It’s been quite the run for Josh Nagy on the college golf circuit this past month. With a third-place finish earlier this year Nagy was second in his last event with Robert Morris University going into this week’s fall season finale at the Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey.

Originally scheduled for Sunday and Monday, the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Championship was altered to a 27-hole one-day event on Nov. 1. Nagy shot 2-over, 107 that left the Saskatoon product in a three-way tie for the lead. Nagy and Pat Healy parred the ninth hole, Wyatt McGovern bogeyed the hole securing a third-place finish. The playoff could not continue due to darkness and Healy was awarded the win via the “Match of Card Tiebreaker.”

The Colonials tied for second in the team rankings thanks to Nagy’s great play. The team will now be off until March 2022.

Jacob Kydd and the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats concluded their fall season this week as well. The Regina golfer was in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico on Nov. 1 and 2 for the Coqui Classic at the Rio Mar Country Club.

Kydd was coming off a top-10 finish last week in Louisiana and has another as his college career winds down. Kydd opened the Coqui Classic with a sparkling 67 in the first round. The senior posted back-to-back 81’s for a 54-hole total of 229, good enough for a ninth-place finish.

Kydd was competing as an individual in the three school event.

The team is also off until the new year.

Coming off a record season of golf in Saskatchewan many are wondering how they can keep their game up or even improve their skills while the province is blanketed with winter.

Thankfully the province has an abundance of indoor facilities with top-of-the-line simulators to cure what ails hardcore players who want to keep swinging the clubs. First Tee owner and PGA of Canada professional Garret McMillan has told Golf Saskatchewan in the past that playing all year has several benefits if you choose to take your game indoors.

“The winter time is the perfect time to making changes especially if you want to commit to making big pattern changes,” he said. “There’s really no consequence, if you shoot a high number inside it’s easier on the ego than inside. You can really develop a new pattern over the winter and not be overly concerned about the consequence side of it. If you develop your pattern properly over the winter by the time you get to the course you hopefully have new shots in the bag you can roll with.”

If you are interested in playing more indoor golf this winter, there are locations with varying numbers of simulators and brands in no particular order.

• Golf in the Alley – Rosthern | One simulator, 190 courses
• Divots Indoor Golf – Regina | Seven simulators, 80 courses, men’s, ladies, and senior leagues
• Nutrien Sportsplex – Moosomin | Four simulators, 100 courses, different leagues (men’s, ladies, snowbird, and yacht club), several other simulated sports options
• First Tee – Regina | 10 simulators, 80 courses, men’s league
• Aspen Links Golf Course – Emerald Park | Four simulators, 100 + courses, ladies and men’s nights
• Golf YXE – Saskatoon | Five simulators, various leagues, and ladies/men’s nights
• The Sweet Spot – Moose Jaw | Four simulators, 90 courses, various leagues four days of the week
• Humboldt Golf Club – Humboldt | Two simulators, 95 courses, three 8-week leagues
• Let’s Golf – Lloydminster | Four simulators, 27 courses, men’s, ladies, and couples’ leagues
• Royal Regina Golf Club – Four simulators
• The Willows Golf Club – Saskatoon | One simulator, 50 courses
• The Golf Dome – Saskatoon | 37 hitting bays, seniors’ discounts, mini-golf course
• Bunkers Indoor Golf & Axe Throwing – Yorkton | Three simulators, 65 courses
• Cooke Municipal Golf Course – Prince Albert | One simulator, 99 courses
• Railway Social House – Swift Current | Two simulators, over 50 courses

*Information on locations is from web sources, if any errors or misinformation on facilities Golf Saskatchewan apologizes and will make corrections. Email cstork@golfsk.org if updates need to be made or if we missed any indoor facilities.

Long-time golf journalist John Gordon wrote an article for Golf Canada detailing what simulators can do for you and your game.

Regina’s Autumn Neiszner and Ryan Chernoff of Estevan are two of the 2021 Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) Herrendorf Family Foundation scholarship recipients.

The MJT announced the recipients Monday. The MJT scholarship program has benefitted an extensive alumni with their post-secondary endeavours for over 20 years. Courtesy the generosity of the Herrendorf Family Foundation, ten $1,000 scholarships were awarded to MJT members who demonstrated exemplary athletic, educational and personal achievements.

