Pay less for Green Fees with Tee-Off Golf Guide!

The Tee-Off Frequent Player Program is the most respected golf discount program in Canada. For $39.95, order the 2007 edition of Tee Off for B.C. OR Manitoba and Saskatchewan. If you're like the average golfer you'll pay for Tee-Off with just one or two uses and continue saving hundreds of dollars throughout the season. MORE>>

Around Saskatchewan Links

Sage View Golf Course at Riverhurst, formerly Riverbreaks Golf Course, is now operated by leasee managers Gerry and Sandy Rien...Jeff Gross is the new general manager at Saskatchewan Landing Golf resort near Swift Current...Dean Toles is the new pro and general manager at Mainprize Regional Park Golf Course replacing Al and Lorraine Clarke who will run the remainder of the park. The clubhouse has been revamped and a new pro shop added...Mike Hayes is the new general manager at Elk Ridge Golf Resort at Waskesiu...

2008 Tourney schedule

The Saskatchewan Golf Association has announced its 2008 tournament schedule:

• Saskatchewan Women’s and Men’s Mid Amateur, Melfort Golf and Country Club, July 8-11
• SGI Canada Saskatchewan Junior Women’s and Men’s, Lloydminster Golf and Country Club, July 15-18
• Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Championship, Royal Regina, July 22-25
• Saskatchewan Senior Women’s and Men’s, Hillcrest in Moose Jaw, July 29-31
• Saskatchewan Women’s Rosebowl, Katepwa Golf Club, Aug. 13-14
• Saskatchewan Mixed Team, Jackfish Golf Resort at Cochin, Aug. 23-24

Relief for arthritis

If you are old or young and suffer from arthritis, there is relief. Use graphite shafts to dampen the shock of impact. Use arthritic grips that are larger in diameter or special modified grips. Use cast instead of forged for your irons.

Is Tiger Woods sorry enough? He's apologized and we should let him be? It doesn't matter - he doesn't have anything to apologize for? No, I don't believe a word he says and neither should his family? View results

What's new in 2008

Another golf season in Saskatchewan has brought another number of major changes to golf courses around the province particularly in the Saskatoon and Regina districts. Although, the golf course boom that has characterised the last five years or so has finally ended.

Despite the changes, Saskatchewan will still have a couple of national records - more golf courses and more golfers per capita than anywhere.

In Saskatoon, Greenbryre Golf and Country Club has been sold to developer Mini-Mansion Homes but will continue to run as an 18-hole course in 2008 or even longer. The course is making major upgrades in 2008: the clubhouse is being renovated, the maintenance budget is increased, 60 new power carts have been purchased, beverage carts will be available on course, and a tournament station will be added.

In addition, the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club has sold 54.1 acres of land on the north side of the CNR Mainline to Remai Ventures Ltd. The existing Saskatoon Golf and Country Club (West Course) has closed permantly and the private 18-hole club will continue to operate.

At Elk Ridge Golf Resort in Waskesiu, a new 34-room hotel, conference centre for 250 and spa will open in June. As well, 10 villas will be finished and for sale in the Eagle View Village project.

At White City east of Regina, Aspen Links Golf and Country Club (formerly Emerald Park Golf and Country) plans to elinate 9 holes and develop a housing and commercial project.

Sage View Golf Course, formerly the nine-hole Riverbreaks Golf Course at Riverhurst and a favorite with the traveling golfer, has changed management and leasees to Gerry and Sandy Rien.

Work has begun on the The Legends Golf and Country Club, a new 18 hole course near Warman that will replace the existing nine hole track by 2009. Once complete this course will replace the nine-hole Warman golf course which will continue to operate in 2008.

