The 29-year-old from Saskatchewan took advantage of surprisingly benign conditions at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, firing a seven-under-par 63 to surge into a two-shot lead.

DeLaet, who competed in only four events last year, recorded six birdies, a chip-in for eagle and a lone bogey to set a sizzling pace in the PGA Tour’s first full-field event of the season.

“I’m just so excited to be back out,” a smiling DeLaet told reporters. “Just being in Hawaii, period, is a great way to start the year and to come out and fire a nice round in the opening round was great.”

South Korean KJ Choi, the 2008 Sony Open champion who has always enjoyed playing at Waialae, carded a 65 to finish level with Swede Carl Pettersson and American Kyle Reifers.

American world number five Steve Stricker, who clinched the PGA Tour’s season-opening Tournament of Champions at Kapalua on Monday, also made a strong start with a 66.

Asked to assess his all-round fitness, DeLaet replied: “I’m feeling great. I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent, but better than three years ago, even before the real bad injury.

“There was times (after the surgery) when I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play (again). I was in a pretty bad place mentally and physically, but it’s just nice to be back

“I had a good season my rookie campaign (in 2010), and then it was all basically just taken away. And I realise now how fortunate we are to be playing golf for a living. My whole attitude is definitely better.”

DeLaet had surgery on his lower back on January 3 last year and returned to competition in June before lingering pain forced him to abort his season after playing just two events apiece on the PGA Tour and its feeder Nationwide Tour.

He is competing on the 2012 PGA Tour in the major medical extension category and has 26 events to earn a total of $657,694 to secure his card for 2013.

“I really think that if I can just go out and play my game here for the next five or six months, I can make it happen,” said DeLaet, a three-times winner on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour.

Stricker, mentally and physically fatigued after his impressive victory on the hilly terrain at the Kapalua Resort, was delighted with his first-round 66.

“It’s just a quick turnaround from last week and it’s a difficult course that we walked last week,” the 44-year-old said. “And when you’re in contention trying to win, the mental aspect of it is tougher too.

“But I rested up the last couple of days pretty much and I felt a little better out there today.”

Of the other big names competing at Waialae, U.S. PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley opened with a 67 while U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III carded a 70.

American Mark Wilson, who won last year’s Sony Open by two shots, launched his title defense with a five-bogey 73.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/01/13/back-pain-a-distant-memory-for-delaet

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Manitoba golf industry representatives went to Winnipeg to meet with Minister and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to speak on the impact the golf industry has in Manitoba, particularly in regards to the provincial economy and the industry’s role as an environmental steward. The golf industry in Manitoba is a vital driver of the province’s economy, responsible for approximately $452.7 million of its Gross Domestic Product. Overall, golf causes $1.2 billion in direct, indirect, and induced spending in the province. 282,000 Manitobans play golf at over 129 courses across the province, and the industry is responsible for over 18,000 jobs.

Moreover, Manitoba’s golf courses are conscientious environmental stewards. Pesticides and overwatering are not only bad for the environment, but they’re bad for golf business. Overwatering affects the playability of golf courses and pesticides are too expensive to use frequently or in large quantities. Modern water conservation practices on courses actually leave water cleaner than when it entered the course.

Manitoba’s golf industry wants to begin an ongoing dialogue with the Government of Manitoba about environmental regulations that affect golfers and the golf business. It is important that government decision makers know that Manitoba courses must prepare Integrated Pest Management Plans and have trained, licensed pesticide applicators, using only pesticides approved by Health Canada as having no unacceptable risks to health. The golf industry is a conscientious steward of the environment that manages 160,000 hectares of green space nationwide, and preserves nearly 41,000 hectares of unmanaged wildlife and plant habitat. Pesticides are used sparingly and water that leaves a golf course is often cleaner than when the water entered the course. Recognizing the contributions of the industry to the environment by including it in regulatory consultations will ensure that regulations are balanced and based in sound science.

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The young phenom had a great summer, capped by his winning of the Manitoba Junior Championship. It was his fourth crack at the tournament and Sullivan says after coming close in previous seasons, it was a relief to finally nab the title.

“I finished 5th three years ago, then finished 3rd, then tied for 1st but lost in a playoff,” says Sullivan. “I just kept telling myself ‘Just keep playing well, keep trying, give yourself a shot to win and hopefully it will happen’ and sure enough, things got done this year, things happened and I ended up winning it so it was really nice.”

