Tornado Warning

Sometimes I don't know whether I am writing a golf blog or a weather blog. Certainly there has been a lot of focus on things of a meteorological nature this year.

Take this past Wednesday for example. As far as I can recall, this was our first tornado warning on a Men's Night. There were actually funnel clouds spotted in different communities throughout our region.

Around 3:30 - 4:00 pm, Shoal Lake was hammered with heavy precipitation, including hail, for about 15 minutes. During the deluge, I couldn't see the lake adjacent to my house. My road received 1.1 inches of rain in that time period. Shortly thereafter, I jumped on my cart and headed to the Club House.

When I arrived there were not many people around. I joined two guys to play a few practice holes. As we were about to hit our second shots on three, the sky opened up again. We picked up our balls and quickly found our way to the shelter on the rear of the maintenance shed. We stayed there until almost 6:15 pm.

Then something interesting happened. The clouds disappered and it suddenly was warm and sunny. The 24 guys who came to play had fairly good conditions for the round, with a few exceptions. My group started on #1 and were cruising along nicely until the sixth tee box. Suddenly, we could feel the pressure drop and saw dark clouds forming again to the west. We picked up our pace and finished the last three holes as fast as possible. As we putted on #9, a light rain started. That became a heavy downpour a few minutes later when we were inside our sheds. Some groups weren't so lucky, getting soaked because they were still playing.

I have not seen as much water on the course as was there on Wednesday. There was almost nowhere that was dry. There was a stream running in the low spot across #5 and #8 that was likely 8-10 feet wide at 4:30 pm. There were countless shots that hit fairways that were lost in newly-formed water hazards. The fourth hole was extremely saturated from the back tee well into the middle of the fairway. It was a mess.

On the golf side of things, it was a relatively successful evening. Joel Ostash did very well, getting the closest to the hole on both par 3's and splitting the $92.51 deuce pot with Robin Kimpinski. Skins went on four holes. Winners included Reegan Kominko/Ethan Hunter ($25.00 on #3, $60.01 on #6), Sean Blackbird/Jason Gorrell ($76.88 on #5), and Darren Ostash ($25.00 on #7).

Fast forward to today and we are still dealing with weather-related issues. There was a another storm last night which added more water to an already saturated nine holes. This resulted in a course closure for the day due to the grounds being too wet. I probably wouldn't be golfing anyway, given the wind gusts of over 70 km/hr. That wind likely was what caused a large tree to crack off onto our road. It looks fairly small in the picture but it took me a while to clear it away using a bow saw.

Normally I would look at the forecast and make positive comments about the expected weather for this Wednesday. I will forgo that this week because conditions have been so unpredictable as of late. If you are wondering what it will be like for our upcoming Men's Night, I recommend that you look at the sky at 6:20 pm, and hope that it stays reasonable for the next two hours.

Surviving the 70 km/hr Gale

I have written too much about windy golf. I have also noted how we often have less than ideal weather. So I guess there is not much to say about last Wednesday. It was cold and windy. So much so, we were worried we would not get enough guys. We ended up with 14. That isn't a lot for June. 

Two players didn't let the wind get them down. Phil Ostash and Cole Hunter combined for two skins, winning $20.00 on #1 and $109.39 on #2. Those were the only holes that went. Closest to #5 was Milt and closest to #9 was Stephen David. There were no deuces.

The wind last week was gusting to 70 km/hr. That is fairly significant. It was enough to break off a few tree branches. It made the par 4 sixth hole unreachable in two. It put the water on #3 in play for many golfers.

We live in a place of extremes. We have cold winters and hot summers. And there can be lots of variability from one year to the next. Take for example, June 5 which was last Wednesday's date. In 2009, the temperature only reached 0.5 Celsius. The record hight was 34.6 Celsius in 2019.

The 20 km/hr wind forecasted for this coming Wednesday is much more reasonable. But we know that weather can change quickly in Manitoba. Let's be optimistic. Maybe I will get to wear shorts golfing for the second time in 2024.

Chasing the Elusive Ace

 

The hole-in-one pot will be over $3000 this week. That's a nice prize for one lucky shot.

The last ace on Men's Night was almost twelve years ago on July 27, 2012. Dale Watson won $1616 for his hole-in-one on the fifth hole. Given that this week will be June 5, 2024, that is 4346 days without one. In the time between there likely have been many near misses, both on the two par threes as well as the short par fours on #1 and 2.

Logan Tanner had a near miss last week on #9. He had to settle for closest to the pin plus a solo claim to the $61.87 deuce pot.

The other closest to the hole went to Dawson Tanner on #5.

There were also four skins awarded to the 33 golfers. Winners included Shane Kimpinski/Stephen David ($51.88 on #1), Myles Shingoose/Keith Martin ($71.88 on #3), Pete Ostash/Phil Ostash ($51.88 on #7), and Scott Maynes/Dylan Kimpinski ($71.88 on #8).

Scott Maynes also had the only sub-40 round with a 37.

One other notable occurrence was having 4 of the 17 high-low partners score a combined max of 16 on hole #5.

When the main hole-in-one pot finally goes, we will have two pots of $2250 waiting. Remember, on the remote chance that there are more than one ace in a single evening, those individuals would split the single active pot.

Fore the Record: Fancy Fairway Edition

 

The pic shown is of Ethan Hunter. I included it (with his permission) because he had a good Men’s Night. Information regarding his experience is found further on in this blog entry.

When I got home on Wednesday evening, I texted a quick summary of the evening to someone who was away. The person responded with a suggestion that I add some descriptive words, with more adverbs and adjectives, to really paint a picture. So I took my short overview and dropped it into ChatGPT, an online AI tool. What follows is what it produced.

In a single, magnificent round of a game drenched in unbridled anticipation, only one splendidly adorned skin journeyed forth, with the illustrious Landon Tanner, in a most fortuitous pairing with the unfeeling dummy on the formidable fourth, triumphing in the grand sum of $92.06.

In a grand contest on the majestic fifth, it was none other than the venerable Cubby Bartram who emerged closest, while the sagacious Ethan Hunter made his presence known on the ninth. In a stroke of unparalleled genius, Ethan deftly executed a deuce, thus securing the solitary claim on the grandiose $43.13 pot.

