In August 2023, the small town of Gladstone, Manitoba joined forces with the newly launched First Tee – Prairies program to create more accessible pathways to junior golf and make a positive impact on youth in their community.

Ivan Milne, the president of Gladstone Golf and Country Club, recognized the potential of First Tee – Prairies programming and was a huge part of bringing this initiative to life.

“I’ve always loved golf, and when I saw First Tee was coming to Canada, I knew it was something our community needed and could benefit from,” Milne shared.

The Westlake – Gladstone area has a population of 3,100 and faces unique challenges such as limited access to organized sports, proper equipment, and certified coaches.

That is where First Tee – Prairies stepped in.

There are currently six schools, Austin Elementary, Langruth Elementary, Plumas Elementary, Isaac Beaulieu Memorial School, Gladstone Elementary, and William Morton Collegiate, delivering First Tee – Prairies programming to students through their physical education curriculum.

First Tee – Prairies provides online training for teachers, necessary equipment and turnkey lesson plans to deliver programming, all at no cost to the schools or participants.

Additionally, in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, Recreational Director and First Tee – Prairies coach, Jesse Spence, has witnessed firsthand the positive impact First Tee has made on the community.

“Being a part of this program is so rewarding,” said Spence. “Without First Tee, many kids would not be exposed to golf or think of golf as a sport for them. My goal is to introduce them to golf here at school and make it fun and inviting so that they want to try it again.”

Sandy Bay’s Councillor, Jason Starr, and Educational Director, Rene Roulette have also helped grow the program within Sandy Bay.

In addition to Spence, four other dedicated coaches from the Westlake – Gladstone area including Darcy Zairwney, Mirv Spence, Morris Pelletier and Jason Lucas attended First Tee coach training administered by the PGA of Canada this spring.

“This is different than your regular junior golf program, it’s bigger than golf,” said coach Zairwney. “Each lesson plan integrates valuable life lessons learned through golf. We discuss the value of honesty when teaching them about scoring, perseverance after you hit a bad shot, self-confidence to believe you can sink that putt, the importance of respect and etiquette on the course, and more.”

Gladstone Golf and Country Club offers registered on-course programming and field trips for local schools and community organizations.

“We hope that many children can call First Tee – Prairies and Gladstone Golf Club home,” said Milne. “We want to ensure that kids from all backgrounds feel welcome here and find a sense of comfort on the course.”

First Tee came to Canada in 2021 and is Golf Canada’s youth development program that provides life-enhancing experiences through golf to children from all backgrounds. First Tee – Prairies is one of six chapters operating programming in its respective regions across the country.

Although newer to the Prairies, First Tee has engaged over 30,000 youth with free golf programming since last summer, across nearly 40 program locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

This is only the beginning of a lasting impact First Tee – Prairies aims to have on this community.

“Who knows, the next Brooke Henderson or Corey Conners may come out of Gladstone,” said Milne. “If not, hopefully we created a golfer for life, or at the very least provided a positive impact on a child’s development through the sport we love.”

The growth of First Tee across the Prairies is made possible by a network of generous individuals and corporations who champion youth. If you are interested in donating to help First Tee – Prairies’ mission, please click here.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome Deer Ridge Golf Course as our newest member club.

Located just north of Brandon along Highway #1, this locally owned and operated 9 hole course can be played from two sets of tee boxes ranging from 2,563 to 2,766 yards.

Deer Ridge Golf Course features a driving range, chipping green and putting green. The fully licensed clubhouse is available to host fundraisers, weddings and corporate gatherings.

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

To reserve a tee time or for more information, call the proshop at (204) 726-1545 or click here for their website.

Golf Manitoba Director of Communications & Development Brian Munz in conversation with Kaleb Lambert (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club / Barton Community College) following his first victory this week. Lambert carded rounds of 68, 70 and 67 at the Barton Invitational at Rolling Meadows Golf Club in Milford, Kansas.

PGA of Manitoba Head Professional and General Manager Rob Damsgaard talks about the rich tradition of The Players Course.

For tee times, call the proshop at (204) 697-4976.

It is with profound sadness to have learned of the passing of Jim Collins, the beloved golf professional at St. Charles Country Club for 37 remarkable years. Jim passed away the evening of September 10th, at the age of 86 years. 

