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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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Wind is whistling
When the wind is blowing it can test the most skilled of golfers. If you hit into the wind, instead of swinging harder, take one or two more clubs. Shorten your swing and play conservatively. Widen your stance and tee the ball up three or four inches back in your stance. If the wind is behind you, tee the ball higher than normal and use a three wood instead of a driver. Also, swing easy when the wind is behind and club down one or two. It all sounds simple.
Who's where list
If you want to find out where up and coming Saskatchewan amateurs are playing at college or university in Canada or the United States , check out the new section on the Saskatchewan Golf Association website. It lists a couple of dozen players and hotlinks to their respective golf programs and campus. If you know of someone else that's playing college or university golf, let us or the SGA know about it. http://saskgolf.ca/programs_who.html
Brought back to life
Dorian Hassard is 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 . MORE>>
Husband and wife score aces
What are the odds? Ernie Kotyluk of Regina scored a hole-in-one on the par-3 14 th hole at Flowing Springs Sept. 14. Meanwhile. the same morning his wife Lorraine had scored an ace on the par-3 seventh hole on the East Nine at Tor Hill Golf Course. The odds of an amateur scoring a hole-in-one is one in 12,750. The chance of a husband and wife scoring hole-in-ones on the same day are incalculable.
Conditional card earned
Graham DeLaet of Weyburn recently earned a conditional playing status for the Canadian Tour at Royal Ashburn Golf Club in Whitby, Ont, DeLaet shot a four-day total score of 299 (74-73-72-80) and ls the sole exempt card in a four person playoff. The low 15 players get an exempt card and full status and the next 15 players get their non-exempt card and conditional playing status. DeLaet is the 2005 and 2006 Saskatchewan men's amateur champion. MORE>>
Unsolved murder in Saskatoon
At about 8 a.m. October 17, 1963, Richard Otto Hartz, 53 years-of-age, was found shot to death in the main floor hallway at the club-house of the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, where he was employed as the resident caretaker.
He had been shot twice with a .22-calibre weapon, once in the back and once in the top of the head. It appears that Hartz, clad in pyjamas, had surprised the offender(s) in the act of breaking into the clubhouse.
During the break-in, a cash box containing a small amount of money was taken. This cash box was recovered on the 18th fairway about 200 yards from the clubhouse and a fingerprint, which had not yet been identified, was found on the box. At least 2 other shots were fired in an attempt to open a door and a desk drawer.
This murder case has never been solved. The Saskatoon Police are interested in speaking with anyone who has any information about this homicide. They can call the police at (306) 975-1419 or (306) 975-8300.
Most historical hole
If the breathtaking views of Lake Diefenbaker and the breezes playing havoc with your golf ball weren't enough, a national historical marker on the front nine at the Harbor Golf Club and Resort tells the story of one of the most overlooked historical events in Saskatchewan.
In March 1866, a large Blackfoot party, travelling down the South Saskatchewan River valley in this vicinity, killed two Cree women and prepared to attack a small camp on a neighbouring hill. Their shots alerted a well-armed party of Cree warriors who trapped them in the valley.
An estimated 400 Blackfoot were killed in the running battle that extended over a mile between Battle and Cutbank coulees.
Amen Corner
“The more you play golf, the less you know about it.”
- Patty Berg, LPGA Hall of Famer
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Tiger, take 2 to 10
The most recognizable sports figure on the planet will make an appearance at your next golf club event in Saskatchewan for a cool $2-million. But why bother forking out big American dollars, when 10 Tiger Woods look-a-likes are out there looking for work?
There's Hughes in Florida , Mark in Los Angeles , Mark from who knows where, Michael in the New Your area, Rod in Tennessee , Herme in Los Angeles …. It's a little bit like Elvis sightings.
Some of these guys like Herme Chua, aka “Tiger 2”, make a living at impersonating although for most it's a hobby or extra income. One guy masqueraded as Tiger, stole his identity and ran up a $17,000 credit card bill and was sentenced to 200 years for eight counts of theft and two perjury charges.
If not money, there's certainly fame. One of the “Marks” was featured in Golf Digest doing a Tiger Woods workout.
For more info on Tiger look-a-likes check out www.tigerwoodslookalike.com , www.classiqueproductions.com and www.lookalike.com
Ashley Olynick: Queen Of Clubs
By Glen Erickson
Ashley Olynick is a Saskatoon athlete looking for any and all opportunities to play highly competitive ladies golf. To that end, she's looking forward to a return to Texas .
