The game of golf had another unbelievable season in 2023 according to rounds reported from member cubs across Saskatchewan.
One golf club seeing incredible growth is Hidden Hills in Shellbrook, Sask. The nine-hole gem 42 kilometres east of Prince Albert, Sask. reported 26,845 rounds played during the season. The number is up from 20,400 in 2022. Dating back to just 2017, the club counted under 10,000 rounds, a half dozen years later the number has almost tripled.
Four other nine-hole facilities reported over 20,000 rounds played this season including Wakaw Lake Regional Park Golf Course (24,423), Valleyview Delisle Golf Course (22,510), Regina Beach Golf Club (21,795), and Green Acres Golf Course (20,229).
Seeing the most golfers was Holiday Park Golf Course in Saskatoon. The municipal course has 27 holes allowing more golfers off the tee. In total Holiday Park recorded a whopping 63,446 rounds this season, up from 56,783. The course did reach the 60,000 plateau during the 2021 season with 60,151.
Saskatchewan’s three other 27-hole facilities that reported their round totals to Golf Saskatchewan for 2023 were as follows; Tor Hill Golf Course sent 48,500 golfers out in 2023, the Willows Club in Saskatoon generated 47,833 rounds, and Elk Ridge Golf Resort, with their more remote location and shorter season still saw 22,437 players take in the majestic resort this year.
The busiest 18-hole golf club this year via rounds played was Wildwood Golf Course in Saskatoon. Managed by the City of Saskatoon, alongside Holiday Park and Silverwood Golf Course, golfers in the Bridge City flocked to the courses. Wildwood recorded 39,375 rounds this year, an increase of just under 5,000. Silverwood was the fourth busiest 18-hole course, with shorter pace of place due to length, they saw 35,559 golfers tee off. The Wascana Country Club in Regina’s south end was the second busiest 18-hole course reporting 37,557 in 2023, just edging out the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club’s 36,364 rounds.
Overall, courses that reported back to Golf Saskatchewan account for 1,372,000 rounds in the province in 2023.
Earlier this month Golf Canada promoted that over 10 million members posted scores this year as well, breaking the record of 9.2 million in 2022.
Saskatchewan players posted 272,106 rounds into the Golf Canada Score Centre, up 26,172 rounds over the total from 2022.
The top posting 18-hole course was Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon. Members recorded 20,616 rounds, players at the the Royal Regina Golf Club entered 20,552 scores in 2023, while the Wascana Country Club had 19,294 rounds posted by members.
The top posting nine-hole course was the Maple Creek Golf Club. 3,365 scored were posted from the small southwest Saskatchewan town’s players. Katepwa Beach Golf Club was second at 2,230, Echo Ridge Golf Course at Fort Qu’Appelle posted the third most rounds 2,161.
These numbers are all based on the 2023 season that runs from Nov. 1 to Oct. 31, which is Golf Canada’s fiscal year.
Scores for the 2024 season can now be posted by players hitting the course in warmer climates.
