A Message to the Temporary Greens

I talked to someone on Wednesday night. He said he understood why there were temporary greens but he was looking forward to them being gone. He said he just couldn't figure out these greens. I am going to speak more about this matter shortly, but first I will do the quick Men’s Night recap.

There were 21 golfers this past week. Several of us were away for the Shoal Lake grad. Skins went on four holes. Dick Edgeworth and Reegan Kominko combined for two holes, winning $43.13 on #2 and $20 on #7. Other winners included Ryden Lanouette/Braeden Allen ($43.13 on #5) and Milt/Wes Arnfinson ($35.63 on #6).

Reegan also had the low round of the evening with a 37. The highest score was 54.

Closest to the holes were Dick Edgeworth on #5 and Peyton Kominko on #9. Peyton was only about 14 inches from a hole-in-one. Unfortunately, he missed the birdie on the most challenging putting surface on the course. That allowed Phil Ostash to claim a solo share of the $180.02 deuce pot.

Now back to the temporary greens. I want to first qualify my perspective. I am very glad that the Club is doing the work to improve the putting services. I have great respect for the workers and volunteers that are putting in the time to improve conditions. I understand why we have temporary greens. And I am absolutely not a fan of them.

There are few things in life more confusing than becoming emotionally attached to something you never wanted in the first place. We’ve spent a good portion of this year, aiming at temporary greens, putting on them, and occasionally questioning our eyesight because we couldn’t quite tell where the green ended and the fairway began. They’ve served their purpose admirably. They were there when we needed them. They kept golf going while the permanent greens recovered. And for that, we’re grateful.

But if we’re being honest, we’re also counting down the days until they disappear.

Temporary greens occupy a special category in life. They’re a lot like a temporary tooth filling. When the dentist installs one, you’re thrilled. The pain is gone. You can chew again. Everything is fine...for about three days. Then you spend the next several weeks thinking, “I really hope the permanent one goes in soon.”

Temporary greens are the golf equivalent of that filling. Functional? Absolutely. Ideal? Not exactly.

Or consider temporary accommodations. Maybe you’ve had an extended stay in a hotel. At first, it feels pretty good. Fresh towels every day. No lawn mowing. Tiny bottles of shampoo that somehow make you feel fancy. By week two, you’re eating cereal with a plastic spoon and longing for your own bed and pillow.

Another good comparison might be the temporary sink during a kitchen renovation. Let’s say that your kitchen is gutted during a remodeling which leaves you washing your dishes in a laundry sink in the basement. You appreciate that sink more than words can express. You also celebrate its departure like your team just won the championship.

That’s exactly how golfers feel about temporary greens.

Of course, temporary solutions are a fundamental part of the middle-aged life that many of us Men’s Nighters experience. There’s the reading glasses you bought at the gas station because you forgot your real ones. The spare tire that definitely wasn’t supposed to stay on for two months. The piece of duct tape holding together the remote control. Every one of these deserves our appreciation. Every one of these is also something we're delighted to replace.

Our temporary greens have done their job. They gave us a place to play when conditions weren’t ready. They allowed us to continue enjoying the game rather than having to drive to Birtle or Hamiota. They were the golfing equivalent of a backup quarterback. Nobody buys the jersey, but everyone appreciates the effort.

However, we are all likely imagining approach shots that actually stay where they land. We are also dreaming of putts that roll naturally instead of feeling like they’re crossing a section of barbed wire. I am looking forward to using something other than a seven-iron when on the putting surface.

So, while we tip our cap to the temporary greens and appreciate their service, we won’t pretend we’re going to miss them. Thank you, temporary greens. You helped us get through some tough times. Now please don’t take this personally, but we’re very much looking forward to never seeing you again.

Men's Night Memories...Both Real and Imagined

There were 36 golfers on Wednesday. That's a solid turnout by any measure. We had a mixture of regulars with some new faces added in.

I want to talk about attendance and some interesting historical facts. But first, I will do a quick recap of last week.

