The golf pipeline from Saskatchewan to Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is continuing.

Regina’s Will Blake has committed to the Muleriders golf program for the 2022 season following in the footsteps of Yorkton’s Kade Johnson and Roman Timmerman of Saskatoon. Blake said he’s ecstatic to commit to the program.

“It feels awesome, it’s a big relief to get it done,” the 17 year-old Royal Regina Golf Club member said to Golf Saskatchewan. “It was in the works for quite a while, I verbally committed right before golf season started so it was a really big relief to officially put pen to paper.”

Blake said he sent emails to several college golf coaches with SAU being at the top of the list and was hoping for at least an email back from the coaching staff at SAU. He said the school replied and the two began to communicate.

“Seeing the success that Kade and Roman have had coming out of there, I wanted to shoot a shot,” he said. “That was a really big factor, I want to have the success they have had and follow in their footsteps.”

With his school plans written in ink Blake will turn his attention to his final season of junior golf. He said the excitement of the Saskatchewan Junior Championships is high but national appearances are also in his sights.

“I think the biggest thing is provincials at the Royal, it’s my home track so hopefully I can put on a good show there, obviously the end goal is to win it. Junior boys’ nationals will be another big thing, the Canada Games are this summer, hopefully that happens depending on COVID, but I’d definitely say provincials. I think that would be really awesome and an honour to win on my home course,” he said.

Blake plans to study business in the classroom and stay in the golf industry once he graduates.

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

For anyone looking to gain club head speed Golf Saskatchewan is putting on a speed clinic in partnership with SuperSpeed Golf.

The SuperSpeed equipment consists of three weighted sticks, two lighter than your driver and another that weighs more than a driver. Ryan Robillard, a PGA of Canada member, and the Canadian Sales Manager for SuperSpeed Golf said the key is getting your body to allow for faster swings, safely.

“The thing we’re trying to do is reprogram your neuromuscular reaction time,” he said. “What that means is that every player essentially has a governor in their body that allows how fast they swing. Our training and when we reduce the load or the weight of the club our training gets the body to move faster than it normally does and that process over time gets the body and brain to believe it can move faster than it currently can.”

Over 250,000 players around the world use SuperSpeed Golf training gear including 700 touring professionals worldwide.

Robillard added that when players are looking to improve their game the number one instinct is to improve equipment. He added that although better clubs will assist in improvement the swing remains the same.

“We believe the biggest opportunity for a player is let’s increase your club head speed and that’s what we are offering. In the most part what we’ve seen over getting a quarter-million users. We see the average player increases their club head speed by up to five percent in the first six weeks,” Robillard explained.

Registration for the six-week program is now open. For $399 you will get the training plus the three weighted sticks to keep. Robillard said their system isn’t reinventing the wheel or ground-breaking, other sports also use the training to improve.

“Overspeed training is very prominent in most rotational sports,” he explained. “Baseball pitchers, football quarterbacks, Olympic throwing events such as shotput or javelin, if we want o get something to move faster we need to reduce the load before we start to reintroduce the load and that’s what we feel we do at SuperSpeed Golf.”

Another benefit is training time, Robillard said training is about 15 minutes three times a week.

For more information on the clinic contact Golf Saskatchewan’s Steve Ryde at 306.290.4880. The deadline to register is Nov. 18. The fist session is Nov. 29 at the GolfDome in Saskatoon.

Mixed Championship heading to Elk Ridge; Spiritwood set to host Rosebowl

The host sites of Golf Saskatchewan’s two team events in 2022 have been finalized.

The Spiritwood Golf Course is going to host the 2022, and 51^st Rosebowl on Aug. 11 and 12. The 23^rd Mixed Championship is set for Aug. 27 and 28 at Elk Ridge Golf Resort.

Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Championships Steve Ryde said both facilities will be perfect venues for their coinciding events.

“Elk Ridge is one of, if not the top golf resort in Saskatchewan and for Ryan Danberg, Ryan Wells, Blaine Fagnou, and the entire crew up there to step up and welcome the Mixed Championship is fantastic. Not only will the competitors get great golf for a few days they will be treated with amenities second to none. The mixed is an event that usually features couples so having the tournament at a resort of Elk Ridge’s caliber will make this a must play,” Ryde said.

