Weekly update

It happens a couple of times per year. I get busy and don't get the blog done. When I eventually get to it, I just do a quick update. Today is one of those times.

It was a great night for Men's Night last Wednesday. 40 came out to play. Skins went on three holes. Winners included Noah Street / Rhys Lanouette ($45 on #1), Brad Benton / Ron Susinski ($25 on #2), and Joel Ostash / Reegan Kominko ($80.62 on #8). It is worth noting that three of those winners are under 20 years of age. Great job young guys.

Phil Ostash was dialed in on the par threes, at least off the tee. He was closest to the pin on both #5 and #9 but was unable to convert either birdie. As a result, he missed out on the $75 deuce pot shared by Austin Hunter and Montanna Tanner.

Tomorrow is July 1st which often leads to one of the best turnouts of the year. Of course, we also have our Fundraiser Tournament on Friday. A great week for golf in Shoal Lake.

Feel Good Golf

I just read an article on the 37 Best Feelings in Golf. It starts off by stating that golf is a maddening game, one that isn’t kind to us most of the time. But we love it anyway, and it’s the good moments that keep us coming back.

Think about a typical Men's Night. Some rounds are better than others but it is still fun. Occassionally you follow a double bogey with a chip-in birdie.

Of the 37 things noted in the article, my personal favourite is likely knowing a putt is good before it even gets to the hole. From a Shoal Lake perspective, I certainly appreciate a good drive on the third hole more than anywhere else on the course. And from a broader context, I really enjoy when everyone in the group is playing well on a sunny day free from any cares or worries.

If you want to check out the article, it may be found at https://golf.com/instruction/rules/the-37-best-feelings-in-golf/

Wednesday night was a good night for golf. We had 32 players including several who joined us for the first time this year. Special welcome to the six genetlemen from Waywayseecappo who visited and appeared to have a fun evening. One of them, Chad Tanner, had one of the low rounds of the night at 38. Another, Randy Brandon, hit it to a couple of feet to a far back pin on #5 to get closest to the pin and win a $189.36 deuce pot. Thanks also to Charles, Brandon, Donovin, and Myles for coming to Shoal Lake. You are welcome back at any time.

The low round of the evening belonged to Robin Kimpinski and Scott Maynes with 37's followed by Jason Hunter and Chad Tanner at 38. The other closest to the pin was on #9 by Reegan Kominko.

Skins went on four holes. Winners incuded Wes Arnfinson / Chad Tanner ($39.37 on #2), Darcy Kowalchuk / Rhys Lanouette ($86.25 on #3), Jason Neufeld / Troy Chwaluk ($63.12 on #5), and Blake Hunter / Theoren Hunter ($63.12 on #7).

The golf course will continue to have Friday Nine and Dines every two weeks. The next one is June 26.

The New Normal for Golf

It is interesting how quickly we have become used to a pool noodle in the cup. The golf course has only been open for 40 days yet this new hole configuration already seems standard. Like many of the COVID-19 related changes, we simply adapt and do what we need to do. Occasionally a ball pops out that should stay in but that is a small price to pay for increased safety. We have also seen fewer handshakes, smaller golf groups, and usually just one person per cart.

A couple of interesting developments with the Phase 3 Restoring Services announcement by the Province. Effective June 21, the Club House can increase to 75% capacity and outdoor gatherings may increase to 100. These new measures will help with our upcoming tournaments. Also, people don't have to self isolate after arriving in Manitoba from Northern Ontario and the western provinces. That is great news for our seasonal campers and visitors from Saskatchewan. Finally, as of June 21, you may share a golf cart with someone who is not a member of your family.

So the PGA returns this weekend. It is the first official tournament since the Players Championship was cancelled on Thursday, March 12. It's funny watching them play without fans and crowd noise. 

There was a little more noise on the golf course Wednesday as we hit 31 golfers. It was neat to see everyone spread around outside just before our 6:30 pm tee off. After our regular long winter and spring quarantine, there were lots of people reconnecting after many months apart.

With the increased numbers there were lots of pushes for skins with only one hole going. Joel Ostash and Jim Geekie won $20 on #1. Milt was closest on #5 while Jim Geekie was tight on #9. There were no deuces which means the pot on Wednesday will likely be close to $200. The low rounds were Joel Ostash and Robin Kimpinski with 38's followed by Pete Ostash with a 39.

Thanks to Robin for the nice course set up with some pins in new and weird places.

There's Lots of Golf in 2020

In early April we didn't even know if there would be a golf season. Later that month we found out that we could open at the start of May. Since then there has been a lot of golf played. The weather has been warm but windy. There aren't a lot of other sport alternatives. It seems like a fairly low-risk activity that includes social distancing by it's very nature. Every year many of us are eager to get back hitting golf balls after our long Manitoba winters. Add a spring pandemic and those feelings are even stronger.

Personally I have played 18 days since the start of the season. That includes 408 total holes which is equivalent to 45 nine-hole rounds. Yes I am tracking them. Last year I didn't get to golf until June 19. This year I am making up for it. If it sounds like I am bragging I apologize. I am simply excited to be playing regularly and grateful that our golf season hasn't been canceled.

What other signs are there of increased golf in Shoal Lake. Several people have already got full value from their membership. Another big indicator is the number of new people who are golfing including lots of youth. It is great to see the increase in play among the under 20 crowd. This may be attributable to COVID-19. Many planned activities for kids have been canceled or have yet to start. In the absence of school functions, team sports, and summer camps many are heading to the golf course to fill the gap.

And there is more golf to come. Right now it looks like we will make a go of all of our tournaments. There will be social distancing and other COVID-19 measures employed but we will still have the tournaments. For our fundraiser we will likely reduce the number of entrants. We may have to adjust the horse race tournament in later July. Also we had our first Nine and Dine last night. We intend on running a couple each month for anyone who is interested.

And of course there is Men's Night. We had a fairly good turnout this week with 26 golfers including several people making their first appearance of the year. Skins went of three holes. Winners included Charlie McNabb / Dave Gill ($20 on #1), Troy Chwaluk / Jason Hunter ($30 on #2), and Brad Benton / Shane Kimpinski ($20 on #8).

Wind was once again a factor. Brad Benton managed the conditions well with a low round of 37. Others were not so fortunate. There were six of the 26 scores over 50 and the middle score was 46. That is as high as I can recall it. Closest to the pin was Scott Maynes on #5 and Kendal Koroscil on #9. No deuces were recorded which means next weeks pot will be well over $100.

One final thing to note is that July 1 is on a Wednesday this year. If my memory serves me correct we usually get a huge boost in attendance when this happens. Maybe we will hit 50 golfers then.