There were skins won on five holes. Winners included Jason Gorrell/Ron Huberdeau ($20 on #1), Stephen David/Braeden Allen ($63.86 on #3), Milt/Neuf ($30 on #5), Phil Ostash/Jordan Murray ($22.50 on #7), and Keith Martin/Jim Geekie ($105.02 on #8).

I am not sure if Milt and Neuf have ever paired up. That has to be a rare occurrence for two people known mainly by one name. That is like Prince and Madonna sharing the stage together, and that maybe occurred only once, on February 23, 1985.

The low round of the evening was Keith Martin's 37, which edged out Ryden Lanouette on a countback. The high round was a 52. Closest to the pins were Brett Griffin on 5 and Joel Ostash on 9.

Ryden also added another birdie to his ringer board. He is now tied for the lead with Stephen David at -4.

Speaking of Stephen, his skin on Wednesday moved his season-leading money total to $261.92. Reegan Kominko is in second place at $88.15.

This year, our Men's Night falls on July 1. That doesn't happen often. We were actually discussing this recently. Interestingly, our belief has been that a Canada Day Men's Night means lots of golfers. That is not true.

The last two years that had Men's Nights on July 1 resulted in fewer players than last week. In 2020, there were only 29 golfers, with 34 in 2015. In 2020, it seemed that camping, fishing, and family time resulted in many regulars being away. One thing the blog noted in 2015 was a large turnout of Ostash's.

There was also a July 1st Wednesday in 2009. I don't recall what happened then because I took over Men's Night in 2010.

Our record turnout was August 3, 2014, when we had 51 golfers. I think that was one of two times in the last 15 years when we have hit 50. After a quick search, I couldn't confirm the other date when we hit 50 on the nose. I wonder if it was real or imagined...perhaps another myth or story that we've told and I have come to believe.

There are times when certain atypical events impact attendance one way or the other. On a beautiful July 12 in 2017, there were only 12 golfers. Most of the others were at the local airport watching the Snowbirds, Canada's aerobatic flight demonstration team. Wes Arnfinson golfed. I recall him saying that they were treated to the airshow on the course because of the proximity to the airport. He said the planes turned right above his group when they were playing hole 7.

So for a few years, I have been talking about how July 1 dates inflate golf numbers. I was incorrect. However, the story became one we retold until we believed it.

Just this last week, I had a similar experience. I was talking about our hole-in-one pots and stated that we had not had an ace since Dale Watson in 2018. I was off on this one as well. He won $1,616 for his hole-in-one on five on July 25, 2012. So that's 14 years since someone claimed the pot. For the record, there were 32 golfers that evening back in 2012.

One thing that has hurt our attendance this year is the lack of Wayway boys. They've only come once. Charles McKay told me that they will be back once our greens return.

I am away this coming Wednesday for the Shoal Lake grad. Sometimes that event drops Men's Night attendance a bit, but not always. If everyone doesn't mind, I would appreciate if no one got a hole-in-one or a deuce during my absence.

Weather Delays, Not Excuses

Wednesday was a weird one. The day after a storm that hit Shoal Lake hard, not many showed up for golf. 

During the day, volunteers removed large trees that fell across the golf course. The late-afternoon, early evening weather likely scared some people away, with worries that round two of the storm might hit.

By the 6:30 pm tee time, there were only 12 golfers who made it. That’s not the best turnout but is good enough to have an official Men’s Night.

Skins went on three holes. Winners included Stephen David/Jeff Hunter ($82.52 on #4), Scott Maynes/Blake Hunter ($20 on #6), and Riley Swereda/Ron Huberdeau ($20 on #7).

Closest to the holes were Stephen David on #5 and Ryden Lanouette on #9. Stephen also had the low round of the evening with a 36. The high round was a 54.

As of Wednesday, the Ringer board is starting to have some movement. Stephen is now ahead at -4 followed by Ryden at -3.

On Wednesday, some of those who didn’t play likely did not want to risk getting caught in the rain. I did hear that some guys attended a community meeting regarding lake levels.

This got me thinking about acceptable reasons to miss a Men’s Night. This is my list. Your personal perspective might differ.

