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These guys are good too
Check out the golf getaways offered this summer: Jackfish Lodge Golf and Conference Centre near Battleford, Harbor Golf Course and Resort at Elbow, Riverbreaks at Riverhurst, Long Creek at Avonlea and Deer Valley golf courses, La Verendrye, Golf Kenosee and White Bear, Waskesiu. MORE >>
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Golfing legends on their way
Saskatchewan is one of three stops in Canada for a traveling photo exhibit from the United States Golf Association. Legends of Modern Golf: Photographs by Gerald Sprayregen is scheduled to show at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in Regina in November. For more information, call 1-306-780-9232.
On-line golf partners, anyone?
Online dating for golfers has been taken to a new level with the launch of a comprehensive internet dating service www.DateAGolfer.com geared towards golfers. The main focus of the new website is to help golfers expand their golf network, make friends and share their passion for golf.
Recently separated, co-founder Gary Kelly of Halifax, N.S. came up with the idea when discussing new ways to meet interesting people with friend Mike Wyman, an avid golfer.
“We want to be much more than a static database of names and photos,” says Kelly. “We want to create a safe and dynamic online community where people come to share their passion for golf,”
Kelly and Wyman believe that many singles have been frustrated with their online dating experience and that many golfers will find the mutual interest of their site a more effective means of building a relationship.
“Most other dating sites don't deliver what they promise, which is most often a lasting relationship,” says Wyman. “DateAGolfer does deliver what it promises: new friends, or a network of friends to play golf with.”
In case you missed it
Without a doubt Craik and its new nine-hole grass green golf course is “the friendliest place by a damsite.” The Craik Golf Course and its intriguing eco-centre clubhouse and restaurant, are located one half mile off the #11 "Louis Riel Trail " highway, midway between Regina and Saskatoon in a scenic valley setting overlooking the Craik reservoir. MORE >>
The visiting aliens
An alien spaceship hovered over a golf course. Two aliens were watching a solitary golfer practising on a golf course. This was a new golfer and they watched in amazement.
The golfer duff his tee shot, shanked his second into the rough, took three to get out of the rough into the fairway, slice the next shot into the bushes, took a putter to get it out on the fairway again. Meanwhile, one alien told the other that he must be playing some sort of game and they continued to observe the golfer.
Hit a great shot into a bunker by the green. He took several shots to get out of the bunker and finally on to the green. He putted several times until he finally got into the hole. At this stage, the other alien told his partner, "Wow, now he is in serious trouble". (For a new crop of even funnier golf jokes click) MORE >>
Amen Corner
“Golf is, a game, but only in part. It is also part of a religion, a fervor, a vice, a mirage, a frenzy, a fear, an abscess, a joy, a thrill, a pest, a disease, an uplift, a brooding melancholy, a dream of yesterday, a disappointing today and a hope for tomorrow.”
- sportswriter Grantland Rice
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Cooke steeped in tradition
Prince Albert, the gateway to Saskatchewan’s north, is home to the friendly Cooke Municipal Golf Course, one of the province’s best-loved and finest courses. Cooke is recognized throughout Canada for its challenge and aesthetic beauty.
When you play at Saskatchewan municipal golf courses, it’s straight-up. There are no chatty course starters with a weather report, or sauna and a massage to soothe the soul at the end of your round. But, there’s quality golf for everyone, from first-timers to scratch handicappers, at a reasonable price.
“There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears building this course years ago,” says managing superintendent Danny Jutras, who along with superintendent Pierre Vezeau has been caring for the track for more than 25 years. “Even golf architects who have played the course say, it’s well laid out and that there are a lot of memorable and challenging holes.”
At almost 100 years old, Cooke is steeped in tradition. The course was formed in 1909 by a few “old country men” on land previously owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1935 – with the help of horse drawn implements – Cooke was expanded to 18 holes. It was named after Hubert Cooke in 1968, the course’s golf professional and greenskeeper for 41 years.
Several years ago the prestigious Golf Digest Magazine gave Cooke a 3-star rating, recognizing it as a quality golfing experience. The course is a frequent venue for local and provincial championships, and has also hosted four national competitions with the most recent being The Royale Cup National Ladies Amateur Championship. In 2009, the Cooke Municipal Golf Course will host the Canadian Men’s Mid -Amateur Championship.
