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Holiday fit to a tee at
Candle Lake Resort

If you love golf, there's nothing better than a getaway dedicated to your favourite past-time. So throw your clubs in the trunk and grab your buddies and head for Candle Lake Golf Resort, one of the most popular all-season resorts in western Canada.

The Resort Village of Candle Lake and this one-stop recreational destination is about 50 minutes north-east of Prince Albert. The nearby provincial park has over 7,784 hectares of recreational park and is open year round.

There's so much to do here -- if you love the outdoors, or just feel the need to get away, you've come to the right place. Winter activities include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and icefishing to top it off. Summer activities include swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking and quadding, and especially - golfing.

"Candle Lake Golf Resort is challenging for all golfers - those playing at a competitive level, as well as golfers who play once or twice a year," says James Michayluk, director of marketing and sales.

"Located alongside the lake and right in the forest, the scenery is unbelievable." The course's final three holes are particularly picturesque, as well as challenging, he adds.

"They all follow the lake back to the clubhouse. You can see the lake at at any point on those three holes. Sixteen is a short, challenging par four, a risk reward hole. The 17th is a par 3, the green is beside the lake. Eighteen is a long par 5. The last three holes are definitely signature holes, says Michayluk.

The original track has been expanded to a par 72 course and 6,725-yards, making it a full-length with a slope estimated at 125 to 130. Don't be surprised if you spot moose, elk, coyotes, deer, fox, and a variety of feathered friends.

The course offers two distinct playing experiences: The original front nine was improved by eliminating doglegs, widening fairways and clearing the underbrush. The back nine features larger landing areas off the tee boxes and extra large, rolling bent grass greens. Golfers will need to negotiate 26 sandtraps and an inland lake that comes into play on two holes.

At 9,900-square-feet, the clubhouse, pro shop, lounge, and restaurant offers one of the nicest view of any course in Western Canada. A deck on the second floor gives an unparalleled 180-degree view of the forest surroundings and the beautiful Candle Lake.

Curious as to why it's named Candle Lake? Legend has it that the name came from First Nations people who believed that the lake was haunted. The story is that there was an unease, which arose from "the strange, glowing lights that appeared on the water at the northern end of the lake". Apparently, this is where several Indian graves are situated. Legend has it that Indian people visited this area during hunting expeditions, but never settled here because they believed the "candles" on the lake were a bad omen. On occasion, the unusual lights continue to be sighted. Scientific speculation suggests the "candles" are a gas emitted from decaying driftwood, creating a phosphorescent glow.

Along with these lights, Candle Lake is also a spectacular place to sit back and watch the magic of Saskatchewan's northern lights. The scientific term is aurora borealis, which came from a French scientist named Pierre Gassendi. The word aurora was named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora. The word borealis came from the Roman god of the north wind.

Since the resort was established in 2005, a convention centre opened to attract conferences, family reunions, weddings, retreats and meetings. With it's 300-person capacity it has special appeal for corporate events. Last year a snack shack opened beside the convention centre for the convenience of golfers.

During the last several years several housing developments have been sold out - only two units remain. But plans are being developed for an additional 100 building units.

"All-in-all you're getting beautiful scenery and fantastic golf in a fun, laid-back Saskatchewan atmosphere," says Michayluk. It's also the only course in the province where you can golf and then hop in a boat and go fishing.

The facility has 180 marina slips at its front door. Candle Lake itself is as deep as 60 feet and boasts some trophy Northern pike, walleye and trout. There are 16 cabins and 20 townhouses, all fully equipped,for rental on site. There are 155 spots in a full-service RV park. Book today at (306) 929-2211 or visit www.candlelakegolfresort.com

A walk on the wild side

By Andrew Penner

Sometimes traditional golf is boring. Everyone's well aware of the procedure. Grab a ball, peg it up, lash at it, find it, lash at it again, say a bad word, put it in the hole, pencil down your nine, blow a blood vein on the way to the next tee and then do it 17 more times.

Nothing much deviates from this pattern. Of course, it's still kind of fun, but it's lacking something. It's like barbecuing without barbecue sauce, fishing without a cigar, or sitting on the pot without something to read. Enter some creative deviations from traditional golf that will get you screaming in utter joy (or screaming in unrelenting pain) at how much fun the game can be.

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A little warning before we begin: The games I'm about to enlighten you with can be dangerous to the point of being deadly. I assume no responsibility if hardship befalls you as you willingly participate in the forms of play described below. This, as they say, is "golf at your own risk."

Also, many golf courses will, without hesitation, issue a lifetime ban on your playing privileges if you attempt to play these games on their property. It's always best to get written permission before you do anything. Or, at the very least, know how to run really, really fast.