In 2007, there were a number of expansions started or completed including Candle Lake Golf Resort (expansion to18 holes and new facilities), Lac Pelletier Golf Club (south of Swift Current went to nine holes grass greens), Hidden Meadows Golf Course (nine holes south of Melfort near Pleasantdale), and Rolling Pines Golf and Country Resort (opened nine holes near Tobin Lake)

All in all, it just keeps getting better and better for the Saskatchewan golfer. For a compete listing of courses with highlighted websites, visit www.saskgolfer.com/feacourses.php

Thomson Lake brothers hot

If you're wondering about the future of golf in Saskatchewa, look no further than than 14-year-old Patrick Sanchez Mitchell and his 16-year-old brother Bobby of Lafleche and Mazatlan, Mexico. While both boys were born in Mexico, they both have dual citizenship and live in Canada during the summer months were the plan out of the Thomson Lake Golf Course. MORE >>

The Perfect Drive debuts

"The Perfect Drive, a new TV series on Saskatchewan golf courses, premiered in March on SCN television. The series will feature 22 courses in Saskatchewan and Alberta and within each episode the host Brad Grass will play three or four holes with the club pro. MORE >>

Q-Ray fined up to $87 million

While many golfers in Canada and the United States swear by the Q-Ray bracelet, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says their claims about pain relief and its scientific tests are misleading and false. The federal district court in Chicago ruled in September 2006 for the Federal Trade Commission in its case against the marketers of the Q-Ray ionized bracelet. An appeal of the FTC vs. Q-Ray verdict was heard in U.S. court on Oct. 31, 2007 and is awaiting decision. MORE >>

455 discounts available!

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. www.saveongolf.ca

Spring 2008: Agronomy 101...Or What I learned While Riding A Mower

Aside from being one of the fancier words to pull out of the vocab vault, agronomy is something that I find only slightly interesting...sort of like the home economics class you took in high school just because there were lots of cute girls in it.

For all you herbivorously challenged out there, agronomy is the science of soil and plant management. It's especially relevant for golf superintendents 'cause their job is to make the grass grow.

During my two humbling stints working on maintenance crews I actually learned quite a few things about turf maintenance or, you guessed it, agronomy. But then, after mowing over a duck and taking a Titleist to the forebrain, it started to sink in that agronomy may not be my true calling.

But when I did show up for work (you gotta get up really freakin' early), I did learn a few things that were mildly intriguing.

For starters, besides being really good at growing grass, I ran into a few people who were also really good at smoking it.

This became evident the first time I needed to use the first aid kit at work (the duck was beyond repair, this was for something else) and noticed that somebody on the crew figured the medicinal herb might be an essential component of the survival kit.

Also, some on the maintenance crew may not necessarily be the type of guy that you want your daughter to date. I remember this one co-worker who, from his incessant mating calls, must have been ready to "co-habit" with every living organism within our chain link confines. If an attractive lady did happen to saunter by, it was the garden hose scene from Caddy Shack all over again.

Another very important thing I learned about agronomy is that grass plants can fairly easily get stressed and die, thus making your golf course look like a dust bowl. Things like compaction, severe heat, ice, and an assortment of deadly diseases are not, for the most part, very good for the actual grass plants.

Ask any superintendent how the board of directors reacts when the poa (that's a type of Kentucky Bluegrass, thanks, Rob, for teaching me that) gets wilted, brown, and purpley looking. I guarantee you, those particular meetings aren't much fun for the Super. (FYI: cool people say "Super" when they really mean "superintendent.")

Indeed, the one thing I learned for certain is that many people sitting on various golf course ownership or governing boards can slightly over react when a few blades of grass are out of position on the course.

If the grass does go completely dead (damnit, Rob, I honestly didn't think it would matter if I added a bit more nitro than usual), they'll often ask the superintendent what he would like for his last meal. In extreme cases, the entire crew gets lined up in front of the firing squad...or is that the "fired" squad?

To finish, I should probably go over a couple of the more technical agronomic procedures that take place on a golf course. Up till now I have tried to keep this simple so those of you who sit on the greens committee can follow along. But now you'll need to play closer attention, 'cause it's going to get complicated and quite scientific like.

Watering... Grass needs water to survive. And quite a bit of it, too. But in order to really thrive, grass requires water with a certain pH level. What's "pH" you ask? That's the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the water. Ya, I bet I know what you're thinking, what do batteries have to do with all of this, right? Well, that's an interesting point and I'm really not entirely sure about it. The beauty of this is that you don't either, Just mention pH during committee meetings and, guaranteed, the other "experts" will eye you with greater respect.