Sullivan’s big year continued into the fall as the PCI alum headed south to attend the University of Utah. Playing for their golf team, the Portage product says it’s a big boost of confidence to face such tough competition.

“It’s really awesome,” says Sullivan. “We’ve been really lucky down there. I have a really good coach, we have a really good team, we have a real young team. Luckily, a few of us young guys got to play a few tournaments and we got to gain a lot of experience. We were playing against a lot of top college players and a lot of top amateur players in the world as well.”

Sullivan and the rest of the Utah golf team get back in action in February when they’ll compete in the Arizona Intercollegiate Invitational.

http://www.portageonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25172&Itemid=467

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Cam Regier, a board member of Save Oua Seine, said the city has opted to entertain proposals and sell golf courses before considering whether the land could have other public uses. He would like to see Winnipeg seek input from community groups, so things such as pathways and ski trails could be integrated into future plans and not included as an afterthought.

City spokeswoman Alissa Clark said the city is still in the process of reviewing the proposals. No details have been disclosed.

Any plan to sell golf courses would have to be approved by two-thirds of city council.

Save our Seine and another group of concerned citizens is circulating a petition that asks for them to be included in the development process and to ensure the public will still have access to recreational activities in these large green spaces.

Pam Lucenkiw, chairwoman of Outdoor Urban Recreational Spaces, a citizens group opposed to the sale, said golf courses are corridors for wildlife and are used for recreation during the off-season by school and community groups. Lucenkiw has skied on the Windsor Park course in the winter months for more than three decades and said she’s worried access to this and other courses could be lost for future generations.

In October, the city put out an expression of interest to see if anyone wants to purchase or take over the long-term lease of seven city-owned golf courses, including the Canoe Club, Crescent Drive, Harbour View, John Blumberg, Kildonan Park, Tuxedo and Windsor Park golf courses. The move came several months after city auditors discovered the courses have racked up massive debt and suggested Winnipeg sell some of its courses or convert them into parks.

Winnipeg Golf Services is a special operating agency that runs 12 public golf courses and is $8 million in debt.

“We shouldn’t be so quick to sell it off, we should be looking at other uses for the space,” Regier said. “It’s been a pretty closed-door process.”

City officials have said selling some courses will help eliminate debt and possibly generate revenue for the city from property taxes collected from new residential and commercial developments. The city has received 21 proposals since the call for ideas was issued.

One is a request from the Cross-Country Ski Association of Manitoba to retain access to the Windsor Park course, where the non-profit organization runs a ski course with eight kilometres of trails used by about 1,000 season-pass holders.

Clark said in a statement public consultations are not part of the expression-of-interest process, but public hearings will take place if the city considers changes to the current zoning of golf-course land.

David Watson, Save our Seine’s past president, said he understands the city’s budget constraints but thinks officials should have consulted the public before inviting development proposals. He said many golf courses have been public spaces for 100 years.

“It seems that they decided golf courses are surplus, and they never bothered to ask Winnipeggers what they think about that,” Watson said.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/save-our-green-spaces-136363848.html

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Not only are all these areas deep in breathtaking spots to enjoy cottage life, camp, swim, fish and hike, but they’ve also been blessed with something else outdoor lovers can enjoy— an abundance of great golf courses.

It seems no matter where you go, there’s a fine nine or 18 hole layout near you.

Fortunately, these golf courses are well distributed through the various areas. In the Whiteshell, avid and casual golfers have access to a troika of fine courses: Falcon Lake Golf Courses, Pinawa Golf Club and Granite Hills Golf Club.

On the way out to the cabin at Falcon, you can also play Fantasy Lake Golf Club or take a detour on Highway 12 to Steinbach to play either the Steinbach Fly-in Golf Club, The Links at Quarry Oaks, Girouxsalem Golf & Country Club or Ridgewood South. And not to be forgotten is Lake of the Sandhills Golf Club further down Highway 12 near the Canada US border and Warroad Estates Golf Club.

But we digress. If you have cottage in the Falcon Lake or Lac du Bonnet area, or you simply want to take a week-long tour of the Whiteshell’s finest links, it’s difficult to beat the quality and beauty offered up by Falcon Lake, Pinawa and Granite Hills, the newest course in the region.