He added that Spiritwood has been looking to host the Rosebowl for a couple years and now that the courses’ RV park has been expanded and some course upgrades have been undertaken the ladies who compete in the event will have plenty of fun and play a great golf course.

“The ownership group behind Spiritwood reached out a couple years ago to host this fun event for higher handicap ladies and we are finally getting there after COVID put a hold on the event for a year in 2020. The club was able to upgrade areas of the facility and now they are ready to welcome the teams of ladies. It’s also 18 holes which will be appreciated by the competitors in this unique and historical event,” Ryde added.

Elk Ridge last hosted the Mixed Championship in 2018. Kathy Ziglo and Ian Larocque won the event that year, the duo are the reigning champions after winning the championship for the seventh time at Candle Lake this past year. Head Professional Ryan Wells said welcoming golfers from across the province is exciting.

“We are very happy to be able to host the 2022 Mixed provincials. Blaine and his crew will have the course in tournament shape for the PGA Tour Canada Elk Ridge Open at the end of June and will continue for all competitors of the Mixed Championship at the end of August. The course will be a good challenge but also fair for all players. The community and staff are looking forward to showcasing our hospitality in all departments of the resort and all the changes the ownership group has done to this beautiful resort in it’s first year of reopening,” Wells said.

The Rosebowl will be the first event Golf Saskatchewan has taken to Spiritwood. The ownership group, that includes five people released a statement saying they are excited to showcase their facility on a provincial level.

“Spiritwood Golf Course is extremely happy to be able to host such a prestigious tournament as the Rosebowl. Our course has been getting great reviews this year and we are very proud of the awesome conditions it is in. We are sure the ladies will be extremely impressed with the beauty and the challenge Spiritwood provides,” the statement said.

Carol Walsh and Pat Pratt are the defending Rosebowl champions.

Registration for both events will open in April.

Phil Jonas was the big winner this year after the PGA of Saskatchewan announced their annual award recipients.

Jonas, a B.C. Golf Hall of Fame inductee that now calls Saskatoon home took home the Frank Fowler Trophy for lowest stroke average, the Peter Cusher Trophy for the Order of Merit championship, as well as the Scott Knapp Trophy for player of the year. Jonas said the honours are special.

“I’m really proud to have won this award against strong competition, it means a lot to me having just moved to Saskatchewan. I will savour this, given my advancing age opportunities will be few,” Jonas said.

Patty Jonas, also a B.C. Golf Hall of Fame member who co-operates the Jonas Golf Academy out of Saskatoon Golf and Country Club (SGCC) was named the John Gaudet Trophy winner that goes to the teacher of the year.

“This did come as a surprise to me as I have only been here a year and while I have been teaching a long time,” she said. “I’m sure there were others that have done more in the province to date then myself. I am very happy and honoured to have been recognized and will continue to create opportunities for people to learn and stay excited about playing golf.”

The Graham Coulter Trophy for professional of the year went to SGCC Head Professional McLaren Taylor. He said he’s very appreciative of the recognition.

“It really is a special honour to be named professional by the PGA of Saskatchewan,” Taylor said. “We’re a big province with golf professionals in all directions who work hard to serve the game. We don’t get together often but there’s a lot of camaraderie at our events and seminars, so to be recognised by the group is really special. Of course, it doesn’t happen without a lot of support from our home clubs. I’m fortunate to have a great management team at SGCC, and a supportive board and membership to serve.”

The assistant professional of the year award went to The Legends Golf Club’s Brent Eikelenboom. Junior leader of the year was Paul Schatz from the Joanne Goulet Golf Course in Regina. Saskatoon’s Jason Schneider was named the coach of the year for 2021. He said being recognized for his work is a privilege.

“It’s an honour and privilege to be recognized by your peers. I’m lucky to get to work with amazing athletes who make coaching them easy and enjoyable,” Schneider said.

Retailer of the year is Brennan Gee from the SGCC and the Bill Taylor Award for sportsmanship is Sloane Harder.

The awards are normally announced during the PGA of Saskatchewan’s buying show and annual general meeting, but that event was cancelled due to COVID-19.

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.