Golf is more important than the Great Recession!

Take a break from the Great Recession. The annual list of Saskatchewan stay and play packages can be found on Hole #10. This year's special deals include packages at Spiritwood, Katepwa, Harbor, Elk Ridge, Evergreen, La Verendrye, the Hawood at Waskesiu, Golf Kenosee and White Bear and others - check it out. MORE >>

SaskGolfer.com is for sale!

If you enjoy golf and meeting people, the award-winning SaskGolfer.com is an ideal home-based business for you. The owner-operator is getting a little long in the tooth and plans to retire in the next couple of years, learn how to putt and play more golf. Serious inquiries may reply in confidence to Stan@saskgolfer.com.

Ford is #1

Attending a golf tournament at Bally Haly, Tiger Woods drives his new Ford Fusion into a gas station in St. John's. The pump attendant, obviously knowing little about golf, greets him in a typical Newfoundland manner completely unaware of who the golfing pro is. ''How's she cuttin' bye'' says the attendant.

Tiger nods a quick 'hello' and bends forward to pick up the nozzle. As he does so, two tees fall out of his shirt pocket onto the ground. ''What are dose?'' asks the attendant. ''They're tees'' replies Tiger. ''Well, what on god's earth are dey for?'' inquires the attendant. They're for resting my balls on when I'm driving'', says Tiger. ''Jaysus'', says the Newfoundlander, ''Ford tinks of everyting!''

Losing your hearing

The British Medical Journal reports that you risk losing your hearing if you use titanium clubs. The story titled "Is golf bad for your hearing?", it claims the thin-faced titanium drivers produce a noise loud enough to damage the sensitive hairs of the inner hear. The study focussed on a 55-year-old man who developed tinnitis and hearing loss and who played three days a week for 18 months. The authors say that a safe noise level is 110 decibels, but that titanium drivers cracking out as much as 128 decibels.

Spare a million?

If you are still filthy rich after the economic meltdown the last few months consider a Jack Nicklaus custom backyard course package. The Golden Bear will design a three-hole course and a practice area. On completion Jack will be on hand to play the first official round on the course, leave an autographed club and ball and a set of custom designed clubs after the game. It will cost you a cool $1-million US.

What do you do if it's raining but you want to golf? Sulk? Curse? Watch the Golf Channel? Go to a covered driving range? Put on my rain gear and golf anyway? View results

Premier Wall tees it up

Saskatchewan’s premier Brad Wall is a keen golfer, bullish on our great courses in the province, an ambassador for the game and a big fan of SaskGolfer.com. This is the second in a series of interviews with prominent golfers in the province.

Q: First, let's get this question out of the way. How would you describe your golf game?

A: I love golf but it’s an unrequited love. It doesn’t necessarily love me back. I once played to a 12 handicap but now about 18. You’ve got to play regularly, especially in order to to keep the short game sharp.

Q: Your strengths?

A: That’s a great question. My mid-iron approach shots - 140 to 170 yards - are the best part of my game. (Although some of the golfers I play with might not agree).

Q: Any weaknesses?

A: I have stone hands around the greens. My driving though is improving.

Q: How often do you get a chance to play?

A: I’ll get in about 10 or 11 rounds this summer and another four during the winter. Most of the games I will shoot under 90, but I’ve shot as low as 81 and as high as 100 or so in rounds this summer.

Q: Swift Current and region have some great courses - Elmwood, Chinook and Saskatchewan Landing to name a few. Do you get a chance to play a round in your constituency once and a while?

A: Saskatchewan people are spoiled for golf - there’s every style of course, anything you want at great value. It’s unbelievable. I’ve played all the local courses plus Cypress Hills and Eston, and would like to get down to Shaunavan to play a round there. It’s difficult to get out as much as I’d like with a young family and work commitments.

Q: If you were to join the PGA Tour someday who would you model your game after and why?

A: How do you not pick Tiger Woods? He’s an absolute phenom. But I would pick Mike Weir because he’s a lefty like I am. His drives are shorter (by PGA Tour standards) but the rest of his game is very strong.

Q: So, who took home the trophy (nickels) when you played your round in early August with Premier Doer?

A: There was no money on the table. I shot in the high 40s since we only had time for nine holes.

Q: Anything you want to add... a pro tip maybe?