The great thing about all three courses is that they’re all a two hour drive or less from Winnipeg, yet they’ve been carved out of pure wilderness. Unlike many city-area courses, virtually all the fairways are separated by thick stand of trees that not only gobble up wayward shots, but make you feel as if you’re in a world of your own.

At 6,922 yards from the tips and a respectable 6, 429 yards from the regular trees, Falcon Lake is a great mix of beauty and challenge. From the back tees, advanced players get all they can handle in the form of Falcon’s long par-threes and par-fours, with the 600 yard plus, par-five 13th thrown in for good measure.

Next is Pinawa, a ruggedly beautiful and deceptively difficult 18-hole layout in the Lac du Bonnet area. Essentially, Pinawa is Granite Hills without the spectacular lake vistas.

Granite Hills, the Whiteshell’s newest course, is also a treat to play for those who have cottage in the Lac du Bonnet area. At over 7,000 yards from the back tees or 6,088 from the forward markers, it is a course that requires equal parts brain and brawn to negotiate successfully, with its hilly fairways, five lakeside holes and elevated lake country vistas.

Meanwhile, the Interlake has no shortage of excellent cottage country courses, either. It features a lineup of courses that rivals those found in the Whiteshell: Grand Pines, Golf Course in Traverse Bay, Links at the Lake near Gimli, and, of course, Hecla Golf Course. Throw in courses like Teulon Golf & Country Club, Sandy Hook Golf Club and Northernaire and it’s understandable that cottages who happen to be avid golfers love waking up early to play golf in the Interlake.

Grand Pines winds through pristine stands of pines and other mature trees. Links at the Lake offers well-placed water hazards and tricky greens, and Hecla is one of the top rated courses in Canada, with its abundant stands of ancient trees, lush fairways, water views and scoreable layout.

More great golf waits if you travel west, such as Clear Lake Golf Course and Neepawa Golf & Country Club, a pair of courses, though not overly long, that offer a challenge in their fast, sloping greens and elevated tee shots.

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The award, decided by votes from PGA Tour players, was announced just two days after the current world number one became the first player to top the money-lists on both the European and U.S. Tours.

American Keegan Bradley, who won this year’s PGA Championship in Atlanta, was named the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year.

“My congratulations to Luke and Keegan for their award-winning accomplishments in 2011,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

“Both players had significant and impressive performances throughout the course of the year, and the member vote reflects the respect their peers have for them.”

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/12/13/donald-named-pga-tour-player-of-the-year

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Skeleton won the Nott Autocorp Manitoba Men’s Amateur Championship for the first time and won the Manitoba Match Play Championship. He was a member of the Willingdon Cup team, competed at the National Men’s Amateur Championship in Winnipeg and finished 6th at the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary. He was a member of the Breezy Bend Team that finished 2nd in the individual division. Jesse is a member of the University of the Manitoba Bison Team and had three top five finishes in the fall schedule. Skeleton is currently ranked 13th on the Golf Canada national order of merit.

The other finalist for this premier award for amateur golf in Manitoba were Winnie Hyun of Southwood, Myles Sullivan of Portage and Josh Wytinck of the Pine Ridge Golf Club.

Three players earned honourable mentions for their strong 2011 campaigns: Aaron Cockerill of Teulon, Mindy Lichtman of St. Boniface and Jenna Roadley of Glendale.

The Gold Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award dates back to 1975, and was presented for the 37th time on October 18th.

A second prestigious awards was presented on Tuesday night to Rudy Bovin of the Southwood Golf & Country Club as the fifth recipient of the annual Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award.

Rudy began volunteering with the Manitoba Golf Association in 1980. He is founding member of the MGA Golf Annual Magaziine and from 1980 to 1982 was Chair of the Advertising Committee for that magazine.

In 1982, he became a starter and scorer at MGA events and remains committed to that volunteer role today with Golf Manitoba.

In 1983 he joined the MGA Board of Directors and was the Chair of the Tournament Committee in 1986/87 and the President in 1988. He also served as the Non-Playing Captain for the Willingdon Cup Team in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

From 1989 to 1994 he was nominated by the Manitoba Golf Association for the Board of Directors of the Manitoba Sport Federation, elected for 3 terms and Chair of Marketing Committee for four years.