“There are a lot of members and volunteers who take pride in the course,” says Jutras. “And the more pride they take, the more we’re able to make it the kind of course different user groups want.”
The traditional, parkland track will have you using every club in your bag by the end of the round. It stretches to 6,509, par-72 off the tips, with a slope of 122 and an official rating of 71.2. Cooke features a variety of short and long holes, doglegs, testy greens, par-3s – and fairways that tend to be forgiving although lined with trees.
Holes 3 and 5 are considered a couple of the prettiest. Hole 3 is a 460-yard par 5 and Hole 5 a challenging 405-yard par 4. Both are separated by two ponds and a small waterfall. The signature hole is testy No. 12, a 159-yard, par 3, well-guarded by water, bunkers and trees.
Greens tend to be large and demanding. The most interesting is the finishing hole, where golfers who miss-hit their shot will need to putt around a sizeable mound on the right side of the green.
The public are invited to visit the newly renovated “19th Hole.” The Mandolin Restaurant has a licensed BBQ deck and private banquet rooms for special events.
Facilities include a driving range, cart and club rentals, and a fully stocked pro shop. Green fees are $31 weekdays and $33 weekends, with special discounts for seniors, juniors and twilight play. www.cookegolf.com Ph. (306) 763-2502
Win one of four passes to Cooke!
Win one of four green fees at the well-known Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert.
QUESTION: What year was the Canadian Ladies Amateur Championship held at Cooke? (HINT: Visit the homepage of their website at www.cookegolf.com to find the answer.)
Submit your answer to Cooke@SaskGolfer.com by Aug. 31. Good Luck!
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Bell Canadian Open poised
The world's best professional golfers will be competing for $4.9 million US and the Bell Canadian Open trophy from Sept. 5 to 11, 2005 at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver. This hefty purse, with a winner's cheque of $792,000 (U.S.), reinforces title sponsor Bell Canada and the Royal Canadian Golf Association's (RCGA) commitment to continue to elevate the Bell Canadian Open for both players and golf fans.
The 2005 Bell Canadian Open marks a long anticipated return to Vancouver. It will be just the fourth time in its storied history that Canada's national Open will be contested on the west coast, and the third time it will be played at a course called Shaughnessy. More than 1,700 volunteers are involved running the event.
The historic Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, a 7,010-yard, par 70 layout, is a well-treed parkland style 18-hole championship course that overlooks the mouth of the Fraser River and Strait of Georgia. The course was built in 1960 and many of the beautiful trees were donated and planted by the members in the course's early years. www.shaughnessy.org/index.cfm?ID=352
Vijah Singh, the world’s best golfer in 2004, will be back to defend his title at Vancouver this year. Mike Weir, who lost to Singh in a heartbreaking playoff last year, is also expected to return to Canada with the hope of adding the cherished Open to his titles. For the 2005 Bell Canadian Open, see www.e.bell.ca/cdnopen/en/home/default.asp
Ticket options include buyselltix.com and ticko.com coasttocoasttickets.com
Go, Canada, go!
Team Canada put on a dominating performance this week beating the Americans 19½ to 8½, capturing the World Junior Euro Cup in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Saskatchewan members include Dallas Mengel of Watrous (boys 13 and under) and Taylor Smith of Swift Current (boys 14 to 16) All team members qualified for CJGA Team Canada through one of the seven qualifiers conducted by the CJGA in 2005 across the country.
The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) organized the World Junior Euro Cup, a prestigious Ryder Cup style international competition pitting CJGA Team Canada against Team USA in St. Andrews, Scotland. In addition to competing against Team USA, CJGA Team Canada played exhibition matches against the Scottish Fife Union as well as the University of St. Andrews during their stay in Scotland during July.
Finding a better score
“The Gift: A story about finding a better score in golf and life” by Richard Monette of Banff, Alta. is an intriguing contribution to the world of golf literature. The novel is accurately compared to the movie the “Field of dreams” and actor Kevin Costner’s spiritual quest for all things baseball. In the Gift, the protagonist Irving Pirsig, a high school teacher, becomes a star golfer with the help of spirits of a golf legend.