Neiszner is currently attending Keiser University in Florida while playing on the golf team, Chernoff is in grade 12 in Estevan.

“What an amazing group of applicants were sent our way,” stated Marcus Rambold-Cohen from the Herrendorf Family Foundation selection committee in a news release. “We’d like to wish success and good luck to the ten players that we have chosen.”

The Herrendorf Family Foundation invests in strategic partnerships with global change leaders. Together, they advocate for education, empowerment and generational resilience. In 2021, Herrendorf Family Foundation launched their wrap-around umbrella “We Got You”, which includes scholarships, emergency grants, support for mothers, contributing partnerships and community engagement.

More information on the MJT scholarship program can be found on the MJT website, www.maplejt.com.

About Herrendorf Family Foundation: Hershel Herrendorf was born in Haifa Israel on July 8, 1949. Following his family’s move to the United States in 1965, and his successful life in Chicago, Hershel passed suddenly in 2014, leaving his family with a foundation and legacy they hold dear. The Herrendorf Family Foundation invests in strategic partnerships with global change leaders. Together, they advocate for education, empowerment and generational resilience. In 2021, the Herrendorf Family Foundation launched their wrap-around umbrella “We Got You”, which includes scholarships, emergency grants, support for mothers, contributing partnerships and community engagement. To learn more visit: www.herrendorf.org.

An Active Season is the period of time when acceptable scores from a specified area should be submitted for handicap purposes.  The Rules of Handicapping stipulates that every player is responsible for submitting all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record for rounds played on courses during the active season.

It is the responsibility of authorized provincial golf association to declare active and inactive seasons, with area clubs and players required to observe these dates for score posting purposes.  To make this process easier, the Golf Canada Score Centre automatically considers the active season of the course being played when a score is posted and whether it should be included in calculating a player’s Handicap Index.

In Canada, the active season in each province is as follows:

SK =     Apr.15 – Oct.31
BC =     Mar.1 – Nov.15
AB =     Mar.1 – Oct.31
MB =    Apr.15 – Oct.31
ON =    Apr.15 – Oct.31
QC =    Apr.15 – Oct.31
NS =     Apr.15 – Oct.31
NB =     May.1 – Oct.31
PE =     Apr.16 – Nov.14
NL =     Apr.1 – Nov. 30

Scores made at any golf course observing an inactive season are not acceptable for handicap calculation purposes. This is because course conditions during inactive seasons are not consistent with the way that the Course & Slope Ratings were determined, which can impact the accuracy of a player’s Handicap Index.

Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club where the player is a member is observing an inactive season. The club’s Handicap Committee must make it possible for a player to post these away scores at the beginning of the active season.

It’s important to note that if you are travelling to other countries or regions, you should confirm their active seasons to ensure all acceptable scores are posted. Your home club needs all acceptable scores (even if played during a Canadian “off-season”) to ensure that your Handicap Index is accurate and reflects your demonstrated ability.

For example, if a player belonging to a golf club in Ontario plays golf in Florida (which observes a year-round active season) during January, any score(s) made in Florida are acceptable and must be submitted to the player’s scoring record. If the player is also a member of a golf club in Florida and Ontario, it is important to remember that all acceptable scores must be posted to each scoring record.  The Golf Canada Score Centre has tools available to link Canadian and USGA accounts, so that a score posted to one account is automatically transferred to the other.  For more information, or to set up this link, please contact members@golfcanada.ca or phone 1-800-263-0009 X399.

For a detailed list of active and inactive schedule in the United States, click here.

For more information on handicapping, click here.

TO ENTER YOUR SCORES FOR AN OFFICIAL HANDICAP, BECOME A GOLF CANADA MEMBER HERE.

For the first time since 2015 a provincial golf championship will be held at Estevan’s TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club. The 2022 Senior Women’s, Men’s, and Mid-Masters (40+) will take place at the course from July 26 – 28.

The Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur Championship was held in Estevan in 2015, the last senior event to take place at Woodlawn was the men’s in 1987 when Regina’s George Holizki won. The senior women last competed at the course in 1982 when Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame inductee Pat Lawson won the championship. General Manager Amanda Minchin said the club is excited to welcome Golf Saskatchewan back.

“TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club is excited to be hosting the 2022 Saskatchewan Seniors Championship. It has been a few years since we hosted a provincial championship, and we look forward to showcasing our course to all players. Preparations are already underway to ensure the highest level of play for all players. Our entire team will be working hard to make sure that the player’s experience in Estevan is top notch from beginning to end,” Minchin said.

The best amateur women over 50 and men over 55 will compete for a spot on Team Saskatchewan at the national championships in 2022. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Championships Steve Ryde said TS&M Woodlawn will make a great host for the championships.

“TS&M Woodlawn is a premier golf club in the province, and we’re excited to bring a provincial event back to the southern part of the Saskatchewan. Due to the geography of our province and the long distances between clubs and being outside the two big cities, Woodlawn may not get the credit it deserves as a top-notch facility with all the amenities players would expect from a provincial championship. Amanda and superintendent Bobbie Currie are fantastic at what they do, and they will put on a great event next July,” Ryde said.

Regina’s Kim Walker is the defending senior women’s champion, Rick Hallberg from Weyburn is the two-time reigning senior men’s champion and the 2021 mid-master’s winner.

Registration will open in April of 2022.

The City of Yorkton and Deer Park Municipal Golf Course are one step closer to a new clubhouse.

At the city’s council meeting on Monday evening a vote was passed to move the project to tender. Director of Leisure Services Darcy McLeod explained more after council’s decision.

“A budget of $7.2 million was presented, that includes water and sewer, roadway and parking lot asphalt, and asphalt around the clubhouse, landscaping, and the building itself. The total estimated value is that $7.2 million but we want to send it to tender to see what the market tells us this will cost for real,” McLeod told Golf Saskatchewan.

The current clubhouse is nearly 60 years old and well past its lifespan. McLeod said the building simply doesn’t stand up to standards and needs to be replaced.

“It’s been added on to several times, we have washrooms in the basement so if you have a hard time walking you have to go into the basement, wheelchair accessibility is non-existent. You must walk up into the restaurant and bar area as well, the only thing on grade is the pro shop, everything else is stairs with no wheelchair access. That’s the first and foremost biggest thing. Then it’s just an old building in need of a replacement, regardless of whether it’s a golf course or not it’s one of the oldest buildings we have, this is an asset management replacement,” McLeod said.

The plans for the new clubhouse allow for seating up to 100 people with room for another 60 on a covered deck with weather protectants. There will be an open deck much like the current facility does have. Although not heavily investigated there potentially will be other revenue generating possibilities such as events or weddings. The local cross country ski club uses the facility now in the winter.

Once tenders are received the final decision will be back before Yorkton council in January. McLeod said if the construction decision passes the old current clubhouse will be demolished this winter, a temporary trailer and washrooms will be in place for the 2022 golf season and the new building will open in time for the 2023 year.

For more details click here.

Josh Nagy is continuing his strong play for Robert Morris University (RMU) in Pennsylvania. After a third-place finish earlier this season the Saskatoon junior had a tournament to remember on Oct. 23 and 24 in Grasonville, Maryland at the Towson Invitational hosted by the Prospect Bay Country Club.

Nagy shot 65 in round one of the event becoming the fourth Colonial to shoot the record number in the school’s history, his 54-hole total of 7-under, 209 is an RMU three-round record as well. Nagy finished in second place just three strokes behind the tournament champion. The team tied for third overall.

RMU will be in West Orange, New Jersey on Nov. 1 and 2 for the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Championship at the Montclair Golf Club.

Regina golfer Jacob Kydd has a top-10 finish under his belt at the Chariot Run Challenge in Laconia, Indiana.

Kydd, a senior at Indiana Wesleyan University carded rounds of 71, 76, and 75 for a 54-hole score of 6-over, 222 at Chariot Run Golf Course. The Wildcats team placed fifth out of nine schools, Kydd was competing as an individual in the event. They will conclude their fall season on Nov. 1 and 2 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Golf and Beach Resort.

Saskatoon’s Roman Timmerman was in action at the Tulsa Cup at The Club at Indian Springs – River Tulsa Cup on Oct. 25 and 26. The senior at Southern Arkansas University tied for 19^th in the 54-hole event finishing at even par with rounds of 68, 75, and 73.

As a team the Muleriders finished in 11^th place. This was their last event of the fall season.

