ESTEVAN - The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society (OTS) recently held its annual general meeting and announced plans to host a number of events.
The first will be the annual open bonspiel on March 25 and 26 at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. President Tony Sernick said they hope to have 32 teams for the competition, but they would be happy with more than 20 squads.
He hopes that with restrictions lifted in Saskatchewan, additional people will be interested. They’ve typically had around 25 teams for the event in recent years. The deadline to enter is March 18, but Sernick said they would take teams right until March 23.
The second annual Top Gun Trap Shoot is slated for May 13 and 14 at the Estevan Wildlife Federation’s range. Last year’s event was a big success, as it attracted a full field of 100 entrants.
“It was popular last year, but we just did one day the first time we did it to get our feet wet,” said Sernick.
Additional people wanted to compete, so the OTS decided to have it over two days, and they hope to have 100 each day.
Their biggest event of the year, the Oilmen’s golf tournament, is June 3 and 4 at the TS&M Golf Course. Once again, the plan is to have just an 18-hole tournament, rather than 18-hole and 36-hole events.
“Last year we did two days,” said Sernick. “Traditionally it was a three-day event but the numbers on the Sunday were going down and down and down.”
Golfers will play 18 holes on either the first or second day. The golfer with the lowest score would be declared the winner.
Previous editions of the tournament had a 36-hole event that wrapped up on the final day.
The final event will be their first-ever mixed golf tournament July 9 at Hidden Valley’s Hideout Golf Course.
The mixed tournament would get women involved, whether it be the women who are working in the oilpatch, or the spouses of oilmen. The OTS is also eager to have a tournament at Hidden Valley.
They have yet to finalize the number of golfers they can accommodate.
Sernick hopes the mixed tournament won’t cause a problem with the Oilwomen’s Golf Tournament, which is typically held later in July. He said the OTS will be talking to them about the event.
The annual meeting saw the OTS finalize its executive for this year. Ashley Domes will be the first vice-president and chairperson of the golf tournament. Sam Bakala will be the second vice-president and the bonspiel chairperson. Jordon Blanchette is the third vice-president and the chairperson of the trap shoot committee.
Other members are treasurer Carl Henneberg, past-president Conrad Meili, fourth vice-president Alden Hagel and fifth vice-president Josh Biggs.
The organization is looking to do some fundraising for the production park located next to the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum, which pays tribute to the city’s energy sector; and the derrick at the west entrance to the city. Sernick suggested adding some lights to the production park, and some paint for the derrick.
“We want to kick off some fundraising this year just to add to those and preserve those monuments that we have,” said Sernick.
