Inside Golf Inc.

August 2012

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146 SASKATCHEWAN BY GORD MONTGOMERY Seven Days In 'The Land Of The Living Skies' It's also about some more established stars... the over 240 golf courses ranging in size from the small community nine- holers to the 36-hole full service facilities. Add in the friendly greetings from staff behind every pro shop counter, the great weather with long days and with the lowest green fees you can find anywhere and you know you must be golfing in the 'The Land of the Living Skies'. With regard to the low green fees, they are almost a double edged sword when promoting the province's great layouts to golfers coming from other provinces. many courses can be played for what have to be considered bargain-basement prices. "One of the perceptions we fight, because fees are so low, many under $50, is people asking 'What, are they sand greens?' Be assured while there are plenty of trees and water on Saskatchewan's many courses the only sand you'll find is where it belongs – in the bunkers. "Saskatchewan is such a vast province with such a large amount of product that you can't get to it all," Demoskoff pointed out. "Remember, we have around 250 golf courses in this province and only around a million people – and not all of them are golfers... Think about adding us to your Bucket List." While a week, or even an entire DEER VALLEY GOLF & ESTATES The land around Regina is flat... at least until you roll into Deer Valley Golf & Estates, set on Wascana Creek. Playing to 'only' 6,777 off the back tees, it doesn't need length to make it a test and it's not necessarily what a first-time player expects to see on the bald prairie, head pro and vice president of golf operations at Deer Valley Golf & Estates, Graham Coulter, points out. "The original design of the golf course which was conceived by our superintendent, Glen Trentini," had to do with him being a bow hunter who originally accessed the land stalking deer instead of birdies. "He was lying there waiting for his deer to come by and envisioned a golf course." Coulter said by using what was already there, the mature trees, the water and the hills, the 18 hole layout just fell naturally into place incorporating the hazards and challenges the landscape presented. "It's a well thought out use of a beautiful piece of property. It's not tricked up with waterfalls and railway ties and waste bunkers and all of that stuff. It's just a golf course that was there, waiting to be found… and they found it." Having played host to a number of major competitions, Deer Valley still retains a quality where the average golfer can go out and enjoy their day at the course. Tourism Saskatchewan is the marketing organization responsible for getting the message out about golf here and Media Relations Manager Daryl Demoskoff notes people often find the price to play golf in his province hard to believe when summer, may not be enough to visit every facility, six rounds at five courses during a seven-day jaunt through the 'flatlands' of Western Canada is just enough to get a sense of what Saskatchewan has to offer... "We provide a private club facility, private club services, at reasonable rates," Coulter said. "We feel we're priced right for our market place, based on the fact you get delivery up and down to the parking lot, the cart, range balls and club cleaning." Another plus for the track is the fact the maintenance of the grass is second to none anywhere in the province and it's a daily regime. "We hand mow our greens every day," Coulter said. "And we put somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 gallons of water on it every night," thanks to the availability of the liquid gold from Wascana Creek. The major features of the course though, Coulter continued, are the putting surfaces. There's just no getting around the fact they're tricky and can test anyone's nerve from long distance or as close as a couple of feet. "I think that presents more of a challenge to the average golfer than going out and trying to shoot a 72 on a 7,500- yard golf course. Many people don't have that capability. Here, getting the ball on the green isn't just the answer. If you get it above the hole, it can easily be a three-putt," the pro explained. "Don't get me wrong though. It wasn't designed to be a difficult golf course... Although it appears difficult when you first play it, the smarter you play it means the better chance you have to shoot a low number." The price is a shock to those from other parts of the country, the head pro stated. "We get people from Alberta who tell us this is a $150 course where they come from. We charge $75," which is a great deal, no matter where you come from and no matter how tough you find the greens to putt on. For reservations at Deer Valley Golf and Estates, call the pro shop at (306) 731- 1445…and make sure your putting stroke is solid prior to arriving for your tee time. You can also visit their website at www.deervalleygolfestates.com DAKOTA DUNES GOLF LINKS If there's one place you have to play when you're in the Saskatoon area, it's the Dakota Dunes Golf Links. This phenomenal 18-hole course, built on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation southwest of the city, is host to the Saskatchewan Open on the Canadian PGA Tour and well worth the 20-minute ALL IMAGES CREDIT GORD MONTGOMERY

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