Thursday, July 10, 2025

Golf Rules, Shoal Lake Style

Someone told me recently that my blogs are getting longer. I took it as a positive. It meant someone was reading them. Once my vacation starts in July, I’ll have more time to write. That same person said last week’s blog was the longest ever. I took that as a challenge.

This morning, I want to talk about the rules that govern the game of golf. While many are universal, not all apply on Men’s Night.

For example, etiquette experts stress that the golfer farthest from the hole plays first—unless everyone agrees to play “ready golf,” as we do on Men’s Night. The only time you’ll get heck is if you don’t let the guy who just birdied go next.

Collared shirts are standard, even required, at most courses. At our local course, you wear what you want. In Shoal Lake, jeans are fairly common, especially on cooler evenings at the start or end of the season. On the hottest days, some guys even go shirtless. This usually involves high levels of both UV and intoxication.

You’re also not supposed to hit someone else’s ball, but it happens on Men’s Night. When it does, the offender incurs a two-stroke penalty and must replay their own ball.

Some courses have internal out-of-bounds areas marked by white stakes. Shoal Lake does not. This was helpful to Jason Gorrell last night when he landed on the putting green from the second tee box. Impressively, he made par from his lie 155 yards directly south of the hole over some dense bush.

Official golf rules require you to play the ball as it lies, even if it’s in a divot, on hardpan, or in a less-than-perfect lie. At Shoal Lake, we use a version of “winter rules,” allowing preferred lies on your own fairway only. You can move your ball within six inches, or a club length, but no closer to the hole. This rule doesn’t apply to balls in the rough or on another fairway. If you’re fluffing your ball in the rough, stop it. The rough is meant to be harder to hit from than the fairways.

There’s also the expectation that you stay quiet during swings. Phones should be off, and voices low. That said, we have lots of guys on call, such as Hydro workers and those from implement dealerships, who may need to keep their phones on. If your phone rings mid-swing and it’s work or the contractor building your new house, that’s generally acceptable. If it’s your spouse, you should immediately pick up your ball and go home. It’s family time now.

One unofficial rule of Men’s Night is no sharing feelings. It’s never been officially stated but it applies in my group. If you are mad about a shot, no problem. If you are struggling with an ongoing sadness or malaise due to challenges of life, put on a brave face. Golf isn’t a therapy session. As far as I know, none of us are trained counsellors.

On Wednesday evenings, swearing is permitted, but only if it’s creative and directed at inanimate objects. And while dropping an F-bomb after a bad shot might feel cathartic, don’t throw clubs. You could hurt someone or break a light on their cart. That happened to me. I won’t say who did it but it occurred at the Horse Race a few years back.

Also, like all courses it is important to fix ball marks on the green, avoid walking on someone’s putting line, and make sure your garbage finds a receptacle. I am noting the last one due to recent experience. While on an early morning scavenger hunt this week to find lost balls, I found cans in the bushes near four different holes. One was about 50 feet from the tree line. I guess if someone was looking that far in, they deserve to be drinking.

Another local rule is the Men’s Night max, referenced last week. If you’re in the trees and playing your seventh shot, it’s time to pick up. We’re here to play golf, not conduct an archaeological dig.

Break the rules and you might get a reminder or an unfriendly stare. But if it involves cheating, expect harsher penalties. Public shunning is not out of the question.

I expect that the majority of golfers generally respected the rules of golf last night, to the best of their ability. Perhaps a few people slightly improved their lie off the fairway. Maybe there was some noise during swings or puts, such as the backfiring of the Gator or someone trying to finish up a story that they just started. But just like every week, things went reasonably well and everyone seemed to have a good time.

Ron Huberdeau likely had a good night. He got closest to the pin on #9 and split a $21.25 skin with Scott Maynes on #1. Scott's teeshot on that hole was in the middle of the bush on the right but bounced almost back to the fairway. 

The other closest to the pin went to Darren Ostash on #5.

Another skin went to Ryden Lanouette and James Van De Velde on #7. They earned $63.75 thanks to Ryden’s eagle and James’ par.

Here is one interesting thing from last night. For the 34 golfers, the middle score was 46. That was as high as I can remember it. I suspect the gusting winds earlier in the round played a factor.

Okay, that was a longer blog entry than normal. If your read the whole thing, I appreciate your patience. If you didn't make it to the end, there is nothing I can say to help because you are no longer reading this.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Horse Race on July 26

The 15th annual Horse Race is scheduled for Saturday, July 26. 

The 18-hole flighting round starts with a shotgun start at 9:00 am. After lunch, there is a Calcutta and then the horse races begin at 2:00 pm.

Each flight pays out top 3 with the money equal for all flights. The Calcutta pays out the top 2.

Additional information is available at https://tinyurl.com/mwr57zar

Thursday, July 3, 2025

The Wednesday Night Mercy Rule

At our Men’s Night, we’ve adopted a triple bogey max rule. It's designed to keep the pace of play moving, protect fragile egos, and most importantly, make sure no one walks off the course with a score that looks like a phone number. No one wants to record a 10 on a par 4 and have to emotionally unpack that later in the clubhouse.

But even with the max rule in place, some golfers rise to the challenge. I’ll never forget the time a guy from out of town, working in Shoal Lake, showed up for two consecutive Men’s Nights and carded back-to-back 63s. I know, because I had the privilege of playing with him both times. This guy hit the max on every single hole. Every single one.

To make it worse, despite our repeated friendly nudges, he refused to pick up once he reached triple bogey. He kept hitting or mishitting, grinding out double-digit hole scores like he was chasing some secret achievement badge.

Last night, someone nearly joined the club with a 59. That’s at least five maxes. Someone said that the player might’ve been a lefty using right-handed clubs. If that’s true, it’s impressive. I can’t even write my name legibly with my left hand, let alone hit a golf ball the opposite way.

We are good with the max score rule because no one has ever won a skin with a partner having a triple. In fact, it would be an almost impossibility. In order to win a hole, the combined score of the high-low partners has to be even par. So, if someone had a max, the partner would need to have a -3 on a hole to even qualify. For example, if one person had a triple on the par 4 first hole, the other person would need to get a hole-in-one to make them eligible for the win.

