In search of activities to keep Swift Current’s SaskAbilities clients busy amid the COVID pandemic the organizations program directors turned to the sport of golf with great fanfare.

Senior Program Supervisor Kim Furey said with many activities on hold due to the virus golf is an outdoor, safe activity for their clients to enjoy.

“We kind of jumped on the golf bandwagon this year,” Furey told Golf Saskatchewan. “With everything that is going on being outdoors to do programming and have people connect is definitely the safest route to go. We were looking for different options and golf was one that came up and it was fabulous. I started golfing this year, I hadn’t really done it before, I fell in love with it and hoped we could spread that to some other people too.”

At the beginning of the golf programming the organization was treated to a virtual demonstration by the Saskatchewan Landing Golf Course professional to introduce the SaskAbilities clients to the game. The group visited Gull Lake’s Meadowdale Golf Course, the participants spent a few days at the Chinook Golf Course driving range, and they also played mini golf in Swift Current. Furey said the feedback was very positive.

“We have one individual who golfs every week with his dad, so he was out there hitting balls with us and others who have never held a golf club before. That was really good, they were eager to do it again and it was an activity they wanted repeated. Like I said lots of people had never swung a club but once they got that one good hit they feel awesome about it, especially when they are first learning,” she said.

The programming was part of the organization’s “SLYP Out” program. SLYP stands for Social Leisure Youth Program. SaskAbilities youth programs are for people experiencing disabilities from age six to 16. Their adult programming has no age limit. Program Manager Jayda Watson said having a sense of community and getting their clients out is also critical for their well-being.

“I think connecting to community is important as well,” Watson said. “Our mission is to create inclusive communities for people of all abilities and golf fit right into that. We had great feedback from community members we met at the driving range and they would give encouragement to participants who were out there learning for the first time.”

SaskAbilites said they had about 20 people participate in various golf days throughout the season.

Although restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 initially wreaked havoc on the golf season, Laurence Applebaum said this season showed the sport’s resilience in Canada.

The Golf Canada CEO looked back at the shortened 2020 season on Wednesday as encroaching winter weather started to wind down recreational play across the country.

“What an incredibly strange and challenging year,” said Applebaum. “Golf has been a silver lining, a bright light, call it what you may, in giving people a bit of a break from the pandemic.”

The LPGA Tour was one of the first professional sports associations to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing the women’s professional circuit to cancel its Asian swing and then many more events in North America.

Canada’s two professional tournaments – the RBC Canadian Open in June and the CP Women’s Open in September – had to be cancelled. The Mackenzie Tour, a third-tier men’s tour that plays across Canada, also had its season shelved.

Golf Canada also had to cancel all of its national championships, with many provincial bodies having to postpone or drastically alter their events.

In late March Applebaum urged recreational golfers in Canada to follow the advice of public health officials, even if that meant staying off the course.

“We were cautious and we were coming into a situation with so many unknowns,” said Applebaum. “Looking back, I’m proud of the way the entire industry came together.

“I’m proud of the way the operators in particular handled play. The golf clubs, the golf club operators and owners did an exceptional job.”

Golf, however, was able to seize the moment as COVID-19 restrictions loosened across Canada for the summer.

Record numbers of recreational rounds were registered with Golf Canada through June (1.2 million), July (1.6M), and August (1.5M), as people took advantage of being able to remain physically distant but social.

 

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“We’re going to look back on 2020 and say ‘amongst all challenges, amongst a lot of really difficult situations for so many people, golf was a bright light that we built from,”’ said Applebaum.

“I feel really lucky, I feel quite fortunate to be a part of that movement.”

Another bright spot has been the play of Canada’s male professional players, once the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour resumed their seasons.

Five Canadians were in the top 125 in the world by the end of September, led by the solid play of Mackenzie Hughes, who was No. 48 in the world. Adam Hadwin (62), Corey Conners (72), Taylor Pendrith (118) and Nick Taylor (121), also rounded out the Canadian contingent.

Pendrith earned his world ranking by virtue of being second on the feeder circuit Korn Ferry Tour’s rankings.

On the women’s side, Brooke Henderson returned to dominant form after a seven-month break from competitive play. She moved up to fourth overall in the world rankings, making her the highest-rated Canadian player of either gender.

