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Wendy Stoner delivered an impressive performance at Wintergreen by scoring a Hole in One on the 7th hole. The shot was not only thrilling but also beautiful to witness. Congratulations to Wendy on this remarkable accomplishment!

Linda McNeely demonstrated great resilience at Springbank Links on the 10th hole. Despite her tee shot landing in the pond on the right side—just as she was warned—Linda took a drop and then skillfully chipped the ball directly into the hole, achieving par with “zero putts.” Way to go, Linda!

A Par, Birdie and an Eagle Story to share.  Arlene Cadger got an Eagle at Blue Devil Golf Course WOOT  WOOT  – 2 hits to the green then sunk a 60 foot putt. A little bird told me Tina Cameron birdied hole #1 at Glen Eagles and on Hole #8 at  Wintergreen Yvonne Ladouceur hit a 24 yard bump and run with her 8 iron right into the cup to Par the hole.

Brenda Kurtz after a very humbling round at Springbank Links was reminded some golf courses are easier to play than others. She offer to do up a piece for the News Feed.

Here are some straightforward explanations about golf course difficulty and what a handicap is. I had my daughter read them and she golfs occasionally so I hope they are informative but brief.

Golf Course Ratings

Have you noticed that some golf courses are fairly forgiving, whereas others are soul-crushing?  If you want to find out before you get to the #1 tee box, here’s how.

Every golf course is given a rating by a team of experts who measure distances, consider hazards and evaluate the greens on every hole. The result is a “Rating” and a “Slope”. Each tee box will have a slope and rating for men and women golfers.

When choosing where to play, look online for the course scorecard to check the Slope for the various tee boxes. Check out this website to check out golf course details.  The average Slope rating for a course is 113. Heather Glen’s forward red tees have a Slope of 118, making it great choice for newer golfers, while Wintergreen’s Red Tees at 129  is quite a bit more difficult.  But sometimes it’s just fine to play a round at Kananaskis (67.9/124) to just enjoy the view.

What is a Handicap Index?

If you have ever wondered what a Handicap Index is? It’s a standardized measure of how well you can play. It’s NOT based on your expected or average score. In fact, most golfers will only shoot their handicap a quarter of the time.

The easiest way to calculate your Handicap Index is using an app like the Golf Canada app. All you do is enter scores hole by hole.

Once you have the Handicap Index, use the app to get a Course Handicap for any course – it will be higher or lower than your Index depending on the course difficulty.  After your round, you can subtract the Course Handicap from your score to get your “Net” score.

The app calculates the index using your score and the slope and rating for the tee box you used for the last 20 games.

The “Differential”:  for each game is:

• Your Score Minus Rating
• Multiply by 113
• Divide by Slope
• The average of the best 8 Differentials is your Handicap Index

There are some additional adjustments hole by hole to make sure that a few bad holes don’t skew your handicap index and some other rules.

Curious about the numbers on the scorecard with the title “Ladies Handicap”?.  This is the order of the holes from most difficult to easiest from 1-18. You could use it for match play, or to just explain why you got a snowman on a tough hole.

Mulligan’s  are do overs and sometimes we do things that we wish we could take back & other times we hope nobody saw the crazy thing we have done. Catherine Hawn witnessed Nicki Heikkinen’s “Hole-in-One” (The ball fell into a drainage pipe on the 10th fairway) on the Magrath Golf course, this year’ s Mystery Bus Trip destination.

 

Carnmoney’s Tiffany Gordon and Jonathan West hosted the outdoor Swing Improvement session. With the sky’s looking like they may open up on us, always proactive, they organized the power carts in a semi circle on the driving range to protect us just in case. Mother nature however was kind and the storm blew another way not raining on our parade. After our outdoor session I do think we have a better understanding of the role of golf clubs; what they do and why good shots happen or don’t. I am sure we all came away with some Aha moments. A question about sand and clubs took us down to the short game area where we learned some great tactics for getting out of the sand and some good course management decisions. We finished up having dinner overlooking the beautiful golf course, with awesome staff looking after us and some great company.

