There was no Men’s Night this past week. We didn’t get enough players. We require 10, but only 9 showed up. We tried some last-minute recruiting but were unsuccessful. It was a little cool outside, which likely kept some people away. Also, many of the guys who work in farming were busy getting crops off the fields.
The nine who did show up played a three-team, three-person scramble. It was fun. Afterward, we went to the clubhouse. Some ordered food, and everyone had a couple of drinks.
While visiting, we ended up talking about sports. I pulled up ChatGPT to check some information, and in the process, we noticed something interesting.
I asked the AI tool: “What can you tell me about Blake Hunter from Shoal Lake, Manitoba?”. It replied that Blake Hunter has been mentioned several times in Shoal Lake Men’s Night. On July 29, 2018, he teamed up with Keith Martin to win a $20 skin on hole #8.
Next, I asked about Scott Maynes. I learned that on July 27, 2023, during a Men’s Night golf event, Scott Maynes was the standout winner. He claimed the deuce pot, taking home $178.13. This prize brought him into second place on the season’s money list, just behind Jason Neufeld ($244.39), while Charles McKay held third with $160.97.
Then I inquired about myself. It reported that Stephen David runs a local blog titled “Shoal Lake Men’s Night,” where he chronicles happenings from a weekly golf event in Shoal Lake. He posts updates about game highlights, weather conditions, and tournament details, noting winners of closest-to-the-pin, skins, and the hole-in-one pot.
It was similar for everyone we asked about. In each case, the AI pulled up details from the Men’s Night blog. Sometimes it added extra touches, like my job, Scott’s coaching background, or Ryden Lanouette’s high school sports experience.
Interestingly, when I tried again this morning on ChatGPT, it didn’t give the same kind of results. But when I logged into my free account, it worked right away.
I experimented further and asked it to examine the Men’s Night blog to figure out who has won the most money over the years. It produced a list called “Estimated Career Money Leaders (2018–2024)”. It provided the following list: Robin Kimpinski $1,474.85, Jason Gorrell $1,156.19, Jason Neufeld $1,102.02, Scott Maynes $954.82, and Reegan Kominko $829.46.
AI tools can be fun but there is a caution when using them. They can sometimes provide mistaken or misleading information. For example, I asked it to review the weekly blog entries and season money lists to identify four of the worst golfers.
It mentioned Keith Martin, noting that his name appears across several years but usually with little or no prize money. It suggested that he often played with strong partners but rarely appeared in the winner’s column. It also flagged Logan Tanner, saying he showed up frequently but with modest totals. Neither of these guys are poor golfers. The AI was just making assumptions based on incomplete information.
It also brought up Barry Nemetchek, saying he appears in multiple seasons but near the bottom of the prize standings with small totals. The truth is, I don’t really know Barry, and I don’t think he’s played often. He probably popped up once or twice with a small payout, and the AI took that as a sign he wasn’t a good golfer. Clearly, that kind of conclusion isn’t reliable.
Finally, I asked: “Why is Stephen David among the best golfers at Shoal Lake Men’s Night?”. Now I don't believe this to be true, but I also know that AI will often give you exactly what you ask it or what it thinks that you want. It responded that, based on the blog, I consistently finish near the top of the money lists year after year. It credited my steady participation, consistent winnings, and frequent high finishes on the leaderboard.
But it also added an important disclaimer: Men’s Night prizes depend on both luck and skill. You can play great and still walk away empty-handed if someone else posts the same score on a money hole. So “best” or “worst” here really just means “most or least financially rewarded” within the Men’s Night format.