“It’s a moment that swells the heart of our golfer nation with pride,” said Applebaum. “It continues to amaze me how passionately the country follows our Canadian golfers.”

Applebaum also noted that Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation were able to give back to the community with a COVID-19 Golf Relief Fund announced in late July.

He said on Wednesday that more than $400,000 was raised for the initiative that has two main steps. The first is that the relief fund subsidizes non-medical personal protective equipment for golf course employees, as well as sanitization, hygiene, and protective material expenses. It also subsidizes rounds of golf for front-line workers as well as juniors.

A project two years in the making is going ahead in the province of Saskatchewan thanks to several stakeholders and the Synergy 8 Community Builders group.

Announced last Thursday, the group, along with the Saskatoon Tribal Council and their chiefs will construct a $3.3 mobile bus to serve the seven communities within the council. Synergy chair Troy Davies said this monumental venture wouldn’t be possible without many organizations’ involvement.

“We had multiple meetings with the federal government, Health Minister Jim Reiter’s office, and with Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone on possibilities of covering the operating costs. We wouldn’t move forward without that operating commitment. Luckily we reached that point where both levels of government felt this was huge win and something that could be the foundation of something much larger and maybe more busses serving other Saskatchewan First Nation communities,” Davies explained.

The cost to operate the bus for five years will be $2.5 million. The bus will house a paramedic, mental health worker, and a dentist and dental assistant with a full area to work. Davies said a similar program has been in operation in Saskatoon and the group followed that initiative and used its success for this venture. The announcement featured many dignitaries and National Hockey League defenseman Ethan Bear. Davies continued to stress the partnership in getting the bus rolling.

“Our group is Synergy and without the synergy of government, to have both levels of government and multiple corporate companies and an NHL all-star thrown in there as well it just shows the synergy of everyone looking to do something for the right reasons. Without the support of these people we’d have never touched this, it is just too large” he said.

The bus will be constructed at Crestline next month. Funding for this initiative will be raised through the Synergy 8 annual golf fundraiser. This year’s event was cancelled due tot COVID-19 but plans are in place for the biggest event in Synergy’s history.

“We have some great names lined up to come in that we’re looking to announce in February. We just must make sure their schedules are clear. Once February comes we will announce that campaign, we’re booked to go for Aug. 31, 2021,” Davies beamed.

The bus is also expected to be running in August of next year.

An international research study backed by The R&A has found new evidence to suggest golf can provide significant health benefits to older participants in the form of improved muscle strength and balance.

Muscle strength and balance exercises form an important part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended guidelines to tackle physical inactivity in older people about which little was previously known for golf.

The Strength and Balance Study, carried out with two sample groups over two years by Professor Maria Stokes OBE at the University of Southampton and Dr George Salem at the University of Southern California (USC), has indicated that older golfers have and develop strength and balance benefits.

Underlining the sport’s capability to improve the physical health of participants, the evidence suggests golf can improve quality of life through muscle strengthening, improved balance, aerobic exercise (equivalent to gym-based work or yoga) and social interaction.

The Southampton group involved 152 individuals aged 65-79 and over 80 and set out to demonstrate the physical and psychosocial benefits associated with playing recreational golf regularly by comparing physical measures between older golfers and sedentary non-golfers.

A study at the USC was undertaken to see if non-golfers developed these benefits while undertaking a 10-week instructional golf training programme. The USC group involved 15 individuals aged 63 (+/- 5 years) at a municipal course in the greater Los Angeles area, which also examined the feasibility, safety and adherence of the programme for senior non-golfers.

The combined findings show that:

• Participants in the golf training programme improved their muscular strength, power, endurance, balance, flexibility and walking performance
• Golfers under the age of 80 had better strength and balance than sedentary non-golfers of similar ages
• Golfers had better dynamic balance and static balance than non-golfers
• Strength of limb muscles and balance were better in golfers than non-golfers e.g. indicative through gripping and swinging a club, walking, squatting
• The golf training programme was feasible and effective; novice golfers were able to play 9 holes of golf by the 10th week and completed 282 of 300 (94%) total training sessions
• The physical demands recorded during a golf round were equivalent or greater than the demands for other common activities e.g. gym work or yoga
• Participants benefited from green space, social interaction and walking over hilly terrain
• The programme was safe; there were no golf-related injuries or adverse events

Ahead of the study being peer reviewed to validate findings and future presentations made to the academic world, Professor Maria Stokes said, “The findings indicate that golf is associated with health benefits related to better muscle strength and balance.

