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Last chance to win free golf vacation and golf clubs!
The perfect golf vacation is waiting for you in Canada's friendliest province, the Land of Living Skies. Your prize package includes a two-night stay at the Sandman Regina, rounds for two at the Tor Hill, Murray and Deer Valley. Plus, win a new set of Nicklaus clubs and a golf bag. MORE >>
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A tip of the hat
Al Balding, one of Canada 's greatest golfers, passed away in Miississauga at age 82 on July 30. After taking up golf in his twenties, Balding went on to win four PGA Tour championships and the CPGA championship on four occasions. He was elected into Canada 's Sports Hall of Fame in 1968 and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1985. His last victory was in 2000, where he was successful at winning the Canadian PGA Seniors' Championship, the oldest individual to do so at the age of 76. MORE >>
Lung Association discounts
There may be no better way to save money on green fees and at the same time contribute to a reputable charity. Lung Associations in Western Canada have announced they will be joining forces to offer a 2007 discount book this fall for B.C, Alberta , Saskatchewan and Manitoba . It's expected there will be green fees savings at more than 400 courses including a few in Washington state.
Different strokes
A Canadian goes on his first trip to Scotland . On the first tee at the Old Course, he slices is tee shot out-of-bounds. As he re-tees, he turns to his caddie and says, “What do you call a mulligan in Scotland ?” The caddies replies, “We call it hitting 3.”
The Golfinggods featured
If you're a fan of the PGA Tour, or any of the other tours, check out Bunkershots. The section features weekly – new info posted by Tuesday every week – commentary about who's hot and who's not. Check it out at http://saskgolfer.com/phpBB2
Northern Meadows reinvented
The last bit of grass seed is being planted at Northern Meadows Golf Club, Saskatchewan 's newest upscale facility located just outside the Meadow lake Provincial Park and the town of Goodsoil . In recent years, the course has expanded to a four-season resort destination with a cottage area and full-length 18-hole layout
MORE>>
Amen Corner
“The hardest part was getting in and out of the car and buckling and unbuckling the seatbelt 90 times.”
- Don “Snowshoe” Thompson, after hitting a ball at 44 courses in one 12-hour stretch
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Long Creek under
new management
When it comes to a country club atmosphere at a public course, it's hard to top the Long Creek Golf and Country Club at Avonlea. And when it comes to challenging golf at a good price in Saskatchewan , this lovely 18-hole course is hard to beat especially in the autumn.
Located four kilometres east of Avonlea about 40 minutes south of Regina , Long Creek has been extremely popular since it opened in the 1980s. In recent years - with the addition of a modern 11,000-square-foot clubhouse in 1997 - it has become a destination course for golfers in Southern Saskatchewan and neighbouring provinces.
"There's probably a 100 things we emphasize," said manager Scott Partridge.. "The course is challenging. It's tucked away in a beautiful valley with old stand elm and ash trees with a creek winding around the course. It's a relaxed natural setting. Above all, the green fee value is excellent.”
At 6,542 yards from the tips, Long Creek may seem like a walk in the park but it isn't. Greens tend to be medium sized and medium challenging. The course features numerous tight fairways and creek ravines that must be crossed to reach the greens. So, the patient shotmaker who can judge the yardages and hit an accurate shot will score well.
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This year a new pricing structure sees fees at $20 (Mondays), $50 (Friday, Saturday), $45 (Sunday), $20 (Juniors). All fees INCLUDE a power cart except the junior rate.
Long Creek hosts upwards of 100 tournaments every year, many of them charity events. Golfers enjoy a fun day by getting out of the city to play a challenging course in natural setting, said Partridge.
Then there's the 19 th hole. The 2 ½-story clubhouse – one of the best clubhouses around - sits 150 people for banquets and other occasions like weddings. The full-service facility includes a restaurant, pro shop and a large wrap-a-round deck where golfers can enjoy the views, a barbecued steak and "a cool one."
Check out the new rates and hole-by-hole views of Long Creek on www.long-creek.com Tee off reservations at 868-4432.
MORE GOLF COURSE REVIEWS >>
Win a pass to Long Creek!
Win One of 3 Free Golf Passes: Win a free round at Long Creek Golf and Country Club near Avonlea by surfing their website www.long-creek.com and answering this question: "How old are the ash and maple trees?" (Hint: Read the homepage.)
Answer to LongCreek@saskgolfer.com by the end of September. Good luck!
