy,” he said.

To learn more about Game Day Simulators visit their Facebook page or call 306.812.6336.

The PGA of Saskatchewan has announced the nominees for their 2022 awards and Golf Saskatchewan’s own Steve Ryde is nominated in two categories.

Ryde just concluded his fourth season with Golf Saskatchewan in the role of Manager of Sport Development and Tournament Director. His efforts, including coaching the Saskatchewan teams at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Kamloops and Team Saskatchewan at the Canada Summer Games in Niagara, Ontario earned him a nomination in the Coach of the Year and Junior Leader of the Year categories.

“On behalf of Golf Saskatchewan I would like to recognize and congratulate one of our own, Steve Ryde, a full time employee with us for his nominations by the PGA of Saskatchewan in the categories of Junior Leader of the Year and Coach of the Year. It’s very well deserved,” said Golf Saskatchewan President Larry Wagman.

Six awards will be handed out on Oct. 25 at the PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show in Saskatoon.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) announced the award winners for the 2022 season on Oct. 13.

The 2022 MJT Junior Tour Order of Merit winners each receive a Certificate of Achievement and a Herschel prize pack, along with an additional $200 towards expenses of participation in the MJT National Championship for those attending.

The Saskatchewan winners are:

Girls U15 | Grace Odnokon (Saskatoon)
Girls 15-19 | Hallie Crozier (Regina)
Boys 12-under | Lucas Sturgeon (Saskatoon)
Boys 13-14 | Jack Maharaj (Saskatoon)
Boys 15-16 | Darien Herlick (Weyburn)
Boys 17-19 | Chase Pochylko (Saskatoon)

The 2022 MJT Mini Tour (12U) Order of Merit winners each receive a Certificate of Achievement and a complimentary MJT Membership in 2023.

The Saskatchewan winners are:

Girls 8-under | Makinlee McCrystal (Regina)
Girls 9-10 | Alyxa Melsted (Wynyard)
Girls 11-12 | Miranda Merriman (La Ronge)
Boys 8-under | Hudson Deibert (Regina)
Boys 9-10 | Keaton Kreklewich (Melville)
Boys 11-12 | Tylan Wallin (Humboldt)

An additional $12,000 in scholarship monies is also to be awarded to twelve other MJT members for the 2022 MJT Herrendorf Family Foundation scholarships. The tour will be announcing the winners shortly.

The MJT National Championship will occur over the Remembrance Day long weekend in Florida.

On Oct. 1 at the Royal Regina Golf Club, four contributors to the sport in the province were honoured and inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame.

After a couple years of postponements, the 2020 and 2021 classes are now being inducted with a pair of banquets. In Regina Melodie Lawrek, Bruce Klaassen, Ken Rodgers, and Lindsay Bernakevitch were officially inducted.

Klaassen is a long time Royal Regina Superintendent that his since retired from the position. He said being enshrined into the Hall of Fame was unassuming during his induction.

“I am so humbled, and so thankful to Saskatchewan golf, this isn’t something I ever aspired for but I am just humbled,” Klaassen said.

Bernakevitch couldn’t attend the gala, he is currently the head golf professional at the Victoria Golf Club. His father Wayne Bernakevitch accepted the honour on his son’s behalf. The elder Bernakevitch shared some of Lindsay’s words on the importance of staying close to your roots.

“Golf has given me the chance to travel the whole world, but I have never met folks as warm, sincere, and hospitable as they are in Saskatchewan. I very much still consider Saskatchewan home, I say I live in Victoria, but I am from Saskatchewan. I want to thank all the inductees, and this is something I will always cherish,” Bernakevitch said.

Just over 50 people attended the gala at the Royal Regina. On Oct. 22 four more inductees will be honoured including Brad Birnie, Pat Buglass, Brad Phelps, and Blaine Fagnou.

Tickets for the second gala at Riverside Country Club are available here.

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