Last night, five skins were won. Not surprisingly, no one had a max on their winning hole. Winners included Robin Kimpinski/Dave Gill ($137.51 on #1), Ryden Lanouette/Joe Shwaluk ($67.50 on #2), Matthew Ostash/Orin McKay ($26.25 on #5), Barry Nychuk/Nathan Nowasad ($126.26 on #6), and Scott Maynes/Chris Hogg ($42.50 on #9). 

The prizes on the first and last hole are among the highest single hole payouts we have had. It’s not often a single skin pays out more than $100, and it happened twice last night.

Having mentioned Robin, I should also note that he was closest to the pin on #9. Austin Hunter was closest on #5.

The max has become such a staple of Men’s Night lingo that even when a player earns their triple the old-fashioned way, by just batting their original ball around three too many times, they proudly declare, “That’s a real seven.”

Often when we play somewhere else, the rule usually comes into play. The two things that are often said at other courses prior to teeing off are “Let’s play from the white” and “Men’s Night maxes”. 

It appears the max in golf is somewhat universal. Jason and Neufeld and I played Minnedosa on Monday and got paired up with two guys from Shilo. They were good golfers. However, when one of them mentioned their score to their partner, they said "I'll take the triple max".

Of the 42 players out last night, around 30 recorded at least one max. For the 10 brave souls who shot over 50, the maxes were plentiful.

There were three scores under 40 last night. Congrats to Reegan Kominko and Matthew Ostash who had 36’s and Ryden Lanouette who had a 39. Usually, it isn't easy to go under 40 with a max. But when you do, it makes it even better. You get to say things like, “I had a 37 and that included a max on seven”.

And while triple bogeys may not win you prizes, they may provide you with a moment of quiet reflection as you pick up the ball and ride out the remainder of the hole. Think of the par-5 fourth. That hole has caused more emotional trauma than dial-up internet. Hitting max early on there means you get to cruise down the fairway, guilt-free, while watching your buddies finish the hole. You’re the group’s designated cheerleader at that point, and hey, that’s important too.

And when you think about it, a triple bogey max doesn’t even sound so bad when compared to the Horse Race qualifier, where you can rack up four over par on a single hole. Now that’s golf's version of cruel and unusual punishment.

Of course, our friendly max system even mirrors real golf rules to a certain extent. Under the World Handicap System, the maximum score you can post for handicap purposes is Net Double Bogey. That is par + 2 + any strokes you’re entitled to. So, if you're playing a par 4 and get a stroke, your max is 7. It keeps handicaps realistic and prevents blow-up holes from artificially inflating your index.

So next time you hit a max, take comfort…you are part of a proud Men’s Night tradition. A tradition that says, “Hey, we’re here to play golf, but not for that long.”

 

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Tee Time Traditions

Every Wednesday, around 6:30 pm, something interesting happens at the golf course. It’s more than just a round of golf; it's an informal but well-crafted, relatively consistent ritual. From the moment we think about it earlier in the week, to the last putt made, and even beyond, Men's Night is governed by an unwritten set of traditions that keep us coming back.

The ritual often begins long before the first tee. Some people arrive early and some come at the last minute. Guys load up their coolers with essentials and generally there is a congregation of carts and players outside of the Club House. The horn at 6:25 pm is used as an indicator for many to head to their respective holes.

Then comes the start of the round. For some, that it their first hole of the day. For others, it could be our fourth or fifth round. Prior to the first tee shot, group members often declare what kind of ball they are hitting and whether or not they are playing for anything. Lefty-righty snips with snakes is a popular choice.

Once on the course, the ritual continues. Golf balls are hit. Some shots result in positive comments. Others result in search parties. People often feel relief if they get past holes 3 and 4 with the same ball.

Golf rituals are common practices among golfers, ranging from simple etiquette to more peculiar habits, often used to enhance focus or perhaps bring some good luck. Many golfers have routines prior to shooting. Some take practice swings, others have repetitive set-ups when addressing the ball, and many use GPS devices to check yardages for their next shots. And while range finding is a ritual, the shots don't always realize the aniticpated distances.


There's an unspoken understanding of the flow. It generally takes around two hours for the Men’s Night round, but for some reason it takes some groups much longer. The actual golf doesn’t take that long. Occasionally you have to wait for the group ahead to clear. At other times, the arrival of the Gator/beverage cart causes a slight delay. Last night that ritual changed slightly with the appearance of a blue GMC Sierra near the fifth teebox, taking the place of the disabled Gator.

Of course, no Men's Night round is complete without the constant banter and hydration. This is intertwined with the shared laughs over a missed drive, the grudging respect for a miraculous birdie, and the ongoing conversation that picks up right where it left off seven days earlier.

Once the score cards are all finally submitted, the ritual shifts gears. The pursuit of the deuce pot and skins is a weekly highlight. As the results are being tabulated, many enjoy some food at the Club House. That was the case for several of the 26 golfers last night.

This week the ritual of prizes was handled quickly. Only one skin went, with Zach Bartram and Jim Geekie winning $61.25 on hole #5 thanks to Zach's birdie. That also won him the $48.75 deuce pot. 

Closest to the holes went to Milt on #5 and Stephen David on #9. Hopefully, someone eventualy gets an ace soon so we can renew a long past ritual of awarding a large hole-in-one prize.

After the prizes are awarded, about half those in attendance head out and the others remain for a while and visit. And then, for some, the evening culminates in the poker at the campground. 

Rituals in golf are important. These rituals might be informal and light-hearted but still carry significance, providing a consistent structure and sense of continuity week after week. Ultimately, the power of Men’s Night lies in our unwavering commitment to showing up each week for the camaraderie and the chance to spend a few hours with friends, away from work, stress, and responsibilities. The simple fact is that we go because it’s fun...because it matters in the way that only the best traditions do. It’s the feeling that, no matter how your round went, you're part of something, something relaxed but also fun and competitive, something that we look forward to for 22 times or so per summer.

So, here’s to the unwritten rules and the enduring traditions that make every Wednesday Men's Night special.

