WEYBURN – The Weyburn Golf Club opened for the season on Saturday, and a new golf pro, Travis Schmidt, is in charge in the clubhouse.
He was previously the golf pro at the Mainprize Golf Course for the past four years, and is looking forward to the new season in Weyburn.
Schmidt said he learned the game from his dad, who used to play a lot at the Weyburn course, and remembered playing at Weyburn when it was just a nine-hole golf course because the course in Radville only had sand greens at the time.
Besides golf, Schmidt had a great love of baseball, and played for the Weyburn Beavers in the 1990s.
“I followed my dad’s footsteps, as he played ball and golfed as well,” he said, noting he knows a lot of faces here, “and they all knew my dad, as he golfed here for years.”
Currently just the front nine is open for golfing, said Schmidt, but noted the back nine will be open soon, as conditions permit. He also pointed out that with the new irrigation system, there should be really good conditions on the front nine this year.
Going into the new season, he wants to see the clubhouse kitchen have a full menu available, and is planning for a number of tournaments this season.
“We’re bringing excitement back to tournaments this year,” said Schmidt.
The first tourney will be a nine-hole fundraiser event with a comedian, called “Laugh Your Grass Off”, on Saturday, May 28. People will be able to golf and get the show, or buy tickets just for the comedian and supper if they don’t want to golf.
He noted the Weyburn Oil Show golf tournament is back this year, to be held on Tuesday, May 31, the day before the oil show officially starts.
Night golf with a DJ, Richy Roy, will be held on July 2, and the Farmers tournament will be back as well, on July 15, and singer Karissa Hoffart providing entertainment in the evening.
There will be junior golf lessons this season, with Hailey Verhelst providing lessons to junior girls on Thursday nights, and he will do junior boys lessons on Tuesday nights.
Skins will be held on Monday nights, Tuesdays is ladies night, and men’s night will be on Wednesdays.
The annual meeting for the Weyburn Golf Club will be held on Monday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m., at the clubhouse, and Schmidt will be introduced to the members.