“This suggests golf may meet World Health Organization recommendations for older people, which would potentially qualify golf for social prescription and exercise referral schemes among policy makers to help manage health conditions.”

Dr George Salem added, “Our findings suggest that golf should be considered when prescribing exercise for older adults because it appears to be safe, feasible and an adherent form of exercise for a better, healthier quality of life.

“Moreover, as golf is an exercise activity that includes strengthening, power, balance, endurance and cognitive challenges, it satisfies the recommended physical activity guidelines of the World Health Organization, the American College of Sports Medicine and UK guidelines.”

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “These findings should encourage policy makers and healthcare professionals to consider recommending playing golf to older people as part of encouraging them to adopt a more active lifestyle, as well as tackling physical inactivity to reduce healthcare costs.

“We are seeing more and more evidence that golf can provide significant physical and mental health benefits for participants as a moderate intensity activity and so we will continue to advocate these in all of our work with golfers, national federations and associations, healthcare professionals and policy makers.”

Since 2016, The R&A and its partners, including the World Golf Foundation (WGF), the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the European Tour, have sought to: raise awareness of the health benefits of golf to encourage interest in participation by people of all ages and abilities; improve the sport’s image; and increase advocacy for golf by government agencies and public health bodies.

The Golf & Health Project, supported by The R&A and the other WGF partners, continues to strive to achieve these aims by producing and publishing high quality science that evidences golf’s physical and mental health benefits to target existing golfers, non-golfers, golf bodies and policy makers in government and health.

Dr Roger Hawkes, Executive Director at the Golf & Health Project, added, “The evidence from this study is indicative that golf helps strength and balance, with no previous research to highlight this to the golf industry until now. The overall findings and benefits should be of great value for golfers and non-golfers going forward.”

The R&A has also published today a new golf and health report to help further educate golfers, non-golfers, national federations and policy makers on the physical and mental health benefits of the sport.

Highlighting The R&A’s work and the endeavours of others in this sphere since 2016, the 28-page document provides a comprehensive overview of golf as a health-enhancing activity for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, with the Strength and Balance Study featured.

The R&A Golf and Health Report (2016-20) can be viewed here.

The Invictus Games, held in Toronto in September 2017, included a golf event hosted by St. George’s Golf Club where spectators were treated to outstanding performances by the athletes. Those of us fortunate enough to attend the event could not help but imagine the opportunities of engaging more people with disabilities in golf.

“This was the most memorable and inspirational event we have been a part of,” said Jason Clarke, CCM, who was general manager at St. George’s during the Games.

“St. George’s has a long history of recognizing the contributions made by Canadian service men and women, so hosting the Invictus Games was a natural fit for us,” said Clarke. “This was the first time that golf was included as an official sport of the Invictus Games and the first time they were hosted [in] Canada. We were determined to make Canada proud and give the athletes the ‘St. George’s experience.’ It was inspiring to see so many of our members volunteering for the games, including most of the caddies.

“We had the honour of hosting two Invictus athletes who utilized the Paramobile adaptive golf cart; it is a game changer! These three-wheeled vehicles can enter and exit a sand bunker, drive on a green and even navigate over a 10-inch curb. The Paramobile cart assists the athlete to standing position. This is a sensation that these golfers never thought they would experience again. It is difficult not to get emotional witnessing this achievement.”

Making your club more welcoming and accessible

Jan Bel Jan, of Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design, is president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and an advocate for golfers with a disability.

“People with disabilities are people first. Each of us knows someone who has difficulty with access, due to a congenital condition or because they have lost some ability because of illness, injury or age,” said Bel Jan. “The opportunity to enjoy golf provides wonderful social, recreational and healthful experiences for everyone. A welcoming and accessible golf facility can benefit economically through increased food and beverage, pro-shop sales and fees, as well as from the satisfaction of providing a valuable service.”