Fun Game No. 1 -- Powercart Polo

Prince Charles, eat your heart out. There is nothing "Royal" about this game -- just lots of hootin', screamin' and a dang-blasted good time.

The Rules: Competitors must play the entire round of golf while seated in their power cart. All shots must be taken with the buttocks touching vinyl -- including tee-shots, playing from hazards, and putting.

The Drawbacks: High-profile golf courses generally don't take a liking to skid marks on their greens.

Suggestions: Buy your own course and start a league. Sand greens are less expensive and easier to maintain when faced with high volumes of powercart traffic on the putting surfaces.

Fun Game No. 2 -- Mennonite Mayhem

Grab your black hat, suit, and suspenders. Now run to the barn and fetch your shovel, hoe, and sickle. It's time to play golf -- Menno style!

The Rules: No golf clubs permitted. Only farming tools can be used. Nothing motorized and penalties for war-like behavior.

The Drawbacks: Inevitably somebody starts dancing after a making a good shot, which thereby constitutes disqualification of the contestant (dancing, of course, is not only sinful, but vehemently prohibited in this form of play).

Suggestions: Call the whole thing off and head to the farmhouse for perogies, pork fat and a few shots of dandelion wine.

Fun Game No. 3 -- The Hell'n Killer Scramble

This one turns the traditional "Texas Scramble" from a paddlewheel cruise on the Mississippi into a perilous, white-knuckled, free-fall over the Niagara Falls with a paddle boat.

The Rules: Players are blindfolded as partners bark out aiming instructions. One ball per team. Partners alternate being blindfolded at the start of every hole, and after that it's a flat out race to complete 18 holes the fastest. Needless to say, there is no "honor" system. Just "ready, set, go!"

The Drawbacks: This game has been known to be a catalyst for altercations with other foursomes on the course.

Suggestions: While it is unlikely anyone will escape uninjured, the chances of serious injury or death can be reduced by wearing R&A approved helmets.

Whether you're a golf traditionalist or tattooed hippie willing to dabble in various forms of play, the game of golf is supposed to be fun. Get out there and make it enjoyable!

Now all you need is a good insurance plan loaded with liability and personal injury protection. I keep a copy of my policy in my golf bag (conveniently stored in the same side pocket as my blindfold and detachable rubber grip, which slides effortlessly onto most sickles).

Best courses listed

Only one Saskatchewan course has made the annual Best Canadian Courses list in Golf Week Magazine.

Dakota Dunes near Saskatoon ranked #20 in the modern category, while there were none in the classic pre-1960 category. See www.golfweek.com/news/2011/apr/14/golfweeks-best-canadian-modern-courses/ for all listings.

An ode to golf

In My Hand I Hold A Ball,
White And Dimpled, And Rather Small.
Oh How Bland It Does Appear,
This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.
By Its Size I Could Not Guess,
The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.
My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same,
Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game.
It Rules My Mind For Hours On End,
A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.
It Has Made Me Curse And Made Me Cry,
And Hate Myself And Want To Die.
It Promises Me A Thing Called Par,
If I Hit It Straight And Far.
To Master Such A Tiny Ball,
Should Not Be Very Hard At All.
But My Desires The Ball Refuses,
And Does Exactly As It Chooses.
It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies,
And Disappears Before My Eyes.
Often It Will Have A Whim,
To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.
With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land,
It Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand.
It's Made Me Whimper Like A Pup,
And Swear That I Will Give It Up.
And Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow,
But The Ball Knows... I'll Be Back Tomorrow.

Food for thought

Stand proud you noble swingers of clubs and losers of balls....A recent study found the average golfer walks about 900 miles a year....Another study found golfers drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year. That means, on average, golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon.....Kind of makes you proud. Almost feel like a hybrid.

Banff hosts Telus Skins

The TELUS World Skins Game is always a highlight of the Canadian summer sporting schedule for the country's most passionate golf fans, as well as the community that hosts it. Including corporate and team member donations, more than $10 million has been given to a wide variety of important causes across Canada as a result of the TELUS World Skins Game since 2001.

"Leaving a positive charitable impact in the communities the TELUS World Skins Game visits over the years has been just as important as the chance to bring world-class golf to fans across the country, and TELUS has been a driving force behind that goal," said Danny Fritz, vice-president and managing director of IMG Canada. "We're looking forward to the event's great tradition continuing this summer in Banff, and the opportunity to support an important local cause in the Alberta Cancer Foundation."

Nike Golf athletes Stephen Ames, Jhonattan Vegas, Lucas Glover, Anthony Kim and Paul Casey will battle it out on the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course at the 2011 TELUS World Skins Game on Monday, July 25 and Tuesday, July 26.

