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Birdies. Beds. Bargains.
Want to get away for a few days of great golf in Saskatchewan . Consider holidaying at Harbor, Candle Lake , Elk Ridge, Katepwa, Golf Kenosee or White Bear. Check out the best bets for stay and play packages this summer on Hole #10 Travel deals. New listings are made monthly, so keep checking back. MORE>>
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Step aside Scotland!
Golf is played worldwide from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe at about 31,857 golf courses in 184 nations and territories. More than 220 of those courses are in Saskatchewan , which makes us the most golf crazy on the planet.
Golf Digest Magazine says there are 9,379 people per course in Scotland - the home of golf - but that doesn't compare to Saskatchewan . There's less than a million people here divided by about 224 which equals – well, you do the math.
Step aside Scotland – In 2007, there are three new courses, two expansions and several upgrades underway or planned.
Northern Meadows Golf Club expands - The expanded Northern Meadows Golf Club can be found at Goodsoil in northwestern Saskatchewan near Meadow Lake , the largest provincial park. The existing 3,360 yard front nine has a rating/slope of 73/126. The back nine, which is scheduled to officially open this spring, will provide the golf enthusiast with a 6,920 yard, par-72 championship track. A cottage subdivision is underway at this three-season resort. The clubhouse also includes bed and breakfast accomodation. www.northernmeadows.com
Candle Lake opens second nine - Candle Lake Golf Resort, the province's newest upscale, full-length course opened last summer. The project includes a new clubhouse, driving range, an RV park, cabins, a residential subdivision and a marina. Upgrades to the original nine will continue this summer. www.candlelakegolfresort.com and for real estate options, www.saskgolfer.com/realestate.php
Rolling Pines Golf and Country Resort opens – Rolling Pines, a nine hole grass green course 15km north of Nipawin on the way to Tobin Lake, is set to officially open this spring. www.rollingpinesgolf.ca
The Legends Golf and Country Club – Work has begun on the Legends, a new 18 hole course near Warman that will replace the existing nine hole track by 2009.
Lac Pelletier Golf Club opens – This summer, Lac Pelletier will open its upgraded grass green course – it was sand greens for years – 10 minutes south of Swift Current.
Rowan's Ravine Proposal – Funding is now being sought for a new 9 or 18 hole course near Rowan's Ravine, located about an hour north of Regina near Rowan's Ravine Provincial Park .
Hidden Meadows Golf Course opens – A new nine-hole track near Pleasantdale south of Melfort will open this summer. www.pleasantdale.net
Harbor Golf Course and Resort – This 18-hole facility on Lake Diefenbaker is in the early stages of a planned spa, hotel and condo expansion. www.harborgolfclub.com
All in all, it just keeps getting better and better for the Saskatchewan golfer. For a compete listing of courses with websites, visit www.saskgolfer.com/feacourses.php
Win one of two Golf Privilege Club Books 2007!
Win one of 2 free Golf Privilege Club Book from SaskGolfer.com valued at $34.95. The green fee discount book offers discounts at 450 courses across Saskatchewan , Western Canada and Washington . The book is a fundraiser sponsored by the Lung Associations in those provinces. Question: How many courses offer discounts? Answer: Email privilege@SaskGolfer.com by March 31 deadline. Good luck. MORE >
Golf discount book expands!
The Lung Association of Saskatchewan has produced an annual golf discount book since 1996. The number of participating Saskatchewan courses has grown from the original 36 to a whopping 131! Offers vary by course and include free and reduced green fees (2/1 and 4/3 etc.), free or discounted golf carts and 2/1 range balls. Visit www.sk.lung.ca/golf for more details.
Amen Corner
“It wasn't dangerous enough. I'd rather be in the gallery, and get hit by a ball.”
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Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, on his one and only round of golf
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Good Spirit specializes
in groups and families
When winter loosens its grips on Saskatchewan one thing is certain: people will flock to the peaceful parkland setting of Good Spirit Lake . And if they're smart, they'll bring their golf clubs.
Opened in 1985, the Good Spirit Lake Golf and Family Resort is located 15 minutes off the Yellowhead Highway northwest of Yorkton . Because of its full-fledged conference facilities – there are conference rooms, ample rooms and catering facilities - it caters to groups and conferences of 10 to 200 people.
“It's an amazing place for families and groups,” says Connie Chaplin, who took over ownership and management of the four-season facility with her husband Jim just two years ago. “There's a wonderful provincial park one kilometer away, a lovely lake, a friendly atmosphere, and of course, golf.”
The Good Spirit track is well-treed in a peaceful Saskatchewan parkland setting, offering a friendly and challenging 6,276-yard layout for recreational and experienced golfers. The par-72 course has a slope of 127, and enough sand traps and water hazards to require accuracy and skill.
“Golfers enjoy the quiet atmosphere at Good Spirit, along with the great scenery,” says head pro John Kachur. “The course is golfer friendly not so hectic that you're pushed to finish your round and can't enjoy the experience. The course is challenging, but not over extreme and unfair.”
