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Dakota Dunes teed up for 2011

Dakota Dunes appeals to wide audience
Golf is a recreation activity with widespread appeal. Participation in Canada is among the highest in the world, and Saskatchewan leads the country with almost 30% of the population playing golf. "Golfers here are diverse, and play with a wide range of skill and frequency," says McLaren Taylor, General Manager at Dakota Dunes Golf Links. "Our facility appeals to a wide audience, and welcomes players of all levels of the game."

No doubt, the layout and reputation of Dakota Dunes Golf Links has something to do with its widespread appeal. The course was ranked #45 in Canada, and the Top Public Course in Saskatchewan/Manitoba, according to SCOREGolf magazine's most recent rankings. Dakota Dunes Golf Links is owned and operated by three First Nation Bands, including the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, and majority partner Whitecap Dakota First Nation.

"We're a First Nation business, operating on a reserve known for progressive economic development." The largest of SIGA's six casinos, the Dakota Dunes Casino operates right next door. "There is an assumption in the market that we operate under the same ownership, but we are separate businesses sharing the same name."

Cross-promotion is part of a good-standing relationship, where golfers and casino patrons have the opportunity to take advantage of each through special promotions. Future development on lands between the two properties includes a resort hotel on land adjacent to the golf course and casino.

Something for everyone
Memberships and green fees have always been the most common way to pay for golf services. But increased participation has led to new ways of packaging the game. Most public courses offer some kind of multi-game pack or pass-based membership that promotes value, and the opportunity to share or give away unused rounds. "Here at Dakota Dunes we call them corporate passes, but really, anyone can take advantage of the pricing. And many of our clients purchase the same type of pass at other courses to take advantage of the savings, and variety in the market."

Dakota Dunes Golf Links also offers a Players Club loyalty program, six-game packs, and new 30-day memberships. "We're definitely charting new territory with our 30-day memberships. It's a product that we think fits our business, and we know that there are golfers who might want 30 days of unlimited play on holidays, or before and after summer vacations at the lake."

Advanced GPS Technology
Also new at Dakota Dunes Golf Links this summer will be an improved GPS system on every golf cart. The upgrade includes new technology and complete cart management. Golfers will enjoy using a large touch-screen with detailed images, precise yardages, and 3D animation. For the course, there is the ability to track rounds, pace of play, and monitor the use of every cart. "Pace of play is something we worked to improve on last season, and the new GPS system will provide even better tracking."

Longer tee-time intervals were introduced last year, and GPS tracking will take it one step further. "Every group will know their own pace, and course staff be able to see it all with real-time technology." Cart management features will also provide protection of sensitive traffic areas and improve course conditions.

This year watch for Matt Hill, one of Canada's top PGA Tour hopefuls. Matt rose to the top of the world amateur rankings with eight college titles in 2009 including the NCAAA Championship. Great opportunities exist to get involved with this event as a volunteer, caddie, or sponsor.

The management and staff at Dakota Dunes Golf Links look forward to a great year of golf in 2011. For further information on rate packages, services, and upcoming events visit www.dakotadunes.ca, look up on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

The achievements by the individuals and organizations listed above identify a small portion of the CPGA of Saskatchewan membership. SaskGolfer.com would like to congratulate the entire CPGA for another successful golf season and contributions they have made to the game of golf in 2010.

Q & A with executive director

A few months ago the Saskatchewan Golf Association announced the appointment of Brian Lee as the new Executive Director. Brian has been with the Saskatchewan Golf Association since March of 2003 as the manager of tournaments and player services. He possesses a wealth of knowledge on the rules of the game and amateur golf in general. His leadership skills and determination to put golf on the map in Saskatchewan boasts well for the association in establishing programs, services and building relationships with people in and outside the golf community.

What unique skill do you bring to the position?
A passion for the game of golf and determination to continually improve year after year.

What do you see as the main thrust of the SGA this year?
Main thrust of the SGA in 2011 will be to entice more people to take up the game and start to play recreationally or join a golf club. The initiative should lead to an increase in membership. The other main thrust would be for people to challenge themselves by playing tournaments. Even if they are fun local events. We would also encourage golfers to see how they stack up against the rest of the province and compete at one of our Provincial Championships.

Are there any major rule changes coming up that will have an impact on amateurs?
There are no changes to the Rules of Golf for 2011. There may be rule changes in 2012 and some modifications on the decisions on the Rules of Golf but these do not take effect until Jan. 1, 2012.