Jim became the Head professional at St. Charles in 1961 and retired in 1997. For nearly four decades Jim dedicated his life to St. Charles. Teaching, coaching, operating the Pro Shop and most of all, making the members at St. Charles feel special each and every day. His unwavering commitment to the Club, coupled with his kindness, patience, and infectious love for the game, made an indelible impact on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Throughout his career, Jim has been a 3-time winner of the Manitoba Zone Championship (’65, ’77, ’78), a 5-time winner of the Manitoba Zone Seniors’ Championship (’89, ’90, ’91, ’94, ’00), and in 1980 Jim was the PGA Club Professional Champion of Canada.

Internationally, Jim has won 8 other Championships including the Bermuda Beefeater Championship, the Royal Oak Seniors Championship, and the Lake Nona Senior Invitational Championship.

In 1985, Jim was selected as a Rules Instructor and Member of the Golf Canada (formerly RCGA) Rules Advisory Committee. Jim was recognized and inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame in 2007 and the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame in 2019.

Jim remained a fixture at the Club as he was awarded an honorary membership at St. Charles upon his retirement and active at the Club until his passing. He remained passionate about St. Charles and the game of golf, shooting his age too many times to count.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s wife Lucette, sons Glenn and James, and their families during this difficult time.

(courtesy PGA of Manitoba)

For the second time in St. Boniface Golf Club history, a Hole-in-One has been recorded on a par 4.

Following in the footsteps of David Borowski (Breezy Bend Country Club), who aced the 330 yard 15th hole in 2006, Team Manitoba member Payne Wood recently made a Hole-in-One on the 292 yard 2nd hole.

The Board of Directors of the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund are pleased to announce its award recipients for 2024.

These students are active in the Manitoba golf community either through participation or employment, have demonstrated academic excellence and are pursuing post-secondary studies at Canadian universities and colleges.

In 2024, the Fund awarded $17,500 in scholarships to 11 deserving students.

DR. DWIGHT PARKINSON AWARD – Keira Krahn

The Dr. Dwight Parkinson Award has been made possible by Mr. Dave Hill of the St. Charles Country Club. The award recognizes Dr. Parkinson’s long-time commitment to the sport of golf. This $2,000 award is available to a student entering their first year of studies at a post-secondary institution.

Keira graduated from Carman Collegiate with Honours and Distinction, and is set to begin her freshman year in Kinesiology at the University of Manitoba. The Carman Golf & Curling Club member has worked at her home club since 2021 while excelling in academics and assisted with coaching and mentoring junior curlers during the winter months.

BRIAN GILHULY AWARD – Mackenzie Forsythe

The Brian Gilhuly Memorial Scholarship was made possible by a generous donation from the estate of the long-time Golf Manitoba volunteer, Mr. Brian Gilhuly. Brian started his volunteerism with Golf Manitoba in 1986 where he served in a variety of capacities for over 30 years until his passing in 2017. This $2,000 award is available to students who are currently in the process of continuing with post-secondary studies.

Mackenzie, a member at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, is enrolled at the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba where she is majoring in International Business. In addition to her studies, Mackenzie plays the piano achieving Level 8 status through The Royal Conservatory and serves on the Board of Director for Manitoba ALIVE (A Leadership Initiative in Voluntary Efforts).

GOLF MANITOBA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

• Karly Cote
  La Broquerie Golf Course
  University of Manitoba / Bachelor of Environmental Design
  Interior Environments
• Camryn Desjarlais
  Golf Manitoba Public Players Club
  University of British Columbia / Bachelor of Science
• Brent Ingram
  Elmhurst Golf & Country Club
  University of Manitoba / Bachelor of Commerce
  Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Evan Nachtigall
  Shilo Country Club
  Brandon University / Bachelor of Arts
  Business Administration
• Luke Perret
  Golf Manitoba Public Players Club
  Brock University / Bachelor of Sport Management
• Eric Strick
  Rossmere Country Club
  University of Manitoba / Bachelor of Commerce
  Actuarial Mathematics and Accounting
• Elle Wood
  St. Boniface Golf Club
  University of Manitoba / Bachelor of Arts

Golf Manitoba scholarship awards are made possible each year by the Scholarship Fund. These awards are made available to both high school and post-secondary students who are pursuing studies in Canada. Scholarships are awarded based largely on academic achievement; however, golf ability and community involvement are also considered.