He is current member of the Marketing and Communications Committee of Golf Manitoba.

He served on the Manitoba Golf Scholarship Fund Board of Directors from 1990 to 2010 and was President of that organization from 1999 to 2005.

He was also a member of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors form 2002 to 2007.

Rudy Bovin has been a member at the Southwood G&CC since 1966. He served on the Board of Directors from 1971 to 1978, was Member of the Year in 1976, President in 1977, Club Captain from 1990 to 1993 and honored in 2003 as a Life Member.

His devotion to amateur golf is extremely evident as he continues to be involved in committees and tournament activity after 31 years of dedicated service.

Along with the Distinguished Service Award, Golf Manitoba also recognized all volunteers within the Association for their years of service to the association. Recognition was given to those individuals reaching the five, ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty-five plus years of service benchmarks.

http://www.golfmanitoba.mb.ca

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The RCGA Handicap & Course Rating Committee recently approved a change to the long-standing Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) method, bringing the Canadian methodology into equivalency with current ESC calculations employed by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The new Canadian methodology for Equitable Stroke Control will go into effect March 1, 2012 to coincide with the release of the 2012-2015 version of the Handicap Manual.

WHAT IS EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL (ESC)?

Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make Handicap Factors more representative of a player’s potential scoring ability. It sets a maximum number that a golfer can post on any hole depending on the player’s Course Handicap.

WHY THE CHANGE TO ESC METHODOLOGY?

The RCGA Handicap & Course Rating Committee approved the change after commissioning statistical research which revealed that the current Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) method causes differences in Handicap Factors that are not necessarily commensurate with a difference in ability, particularly for golfers in the higher half of each range of handicaps within the ESC table.

A golfer with a 1 handicap, for example, should not be subject to the same ESC score adjustments as a player with an 18 handicap when their abilities are so different. By reducing the size of the handicap ranges within the ESC table, those issues are mitigated. The new ESC method provides a more even distribution across a wide range of handicaps.

IMPACT OF THE NEW ESC METHODOLOGY:

Using maximum numbers (rather than adjustments being based on hole-par) facilitates simpler application and comprehension of the Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) procedure. It also mitigates the affect of courses not allocating the proper par to holes as per RCGA guidelines.

Currently, in a head-to-head match, the lower handicap player has a better than 50% chance of winning. The new ESC will bring the odds closer to 50%.

The new ESC brings an RCGA Handicap Factor and USGA Handicap Index into virtual equivalency – an important consideration with the number of ‘snowbirds’ playing golf in certain parts of the United States during the winter months.

Canada will continue to use ‘Handicap Factor’ as the proper terminology related to handicapping.

Golf Canada will be communicating the changes to Equitable Stroke Control methodology to all Canadian golf industry groups including golf clubs that use Golf Canada’s Handicap Network and golfers that track an official handicap in advance of March 1, 2012.

CANADIAN GOLF HANDICAPPING – BY THE NUMBERS:

In 2011 alone, more than 350,000 golfers who maintain an official RCGA Handicap Factor posted close to 7 million scores through the Handicap Network portal on www.golfcanada.ca.

GOLF HANDICAP – DEFINED:

A handicap in golf is a numerical measure of a golfer’s playing ability based on the tees played for a given course. A handicap is used to calculate a net score from the number of strokes actually played, thus allowing players of different proficiency to play against each other on an equitable basis. The higher the handicap of a player relates to lesser golfing abilities relative to golfers with lower handicaps.

http://www.golfcanada.ca/amateur-competition/amateur-championships/article9881.ece

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The four nominees, in alphabetical order are; Winnie Hyun of Southwood, Jesse Skeleton of Breezy Bend, Myles Sullivan of Portage and Josh Wytinck of Pine Ridge.

Winni Hyun is a first time nominee who won the Provincial Junior Women’s Championship and was 4th at the Provincial Women’s Amateur Championship. She was a member of Mabitoba’s Western Canada Games team where she finished fifth individually and helped the team capture a bronze medal. On the national scene, she made the cut at both the National Junior Girls Championship (62nd) and the National Women’s Amateur Championship (70th). SHe is currently ranked 76th on the Golf Canada national junior girl’s order of merit.