What are the several major trends you see in provincial golf in the near future?
Less people playing rounds of 18 and more 9 hole games. More events focusing on a team aspect as well as fun/charity events. There are some parts of the country where courses are struggling for new members.

How healthy would you describe the game here in Saskatchewan?
Golf in Saskatchewan has remained fairly constant for the past 3-5 years. We are expecting the numbers to rise in 2011 and beyond with new people moving to the province. The great thing about Saskatchewan is there are a number of great golf courses without waiting lists.

And how's your golf game?
My golf game is OK. I played a few more rounds in 2010 than I did in 2009. I know with some dedication to practice and a visit to my local CPGA Professional I will be able to get my game back on track in 2011. Target is a 5.0 handicap or less by October 31, 2011.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Say a prayer to the Big Guy Upstairs and to Mother Nature for a golfer friendly year in 2011, as 2010 was too wet for even ducks and mosquitoes. For more information on the golf scene in Saskatchewan, Provincial Championship information, Order of Merit Tours, and any of our other programs and services, visit www.saskgolf.ca. Saskatchewan Golf Association Annual General Meeting is in Regina, April 16. If you are interested in volunteering for the SGA Board of Directors, as a Rules Official, Tournament Volunteer, Course Rating, or one of our other committees please contact the office at (306) 975-0850.

Chambers scores big with junior players

Canadian PGA has announced the 2010 winners of its prestigious National Awards for exceptional and dedicated service as Canadian golf professionals. Each year, a National Selection committee evaluates nominations from more than 3,700 Canadian PGA Members coast-to-coast and recognizes winners in each of the five categories. The five winners will receive their award at the 2011 Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship in November.

Jeff Chambers, head professional at Elmwood Golf and Country Club in Swift Current is the recipient of the 2010 Canadian PGA Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year.

The desire to work with young people started in high school for Chambers and has continued over the last 15 years. Jeff has a passion for working with young golfers on all levels from his early days as the Saskatchewan Golf Association's Provincial Coach. He taught the CN Future Links program throughout the Province, and still runs the Maple Leaf Junior Tour in Saskatchewan.

In 2008, Chambers was hired as the Head Professional of The Elmwood Golf & Country Club, and he has made it his mission to grow the junior program into one of the largest in Canada. Chambers was awarded the Provincial Junior Promoter of the year in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. In addition to his duties as head professional, Chambers continues to coach the Maple Leaf Junior Teams at International events and the Saskatchewan Provincial Teams at National Championships.

That's sick shotmaking

The other day I turned on the tube and was privileged to witness a couple of snowboarding type people turn their bodies into torpedoes as they careened down an icy mountain with speeds fast enough to make non-drug users vomit. Interestingly, it wasn't the speed, nor the fact that their outer extremities were flailing around like Tarzan plummeting to his death after missing the next vine, that I found intriguing. No, it was their post-run "lingo" that brought tears to my eyes and caused my heart to flutter. And it made me think, perhaps we could use some of that "sick" talk in the world of golf.

Now I don't know about you, but I tend to think golf on TV can be dryer than a popcorn fart. Unless it's a major, where just the historical relevance is sufficiently captivating, the regular tour events just aren't "gruesome" enough for me. Ultimately, it's usually the announcers who drive me into switching the channel to old re-runs of Knight Rider. ("Go, Kitt, Go!")

Interestingly, broadcasters do have the power and the potential to keep my grimy little hands off the remote and focused on the boys with sticks and balls. My suggestion is that they tune in to what's going on in the world of snowboarding, skateboarding, and extreme sports - and take some notes. With a little creativity borrowed from the gen-x crowd, ho-hum golf phrases can be altered to keep fans on the edge of their seat, yelping in utter delight. For exampleÉ

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Boring Phrase #1 - "What a great shot from this rising star. That sure was an exciting play hitting overtop of that tree. Not very many players could have done that. He must be quite excited."

Could Be - "Dude, did you see that sick strike from circus boy? I just spewed on my lap! Love it. He went fakie and boned it right over that tree. Busted huge air! Mortals would have cratered on their face. He's got to be stoked!"

Boring Phrase #2 - "This is one of the toughest golf holes on the course. Unless golfers are aggressive, birdies will be very difficult to make."