Obstacles can present barriers to people with disabilities in many aspects of their lives. Bel Jan believes the biggest obstacle may be that we are not comfortable in knowing how to treat people with disabilities. It is essential that everyone at a golf facility be trained to be aware of a person with a disability and to feel comfortable assisting them. When in doubt, Bel Jan encourages using common customer courtesy. Because degrees of impairments vary, she suggests asking people with a disability if they need help before attempting to assist them, and then asking how you may assist. For formal training, Bel Jan has found that coaching done by people who have disabilities can be helpful.

“The opportunity to enjoy golf provides wonderful social, recreational and healthful experiences for everyone. A welcoming and accessible golf facility can benefit economically through increased food and beverage, pro-shop sales and fees, as well as from the satisfaction of providing a valuable service.” – Jan Bel Jan, Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design

The range of disabilities is very broad and, while there are laws and codes to address building accessibility, foresighted golf facility operators can learn how to better accommodate golfers with a disability. Proper signage that directs patrons to the facility’s goods and services is beneficial to everyone. Golf course operators should ensure easy access to at least one teeing area per hole. Creating additional tees, in a safe and accessible place, can meet this need. If readily achievable (with not much difficulty or expense), unobstructed golf cart access should be provided to all areas to be reached by the golfer. Golf cart paths should provide a modest slope for motorized vehicles, including for regular and single rider golf carts.

Ropes and GPS limits on carts can be barriers for those who need to get closer to the green for safety or for ease of access. Both can be adjusted – ropes can be lowered and replaced, and GPS units can be programmed for a specific cart. Red cart flags permit closer proximity to tees and greens and can help to improve access and speed of play. Consider making a map of accessible routes that may include accessible tees, areas of the course to be avoided and bunkers that may be difficult to access or egress.

Another consideration on the course is providing accessible washrooms. If permanent facilities are not available, accessible port-a-potties can meet the need. Also, consider the heights and locations of water and other materials around the course. Where there are steep slopes or difficult-to-access bunkers, the facility can establish the use of the “Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities” developed by the R&A and USGA. These Modified Rules permit a safe drop area away from the slope or outside the bunker, as well as other accommodations. When course renovations are undertaken, it is important to consider how to make the facility barrier-free.

Should a golf club or practice range want to encourage people with a disability to enjoy the game, inviting adult or children’s groups for clinics may inspire new golfers. Become familiar with programs in your area for people with disabilities. A golf facility could also establish a relationship with a rehabilitation hospital as part of their community outreach. Golf can aid significantly in recovery through an outdoor experience, with a helpful focus on hand-eye coordination, improved balance, strength and flexibility as well as sense of purpose. All of these contribute to the wellbeing of the person with the disability as well as to family, friends and companions.

Finally, Bel Jan recommends that golf facilities audit themselves for accessibility, programs and training. They should include information on their website to promote their accessibility, as well noting any instruction, clinics or programs that may interest people with disabilities and their families.

“An ‘invitation’ is always a great way to make people feel welcome to your course,” said Bel Jan.

Golf for people who are visually impaired

Glenn Babcock is the president of the Ontario Visually Impaired Golfers Association, serves as a director on the board of Blind Golf Canada and sits on the Human Resources Committee of Golf Canada. Babcock was born with his visual impairment. His father was a golf professional, so Babcock grew up around golf courses and had the benefit of learning to golf from a young age.

He says that some golfers are born blind or visually impaired, while others have lost their sight due to injury or illness, or simply as they age. For those who have lost their sight, being able to continue an activity that they enjoy is important to their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

There are many golfers whose vision loss requires them to seek assistance to play the game. Their “guide” may be a fellow golfer, a non-golfing friend or a family member committed to helping them enjoy the game. The guide helps the golfer get safely around the course, lines them up for each shot and provides information on distances and obstacles and, of course, the guide must also find the ball!

Staff at golf courses should understand this partnership of golfer and guide. Starters and marshals should be made aware of the presence of a “walker.” Groups may be slower, as it takes more time to set up a golfer who is blind or visually impaired. Babcock recommends asking the golfer about their speed of play and how much time they need for setup with their guide and then adjust the group size if necessary.

