Six years ago, Shannon Scott was invited to a ladies ‘mystery golf day’ by Esterhazy resident Shari Forsythe-Holm, had a great time and decided to bring the idea to Regina.
Scott and the group that included 47 other women from around the Queen City recently wrapped up their fourth day at Willowbunch Golf Course. The group registers ahead of time and a bus picks the golfers up in the parking lot of the Royal Regina Golf Club with breakfast for the road. Before the players leave small wagers are made on where the group will end up. In years previous the day was hosted by Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Harbor Golf Resort in Elbow, and at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club in Estevan. Once at the destination the group plays and makes a day on the course.
“I don’t have any competition or proximities, it’s just you and your girlfriends out having fun, enjoying the day, having some laughs,” Scott said.
Over the years Scott said the host facilities have been very welcoming and this year Willowbunch was no different. She said the attendees, which was up 14 from the last get together before the COVID-19 pandemic enjoyed the nine hole “gem.”
“We all know Willowbunch is a hidden gem. The ladies really enjoyed it. They shut down the golf course for us, so we had a shotgun start. We had 10 members that let us use their carts, we had an awesome lunch, supper was great and strawberry cheesecake that was to die for,” Scott laughed.
The getaway is a highlight among the main group of Royal Regina golfers, that is Scott’s home course. She said with such a great response this year, and requests from the men at the Royal to organize a trip for them, Scott is pleased with the continued interest.
“You don’t think of that, you just want to spend time with your girlfriends. I am glad it is going off really well and everyone enjoyed it and we can keep doing it. It’s not just girls from the Royal, there are ladies from the Wascana Country Club and a few other courses, plus their friends,” she said.
On the road home Scott said they play games to pass the time as the group returns to Regina.
The destination wager (which nobody won) created a pot of $170 that was donated to the Royal’s Golf Fore a Cure event to boost the total for the annual cancer fundraiser.
Scott wouldn’t budge on where the day will be next year, but as an ambassador of the game in the province she is glad golf can provide a special day for everyone that attends.
“There are not many things that women can just go away and not have to worry about much. It’s a day for them,” she concluded.