In the annals of our shared history, I am compelled to recall a fateful day that myself and another braved the unforgiving terrain of Shilo, where the cold was of such an intensity that it etched itself into our very bones. On that day, the heavens unleashed a relentless sleet, reducing visibility to mere inches, and the final two holes were played in a surreal landscape of blinding white, rendering our vision obsolete, and causing my words to falter into a slurry of speech.

This week, by contrast, began with an almost preternatural calmness until the infamous Men's Night commenced. It was at this juncture that the wind began to howl with a ferocity that defied the elements, and the temperature plummeted to a biting chill. I have previously engaged in rounds with snow stubbornly clinging to the trees and on one memorable evening when the thermometer read 7 Celsius, though the biting wind made it feel a bone-chilling 3. In another particularly audacious endeavor at Pinawa, early one April, I found myself striking a pond and, in a feat of remarkable daring, ventured onto the icy surface to take my next shot.

This past Wednesday, however, ascends into the lofty echelon of the top five coldest experiences of my golfing existence, a frigid testament to the relentless caprices of nature.

Well, that was interesting. A little too fancy for my taste but it was worth trying once.

 

Local Man Wins Big

There was 27 for Men's Night this past Wednesday. That's a reasonable number for this time of year. 

The story of the night was Wes Arnfinson. He won the solo deuce dot with a two on hole 9. That was worth $153.75. He was also closest to the hole for another $20 and paired to win the $38.87 skin there with Reegan Kominko.

The only other skin to go was #8 where Ethan Hunter and Zach Bartram combined for a $51.25 win. The other closest to the hole was Fred Hyrcak on #5.

The forecast for this week looks good enough. See you then if you can make it.

Let the Fun Begin!

As the grip of another long Manitoba winter finally loosens, we got back to the important stuff with our first Men’s Night of the year. The thawing of the snow and the budding of the trees signal not just the arrival of spring but also the promise of another great summer of golf. 

Each new season is like a reunion with our clubs and our friends and acquaintances. It is interesting that in a small town or area such as this, we get a bit disconnected during the colder months. I heard several people ask others how their winters were.

As we start this 2024 season, be optimistic about this fresh start. Best wishes for a year in which every shot is straighter, every putt drops, and every round includes clear skies with a gentle breeze. May the groups in front of you never play to slow and may those groups behind you never be too fast. For those of you who spent money on the latest and greatest golf equipment, may those shiny new drivers add 50 yards to their tee shots. I encourage you to imagine positive outcomes to manifest positive results. For example, you should all fantasize about getting a hole-in-one by practicing their victory dance in front of the bathroom mirror, and mentally spending the imaginary prize money. Above all else, anticipating the endless laughter, camaraderie, and memories shared with friends on the course, and perhaps at the campground afterwards, even if those memories involve more lost balls than birdies.

Now to the golf results from Wednesday.

Brent Allen and Reegan Kominko hit it closest to the pins on #5 and #9 respectively. There were no deuces recorded.

Skins went on three holes. Winners included Phil Ostash/Joe Shwaluk ($20 on #1), Darcy Kowalchuk/Wes Arnfinson ($24.38 on #5) and Ethan Hunter/Braden Allen ($48.76 on #7).

We would really like to see more participants in the Ringer Board this year. From May 8 to August 21, participants will strive to record their best scores on every hole, aiming to secure the lowest 9-hole score by season’s end. And the cost is only $10 for the season. On any given night, each golfer can enter as many scores as they wish, with each entry representing their best effort on a particular hole. Once a score is recorded, it's locked in. If you don’t have all scores entered after the final night, you will be assigned the Men’s Night max for that hole.

The Last One for the Year

 

I want to provide context for this week's image. It is meant to reflect the saddest day of the golf season. For me, the last Men's Night of the year fits this description. I know that there may be a few more opportunities for golf before the course shuts down, but Men's Night ends this Wednesday.  The Club House will be closing after the upcoming long weekend.  

On a positive note, we get to have a Men's Night in October for the second year in a row. That has not happened previously.

Last week was an excellent final Men's Night for September. We had 23 golfers and the conditions were more than reasonable. Darren Ostash handled the wind better than anyone and scored the low round of 39. 

Skins went on four holes. Winners included Jason Gorrell/Logan Tanner ($40.81 on #1), Vern Snyder/Barry Nychuk ($113.07 on #3, $40.81 on #8), and Wayne Griffin/Ron Hubderdeau ($28.76 on #9).

Phil Ostash was closest to the hole on #5 and Kendal Koroscil was closest on #9. There were no deuces.

Since I noted Wayne Griffin previously, I should mention that he is moving to England later in October. If you see him around before he departs make sure to wish him well.

Given the rapidly declining daylight, tee off will be at 5:30 pm. Let's hope for a reasonable day of weather so that we may get this final day in for 2023.

Let's Do It Again!

Tomorrow is September 27 and the forecast is 22 Celsius and sunny. What more of a reason do we need for another Men's Night?

Last week we had 23 golfers. Skins went on only two holes. Winners included Jason Neufeld ($38.93 on #5) and Tyson Wood /Stephen David ($54.68 on #6).

Closest to the holes were Terry Susinski on #5 and Ryden Lanouette on #9. Ryden hit it to two feet, made the birdie, and claimed the $43.13 deuce pot.

Still Time to Play

 

You never know when the weather or lack of golfers will force us to shut down Mens' Night for the season. So we should take advantage of the remaining good weather and get out and play some golf. I recognize that not everyone is available at this time of year. If you are busy with something else, all the best doing what you need to get done.

Last week we had 20 golfers. That seems to be about our average as of late. Skins went on three holes. Winners included Stephen David/Barry Bone ($40.30 on #2), Sean Blackbird/Paul Lucas ($20.00 on #7), and Ethan Hunter/Jason Neufeld ($20.00 on #9).

Ethan also had closest to on #9 and converted the birdie to claim the $36.15 deuce pot. Closest to on #9 was Vern Snyder.

Leaf Us Alone

 

We don't have a lot of fallen leaves on the course yet but they will be coming soon. Remember two important things at this time. 

Firstly, it is okay to clear a path on the putting green to get rid of leaves and other loose impediments. You can use your hand, your putter, a broom, or a leaf blower. 

Secondly, if you are certain that you hit a shot into a pile of leaves and your ball cannot be found, you can take a free drop and relief under Rule 16.1 of the Rules of Golf. You may simply play a new ball from the general area without a loss of stroke. This often happens along the rough on the right side of hole #1. Prior to taking relief, confirm with a playing partner that they agree with your decison.

