As the season closed on Oct. 13 for the Royal Regina Golf Club, General Manager Ryan Pollock is looking back on the 125th anniversary at the club fondly.

Planning started for the milestone a coupe years ago and the festivities have been in the works essentially since Pollock was hired in May of 2021.

He sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to recap the year, and talk about what’s happening now and into the future at the course.

Grace Odnokon of Saskatoon is crushing goals on the golf course, but has many more achieve.

The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club junior took part in two nationals this summer including the inaugural Golf Canada Bantam (U15) championships in Elmira, Ont.

Moving forward the 14-year-old has her eyes set on an appearance at the Canadian Amateur Women’s Championship, another crack at juniors and what could be a Saskatchewan first, joining her mother Carla on the provincial amateur championship trophy.

The USports Canada West Golf Championships took place Oct. 7 and 8 with several Saskatchewan student-athletes in the field.

Symone Ripley of Saskatoon competed for the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) hosted by the Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna, B.C. Ripley shot 74 in round one and 82 in round two, she was 14^th overall in a field of 36 players.

Ripley and the UBCO team were second in the team competition, the University of British Columbia won the team portion. The Coquihalla Cup is next for the Heat, also taking place at the Okanagan Golf Club on Oct. 21 and 22.

In the men’s field, Martensville product Myles Johnson and the University of Victoria Vikes were taking part. The Legends Golf Club member opened with a 71, then shot 75 on day too, he tied for 16^th overall in a field of 48 players.

The University of Regina golf squad was also taking part, Jackson Wingert of Saskatoon was the top Cougar placing 25^th after rounds of 77 and 75. Carter Bell shot 80 and 74, the Regina product tied for 32^nd, Reece Kuski finished at 13-over par (79, 78), Micah Tangjerd fired a 77 on day one and 83 in the second round, he was tied for 41^st.

UBCO won the men’s championship, Johnson and the Vikes picked up the bronze medal, the Cougars finished eighth in their first Canada West championship since the club’s inception a couple seasons ago.

South of the border, Regina’s Hallie Crozier and the Ferris State Bulldogs were home in Big Rapids, Mich. Hosting the Bulldog Fall Invite at Katke Golf Course. The team was edged by seven shots for the overall title by Grand Valley State. As for the Royal Regina Golf Club member, Crozier posted rounds of 79 and 76 for a great showing placing seventh.

The St. Leo Invitational in Dade City, Flo. Will wrap up the Bulldogs fall season.

Milsaps College senior Will Danielson was competing in Douglasville, GA. at the West Pines Golf Club on Oct. 7 and 8. The Riverside Country Club member shot 78, 80, and a tidy 72 over 54 holes, his 230 was good enough for 57^th place. Danielson vaulted 23 spots up the leaderboard on the final day.

The Majors were 15^th in the team competition that featured 20 schools. Danielson will be in Rome, GA. for the Chick-fil-A Invitational beginning Oct. 21 at the Stonebridge Golf Club.

In Onalaska, Wis. on Oct. 7 and 8, Caden Loeppky of Saskatoon was on the course competing as an individual at the V-Hawk Invitational hosted by La Crosse Country Club. He shot 81 and 95 to tie for 42^nd.

The Warriors were third as a team. That concludes Waldorf’s fall season.

Regina duo Will Blake and Luke Cote alongside the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders were in St. Joseph, Mis. for the Holiday Inn Express MWSU Central Region Preview at St. Joseph Country Club. Cote tied for 33^rd at 220, Blake was tied for 58^th at 12-over par, 225.

The Muleriders were second in the team championship. SAU will be in Tulsa, Okla. for the Tulsa Cup at Indian Springs Country Club on Oct. 28 and 29.

Waskesiu junior graduates Alex Swinnerton and Guillermo Salazar were in Fairview, Pa. for the Howard “Bud” Elwell Invitational on Oct. 7 and 8 competing with the Indianna University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks at Whispering Woods Golf Club. Salazar came second in the event with rounds of 71 and 72, the winner was nine strokes lower than the field.

Swinnerton opened with a 79 in round one, bounced back nicely on day two jumping 13 spots on the leaderboard with a 73 in round two, the Saskatoon product was 12^th.

The Crimson Hawks were fourth out of eight teams. Their next event is the PSAC Championships on Oct. 18 to 20 at Iron Valley Golf Club in Lebanon, Pa.

Carter Bell and Carter Degelman, both of Saskatoon were in Santa Barbera, Cal. on Oct. 7 and 8 for the Westmont Invitational with the Dominican University of California Penguins. Bell shot back-to-back rounds of 77, he tied for 24^th, Degelman posted rounds of 82, he was 34^th.

