Regina’s Diana Kerr is the new president of Saskatchewan’s amateur golf governing body.
The Wascana Country Club member was voted into the role by the board of directors following Golf Saskatchewan’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 5. Kerr becomes the first female president of the association since another Regina golfer led the executive, Cathy Bildfell.
She began volunteering with Golf Saskatchewan just over a decade ago as a Rules Official. Kerr then decided to join the board of directors to learn the “business behind Golf Saskatchewan.” After two years in the role of vice president under Kevin Duchscherer, Kerr will now take over. She said another former president pushed her towards the opening.
“It was never something I wanted to do, but Larry [Wagman] approached me, and I thought with my business background I think I can do it. It was a big step for me,” Kerr said.
Kerr admitted she is nervous about being the first woman in the position since 2006 and being Saskatchewan’s provincial representative at the Golf Canada board table, but she’s also thankful to be depended on after several years of service to the organization.
“I am humbled to have the opportunity to be the president of Golf Saskatchewan for the next year or if it’s longer than that, I am excited about that,” she added.
Golf has been very successful globally, especially with the COVID pandemic providing an uptake in players taking up the sport. One area that continues to struggle in numbers is female competitors. Kerr said Saskatchewan’s top players usually participate in the Saskatchewan Amateur and Senior Championships, she said having more female events at the club levels and junior is very important for the future of the game.
“I’d rather focus on the member clubs getting more events for ladies,” Kerr said. “Our competitive golfers are already participating in the provincials, that’s not going to change. What I’d also like to focus on more junior girls, because I think that’s more the potential for the future.”
Kerr said making sure the province’s best players compete for national teams is very important, but most golfers are recreational, the category she puts herself in. She posted over 50 18-hole rounds through the Golf Canada Scorecentre app in 2024, but also played many partial rounds. Kerr concluded that however you play the game, shooting for a national spot or spending time outside enjoying the game, she encouraged everyone to try to sport out.
“You have to create an environment where people feel comfortable, if they don’t want to keep score, I don’t care. If they want to go out and play five holes, I don’t care, just get out and play,” she stressed.
One new person joined the executive, Audrey Perra of Regina was acclaimed to the group.
Golf Saskatchewan’s AGM can be viewed here.
To see the annual report, including the organization’s finance report that showed a $122,000 surplus, click here.