Last week, there were 20 golfers. Dawson Tanner and Charles McKay registered the low round with a 34. Charles also won a skin with Blake Hunter, cashing in for $45.38 on # 4.

Other skins went to Sonny Blackbird/Darcy Kowalchuk ($20.00 on #1, $45.38 on #7) and Brett Griffin/Brad Benton ($58.26 on #8, $171.27 on #9).

Closest to the holes were Ryden Lanouette on #5 and Dawson Tanner on #9. Stephen David had the only deuce to claim the $37.50 pot.

Remember, we will continue with a 6:00 pm tee-off until the end of the season. Wednesday looks promising. The current Environment Canada forecasts suggests 24 Celsius and sunny. Not bad for September 13.

More Golf to Come

With the arrival of September, we sart to hear the familiar laments of those who believe that the summer is over. Yes the weather starts to change and those who had vacation time return to work. But we shouldn't give up because the calendar changes. Summer is as much a state of mind as it is a period of time. Don't let your mind turn over simply because the month does.

Technically, summer runs later than usual this year with the first day of fall arriving on September 23. Also, our weather has been very good. In fact, this past long weekend has to be one of the warmest we've had in a long time. And there is lots of golf to play. Last year, we had a Men's Night in October and the final day of play on the course was October 29.

So don't give up yet. There is still time for more Men's nights. And if the weather is favourable and you are free, there are additional opportunities for evening golf and more chance to add to your golfer's tan.

Twenty-six players worked on their tan last Wednesday. Skins went on only two holes. Winners included Trevor Wilson/Nathan Maynes ($20.00 on #1) and Jason Gorrell/Robin Kimpinski ($20.00 on #5). Gorrell had the only two of the evening to claim the $48.75 deuce pot. Dawson Tanner was closest to the hole on #5 and Nick Roulette was closest on #9.

Remember for the remainder of the year, we tee off at 6:00 pm. And remember that our hole-in-one pot keeps growing and will likely be worth around $2400 this week. Eventually someone is going to get lucky, and you can't win it if you don't play.

Ringer Board Winner

 

The ringer board wrapped up this week. Unofficially, Brad Benton is the winner, edging Darcy Kowalchuk on a countback. Both finished the season at -5.

This past Wednesday we had 27 golfers for Men's Night. Skins went on four holes. Winner included Charles McKay/Joe Shwaluk ($60.64 on #1), Dawson Tanner/Brandon Cloud ($28.76 on #2), Jason Gorrell/Terry Susinski ($20.00 on #5), and Sean Blackbird/Kendal Korsocil ($165.02 on #8).

Closest to the pin on #5 was Terry Brandon while closest on #9 was Stephen David. Stephen converted his birdie to claim the $50.63 deuce pot.

With his winnings this week, Joe Shwaluk jumped to second place in the season money list with $260.04. Jason Neufeld remains in first with $264.39. This year 51 golfers have won skins with a total season payout of $3720.28

There is one tournament remaining this season...the two-person 55+ event that has been rescheduled until Thursday, September 7. Contact the Club House to register.

Final Week for the Ringer Board

Before we do the overview of last week's Men's Night, I need to remind everyone that the final opportunity to record scores on the ringer board is this Wednesday, August 23.

Last week there were oly 19 golfers. Skins went on four holes. Winners included Ryden Lanouette/Ron Susinski ($81.26 on #4), Nathan Maynes/Ashton Tanner ($20.00 on #5, $20.00 on #8), and Charles McKay/Jason Gorrell ($26.88 on #7).

Nathan also was closest to on #9 and converted the birdie to share the $35.63 deuce pot with Sean Blackbird. Joe Shwaluk was closest on #9.

Speaking of Joe, thanks to him for coordinating another excellent Night Golf evening.

Here's the Latest

 

I was away last week so thanks to the the boys who looked after Men's Night. And thanks to whomever can take care of things tomorrow eveing when I am away.

There were 24 golfers last Wednesday. Skins went on three holes. Winners included Tim McWhirter/Keith Martin ($20.00 on #2), Sonny Blackbird/Shaine Kimpinski ($20.00 on #5), and Phil Ostash/Scott Maynes ($20.00 on #9).

Sonny was closest to on hole #5 and Dave Mansell was closest on #9. Sonny converted his birdie to split the $45.00 deuce pot with Jim Geekie.

Joe and Pete - Power Couple

There have been many famous two-person collaborations...Milli Vanilli, Batman and Robin, Tom and Jerry, Thelma and Louise to name a few. 

We can add a new twosome to those ranks...Joe Shwaluk and Pete Ostash. The two combined for skins on the third and fifth holes, collecting $98.76 and $169.40 respectively. Beyond their winnings, both added something else noteworthy during their rounds. Pete was closest to on hole #9. Joe chipped in from the bush line on #3 for birdie. 

On an evening with 27 golfers, skins went on four other holes. Winners included Brad Benton/Jason Gorrell ($20.00 on #2), Chad Tanner/Zach Bartram ($20.00 on #7), and Jason Neufeld ($20.00 on #8).

Nathan Maynes was closest to on #5. He converted his birdie to share the $50.63 deuce pot with Brad Benton. Benny also had the low round of the evening with a 33, featuring a chip in on #2 for two and a 80 foot birdie putt on #6.

A Big Week for Prizes

 

After a quiet week on July 19, there were multiple winners last night and some very large prizes. We had 30 golfers yesterday and 11 won something. The big winner of the evening was Scott Maynes who claimed a deuce pot of $178.13. Mike Susinski and Wayne Griffin combined for a $152.52 skin on #1. Other skins winners included Pete Ostah/Bill Flynn ($20 on #2), Jason Gorrell/Charlie McNabb ($37.50 on #7), and Jason Neufeld/Terry Susinski ($37.50 on #8).

Closest to the pin winners Trevor Wilson (#5) and Keith Martin (#9) picked up $20 each for their efforts.

Scott Maynes' first win vaulted him to second place in money list behind Jason Neufeld who has $244.39 in season winnings. Charles McKay is in third place with $160.97.

Next week we will likely have four skins worth $100 or more including a new accumlating hole-in-one prize.