TJ Baker was in action alongside his University of Arkansas at Monticello teammates at the Ranger Invitational in Enid, Oklahoma on Oct. 18 and 19. The Prince Albert product posted rounds of 84 and 75, the junior placed in a tie for 28^th, the Weevils team was fifth overall.

The fall season is over for the team, they will return to play in February.

Caden Loeppky also wrapped up his freshman fall campaign with Waldorf University. The team was at Otter Creek Golf Course for the GV Invitational on Oct. 18 and 19. The Willows Golf and Country Club member shot 76 in round one and 80 in the second round, he placed in a tie for 37^th at 12-over par. The team was ninth.

Milsaps College and Saskatoon’s Will Danielson just wrapped up the Chick-fil-A Collegiate Invitational at the Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome, Georgia on Tuesday.

Danielson fired an 81 in round one followed by an 88 in the second round, his 25-over, 169 left him in 87^th place. That concludes the first half of his freshman season at Milsaps.

Golf’s new Rules of Amateur Status have been published by The R&A and the USGA ahead of coming into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

The work was the latest step by the governing bodies to make the Rules easier to understand and apply, and follows the modernization process of the Rules of Golf in 2019. The new Rules were informed by golfer and golf industry feedback as a part of a comprehensive review, to ensure they continue to reflect how the modern game is played by millions of golfers around the world. 

This review, along with the global feedback received when the proposals were publicly shared earlier this year, reaffirmed amateur golf’s important position in the game and the value in maintaining amateur status Rules. 

The result is a set of Rules that removes many of the restrictions that previously applied to amateur golfers, while ensuring that the integrity of the game is protected by limiting the form and value of the prizes an amateur golfer can accept.

As part of the modernisation effort, the new Rules identify only the following acts that will result in a golfer losing their amateur status:

Accepting a prize in excess of the prize limit ($1200 CAD) or accepting prize money in a handicap competition.

– Playing as a professional.

– Accepting payment for giving instruction (although all current exceptions still apply, such as coaching at educational institutions and assisting with approved programs).

– Accepting employment as a golf club professional or membership of an association of professional golfers.

– To achieve this simplified approach, the following key changes have been introduced:

– Distinguishing between scratch and handicap competitions in terms of the prizes that may be accepted.

The prize rule applies only to tee-to-hole competitions played on a golf course or a simulator, but no longer apply to long-drive, putting and skills competitions that are not played as part of a tee-to-hole competition.
Eliminating all advertising, expense-related and sponsorship restrictions.

The new opportunities provided by lifting sponsorship restrictions and the ability to accept prize money up to the increased limit of $1200 CAD in scratch only competitions will be of significant benefit to elite amateur golfers looking for ways to fund golf-related expenses.

Grant Moir, Director of Rules at The R&A, said, “We are delighted to be rolling out the modernised Rules of Amateur Status today. These Rules play an important role in protecting the integrity of our self-regulating sport but the code must evolve to meet the needs of the modern game. This is particularly important for modern elite amateur golf, where many of the players need financial support to compete and develop to their full potential. The new Rules give them this opportunity and will help to make the game even more inclusive.”

“Golf is unique in its broad appeal to both recreational and competitive golfers,” said Craig Winter, USGA Senior Director, Rules of Golf and Amateur Status. “This was emphasized in the feedback we received earlier this year and we believe these updates will help simplify these Rules and ensure the long-term health of the amateur game, not only to those who compete at the highest level of amateur golf, but for the millions of golfers at every age and skill level who enjoy competitive events at their home courses.”

“A great amount of work has gone into making the Rules easier to understand and apply for both the recreational and competitive golfer,” said Kevin Blue, Chief Sport Officer of Golf Canada.

The new Rules are accompanied by guidance notes, an overview document and explanations that detail the rationale for why changes have been made and, in some instances, why they have stayed the same. These materials can be found here.

For the second time in his life, Larry Ritchie is retiring.

After taking the position of general manager at Shellbrook’s Hidden Hills Golf Course, the former SaskTel employee is passing the torch at the golf club.

Ritchie was born and raised in Shellbrook and remembers playing at the course as young as 10-years-old. When Ritchie was 20 years old he got involved with the board at the club, was on and off the executive and held the term of president a couple of times. After retiring from SaskTel Ritchie had planned to stay busy with some consulting work for the crown corporation, but the manager of Hidden Hills quit right before the season. Ritchie said he’d manage the club for “one year” to help them in a bind. That was 14 years ago and he’s finally stepping away.

