LAURA SMALL ENJOYS VARIETY OF SASKATCHEWAN GOLF COURSES
With spring finally here and summer right around the corner, golf is back, and thousands of people all across the province are itching to get out there and play. And in a province with nearly 300 courses (the most per capita in Canada), there is no shortage of breathtaking courses to choose from. No matter what type of course you like to play, there is something in this province for every golfer’s taste. And one person in the province who appreciates golf in Saskatchewan is Laura Small.
Small has an extensive background when it comes to golf, and you can sense her passion for the sport within the first few seconds that you speak to her. Despite not becoming a golfer until her early 30s, Small has been a competitive golfer for years, has been a club champion at various courses and has even represented Saskatchewan at the national amateur level on four separate occasions. But in addition to being a competitive golfer, she also feels it is very important to give back to the game, and has been involved with golf organizations on both the provincial and federal levels. In 2003, she was elected to the Golf Saskatchewan Board of Directors, a position she held for seven years, until going on to volunteer with Golf Canada as a member of the Governor’s Council.
Recently, golf courses in this province have finally been getting the recognition they deserve from around the country and it is a great thing to see. Small believes there is a combination of factors that have led to this, one of which is that people are now playing a larger variety of courses. It used to be that people would often have an allegiance to a certain club and would only play there, but now that people want a more varied experience at times, a place like Saskatchewan (with its large variety of vastly different courses) is becoming a hot spot for golf in the country. Also, she believes that the easy access and cost-friendly courses across the province also have a hand in making Saskatchewan an amazing destination for golf.
And yes, while golf in Saskatchewan is most definitely on the rise, there is one area in particular that Small believes can see some improvement. Saskatchewan has many young and talented boys in their junior programs, but there are not as many girls. She says that she would really like to see more young girls get involved with junior programs. And, with the increased interest and popularity of golf rising in Saskatchewan, don’t be surprised to see many more young girls take an interest in this sport.
The variety of courses offered throughout the province is exceptional. There are courses that range from the forested and treefilled offerings of the north (such as Elk Ridge and Waskesiu) to the flat and open-links style courses of the south, and everything in between (including some brilliant courses built along creeks, such as the Chinook and Elmwood courses in Swift Current). Small also said that a variety of courses throughout the province can even differ from the front nine to the back nine. An example of this, she said, is the course in Humboldt where nine holes are well-treed, and the other nine (which were built later) have much more open feel.
When asked about her favourite courses, Small said both Waskesiu and Riverside are among her favourites in a province full of great courses. She says she loves Waskesiu because of the iconic and beautiful design of the course and because it is not only a great place to golf, but is also a great place to be. Small also has a soft spot in her heart for Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, a club where she has had a membership since 1997. She loves how the course has a history that comes from being around for 100-plus years, but is also updated frequently to offer new and exciting play for golfers.
As for “hidden gems,” she offered up Nipawin and the ninehole at Riverhurst as gorgeous courses that not many people think about visiting, but should definitely check out.
While the course itself and the playability is still important to Small, she feels the surroundings, atmosphere and the natural beauty of the course can be just as important.