A: I noticed V.J.Singh tried a new approach to try and improve his bad putting and get the feel back. When he putted he wasn’t looking at the ball. Instead, he was looking at the hole.

Economic impact huge

The Canadian golf industry generated $11.3 billion in economic benefits across our nation, according to a recent economic analysis conducted by Strategic Networks Group, Inc. on behalf of the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA).

That translates into an estimated $446.0 million toward Saskatchewan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This includes: 22,102 jobs; $306.9 million in household income; $40.3 million in property and other indirect taxes; and about $71.1 million in income taxes.

Golf in Saskatchewan generates $1,045.5 million in total gross production through direct, indirect and induced spending impacts. The total direct economic activity (total direct sales) resulting from the Saskatchewan’s Golf Industry is estimated at $552.9 million. Of this total, the revenues generated directly by golf courses, and their associated facilities is estimated at $382.7 million. The game of golf is played by an estimated 255,000 resident golfers in Saskatchewan at over 196 golf course facilities.

Nationally, the industry employs the equivalent of 341,794 people through direct and spin-off effects, generating more than $7.6 billion in household income. The industry also contributes more than $29.4 billion in total gross production through direct and indirect and induced spending; generates more than $1.2 billion in property and other indirect taxes; as well provides an estimated $1.9 billion in income taxes used to support a variety of programs for all Canadians.

“Today is a landmark day for golf in Canada,” said NAGA Chair Steve Carroll, Executive Director of the Canadian PGA. “The study outlines the considerable scope and magnitude of the impact of our sport on the Canadian economy while providing a benchmark for the Canadian golf industry to measure itself against moving forward. I’m especially proud of the tremendous synergies that came together among all the NAGA partners on this monumental study for our industry.”

Based on a nation-wide survey of more than 4,000 golfers and 350 golf courses in 10 provinces and three territories, the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study provides the first comprehensive and independent assessment of the economic impact of the golf industry in Canada.

The study was conducted on behalf of NAGA by Strategic Networks Group (SNG), a world leader in econometrics of economic development for communities, regions and industries.

"The Canadian golf industry creates a significant economic impact for the nation, which benefits all residents of this country," said Tom McGuire, SNG’s Vice President, North America. "The recreational opportunity and business of golf is a great national driver of economic activity, and every province in Canada offers a different experience for those who enjoy the game and those who benefit from the facilities that golf courses provide this country."

Meeting Tiger Woods!

John Gaudet and Dale Schienbein have been floating on ‘cloud 9’ since meeting Tiger Woods at the end of June. The duo were attending a Nike Golf Canada Invitational corporate event along with several other dozen people from the Canadian golf industry at Fox Harb’r Golf Resort and Spa in Tatamagouche, N.S. MORE >>

Canadian Golf Economic Study highlights

The game of golf accounts for an estimated $11.3 billion of Canada’s GDP, which includes:

• 341,794 jobs
• $7.6 billion in household income
• About $1.2 billion in property and other indirect taxes
• About $1.9 billion in income taxes

Additional key benefits and impacts:

• Environmental Benefits – Over 200,000 hectares of green space managed by golf course operators, including 41,000 hectares of uncultivated wildlife areas under golf course stewardship.
• Golf Participation –SNG estimates that about 70 million rounds of golf were played in 2008, a level of play that was as much as 10% off the average number of rounds based on prior years.
• Employment Opportunities – The Canadian Golf Industry provides an excellent employment opportunity, with as many as 43% of those employed at Canadian golf courses being students.
• Impact on Property Values – The location of houses adjacent to golf courses provides benefits to homeowners that stem from higher home values compared to similar homes that are not adjacent to courses. SNG estimates the total incremental impact on home values at $1.39 billion.
• Charitable Activity – Each year there are at least 25,000 charitable events hosted at Canadian courses. Conservatively, these events raise more than $439 million for charitable causes across Canada.
• Golf Tourism – Canadian travelers make more than 1 million trips involving golf, spending an estimate $1.9 billion annually on golf-related travel within Canada.

The study provides new quantitative evidence of the economic significance of the sport to the Canadian, provincial and territorial economies, through primary research augmented by secondary information sources.

The results demonstrate the substantial role golf has in the economy of Canada in terms of:

• Golf’s “Gross Domestic Product” in Canada – including all goods and services that are directly and indirectly related to the game, with analysis of who benefits from golf, and to what extent;
• Other spin-off economic impacts such as employment and household income at the national, provincial and territorial scales.