At the 2006 Saskatchewan Amateur Ladies Championship, which attracted a small field of 14 players, Olynick earned the top spot on the provincial team with a second place finish behind Alberta 's Jade Polonich. She then represented Saskatchewan along with fellow Saskatonian Beth Davis, Karly Wormworth ( Prince Albert ) and Shannon McGeady ( Regina ) at the national championship in Moncton , New Brunswick , Aug.1-4.
“I suppose I'm just disappointed because back in the day, you had to play very well here to make the provincial team,” Olynick recalled when queried about the state of competitive women's golf in the province.
“Nowadays, if you shoot four rounds in the mid-70s, you probably win the provincial championship,” Olynick added. “There was a time it seemed you had to play really, really well to win or to make the provincial team.”
Following the Canadian Amateur, the Evan Hardy Collegiate grad returned for her sophomore year at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
“This was my second year at amateur nationals,” Olynick said. “And I headed down south after the tournament. I wanted to get back there about a week before school starts.”
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Regarding her educational aspirations, Olynick is somewhat undecided. “I'm looking at something involving either kinesiology or a bio-medical program,” Olynick explained. “But I'm enjoying the experience in Texas and meeting the different people.”
Olynick is also firmly focused on finding competition on the golf course. “On the golf side, we play in about nine or ten Division 1 tournaments down there. There's no doubt I'm a better player for the experience in college and that's only after my first year. So I'm excited about year two.” While busy with studies, Olynick has also been schooled by the likes of former PGA Tour player Phil Blackmar, whose wife Carol is the golf team's coach. What appeals to Olynick is the credibility associated with Blackmar's three career tour wins and over 400 PGA Tour events worth of experience.
“He has so much knowledge and you know, he's been there, done that,” Olynick quipped. “If some of the things he talks about have helped him over the years, then I think it stands to reason they might help me too. Sometimes that's all it takes.”
“I've connected with most of the teachers in the Saskatoon area over the years as well and my dad has really helped me a lot. Most recently I've worked with Brad Birnie. I think it's good to have somebody here who knows my golf swing and a bit about my background.”
Birnie, a teaching professional who owns and operates the Brad Birnie Golf Range , is impressed with Olynick's commitment.
“I met Ashley a couple of years ago at the golf dome,” Birnie remembered. “We targeted a couple of areas in her short game and her wedge play. She began to see some results in her game and then had a terrific year at Corpus Christi . Ashley is mature, very disciplined and she works hard.”
The sport has played a huge role in Olynick's life since she began following her brother (Regan) and father (Murray) around the golf course at age 12. It is providing her an opportunity to receive an education, while also developing her skills as a player through college golf in the United States .
“I always thought I'd want to play on the LPGA Tour someday, but I realize now how hard it is to get there. I really like the competition. I don't like to play for fun. Well, maybe once in awhile.”
If all goes according to plan for Olynick, she'll return to Saskatoon next year with an even sharper competitive edge. “I really like competitive golf,” she repeated. “I prefer to have to work hard at it. It's just a great challenge.”
Glen Erickson is an Edmonton-based freelance writer, a former Saskatchewan resident and a columnist for Inside Golf for the past three years.
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Around Saskatchewan links
Want to get youth involved in golf? Check out the Jack Hoeven We Links Golf Course in our neighbouring state of North Dakota . The Minot facility was designed for children, and consists of a short nine-hole track, a short game practice area, and a clubhouse-learning centre. Green fees for ages 14 and under are a $1…. City of Regina administrators recommended to the Parks and Community Services Committee at City Hall to increase green fees six per cent annually at its courses for the next three years. It also suggests part of the revenues be diverted away from the courses “to addressing social needs at the neighbourhood level”…. The U of S Alumni Association is featuring its annual awards presentation and dinner Oct. 12. This year the guest speaker is Lorraine Klippel , two-time winner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Professional of the Year Award; one of the top 50 golf instructors in America ; and motivational Speaker. For tickets, call the University Advancement Customer Service Centre at 966-5186 or toll free (800) 699-1907 or alumni.office@usask.ca
Golf discount book E-X-P-A-N-D-S!
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.
Golfers traveling a bit further a field will be thrilled to find another new development to their liking. All four western provincial Lung Associations have joined forces and combined their offers into this one great book. With discounts at over 450 courses across Manitoba , Saskatchewan , Alberta and British Columbia there are sure to be great courses along your route. There are also 15 bonus courses in Washington State .