Signature Hole No. 13 is a par-four dogleg left measuring nearly 400 yards. In order to approach the shallow, well-bunkered green properly, golfers need to crowd the treeline left off the tee.
The secret to scoring well, says Kachur, is keeping your ball on the fairway. “You need to know where to miss if you make a mistake, especially on the back nine where there's water hazards, trees and out-of-bounds.”
This resort course features hotel rooms, two and three bedroom villas, chalets, conference centre, RV sites and seasonal RV sites. All of the accommodation at the facility was renovated in recent years. There's also a new “Spiritwood Suite” with four bedrooms that will be ready in May.
Off-course attractions at the nearby Good Spirit Provincial Park include hiking, boating, fishing and sand dunes. The shallow waters and sandy, weed-free bottom of Good Spirit Lake , make it a popular spot for families. Maclean's Magazine dubbed it one of the best 10 beaches in Canada .
Good Spirit offers several stay and play and mid-week specials: Stay and play 2 rounds of golf with power cart runs $99 plus taxes. Based on 2 sharing, twilight all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday includes 18 holes with a cart for only $60. For other specials, see www.goodspiritlakeresort.com/stayplaygolf.html
Win One of 3 Free Golf Passes : Win a free round at Good Spirit Lake Golf and Family Resort by surfing their website and answering this question: "What's pictured in the logo on the homepage?" Answer to Contest@SaskGolfer.com by the end of April. And good luck!
For tee times and accommodation bookings, phone 306-792-4615. www.goodspiritlakeresort.com
Elk Ridge expansion underway
Arne Petersen, founder and sole shareholder (CEO) of Elk Ridge Resort and Conference Centre Inc., has announced a $15- million expansion to the four-season resort 40 minutes north of Prince Albert and just outside of Prince Albert National Park .
This next phase of this exciting destination resort will see the construction of a high quality, 35,000 sq. ft. conference and recreation hotel. The hotel will include a full range of conference facilities, a balanced room mix, fitness centre, spa, indoor pool and waterslide, restaurants and licensed areas.
In addition to the hotel, this expansion will include a staff housing complex, a community based amenity facility with an outdoor seasonal pool and 8 additional rental cabins. Construction begins early in the spring of 2007 and the new hotel will open to the public in 2008.
Elk Ridge currently boasts 27 holes of Championship golf, endless year round recreational activities, residential and condominium developments, and rental facilities all nestled in the serene setting of Saskatchewan 's boreal forest.
“This project is a life-long dream and is my personal commitment to the people of this beautiful province. I am excited to enter into this next phase of the project which will surely position us as a world-class facility in a world-class setting,” says Peterson. |
Yeah mon, Jamaican golf!
The Skinny by Bob Hughes
For most sports fans in Saskatchewan , Bob Hughes needs no introduction. Bob spent a lifetime as a sports writer, sports editor, columnist and an administrator with the Regina Leader-Post writing about what he loves best. Now retired, this passionate golfer will be contributing a monthly column on golf for SaskGolfer.com. Starting next month look for “The Skinny by Bob Hughes” under Bunkershots.
MONTEGO BAY , JAMAICA – The wind seems always to blow. It comes in off the Caribbean Sea , capping the waves in white foam, and onto the land. It sweeps up the soft sandy shoreline and over the deep green grass of the White Witch Golf Course. It is strong enough that in its gusts it bends the palms and they move in waves. But it is a welcome wind for it brings a relief from the unrelenting sun that on this day in late February is baking.
The last place in the world I would have expected to be a golf destination was Jamaica . But it is fast becoming just that. For the first time ever, direct flights from Saskatchewan carried winter tourists straight to Montego Bay , and if golf was to be a part of a winter holiday, then this place turned into a bonus. It has everything you may have found in the all-inclusive destinations of Mexico that have such a grip on people in Saskatchewan . It also has some great golf courses. My wife and I spent two weeks here in February, and, luckily, we brought out golf clubs.
We stayed at two resorts. One was called Breezes, the other Braco. Both are a part of the Superclubs chain, and they feature free golf at the Superclubs course across the street from the Breezes resort and not far from Braco. It's an 18-hole course that plays as much as 6800 yards, featuring wide fairways, and greens that have breaks so subtle you need to rely on the mandatory caddy to show you.
I played nine rounds in this beautiful country that has seen tourism grow to be the number one industry. Right now, there are over 100,000 visitors from around the world on the tiny island watching the World Cup of Cricket. But, golf is also becoming a huge draw for people.
The draw is you will find a course that fits every game. The bonus is, the people here are wonderful, they speak English, and the caddies, well, you will never forget the caddies. I played eight of my nine games at the Breezes course, mostly because it was right there. For five or six of those rounds, I had a caddy named Raymond, who was once a scratch golfer and now plays to about a five handicap.
Raymond Rhudd has lived in Jamaica for all of his 30 years. I can only say that if you are ever lucky enough to go to the golf course he caddies at, be sure to ask for him. He has an incredible feel for the game and an ability to help you with your game in the most magnificent of ways. Most of us who have golfed have taken lessons from pros. I have. And, it never works. It is not their fault. But in order for it to work, you have to have the discipline and the dedication to hit the practice range for hours on end. I have neither. I just want to play. This guy Raymond can help you play better golf without making drastic changes to how you swing the club. It's why everybody who has had him as their caddy loves Raymond.