 

Sunday, June 22, 2025

This is 40

On Wednesday, we had 40 guys at Men’s Night. That’s right…forty golfers. Four-zero. That’s a pretty solid turnout for this time of year. It’s not 50, but hey, it’s better than 30.

40 is not just a number, it’s a vibe.


For some, it’s the line between a good round and a great round. Some people shoot a 40 and call it the round of their life. Others shoot a 40 and say their round wasn’t anything special. It’s all about perspective.

 

40 in golf is way better than 50. There’s something psychological about seeing a 4 at the start of your scorecard. You feel competent, even if the rest of your round looked like a nature walk with clubs. Even a 49 is infinitely better than a 50. You get a 49 and you feel as if you dodged a bullet. You get a 50 and you hope no one asks you how your round went.

 

40 minutes is roughly the gap between the first group turning in their scorecards and the last. This week was no exception. It was a nice evening. Who is going to blame someone for playing a few extra holes.

 

There were probably 40 comments about how the scores would have been lower…if only the greens were better.

 

Many of us put in a 40-hour work week just for the chance to three-putt from 10 feet on Wednesday night.

 

40 yards was the total distance of a couple of shots in my group. And that’s being generous.


Age 40 is when many of us start believing that golf is the one sport we might still peak in. Our dreams of stardom in baseball, hockey, or figure skating? Long gone. But golf? Golf gives us hope. No running, no jumping…just unrelenting optimism sprinkled with quiet suffering.

 

40 guys at Men’s Night means 40 different stories about how their putt just lipped out.

 

40 dollars is what many guys take to poker later in the evening, each hoping to leverage it into a legendary windfall.


And some say golf is 40% mental… and 60% denial. They’re not wrong.

 

40 ounces is also the approximate volume of several bottles that get emptied on Men’s Night. We stay hydrated.

 

40 mosquitoes followed me around Wednesday evening like I owed them money. It was definitely one of the first nights that demanded a good dose of bug spray.


Kevin Bartram won a combined total of $187.15 on Wednesday. He claimed the $135 deuce pot with a deuce on #9, while winning $20 for closest to the same hole and getting the $65.63 skin with Alvin Rutchka. If you convert that $187.15 to the currency of Kuwait, Cubby won approximately $40 Dinars.


Another skin went to Pete Ostash and Wayne Griffin who won $25 on #2. If you add their two ages together and divide by four, you almost get 40.


The other two skins went to Jeff Hunter/Zach Bartram ($8,76 on 7#7) and Joel Ostash/Orin McKay ($83.76 on #8). If you add Zach and Orin's ages, it is almost 40.


Closest to the pin was Braeden Allen. It you divide the total number of letters in his first and last name by three and multiply by ten you get 40.

 

So, here’s to the 40 golfers who showed up on Wednesday. Next week, let’s aim for another 40. Or maybe even 41. Dream big!

 

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Happy Father's Day

Given that today is Father's Day, we want to raise a golf ball in toast to the unsung heroes — the dads who golf every Wednesday, not for personal enjoyment, but for the greater good. 

Each Men’s Night, these selfless men are not just competing for skins; they're boosting the local and national economy, freeing up their spouses’ schedules, and strengthening community ties.

Did you know that the average Canadian golfer spends somewhere between $1,800 and $2,400 per year? That's not golf; that's a stimulus package. We dads buy memberships, golf balls, clubs, and questionable golf attire. We spend our money so those families supported by people in the golf industry have food on their table.

At a local level, we are key supporters of the Club House. While the numbers may vary annually, at least 20% of the yearly liquor sales happen on Wednesdays. That is another example of dads giving back.

And some contributions, while smaller in scale, still have significance. Consider Scott Maynes and Cubby Bartram as examples of this. Each Wednesday, instead of adding to their family’s burden, they ensure that their respective sons, Nathan and Zach, come to Men's Night. This generous move lets their wives enjoy a well-deserved break, minimizes the need to hire expensive babysitters, and strengthens the bond between generations.

And within my group, Gorrell is like a father figure to many of us. He arrives late, is always cranky, and yells at us when we disappoint him. He makes me feel like I am 13 again.

Another group of wonderful dads to note are those who prioritize the well-being of their spouses and children by staying out late every week, playing poker at the campground. In doing this, they sacrifice their own rest so that their families can enjoy quiet, uninterrupted sleeps.

Interestingly, this past Wednesday, the two skins were won by combinations that included a wise, fatherly figure supporting a young man. Zach Bartram used Charles McKay's guidance to combine for $40.63 on #2, while Ethan Hunter was assisted by one of our local elders, Vern Synder, to win $40.63 on #3. 

Also, noteworthy, every single one of the 32 golfers in attendance were either fathers or had fathers at one point. That is a stat that often goes unreported but needs to be celebrated.

The deuce pot went unclaimed this past week, but there were some impressive shots worth noting — Jason McKee was closest to the pin on #5, and Darren Ostash was not far off on #9.

Even the scores reflected the spirit of Father's Day. The evening leading 38 was carded by a dad, Joel Ostash. Meanwhile, the highest score of 60 was recorded by a young man without children. This clearly demostrates how the joy of being a parent contributes to improvements in our golf games.

So cheers to all the golf dads — the financial investors and community contributors — for making the world, especially Shoal Lake, a better place. Have a great Father's Day!

Sunday, June 8, 2025

A Perfectly Mediocre Wednesday Evening

Last week’s Men’s Night was everything we expected...
remarkably average, refreshingly uneventful, and so middle-of-the-road it could’ve been sponsored by beige paint. No records were broken, no carts were flipped, and no one accidentally set anything on fire, which definitely counts as a win. The golf was passable, the beverages were cold, and the conversation hovered comfortably between weather chat and grumbling about back pain.                                                                                                                                    It was the kind of night that won’t make it into the history books but might get a polite nod if someone asks, “How was Men’s Night?” Wednesday was truly a masterclass in showing up, swinging, and going home. Not every week can be fancy or memorable. Not every Men’s Night needs fireworks or fanfare — most of us are just looking for a pleasant diversion, a few laughs, and some decent company. Uneventful can be exactly what we need. Let’s be honest...most of us aren’t out there expecting drama and excitement, we're just enjoying an evening and trying not to throw out our backs.

