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Don Kunkel elected Golf Sask. president

Yorkton’s Don Kunkel has been elected president of Golf Saskatchewan for 2020.
Kunkel

Yorkton’s Don Kunkel has been elected president of Golf Saskatchewan for 2020.

Kunkel served as vice-president of the provincial organization in 2019, and was re-elected to his third term, and the top spot at the Golf Saskatchewan annual general meeting held online.

“It’s a one-year deal,” he said of the president’s position. “We’ve always done it that way.”

As for holding the AGM online via Zoom, Kunkel said it worked out well.

“It was the best turn out we’ve ever had,” he said. “It actually turned out really well.”

In fact, there is interest in adding Zoom as an attendance option post COVID-19, allowing people to participate without travelling to the meeting.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Kunkel. “These Zoom meetings are fantastic. They’re basically face-to-face.”

Kunkel said the position is not one that requires a great deal of time.

“It’s not an onerous thing,” he said, adding it does mean he will be “the face of the organization when needed.”

However, in terms of day-to-day operations Golf Saskatchewan does have an executive director’ Brian Lee.

That said Kunkel will be putting some miles on the car this summer attending Golf Saskatchewan tournaments if COVID-19 regulations allow them to take place.

Kunkel said he certainly hopes tournaments can be played this summer, noting many are held as fundraisers for various organizations all across the province and country.

“Millions are raised in Saskatchewan alone for charities,” offered Kunkel.

As for the chance that golf will be allowed Kunkel is optimistic, but under what rules that might be is yet unknown.

“We’re pretty confident there’s going to be some golf this year,” he said. “The (COVID-19) curve is pretty flat right now. It’s pretty positive right now.”

Kunkel added there are 100 courses now open in British Columbia so they will be watching how that works out.

“The safety issue is the important thing,” he said. “... A lot of things will come into play. It’s a huge learning curve for everybody.”

Golf Saskatchewan represents some 17,000 golfers across the province.