We previously capped our hole-in-one pot at $2250. As of last night, we have three such pots. The intent is if someone gets an ace one week, there will be a big prize ready to go for the next week. However, we are going to have the second and third pot remain at $2250 but allow the first one to build until we get a winner. As of last night, that prize is $2283.76 and it will be over $2300 next week.

Don't forget to enter the Horse Race this Saturday if you have yet to do so. As of today we have 33 entrants.

A Quiet Week...So a Quiet Update

 

There were only two skin winners last week...Joel Ostash and Milt. That's them standing alone on the podium. They combined for a -2 on the second hole and won a $20 skin for their efforts. The previous week, skins went on five holes. 

Two weeks ago we had six deuces. Last week we had zero among the 30 registered golfers.

There were two closest to the pin winners...Kendal Korsocil on #6 and Milt on #9. Joel Ostash had the low round with a 35.

Good luck to everyone at the Horse Race this Saturday.

Burning Gator and Multiple Deuces

 

That's the only picture I could find for a burning gator. The relevance to Men's Night is that we didn't have our regular beer cart because the course Gator had a small problem. It caught fire when a t-shirt that was sitting on it got somehow tangled up in the engine. The damage wasn't too significant and they just needed to order a replacement part for the one that melted. Thanks to the grounds crew for setting up a rental cart as a makeshift beer cart.

The theme of the actual Men's Night this week was birdies which occured on mulitple holes by multiple golfers. In fact, there were six players who scored deuces.

We don't have an official Men's Night list of rules but we do have some longstanding practices. One is if we have 5 or more deuces we don't pay anyone out and carry the money over to the following week. So instead of 6 people splitting a $65 pot last night, the money goes to build the pot for the next week. That being said, we will still acknowlegde the deuces of Brandon Cloud, Chad Tanner, Jaden Patterson, Jason Gorrell, Joel Ostash, and Stephen David.

Jaden had the low round of the night with a blistering 34. Following close behind was Darcy Kowalchuk with a 35 despite two bogies. Congratulations to Zach Bartram who shot his lowest round with a very solid 43.

Darcy was closest on hole 5 and Brandon Cloud had closest to on 9.

Skins went on four holes. Winners included Ron Huberdeau/Jason Neufeld ($44.38 on #2), Dawson Tanner/Derek Patterson ($82.51 on #4 plus $21.88 on #9), and Chad Tanner/Ron Susinski ($61.88 on #9).

The Horse Race on Saturday, July 29 is fast approaching. Contact Stephen David if you are interested in participating. The current list of entries may be found at the following link -https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t45aX7nyalqo7vpIx8Paneu0thv0oqgw/edit

Few Winners But Still a Fun Night

It is the morning of the local Fundraiser tournament and I have a bit of time to burn. So here is a quick update from this past Men's Night when we had 36 golfers.

Only a single skin went, on hole #7, where Dale Martin and Mike Susinski combined for $60.63. Closest to the holes were Matt Ostash on #5 and Dan Wowryk on #9. Terry Susinski claimed the $67.50 deuce pot.

The Horse Race tournament is Saturday, January 29, 2023. Call or text at (204) 847-0161 if you are interested in entering.

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect

Country singer Luke Combs makes a statement that is likely true for many of us at different times. We golf because we enjoy it but sometimes it can be frustrating. I will speak to my personal experience with this in a moment. However, I will quick do a recap of last week's Men's Night for anyone who just prefers that information.

There were 28 golfers on June 21 with skins going on three holes. Chad Tanner and Charlie McNabb won twice ($20.00 on #2 and $38.13 on #3). Pete Ostash and Milt combined for a $20.oo win on #9. Closest to the pins were Derek Patterson on #5 and Jim Geekie on #9. Derek converted his birdie to share the $52.50 deuce pot with Chad and Pete. Chad's two was noteworthy in that he got it on the par 4 second hole.

Okay, back to the highs and lows of golf. Stop reading now if you aren't interested.

I generally try to be optimistic with golf and I have written often in this blog about the importance of positivity. However, the last three weeks have been challenging. I am hitting the ball very well tee to green, but if I miss the green I am having troubles. I have been plagued with an extended bout of the shanks. This isn't the occasional thing in which I hit one bad shot once per week. This time it is several shots per outing. For example, yesterday in Minnedosa, I had no less than seven shanks. A few times I turned a ball just off the green with a chance for birdie into a triple. The best or worst of these was 20 feet from the pin in one on a long par 3 which ended as a score of six.

Here's the funny thing...I can't wait to get out and play again. Tomorrow will be a full day of golf and I will be playing early and late. And as soon as it stops raining or misting outside, I am heading over to hole 6 to try to remember how to chip again. I am hoping one of the 20 videos that I watched this morning will provide some insight.

In addition to the need to practice work through whatever it is that I am doing wrong, I need to relax and remember how fortunate I am to be playing golf. I need to stop walking up to a chip thinking that I am going to mishit it.

And if it takes a bit to sort things out, I will still be outside golfing. Golf is not a game of perfect...but even poorly hitting golf balls in early summer is a heck of a lot better that most things in the winter.

The Search is On

I want to talk about lost or missing golf balls. But I wlll do the Men's Night run down for those of you who are simply interested in that part.

We had 33 golfers last Wednesday. Skins went on four holes including one big prize on #8. Winners included Charles McKay/Jim Geekie ($41.26 on #2, $158.16 on #9), Brett Griffin/Keith Martin ($78.77 on #6), and Pete Ostash/Luke Funk ($20.63 on #9).

Charles was closest to the hole on #5 and Ron Huberdeau was closest on #9. Charles and Pete split the $61.88 deuce pot.

Okay...now on to lost golf balls. Personalities are revealed when searching for missing  balls. 

Some people will not stop looking until told to do so. It doesn't matter whether they've lost a $6 ProV1 or a junk ball. Sometimes these tireless searchers are motivated by not wanting to hurt their score. In other instances, they simply don't want to give up looking. On many occasions they look so long that their group plays ahead and finishes the hole without them.

Others are in the oppositie camp, having no emotional attachment to their lost ball. Most often these individuals buy their golf balls in bulk through some online dealer. They hit a ball into the bush and say "Oh well, that only cost 80 cents". Additionally, while these people care about their score, they often take a more realistic approach to searching. They say things like "That one is in there too far so there is no point in looking" or "I am not getting any wood ticks today". 