“She Plays Golf festivals feature inclusive programming for women and girls, addressing gaps in the participation pathway and introducing new women and girls to the game in a safe, fun and judgement-free environment.” Join us for the 2025 She Plays Golf Festival, a celebration of golf for women and girls of all ages and abilities. Sign up for a “Jr Girls Tee it Up!”, Learn to Scramble, or “Golf 101 event, or get involved as a volunteer! Learn more and register today at SHEPLAYSGOLF.CA

International Women’s day is Saturday March 8 and this year theme is “Strength in every story” This year’s theme highlights the importance of amplifying the voices of all women, particularly those who continue to face barriers to success. Creating opportunities for women and girls unlocks their potential and drives innovation, supports Canada’s economy, and helps ensure a sustainable future for all.”

I thought it was fitting to share some history of Women and Golf. The roots of women’s golf can be traced back to the 16th century. Mary, Queen of Scots, is often credited as the first female golfer. In 1567, she played golf at St. Andrews, one of the oldest and most prestigious golf courses in the world. Her participation laid the groundwork for women’s involvement in the sport, although it would take centuries for women to gain more recognition and opportunities in golf.

In the late 19th century, women’s golf clubs began to form as the sport gained popularity among women. The first women’s golf club was founded in 1867 at St. Andrews, and it was called the Ladies’ Golf Club of St. Andrews. This was a monumental step for women in golf, providing a space where they could play and compete. Following this, other women’s golf clubs started emerging across the United Kingdom and later in the United States.

The first women’s golf championship was held in 1893, organized by the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) in Britain. This event marked the beginning of structured competition for women golfers. In the United States, the Women’s Amateur Championship began in 1895. These competitions provided a platform for women to showcase their skills and compete at a high level, paving the way for future generations of female golfers.

The 20th century saw significant progress for women in golf. One of the turning points was the establishment of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in 1950. The LPGA was founded by 13 pioneering female golfers, including Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg, and Louise Suggs. This organization provided female golfers with professional opportunities and helped elevate the status of women’s golf globally.

Women in golf have continuously broken barriers and expanded horizons. In 2003, Annika Sörenstam became the first woman in 58 years to compete in a men’s PGA Tour event. Her participation challenged gender norms and demonstrated that women could compete at the highest levels of the sport.

The inclusion of golf in the Olympic Games has been a significant milestone for the sport. Women’s golf was reintroduced to the Olympics in 2016 after a 112-year absence. This provided a global stage for female golfers to compete and showcase their talents. The event has helped to inspire a new generation of female golfers and has contributed to the growing popularity of the sport worldwide.

The history of women and golf is a testament to the perseverance, talent, and passion of female golfers throughout the centuries. From the early days of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the modern achievements of players like Annika Sörenstam and Inbee Park, women have played a crucial role in shaping the sport of golf.

Yoga and golf, though seemingly different, share a core principle: the pursuit of balance and strength. Both activities require a blend of mental focus, physical strength, and flexibility. For women, integrating yoga into their golf routine can lead to remarkable improvements in their game, as well as overall well-being. Yoga and golf complement each other beautifully. Yoga enhances flexibility, balance, and strength, which are crucial for an effective golf swing. Golf, on the other hand, emphasizes precision, focus, and mental clarity, all of which are fostered through regular yoga practice. Yoga and golf are a harmonious combination that can lead to improved performance, greater physical fitness, and enhanced well-being for women. By embracing the principles of balance, strength, and mental focus, women golfers can elevate their game and enjoy the numerous benefits that yoga offers. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a beginner, integrating yoga into your routine can be a transformative experience, both on and off the course.

Krista is a member of Golfaround and has been teaching yoga for 19 years. Her golf yoga classes will help with flexibility, balance, core strength and swing dynamics.  To help you get the most out of the season, minimizing pain and injuries and maybe even improving your score… we have golf yoga again this spring. These classes are a mix of yoga and functional movement for golfers – great for anyone who is brand new to golf or for experienced yogis who want to tailor this to your golf game. Click here to register

Merry Christmas to all the incredible women golfers out there and your families! May your holiday season be filled with joy, relaxation, and a swing into the new year with success on and off the course.