Some courses have recognized the challenges in arranging a game and offer incentives to encourage blind and visually impaired people to play. Two-for-one rates for the golfer and their guide, even if the guide is playing, are offered by some. Others offer a discount and one club even offers a complimentary nine-hole round for two golfers, and their guides, each week on Monday afternoons.

Golf for people with missing limbs or limited mobility

Kristian Hammerback is the president of the Canadian Amputee Golf Association and is a member of Golf Canada’s Amateur Competitions Committee. As a golfer who was born missing a limb, golf provided him with a childhood activity he could participate in with his friends. He believes that it is important to provide golfing opportunities for people who are missing limbs or with reduced mobility and that it can be instrumental in getting back into life after an injury or illness.

Golfers with missing limbs or limited mobility may have challenges getting around the course and getting to the ball. They don’t like to play long rounds or slow play down for other golfers. Using carts or “solo rider” units, providing red flags and being lenient with cart rules will help to speed their play.

Hammerback, who has helped organize several tournaments for amputee golfers, has found that golf courses are always very helpful and “bend over backwards” to give the competitors a great experience. He encourages golf courses to promote golf participation for all, get involved with organizations for people with disabilities to offer golf clinics and partner with local rehabilitation facilities to provide golf opportunities as part of the recovery process.

Golf for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Alain Turpin, the executive director of the Canadian Deaf Sports Association, says that the biggest challenge is communicating with deaf and hard of hearing golfers.

“Sometimes, it is difficult for pro-shop employees to communicate with deaf golfers who speak poorly or can’t speak and use language signs,” he said.

He recommends speaking face-to-face with deaf or hard of hearing golfers and writing simple messages on a sheet of paper to communicate.

When golfers who are deaf or hard of hearing take part in a sanctioned competition, it is important for the host committee to reserve a sign language interpreter. It makes a big difference for the deaf golfer to feel included and equal. As well, creating awareness for fellow competitors, competition officials and facility staff of the importance of face-to-face and written communication is essential.

Golf for military veterans who are ill or injured

Joe Kiraly, the outreach and communications manager for Soldier On, a program of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, attests to the impact that golf brings to the recoveries of veterans.

“Golf has been a surprising addition to my life following an injury resulting in physical limitations and loss of personal identity,” said Kiraly. “I saw how golf helped others and decided to try it myself.”

The Soldier On golf program, one of its most robust initiatives, is championed by Michael Feyko, who works at Royal Oaks Golf Club in New Brunswick. Feyko is a PGA of Canada teaching professional and a former soldier who used golf as an integral part of his own recovery from injury. The program began as a grassroots initiative to support Armed Forces personnel suffering loss of ability, loss of identity or loss of career and was found to help improve mental and physical health.

Kiraly reports golf clubs being very welcoming to ill and injured men and women. Many veterans who have experienced

sensory or mobility loss, or who have been suffering emotionally, have found golf to be an important component of their healing. With the support of the golf community, the Soldier On golf program is continuing to grow across the country, with three week-long camps planned in 2020.

Golf is for everyone

While you may not have the opportunity to host the Invictus Games, you can make your club welcoming and accessible to all golfers and potential golfers. We all know people with a disability. Providing them the chance to learn the game or continue an activity they enjoy following the loss of ability is tremendously beneficial to them, their families and your club!

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Club Manager Quarterly, a publication of The Canadian Society of Club Managers (CSCM), and is reprinted with their permission. The original article can be found online here.

Leslie Dunning is the past president of Golf Canada. She believes golf is for everyone and that inclusion is key to growing the game. She is a member of Earl Grey and Bigwin Island Golf Clubs.

Saskatoon’s Alex Riggs knew as a teenager that he wanted to coach golf.

He now calls Dubia, United Arab Emirates and is one of the instructors at Trump International Golf Club Dubia. Riggs began his golf career at the Saskatoon Golf & Country Club before moving to Florida and working under the guidance of renowned coach Sean Foley.

Golf Saskatchewan sat down with Riggs to learn more about him and his journey to the UAE.

It’s taken 16 tries and some heartbreak along the way but Tyler Zaba can add his name to the legendary list of men’s Lobstick winners.

The 32-year-old Regina product defeated Brad Phelps on the 16^th hole on Friday at Waskesiu Golf Course to become the 2020 champion. The Deer Valley Golf Resort member said after the round the win is very special.