SGA rules of the week

You've hit your ball in a direction you didn't expect it to go. It comes to rest on the putting green for hole #9. Only trouble is you are playing hole #7. What should you do? You cannot play the ball as it lies. You need to find the nearest point that is not on the putting green and not closer to the hole. Take one club length from that point and drop a ball. You may clean your ball prior to dropping. Your ball must not come to rest back on that putting green or in a hazard. There is no penalty for this procedure but failure to do so will result in a two stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. Any practice green on the course is also counts as a wrong putting green.

Movable obstructions versus Loose Impediments

Moveable obstructions are basically anything that is man made. If a movable obstruction is interfering with the play of your ball, you can move it. If your ball moves, replace it. No penalty. Loose impediments are anything natural that is loose and not attached. You cannot touch a loose impediment in a hazard if your ball in play is in the same hazard. It is a one stroke penalty if you do. If your ball moves during the removal of the loose impediment, it must be replaced and you incur a penalty of one stroke. Although, if your ball lies on the putting green and is moved during the removal of a loose impediment, just replace it, no penalty. Sand is only a loose impediment when it is on the putting green.

SGA Rules of the Week by SGA Rules & Tournaments Chair, Rhonda Richards.

SGA tips of the week

Swing aggressively

Many players are under the misunderstanding that they should swing slower in order to hit the ball well. While swinging slower may contribute to marginally better contact in the short term, it greatly limits how far a player can hit the ball over the long term. My suggestion to all players is to allow yourself to learn how to swing at a higher swing speed by practicing a swing that is more aggressive than you are used to. With training, you will increase your swing speed, leading to the ability to hit the ball a greater distance - a huge advantage in golf.

Hit down on the ball

Many golfers try to swing the golf club under the ball to get it up in the air. This is a natural instinct developed through our lives by placing our hands underneath any object in order to lift it. Unfortunately, in golf, getting under a ball is a very ineffective way to make good contact leading to topped, fat and thin shots. The best way to hit a ball up is to strike down on it, compressing it against the ground so that it rides up the club-pface with backspin. This apparent contradiction of striking down so a ball goes up can make an incredible difference in the distance and height that you hit a ball. Many players report a one or two club increase in distance once they train themselves to hit down on a ball on the ground.

SGA Golf Tips were submitted by SGA Coach, Brad Birnie

Actual calls received at a course!

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: What are your green fees?
Staff: 38 dollars.
Caller: Does that include golf?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I need to get some information from you. First, is this your correct phone number?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, we have a tee time for two weeks from Friday. What's the weather going to be like that day?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I had a tee time for this afternoon but I'm running late. Can you still get me out early?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, do you have one of those areas where you can buy a bucket of golf balls and hit them for practice?
Staff: You mean a driving range?
Caller: No, that's not it...

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I'd like to get a tee time tomorrow between 12 o'clock and noon.
Staff: Between 12 o'clock and noon?
Caller: Yes.
Staff: We'll try to squeeze you in.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you have any open tee times around 10 o'clock?
Staff: Yes, we have one at 10:15.
Caller: What's the next time after that?
Staff: We have one at 10:22.
Caller: We'll take that one. It will be a bit warmer.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: How much to play golf today?
Staff: 25 to walk, 38 with a cart.
Caller: 38 dollars?
Staff: No, 38 yen.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: What do you have for tee times tomorrow?
Staff: What time would you like?
Caller: What times do you have?
Staff: What time of the day?
Caller: Any time.
Staff: Morning or afternoon?
Caller: Whenever.
Staff: We have 16 times open in the morning and 20 open in the afternoon. Would you like me to read the whole list?
Caller: No, I don't think any of those times will work for me.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you have a dress code?
Staff: Yes, we do. We require soft spikes.
Caller: How about clothes?
Staff: Yes, you have to wear clothes.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, do you have a driving range there?
Staff: Yes.
Caller: How much for a bucket of large balls?
Staff: Sorry, we're all out of large balls. But we can give you twice as many small balls for the same price.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Can I get a tee time for tomorrow?
Staff: Sure, what time would you like?
Caller: Something between 9 o'clock and 10 o'clock. In the morning, if possible.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you rent golf clubs there?
Staff: Yes, they're 25 dollars.
Caller: How much to rent a bag?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, my husband just called me on his cell phone and told me he's on the 15th hole. How many more holes does he have to play before he gets to the 18th?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, do you have a driving range there?
Staff: Yes.
Caller: How much for a large bucket?
Staff: Four dollars.
Caller: Does that include the balls?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you have a twilight rate?
Staff: Yes, it's 15 dollars after 2 o'clock.
Caller: And what time does that start?