The golf was pretty good, tough, or passable—depending on your individual circumstances. Most balls made it off the tee... eventually. The greens were fast, slow, bumpy, or just right, depending on where you landed. To be fair, that can be the case at many courses at any time during the season.

Speaking of greens, I’m grateful for all the rain we’ve been getting this weekend. Our maintenance crew and golf club executive have been working hard to overcome some tough green conditions, impacted by the usual winter damage as well as the giant herd of deer that roamed the course for several months. I know that the work has been hampered by water issues—both mechanical and Mother Nature’s doing. Hopefully, the solid soaking over the last few days, combined with the forecasted warmer, sunny conditions this week, will help get the putting surfaces back on track. In the interim, let’s all remain patient and kind and resist the urge to complain about course conditions.

Highlights from Wednesday included Hayden Mackedesnki recording the low score of 37, Dawson Tanner winning the $116.26 deuce pot, and Jason Gorrell hitting the ball consistently straight—though, unfortunately, he was usually playing for a fade/slice. Dawson's win puts him way ahead in the season money list. However, we have only played 4 weeks so there is lots of golf and prize money in the future.

Darcy Kowalchuk added another birdie to the Ringer Board to go to -4. The only other person to enter scores is Ethan Hunter who currently sits at -2.

After several weeks of lots of skins being won, only two went this week. Stephen David won $20.63 on #4, while Ryden Lanouette and Wes Arnfinson claimed the same amount on #5. Closest to the pins were Chris Malchuk on #5 and Jason Neufeld on #9.

See you next week at the same time and place for more swing-and-miss entertainment.

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Why We Play?

Why do we play every week? There are lots of reasons to play golf on Wednesday evenings, but none of them are represented in the pie chart.

You might do something noteworthy that will be remembered the following week. However, fame isn’t likely. Sure, there have been a few moments that earned someone a bit of infamy—but those are stories for another time.

No one’s getting rich playing Men’s Night. You might win a few bucks on a skin or for sticking it close on a par three, but no one’s quitting their day job to live off their Men’s Night earnings.

And let's be honest—no one’s coming out for the girls. I have yet to be stopped on the street by an adoring group of female golf fans, swooning over the fact that I won a one-fifth share of the deuce pot last week.

So what is it that keeps us coming back week after week?

It’s the ritual. The camaraderie. The chance to spend a few hours with friends, away from work, stress, and responsibilities. It’s the shared laughs over a missed drive, the grudging respect for a miraculous birdie, and the ongoing banter that picks up right where it left off seven days earlier.

We come out for the stories—the ones we retell and the new ones we create. For the trash talk that starts on the first tee and the good-natured jabs after the round ends. For the feeling that, no matter how your round went, you're part of something—something relaxed, something competitive, something uniquely ours.

That’s why we go to Men’s Night. Not for the fame, not for the fortune, and certainly not for the fans. We go because it’s fun. Because it matters in the way that only the best traditions do.

And hey, there’s always next week’s deuce pot...which should be over $100 given it wasn't won this past week.

We did have 29 golfers on Wednesday, who enjoyed as nice weather conditions as we could have for May golf. 

There were five skins won. Winners included Darcy Kowalchuk/Paul Lucas ($20.00 on #2), Stephen David/Charles McKay ($43.76 on #3), Chad Tanner/Darren Ostash ($20.00 on #4), Scott Maynes/Wes Arnfinson ($29.38 on #5), and Pete Ostah/Blake Hunter ($20.00 on #9).

Pete was closest to the hole on #9. No one hit the green on #5.

Darcy Kowalchuk birdied holes 1, 2, and 8 to jump out to the early lead on the ringer noard at -3.

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

It is just three weeks in and we already had a night cancelled due to inclement weather. There was no Men's Night on May 7.  While the weather wasn't great this past Wednesday, the rain held off, and we got 18 golfers. 

As is often the case with fewer players, several skins went. In fact, five out of nine holes were won. Winners included Cole Hunter/Blake Hunter ($20.00 on #1), Stephen David/Robin Kimpinski ($25.63 on #4), Phil Ostash/Ron Huberdeau ($65.64 on #6), and double winners Reegan Kominko/Wes Arnfinson ($20.00 on #7, $20.00 on #9).

Closest to the pins were Sean Blackbird on #5 and Wes Arnfinson on #9. Sean also converted the birdie for the $33.75 deuce pot.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

First Night of the Season

The 2025 season started off in a positive manner, with 23 golfers coming to play on Wednesday. It was great to see people back on the course having fun, hitting golf balls, and hanging out.

The scores ranged from a low of 39 to a high of 58.

Darren Ostash, fondly known as Milt to the local crowd, had a solid evening, all related to his performance on hole #5. He hit it closest to the pin, converted the birdie for the $54.13 deuce pot, and split a $20 skin on the same hole with Paul Lucas.

There were six skins won in total. Jason Gorrell and Montana Sutherland won $48.75 on #1 and Charles McKay combined with Wes Arnfinson to win #9 and $20.00. The most successful pairing was Trevor Wilson and Dawson Tanner who won $48.75 on #2, $61.89 on #7, and $37.51 on #9.

The other closest to the pin was Jason Gorrell on #9.

Don't forget to sign up for the ringer board. Rules for this may be found at the following link.

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Our first Men's Night of 2025 is this Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30 pm. 

Let's make it an enjoyable and memorable season. It is time of excitement that includes optimism regarding new swing thoughts, hopes of more consistent play, and often new clubs and equipment.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Here's to 2024!

 

The season came to a close on a beautiful day last Wednesday. The day before the Club House closed for the year, we had 25 golfers at Men's Night. 

Reegan Kominko and Wes Arnfinson combined for three skins ($58.76 on #4, $34.37 on #5, and $34.37 on #9. Reegan also claimed the $69.38 deuce pot. 

The only other skin went to Robin Kimpinski and NathaN Nowasad who won $34.37 on #3. Closest to the holes were Ashton Tanner on #5 and Ryden Lanouette on #9.

