The Kingswood Golf Course, a nine-hole grass green course, is situated south of Kipling on the Hebden Road.
The golf course opened for public use by the end of August 1998, featuring watered fairways, large grass greens and a few water hazards to challenge a golfer.
The course opened for the 2021 season this past Monday with many golfers dusting off their clubs and practicing their swing once again.
The club has 85 members signed up to date.
鈥淭he course is very dry and could use a good shot of rain soon to perk everything up,鈥� said club vice-president Jason Balogh.
The clubhouse, not open just yet, has had minor renovations including some painting, and removal of a couple of the cooking appliances that were no longer in constant use, leaving more room in the kitchen.
鈥淲e changed our philosophy a bit as to what we are offering for meal choices and decided to stick to just the basics,鈥� explains Balogh. 鈥淚t seemed to work fine last year.鈥�
For men's night once a month, they have a steak night and the final night of the season they order in wings.
The club holds Ladies鈥� Night on Tuesdays and Men鈥檚 Night on Thursdays.
鈥淲e started couple's night last year which we held on Fridays and that was a real big hit,鈥� explains Balogh. 鈥淚t was very well attended with some nights up to and over 40 golfers taking part. That's absolutely going to be a weekly event this year again.鈥�
The club usually holds the Men's Classic at the end of August and the ladies' tournament in mid-September. COVID rules state that golf clubs are allowed to hold tournaments this year and although there is nothing planned as of yet, the club is hoping to plan for something as the season continues.
鈥淗opefully by August, things will get back to normal but until then we have to follow the (COVID) rules,鈥� said Balogh. 鈥淲e're lucky in Saskatchewan that we can get out and golf because many of the other provinces are shut down.鈥�
Balogh says they did see an increase in golfers last year.
鈥淟ast year we had a really strong year with that being one of the only things that you could do,鈥� says Balogh. 鈥淲e saw more people coming out who seemed to enjoy themselves.鈥�
鈥淗opefully they'll be coming back this year.鈥�
Kingswood Golf Course is based on an honour system for the one-time golfers but also accepts e-transers.
There have been quite a few young kids out golfing, running around and hitting the ball. One way of getting the first-time golfers to gain more confidence in the game is to learn from a veteran golfer.
Balogh says there are many features to entice a golfer to play a round in Kipling.
鈥淲e have very nice greens. The course isn't heavily treed so there's less chance of losing balls during play. There are three sets of tees at each hole 鈥� the back, middle and forward 鈥� so that provides options for any calibre player. This allows the beginner golfer to feel less intimated and less discouraged teeing off from the forward tee at each hole. Golf is a hard enough game to begin with so teeing off closer to the green in the beginning may give you a more enjoyable experience.
鈥淲e've had golfers come from near and far, we've had golfers come from communities in southeast Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba to try out the course and now they keep coming back.鈥�
鈥淲e're not super busy so booking a tee time is not necessary, although you may want to call ahead to book a cart.鈥�
A good reason for a golfer to try a round on Kingswood Golf Course is you could stay for the day...you could golf 27 or 36 holes if you want. Or maybe you鈥檙e staying for a visit at the campground and swimming pool which runs alongside the No. 2 fairway. Let the kids go swimming and pack up your clubs for a round while you wait.
And relax and enjoy a bite to eat at their licensed clubhouse after a round of golf.
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