KENOSEE LAKE - Two members of Golf Kenosee are set to take part in the Canadian Seniors Men’s Championship to be held at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Golf Club in La Malbaie, Quebec on September 21-24.
Rick Hallberg hails from Weyburn but having a cabin at Kenosee Lake he basically spends the whole summer there.
Recently retired from the oilfield, he now has more time to dedicate to his golf game getting in at least six rounds of golf a week.
Being a member at Golf Kenosee, that’s where he golfs the majority of his time.
Hallberg finished 12th overall for all of Canada in the 40+ age group at the Mid-Masters in Ft. McMurray, AB recently out of a total of 120 taking part in the tournament.
“The golf course was a very good course and it was extremely difficult,” says Hallberg. “I was happy with my placing. I played okay and I was happy to finish 12th but I felt I could have done a lot better.”
Hallberg also won the Saskatchewan Mid-Masters in Warman which qualified him to compete in the Canadian Mid-Masters in Quebec.
Hallberg says he’s been golfing since he was ‘a little kid’ and later on competed in one High School Provincial tournament. He’s also won the Provincial Senior tournament.
But that wasn’t the end of it. Out of the 8 tournaments he’s played in this year, he’s come away with five wins.
Hallberg was also the Saskatchewan Senior Men’s Order of Merit (OMT) champion in 2018.
“I have to do a lot of practicing for the upcoming tournament,” explains Hallberg. “I wouldn’t say I’m nervous but I’m looking forward to getting there.”
“I’ve played in this tournament twice before…once in New Brunswick and once in Ontario.”
Last year everything was cancelled due to COVID.
“This next tournament would be a pretty good one to win seeing that it’s the Canadian Championships!”
“I’ve never won before but I’ve been in contention,” says Hallberg. “My goal this year is to finish in the top five.”
Paul Grimes of Kenosee Lake, also a member of Golf Kenosee, is headed to the Canadian Seniors as well.
“I am pleasantly pleased to be going to this tournament,” says Grimes.
Grimes, also retired from the oilfield, has been a golfer for many years starting out at age 14, then taking the game more seriously at age 30 and honing his skills ever since. This will be Grimes’ fourth trip to the Nationals.
Grimes and Hallberg golf many rounds together.
“We’re so lucky here to get out on the golf course any time,” says Grimes who golfs three to four times a week.
“I’ve golfed a lot of places and there aren’t many better than Golf Kenosee.”
“I had a phenomenal summer just riding in the same cart with Hallberg and watching him play that quality of golf,” explains Grimes.
“Rick is one of the reasons I put my name in to golf in the Nationals this year because I knew he was going.”
“I’m looking forward to going down to Quebec and golfing and making the cut and having a good time,”
“I’m a little bit nervous and excited about golfing in the Nationals,” says Grimes and adds “what tournament golf does for me is I want to be able to handle the nerves and play tournament golf the way I play with my buddies.”
“I know how I’ll play with my buddies when I’m in my comfort zone,” explains Grimes. “To take that to tournament golf is a whole different situation altogether.”
“But I see the better players, Rick being one of them, that can do that.”
“That’s how I treat a tournament, I know what I’m capable of so just go play that way and I’ll be fine.”
Hallberg and Grimes will be two out of 156 golfers taking part in the Canadian Seniors to be held at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Golf Club in La Malbaie, Quebec on September 21-24.
