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.

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! 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.