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 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.

Horse Race on July 26

The 15^th 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

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.”

 

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.

 

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!

 

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.