As is my practice, this final blog includes a summary of the year. Here are some of the highlights from this past season, filled with memorable moments, friendly competition, good laughs, and plenty of camaraderie.

Big Picture Highlights:

  • Robin Kimpinski topped the money list with $376.85.
  • Ryden Lanouette was the ringer board champion.
  • We played a total of 24 times, with over 60 golfers winning money, including closest-to-the-pin contests.
  • Despite a generous pot, no one was able to achieve that elusive hole-in-one.
  • Remarkably, despite some erratic weather, we did not have a single canceled night all summer.
  • There were more than a few evenings that ended with some poker at the campground.

Season Highlights:

  • Our first round was on May 8. The following week, Wes Arnfinson cashed in for almost $200 with a huge deuce, a closest-to-the-pin win, and a shared skin.
  • June was marked by challenging weather. On June 2, gusts reached 70 km/h, and the following week, there was a tornado emergency alert. Although some spouts touched down in the region and hail was a concern, we still managed to play on Men's Night, even with incredibly wet course conditions. That night, Joel Ostash was closest on both par 3s, a rare achievement for the season.
  • July kicked off with an interesting mix of scores ranging from 32 to 56, with ten players finishing below 40 and another ten going 50 or higher. We had our best turnout of the year with four golfers, despite no one from Wayway participating. Fred Hrycak had a standout round on July 24, scoring 37 with four birdies.
  • In August, Ryden Lanouette wrapped up the ringer board with a final score of -8. Fred Hrycak came within inches of glory when his tee shot on #9 just missed going in.
  • September featured consistent turnouts, with plenty of skins being won as we started winding down with earlier tee times.
  • October was fantastic, marking the first time that we had two Men's Night rounds after October 1. The first night was extremely cold, but the following week brought beautiful weather.

As we close the chapter on this season, I want to thank each of you for your participation and enthusiasm. It’s the friendships we’ve built and the memories we’ve created that truly make our Men's Night special. Whether you were a frequent player or joined us for a few rounds, your presence helped make our Wednesday nights worthwile. Here’s to 2024...and here's to a short winter! 

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Embracing the Cold

 

It was pretty cold out last week. When we teed off at 5:30 it was about 10 Celsius with wind gust up to 50 km/hr. By the end of the round, it was around 7 Celsius air temperature with a pretty good windchill. 

But 12 of us still golfed. It was uncertain until around 5:20 pm when the last couple of guys arrived. People bundled up, wore toques, and spent more time in carts with sides on and windshields up.

These days at the start of the season and the end of the season can be unpredictable with weather. But even on a day like last week, I think of the upcoming 6-7 months we will spend away from the golf course. I think of those days in January when I look out onto the frozen wasteland that is Manitoba, wishing I could be outside hitting golf balls.

This week we are lucky. The weather is forecasted for a high around 24 with mimimal wind. Remarkable weather for golf. And this will be our final Men's Night of the year, given that the Club Hose closes on Thursday.

For last week's recap, only one skin went. Reegan Kominko and Joe Shwaluk combined for a $20 pot on #9. There were no deuces. Closest to the pins were Pete Ostash on #5 and Stephen David on #9. The low round of the evening was a 40 carded by both Pete and Reegan.

Monday, September 30, 2024

October is Almost Here

Before I write anything else, we will try for a 5:30 pm start this week. If you are a little late, no problem.

It is always a good sign when we get 20 Men's Nights in a season. We hit that number last week. Also, the forecast looks very reasonable for this week. That means we will play in October. That doesn't happen every year. 

We also did not have a single cancellation this summer, which is quite rare. Usually those happen due to heavy rain or wet conditions. We could have lost a night back on June 12. That was the day of the tornado warnings and heavy rain and hail in the region. However, the sky turned blue around 6:00 pm the same day and we were able to get the round in despite the extremely wet ground conditions.

I usually make a similar statement at this time of year. I remind people that these golfing days are getting fewer and far between. Soon we will pack away our clubs for that 6-7 month long period. So if you get a chance to golf you should take it. But maybe not today. As I write this, there is a wind warning. The highest breezes are forecasted for 4:00 pm when the wind will be close to 60 km/hr and with gusts as high 85 km/hr.

Last Wednesday, we had 18 golfers. Three people made money. Skins went on two holes with the Cole Hunter/Jason Neufeld pairing claiming both $20.00 on #8 and $24.38 on #9. Cole also had the only deuce to claim the $73.13 pot. Neuf was also closest to the pin on #9. Braeden Allen ws closest to the pin on #5. The low round of the evening was Charles McKay's 38.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Late Season Golf

This is the time where it is best to embrace some Fall golf. The days are getting shorter but the weather is still very nice. Sure there may be a few more leaves on the ground but the fairways and greens are still in excellent shape.

The 21 of us who played last week seemed to enjoy it. Jason Gorrell and Ethan Hunter likely had fun. They combined for two skins...$20 on #2 and an amazing $242.51 on #8.

Other winners included Logan Tanner/Paul Lucas ($24.38 on #1), Zach Bartram/Dawson Tanner ($82.51 on #3), Pete Ostash/Wes Arnfinson ($92.51 on #5), and Jason Neufeld/Charles McKay ($62.51 on #7).

Logan also had closest to the hole on #9. Wes was closest on #5. There were no deuces.

With the earlier sunsets, we will tee off at 5:45 pm effective this week.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

From Fairways to Workdays: A Late Season Update

 

At the end of the season, when I get back to work, my blog entries tend to get shorter and come later. That's just the way it is. I love golf and enjoy updating the blog, but sometimes neither are priorities. So here is the update from last Wednesday, seven days afer it happened.

Of the 18 golfers, four won skins. Winners included Joel Ostash/Ron Huberdeau ($69.38 on #2 and $128.76 on #6) and Jason Neufeld/Stephen David ($69.38 on #9).

Neuf had the only deuce of the night for $33.75. Closest to the holes were Zach Bartram on #5 and Robin Kimpinski on #9.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

It Happened Last Week

Last Wednesday we had 29 golfers. Only two skins were awarded. Winners included Robin Kimpinski/Stephen David ($185.65 on #1) and Chad Tanner/Shane Kimpinski ($96.26 on #4). 