The Penguins were sixth as a team in the event. The Otter Invitational in Seaside, Cal. on Oct. 14 and 15 to close the season.

The Carroll Invite at the Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena, Mont. was on Oct. 7 and 8 with Colby Friedrich of North Battleford and Adam Husli of Regina in the field competing for the University of Providence Argos. Friedrich shot 75, 71, and 82 to finish tied for 19^th. Husli was three spots back in 22^nd after rounds of 79, 78, and 75.

The team was fourth out of seven schools. The Conference Championships in Phoenix, Ari. is next for the Argos at Papago Golf Course on April 13 to 16.

The PGA of Saskatchewan has announced the nominees for their 2024 awards.

Graham Coulter Head Professional of the Year
Dean Brown (Royal Regina Golf Club)
Ryan Wells (Elk Ridge Golf Resort)

Executive Professional of the Year
Dana Johnson (North Battleford Golf & Country Club)
Allan Sauser (Deer Park Municipal Golf Course)
McLaren Taylor (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
Marty Wheaton (Lloydminster Golf & Country Club)

Class ‘A’ Assistant Professional of the Year
Brad Lovatt (Wascana Country Club)
Chad Lavallee (Riverside Country Club)

Apprentice Professional of the Year
Cody Callaway (The Willows Club)
Brandon Ho (The Willows Club)
Hannah MacNeil (The Willows Club)
Paul Mennie (Lloydminster Golf & Country Club)
Chloe Sies (Deer Park Municipal Golf Course)
Sam Wills (Deer Valley Golf & Estates)

John Gaudet Teacher of the Year
Patty Jonas (Saskatoon Golf & Country Club)
Tom Kinsmen (Lloydminster Golf & Country Club)
Jason Schneider (Wildwood Golf Course)
Garrett McMillan (Wascana Country Club)

Coach of the Year
Steve Ryde (The Willows Club)
Jason Schneider (Wildwood Golf Course)
Clinton Schmaltz (Moon Lake Golf & Country Club)
Jeff Chambers (Elmwood Golf Club)

Junior Leader of the Year
Cody Callaway (The Willows Club)
Jason Schneider (Wildwood Golf Course)
Dana Johnson (North Battleford Golf & Country Club)

Retailer of the Year
Dean Brown (Royal Regina Golf Club)
Allan Sauser (Deer Park Municipal Golf Club)
John Greenough (Deer Valley Golf & Estates)
Derrick Tallon (Evergreen Golf Course)
Marty Wheaton (Lloydminster Golf & Curling Centre)

The awards ceremony will be held on Oct. 28 at Dakota Dunes Resort as part of the 2024 PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show.

Golf Saskatchewan will be on hand to provide coverage of the awards.

Growing up in Carlyle playing several different sports, and excelling in baseball Zach Sharp has used “swinging fast and hard” to land him a spot on Team Canada for the recent World Amateur Long Drive Competition in South Carolina in late September.

Originally published in the Carlyle Observer, Sharp has returned from the trip and recounts the experience, his start in the sport, and where he hopes it can go in Saskatchewan and beyond.

Lucas Sturgeon didn’t miss this past season in Saskatchewan.

The 2024 under-15 Saskatchewan champion won the age group in Yorkton by 27 strokes, the 14-year-old also claimed every bantam Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) event he entered this season.

The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member just missed getting into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, but he did participate and played well at the inaugural Golf Canada Under-15 Championship in Elmira, Ont. to launch what will likely be a long list of national appearances through Sturgeon’s development.

He spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his start in golf and competition, determination to get better, and what his goals are in the sport.

Holly Knudsen just missed her first collegiate championship this week for the Minot State University (MSU) Beavers golf squad.

After opening with an 83 in round one at the Hawktree Golf Club in Bismarck, N.D. on Monday the Chaplin, Sask. product shot 79 in round two but was edged on the second playoff hole by Carrie Carmichael of the host school.

This is the fourth top 10 for Knudsen this fall season. The team was third in the event that featured a trio of schools.

In the men’s competition also at Hawktree, the Estevan duo of Jace Carlisle and Chase Gedak led the Beavers tying for fifth place at 6-over par, 150. They both shot back-to-back rounds of 75 to lead the Beavers ‘A’ team to a second place finish.

Weyburn’s Darien Herlick tied for 15^th with rounds 86 and 73, Winston Grayson of Kipling shot 90 in round one before bouncing back with a 72 in round two. He tied for 20^th position.

Cam Schwab of Maple Creek made his collegiate debut for the Beavers and tied for 38^th place with rounds if 94 and 86. Schwab was part of MSU’s ‘B’ team at the event, they placed seventh.

Next up is the USF Fall Invitational at Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort in Larchwood, IA. on Oct. 14 and 15.