Could Be - "This hole has caused many grommets to spit Chicklets. This is one jam session where yard sales are common. Stomping out birdies will be limited to huckers who don't mind poaching trails that are closed to most posers."

Boring Phrase #3 - "It looks like he's playing well at the moment. His swing looks very good."

Should Be - "Dude, he's ripping some phat air right now. No heel drags or speed checks in that swing. Nothing wack about his groove. He's tweaked and going yard."

Boring Phrase #4 - "That shot could prove disastrous. It looks like a bogey is inevitable."

Should Be - "That was lame. Looks like he's beat and bailing hard. Bogies and brain aches are looming large."

Boring Phrase #5 - "This is an excellent golf course. The gallery will be treated to some wonderful play. We should see some good golf from the players on both the outward and inward nines."

Should Be - "This track kicks. No boring lip tricks here. The fans are going to feast on some sick style. Frontside, backside, inverted - you name it, they'll be sticking, stomping, slamming, and packing hard."

As you can see, word usage can completely alter the dynamics of how information is conveyed. I tend to thing that the gen-x crowd knows something many of the old, crusty broadcasters haven't quite figured out. Now, I'm not saying that every announcer should carry a bong with them up into the booth and speak in unrecognizable tongues, however, a little literary flair wouldn't hurt. Now if you'll excuse me, the grommets I golf with are outside honking their horn - waiting to get schooled.

Andrew Penner is a longtime member of the Canadian PGA. Author of "One Flew Over the Caddyshack," He also writes for a number of magazines throughout Canada and the U.S. and has contributed to SaskGolfer.com forever.

Secrets of the game

Good rhythm - Good chipping, putting and pitching are all about good rhythm. You need a steady back and through flow for all of these shots to reach the proper distance and line. Find a pace using words like "back and through" or "one and two."

Hard sand - one of the most difficult shots is hitting a ball out of hard or compacted sand. For this shot use a pitching wedge so it won't bounce off the sand. Take the shot back shallow and skim the ball off the sand by taking a small slice of ground. Accelerate through and expect lots of backspin.

High shots - To hit your fairway woods long and high, do the opposite of what you think. Try having the clubhead go back low to the ground and stay low to the ground after impact.

SGA tourney schedule released

The Saskatchewan Golf Association (SGA) conducts the provincial championships for women's and men's amateur golf, at junior, adult and senior levels. It also conducts team trials in conjunction with these championships, to determine the four-member teams representing the province at national competitions.

SGI CANADA Junior Women's and Junior Men's Championships
Chinook Golf Course, Swift Current, July 5 to 8

Amateur Women's and Mid Amateur Men's Championships
Lloydminster Golf & Country Club, Lloydminster, July 12 to 15

Amateur Men's Championship
The Legends, Warman, July 19 to 22

Senior Women's & Senior Men's Championships
Elmwood Golf & Country Club, Swift Current, July 26 to 28

Women's Rosebowl Championship
Wynyard Golf Course, August 3 and 4

For more information contact Brian Lee, Executive Director, at the SGA office, (306) 975-0841.

Win $5,000 at the Master's

Once again the SGA will partner with the Rotary Club of Saskatoon to offer the 2011 Masters Golf Pool. 20% of the net proceeds will benefit Junior Golf Development in Saskatchewan. The entry form is available on our website and on the current issue of ON PAR E- Newsletter (Saskatchewan Golf Association). Test your golf prognostication skills and you could win $5,000 cash and the Green Jacket. www.saskgolf.ca

The laws of golf

LAW 1: No matter how bad your last shot was, the worst is yet to come. This law does not expire on the 18th hole, since it has the supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a summer and, eventually, a lifetime.

LAW 2: Your best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round ever. The probability of the latter increases with the number of people you tell about the former.

LAW 3: Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic. Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it is a known fact that the more expensive the golf ball, the greater its attraction to water.

LAW 4: Golf balls never bounce off of trees back into play. If one does, the tree is breaking a law of the universe and should be cut down.

LAW 5: No matter what causes a golfer to muff a shot, all his playing partners must solemnly chant "You looked up," or invoke the wrath of the universe.

LAW 6: The higher a golfer's handicap, the more qualified he deems himself as an instructor.

LAW 7: Every par-three hole in the world has a secret desire to humiliate golfers. The shorter the hole, the greater its desire.

LAW 8: Topping a 3-iron is the most painful torture known to man.