Robin's two on the par 4 first hole was the only deuce of the evening, earning him the $54.38 pot.

Chad scored the low round of the evening with a 34.

Closest to the pins were Sonny on #5 and Vern on #9.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Ryden Lanouette - Ringer Board Champion

The ringer board came to an end on Wednesday with Ryden Lanouette finishing at -8. Ryden had one hole remaining and got a par on #9 to secure the victory. Finishing second and thrid in the first flight were Phil Otash at -5 and Robin Kimpinski at -4. Darcy Kowalchul also had a -4 but lost on a countback. The second flight was also won in a countback of -2 scores with Fred Hyrcak edging out Ethan Hunter. 

In other Men's Night news, there were 32 players on Wednesday. Robin Kimpinski and Logan Tanner combined to win the only skin of the night, getting $125.01 on #8. Their individual prize shares vaulted them into the top two spots on the season money list ahead of Wes Arnfinson.

Closest to the pins were Darcy Kowalchuk on #5 and Phil Ostash on #9.

Tim Gianotti had a two on the par four first hole to claim the $60.00 deuce pot. He also paired with a four which should have been enough to claim the large $167.52 skin. Unfortunately, another high/low duo both scored birdies to push the hole.

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Almost!

This is a visual representation of what I heard happened last Wednesday. I was away but it was reported that Fred Hyrcak almost had a hole-in-one on #9, coming up 6 inches short while right on line. Nice try Fred. Hopefully someone will hit that jackpot prior to the end of this season. It will be worth at around $3500 tomorrow evening.

I can't report much else from last week other than the prizes. I have been away two weeks in a row so I am looking forward to getting back at it tomorrow. Thanks to the boys who looked after Men's Night in my absence.

Not surprisingly, Fred was closest on #9. Reegan Kominko was closest on #5. Both converted their birdies to share the $60.00 deuce pot.

There were 33 golfers last week buut we were short $10 so prizes were based on the $320. collected.

Skins went on just one hole. Neuf and Milt combined to win $20.00 on #7. There are two holes (#1 and 8) already worth over $100. The sixth hole could also get past that level if we get a good turnout tomorow.

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Navigating the Waters of Lakeside

 

Given the name Lakeside golf course, we typically don't have a lot of water in play. That is fine with me. We have the ponds on #3 and #7. Occasionally, an errant shot can find the lake on the right side of #8 or go over the back of #9. Of course, we had the additional challenges of on-course causal water due to the heavy rain in June. Like this week's meme, it sometimes seems that if there is water somewhere, it is easier to find than we would like. And the tool to help you find the water is your trusty golf club, whether it's your driver or an iron. The one that frequently surprises people is the pond on the right side of #7. You can be inside 100 yards with a clear path to the pin, yet the ball occasionally goes off to the right. That happens with other shots but the impact is much greater on that hole. It quickly turns a birdie chance into a hope for a bogey.

One positive development on our course is the recent removal of weeds from the pond on #3. It is easier to see shots that clear the pond and how they finish. Thanks to the maintenance crew for cleaning up that area.

I am not sure how the water impacted play last Wednesday. I was away getting rained on at the end of a round in Poplar Ridge. From what was reported, the rain wasn't too much of an issue in Shoal Lake.

The 32 golfers combined to win four skins and get three deuces. Skins winners included Paul Lucas/Ron Huberdeau ($38.13 on #2), Joel Ostash/Joe Shwaluk ($20.00 on #3), Derek Patterson/Blake Hunter ($20.00 on #7), and Scott Maynes/Kevin Bartram ($59.38 on #9). 

Paul, Derek, and Scott split the $60.00 deuce pot. Scott was closest on #5 and Derek hit it tightest on #9.

Remember there are only two weeks remaining to record scores for the ringer board, August 21 and 28. Last week, Ryden Lanouette added a birdie on #7 to get to -8. Jason Gorrell and Phil Ostash are 1 and 2 strokes behind the leader respectively.  For any holes for which one doesn't enter a score, you will receive a triple bogey.


Sunday, August 11, 2024

Another Quick One

This will be a quick update. The picture represents an experience that we all have occasionally.

There were 29 golfers last week. Only three skins went. Winners included Jason Neufeld/Hayden Mackedenski ($20.00 on #3), Stephen David/Paul Lucas ($39.38 on #5), and Darcy Kowalchuk/Ron Huberdeau ($39.38 on #7).

Closest to the pins were Ryden Lanouette on #5 and Scott Maynes on #9. The $54.37 deuce pot was shared by Ryden, Scott, Stephen David, and Milt.

There are only three weeks to lock in scores for the ringer board. The final night is August 28. Currently Jason Gorrell and Ryden Lanouette are leading with -7.

Monday, August 5, 2024

The Weather Has Been Good

 

This seems to be the annual trend. The season starts off promising, then the weather is less than ideal, and then it improves in July. Such has been the case this year. While this photo is an internet meme, I have seen many legs and feet that look similar. This is the classic golfer's tan.

Last week was a beautiful day for the 34 golfers in attendance. The low score was 37, Closest to the holes were Jason Neufeld on #5 and Joe Shwaluk on #9. Pete Ostash was the lone winner of the $63,75 deuce pot.

Skins went on three holes. Winners included Darren Ostash/Wayne Griffin ($21.25 on #2, $21.25 on #5) and Robin Kimpinski/Brent Allen ($46.88 on #3).

For those participating in the ringer board, there are four more weeks to record scores. The final night is August 28.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

The Night Before Men's Night

Well...it is 9:00 pm on a Tuesday, the day before Men's Night. I am just now doing the blog because of a combination of being busy and being inattentive. In any case, here is what happened six days ago.

There were 41 golfers. Skins went on six holes. Closest to the pins were Braeden Allen on #5 and Nick Roulette on #9. Fred Hrycak and Ryden Lanouette split the deuce pot of $135.02.

Fred had a fantastic evening. He had a 37 with four birdies. He also paired with the dummy for a $25.63 skin on #6.

