KenWo hosting Canadian mens senior golf championship in New Minas, N.S

Published Sep 07, 20256 minute readThe Canadian men’s senior golf championship is taking place at the KenWo Golf Club in New Minas Sept. 9-12. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentGolf fans are in for a treat.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentKenWo Golf Club is hosting the Canadian men’s senior golf championship Sept. 9-12.Article contentArticle content“They’re going to see some amazing golf. Golf played at its highest level,” David Bolton, a club member and co-chairperson of the tournament, said Sept. 6. “It will be fun to watch how they are able to take this fairly difficult course apart.”Article contentThe Canadian senior men’s event, for golfers 55 and older, has been contested since 1962 while the super senior championship, for 65-and-older golfers, was created in 1995. The two events are held simultaneously. A team tournament is also included in the first two rounds. Alberta has won seven of the past eight team events.Article contentArticle contentWhile it is a national event, there are international players competing, including Ronnie Clark, who won the French and Italian senior titles in the past two years.Article contentIt is the sixth time the New Minas course has hosted a national championship. The first was the Canadian junior girls’ event in 1985 followed by the men’s club championship in 1998, the junior boys in 2001 and the women’s amateur in 2002 and 2016.Article content“We’re excited to showcase our golf course,” said Rene MacKay, the club’s director of golf and tournament co-chairperson. “We want the players to have a great week.”Article content Rene MacKay, left, and David Bolton are chairing the host committee for the Canadian senior men’s golf championship at KenWo Golf Club in New Minas. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentBolton said the organizing committee’s goal is to host a best-in-class event that provides a great experience for the players, members, volunteers, staff and Golf Canada team.Article contentArticle contentFieldArticle contentThe field of 156 golfers begin play Sept. 9 at the 6,222-yard, par-70 course. The field will be cut after Round 2.Article contentArticle contentThere are several former champs registered to play, including Doug Hanzel, Jack Hall, Gene Elliott, Rusty Strawn, Darren Ritchie and Lars Melander.Article content“The field is super strong,” MacKay said.Article contentNorm Batherson, who won the KenWo club championship as a senior earlier this year, is the hometown favourite.Article content“We want him to have a great tournament,” MacKay said, noting Batherson has been working hard on his game. “It’s a great field, but Norm is a great player.”Article contentHe has the advantage of knowing the course.Article content“For reading the greens, it’s obviously a big advantage,” Bolton said. “Knowing those subtle breaks makes a big difference.”Article contentThe practice round is Sept. 8, but some golfers were in town since Sept. 4 getting a read of the course.Article content The KenWo Golf Club is located in New Minas. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentArticle contentCourseArticle contentWhile New Minas is located on the valley floor, nestled between the North and South mountains, the course isn’t flat.Article contentAlmost all of the tees are elevated, raising the degree of difficulty, and all of the bunkers were renewed a year ago.Article content“They are all very strategic in their distancing off the tee,” Bolton said. “They defend the greens well.”Article contentSo, what type of a golfer scores well at KenWo? A strategic one, Bolton said.Article content“Somebody who is playing their next shot on the previous shot because you can find yourself in a bit of trouble if you don’t put your ball where it needs to be played from for the next shot,” he explained.Article contentMacKay called it a “shot-makers course” and noted the dry summer the province has endured has had an impact.Article content“When the course is playing firm and fast, you have to be even more strategic,” he said.Article contentMacKay has been asked for a prediction of what the winning score would be. He said it would depend on the wind, but he’s anticipating a bunched-up leaderboard.Article contentArticle contentThe competitive course record is 6-under 64 and MacKay said he could see some scores in the mid-60s this week. “There’s some opportunities for some low scores.”Article contentBolton said players can make up for a bad round but must stay in contention.Article content“You can make your ground back up, but you can’t get very far behind.”Article contentBolton said the four-round competition would be a fair test of golf.Article content“It’s really going to find the best senior golfer in Canada.”Article contentArticle contentHistoryArticle contentIn 