Yorkton鈥檚 Don Kunkel has been elected president of Golf Saskatchewan for 2020.
Kunkel served as vice-president of the provincial organization in 2019, and was re-elected to his third term, and the top spot at the Golf Saskatchewan annual general meeting held online.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a one-year deal,鈥� he said of the president鈥檚 position. 鈥淲e鈥檝e always done it that way.鈥�
As for holding the AGM online via Zoom, Kunkel said it worked out well.
鈥淚t was the best turn out we鈥檝e ever had,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t actually turned out really well.鈥�
In fact, there is interest in adding Zoom as an attendance option post COVID-19, allowing people to participate without travelling to the meeting.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a great idea,鈥� said Kunkel. 鈥淭hese Zoom meetings are fantastic. They鈥檙e basically face-to-face.鈥�
Kunkel said the position is not one that requires a great deal of time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not an onerous thing,鈥� he said, adding it does mean he will be 鈥渢he face of the organization when needed.鈥�
However, in terms of day-to-day operations Golf Saskatchewan does have an executive director鈥� Brian Lee.
That said Kunkel will be putting some miles on the car this summer attending Golf Saskatchewan tournaments if COVID-19 regulations allow them to take place.
Kunkel said he certainly hopes tournaments can be played this summer, noting many are held as fundraisers for various organizations all across the province and country.
鈥淢illions are raised in Saskatchewan alone for charities,鈥� offered Kunkel.
As for the chance that golf will be allowed Kunkel is optimistic, but under what rules that might be is yet unknown.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty confident there鈥檚 going to be some golf this year,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he (COVID-19) curve is pretty flat right now. It鈥檚 pretty positive right now.鈥�
Kunkel added there are 100 courses now open in British Columbia so they will be watching how that works out.
鈥淭he safety issue is the important thing,鈥� he said. 鈥�... A lot of things will come into play. It鈥檚 a huge learning curve for everybody.鈥�
Golf Saskatchewan represents some 17,000 golfers across the province.
