Minnedosa Golf and Country Club primed for century season

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This article was published 15/05/2024 (682 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MINNEDOSA — Minnedosa Golf and Country Club has come a long way during the past century.

From its original location, from a tight, winding nine-hole track to 18 terrific holes, and from the recent flooding to incredible spring conditions.

So far, so great for “Dosa National” as it celebrates 100 years of golf in the western Manitoba town this season.

“It’s incredible. It’s honestly everything,” general manager and head professional Patrick Law said of the ideal spring conditions. “I’ve been starting to keep track of days in a row I’ve heard people text me … saying ‘I’ve heard how good it is,’ in a stark comparison to the negatives we’ve heard in the spring with floods, et cetera, and recovering from them … it’s everything.”

It was tough to find a patch of good grass on the second hole last spring. It sat under river water for weeks in 2022, causing extensive damage and work for superintendent Dan Bailey and his crew.

Not only are the impacted holes back to near-perfect condition, but the greens are as good as — or better than — any in the region. Bailey aerates earlier than many, allowing the heat of warm September days and a bit of rain to fill them in much quicker than those who wait until late in the season and see those holes linger into the spring.

Minnedosa also shut down after Thanksgiving weekend, even though forecasts called for promising golf weather for a few more weeks. The crew prioritized ensuring they did all the necessary chemical sprays, including additional ones to a few key areas to give the course the best chance to winter well.

“We made the decision to say no to whatever revenue that might have done for the betterment of the golf course. There’s always an element of luck in Manitoba,” Law said.

“Any golf course, it doesn’t matter how big your budget is in Manitoba or how much effort you put in, because I know every superintendent does, Mother Nature holds all the cards. She’ll have her way with you.”

Anyone who was frustrated then can smile now, seeing the long-term benefit of the decision.

“We made the decision to say no to whatever revenue that might have done for the betterment of the golf course. There’s always an element of luck in Manitoba,”– Patrick Law

The course is ready for an always-heavy slate of events, plus a few massive ones added for 2024.

It already held its $1,000 draw last weekend, welcoming a packed tee sheet of players for nine holes, a meal and a chance to win a long table full of prizes.

Up next is the Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa Par 3 tournament on May 25, with cash prizes up for grabs on every hole.

The 100th anniversary celebration will last a week, leading up to the July long weekend. Starting June 24, the centennial activities will feature green fees for the price of a membership in 1924: 25 cents, with cart rental.

On June 25 there’s a junior and family day, followed by typical Wednesday ladies and Thursday men’s nights, then a trivia night Friday for golfers and non-golfers alike to participate.

The big night is Saturday and the Centennial Scramble, with nine holes starting at 7:30 p.m., then a happy hour, and nine more holes of night golf after dark.

Law has also scheduled a pile of events, including men’s, women’s and mixed opens.

“I take a lot of pride in it. I think it’s something I do reasonably well,” Law said of event planning. “You have to be creative and pivot quite a bit in this business to find new ways to get new people into the game, especially here in rural Manitoba with a ton of good golf courses to compete with.

“The town of Minnedosa lends itself to that way of life, the social dynamic we try and build here. To do stuff golf-related, too, that comes pretty easy support-wise.”

While they celebrate 100 years of golf, it has just been 20 on this particular 18-hole layout. The original course was where the current Minnedosa Arena stands at the fairgrounds, with nine holes weaving in and out of the horse racing track and up through the trees in the valley.

They moved in 1976 to open nine holes, then added the rest in 2004.

Now, for the first time, the 6,461-yard loop will play host to a major Golf Manitoba championship: the women’s amateur and men’s mid-amateur runs July 4 to 6.

It was originally slated for Neepawa Golf and Country Club, a quick drive east down Highway 16, but Neepawa pulled the plug due to an ongoing irrigation project and Minnedosa stepped in.

“I remember playing in rural ams here … and it was always awesome,” Law said. “When we got that phone call, that all came together in 36 hours.

“It was an interesting conversation with our superintendent when we didn’t really know what was underneath the snow at the time. Now, I could not be happier we made that decision.”

ACES: Bailey, nicknamed ‘Ace,’ finally earned the nickname by making a hole-in-one in on the par-3 eighth hole on Sunday, with his sons witnessing the shot … Shilo Country Club member Jeremy Morissette aced the par-3 16th hole on Sunday with a seven-iron.

WINS: Brandon’s Zostrianos Giordani-Gross won his second Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour event in as many weeks, shooting 76 and 73 for a 5-over 149 in Estevan, Sask., on the weekend.