Other skin winners inclided Mark Williams/Chris Hogg ($25.63 on #2), Braeden Allen/Bill Flynn ($25.63 on #4), Robin Kimpinski/Kevin Bartram ($45.01 on #5), Jayden Nowasad/Jim Geekie ($45.01 on #7), and Scott Maynes/Nathan Nowasad ($45.01 on #9).

That's it for this week. My goal is not to wait until next Tuesday to do the next update.

Friday, July 19, 2024

Wednesday Recap

It is an extremely nice outside on this Friday afternoon...hot, clear skies, and almost little wind. Consequently this will be a quick blog entry.

There were 31 golfers on Wednesday. Skins continued to go at a high rate with 5 holes going. After two previous evenings of multiple deuces, there were none this week.

Hole winners included Robin Kimpinski/Wes Arnfinson ($19.38 on #2), Ryden Lanouette/Joe Shwaluk ($19.38 on #3), Pete Ostash/Jim Geekie ($19.38 on #4), Blake Hunter ($42.51 on #6), and Cyril Patterson/Cubby Bartram ($42.51 on #8). Closest to the holes were Theoren Hunter on #5 and Barry Shama on #9.

Don't forget our next two tournaments...the Horse Race on July 27 and the 55+ on July 30.

Friday, July 12, 2024

Rollercoaster Weather

Boy we have strange weather. On Wednesday, we had the best Men's Night conditions of the year with blue skies, warm temperatures, and minimal wind. 

As I write this on Friday morning, we are still scheduled to have one of the hottest days of the year. The forecast is for a high of 32 with a humidex of 41. It was already quite warm early in the day. Then at 9:10 am, the sky turned black and now we are in the middle of a significant low pressure system with high winds and rain. 

We actually have three separate weather alerts right now. There is both a watch and a warning for thunderstorms. About a month ago we had the same, but for tornados. If you aren't sure of the difference, watches are intended to raise awareness to the potential for hazardous weather conditions, and typically serve as a lead-up to a warning. Warnings are issued when sever weather is either imminent or occuring. Right now it is occuring.

Back to golf. Two weeks in a row, we have had a high number of winners. Skins went on seven holes for the second consecutive time and there were multiple deuces. 

The scores on Wednesday ranged from 36 to 55 for the thirty seven golfers. There were nine people who shot 46. Closest to the pins were Noah Street on #5 and Darren Ostash on #9. They split the $69.38 deuce pot with Jason Gorrell.

Skins winners inclued Joel Ostash/Wayne Griffin ($23.13 on #2), Dave Gill/Jason Gorrell ($23.13 on #3 and $50.63 on #9), Theoren Hunter/Braeden Allen ($23.13 on #4), Scottt Maynes/John Gill ($96.26 on #7), and Sonny Blackbird/Nathan Nowasad ($23.13 on #7).

Gorrell had three birdies, on holes 3, 8, and 9. This helped him to jump into second place on the ringer board at -5. He and Robin Kimpinski are one stroke behind leader Phil Ostash.

Don't forget to sign up for upcoming tournaments, including the Horse Race on July 27 and the Seniors on July 30.

Friday, July 5, 2024

How Low Can You Go?

There were some low scores and some high scores on Wednesday. In fact, there was a 24 stroke difference between the top and the bottom. That is for nine holes. There were around ten scores under 40 and another ten or so over 50.

Two golfers carded an amazing 32 which is -4. Congrats to Matt Ostash and Buck Morton for their stellar play. Matt's was noteworthy given that it included a bogey on eight.

The high score was 56. That golfer shall remain nameless out of respect for his family. Interestingly, one of the 32's paired with this score and the other 32 found a 49 as a partner. Neither won skins.

Those 32's were one off the nine-hole Men's Night record of 31. I had the pleasure of being in the group on both occasions previously. First there was Jason Wowryk whose 31 also had a bogey on eight. Plus he hit it into the reeds on the right side of hole #3. I actually found his ball and he put it to 10 feet on the green from about 140 yards away in almost waist-high cat tails. The other 31 belonged to Scott Maynes who went five under despite some heavily aerated greens. Scott avoided much of the plinko motion by hitting most of his approach shots within five feet.

After too many weeks of poor weather, we fnally had a nice evening. It was excellent scoring conditions with sun, limited wind, and soft, receptive greens. We did have a bit of a monsoon that hit around 9:30 pm which resulted in many guys rushing from the Club House to lower their bag covers or find shelter for their carts.

The better weather resulted in a great turnout with 44 golfers. Amazingly, that was without the Waywayseecappo contingent. Had they come we would have cracked 50 for the first time in several years. The positive attendance likely related to this being the first week of July with several new faces here for the Fundraiser tournament.

On an evening in which I realized that I only had six blank cheques, I was hoping for lots of pushes. Instead, skins went on 7 of 9 holes which likely is the most in a single night in recent history. Winners included Kendal Koroscil/Ken Wowryk ($27.50 on #1), Dale Martin/Sonny Blackbird ($46.25 on #2), Stephen David/Blake Hunter ($46.25 on #4), Derek Patterson/Cole Hunter ($118.58 on #4), Ethan Hunter/Garry Williamson ($73.13 on #6), B.J. Scott/Jason Neufeld ($27.50 on #7), and Reegan Kominki/Nathan Nowasad ($46.25 on #9).

Closest to the pins were Lunk Funk on #5 and Pete Ostash on #9. The $82.50 deuce pot was split five ways among Robin Kimpinski, Jim Geekie, Pete Ostash, Noah Street, and Phil Ostash.

Best wishes for a fun afternoon for everyone participating in the Fundraiser later today.

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Double Birdies

Thirty guys showed up this past Wednesday for Men's Night. Scores ranged from a low of 35 to a high of 61.

Skins went on three holes...all won with a pair of birdies. Winners included Robin Kimpinski/Joe Shwaluk ($20.00 on #1), Charles McKay/Ashton Tanner ($45.63 on #7), and Jason Gorrell/Nathan Nowasad ($56.25 on #9). Closest to the pins were Pete Ostash on #5 and Zach Bartram on #9.