2014, Golf Canada approached the club about hosting the 2016 women’s amateur. MacKay said it would agree if the club could host an event in 2021 as part of its centennial celebrations.Article content“They graciously obliged,” MacKay explained.Article contentThe two groups later agreed the men’s seniors’ tournament would be the 2021 event. But the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, and it would have meant a number of restrictions, including no international player participation, volunteers or spectators.Article contentArticle content“We still could have hosted the event in 2021, however, it was going to be without the fanfare of hosting a national event,” MacKay said.Article content Signage was installed Sept. 6 for the Canadian senior men’s golf championship at KenWo Golf Course in New Minas. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentThe club decided to postpone hosting the event. Fast-forward a few years later, as the opening round of the tournament drew closer, anticipation was growing.Article content“It’s exciting,” Bolton said. “Our membership is so proud of the course.”Article contentIt is evident from the 140 volunteers, comprised mostly of the 850 members, helping out with the championship.Article contentArticle contentEconomic impactArticle contentAnd while the tournament is a significant event for the course to host, the Annapolis Valley will also benefit.Article contentBolton said it is a great way to showcase the region. He retired from the military where he flew the Hercules aircraft. He lived in every Canadian province and overseas during his career.Article content“I purposely retired to this area because it is, in my mind, the best place in Canada to be,” he said, noting its wineries, breweries, restaurants, diverse culture and being home to the world’s highest recorded tides. “It is just a magnificently beautiful place to be, and this course is just a piece of it.”Article contentAn economic impact study, conducted by an official at Acadia University, showed the four-day championship would have a $600,000 impact on the region. MacKay said it goes deeper than that for the province as some golfers came early and others were staying later to golf some of the courses around Nova Scotia.Article contentArticle contentLooking backArticle contentA review of the past five winners of the Canadian men’s senior and super senior golf championships.Article content2024Article contentFlorida resident Miles McConnell, who was born in Toronto and lived north of the city for 10 years before moving to the United States, won the 2024 senior’s championship in a playoff with England’s Stephen Jensen. They both shot 8-under 280 at the Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ont.Article contentJack Hall defeated Doug Hanzel on the second playoff hole in a battle of Savannah, Ga., natives to win the super senior championship. They each shot 4-under 284.Article contentArticle content2023Article contentHanzel swept both trophies in 2023 at Big Sky Golf & Country Club in Pemberton, B.C. He won the senior title on the first playoff hole against Iowa’s Gene Elliott. Both had shot four-round totals of 3-under 285. Hanzel won the super senior title by six strokes over hometown boy Lance Lundy.Article content2022Article contentRusty Strawn, of McDonough, Ga., won the 2022 senior championship by three shots at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club in Alberta. He fired a 5-under 283.Article contentFrank Van Dornick, of Camrose, Alta., was victorious in the super senior tournament by 10 strokes after carding a four-round total of 4-over 292.Article content2021Article contentDarren Ritchie, from Saint John, N.B., took home the top prize from the 2021 senior’s championship at the Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Que. He shot a 2-over 290 to win by five strokes. Michel Roy from Quebec won the super senior title by four strokes after shooting a 13-over 301.Article contentArticle content2020Article contentNo tournament due to Covid-19.Article content2019Article contentElliott had a five-stroke victory in 2019 after firing a 6-under 278 at the Cedar Brae Golf Club in Scarborough, Ont.Article contentLars Melander of Oakville, Ont., won the super seniors title at even-par 284.Article contentArticle contentProvincial prideArticle contentA look at the Nova Scotians in the field for the Canadian senior men’s golf championship.Article contentNorm Batherson, New Minas.Article contentRob Collins, Yarmouth.Article contentBryan Fader*, Halifax.Article contentStephen Forest*, Halifax.Article contentJeff Hovell, Fall River.Article contentMike Innis, Bedford.Article contentTerry Moore, Halifax.Article contentAaron Nickerson*, Clarks Harbour.Article contentErnest Sheaves, Baddeck.Article contentJeff Vanwart, Bible Hill.Article content* Denotes provincial team member.Article content