Tickets went on sale May 16 and are priced at $155 for the two-day event. Fans can visit www.telusskins.com or call 1-866-60-SKIN-1 to purchase tickets.

Designed in 1928 by Canada's world-renowned golf course architect, Stanley Thompson, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course is famous for its panoramic beauty and challenging layout set in the heart of Banff National Park. The course winds along the Bow River under the snow-capped peaks of Sulphur Mountain and Mount Rundle.

Owned and operated by IMG in Canada for 19 years, the TELUS World Skins Game has included many of the biggest names in the game including Jack Nicklaus, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Greg Norman. Updates on the 2011 tournament will be posted on www.telusskins.com.

A new twist

He left home around 8:30 to play golf with his friends. On the way out the door, he answered his wife's "What time will you be home?" question with, "Probably around 1:30 Ð I'll have lunch at the club."

1:30 came and went, 3:00 passed, 6:15, still not home.Finally at about 7:00 PM he rolls in the driveway, leaves his clubs in the garage, and presents his wife with a pizza, and begins the apologetic story.

"We finished our game about 11:30, had lunch and I started home, when alongside the road I saw this attractive girl with a flat tire on her car. I stopped to help, got the tire changed, and looked around for a place to wash my hands. She offered money, but I refused, so she suggested that I at least allow her to buy me a beer.

She said there's a tavern just up the road, and they have a restroom, you can clean up a bit. I agreed to stop, we had a beer, then another beer, then a couple more, and I realized that this girl was not only pretty, she was very friendly, and a good companion to spend time with.

Before I knew it, we were in the motel next door having sex. And that is why I am so late getting home." His wife looked him right in the eye and said, "Don't bullshit me -- you played 36 holes, didn't you?"

SGA rebrands

Over the past few decades, the sport of golf has seen many changes. Now the Saskatchewan Golf Association would like to announce an enhancement of its own. The most obvious change is our name and logo. By adopting the maple leaf symbol, we're showing our pride in our association with Golf Canada, integrating into a national look, while retaining our Saskatchewan identity.

Golf Saskatchewan's new logo incorporates two colours Saskatchewan is becoming famous for; green for our provincial sporting pride, growth in all areas of the economy and a people continually on the move; black for strength unity and prosperity. The silver outlining the maple leaf and making up the golfer signifies a fresh, cool, modern look that everyone can be proud of. We are Golf Saskatchewan!

Please visit their new website at www.golfsaskatchewan.org to learn more about Golf Saskatchewan's exciting initiatives and programs in 2011.

A cherished history

Golf began in Saskatchewan at the Regina Golf Club, founded in 1899. In 1913, male golfers organized the Saskatchewan Golf Association (SGA) to run competitions and enforce the rules of the game; in 1926, female players formed their own association, the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Ladies Golf Union. Provincial championships began in 1908 for men and in 1914 for women. By 1926, there were 100 golf courses, most with nine holes and sand greens, and the SGA estimated that there were over 8,000 golfers in the province.

The Depression and World War II caused a shortage of equipment and a severe drop in the number of players, but the game rebounded after 1945. The largest clubs, those in cities, installed watering systems for fairways as well as greens. Caddies almost disappeared, as many players pulled their clubs around the courses on carts. More competitions were held, including those restricted to younger golfers. In the 1950s, Saskatoon hosted both the men's and the women's Canadian championships. Also, Saskatoon golf professional Pat Fletcher won the Canadian Professional Golfers Association title in 1952, and the Canadian Open in 1954.

In the 1960s, new golf courses were opened, such as the municipal courses in Regina and Saskatoon, and more existing courses added watering systems. Partly because of these better facilities, more Saskatchewan golfers began to have success outside the province. Joanne Goulet of Regina was a semifinalist in the British Open Championships in 1964, and Barbara Turnbull of Saskatoon reached the Canadian women's final in 1969. These two women dominated the provincial championships for more than twenty years. Also, a four-man provincial team won the men's national championship, the Willingdon Cup, in 1964.

Golf continued to expand, with 203 courses in the province by 1987. In 2003, the SGA had a membership of approximately 16,000 men and women of all ages. Equipment became much more sophisticated and expensive, with clubs made of steel or titanium instead of the traditional wood. Also, many players rode in carts instead of walking. Saskatchewan golfers continued to win national events: in both 1985 and 1990, a team of four women won the Canadian Seniors Championship (for players over age 50). Saskatoon's Dana Kidd was the best junior golfer (under age 19) in Canada in 1992.

Source: Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, Sandra Bingaman

Take precautions

Back-up driver - There's something to be said for keeping an extra driver as a backup. If your game is off, a change to a different driver might payoff. Drivers are the club that seems to get broken or damaged. With a back-up, you will be back in the game in no time.