It’s okay to miss Men’s Night if your child is being born, graduating, or getting married. It’s also reasonable to be away if you are hospitalized, but not if your wife is. Hospitals have afternoon visiting hours that don’t conflict with the 6:30 pm tee off.

You can miss Men’s Night if you are incarcerated, kidnapped, or involved in a kidnapping as the assailant.

Other acceptable excuses include being struck by lightning, elected Prime Minister that afternoon, or finding yourself floating down the lake on a dock that broke loose during a storm.

You may also be excused if your house is actively on fire. However, if the fire department arrives before 6:00 pm, expectations remain high that you play.

A surprise visit from your high school girlfriend or a winning lottery ticket that must be claimed immediately would also be considered valid reasons.

Reasons that are not acceptable include the following…”It looked cloudy,” “I couldn't find my heart medication,” or “I shot a 54 last week and needed time to recover emotionally.”

In the end, the storm passed, the course survived, and 12 brave souls made it out. The rest of you will have an opportunity to submit their excuse forms to the official Men’s Night attendance committee. Jason Gorrell is their contact.

Skins, Deuces, and a Soaking Rain

There were 27 golfers out this past Wednesday for a night filled with skins, deuces, and a good soaking rain for the last few holes. Skins were claimed on six different holes, with winners including Reegan Kominko ($88.15 on #1), Cole Hunter and Wes Arnfinson ($33.76 on #2), Phil Ostash and Stephen David ($20.00 on #5), Jason Neufeld and Riley Swereda ($20.00 on #6), Orin McKay and Brent Allen ($75.02 on #7), and Terry Susinski and Paul Lucas ($75.02 on #9).

Five deuces were carded on the night by Riley Swereda, Paul Lucas, Stephen David, Ryden Lanouette, and Braeden Allen. Ryden’s deuce was especially noteworthy, coming on the par-4 second hole. 

Closest to the pin honors went to Stephen on #5 and Riley on #9. Riley also had the low round of the night with a solid 34, while the high round of 58 was by an unnamed player in his group. Ryden Lanouette is also holding down the top spot on the ringer board, currently leading the pack at -3.

There is a lot of action happening around the course right now. The temporary greens are in full use, and grass is starting to grow on the original greens. Additionally, the tree crew has been busy planting new rows of trees spanning from holes 5 to 8.

With the temporary greens currently in full use, please remember that we are not adjusting our regular putting rules. Rumours have it that some groups on Wednesday played a two-putt maximum, or even allowing gimmies on birdies and pars. If your group is doing this, please discontinue the practice immediately.

To keep things fair, the general rule of putting out all birdies must be strictly followed. However, if you want to give a competitor a reasonable gimmie for a double or triple bogey to keep up the pace of play, that is perfectly fine. While Men's Night is absolutely intended to be fun, remember that we are also playing for real money, so let's keep the field fair and accurate for everyone.

Grit, Gusts, and Grater Greens

Last night, 27 golfers took to the course for a Men’s Night that felt more like a survival test than a casual round. We were met with a double-threat of howling winds and temporary greens, both of which required a serious mental adjustment and a lot of patience.

The low round of the night was the 36 by Dave Mansell, which was ever more impressive given the conditions. Only two skins were won. Darcy Kowalchuk and Ryden Lanouette won $58.14 on #4 and Fred Hrycak and Cole Hunter combined to earn the $20 prize on #6. 

The deuce pot was claimed for the first time this season with Stephen David getting a two on 5 for $168.60.  Closest to the holes were Jason Gorrell on #5 and Scott Martin on #9.

Nothing quite compared to the experience on the ninth green, which seemed to possess a personality all its own. Unlike the other temporary surfaces, the ninth had a texture that was inexplicably jagged and uneven. Putting across it felt less like a golf stroke and more like trying to roll a ball across a giant, rusty cheese grater.