The other procedure that get a lot of attention is aeration. This is when the Super, or perhaps his sidekick, the "Assistant Super" (think Dwight Shrute, the guy with the glasses from The Office) uses an extremely large and noisy machine to punch huge holes of immense destruction into perfectly good putting greens.

The theory is that it will thwart the effects of unnecessary thatch and provide the root system with the oxygen so plants can remain healthy and strong. My theory is that it's done as an entertaining way for superintendents to get back at owners and board members and remind them who's really in charge.

Andrew Penner is a Calgary based CPGA Professional & author. He has written for Inside Golf for the past seven years.

Tour revives historic Saskatchewan Open

Canadian Tour commissioner Richard Janes announced that the Canadian Professional Golf Tour is reviving the Saskatchewan Open beginning in 2008 after an absence of almost 24 years.

The Saskatchewan Open, first played in 1919, was a mainstay on the Canadian Tour schedule up until 1984 and has played host to some of Canada's finest touring professionals.

The list of Saskatchewan Open winners is a who's who in Canadian golf. 1954 Canadian Open champion Pat Fletcher, a member of Canada's Golf Hall of Fame, captured the title in 1947, 1948 and 1951.

The legendary Stan Leonard, also a member of Canada's Golf Hall of Fame and a winner of three PGA TOUR events, won the title in 1950 and 1955 and the legendary Moe Norman tasted victory in 1960 and 1968.

Bob Panasiuk, the youngest player to ever make a PGA TOUR cut, took home the trophy in 1974 while Jerry Anderson earned back-to-back titles in 1979 and 1980.

Dan Halldorson, currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Canadian Tour, won his second consecutive Canadian Tour event at the 1977 Saskatchewan Open. Halldorson defeated Gar Hamilton in a playoff just one week after capturing the Manitoba Open. Mr. Halldorson is a member of both the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

The 2008 Saskatchewan Open will be held at the beautiful Dakota Dunes Golf Links in Saskatoon, Sask., from June 30 to July 6 with a purse of $150,000. Dakota Dunes was named Best New Canadian Golf Course by Golf Digest in 2005 and has already become a popular golf destination.

"As a presenting sponsor, we are proud to be able to bring this prestigious event to Saskatchewan," said Zane Hansen, President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.

"By bringing this event to Saskatchewan, the Dakota Dunes Casino accomplishes two important goals. It increases the profile of this region as a world class tourism destination including the golf course and casino, while demonstrating our commitment of enhancing corporate relations."

Dignitaries on hand for the historic announcement were Daniel Rauckman, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Golf Association; His Worship, the Mayor of Saskatoon Don Atchison; Chief Darcy Bear; and Master of Ceremonies Hugh Vasso who was delighted with the announcement.

"Saskatoon will do an outstanding job hosting the Canadian Tour. As the Executive Chair of the Host Committee, our mission will be to provide our exceptional brand of hospitality to the players and to make this event a most memorable experience for everyone involved."

The Canadian Tour is a non-profit association and a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. In 2008, The Canadian Tour will operate a schedule of 16 events in the United States, Mexico and every major Canadian market with Golf Channel coverage broadcast to a worldwide audience of 95 million households.

With more than 200 members worldwide, the Canadian Tour represents many of the top PGA TOUR prospects from more than a dozen countries. Alumni including Mike Weir, Steve Stricker, and Stuart Appleby have won 55 times on the PGA TOUR and more than $250 million in prize money.

The Saskatchewan Skinny

By Bob Hughes
As have many, I have golfed at a countless number of courses the world over. More so, I have golfed from one end of Saskatchewan to another. And it is so true that on a per capita basis, Saskatchewan must surely be in top grouping of any place in Canada for the number of golf courses it has. No matter which direction you head in, you will run into some kind of a golf course in this province. Because there are so many of them, you get to make comparisons.

If there is any one thing that has bothered me for years now then it has to be the huge difference in the quality of sand traps you will find from one golf course to another.