LAW 9: Palm trees eat golf balls.

LAW 10: Sand is alive. If it isn't, how do you explain the way it works against you?

LAW 11: Golf carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse.

LAW 12: A golfer hitting into your group will always be bigger than anyone in your group. Likewise, a group you accidentally hit into will consist of a football player, a professional wrestler, a convicted murderer and an IRS agent -- or some similar combination.

LAW 13: All 3-woods are demon-possessed.

LAW 14: Golf balls from the same "sleeve" tend to follow one another, particularly out of bounds or into the water (See Law three).

LAW 15: A severe slice is a thing of awesome power and beauty.

LAW 16: "Nice lag" can usually be translated to "lousy putt." Similarly, "tough break" can usually be translated "way to miss an easy one, sucker."

LAW 17: The person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you.

LAW 18: The last three holes of a round will automatically adjust your score to what it really should be.

LAW 19: Golf should be given up at least twice per month.

LAW 20: All vows taken on a golf course shall be valid only until the sunset.

Rules of Golf Tidbit

Tough way to start the season: Villegas and Harrington disqualified after viewer notifies officials . A golf fan who happened to be watching the opening round of the Tournament of Champions in Kapalua with a couple of friends in Daytona Beach, Florida made some noise when Camilo Villegas flicked away some loose pieces of grass as his ball was rolling down a slope back toward his divot on the 15th hole.

What resulted from this action was Villegas was disqualified for a rules violation. A golf fan and his friends thought Villegas had done something wrong, so they went to the USGA's website and found Rule 23-1: "When a ball is in motion, a loose impediment that might influence the movement of the ball must not be removed."

The golf fan contacted a golf blogger, who then sent an e-mail to the PGA Tour media official at Kapalua. By this time, the round was over, and Villegas had long signed his card, resulting in the disqualification.

So how can a disqualification be worse? Villegas was celebrating his 29th birthday. Happy Birthday!

Padraig Harrington was disqualified from the golf tournament that took place in Abu Dhabi after a golf fan called in saying that Harrington never replaced his ball correctly. After review Harrington was removing his coin when his ball ever so slightly moved two dimples forward and rolled one dimple back (he did not know, nor did his playing partners). The viewer said he could see it clearly on his high definition television.

After signing his card he went to his hotel, got up early was practicing on the driving range and was in contention to win the golf tournament when he was notified by officials that he had been disqualified for singing and incorrect scorecard because he did not account for his penalty strokes.

First Tee welcomes golfers

Believe it or not, it is possible to golf in Regina in the early spring months! Dozens of world-class golf courses and various formats of play, including the popular stroke play and Texas Scramble, will keep you entertained for months at the First Tee.

"It's a great spot for hooking up with friends, a 'date night,' a 'couples night,' a staff 'team building' event, a place to go for a night out, or to work on the game," says Jim Johnson, owner-operator of The First Tee. "Plus, you can enjoy playing a course that the PGA Tour golfs on (we have many). And at this time of year it's a great place to get the swing in the groove for the upcoming 'outdoor' season."

With 10 simulators, The First Tee is one of Canada's largest indoor golf centres. Various lies, angles, and wind are all taken into account as you make your way around the simulated golf course. The patented infrared tracking system, with its 688 independent sensors, is the industry standard for indoor golf.

The system sees the slightest variation in ball flight performance and accurately displays the exact flight of each shot in real time. Full Swing Golf simulators, in use ' at The First Tee, are known in the industry as some of the most user-friendly and quickest to use.

The beer cart's close by, the kitchen's not far away, and multiple widescreen TV's are all within view, says Johnson. Newcomers are welcome to golf for 15 minutes at no charge to see what it's all about. "We know you'll have fun, hey, it's hard not to have fun on a golf course, and there's 58 of them to choose from here!," he says.

There are some great specials at The First Tee, including some fantastic food and drink choices, as well as three draft beers on tap. As a community service fundraiser, the facility holds a half price promotion for sports teams, clubs and non-profit organizations during the fall and winter sessions. Some evenings are still available for fundraising during the month of April, but times are limited so call soon. Small groups can earn as much as $650 and large groups $3,000. And there's no mosquitoes! www.firsttee.ca

Amen Corner

"Golf has humbled, humiliated and just about licked all the great athletes I ever knew that tried it."
- Football coach Earl Red Blaik