Jesse Skelton won the Nott Autocorp Manitoba Men’s Amateur Championship for the first time and won the Manitoba Match Play Championship. He was a member of the Willingdon Cup team, competed at the National Men’s Amateur Championship in Winnipeg (MC) and finished 6th at the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary. He was a member of the Breezy Bend Team that finished runner up at the Provincial Interclub Championship and finished 2nd in the individual division. Jesse is a member of the University Of Manitoba Bison Team and had three top five finishes in the fall schedule. Skeleton is currently ranked 13th on the Golf Canada national order of merit.

Myles Sullivan is the 2011 Men’s Junior Champion and finished 8th at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. He finished tied for 6th at the National Men’s Junior Championship and tied 8th at the CN Prairie Future Links events. Myles is currently ranked 10th in the Golf Canada national junior men’s order of merit and 28th on the national men’s order of merit.

Josh Wytinck was the runner up at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship and finished tied for 25th at the Canadian University Championship where he lead after the first round. Josh is a member of the University of Manitoba Bison Golf Team where he won the Concordia invite and the Audsburg Invitational of Manitoba Bison Golf Team where he won the Concordia Invite and the Augsburg Invitaitonal and assisted the team with two victories. He has also tied two team records for low individual round and low 36 hole total. For these Bison Team accomplishments, Josh was awarded Bison Athlete of the Week twice as weel as the CTV Sports Star of the Week. Josh is ranked 38th on the Golf Canada national order of merit.

Three players earned honourable mentions for theire strong 2011 campaigns: Aaron Cockerill of Teulon, Mindy Lichtman of St. Boniface and Jenna Roadley of Glendale. Aaron Cockerill, the 2010 Amateur Golfer of the Year, was 5th at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship and finished runner up at the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary. He qualified for the Canadian Tour’s Players Cup and made it to the second round of the Match Play Championship.

Mindy Lichtman won the Women’s Match Play Championship and the City & District Championship. She also finished 3rd at the Manitoba Women’s Amateur and made the provincial women’s team.

Jenna Roadley was the runner up at the Women’s Amateur Championship and the Match Play Championship. She finished 32nd at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, 4th at the Prairie Future Links Championship and qualified for the United States Junior Girls Championship.

The Amateur Golfer of the Year Awards dates back to 1975. It will be presented for the 37th time on October 18th.

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The combination of high-profile construction projects, the return of the NHL and newfound civic pride and confidence has the husband-and-wife team eager to get the shovel in the ground at Crescent Drive Golf Course, off South Drive in Fort Garry.

Quebec-based Nordik Spa-Nature will open its spa at the site late next year, with the couple serving as project promoters and investors. The nearly $7-million project will employ more than 110 people.

“We knew investment-wise that Winnipeg is a phenomenal place to invest,” Norman Dupas said. “Tonnes of people are investing here. A lot of people have realized this is a great place to do business.”

Martin Paquette, Nordik’s CEO, couldn’t believe the group’s good fortune, either.

“I’ve never been as positive and sure about my investment as I am today,” he said, noting within days of Nordik completing a leasing deal with the City of Winnipeg, the press conference announcing the relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg was held.

“It’s a wave that you feel here,” he said.

Nordik’s concept includes dry saunas, cold waterfalls and temperate pools, steam baths, outdoor hot baths, outdoor fireplaces and relaxation areas. Paquette said while spas are often thought to be for the wealthy, people can drop in at Nordik for $45 a day. Services such as massages or other body treatments are extra.

Civic dignitaries and economic-development executives said the Nordik investment is a continuation of the momentum built up by the likes of the new stadium being constructed for the CFL’s Blue Bombers, a new downtown hotel, the IKEA development and millions of dollars of investment at both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.

Mayor Sam Katz said it takes a rare commitment for entrepreneurs who have been successful in one part of the country to expand to another.

“It’s nice to see a Quebec-based company bringing something new to our city. We’ve earned the reputation as the best city in Canada to invest in,” he said.

Golfers need not worry anything will happen to the nine-hole, par-three course in Fort Garry. It will be open for business next spring. Paquette said the rundown clubhouse will be torn down today and a new one will be built adjacent to the spa. One kitchen will serve both facilities during the summer.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/work-on-finnish-spa-set-to-begin-this-week-132600278.html

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