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PROVINCIAL PROFILE drive through the farmland to get there. The course opened to the public in 2004 after three years of construction. Along with the adjacent casino, it is more than clear that this development was the start of something good for the area. "Certainly this golf course was the start of an economic plan for the Dakota First Nations and yes, it was certainly started to provide jobs for the locals," noted the club's General Manager, McLaren Taylor. In fact over 50 per cent of the workforce on the rural course is Aboriginal. "It's certainly been a success that way and it's led to other things like the casino." Designed by Graham Cooke and Wayne Carleton, the course calls for a player to use his head as he makes his way over the swales and hollows and through the native fescue grasses that define the fairways. "There wasn't any really good use for this land; just pasture land mainly," Taylor noted of how the terrain left the architects drooling in anticipation of designing a championship links- style course from what nature put there. "That's what's really led to the awards – the property itself and the conditions we have," Taylor continued about Dakota Dunes garnering the title of Golf Digest's Best New Canadian Course in 2005 and being No. 44 on SCORE Golf's Top 100 Courses in Canada list. "The natural rolling sand dune land is what makes this golf course unique. It is a unique piece of land for this province. You don't have to go too far from here to find flat prairies – a 10 minute drive and you're in flat land again." It's that difference, a change from flat to rolling, from placid to wild and inhibiting that make the Dunes a must- play. Of course everyone can tee it up here but to have any sort of success, however you measure that in your golf game, you must adapt to how the layout plays, the GM says. "It changes a bit as the year goes on. In the spring it's a very dry, firm, sandy piece of property and you can hit it a long way and not get into too much trouble as the long, natural grasses haven't grown up. Now that we're into (mid-summer) the natural stuff is a bit longer and there's more premium put on hitting the fairway off the tee." saskatchewan 147 "I like to think it's an easy driving golf course but that's kind of tempered by early season rounds where you can blast away. You do have to put it in the fairway off the tee but it is generous out there. The fairways and greens are generous. It's challenging in its length. It's challenging in its conditions and you get lots of wind out here." Taylor said Dakota Dunes is playing host to more rounds of golf as the years roll past given the best form of advertising it has – word of mouth from happy customers. "I think what makes this course stand out is that it's natural. It rolls with the land so when people think of that natural, old-style golf course, it fits perfectly into that. Based on what we hear back from people, it's not just 'great golf course' and 'great design', but it's 'great conditions' too. The conditions here are second to none in the province." For tee times, call the pro shop toll free at 1-877-414-4653. Or visit them online at www.dakotadunes.ca THE WILLOWS At this 36-hole Saskatoon golf course, the four nines' may be close to each other geographically but seem miles apart due to some great course design. Mounding, some of it natural but mostly man-made, separates the fairways and at the same time pose hazards best avoided. Head pro Brennen Gee says, "We're a public golf course with a good membership, a popular membership; we're at about 500 members so that's pretty good. We do a lot of member play, a lot of corporate play, tournaments and public play." With that many members on board it would seem a challenge as a public player to grab a tee time, especially on the weekend, but that's not a problem the head pro noted. "We're able to designate one course for members only from 6 a.m. to noon, with the public allowed there after that. We then book the public for the other side all day." While the two 18s are somewhat similar in nature, Gee said, they do have their own personalities and what you see is what you're going to get with no hidden surprises to swallow your golf balls, and pride. "I wouldn't call it links-style golf. It's more dunes- style," Gee said. "At the sides of the fairways you get into mounding and dunes. At the same time, everything is out in front of you. There are no trick holes. There's nothing hidden." As for price and value, Gee said, "We're not the highest but I think our prime rate of $70 with a cart and value-wise, that's pretty inexpensive. It sounds like a lot but for this golf course in Alberta, Ontario, or B.C., that's a $150, $160 green fee." To book a time at The Willows call (306) 956-4653. You can visit their website at www.willowsgolf.com MOONLAKE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Upon entering this property located just outside of Saskatoon and seeing the 27- hole layout for the first time, you're taken immediately by thoughts of Scotland and their wavy, bumpy fairways and large greens. to fast; I'd probably say nine or ten, in that area. We roll our greens at least once or twice a week and they're always phenomenal, and when you have an owner who was once the superintendent, that helps," in keeping the course in tip- top shape. "The greens out there are demanding. If you don't hit the right tier of the green, and hit your putt at the right speed, you're going to have a tough time to make the par. The greens are definitely the most difficult part of our course." In noting their latest advertising campaign is based on "A quiet drive in the country," Windjack said getting to Moonlake from Saskatoon, about 25 or 30 minutes, is no big stressor. Aside from a linksy feel, Moonlake also features outstanding manicure. "The mounding and the crested wheat (off the short grass) do come into play but our fairways out here are absolutely phenomenal," Head Pro Jamie Windjack proclaimed. "The mixture of grass they have in our fairways make the ball sit right up. It's only 7,000 yards from the back tees but the wind can really effect your game. Every green has bunkers in front that can make you hit to the right or left side of the pin. You have to be careful where you go. I would say as far as the toughness of the course, depending on what tees you play from, all levels can play here and feel comfortable." This is one of those courses that even when you hit the 'occasional' shot off- line, it isn't difficult to find and/or play when you get to it. That, along with the penalty hitting into those areas can provide Windjack suggests, is part of the reason this course is popular and what generates the enthusiasm for public play here. "I think the big key here is we make it playable. We don't have a lot of trees. We are mostly Saskatoon berry bushes." The greens are large, receptive and "fairly flat" the pro noted but again pointed out they are well protected by sand. And just because you put the ball onto the green in regulation, or better, it doesn't guarantee an easy run at a birdie or better. "There is a lot of terrain on them and if you get on the wrong side of the hole it can be tough. The speed is medium "It's a perfect amount of time to wind down afterwards and gear up coming out," he noted. For tee times at the Moonlake Golf & Country Club phone (306) 382-5500. Visit them online at www.moonlakegolf.com KATEPWA BEACH GOLF CLUB The one thing about Saskatchewan golf is there are an amazing number of good quality nine-hole courses. Nine hole layouts may have trouble competing with 18-holers elsewhere but not here, says the general manager of one of the better such facilities located in the gorgeous Qu'Appelle Valley. Katepwa Beach's GM Betty Metzler said it's not difficult running a small course because, well, that's just sort of the way things are in her home province, "Most of our golfers only play nine holes. I think most Saskatchewan golfers, from small towns especially, only want to play nine holes." Originally constructed in the early 1900's, Katepwa Beach Golf Club actually went in the reverse of most courses that have undergone a redesign. This club moved from its original 18 holes sand green layout to the present day nine hole grass green layout in 1998. Aside from sand greens, another thing it no longer has are some unique golf carts – actual automobiles with their roofs removed that tooled up and down the fairways – with the clubs stored in the back seat area! "In 1996, some people that have cottages Continued on next page