“I’ve been coming here for 16 years,” he said. “I was in the final in 2013 and we went to 22 holes. That stung a bit and I still think about it so it’s good to finally get the trophy.”

Zaba defeated Kelly Timmerman, Shawn Strelau, and Jason Galon before meeting Phelps in the final match. Zaba said walking to the 16^th green with a birdie putt he could picture getting the long-awaited win in the historical event.

“I knew Brad had a chance at birdie and I also had a chance and if he made it I had to make it just to stay 2-up. Luckily I had a good look at it, and I rolled in the putt for the win. Brad is a great player, a veteran player that’s been around a long time. I’ve known him awhile and played lots of golf with him. He’s a true champion as well and it was great to play a match with him today,” Zaba said.

The Lobstick is usually played in June every year with a field of around 200 players. With COVID uncertainty at the start of the season the club decided to wait it out and postponed the event until September. Zaba said the week turned out to be fantastic on all levels.

“We were worried about the weather, I heard it was windy and cool for the senior Lobstick, we were happy to come up, the weather turned out perfect. It worked out great,” he said.

Zaba was able to share the win with his family. His father is a long-time friend of golf in Saskatchewan and walked along for the 16 holes. His wife and daughter followed closely plus his son pushed his Riksha through the rolling hills of the course all having a front row seat.

“It means a lot, my kids have been coming up here since they were babies, my parents have always come up here, it’s really special, it means a lot,” he said.

You can see all the results from the qualifying round to the bracket breakdowns on the Waskesiu Golf Course website.

Kindersley product Brody Istace has a top-4 finish as the Columbia International University Rams kicked off their fall golf season.

Istace shot 75, 72 over the 36-hole event at the Columbia Country Club in South Carolina. His 3-over par was good enough for fourth in the tournament behind a trio of golfers from Erskine College. Istace was nine shots off the lead. He shot a CIU team low, three strokes ahead of teammate Jake Montgomery.

18 competitors were in the field from three different universities.

Next up for Istace and the Rams is the Music City Invitational in Nashville on Oct. 5 and 6.

More and more golf clubs in Saskatchewan are fielding teams and competing in inter-club matches. One of the original events was put in place a decade ago by Regina’s Tom McNall.

The 2017 Sask. Golf Hall of Fame inductee spent 22 years playing at the Royal Regina Golf Club before moving over to the Wascana Country Club in 1979. McNall reached out to a friend in Saskatoon at the Riverside Country Club regarding a Ryder Cup type event between Regina and the Bridge City. Riverside already played the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club for Saskatoon bragging rights. McNall pitched the idea of a Queen City event to Wascana CEO Greg Dukart and the Fraser Cup came to life in 2010 providing a tribute to long-time Regina golfer Dick Fraser who passed away in November 2001.

“Greg was going to do some research on what we were going to name this event,” McNall said. “I went home and was watching television, I started thinking, Dick played at both the Royal Regina and the Wascana, everybody loved him. He was a natural to name this tournament after. I called up Greg, he asked if Dick played both courses, I said yeah, and Greg said it’s done, we will call it the Fraser Cup.”

The event takes place every other year with clubs rotating being the host. Wascana had early bragging rights by winning the first two but the Royal Regina group has rebounded with the last four wins. McNall played in the first one in 2010 but hasn’t played since. He said making your club team is a serious issue and only the best players get the chance to represent their course.

“I know at the Wascana they take a lot of pride in making the team. The way they qualify they must play in the club championship and the low ten people make the team and the captains get two picks, but those picks had to play in the championship as well,” McNall explained.

When McNall and the committee were outlining the details ahead of the first event he was adamant the best amateurs made up the squads for each club.

“When I was competing there wasn’t many events for low handicappers. It was always handicapped, handicapped,” he said. “When I first sat down with the Regina club to coordinate this one of the fellas said to me, why don’t we make it handicapped? I said this is for the best players and that’s the way it’s going to be.”

McNall said he hasn’t heard specifically if there has been any memorable shots or matches throughout the event, but he is proud of the first decade and how the event is received by both courses and members.