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I'd like some info about your golf course.
Staff: OK, what would you like to know?
Caller: I don't know, that's why I called.

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: My kids just came home with pockets full of range balls and said they stole them from your driving range. Would you like to buy them back?

Golf poem

In My Hand I Hold A Ball,
White And Dimpled, Rather Small.

Oh, How Bland It Does Appear,
This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.

By It's Size I Could Not Guess,
The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.

But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell,
I've Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.

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 Yell, Curse And Cry.
I Hate Myself And Want To Die.

It Promises A Thing Called Par,
If I Can 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 Even 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.

Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul,
If Only It Would Find The Hole.

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.

Stand proud

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. A lean mean golfing machine - so to speak!

Deer Valley founder dies

The founder of Deer Valley Golf and Estates near Regina died suddenly in July. Glen Trentini was 48 and responsible for building and maintaining Deer Valley.

During his career Trintini had worked at various Western Canada courses including Wascana Country Club, Flowing Springs and Emerlad Park Golf and Country Club (now known as Aspen Links Golf and Country Club).

Trentini was vice-president of golf maintenance and executive golf superintendent at Deer Valley. and president of the Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association. As well, he was a director with the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation (CGSA) and the Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Associaiton from 1992 and 1996. A scholarship fund has been set up with CGSA in his honour.

SCOREGolf ranks Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan took five of the 10 top rankings in this year's Best Canadian Public Golf Course rankings. Notably, Dakota Dunes near Saskatoon placed first in the Sask/Manitoba listings. Other placements include Waskesiu (3rd), Cooke Municipal (5th), North Battleford (7th), and Moon Lake (10th). As well, Dakota Dunes ranked 1st for best condition, Deer Park for best value, and Elk Ridge for best resort. Congratulations to all!

DeLaet inside the ropes

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn will write a weekly blog on the association’s website, www.cpga.com. The 27-year-old has started off well with four top-15 finishes in South Africa, two of those as runner-up. His performance in South Africa comes on the heels on a tie for 13th at the World Cup and a win at the Canadian Tour’s Montreal Open. He also finished second at the Jane Rogers Championship and Canadian Tour Championship late in 2008.

Follow the Roar

In "Follow the Roar", Bob Smiley recounts following Tiger Woods on a roaring journey from the seaside cliffs of California to the deserts of Dubai and a few adventures along the way. His off-course run-ins include an Arabian sandstorm, ex-con ticket scalpers, and of course, Tiger's every swing during his spectacular 2008 season.

Smiley is a Los Angeles TV writer and golf columnist for ESPN.com who found his career at a standstill. So, starting in January 2008, he started to follow the game's greatest player from the gallery for 604 holes. The results are intriguing.

Smiley, as the book cover boasts, "Met strangers who became friends and found in Tiger the inspiration and quintessence of what it truly means to be an athlete and a man."

This is a great read for the hardcore golfer, especially his first-hand account of THE greatest US Open of all time at Torrey Pines, where Tiger dueled with Rocko Mediate.... on one leg. (Harper Collins, 2008, $27.95 CDN).

Amen Corner

“After I got back, I said to Father Antony at Christ the Redeemer Parish, ‘I think I met God this week. Father Antony said, ‘You sure did. God gave this young man all the gifts to be able to do what he does."

- John Gaudet, head pro of Chinook Golf Course in Swift Current, on meeting Tiger Woods at a Nike Golf Canada event in June

Last chance to win free golf at 150 courses!

Win one of four (4) RCGA Golf Cards valued at $24.95. The RCGA Golf Card is the points reward program of the Royal Canadian Golf Association rewarding golfers with A FREE ROUND WITH EVERY 5 PLAYED at more than 150 participating golf courses across Saskatchewan and Canada. RCGA members also receive a 1/2 price green fee voucher for each of our participating courses. You can win one of four copies of the 2009 edition by e-mailing the number of discounts to RCGA@saskgolfer.com. Try now!