Both groups are right. Whether you want to search a bit or not, that's up to you. Just remember a couple of things. Firstly, if you think a ball is in trouble, hit a provisional. Secondly, you have three minutes to search. If you find the ball in the bush, you may take a drop within two club lengths of the found ball. And finally, if you can't find your ball and did not hit a provisional, the official rule requires you to go back to the spot of your previous shot and play under stroke and distance. If your local group allows you to simply drop where you think you lost the ball, you must add two strokes.

The last point sometimes causes confusion. For example, you hit off of the sixth tee and think that you are okay but eventually can't find the ball. You can go back and hit three of the tee. However, if you don't return to the tee and drop further up the hole where you think you lost the ball, your next shot is your fourth.

I also believe that there is no such thing as a lost golf ball. Someone will find it. For example, I found a ball last week and showed it to someone. They said "That's mine. I lost it last night". Of course, they extended their hand and I returned it without question. Maybe I should have charged a small finder's fee of something.

Staying in Bounds

 

There are a few places on our course where you can hit a ball toward OB and then find out you are safely on the right side of the white stakes. It happens most often on second or third shots on #5. It also occurs on #3, #5, and #7. You drive up feeling a little bummed because you had to hit a provisional...and then there is your ball, just in bounds. Of course, that doesn't mean you are out of jail because usually you have to cross back through some trees to get back in play. 

That's the way golf goes sometimes. You need to take the highs with the lows. For example, many weeks we are short $10 or $20 because someone forgets to pay. But then last week we were ahead $5. Bonus!

We had 33 golfers last Wednesday, which wasn't bad. Birtle had 73 on Thursday, but apparently their Chase the Ace prize is big and ready to go soon.

We had skins go on four holes. Winners includedBrad Benton/Ash Brandon ($71.27 on #3), Robin Kimpinski/Kendal Koroscil ($71.27 on #4), Reegan Kominko/Donovan Tanner ($20.63 on #7), and Brandon Cliud/Darren Ostash ($58.14 on #9).

Closest to the pins were Dale Martin on #5 and Brandon Cloud on #9. They bought made their putts to share the $97.51 deuce pot with Dawson Tanner.

Lucky to Get the Round In

 

Sometimes golfers are not the bad decison-makers. Often this relates to club or shot selection. On Wednesday it related to the weather. I arrived at the course at 4:50 pm when the air temeprature was 28 Celsisus. By 5:10 pm, the temeprature dropped down to 16 Celsisu. Twelve degress down in 20 minutes. A big storm blew in and Shoal Lake finally received some well needed rain. While our numbers were lower than previous weeks due to the weather conditions, we still had 19 golfers tee of for Men's Night. We did have to wait until about 6:50 pm before we started. Once we got going the weather settled considerably. In the entire rain, we only got a little bit of drizzle for ten minutes or so.

You know the conditions were less than ideal when no one from Waywayseecappo showed up. That is the first time in three years that Charles and the crew didn't make an appearance. Those who decided to play had a good evening, although the scores were not great as a group. There were two scores under 40 led by Brad Benton's 36 and Phil Ostash's 39.

Phil also cashed in with a big $139.53 skin on #7 with Bill Flynn as his partner. The only other hole that went was #2 where Brad Benton/Charlie McNabb claimed $20. Closest to the holes were Jason Gorrell on #5 and Terry Susinski on #9. There were no deuces.

Forty-Four Was the Score

 

Forty-four was the number for the night as seven of the 43 golfers recorded that score. That was the most golfers that we had this year. It would actually be an excellent turnout in July. When the weather is like mid-summer it seems to get a few more guys out slinging clubs.

Conor Geekie had the round of the evening with a great 34. Close behind was Logan Tanner with a 35. The high round of the evening was a 58.

Despite have 43 golfers we calculated the skins based upon 41. One person forgot to pay and another took a 50% discount and only put five dollars in the container.

The previously mentioned Logan Tanner has a night. He scored a 2 on both par threes for the only deuces of the evening and the $116.27 pot. Logan also was closest on the fifth and split a $25.63 skin with Derek Cross on #5.

Conor Geekie was closest on #9.

The other skins were Randy Brandon Jr./Noah Street ($38.76 on #1) and Ryden Lanouette/Cody Cornwall ($38.76 on #2).

We have a couple of tournament closing quickly. There is a cheap one of June 17 for Just for You Daze. Forty dollars gets you your entry fee and buffet supper.

There is also the Fundraiser on Jul 7 and the Horse Race on July 29.

This Will Be Brief

There were 21 golfers last week. The number was lower than previous weeks. This dip was likely due to a weird weather system that went through earlier in the day.

Skins went on three holes. Winners included Logan Tanner/Pete Ostash ($30.63 on #5), Phil Ostash/Cubby Bartram ($112.61 on #6), and Stephen David/Jason Gorrell ($20.00 on #9).

Phil had the low round of the eening with a 38.

Closest to the pins were Logan on #5 and Brad Benton on #9.

A Big Deuce Pot

Neuf is the Frnch word for 9. That is fitting given what happened last Wednesday. On the ninth hole, Jason Neufeld scored the only two of the evening, and the first in several weeks. For his effort, he claimed what was one of the largest deuce pots in our history...$174.38. Neuf also paired with Trevor Wilson to get the skin on the same hole which was valued at $58.13. 

Despite it cooling off rather quickly, there were 29 golfers last week. Skins went on five holes. In addition to #9, winners included Ash Brandon/Zach Bartam ($20.00 on #1), Brad Benton/Blake Hunter ($66.26 on #2), and John Tanner/Jason Gorrell ($37.50 on #3 and $58.13 on #4).

Closest to the pins were Cubby Bartam on #5 and Chad Tanner on #9. Despite hitting the best shot on #5, Cubby ended with a score of 5 which was indicative more of the pin position than his putting.

Great Weather Is On Its Way

Last Wednesday was an odd one in terms of weather. It started out a little overcast then there was a storm warning. It rained from about 4:20 - 5:00 pm then the sky completely cleared. We still had 27 golfers, many of whom waited until late to decide if they were playing.

The official round belonged to Chad Tanner who shot a masterful 32. His group members said that he had a birdie putt on every hole. Surprisingly Chad did not win a skin with his partner Robin Kimpinski.

The only skins went on #1 and 5, both by the team of Charles McKay and Terry Susinksi. They picked up $20 on the first hole and $40.63 on the fifth.