While it was easy to let the frustration boil over after a few redirected putts and wayward drives, there is a genuine value to these challenging conditions if you look closely enough. The wind, though a nuisance for our ball flight, acted as a natural defense system by keeping the mosquitoes entirely at bay and providing a refreshing cooling effect during the heat of the afternoon. Furthermore, those temporary greens are a vital sacrifice, serving as a necessary interruption while our regular putting surfaces are resown and restored.

Beyond the practical benefits, these odd conditions provided some other perks that we should all appreciate. The relocation of the holes actually forced us to intentionally hit golf balls to unusual spots on the course where we usually only end up by total accident, giving us a whole new perspective on the layout. These rougher putting surfaces also provided the ultimate ego-saver, as no one can truly be blamed for a three-putt when the green has the topographical consistency of a gravel pit. The wind also turned the round into an impromptu fitness session, as several guys got in some cardio in by chasing down runaway hats.

Ultimately, the night turned us all into amateur physicists, as we spent a couple of hours calculating the aerodynamics of a ball moving through a gale force wind and the friction of a sphere bouncing over jagged, irregular surfaces. Thanks to everyone who made it to the evening and through the evening.

Wednesday Night Wind & Big Greens Changes Ahead

There were 18 golfers this past Wednesday, which was a reasonable showing for a cool and windy night. The challenging weather conditions and the quality of the greens made for some tough scoring across the field, but Ryden Lanouette seemed completely unaffected, carding an excellent 39 to take the top spot. He was followed closely by Scott Maynes at 41 and Brett Griffin at 42.

Every other golfer on the course finished at 45 or higher, leading to the highest middle score in recent memory at 49. This unique night of scoring also saw Jason Gorrell and Wes Arnfinson take home an unusual 49-49 low and high pot pairing, while the highest individual score of the evening reached 58. The elements clearly took a toll on the field, highlighted by a combined score of 16 on the par-5 fourth hole.

Skins were awarded on three holes this week, and all of them were won with combined pars. Joel Ostah and James Van De Velde had a good night, getting $28.13 on hole #2 and another $41.26 on hole #6. Phil Ostash and Blake Hunter earned $20.00 for their victory on hole #3.

Ryden Lanouette claimed closest to the hole on #5, but hole #9 went completely untouched as no one managed to hit the green. There were also no deuces recorded for the evening.

Looking ahead, players should be advised that the course will likely transition to temporary greens this week. The Club is embarking on a major project to completely reseed all of the greens, and the work is expected to begin within the week. The regular greens will remain closed to protect the new grass until it is fully established and ready for its first mow. This closure and recovery period is expected to last approximately four weeks from the start of seeding. The Club appreciates everyone's patience and cooperation while these course improvements take place.

Fortunately, the upcoming forecast looks promising for both Men's Night and grass growing, with a stretch of  hot summer temperatures climbing from 32°C on Monday up to 35°C by Thursday. This ideal weather should give the new seed a massive head start. 

Finally Some Men's Night

Well, we were about a week or so later than usual, but we finally had our first Men's Night of the year. The extra wait paid off, though, as the delay gave everyone more time to gear up, resulting in an expanded field for our first round of the season. The weather was good for golf shirts and shorts, resultiing in a turnout of 27 golfers.

There were two skins won on the night. Dawson Tanner collected a solo $20 on #3 after pairing up with the dummy card. Meanwhile, the duo of Joel Ostash and Brett Griffin partnered up to grab a $30.01 skin on #9.

Ryan Mansell had a solid evening, proving his iron play is already locked in by hitting it closest on both par 3's. However, the putters weren't quite as warm as the weather. Neither Ryan nor anyone else in the field managed to card a deuce during the round. The tough early season greens likely were a contributing factor,

Jason Gorell had the best round of the evening, scoring an even par 36 despite a bogey on #9. That was impressive given his tee shot hit the reeds on the same hole.

The ringer pot officially got underway for the season. This allows players to lock in their best score on any given hole between now and the third week in August. Brett Griffin is the early man to beat, standing as the only player to record a score on the board with a birdie on #1.

Great start to the season. See you all this Wednesday.

Time to Golf Again!