“It’s been fun, lots of good things happened,” Ritchie told Golf Saskatchewan. “I’m really happy and proud how the golf course has turned out.”

Ritchie pointed to the installation of the irrigation system at the course and the lengthening of several holes that helped transform the nine-hole facility into a top club in a community of its size. Ritchie said more work is being down as the volunteers and board continue to work extremely hard.

“The green on seven is going to be about twice the size it is now plus we are changing the layout, it’s going to be more level and a much more playable hole. We’re also going to be dredging out the creek and making our water supply area much bigger. Right from the bridge on number eight over to the pumphouse on number two, it’s going to be deeper and wider,” Ritchie explained.

The upgrades, not just in Ritchie’s 14 years on staff but his entire life at the club have been the backbone of their success. Ritchie said the board of volunteers has always been supportive of growth and transformation to stay viable.

“The board of directors has been great to me; they’ve always been receptive of ideas I had or others had. It was never a matter of pinching pennies, if they saw there was a need to do something we just did it, I’ve been pretty lucky to work with people like that” he added.

Ritchie also highlighted the partnerships developed between the club and local First Nation communities including Stugeon Lake and Mistawasis and their increased presence taking up the game of golf.

Ritchie said he won’t be leaving the community and be around Hidden Hills, he said he’s looking forward to playing more golf again including the Senior Northern in Prince Albert and the Senior Lobstick at Waskesiu. His wife enjoys the game as well played in the 2019 Rosebowl that Shellbrook hosted. Ritchie admitted he is a big fan of Waskesiu and Cooke Municipal Golf Course, but his heart will always be hidden in the hills of his hometown course.

“It gives me a lot of pride every time I play it and I see the way the course is, it’s not a cookie cutter course, every hole is individual. I think we’ve been trying to make as many changes and make things better as much as we could. I’m pretty pleased the way it all turned out,” Ritchie concluded.

Leonard Stener has taken over the position at the golf club.

The 2022 Saskatchewan Junior Women’s and Men’s Championships are returning to the Royal Regina Golf Club (RRGC).

The two combined provincial tournaments for players 18 and under will be held on July 5 – 7 with three 18-hole rounds. RRGC General Manager Ryan Pollock said the club and membership are ecstatic to welcome the best junior golfers from across Saskatchewan and beyond next summer.

“The Royal Regina Golf Club is excited to host the 2022 Saskatchewan Junior Golf Championships,” Pollock said. “As a club we take great pride in our own junior membership and feel we have a responsibility to provide expanded programming opportunities as they arise. We look forward to hosting the provinces top junior players at the home of golf in Saskatchewan.”

RRGC member Hunter Kutcher is the defending junior men’s champion after a playoff hole win over Alex Swinnerton in Moose Jaw this past season. Regina’s Will Blake and Luke Cote will also be looking for a championship at their home course. Blake said the chance to play his last junior provincial championship at his home club is exciting.

“This will be awesome, I have been at the Royal for five or six years, it’s a great track,” Blake said. “There is a great group of members, and they are very supportive of us juniors and give us a lot of opportunities to play with the older guys and learn from them. I don’t think the Royal gets the credit it deserves, it’s not the longest course in the world or the toughest, but I think it will prove itself as one of the premier courses in Saskatchewan.”

The last time a junior championship was held at the RRGC was 1989 when Saskatoon’s Jeff Makohon won his third straight junior men’s championship. The women’s and men’s events were separate then, the last junior women’s championship at the course was 1982, Paula Sommervill of Prince Albert was the winner. The last Golf Saskatchewan event at the RRGC was the 2019 Senior Women’s and Men’s Championships. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Championships Steve Ryde said the organization is looking forward to returning to Saskatchewan’s “home of golf” for the junior events.

“The RRGC is a top-notch golf course and facility in the province and will set the bar high for junior championships in the future. Ryan, Dean (Brown), and the entire crew at the Royal are very devoted to their junior players and all young aspiring golfers and will make the week one to remember. The course is a great length for the best in the province to test their abilities and have that possibility of being a junior champion. We’re excited to get back to the Royal for the first time in a few years, we’re elated for the week and the venue,” Ryde said.

Shell Lake’s Brooklin Fry is the reigning junior women’s champion.

Registration will open in April of 2022.