Closest to the pins were Charles on #5 and Myles Shingoose on #9.

The forecast for this week, including Men's Night, looks great at this point.

And Here We Go Again

The first Men's Night of the year was as ideal as one could imagine. The weather was very nice, reaching a high of 22 Celsius. The course was in very good condition for just coming out of winter. And we had 38 golfers, which was an excellent turnout for opening night.

Skins went on two holes but one of them was a big one with Darcy Kowalchuk and Joe Shwaluk winning $191.27 on hole #3. The other skin went on #1 with Cody Cornwall and Ethan Hunter claiming $52.51.

Closest to the holes were Cody Cornwall on #5 and Trevir Wilson on #9. There were no deuces.

The Ringer Board started last week and runs until August 23. The goal is to shoot the lowest 9-hole score by recording what you think will be your best score you can on each hole over the course of the summer. You may record as many scores as you want from a given night but once you place a score on your ringer board it is locked in and cannot be changed.   You may even choose to enter no scores if you have a challenging evening for scoring.

If you are checking this out on your phone, you can scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Web Version". There you can see the money list, ringer board scores, and other information,

A Rare Winter Blog Update

Since the weather is mild this week, I thought it would be a good time to do a rare winter Men’s Night update. Always an optimist or at least always an optimist when it isn’t raining on Men’s Night, I am going to predict an extremely early start. Mark Wednesday, April 20 on your calendar. That’s only 73 days from today. If you think about it, that isn't a great deal of time.

Firstly, you can check out the new Order of Merit which tracks previous season money leaders and Ringer Board winners. It is found on the desktop version of this blog or at this link.

To get us in the mindset for the upcoming season, here is a quick review of 2022:

• Phil Ostash was the leading money winner for the season with $211.24 finishing almost $40 ahead of second-place finisher Nathan Maynes.
• Fifty-two different people won money during the season.
• On July 6, Phil and Ryden Lanouette combined for $194.29 in skins.
• Terry Brandon won $123.76 on September 28 when he paired with the dummy card.
• Robin Kimpinski won the ringer board with a score of -7, edging Scott Maynes by 1 stroke.
• Speaking of Robin, he spent last year as the head greenskeeper. Working with his assistants Rob and Thomas, they battled erratic weather and water line breaks to have the course in excellent shape.
• It was a slightly late start to the season with the first Men’s Night on May 11.
• There were 19 Men’s Nights, with weather-related cancellations on May 18 and September 14.
• On May 26, five different golfers scored deuces.
• June numbers were down to a stretch of poor weather which included rainy, wet conditions and lots of wind.
• The most golfers on a single evening was 45 on July 13.
• Although not Men’s Night exactly, Reegan Kominko won the Horse Race on July 23.
• On August 10, seven golfers scored less than 40.
• On August 17, seven of nine skins were won.
• Robin also had the lowest score of the season with a 33 on August 31.
• We had our first October Men’s Night when thirteen golfers bundled up and showed up.
• There were no holes-in-one recorded.

For anyone contemplating new clubs, PXG Canada has their annual sale on and prices are lower than they were last year. Their 211 line has been updated and price points are excellent…$260 for the driver, $195 for fairways, and $180 for the hybrids. The clubs are customizable and include several shaft options. It takes 10-14 days for assembly and delivery. More info is available at https://www.pxg.com/en-ca/home

It's Not Over Until It's Over

Well, we had a Men's Night in October. I have participated in these for 20 years and looked after them for 10 years or so. This is the first time we had one after September 30.

It looked a little shaky about 20 minutes before tee time. But then10 more guys showed up. We ended up with thirteen golfers (shown in the picture) which made it official. In total, we had three of us from Shoal Lake, eight from Waywayseecappo, one from Rossburn, and one from Oakburn. Obviously, the cool, windy weather kept many people at home. However, everyone seemed to be dressed warmly enough and we got the round in.

I think it is worth acknowledging the thirteen who made it. Let me state their names so that the history books will remember them, and so that their grandchildren may speak of that cold day in October 2022 when these brave young, old, and middle-aged men faced their fears and the elements to play golf. Let's hear it for Randy Jr., Tim, Landon, Terry B., Ash B., Zach, Terry Z., Ashon T., Charles, Colby, Myles, Rob, and Stephen.

Three skins went on Wednesday. Logan Tanner paired with a nice dummy card to win twice ($20.01 on #4 and $41.26 on #5). Myles Shingoose and Ashton Tanner claimed $20 on #9. Logan was closest to #5 and Colby Moore was closest to #9. Terry Brandon grabbed the $123.76 deuce pot in dramatic fashion. With winds swirling in all directions, he hit a three-wood from the tee to about six feet on the par 4 first hole then drained the putt.

The title of this blog entry is "It's not over until it's over". While this past Wednesday may have been our final one for the year, it is too early to make that call. The Club House will still be open this week and right now the forecast is suggesting it could be 12 Celsius. Plus the Wayway boys will likely be there to get us past the required 10 golfers. 

I will wait until Tuesday evening to make the call regarding whether or not we will try for one final Men's Night. I will carefully assess predicted temperatures and estimated wind speeds. I will analyze radar maps and study charts depicting barometric pressure, windchill, and cloud coverage. And then finally, I will text the boys from Wayway to see if they are still coming.

Last week we teed off at 5:30 pm and it was tight getting it completed. So in the event that we can go this week, I will suggest a 5:15 pm tee off. I know this doesn't work for everyone. If you come a little later, just start when you can.

No matter what happens next week, we already had 20 Men's Nights this year. There were 22 available but we had cancellations due to insufficient numbers on May 18 and September 14.

One final thing...I check Weather Network and Environment Canada to get my forecast and choose to believe the one that looks best. For next Wednesday, it is this one - https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/mb-28_metric_e.html

And We Are Still Going!

 

Nineteen guys showed up on September 28 for Men's Night. That is fantastic. Even better, the forecast for tomorrow is 15 Celsius which means the first October Men's Night since I have been involved. Tee time is 5:30 pm.

Last week, skins went on three holes. Winners included Terry Susinski/Jason Gorrell ($65.01 on #2), Charles McKay/Colby Moore ($33.13 on #8), and Phil Ostash ($20.63 on #9).

Jason Gorrell was closest on #5 and Terry Susinski was closest on #9. There were no deuces. The low score was 37.

Bonus Golf

Well...while we are closing in on the end of the season we have been fortunate to get some nice weather. While it isn't tank tops and sunscreen conditions, it definitely is great for this time of year. Men's Night will continue as long as the weather and number of players allow for it. To adjust for the earlier sunset, we will continue teeing off at 5:45 pm.

Right now the forecast for this Wednesday is 22 Celsius and sunny. Heck, even the following week is showing 14 Celsius and sunny. I always try to be optimistic about the weather and golf...so I am hopeful that we will have an October Men's Night for the first time since I have been involved.

This past Wednesday we had 14 golfers. Surprisingly, with the small numbers, only one skin was won. Robin Kimpinski and Neuf combined for $36.88 on #4. There were no deuces but Terry Susinski dropped a putt for eagle on #7. Terry also had the closest to the hole on #9. Rob Martens was closest on #5.

For this coming week, we have the always attractive hole-in-one prizes available. Also, the skin on #3 will be worth around $160. Come on out and enjoy the nice weather. Before we know it, we will be starting out our windows looking at snow and wishing spring would arrive.

Shortest Update Ever

 

On Wednesday we had 20 golfers. Skins went on three holes. Winners included Jason Neufeld/Nathan Maynes ($20 on #1), Mike Zenchyshyn ($44.38 on #7), and Doug Cripps/Jason Gorrell ($20 on #9). Closest to #5 was Trevor Wilson and closest to #9 was Pete Ostash. There were no deuces.

It’s Not Over Until It Is Over

 

Well...it is September. While there are some people who really enjoy fall and winter, I expect that most people wish we had another month or so of summer. It is usually this week that we see the flood of social media posts bemoaning the end of the sunny season.

Personally, I ascribe to the "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" camp. Sure I prefer summer over other seasons. Yes, I would like another eight weeks of great weather. But I had a good summer break and I am grateful that I had it. 

Plus the golf season isn't over. Last year we golfed into mid-October. And as is our practice, Men's Night will run until the weather or low numbers shut down the season for us.

This past Wednesday we had 25 golfers. Robin Kimpinski recorded the lowest score of the season with a blistering 33. When asked about it Robin said, "I've been dreaming about this round all summer". Others were polled about what they have dreamt about this summer. Jason Gorrell referenced Disneyland. Scott Maynes said his summer dreams have been filled with thoughts of grass cutting and trimming.

Scoring wasn't easy for everyone. The middle score for the evening was 46, the most common score was 47 for 5 guys, and there were a few over 50.

Robin combined with Bill Flynn for two skins, $20.00 on #6 and $31.88 on #8. Other skins went to Stephen David/Rob Huberdeau ($20 on #1), Ash Brandon ($50.63 on #5), and Jason Gorrell/Nathan Maynes ($31.88 on #9).

Ash Brandon's win on #5 was noteworthy for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it represented one of the few times this year anyone won a hole when paired with the dummy card. Also, Ash had a two on the hole which also got him the $46.88 deuce pot.

The closest to on #5 was Robin and the closest to on #9 was Phil Ostash.

So far this year there has been $3138.16 in prize money spread out among 48 winners. The current money leader is Phil Ostash with $211.24 followed by Nathan Maynes with $166.90.

Remember we are now at 6:00 pm tee off for the remainder of the season.

Robin Kimpinski Claims Ringer Board

The ringer board wrapped up this week. Congratulations to Robin Kimpimski who scored a -7 for the win. Scott Maynes finished second at -6 followed by Stephen David at -3.  Jason Gorrell and Phil Ostash secured the top two spots in the second flight.

There were 26 golfers on Wednesday. Wes Gregory and Brett Griffin were the big winners, combining for three skins including $20 on #1, $20 on #4, and $20 on #6. Those were the only skins of the evening.

The $48.75 deuce pot was claimed by Scott Maynes and Reegan Kominko. Reegan was closest on #5 and Kendal Koroscil was closest on #9.

Thanks to Scott Maynes, Kendal Koroscil, Nathan Maynes, and anyone else who took care of Men's Night for the past three weeks during my absence. See you all again next week.

This coming Wednesday we will be switching to a 6:00 pm start time for Men's Night. 

Skins for Everyone

 

The number of skins in a given week is quite variable. Usually three or four go. Sometimes it is only one or two. Last Wednesday, seven out of nine holes went.

Winners included Shane Kimpinski/Dean Gadd ($40 on #1), Robin Kimpinski/Wes Arnfinson ($20 on #2), Blake Hunter/Joe Shwaluk ($75,63 on #4), Matt Ostash/Ron Susinski ($20 on #6), Pete Ostash/Charlie McNabb ($40 on #8), and Jason Neufeld/Terry Susinski ($55.63 on #9).

Neuf and Terry also were closest to the pins, on #5 and #9 respectively. They also converted their deuces and split the $56.25 deuce pot with Nathan  Maynes.

Golf Records

People ask me if I am getting lots of golf this summer. My response is that I can't complain but I am nowhere near last year's total. In 2022, I played 2136 holes from April 2 to October 16. This morning I read that the world record for most holes played in a calendar year is 11,000 by a Dallas golfer named Richard Lewis in 2010. To put that in perspective, that is 611 eighteen-hole rounds or an average of 30 holes per day for 365 days straight.

Since I've mentioned one interesting statistic...here's another with a Canadian connection. The Guinness World record for most holes played in 24 hours was set by Robb James in Edmonton. In 2004, he played 851 holes in a single day.

There were 34 golfers this past Wednesday. That certainly wasn't a record but it was a good evening for scoring with seven players breaking 40. The low round was Reegan Kominko with a 35. As best as I can recall, the record for low round during Men's Night is likely 31. I know this because I haven't heard of anything lower...plus I played with the two guys the nights they scored the 31. It was Scott Maynes and Jason Wowryk on separate evenings a few years apart.

Skins went on three holes. Winners included Ashley Brandon/Kevin Bartram ($36.88 on #2), Dave Mansell/Joe Shwaluk ($36.88 on #5), ad Wes Arnfinson/Charlie McNabb ($148.14) on #6.

Closest to the pins were Kendal Koroscil on #5 and Dale Martin on #9. Dale converted his deuce to split the $110.62 deuce pot with Joe Shwaluk.

Remember that the final two weeks for the ringer board are August 17 and 24.

Thanks to Scott Maynes and Kendal Koroscil for taking care of scoring and prizes in my absence.