The first Men’s Night of the year should happen soon…maybe next Wednesday if we are lucky, or no later than the week after if things aren’t quite ready. And after what felt like the longest Manitoba winter in recorded history, I think we’ve all earned it. 

At one point in February, I was considering taking up curling just so I could hang out with other men in a socially acceptable setting. By March, many of us had forgotten what grass looked like. And by early April, every sunny day created the same false optimism where we hoped that the course would open next week. It never did.

But now here we are. The signs of winter are mostly gone, the geese have returned take over the ninth green, Francis will soon have the Club House running, and golf season is almost back.

There’s something about the first Men’s Night of the year that feels different from every other Wednesday. Nobody has officially ruined their swing yet. Everyone still believes the new driver was a good purchase. Those who went to a simulator three times feel like they have a headstart on others in their group. Guys who shot 51 in the final Men’s Night round of 2025 are suddenly convinced they figured something out over the winter. Hope and delusion are both at peak levels in early May.

Some traditions will immediately return. Jason Gorrell will likely find himself near the top of the money list whether he shoots high or low on the first night. Scott Maynes will chip in from somewhere completely unreasonable and act like it was planned. Darcy Kowalchuk will stripe some drives down the middle while casually mentioning how much older he is than others in the group.

Milt will spend at least three holes explaining how he used to hit that club about 20 yards farther. Someone in his group will politely nod while secretly wondering if he’s talking about 2007. Blake Hunter will likely deliver a round that includes both a tap-in birdie and a golf shot that briefly threatens people on an adjacent hole.

Wes Arnfinson will line up a putt from every possible angle before somehow leaving it exactly two inches short. Somewhere along the way, I will loudly declare that I am just happy to be out here before becoming visibly upset over my third lip-out of the round.

There will also be several golfers dressed for completely different weather conditions. Paul Lucas will be in shorts. Neuf will be wearing a toque. And someone else will be fully prepared for rain that never comes.

Players will start off their first hole with a birdie and wonder if this will be their lowest round ever. Others will double bogey the first three holes and start hoping for a score or two to add to the ringer board. The boys from Wayway will likely play $20 skins until after dark.

Inevitably, the first few holes will also double as a catch-up session on how everyone survived the winter. Vern Snyder will recount his trip to New Zealand and talk about how much better the weather was there. We’ll check in on Phil Ostash on how he’s recovering after his knee surgery, likely getting a very optimistic “it’s coming along” response regardless of reality. And we’ll ask Reegan Kominko how his hockey season went out in BC.

The beauty of Men’s Night is that it never really changes, and that’s exactly why we like it. Soon the campground will be full again. The smell of fires will reach the course, coolers and cans will be rattling in carts, and groups will gather at the Club House afterward to debate missed putts, replay great shots, watch some hockey, and maybe head to a campsite for an extended visit involving some playing cards.

We’ll welcome back the regulars and those mysterious golfers who only appear three times a year but somehow always leave with half the skins money. We’ll see golfers from Shoal Lake and surrounding communities, all showing up for the same reason…to enjoy a Wednesday evening with friends, good weather, competition, and just enough aiming fluid to improve confidence on the last few holes.

There are lots of things to look forward to this season. The return of the deuce pot. The ongoing chase for the ringer board. The Horse Race tournament later this summer. The inevitable debates about whether conditions were windy or merely character building. The annual accumulation of lost golf balls scattered throughout the water hazards, bush, long grass, and occasionally the lake adjacent to holes #8 and 9. The complaints and the optimism about the green conditions.

And of course, we will resume pursuit of the elusive hole-in-one pot, which has now grown large enough that several players are probably already planning imaginary purchases with money they absolutely will not win. A quick reminder to those in my group, if someone wins we don’t tell our wives. 

So, charge your Bluetooth speaker, dust off your clubs, stretch whatever muscles survived winter, and prepare yourself for another summer of golf, laughs, questionable shot decisions, and stories that improve slightly every time they are retold.

Winter took its sweet time leaving, but Men’s Night will finally resume after another offseason. That alone feels worth celebrating. See everyone on a Wednesday some time in the near future.