This is a big week for the golf course with the annual Fundraiser Tournament scheduled for this Friday. Let's home for minimal rain this week.

Sunday, June 23, 2024

A Nice Turnout

It is interesting what better weather can do for attendance at Men's Night. This past Wednesday we had 43 golfers, easily our highest total of the season.

Usually with more players, fewer skins are won. However, there were five holes that went. Winners included Reegan Kominko/Jim Geekie ($43.13 on #1), Robin Kimpinski/Neuf ($43.13 on #2), Myles Shingoose/Ryden Lanouette ($26.88 on #3), Chad Tanner/James van de Velde ($51.88 on #8), and Ryan Mansell/Brett Allen ($86.89 on #9).

Jason Gorrell had closest to the pin on #5 and Ryan Mansell was closest on #9. Ryan and Jason also shared the $80.63 deuce pot.


Sunday, June 16, 2024

Tornado Warning

Sometimes I don't know whether I am writing a golf blog or a weather blog. Certainly there has been a lot of focus on things of a meteorological nature this year.

Take this past Wednesday for example. As far as I can recall, this was our first tornado warning on a Men's Night. There were actually funnel clouds spotted in different communities throughout our region.

Around 3:30 - 4:00 pm, Shoal Lake was hammered with heavy precipitation, including hail, for about 15 minutes. During the deluge, I couldn't see the lake adjacent to my house. My road received 1.1 inches of rain in that time period. Shortly thereafter, I jumped on my cart and headed to the Club House.

When I arrived there were not many people around. I joined two guys to play a few practice holes. As we were about to hit our second shots on three, the sky opened up again. We picked up our balls and quickly found our way to the shelter on the rear of the maintenance shed. We stayed there until almost 6:15 pm.

Then something interesting happened. The clouds disappered and it suddenly was warm and sunny. The 24 guys who came to play had fairly good conditions for the round, with a few exceptions. My group started on #1 and were cruising along nicely until the sixth tee box. Suddenly, we could feel the pressure drop and saw dark clouds forming again to the west. We picked up our pace and finished the last three holes as fast as possible. As we putted on #9, a light rain started. That became a heavy downpour a few minutes later when we were inside our sheds. Some groups weren't so lucky, getting soaked because they were still playing.

I have not seen as much water on the course as was there on Wednesday. There was almost nowhere that was dry. There was a stream running in the low spot across #5 and #8 that was likely 8-10 feet wide at 4:30 pm. There were countless shots that hit fairways that were lost in newly-formed water hazards. The fourth hole was extremely saturated from the back tee well into the middle of the fairway. It was a mess.

On the golf side of things, it was a relatively successful evening. Joel Ostash did very well, getting the closest to the hole on both par 3's and splitting the $92.51 deuce pot with Robin Kimpinski. Skins went on four holes. Winners included Reegan Kominko/Ethan Hunter ($25.00 on #3, $60.01 on #6), Sean Blackbird/Jason Gorrell ($76.88 on #5), and Darren Ostash ($25.00 on #7).

Fast forward to today and we are still dealing with weather-related issues. There was a another storm last night which added more water to an already saturated nine holes. This resulted in a course closure for the day due to the grounds being too wet. I probably wouldn't be golfing anyway, given the wind gusts of over 70 km/hr. That wind likely was what caused a large tree to crack off onto our road. It looks fairly small in the picture but it took me a while to clear it away using a bow saw.

Normally I would look at the forecast and make positive comments about the expected weather for this Wednesday. I will forgo that this week because conditions have been so unpredictable as of late. If you are wondering what it will be like for our upcoming Men's Night, I recommend that you look at the sky at 6:20 pm, and hope that it stays reasonable for the next two hours.

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Surviving the 70 km/hr Gale

I have written too much about windy golf. I have also noted how we often have less than ideal weather. So I guess there is not much to say about last Wednesday. It was cold and windy. So much so, we were worried we would not get enough guys. We ended up with 14. That isn't a lot for June. 

Two players didn't let the wind get them down. Phil Ostash and Cole Hunter combined for two skins, winning $20.00 on #1 and $109.39 on #2. Those were the only holes that went. Closest to #5 was Milt and closest to #9 was Stephen David. There were no deuces.

The wind last week was gusting to 70 km/hr. That is fairly significant. It was enough to break off a few tree branches. It made the par 4 sixth hole unreachable in two. It put the water on #3 in play for many golfers.

We live in a place of extremes. We have cold winters and hot summers. And there can be lots of variability from one year to the next. Take for example, June 5 which was last Wednesday's date. In 2009, the temperature only reached 0.5 Celsius. The record hight was 34.6 Celsius in 2019.

The 20 km/hr wind forecasted for this coming Wednesday is much more reasonable. But we know that weather can change quickly in Manitoba. Let's be optimistic. Maybe I will get to wear shorts golfing for the second time in 2024.


Sunday, June 2, 2024

Chasing the Elusive Ace

 

The hole-in-one pot will be over $3000 this week. That's a nice prize for one lucky shot.

The last ace on Men's Night was almost twelve years ago on July 27, 2012. Dale Watson won $1616 for his hole-in-one on the fifth hole. Given that this week will be June 5, 2024, that is 4346 days without one. In the time between there likely have been many near misses, both on the two par threes as well as the short par fours on #1 and 2.

Logan Tanner had a near miss last week on #9. He had to settle for closest to the pin plus a solo claim to the $61.87 deuce pot.

The other closest to the hole went to Dawson Tanner on #5.

There were also four skins awarded to the 33 golfers. Winners included Shane Kimpinski/Stephen David ($51.88 on #1), Myles Shingoose/Keith Martin ($71.88 on #3), Pete Ostash/Phil Ostash ($51.88 on #7), and Scott Maynes/Dylan Kimpinski ($71.88 on #8).

Scott Maynes also had the only sub-40 round with a 37.

One other notable occurrence was having 4 of the 17 high-low partners score a combined max of 16 on hole #5.

When the main hole-in-one pot finally goes, we will have two pots of $2250 waiting. Remember, on the remote chance that there are more than one ace in a single evening, those individuals would split the single active pot.