Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko is being recognized by Sask Sport Inc. for his tremendous season on the golf course.

On Wednesday the 17-year-old was named one of the finalists for Youth Male Athlete of the Year for 2021.

Pochylko competed at both the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship. He missed the cut by just one stroke in the men’s event and finished in 69^th place at the boy’s national event.

He was the winner of the Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit Tour in 2021 and had his season capped by winning his age group at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championship in British Columbia over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Pochylko is a finalist alongside baseball player Carson Hindmarsh.

You can read more on the finalists here.

Sask Sport will announce the winners virtually on Jan. 27.

Golf continues to provide a record number of Canadians safe refuge during the COVID-19 global pandemic as a proven activity that benefits physical and mental health.

As we look ahead to 2022, there is comfort in knowing golf can continue to be a haven for safe gathering and fitness – for all.

And beyond just the ability to continue to play the game, the world of golf has given Canadians much to be excited about as we look ahead to a new year!

Here are nine things Canadians should be excited about in 2022:

BROOKE’S BACK AT THE CP WOMEN’S OPEN

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, planning for the 2022 CP Women’s Open is full-steam ahead. Hosted by Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, it’s the first time our national open will be in our nation’s capital since 2017. That year Brooke Henderson made the cut on the number and proceeded to fire a course-record 63 on Saturday to zip up the leaderboard. Henderson would, of course, go on to win the CP Women’s Open in 2018 and end up in the final group on Sunday in 2019. Tickets are on sale now for Ottawa’s event and it’s a fabulous opportunity to see some of the best golfers in the world tee it up – including our home-grown hero.

RBC CANADIAN OPEN WELCOMES THE GAME’S TOP STARS

Like the CP Women’s Open, plans for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are well underway as the excitement for the return of Canada’s lone PGA TOUR stop is at an all-time high. Hosted by St. George’s Golf and Country Club and Islington Golf Club’s practice facility, signs are pointing to this event – last won by Rory McIlroy in Hamilton in 2019 – being a very special one. There is set to be a ton of fabulous new activations for Canadian golf fans and there’s nothing quite like seeing our guys, like the top-ranked male Corey Conners, tee it up in person. Get your tickets here.

PRESIDENTS CUP HOPEFULS

Speaking of Corey Conners! Both he and childhood friend – and long-time Golf Canada National Team member – Mackenzie Hughes are in the conversation to be part of the International Presidents Cup team at Quail Hollow come September. Mike Weir is back as an Assistant Captain, and if Hughes and Conners both make the team it will be the first time in history with multiple Canadians on the squad.

NEW YEAR, NEW GEAR

We say it often enough, but the top brands in golf continue to put out amazing gear to help you look, feel, and play better year after year. The Titleist Pro V1 (and Pro V1x) continue to be the No.1 ball in golf, while Puma and Levelwear are set to make clothing drops that are fit for the fairways or streamlined for the streets. Look in your bag or your closet to see what might need replaced in the new year and you won’t be disappointed at what’s on offer now, or what’s to come.

FIRST TEE LAUNCHES IN CANADA

In concert with the PGA of Canada, Golf Canada was thrilled to put in motion the launch of the First Tee – Canada in 2021, with a targeted growth strategy for next year and beyond. The commitment from golf’s key stakeholders in Canada will allow for the next generation of divot-diggers to be able to thrive in any environment. With a big thanks to the Golf Canada Foundation and some key donations through this year, it’s an exciting time to be a youngster involved in golf in this country.

ROAD TRIP

If the last two golf seasons have shown anything to Canadians, it’s that we have a lot of darn good golf courses in this country. Whether you’re looking for a hidden gem somewhere in Saskatoon, keen to combine golf and wine in Niagara, ready to heed the call of the mountains in Canmore Kananaskis, hot for history in Quebec City, or finally ready to check that bucket-list item off your list at Cabot Cape Breton, there’s no better time that grabbing some friends and safely hitting the road, or the skies, to explore what kind of great golf is on offer in this country. Find your course here.

CLUB COMPETITIONS

Perhaps the last two years have been restrictive in terms of who can play and when, but with more safety measures installed at clubs across Canada it’s likely you might have the opportunity to get those competitive juices flowing once again. Maybe you want to test your mettle at your club, or tee it up at a provincial tournament? Or maybe you can finally bring your friend to your place for a thrilling member-guest experience? Whatever the event may be, we’ve got our fingers-crossed that there will be more opportunities in 2022.

GOLF’S GROWING POPULARITY

Whether there was play at a local muni, a nine-hole layout, or a championship 18-hole track, 2021 saw more Canadians teeing it up than ever before – this after a record-setting year in 2020. As Golf Canada continues its commitment to inclusion at all levels, don’t be surprised to see more people from all backgrounds enjoying the game more in 2022. A safe space means more enjoyment for all.