In Findlay, Ohio the Ferris State Bulldogs were competing in the William Beall Fall Classic on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Regina’s Hallie Crozier started the event strong shooting 79 in round one, she cut three shots off for a 76 in round two, but an 84 in round three dropped the Royal Regina Golf Club member down 26 spots on the leaderboard to 67^th. As a team the Bulldogs were seventh of 18 schools at the tournament.

Gilda’s Club Laker Fall Invite is next for Ferris State on Oct. 5 and 6. The team will then host a one day Bulldog Fall Classic on Oct. 7.

Caden Loeppky and the Waldorf University Warriors were in action for two one day events this past week. On Sept. 29 Loeppky shot 88 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea, Minn. He was 39^th overall, Loepkky’s team was third.

The next day, the Warriors and Loeppky were in Lake Mills, IA. for the Waldorf Fall Challenge. The Saskatoon product carded a round of 83, he was 31^st. Competing for the Warriors ‘B’ team, they were sixth in the team competition. The Warriors ‘A’ squad won the one day event hosted at Rice Lake Golf and Country Club.

The team will head to La Crosse, Wis. on Oct. 7 and 8 for the Viterbo Invitational.

Regina’s Will Blake and Luke Cote were in action this week for the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders in Hot Springs, Ark. at the local country club. Blake posted rounds of 76, 69, and 72 to finish in an 18^th place tie. Cote opened with a 73, shot 71 in round two, but an 81 in round three pushed the Royal Regina Golf Club member down to a tie for 39^th.

The Muleriders were second in the team event at the Battle for the Belt. Next on the schedule is the Super Regional Preview on Oct. 7 and 8 in St. Joseph, Mis. at the St. Joseph Country Club.

Former Waskesiu junior Guillermo Salazar has another top 10 finish for the University of Indiana Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks. In Johnstown, Pa. at the Sunnehanna Country Club on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 the Calgary product shot 74 and 70 to tie for 10^th at the UPJ Sunnehanna Collegiate.

Coming off his fourth win for IUP last week, Saskatoon’s Alex Swinnerton posted a 73 and 72, he tied for 16^th. The Crimson Hawks tied for fourth as a team. IUP travels to Whispering Woods Golf Club in Erie, PA. for the Howard “Bud” Elwell Invitational on Oct. 7 and 8.

The Carter’s from Saskatoon were on the course late last week for Dominican University of California at the Bishop Invitational in Santa Barbera, Cal. on Sept. 26 and 27. Carter Degelman was consistent going 74, 75, 74 at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash. He was tied for 42^nd.

Carter Bell tied for 54^th place with rounds of 78, 72, and 76. The Penguins team was 10^th in overall standings.

The Westmont Invitational at Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta, Cal. is next for the Penguins, that begins Oct. 7.

Cole Taylor of Nipawin was in Surprise, Ariz. on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 for the OUAZ Fall Invitational at Sterling Grove Golf Club. The Evergreen Golf Course staffer posted rounds of 77, 81, and 79 for a 54-hole total of 237, he tied for 47^th place. Park University was 10^th as a team.

Next up for the Taylor and the Buccaneers is the ERAU Fall Invitational at Antelope Hills Golf Club in Prescott, Ariz. on Oct. 14 and 15.

After not participating in last week’s event due to Hurricane Helene, Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko and the Nicholls State University Colonels were in Jonesboro, Ark. for the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The Riverside Country Club member was his steady self shooting 72, 71, and 70 to earn a top 20 placing. The team was tied for 11^th.

The Colonels are in Matthews, LA. for the LaTour Intercollegiate on Oct. 21 and 22.

A trio of Saskatchewan student-athletes were in Laurel, Mont. on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 for the Beartooth Invitational hosted by Rocky Mountain College.

North Battleford’s Colby Friedrich led the charge for the University of Providence Argos with a seventh overall result after rounds of 78 and 75. Teammate Adam Husli of Regina was 29^th at 173 (87, 86).

Swift Current’s Makstyr McIntyre was competing for Rocky Mountain College’s ‘B’ team at the event. The Elmwood Golf Club member opened with an 86 but improved nicely on day two with 76, he tied for 16^th.

The Argos placed fifth, McIntyre’s team was third, the Bears ‘A’ team won the event.

Friedrich and Husli will head to Helena, Mont. for the Carroll Invite on Oct. 7 and 8. McIntyre and the Bears are also scheduled to play at the event.

Mississauga, Ont. – The 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event will take place on Saturday, October 5 at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

A total of 31 golfers from four age groups will compete in the 15^th edition of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, which brings together the top-scoring juniors from coast-to-coast.

The participating junior golfers will compete in a three-part skills challenge (putting, chipping and driving) with one overall winner per age group and gender.