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Around Saskatchewan links
Graham DeLaet of Weyburn is the first alternate for Canada's team at the world amateur championship in South Africa Oct. 18-21….Score Golf Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada lists one golf track from the province, the private Riverside Golf Club in Saskatoon ranked 73 rd . A new addition this year is Dakota Dunes Golf Links near Saskatoon which was chosen as the second best new course (2004 and 2005 openings were eligible for this category). It was designed by Graham Cook and Wayne Carleton and it opened in 2004…Whitecap First Nation has received a $2.1 million infrastructure federal grant to support its economic development plans. The reserve south of Saskatoon is in the planning and construction stage of several tourism-related commercial ventures including a new casino, a hotel and spa, an RV park and campground, a skating arena, retail, resort residences and expansion of its Dakota Dunes Golf Links. The expansion of the golf course and clubhouse is expected in 2009….
“Boggie” gunning for eagles
When Dales Bogden, known as “Boggie” to his golfing buddies, isn't mining underground at Mosiac 2K Potash Mine he's shooting aces at the Esterhazy Golf and Country Club.
On the 120-yard sixth hole, the 10-handicapper Bogden has lucked into three hole-in-one's in recent years. A pitching wedge was used to reach a downhill, slightly elevated green to score aces on July 3 and Sept. 4, 2004, and July 2, 2005. In each case, he followed the golf tradition of buying his playing partners a drink after the round.
Bogden isn't sure why he hasn't had one this summer after being on such a roll. “I have not idea why I get hole-in-one's, He says. “But it definitely builds your confidence in that hole and in your game.”
40 Shot Challenge
By Jeff Chambers, SGA Provincial Coach
This is a training challenge to anyone that wants to learn where there are certain weaknesses in their game. You will have to come with certain shots that will show you directly what you are actually strong at and some weak parts that need to be worked on. Please go through each shot using your physical and mental pre-shot routine. You are going to rate yourself from 1 to 5 for each shot. Be honest and consistent in your judgment of each shot so that you can compare your results to a later date. 1 being really bad to 5 being exactly what you wanted.
Start by warming up and stretching your golfing muscles so that you are physically prepared to hit all the shots desired.
1. Hit 6 shots with each of the following clubs using targets on the range and rate yourself after each shot.
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7 Iron |
4 Iron |
Fairway Wood |
Driver |
| High and Straight |
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| Low and Straight |
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| Draw (5-10 yards) |
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| Fade (5-10 yards) |
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| Hook (over 10 yards) |
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| Slice (over 10 yards) |
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2. Hit an 8 iron straight and watch where it lands. Then hit a 7iron, 6iron, 5iron,4 iron, fairway wood and try to land them all in the same area.
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4 Iron |
Fairway Wood |
Driver |
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3. Turn an eight or seven iron over and hit five shots left handed to a target.
4. Take a lofted wedge and hit a normal approach shot to a 40, 60, 80 yard target and try to hit the target and then judge yourself on where the shot lands and how it was hit.
Score
Total up all boxes and see your score. Work on the areas that you scored poorly on and continue to work on your strengths to perfect them. If you need help, see your local CPGA Professional to get the help you need to perform shots.
As we age, our priorities change.
The other day I came home and was greeted by my wife, dressed only in very sexy underwear and holding a couple of short velvet ropes.
"Tie me up," she purred, "And you can do anything you want!"
So, I tied her up and went golfing.
Sweet Stay-n-Play packages
The leaves are turning colour and fall is the best time to golf for many of us. The annual list of stay and play packages can be viewed on SaskGolfer.com on Hole #10. More deals will be posted during the coming weeks, so check back again.This year's special deals include packages at Spiritwood, Harbor, Elk Ridge, Evergreen, La Verendrye, Weyburn, the hawood at Waskesiu, Deer Valley, Golf Kenosee and White Bear - check it out at www.saskgolfer.com/travel.php
Bunkershots back at it
The forum Bunkershots is back on the air with several chat room for viewers. It's a chance for you to discuss the latest equipment, pro tips and the latest info on the PGA Tour from the popular Golfinggods. Enjoy!
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The Redneck Golf Tour
Not surprisingly, The Redneck Golf Tour didn't have an illustrious beginning, middle or end. In fact, most people agreed that it was, for the most part, completely pathetic. Oh sure, it grew big enough to attract some sponsorship money from a few small businesses that specialized in making and/or selling things like potato guns, beef jerky, and chewing tobacco . But, The Redneck Tour was neither highly publicized nor highly praiseworthy. .