ALWAYS TRYING TO GET BETTER

Even Tiger Woods, the greatest modern player in history, is trying to chase improvements on the course. While Woods’ return – of which we saw a tease of in December – is something itself to look forward to in 2022, take a page out of Woods’ book and keep working on your own game. The opportunity to improve (be sure to speak with a PGA of Canada professional!) is something that makes golf a game for a lifetime, and a new year means more time to try to shave a few strokes. Trying to get just a little bit better next year is something that carries many Canadians through wintertime. To keep detailed stats on your game, give Golf Canada’s free mobile app a try.

Saskatoon’s Scott Allan is the new executive director of the PGA of Saskatchewan.

Allan has had a long career in golf in the province and elsewhere and admits he’s a “lifer” in the industry following his latest appointment.

Allan sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss the position and the industry overall on both a professional and an amateur.

The PGA of Canada has announced their finalists for the 2021 National Awards.

“We are blessed to have a family of over 3,600 professionals who proudly share their passion and expertise with golfers from coast-to-coast,” Teejay Alderdice, the association’s president said in a news release on the organization’s website.

Saskatoon Golf & Country Club General Manager McLaren Taylor is up for the Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year Award.

Patty Jonas, who teaches out of Jonas Golf Academy at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club is among the nominees in the George Knudson Teacher of the Year Award.

Paul Schatz, a Regina based PGA professional based out of the Joanne Goulet Golf Course is nominated for the Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year Award.

Wildwood Golf Course based PGA of Canada professional Jason Schneider is among seven nominees for the Ben Kern Coach of the Year Award for his work in Saskatoon and area.

Saskatoon Golf & Country Club Head Professional Brennen Gee is in the final group vying for the Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year Award.

Brent Eikelenboom is nominated in the Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year Award category through his work at The Legends Golf Club as the proshop manager and teacher in Warman.

Each year, a National Selection Committee evaluates nominations from professionals across Canada. Winners for each national award are traditionally recognized during PGA of Canada Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., however, this year will see winners revealed live during the association’s virtual National Award Ceremony on Jan. 27, 2022. 

Early in 2022, the registration for the PGA of Canada’s National Award Ceremony will be live. 

It’s no secret golf has had a couple of booming seasons since the COVID-19 pandemic was first declared in March of 2020. After lobbying from industry stakeholders, golf started May 15, 2020 in Saskatchewan by being recognized as a safe, social distant outdoor activity.

Numbers grew but nothing like what was recorded for the 2021 season.

The Numbers

In Saskatchewan, scores posted into the Golf Canada Score Centre were up 21 percent from 2020 for the year. Early season round posting (players posting in warmer climates) was down drastically due to travel restrictions, between December of 2020 and February of 2021.

Rounds posted was down an average of 65 percent, there would be people that still travelled to southern homes. April’s uptake is monumental for this year, in April of 2020 courses were not allowed to be open in Saskatchewan due to health regulations, this year clubs hit the ground running and saw an increase of 10,592 percent for the month. There were 106 scores posted in April 2020 in the province, again likely by Golf Saskatchewan members playing elsewhere. Once the weather cooperated this year, 11,334 rounds were counted. The numbers tapered from the hot start but stayed well above last year’s marks.

Deer Valley Golf Resort Head Professional John Greenough said the second they opened their doors at the start of the 2021 season people were flocking to their club.

Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert also saw a huge upswing in play. In 2020 Cooke registered just over 5,000 rounds being entered in the Score Centre, that number ballooned to almost 8,900, the sixth most in Saskatchewan. General Manager Darcy Myers said their course appreciated the increased play.

“Unreal, it was fantastic,” Myers said. “It’s nice to rebound after things were flat for a while.”

Some players even managed to play for essentially days this summer. A male Riverside member posted 248 rounds this past season which was the ninth highest total in Canada. The top female golfer posted 206 rounds, she is also a member at Riverside Country Club.

Waskesiu Golf Club employee and longtime junior at the course, Guillermo Salazar has committed to play golf at Indiana University of Pennsylvania next season.

The 18-year-old Calgary product spent most of his youth playing hockey and used golf in Waskesiu, where his family has a cottage, as a release from the sport in the summers. A couple years ago Salazar saw a future in golf and altered his athletic focus.

“Last September is when I got my first golf coach,” he said to Golf Saskatchewan on Tuesday. “I took things to the next level, I started to win some tournaments and that’s when things took off.”

