A junior golfer tees off on a foggy morning in August during the 2022 Lobstick Junior Tournament (Waskesiu Golf Course/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

CLOSING FORE THE SEASON

Local golf courses overcome challenges as they prepare to wrap up the season

Oct 8, 2022 | 9:00 AM

If you’re looking to hit the links one last time this season, there are still a couple of days left at some nearby courses.

Golf season is wrapping up for many local courses as they look back on the year that was, both the highs and the lows.

Oct. 10 will be the final day for Cooke’s Municipal Golf Course, Mark’s Nine, and Elk Ridge Golf Course while Kachur’s will remain open until Oct. 16.

Kachur’s had a successful season which culminated in a fundraising tournament hosted by the Prince Albert Grand Council to raise funds for James Smith Cree Nation.

Back at Cooke Golf Course, Darcy Myers, the head golf professional had nothing but positives to share about the past season.

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“It has been a fantastic season,” he said. “We had a little bit of a later start this year, we opened up on May 11. It’s been busy, well into late into the season here.”

This year, Cooke hosted the Saskatchewan Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships, the Northern Pro-Am Championships, and many tournaments hosted by groups like the Prince Albert Raiders and the Ronald McDonald House.

Ryan Wells with Elk Ridge Resort and Golf Course said despite some stormy weather early in the summer, it was also a successful year for their course.

“Lots of golfers up here. The Resort was, once again full capacity,” he said. “This September was unbelievable; we’re calling it the September to remember. The weather was unbelievable.”

While some courses still have a few days to go, Waskesiu Golf Course had its final day on Sept. 25 and while the season went great overall, General Manager Tyler Baker said it had its challenges.

“We knew going in, probably not to expect a season like the last two years during the pandemic,” he said. “The big concern that we didn’t know was what effect inflation would have on travelling and gas prices increasing and travelling.”

Baker added another challenge they faced was uncooperative weather for many days and a late opening to the season. He added the PST expansion which now applies to the golf course will be another challenge to overcome as they look to their 2023 budget.

“That is a concern in the golf industry as a whole in Saskatchewan because that’s an extra six per cent that the customer has to take on top of the inflation price.”

Aside from the challenges, Baker said there were highlights including participation in the Lobstick tournaments and other competitions.

These courses are already making their plans and budgets for the 2023 season.

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Derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock