A fixture in the Manitoba golfing community is enjoying a week in professional golf.

Don MacDonald, who has been officiating provincial golf championships for over two decades, is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania this week working the U.S. Senior Open at Saucon Valley Country Club.

“I am what is called a “stationary referee” so I am assigned to one hole all day. The PGA Championship Tour Referees act as rovers and will be called in for difficult rulings – the players have a greater comfort level with them because they see them all the time. We do give rulings though such as Temporary Immovable Obstructions, temporary water on a day like today etc,  I had one where the player was unsure whether his ball was on the green or the collar. The collar is cut to “fairway” height which, believe it or not, is hard to distinguish from green height” said MacDonald.

“The USGA invites Golf Canada to send a “guest referee” to their major events and Golf Canada was asked me if I would like to go and it took me about a millisecond to confirm that I would. My connection with Golf Canada is that I serve on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status Committee. The USGA does this due to the close and cooperative relationship that exists between the USGA and Golf Canada – as both rely on volunteer referees we learn from each other with the view to increasing the knowledge and experience base of referees”.

Golf Manitoba would like to congratulate Don on his assignment and we look forward to hearing more when he returns to Winnipeg.

Patrick Law, Head Professional at Minnedosa Golf & Country Club, is set for the 2022 Marathon Monday golf challenge this weekend in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

For more information, including how to register or donate, click here.

92 competitors will be at La Broquerie Golf starting Saturday afternoon as Golf Manitoba presents the 2022 All Abilities, Bantam, Women’s City and District Championships.

All three championships will be determined over 36 holes.

A dozen players will vye for the All Abilities Championship, open to golfers who identify with neurological, intellectual, sensory and physical impairments.

“We are excited to have this event in our 2022 championship calendar” said Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “It is an important step in helping to create a more inclusive, diverse and inviting golf community in our province”.

There will be a new Women’s City & District Champion in the 24 person field as Bobbi Uhl is not taking part. Last year, she earned a two stroke victory over Southwood Golf & Country Club’s Rhonda Orr.

Brayden Boge of Pine Ridge Golf Club will look to win the Men’s Bantam Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation. Boge lost by a single stroke last year to Jackson Delaurier, a Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member.

Jeri Lafleche of Clear Lake Golf Course won last year’s Women’s Bantam Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation. Her sister Jewel is one of the competitors vying for the 2022 title.

For more details on these championships, click here.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome to Southport Golf Club as our newest member club.

Located just south of Portage la Prairie, this 9 hole course can be played from three sets of tee boxes ranging from 2,905 to 3,196 yards.

The Southport Golf Club also features a putting green and 300 yard driving range.

Open to hosting tournament and corporate events, the clubhouse features a restaurant and lounge.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at Southport Golf Club are acceptable for handicap purposes and may be recorded toward establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

For tee times and more information call (204) 428-3174, or visit their website.

Devon Schade of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club earned a 4 stroke victory over fellow club member Matt Lorenz and Terry Reilly of Niakwa Country Club to win the PGA of Manitoba PING Spring Championship.

Schade won the 18 hole event at Southwood Golf & Country Club finishing with a 66.

GOLFTEC Winnipeg’s Bret Thompson and Colwyn Abgrall rounded out the top 5 on the leaderboard. Thompson was 71, Abgrall 72.

Stony Mountain, Manitoba’s Aaron Cockerill met with the Winnipeg media via zoom Tuesday to discuss playing in his 1st PGA Tour event, the RBC Canadian Open.

Team Manitoba member Ryan Blair, of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, was the low qualifier today in Jamestown, North Dakota shooting a 2 under par 70 and will play in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes July 25-30.

Today’s qualifier at the Jamestown Country Club was a par 72 course playing at 6,653 yards.

Blair was the lone Canadian in the field of 25 boys vying for a spot.

Ella Kozak of Yorkton, Saskatchewan was the Junior Girls Qualifier shooting a 2 over par 74.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome to Virden Wellview Golf Club as our newest member club.

Located just west of Virden, this 9 hole course can be played from three sets of tee boxes ranging from 2,605 to 3,150 yards.

The clubhouse features a pro shop, restaurant and lounge.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at Virden Wellview Golf Club are acceptable for handicap purposes and may be recorded toward establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

For tee times and more information call (204) 748-1721, or visit their website.

Inclement weather cancelled the final 18 holes of play Sunday at Quarry Oaks Golf Course to conclude Golf Canada’s NextGen Prairie Championship.

The top 6 players after 36 holes on the leaderboard earned a birth into their respective Boys and Girls National Championship.

Jack Moro, of Whitewater Golf Club, placed 3rd at 2 over par 146 (73, 73) while Team Manitoba member Grady Chuback of St. Charles Country Club finished 6th on the leaderboard at 6 over par 150 (78-72) in Junior Boys. That gives them a trip to Kamloops, British Columbia for the Canadian Junior Boys Championship August 7th to 10th at Rivershore Golf Links.

Team Manitoba members Addison Kartusch, also of St. Charles and Clara Peake, a Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member tied for 5th place with a 161 total. Kartusch was 82-79 while Peake finished 78-83.

Both players advance to the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ontario July 26th to 29th.

For the complete NextGen Prairie Championship leaderboard, click here.

Western Canada’s top junior golfers are in Steinbach this weekend at Quarry Oaks Golf Course taking part in the Golf Canada Next Gen Prairie Championship.

The 54 hole event features players from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Western Ontario.

As the host course, Quarry Oaks has been a busy to start the month of June with the recently completed Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Clinic just wrapping up this past Sunday.

“It is very rewarding and exciting for our course to host these great championships, we want to be sure to put on a good show for all the competitors and give them a very positive experience of Quarry Oaks” said Quarry Oaks Head Professional Darren Hayden. “Golf Manitoba & Golf Canada have been great partners to work with on these events and enjoy the relationship we have with them. We are proud of how the events have turned out and trust that the events were received in a positive light by all involved. As a host course we hope to gain great exposure to golfers who are not familiar with the quality of our facility”.

The top 6 male competitors (including ties) will earn a spot in the upcoming Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, August 7-10, at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. The top 6 female golfers (including ties) will also earn exemptions into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 25-29, at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

The starting field will feature 89 players – 67 Junior Boys and 22 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

NextGen Prairie Championship tee times and leaderboard.