Salazar finished fourth at the Junior Lobstick in 2018, peaking his competitive interest. In 2020 he finished fifth at the Saskatchewan Junior Men’s Championship in Swift Current. This past year he won the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour event at Elk Ridge Resort, he also took home the championship of the Junior Lobstick. With plenty of junior success on his resume, Salazar said travel restrictions due to COVID-19 supplanted him in the province.

“Once we got into Saskatchewan we couldn’t leave it,” he explained. “That’s when I started playing most of my tournaments in Saskatchewan and I started meeting all the boys they. I really kind of settled into golf in Saskatchewan.”

Salazar will be joined by Alex Swinnerton at the school. The two are longtime friends from their time at the course where Swinnerton also works in the summer months. Salazar said having his friend along for the ride will create some great memories and teach himself about the world outside Calgary and Prince Albert National Park.

“I want to grow some qualities within myself, just some individualism, stuff like that. It’s the qualities you grow being a couple thousand kilometres away from your family. I’m really excited about learning different lifestyles across the continent,” he said.

Salazar is toggling between finance or accounting but highlighted the programs at the Division II school about 100 kilometres north of Pittsburgh.

He is still playing hockey, at a less grueling level in Calgary and preparing for next season. Salazar said he wants to play more men’s events in preparation of his college career.

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

Saskatoon’s Alex Swinnerton will be continuing his golf career with a Division 2 United States university next year.

Swinnerton, 17, has committed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania located about 100 kilometres north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joining Swinnerton at the school will be his close friend and Waskesiu Golf Course co-worker Guillermo Salazar. Swinnerton admitted the move to a university with over 10,000 students will be easier having Salazar alongside.

“I introduced him to coach (Dan) Braun at IUP and he offered him a spot,” Swinnerton explained. “We both visited down there, and we felt at home as soon as we got there.”

Swinnerton said the process to decide on a college has spanned a couple years. He said when he was 14 years old, he began to take the game more seriously, competed in tournaments, and made the decision to achieve the goal of collegiate golf.

“I saw myself improving, I went with Jeff (Chambers), 15 came and again I started playing more tournaments like the provincials, Future Links, things like that. That was big, to play in those big events. That’s when I really told myself golf is what I want to do,” he said.

The grade 12 student has one year left of junior eligibility and has his sights set on the Saskatchewan Junior Men’s Championship and the Canada Games. He said having his education plans set he can focus on having a positive season to cap his junior career.

“I just want to have fun playing this year, be with the friends for a little bit longer then hit the road to Pennsylvania,” he said.

Swinnerton plans to study business and marketing in the classroom and hopefully continue t stay in the golf industry once he graduates.

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

*Note – Golf Saskatchewan will hear from Salazar on Tuesday.

Already a Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Moose Jaw’s Lorie Boyle is being honoured by the same recognition in her hometown.

Last Thursday the Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame announced members for both 2020 and 2021. The 2020 induction was cancelled due to COVID-19. Boyle was distinguished with the provincial hall of fame honour for her excellent golf career in 2017. She said now being recognized by her hometown is special.

“What can I say? I’m extremely honoured to be chosen for this. You know for something you love to do and to have this on top of that, it’s just, wow,” Boyle said.

Boyle is being honoured alongside football player Levi Steinhauer, wrestler Frank Abdou, and the 1992 Amber Holland junior women’s curling rink. Boyle said being included in the group of deserving athletes is humbling.

“It’s pretty cool to be in with these people,” she beamed. “I still can’t believe that I’m being chosen for this. Honest to god, this is just amazing.”

The induction ceremony will take place in the fall of 2022. The committee will also enshrine a 2022 class with the 2020 and 2021 inductees as well.

More details on the announcement can be seen here.

Inspired to support the life skills and development values ingrained in golf, the Gragtmans Family Foundation has announced a major $1M USD donation to the Golf Canada Foundation to directly power the advancement of First Tee – Canada.

The generosity of the Gragtmans Family Foundation as the Founding Donor and Trustee of First Tee – Ontario will fund and facilitate the provincial chapter launch including program development and delivery with multi-faceted activities designed for schools, community centres, and youth facilities.

First Tee – Canada will provide Canadian youth, and especially those in underrepresented groups, access to affordable and meaningful character education programs through golf. Golf Canada intends on launching chapters in every province in Canada by 2022, with the goal of 100,000 annual participants in the program by 2023.

“The Gragtmans Family Foundation focuses on the positive development and advancement of youth in Canada and abroad,” said Ian Gragtmans, Founder of the Gragtmans Family Foundation. “We are thrilled to be aligned with one of the world’s premiere and proven international youth development organizations. Our mission of providing youth with support to help positively design and advance their lives aligns well with the First Tee values of integrity, respect and perseverance.” A pursuer of growth and knowledge, Mr. Gragtmans credits many who have and continue to act as mentors, and his support of First Tee Canada directly reflects the ongoing responsibility of giving back by helping others.