Golf and Life

There are stretches during any summer where things are going on when golf is put on the backburner. You get busy with other things, maybe have other plans, and suddenly you haven't golfed in a while.

Last year I golfed a lot...likely the most golf I have played in a single year. This year has been different. I have golfed more than the average person but am nowhere near my 2021 totals. I am okay with that. Sometimes other things are priorities or sometimes things come up that require your attention. Golf is a great pastime but life involves more than golf.

Last week, we had 25 golfers. Ash Brandon had the low round of 36. Brad Benton was closest to on #5 and Derek Patterson hit it tightest on #9. There were no deuces.

Skins went on three holes. Winners included Derek Patterson/Mike Susinski ($20 on #1), Robin Kimpinski/Ron Huberdeau ($20 on #7), and Brad Benton/Blake Hunter ($106.89) on #8.

The middle score last week was 45 which is the highest it has ever been. Despite good conditions, there were 6 scores of 50+.

If you have yet to finish off your ringer board, there are three nights remaining (August 10, 17, and 24).

Last Wednesday in July

There were 32 golfers last Wednesday. Skins went on five holes. Pete Ostash/Dawson Tanner won twice including $66.88 on #5 and $48.75 on #7. Other skins went to Nathan Maynes/Jason Neufeld ($20 on #1), Charlie McNabb/Brett Griffin ($20 on #2), and Ethan Hunter/Joe Shwaluk ($38.75 on #9).

The $60.00 deuce pot was split by four people - Kevin Bartram, Joe Shwaluk, Nathan Maynes, and Terry Susinski.

Closest to the holes were Pete Ostash on #5 and Myles Shingoose on #9.

A reminder to lock in your ringer board scores given that there is only 3 weeks remaining to do so.

Club Toss Anyone?

I just read that the longest throw of a golf club is 235.2 feet or 78.4 yards achieved by Tyson Allen (USA) in Emporia, Kansas, USA, on 14 October 2021. I verified this with a couple of other sources. This doesn't seem long. That's barely half the distance to the back of the ninth hole. I may have to test this out later today with an old club. If this is actually the record, I think that there are a few people in Shoal Lake who could challenge it.

As far as I know, there were no clubs thrown by the 30 golfers last week. Skins went on three holes. Winners included Stephen David/Mike Susinski ($20 on #1), Robin Kimpinski/Theoren Hunter ($20 on #2), and Jason Neufeld/Terry Susinski ($46.88 on #4).

Closest to the pins were Darcy Kowalchuk on #5 and Scott Maynes on #9. Scott converted his birdie to share the $56.25 deuce pot with Phil Ostash.

Including this evening, there are four weeks remaining on the Ringer Board. The final night to record scores is August 24. Currently, Robin Kimpinski leads the way at -7 followed by Scott Maynes at -5.

Congratulations to our Horse Race champion for 2022...Reegan Kominko. Reegan battled back from a lost ball on the first tee to victory by way of a chip-off on the ninth hole. Congratulations also to 2nd Flight winner Jason Gorrell and 3rd Flight winner Ron Susinski.

Just a Solid Men's Night

What an excellent Men's Night yesterday...lots of golfers and great weather. In fact, the sky was so clear that many groups continued on as long as they could. Our numbers have increased the last three weeks...from 33 to 39 and then 45 yesterday. There were many new faces including some who likely played for their first time with us. Nights like this are always good for the course, the Club House, and the beverage cart.

Skins went on five holes. Winners included Noah Street/Brendan Cloud ($72.51 on #1), Terry Brandon/Cubby Bartram ($$72.51 on #2), Dale Martin/Braeden Allen ($28.13 on #3), Derek Patterson/Nathan Maynes ($72.51 on #7), and Reegan Kominko/Myles Shingoose ($90.64) on #9.

Closest to the pins were Cyril Patterson on #5 and Kendal Koroscil on #9. Three people split the $84.38 deuce pot...Charlie McNabb, Reegan Kominko, and Noah Street.

Next Saturday is the annual Horse Race tournament.

By the way, if you read last week's blog I had a small error that made for some entertaining conversations yesterday. The deuce pot was only $133.13 not the $4133.13 that I originally reported. Thanks to Blake Hunter for pointing out my mistake.

Golf Sayings, Phrases, and Words of Encouragement

I read an article recently about golf sayings. There are a lot of these phrases that are overused. Most of us drop them occasionally. Many I have heard in the last week. I try to use them less but still one occasionally slips out. My go-to one is "that'll play".

We start out rounds with obligatory comments about having a good game or hitting them straight. We compliment people with phrases such as "well hit", "that sounded good", "nice bomb" or "that one isn't going to hurt you". When people putt and miss, we say things to encourage such as "had the line" or "you gave it a chance". Occasionally, we make comments that are less supportive such as "if you hit it hard enough you would have had it".

Sometimes we say things to others that suggest that we have some insight into the golf swing. We tell people "nice tempo" or "good speed" or something like that. Or we react to a great shot with the comment "be right" as if our words can help the shot be even better.

When we hit a ball too far, someone in the group might yell "bite" or "hit a house". Often our comments are intended to pick someone up after a bad shot. We say things such as "you could be worse" or "better than being at work". However, golf can sometimes feel like work and these attempts at support can have the opposite effect.

Last Wednesday we had an excellent turnout due to nice weather and several people visiting town. Three of the 39 golfers had a deuce, with Darcy Kowalchuk, Ron Susinski, and Robin Kimpinski sharing the $133.13 pot.

Robin was closest to the pin on #5 with Kendal Koroscil hitting it closest on #9.

Only three skins went but two of them were the biggest on the board. Reegan Kominko and John Gill combined for $98.14 on #3 while Phil Ostash and Ryden Lanouette won a whopping $194.29 on #4. The final skin of $44.38 went to Tim Siegle and Ron Susinski on #9.

There was a change in the lead on the ringer board with Robin Kimpinski adding two more birdies to move to -6.

Big Pot on #4

Another Wednesday morning and another need to write a quick blog post to get ready for this evening.

The fourth hole skin is currently worth $169.91. It will likely be around $190 this evening.

We had 33 golfers last week which was our season-high. Only one skin went. Theoren Hunter and Brad Benton combined for a $20 win on #8. Closest to the pins were Ryder Lanouette on #5 and Sonny Blackbird on #9. There were no deuces.