Monette approaches the novel with a unique background as a corporate performance coach, sports psychology consultant to professional athletes and even one of Canada’s Olympians. This highly readable story aims and succeeds in “recapturing the focus, drive, creativity and open-mindedness of play.”
Published by Innerwarrior Consulting (www.innerwarrior.com) for $19.99. You will also find the first three chapters reprinted on the website.
Golf research project underway
The cities of Saskatoon and Regina, along with the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, will be releasing an extensive study on the future golf market in Saskatchewan this fall.
After conducting public surveys and interviews with golf course operators throughout the province, the study is focusing on golf trends and future opportunities. The Golf Research Project is being used by the City of Regina and Western Golf Management, who operates city courses, in developing a fees for 2006-08.
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Golf bus tours teed up
When you take a winter golfing holiday with Angie Landry of Ace-in-the-hole Travel Company of Lorette, Manitoba, the only thing you have to think about is your next par.
”When you’re with us, you’re almost joined at the hip,” says Landry, who has been hosting golf tours to southern destinations for 12 years. “I work as the tour director, planner, organizer and I even golf with everyone.”
Landry says the trips to San Antonio, Texas, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Palm Springs are popular with golfers in Manitoba, Northern Ontario and Saskatchewan. It’s the only company that specializes in golf holidays by deluxe motor coach that services the Saskatchewan and Mantioba markets, says Landry. Trips originate out of Winnipeg, but if there's a group wanting to come from Saskatchewan, special transportation can be arranged for a nominal surcharge, she says
“You’re catered to and I spoil my people,” says Landry. Tee times, room and restaurant reservations are all made, so golfers are able to focus on golfing, making friends and having fun.
The 54-seat deluxe motor coach is filled to about 45 seats, allowing room for people to stretch out if they want. The courses are almost all high-end tracks and hotels are high quality.
For more details on Ace-in-the-Hole Travel Company upcoming trips to Myrtle Beach (Nov. 18-Dec. 14), Palm Springs (Jan. 15-Feb. 4/2006) and San Antonio (Feb. 11-26 and Mar. 11-26, 2006), contact Angie at 1-204-878-2804, or view the second listing at http://www.saskgolfer.com/travel.php
Around Saskatchewan Links
Ken Skibsted and Dennis Ghiglione of Saskatchewan Landing Golf Resort were in attendance at the Swift Current Chamber business Excellence Awards Gala where they were honoured with the "New business of the year award” ….The seven-page story “Wheat Kings” about golfing in Saskatchewan was featured in the June issue of Golf Canada, the publication of the RCGA... Joanne Goulet added another notch in her distinguished golfing career with her sixth straight senior title in Regina….The RCGA has until Sept. 1 to find a sponsor to put up $3 million annually or it may be the end of the Canadian Women’s Open, the only LPGA stop in Canada the past 32 years, according to reports….
DeLaet making noises
Grham DeLaet of Weyburn is making golf headlines these days with three recent wins. DeLaet placed first at the 2005 Glenco Invitational in June, second at the Edmonton Telus Open and placed first in the Saskatchewan Amateur Championship in July.
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So long Jack
Fans in Saskatchewan would like to join the golfing world by also saying adieu to Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of their generation. Even though he missed the cut with a 75 and 72 at the 2005 British Open, there was a day when he simply won everything including 18 majors. Most pundits agreed his legacy was one of sportsmanship.
In his honour, Nicklaus is featured on the new five pound ($9) note issued by the Bank of Scotland making him the first living person other than royalty to be on a banknote. The so-called Bear buck shows Nicklaus after he won the British Open in 1978.
worldofgolftv.com worth a look
TSN’s website worldofgolftv.com has a few worthwhile features you may want to check out. Its main attraction are the regular broadcasts that highlight golf in Canada. The stories range from interviews with Mike Weir to Fox Meadow Golf and Country Club and The Canadian Golf Academy in P.E.I. While there are other sections on news, options, contests, instruction and destinations – the only one of merit are the great golf columns by Lorne Rubenstein, arguably Canada’s best golf writer.
Tragedy strikes boy
There’s been another reminder that golf clubs can be lethal. It’s reported that a six-year-old boy was accidentally struck by a golf club and died at Wetaskiwin, Alberta on July 21. The RCMP said the boy was playing with his brother and a friends when the boy was struck in the back of the head.
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