“The pace of growth behind First Tee – Canada since being announced in Fall 2020 has been incredible, and that’s because of the shared vision of youth champions like the Gragtmans Family Foundation,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “The generosity of the Gragtmans Family Foundation towards this provincial chapter-founding, multi-year gift brings incredible momentum to our national youth development program in Canada’s largest market and will surely set the example and encourage deeper expansion across the Canadian philanthropic community.”

Through its deep network of donors and trustees, Golf Canada Foundation is a critical partner in supporting the launch and advancement of First Tee Canada through its fundraising and philanthropic efforts. Canada’s Provincial Golf Associations will also play a role in the advancement of First Tee Canada as chapters form in markets across Canada.

“We are extremely grateful to Ian Gragtmans and the Gragtmans Family Foundation for their incredible generosity as the catalyst to officially launch the first Ontario chapter of First Tee Canada,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO Martin Barnard. “The meaningful support of our donors and corporate champions has far exceeded our early expectations and has provided real momentum in our discussion with others who want to get behind this character building program for youth.”

The generosity of the Gragtmans Family Foundation joins a growing number of chapter-founding and program advancement gifts that have been secured in 2021 with additional investments to be announced in the coming weeks.

Since its inception in 1997, First Tee has impacted more than 15 million young people through its character-building programs on golf courses, in schools and at youth-serving locations. The First Tee network has grown to over 150 chapters and more than 1,200 program locations across the United States as well as six international chapters in Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, and Canada, delivering programs that help young people build character and develop life skills through the game of golf.

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are continuously pursuing more gifts, which will allow more chapters to launch in Canada. For more information on First Tee – Canada, to get involved, or to donate, visit www.firstteecanada.ca

The community of Rocanville and the town’s golf course knew the need for a new clubhouse was critical for their future, but the question remained, how can they proceed?

The current structure is half a century old, has been added on to several times, and only seated about 35 people. The board of directors, and likely volunteers and members have been saving and discussing a replacement for the last few years. Long time Rocanville resident Denise Kruppi is the club’s secretary. She told Golf Saskatchewan that the clubhouse provided countless memories over the last 50 years but it’s at the end of its time.

“The doors wouldn’t close properly, the floors felt like you were going to fall through, they were squishy, rotten from moisture damage underneath, the kitchen was horrendous, makeshift wiring to allow us to have power even in the kitchen,” she said. “It was well used; it served its purpose in the time being but we’re definitely well overdue for a new clubhouse for sure.”

The group discussed building new on site, modular options, ready-to-move options as well and everything was out of their range. Then Kruppi was on her way to Tobin Lake to do some fishing when her family passed through Archerwill. She spotted a for sale sign in front of a building that housed a restaurant. She did some research on the internet and was shocked at the “ridiculous” [in a positive way] and, on the way, home she stopped to investigate the property with her not-so-sure daughter.

“My daughter was in the vehicle with me, and she said, ‘oh mom as if this is ever going to work out,’” Kruppi laughed. “I peaked in the window and looked at the layout, I thought oh my god, the layout was perfect. The windows are facing out to the course and could go up number one and the door out to the parking lot.”

A couple weeks later Kruppi returned to the property with another Rocanville resident with a long construction background. The two looked at the building with the realtor and the decision was made quickly to tee up the purchase.

“He said you need to jump on this because its well-built, nothing was spared in the construction, everything is top-notch,” Kruppi beamed.

The golf club inquired about financing options about a year ago, but the timing didn’t line up but with another successful year on the course everything fell into place. The building is also in place at the course after a team moved it next to the “largest oilcan in the world.” Kruppi said the board will look at having the new building open all year if the community shows interest in that, but they would like to be respectful of other restaurants in the town and region. There has also been interest in possibly hosting weddings or other events. Kruppi said now that the building has arrived and been laid on the foundation its real and the excitement is evident.

“Absolutely it is, everybody knew we needed one so being able to bring the building in, yes it’s about 10 years old but it was only in operation for four. Inside its almost like brand new. The outside needs some work but it’s wired for stucco so we will get that done. It’s going to be a beautiful building on site for sure,” she said.

The club is still taking donations for costs associated with the purchase and move. A tax receipt will be provided if you donate through the Town of Rocanville.

Kruppi said plans include a wraparound deck and once the old clubhouse is demolished and cleaned up, they would like to add a putting green in the area. She concluded that finding the building and having support from all stakeholders down to the building movers everything fell into place.

“It’s a diamond in the rough, literally stumbled upon it, its magical how it worked out. It literally couldn’t have worked better; the golf gods were watching over us.”