Golf Canada, in partnership with COBRA and PUMA Golf, along with the PGA of Canada will host the 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event. The event is the culmination of more than 1,600 Junior Skills Challenge participants who competed at 92 qualifying events held across Canada. The field is comprised of 31 golfers from across Canada, all selected from the top of the Junior Skills Challenge National Leaderboard. 

Format

Driving: Each competitor receives three drives. Points are awarded and dependent on distance and aim of the drive. The drive must come to rest within the 30-yard width to qualify for points. The number of points is dependent on the distances completed.

Chipping: Each competitor receives three shots. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the chip from the target.

Putting: Each competitor receives one putt each from each distance of 5, 10 and 20 feet. Points are awarded for holing the putt and for proximity to the hole.

The winners of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event will receive prizing courtesy of program partner, COBRA PUMA Golf. On Sunday, October 6, Junior Skills Challenge National Event participants will also have the opportunity to play Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, Ontario in an exciting match play format, outfitted by program sponsor COBRA PUMA Golf.

For more information on the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

Participants

Girls 7 to 9

Girls 10 to 11

Girls 12 to 13

Girls 14 to 15

Boys 7 to 9

Boys 10 to 11

Boys 12 to 13

Boys 14 to 15

Tayla Perry of Regina and Ryan Mosher from Saskatoon are the 2024 Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association golf champions.

The two-day, 36 hole championships were hosted by Northern Meadows Golf Course in Goodsoil on Sept. 27 and 28 with 100 players in the female and male categories.

Perry, who plays at Wascana Country Club and attends Campbell Collegiate shot 76 in round one and 78 in round two to win the event by two shots over Chloe Wills of Kyle. She carded rounds of 77 and 79.

Ada Dillon of Onion Lake earned the bronze medal with a score of 166 (84, 82).

In the male championship Ryan Mosher capped his spectacular summer with another win. Adding to his under-19 and under-17 provincial championships and a NextGen Prairie Championship win, the 16-year-old from Saskatoon outlasted 55 other players to earn the gold medal with a 144 (71, 73).

Duck Lake golfer Dante Gamble was second just two shots back (75, 71). Two players tied for third, Ayden Ross of Swift Current and Milestone’s Wyatt Frei each posted scores of 149 to place third.

The full results can be seen here.

St Andrews, Scotland & Oakville, Ont. – The R&A announced new participation figures that show an increase of more than three million adult golfers playing the sport.  

According to new research undertaken for the governing body, there are now 42.7 million on-course golfers (9 and 18-hole) in R&A affiliated markets (outside the USA and Mexico).

The research figures for 2023 indicate a growth of 3.1 million on-course golfers since 2022. The growth trend began before the onset of Covid-19 and is now accelerating faster than the 2020-2022 pandemic period when there was an average of 2.5 million new on-course golfers per annum. The sport continues to increase in popularity, now up 44% from 29.6 million on-course players in 2016.

The new data is provided by national federations in The R&A’s affiliated markets in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

The research also shows that 62.3 million adults (outside the USA and Mexico) consume the sport in some format, an increase of 1.1 million since 2022. It is just the second time an estimate has been made beyond on-course activity to include alternative-only formats, such as pitch & putt, indoor simulator golf and driving range use.

“Golf’s popularity continues to grow with a significant increase in the number of people playing the sport both on and off the course,” said Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A. “There are now 13 million more golfers playing on the course since 2016 in R&A affiliated markets, while there are also millions of others enjoying alternative formats of golf, such as driving ranges, adventure golf and simulator golf, which are vital to the growth of the sport.

“New golfer participation programmes with appealing propositions, promotion and imagery are important for encouraging more people into the sport and retaining them in greater numbers. This is why we continue to work collaboratively with our affiliated national federations and stakeholders to build on this momentum and ensure golf continues to thrive.”

The top five on-course adult golfer markets overall reported are in:

• Japan (11.4 million)
• Republic of Korea (8.7 million)
• Canada (6.3 million)
• England (4.2 million)
• Germany (2.4 million)

Asia is the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult engagement in golf of 26.2 million. Europe is next highest with 19.7 million adults having some form of golf engagement.

The number of adult registered golfers (those members of a golf club within their national association or affiliated through a direct subscription) increased from 8 million in 2022 to 8.2 million in 2023, with an overall growth of 10% since 2020. Registered women golfers have grown from 1.5 million in 2020 to 1.6 million in 2023.

There was a decrease in those adults who only played formats other than 9 or 18-hole golf  – 21.6 million in 2022 to 19.6 million in 2023 – but this is likely to positively reflect on those moving instead to full-length on-course golf. The percentage of golfers only using alternative formats that are women did grow from 47% in 2022 to 52% in 2023, specifically in key golfing markets.