CRAIG YAHIRO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

• Isabella Johnson
  Southwood Golf & Country Club  
  Universite de Saint Boniface
  
  Isabella is currently enrolled at the Universite de Saint-Boniface where she is majoring in Geography and minoring in French. She was employed this past summer in the proshop at Southwood Golf & Country Club and prior to that was a summer student for three years with the Winnipeg River Heritage Museum. Isabella is also an active participant in Ladies Night and mixed tournaments at Pine Falls Golf Course.
• Matthew Penner
  Quarry Oaks Golf Course
  Red River Polytechnic / Business, Accounting & Management
  
  Matthew has worked the last three seasons at Quarry Oaks on the grounds crew and inside the proshop. He is active in junior golf competing on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour, Quarry Oaks Club Championship, Manitoba High School Championships and the Junior Boys Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.

The Craig Yahiro Memorial Scholarship Award is made possible through the generosity of the Yahiro Family and participants in an annual fundraising event at Rossmere Country Club in memory of the late Craig Yahiro. Craig Yahiro was a long-time member of the PGA of Canada where his skillful instruction and great personality and sense of humour helped many improve their game. These awards are available for students who are either Golf Manitoba members or who are currently involved with golf either through employment or participation.

The Board of the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund extends its sincere congratulations to the 2024 recipients and wishes them all the best in their post-secondary studies.

About the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund
The Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund (GMSF) is a registered charity that provides financial assistance to young golfers entering or continuing in a post-secondary educational institution in Canada. Since 1986, the Fund has awarded over 200 scholarships and over $257,000 to students throughout Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

For more information about the Scholarship Fund including information on how to apply or to make a donation, please visit golfmb.ca/scholarship.

Golf Manitoba remembers Lorraine McLeod who passed away on August 4, 2024, at the age of 91.

Lorraine had a long history of volunteerism in golf that began with the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association in 1982 where she chaired several committees and became president in 1987-88. She was instrumental in the development of golf clinics, target fitness, sport psychology and a winter golf school with members of the Manitoba PGA. She was on the board of directors of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum from 2001 to 2008 and was on the selection committee from 2001 to 2003.

MacLeod was involved with the conducting of several Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association championships from 1981 to 2001 including Chairing the 1991 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Glendale Golf & Country Club. She received a CLGA Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contributions in 2000. Other awards included most outstanding member from Winnipeg Canoe Club in 1986, MLGA outstanding volunteer award in 1989, Gal of the Year award from Southwood ladies’ section in 1996 and Volunteer Service Award for 25 years of service from Golf Manitoba in 2007.

In recognition of Lorraine’s outstanding service and dedication to the development of amateur golf, she was inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Inc. on September 29, 2014.

A celebration of Lorraine’s life was held in August. Her obituary and photo-biography is available here.

Golf Manitoba extends its sympathies to Lorraine’s family, friends and colleagues.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, are deeply saddened by the loss of Frederick Alvin (Al) Macatavish, who passed away peacefully on August 29, 2024, at the Selkirk District Health Centre at the age of 84.

Macatavish had a long history of dedicated service to golf, both in Manitoba and on the national and international stages.

He had been a member of Elmhurst Golf and Country Club since 1964 and served on the club’s Board of Directors from 1967 to 1979, including a term as President from 1976 to 1977.

Provincially, he was Elmhurst’s representative to Golf Manitoba from 1978 to 1979 and served on the Board of Directors from 1980 to 1988, including a term as President in 1985 and Past President from 1986 to 1988. He was the non-playing captain for Manitoba’s 1983 junior men’s team and the 1985 Willingdon Cup team.

Al was a past member of Golf Canada’s Board of Directors serving the association for many years in various capacities, including the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee and a term as President in 1997. He was appointed an Honorary Life Governor in 2000.

He served as Canada’s delegate to the World Golf Council from 1997 to 2000 and was a rules official at international events on four continents, as well as at numerous events across Canada and in Manitoba.

He was inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum on September 25, 2006.

Al will be missed by many, as both he and his wife Cathy made significant contributions to Golf Manitoba, Elmhurst Golf and Country Club, Golf Canada, the former Canadian Ladies Golf Association and the golfing community at large. Both Al and Cathy were also very supportive of the Golf Canada Foundation and its growth for many years.

Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held at a later date.

To view the full obituary, click here.

General Manager Gareth Tanswell shares his knowledge of and some initiatives golfers of all skill level can take advantage of at Lorette Golf Course.

For tee times, call the proshop at (204) 878-2172.