Hewn from dense woodland close to Lake Waskesiu, the Birch and Aspen nines comprise the “championship” course at the Elk Ridge Resort. The layout was constructed in 1993 and designed by Bruce Klaasen, the long-serving superintendent at Royal Regina.
The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada established the Elk Ridge Open at the club in 2021, the first time the professional men’s tour had visited Saskatchewan for five years. The Tour entered into an eight-year partnership with new club owners Routes 2SK (eight born-and-bred Saskatchewan professionals) that will see the new tournament staged at Elk Ridge until 2028.
Saskatchewan native Graham DeLaet – a current PGA TOUR member and former Mackenzie Tour player – served as the tournament’s honorary chair. DeLaet is well known in Saskatchewan for his family’s philanthropic endeavours, with their Foundation mainly focused on improving the health and wellness of children.
Raoul Menard from Ange Gardien in Quebec won the inaugural 54-hole event with a three-round total score of nine-under-par to hold off his nearest challenger by four shots. Menard had a 5-shot lead going into the final round but he bogeyed three of the first four holes to have his lead cut to two shots. He then recovered his form on the back nine, finishing with a 1-under-par 69 to close out a comfortable victory.