Now, understand something right off the bat. I am perhaps the world's worst sand trap player who has ever worn a pair of golf shoes on a golf course. I didn't used to be. There was a time I could get out of sand traps with a certain degree of success. No more. And, I have no idea when I lost it, or how I lost it. But when I go into a sand trap now, the guys I'm playing with start running to get into a position where I can't possibly hit them. They have no idea where the ball is going to go. And, usually, neither do I. If I'm playing with somebody new, I usually suggest they stand behind me when I go into a trap.

Having said all of that, this is my complaint about sand traps on too many Saskatchewan courses. Too many of them are useless, and I don't mean where they're located. I mean, they are not properly maintained, and instead of hitting out of sand, you end up trying to hit your ball out of what seems like am load of gravel that you can't possibly get your club through without feeling pain in your wrists.

If the people who run golf courses can't maintain their sand traps, what's the point of having them. The majority of people who golf are not good sand trap players. So, they don't need their problem compounded by lousy sand traps. On most courses that have this problem, the sand traps are there for one of two reasons, or perhaps even both. Golf courses are supposed to have sand traps. Or, some golf course designer put them on his plans. And nobody ever bothered to question them.

The problem is, golf courses with these eyesore sandtraps simply don't have the greenskeeping staff, the equipment or the people to maintain them and keep them in good shape. When you consider everything else that goes into running a golf course - from taking care of the greens and fairways - it's not hard to see why sand traps get ignored and left off the daily "must do" list. The result is, the sand settles and is packed down. Weeds start growing through it. And you'd be better off to go into the trap with a wood than take along a sand wedge.

There are only two solutions. One is to hire more staff and bring in more sand, which is a costly and time-consuming and out of the reach of most country courses. The solution that would work is to get rid of all the sand traps. Plant grass where the sand was, let it grow to a few inches in height. Presto! No more sand traps.Just grass bunkers. And a heck of lot less maintenance work is required.

There are golf courses in this province that do not have sand bunkers, only grass bunkers. The one that comes to mind right off the top is the beautiful Madge Lake golf course at Duck Mountain. It is one of the nicest courses you can play in this province, and the grass bunkers don't take away from the experience.

Sand bunkers are fine, if they are cared for. But, if that's not possible, then grass bunkers are the only alternative. There is no halfway deal here. Either they're good sand bunkers, or they're not. If they're not, get rid of them. Y'er welcome.

The best of the best

The Best New Canadian golf courses are the Muskoka Bay Club in Gravenhurst, Ont., Coppinwood in Goodwood, Ont. and Humber Valley Resort in Humber Valley, Nfld., according to Golf Digest. Check them out at www.muskakobay.com www.coppinwood.com and www.humbervalley.com. Last year, Dakota Dunes near Saskatoon was chosen as the Best New Canadian Course.

We prefer golf

The PGA raises more money in one year for charity that the NFL does in two. You can watch the best golfers in the world at any tournament, all day, for $25-$30. Even in the nosebleed section, a ticket to the Superbowl will cost up to $1,000 from a scalper. In golf you cannot fail 70 per cent of the time and make $9 million a season, like the best baseball players do with a batting average of .300.

Spare cash?

If you've struck it rich in the oil patch or stock market take marking your ball to another level. Instead of a penny, consider a diamond encrusted ball marker from TriMark Executive for the princely sum of $10,500. www.trimarkgolf.com

Better still, commission your own Jack Nicklaus golf course like billionaire Craig McCaw. The telecommunications whiz is selling his 780-acre refuge in Central Saanich on Vancouver Island, complete with an 18-hole Nicklaus course, for a cool $50 million. No problem getting a tee time for two. If Nicklaus is too pricey for your pocketbook, contact www.myprivategolf.com

Amen Corner

"I'm playing golf to have fun, not to be serious and stern-faced."

-Stephen Ames when asked about his relaxed manner on the PGA Tour.

WIN a 2008 Golf Privilege Club Membership Book!

Discounts at 455 plus courses in Saskatchewan, plus British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Washington can be found in the 2008 Golf Privilege Club membership Book sonsored by the Lung Associaitons. Win one of 2 books valued at $39.95 by telling us how many provinces and states there are with discounts. Send your answer to Stan@SaskGolfer.com by end April. Good Luck!