The best surprise of all is that the book sells for only $35.00; only five cents more than last year's ‘ Saskatchewan only' version. The book's format has changed to accommodate the added courses with multiple listings per page. The Western Canada Golf Privilege Club book makes a great gift for any golfer on your list or treat yourself. It's something that will be enjoyed all summer long!
Visit www.sk.lung.ca/golf for more details.
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. MORE>>
BIG winner announced
Shane Craven , a CADD draftsman with the Potash Corp. in Lanigan, is the winner of this summer's BIG contest. He wins a great golf holiday at Harbor Golf Resort that includes four rounds with a cart at Harbor near Elbow and two nights accomodation at Sara's Cove Condo Rentals at Harbor Inn valued at $475. The contest was organized by Tourism Saskatchewan and SaskGolfer.com. Thank you for the hundreds of entries and congratulations Shane!
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Down and Through
By Jeff Chambers, Saskatchewan 's Provincial Golf Coach
I've had the opportunity in my career to work with thousands of clients from 3 years of age to the mid 80's. The biggest difference thus far that I have learned with teaching lessons is that by explaining how the golf ball reacts off the clubface is a great way of giving the student a picture in mind on how to properly contact the ball when swinging.
In most cases, the average player, and especially beginner players try to hit the ball up into the air and by doing this cause the dreaded topped shot because they have lifted up their body at contact. I enjoy hearing the help and advice given to women who top the ball. They are told to keep their head down and bend their knees more. Neither of these are the problem. The player is simply trying to hit up at the ball causing everything to lift up and results in topping the ball. By showing them the down and through technique, these same players immediately start hitting the ball further and higher.
With many players, it's the thinking part that needs work not always the golf swing. Every group clinic that I do I see topped shot after topped shot. After a little research from asking the golfers what their thoughts are over the ball, it was easy to see I needed to find a way to get the information to them on what the proper technique is. Every shot with an iron should travel down and through the ball striking area. By swinging down and through a player can now hit the ball cleanly and then continue to make some sort of divot immediately after the ball, and then continue swinging until they are in a good follow-through position.
Sounds simple? For the most part doing this mental thought change allows players to hit down on their shots and finally feel how good it is to hit that great shot that rises into the air without the bad vibration caused form the thin hit shot. At this moment, there are hundreds of my students who are telling their friends and showing them this technique. That's because of how well it improved their game.
A big bonus is that is does not require a major swing change for most but yet a different thought process when over the ball. I like to teach people to use and adapt the swing they have to score better, because we all know everyone has their own unique style and I simply want to help them to score better by helping them achieve more consistent ball striking capability.
Straight shooter
One of the more interesting things to end up in the SaskGolfer.com mailbox during the last five years is the “Straight Tee.” Picture a very sharp upside down pyramid with a slight curve at the bottom. The tees are made of hardwood and are tough to break.
The instructions are simple – if you want to correct your hook, elevate the side against the body; to correct slice just elevate the side away from the body. I'd swear it works – your slice or hook are moderated not eliminated - unfortunately it doesn't conform to USGA/RCGA specifications. The Canadian company, Straight Tee , also makes another smaller funnel-shaped version with a flat top that does conform. See www.Straightdrivegolf.com
Rules Question?
Q: I would like to know if a range ball in near new condition is classified as a regulation ball to use in stroke play or match play?
A: A range ball most likely conforms to the Rules of Golf. However, if there is a Condition of Competition that limits the ball a player may use to one on the List of Conforming Golf Balls (available via a link on the RCGA website under Rules), then the range ball must be on the list in order for the player to able to use it. (Most range ball are not on the list). In some cases balls that appear on the list are logo'd with the word "PRACTICE" on it. These balls would be permitted since the logo was simply added as an identification mark to a listed ball. (RCGA)
Do you have a rules question? Send it along to rules@saskgolfer.com and we'll get an answer.
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Surf the Sweet Saskatchewan Stay-n-Play Packages!
The annual list of stay and play packages has started on SaskGolfer.com on Hole #10. This year's special deals include packages at Jackfish, Spiritwood, Harbor, Elk Ridge, Evergreen, La Verendrye, Weyburn, the hawood at Waskesiu, Deer Valley , Golf Kenosee and White Bear. MORE>>
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