While I played most of my games at the Superclubs course at Runaway Bay , the most beautiful course I played was called the White Witch at Rose Hall. Set upon an old sugar cane plantation, it is easily worthy of its boast as one of the best courses in the Caribbean . The late Johnny Cash had a house just below the 13 th hole, which his family still owns.
The course is without a doubt one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Sixteen of its 18 holes offer spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea . There are white sand traps everywhere. Many of the tee boxes are elevated and present post-card pretty pictures. And, the caddies here are also superb, serving up great advice on where to hit the shots, but adding to the round with delightfully haunting stories of what went on at Rose Hall hundreds of years ago and what still goes on in Johnny Cash's empty house. “Every time I go into the house,” our caddy, who doubles as a security guard, told us, “I smell fresh cigarette smoke, even though there is nobody living there.” Cash, of course, was a heavy smoker.
The White Witch Course plays 6,758 yards from the tips to 5,397 yards from the front tees. It will challenge every game. But, mostly, it will entertain you, inspire you, and provide a thoroughly enjoyable four and one-half hours under the gorgeous Caribbean blue sky.
It just doesn't get much better than this, if you love golf and warm weather in the middle of a February or March cold spell in Saskatchewan . Yeah, Mon!
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More Words to live by!
1. A good drive on the 18th hole has stopped many a golfer from giving up
the game.
2. Golf is the perfect thing to do on Sunday because you always end up
having to pray a lot.
3. A good golf partner is one who's always slightly worse than you
are...that is why I get so many calls to play with Fri ends.
4. That rake by the sand trap is there for golfers who feel guilty about
skipping out on lawn work.
5. If there's a storm rolling in, you'll be having the game of your life.
6. Golf balls are like eggs. They're white. They're sold by the dozen. And
you need to buy fresh ones each week.
7. A pro-shop gets its name from the fact that you have to have the income
of a professional golfer to buy anything in there.
8. It's amazing how a golfer who never helps out around the house will
replace his divots, repair his ball marks, and rake his sand traps.
9. If your opponent has trouble remembering whether he shot a six or a
seven, he probably shot an eight (or worse).
10. You probably wouldn't look good in a green jacket anyway! A sweatshirt
will do just fine.
11. It takes longer to learn to be a good golfer than it does to become a
brain surgeon. On the other hand, you don't get to ride around on a cart,
drink beer, eat hot dogs and fart if you are performing brain surgery
Around Saskatchewan links
Congratulations to Saskatoon Golf and Country Club , the second oldest club in Saskatchewan , which is celebrating its 100 th anniversary this year. Stay tuned for special events at that course and an article on SaskGolfer.com this summer ….Greg Janke of Regina is the new operator of the Emerald Park Golf and Country Club on behalf of the Town of White City. An option to purchase is involved in the three-year agreement. Glen Hill is the new head pro….The Saskatchewan Golf Association has a new deal for its members giving them cut rates at the Golf Dome in Saskatoon … |
Grip lightly for more distance
By Jeff Chambers, Saskatchewan Provincial Coach
The one thing that everyone wants is more distance. It's easy to see this when we look at the money spent for new drivers and golf balls that promise more distance.
People have no problem spending $500 for a new driver. Now, granted the new technology is great to have and will help a little but its still up to the person holding the club. That's the person that I want to help.
To hit the ball further is not a goal of a very low handicapper and the following advice usually does not apply - as most already do it. This tip is for the player that is trying to hit it further and is anything from a 10 to 36 handicapper. It's all about how hard you are holding on to the club head thus causing tenseness in you forearms, shoulders, and back.
By having a loser grip in your fingers, you allow more movement in the back swing, thus expanding the elevation of the club, giving yourself a chance to generate more club head speed resulting in more distance. Many of my clients are over the age of 55 and at first always tell me that they can't take a full swing. I explain, “I'm only going to make there swing easier on their back. “ By loosening the grip pressure, the swing is expanded naturally without force and the follow-through happens with less effort resulting in less pressure on the back.
When they see how their swing looks on video, they can't believe the difference. They always comment that it's like I took 20 years off their bodies swing. I ask the player to use a rating scale of 0 to 5 to judge the tenseness in their hands. 0 equals extremely light and 5 equals extremely tight grip (white knuckles). I find the players have to be able to test themselves to have a true thought of what they are actually doing. The player can judge at what level they are at, at setup on the transition down, and at the finish position.
If you keep the pressure at 2 or less you are maximizing your ability to swing freely. Simply just telling them to grip lighter will not work for long. The player must have a true sense of what they are doing. If you are a person that slices the ball, I already know you are gripping at least 4 or higher at impact. This has worked extremely well and will give so many the extra distance they require. You're basically taking the swing you have and expanding and maximizing it. No major change has to take place to gain distance.
For more pro tips, click here
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