Some banjo-lovin', hillbilly dropout named Jed started the tour. It started after an especially rowdy night filled with homebrew , bar room brawling, and tractor-trailer racing. You see, Jed was the proud owner of a three-wheel powercart (stolen), which he souped-up and used to drive his fellow rednecks to and from the tractor races, the swimming hole, the greased-pig competitions, etc. Realizing that he and his clan had suitable golf transportation and possessed an amazing ability to smack things (baseballs, snooker balls, fish, kids, etc.), Jed and his inbred buddies came to the conclusion that starting a golf tour would be the next best thing to stealing barbecues. Also, because Jed and his hillbilly sidekicks had spent the majority of their hard-earned incomes (derived mainly from branding cattle, poaching cattle, and bootlegging) on purchasing “stuff” from the local hardware store, Jed figured he shouldn't have any trouble lining up a sponsor. And sure as his pappa met his momma at a family reunion, Jed got himself a sponsor and the tour was born.
As the tour events grew and as more and more rednecks came out of the hills to play in the rowdy, uncivilized events, Jed began to encounter some problems. Interestingly, and much to Jed's surprise, increasing the quantity of moonshine that was put in the water coolers didn't cause the problems to dissipate much either. Unfortunately, the problems grew steadily and before long the tour was forced to retreat back into the hills. These were the “major” problems which doomed the tour…
Major Problem #1 – While Jed's three-wheel powercart wasn't really an issue (especially after the local authorities confiscated it), it was the “other” modes of transportation that really concerned golf course owners. A number of competitors showed up and insisted on playing with their riding lawn mowers, homemade buggies, and John Deere tractors. After one competitor's hydraulics failed and he accidentally plowed up a green, many of the local fans were turned off and switched back to mud-wrestling and wet t-shirt contests as their main sources of entertainment .
Major Problem #2 – One particular tour venue, which later released a statement expressing their distaste for the tour and their resolve to never allow it again, made the ludicrous assumption that the competitors would actually adhere to their dress code policy. While it did stop some competitors from showing up in their dirty overalls or denim cut-offs, white muscle shirts were seen everywhere. To top it off, every one of the competitors who actually wore a proper golf shirt had their big, hairy, beer-drinkin' bellies entirely exposed as their clothes were obviously purchased (or stolen from their neighbor's clothes line) before they had each consumed thirty-five million cans of Bud.
Major Problem #3 – Jed and his staff were put in the embarrassing situation of canceling a number of events due to multiple no-shows and at one event, after a police siren went off nearby, numerous DNFs. Apparently, the siren had sent most of the competitors scurrying into the woods in fear of being caught by, as they termed them, ‘the pigs.' Most of the players never returned to the course to finish their rounds.
Major Problem #4 – Poor sportsmanship was a rampant concern. Heckling, belching in the middle of someone's backswing, spitting chewing tobacco on fellow competitor's putting lines, urinating on the greens, cussing, and basic belligerence was just the start of it. Things got real bad when a number of the competitors from “Bubba's Clan” (a particularly uncouth and evil group of backwoods ball bashers) brought loaded rifles with them onto the course.
As luck would have it, all hell broke loose during dinner at the tour's last event. After Jed made a few attempts at low-brow humor to try to subdue the jittery and extremely drunk crowd, one of the clans (who had earlier been seen drinking paint thinner in the parking lot) started a massive brawl, which ended up involving, well, everyone. After every single chair and table had been smashed, order was finally restored when someone fell through the floor and discovered the wine cellar. After everything was said and done, a local reporter captured the thoughts of the entire civilized world when he stated, “This tour is something that should never have happened.”
Golfer brought back to life three times
Dorian Hassard will soon be back shooting pars again thanks to the quick action of three Moose Jaw golfers who administered CPR after he suffered a heart attack.
“It was traumatic and dramatic,” says Hassard, a 59-year-old Regina resident who was golfing in a corporate tournament at Hillcrest Sports Centre on July 20.
“I need to pinch myself that it actually happened. There was no warning or indication that it was about to happen. I have no recollection of the attack. I was fortunate. I'm thankful to Hillcrest and the fellows who helped me.”
Hassard was playing in a shotgun tournament on No. 2 – after shooting three pars in succession on 16, 17 and 18, and narrowly missing another on the first hole – when he duffed a drive on the second hole. Brian Martynook, the executive director of the Moose Jaw Chamber of Commerce, noticed that he slumped over when they headed up the fairway.
“His eyes rolled back in his head and I yelled to the other guys to help,” says Martynook. He started giving CPR while Chuck Cole blew air into his lungs after every 15 compressions. Meanwhile, Greg Reidy called 9-1-1 for an ambulance.
Hassard lost consciousness on three occasions prior to the EMT staff arriving by golf cart about 20 minutes later, says Martynook.
After surviving his second heart attack, Hassard now has a defribilator implant in his chest with an electric lead into his heart. Once the massive bruise heals on his chest, he vows to be back golfing at the end of September.
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