“It’s a pretty simple story, it was just a matter of time before it was going to happen. A lot of people are going to formats like this with the better players. It’s a lot of fun, good clean fun,” he concluded.

Wascana is slated to host the event in 2022.

MAMARONECK, N.Y. – Mike Davis spent the last decade running the USGA, where he set up golf courses to provide an extreme test for elite players and searched for solutions to increasing distance.

Now he wants to build golf courses, a lifelong passion.

Davis announced Tuesday he will retire as CEO at the end of 2021, ending a 32-year career with the USGA that began with him overseeing ticket sales and transportation. He became the seventh executive director in 2011 and the USGA’s first CEO after an organizational shakeup in 2016.

Davis, whose love of golf course architecture dates to when he was a junior golfer and would doodle holes on a piece of paper, said he will join Tom Fazio II in a new golf architecture firm called Fazio & Davis Golf Design.

“One of the wonderful things these 32 years afforded me was I’ve gone out of my way to see most of the world’s great courses,” Davis said. “I’ve played them, studied them, read about them, taken pictures of them. I’ve read all the architecture books. I get as giddy with some architects as I do being around Jack, Arnold, Byron Nelson and Mickey Wright.”

The announcement comes two days after Bryson DeChambeau crushed the notion that accuracy is tantamount to U.S. Open success. DeChambeau said he would hit driver as often as he could, even if it went into Winged Foot’s notorious rough, and he won by six shots by becoming the only player at par or better all four rounds of a U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

The retirement, however, was in the works for several years. Davis had planned to announce it in September when the 2020 USGA championship season was over, so a successor could be found. Instead, the coronavirus pandemic forced the U.S. Open to be postponed from June until last week, with the U.S. Women’s Open in Houston still to come in December.

Davis said he told his wife when he was appointed executive director in 2011 that he would do the job for 10 years. He told the USGA board more than three years ago that he would work through 2021 so he could try his hand at building courses.

“I knew I would regret it if I didn’t try,” he said.

His one regret was not seeing through the conclusion of the “Distance Insights Project.” A summary in February suggested it was time to stop increases in distance at all levels, highlighting an average gain of 25 yards over the last 30 years for elite players. The feedback process and next step have been delayed by the pandemic.

“I think something is going to happen,” Davis said. “When is it going to be done? How is it going to be done? How will we introduce it? It’s a multiyear process. I’d have to stay many years to see this thing through. I’m just happy that for the first in over 100 years, we’re finally doing something. I pushed at it with the R&A, I pushed it with our own group.

“I will look back saying that is one thing I am very proud of, because I just know it’s in the best interest in the game.”

His last U.S. Open will be at Torrey Pines next summer. Meanwhile, Davis stays on to guide the USGA through the COVID-19 pandemic, setting up what amounts to a satellite office and a new testing centre in Pinehurst, North Carolina, advancing the distance project and working with his successor.

USGA President Stu Francis said a search would begin immediately, with hopes of having the next CEO hired by the U.S. Open next summer.

Davis first took over setting up U.S. Open courses at Winged Foot in 2006, and he introduced the concept of graduated rough that grew longer the farther away from the fairway. That was from his first U.S. Open experience at Baltusrol in 1980, which he attended with his father. Davis recalls thinking it was unfair that someone who missed the fairway by a little was punished more than someone who missed by a lot.

He has been criticized for some setup decisions, most recently at Shinnecock Hills, though that was to be expected. His predecessor, Tom Meeks, predicted in 2009 that Davis would make a mistake at some point. “It doesn’t happen by design. It happens because it’s the U.S. Open,” Meeks said.

There was so much more to the job, especially as CEO. Davis was part of the most significant overhaul of the Rules of Golf that took effect in 2019, and he signed off on a decision to ban the anchored stroke used for long putters a few years earlier. He also was executive director when the USGA signed a 12-year broadcast deal with Fox worth about $1 billion, a deal that NBC took over again earlier this year.

Part of Davis already is looking ahead. He doesn’t want to design golf courses on paper. He wants to build them, and he said he would spend time on the construction crews of architects Bill Coore and Gil Hanse to learn that end of it.

“I can’t wait to get my hands dirty,” Davis said, chuckling like someone who has been wanting to do this for a long time.