Be still - If you want to get close on a long putt, stay still. There's a tendency to move the body in a swaying motion which will send the putt way off line or to the moon. Keep your head over the ball and keep your body still during your stroke.

The wrong fix - When you are under pressure or spraying the ball around some people suggest that you shorten your backswing. Wrong. Shortening the backswing during a game will cause many problems - such as hanging back on your back foot and swinging with your arms and wrists. Don't try this on the course but slowly while practicing.

#1 Saskatchewan Trakker free

Most golfers do not belong to a club, content with duffing at a their local track or at several courses around the province. As a result they do not have an official handicap to track their progress (or lack of) or help them enter into tournaments.

For golf tournaments not sanctioned by the Saskatchewan Golf Association or a club, it's helpful to have a handicap rating (0 to 36). Entrants are usually asked how they play and an estimate is made. If you use the Handicap Trakker you can provide a more accurate figure (otherwise it's called "sandbagging" or giving people a wrong impression of your skills).

The Trakker is easy to use - double check the course pars and ratings - as we can't keep up with the changes. If there's a difference just change the automatic figures that pop up under the course listing.

Our viewers have used the Trakker for years and find it very useful - it's a trakker dedicated to the Saskatchewan golf scene although you can add out-of-province courses. Computers are computers so it would be wise to print a paper copy once and awhile for your records. If there's a power interruption or you drop your whiskey on the keyboard they may be gone...maybe forever...and can't be recovered.

Brunton inspires golfers

Henry Brunton, Golf Canada's national coach, dropped by the Willows in Saskatoon recently to talk golf. He told the audience of CPGA pros and GS representatives that they could be the next Graham DeLaet with a motivation, hard work, and a bit of luck.

Brunton is one of Canada's leading golf coaches and educators. The 39-year-old resident of Stouffville, Ontario is a 20 year veteran member of the Canadian PGA. Brunton was recognized by GOLF Magazine in February 2005 as a "Top 100" Instructor. Brunton is the first Canadian to be included in the U.S. publication's biennial acknowledgement of teaching excellence. In 2004, The National Post named Brunton the 4th Most Influential Person in Canadian Golf.

Brunton is the Canadian National Men's Team Golf Coach for Golf Canada (RCGA). Brunton has been Canada's National Coach since the inception of the Golf Canada Player Development Program in 1999. In this capacity, Brunton has authored the "RCGA Achievement Guide," a comprehensive manual for high performance players and coaches. He is responsible for the hiring and training of regional coaches across the country, developing and delivering training camp curricula, and coaching international teams representing Canada. He has coached squads that have competed in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. He has been at the helm of both the 2001 Four Nations Cup Championship Team and the 2003 Copas de las Americas (Americas Cup) Champions.

Brunton is a graduate of the University of Ottawa's physical education program. He has received considerable professional training from many of the foremost golf educators in the world. He has studied and participated in select programs in Scotland, Spain, Sweden, the United States, and Canada. In 2004, Dr. Deborah Graham and Jon Stabler of SportPsych in Boerne, Texas certified Brunton as a GolfPsych Master Instructor. He is one of three golf professionals to date to earn this distinction.

Brunton is a native of Kemptville, Ontario. He currently conducts his coaching programs and services out of Eagle's Nest Golf Club located just north of Toronto, Ontario. Eagle's Nest GC was recognized in 2004 as Canada's Top New Course. Henry has previously been employed at some of Canada's finest golf clubs, including Glen Abbey, Royal Montreal, Angus Glen, Lionhead, Emerald Hills and Rideau View.

Brunton is a leader in the Canadian PGA (CPGA). In 1999, he was hired by the CPGA to design and develop a national teacher and coach education program. Brunton created the highly acclaimed Teaching and Coaching Certification Program (TCCP). The TCCP is a mandatory training program for all CPGA Professionals. As well, he was an instructor at Humber College in Etobicoke, Ont. from 1995-1999 in the Professional Golf Management Program. Henry was selected by the CPGA of Ontario in 2003 as "Teacher of the Year".

Brunton is a distinguished player. He is a two-time Quebec PGA "Player of the Year" (Assistants Division). He is a veteran of the Florida Mini-Tours and has won several sectional PGA events.

Much of Brunton's success can be attributed to his dynamic personality, communication skills, and athleticism. These traits combined with a thorough knowledge of the golf swing, mental game, and the skill acquisition process has led to his international recognition as a golf coach.

-RCGA files

Around Saskatchewan links

Amen Corner

"I go the first tee scared to death every day. The peaks do not seem to last as long as the valleys in this game."
- Sam Snead