Club News

Captains Message

Aug 13, 2026

Dear Members,

I hope everyone has been enjoying the golf season so far. It has certainly been a busy and exciting summer at Niakwa.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate all of our female and male competitive golfers on a fantastic season to date. Your hard work, dedication and representation of Niakwa are something we should all be proud of. I would also like to thank all of the members who have come out to watch, support and cheer on our players. Your support means a great deal to our competitive golfers and to the club as a whole.

This year has been filled with amazing social and golf events. Thank you to our Professional Staff and Food & Beverage team for the incredible amount of time, effort, and dedication they put into making each event a success.

A Few Important Reminders

As we move through the second half of the season, I would like to ask all members to help us continue to maintain the high standards we expect at Niakwa.

One of the best ways we can do this is by helping educate our friends, guests and playing partners about proper course care and etiquette.

We have seen an increase in unrepaired ball marks on our greens. Please take the extra moment to repair your ball mark, as well as any additional marks you may notice around you. The same applies to our bunkers. Please rake bunkers carefully and leave them in a condition that you would want to find them when you arrive.

Our Superintendent and turf team do an incredible job maintaining the golf course, but their time and resources are limited. Every small effort we make as members helps them spend their valuable time where it is needed most.

Please also remember to use divot mix when filling your divots. This is the best way to encourage new growth and help keep our fairways in excellent condition.

Cart Traffic

Another growing concern is cart traffic around the golf course.

A few specific reminders:

  • Please do not put two wheels on the grass simply to save yourself a few extra steps.
  • When conditions are wet, please use extra care and common sense when determining where to drive.
  •  Please remain on the cart path when playing the par 3s.
  • Avoid driving carts into sensitive areas around greens and tee boxes.
  • Please make every effort to keep carts out of the rough whenever possible, particularly when the course is saturated following significant rainfall. Our fairways have drainage systems designed to handle traffic much better than many of the rough areas.

These may seem like small things, but collectively they make a significant difference to the condition of our course.

Our turf care team deserve our support in keeping Niakwa at the standards that all of our members expect and deserve.

Handicap Scores

Finally, please remember to enter all eligible scores into your handicap record. Accurate score posting is an important part of maintaining fairness and integrity in our competitions and league play. We all have a responsibility to ensure our handicaps accurately reflect our current playing ability.

I am always around the club, and if you ever have a question, concern or suggestion, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I will always do my best to listen and get you an answer.

Thank you for your continued support and for doing your part to make Niakwa a great place to play and enjoy the game we all love.

Looking Ahead to September

We are also very excited to be hosting the National Championship at Niakwa this coming September. This is a tremendous opportunity for our club, and we are incredibly proud to showcase Niakwa to players and guests from across the country.

A huge thank you to all of our volunteers and committee chairs who have already put in countless hours helping us prepare for this event. Your time, energy and commitment are greatly appreciated and will play a big part in making the championship a success.

We would love to see as many members as possible get involved. Whether you would like to volunteer your time or simply come out as a spectator, we encourage you to be part of what will be a very special event for Niakwa. And, of course, there is always the option of enjoying some great golf and a glass of wine on the patio!

We look forward to seeing everyone out there and sharing what promises to be a fantastic week for our club.

Have a great rest of the season, and enjoy the golf!

Sincerely,

Jay Doyle
Club Captain
Niakwa Country Club

Club Captain Message

May 14, 2026

Best of the season everyone,
 
It’s that wonderful time of year again at Niakwa. While Mother Nature has taken her time warming things up, she treated us kindly over the off-season. Thanks to the diligent work of Shawn Major and his team, the course has once again emerged in spectacular condition—ready for another memorable season.
 
A sincere thank you goes out to our outgoing President, Darin Downey, along with the Board members, for their dedication and leadership over the past several years. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and are deeply appreciated.
 
We were thrilled to see such a great turnout at the opening cocktail party. Many thanks to the clubhouse, staff, and management for hosting such a fantastic event (and for ensuring no one left hungry!).
 
As always, we extend a warm welcome to our new members. We’re delighted to have you join the Niakwa community. With that, a few friendly reminders to help preserve what makes this club so special:

  • First and foremost, it’s a privilege to be part of this community—let’s make sure our staff feel that same appreciation. A simple hello or word of thanks goes a long way
  • On the course, there is an expectation of a four-hour round. Please be ready to play and do your best to keep pace with the group ahead. However, early groups are asked to play in no less than 3½ hours (no speed records please) which will allow maintenance staff the time they need to complete their work safely.
  • Bunkers were a challenge last season, so let’s all do our part. It is every golfer’s duty to rake bunkers thoroughly after use—especially those playing later in the day. Contrary to popular belief, there is no magical overnight bunker fairy. Please note bunker rakes are now to be left outside of bunkers. 
  • Ball mark repair is equally important. Gently insert your divot tool around the edges of the mark and ease the turf back together—never lift from underneath, as this damages the roots. A light tap to finish, and you’ve done your part to keep the greens in top shape.
  • Divot mix is your best friend out there—use it consistently to ensure healthy turf. Replaced divots may not survive the mower, leaving behind bare spots. If you’re carrying your clubs, please be sure to bring divot mix along.
  • Golf carts should remain on the fairways and, especially on par threes, on designated paths. And when applying bug spray, please do so only on paths or in bunkers—spraying on the turf can cause immediate damage.
  • For those who smoke, please be mindful of others around you, particularly on the range and practice greens. And a gentle but firm reminder: cigarette butts belong in proper receptacles, never on the course.
  • Finally, if you’re using the back practice green, kindly collect your balls when finished so it’s ready for the next group. Leaving you balls and walking away is not proper etiquette.

Niakwa is a special place because of the people who make up this community. Let’s all do our part to maintain the standards and spirit that make it so enjoyable for everyone.
 
Wishing you all a fantastic 2026 golf season—may your drives be long, your putts be true, and your rounds be just the right side of four hours.
 
 
Warm regards,
 
Jay Doyle
Niakwa Club Captain

Course Closure

Sep 29, 2025

The final day of play will be Monday, October 13.

Asking yourself the question why close the course now? Click here to find out.

Captain’s Message

Jun 25, 2025

To the Members of Niakwa Country Club,

As Club Captain I write this message in regard to the ongoing issues that are affecting the experience at our club.

As a top tier private country club, Niakwa carries with it an expectation of excellence—not only in the quality of the facilities and course, but in the way members respect and contribute to our shared environment. Maintaining the integrity and beauty of our course is a collective responsibility, and it’s clear that, at times, this responsibility is not being upheld. We call upon all members to help shift this culture immediately.

When you’re out on the course, please understand the following are expectations, not requests:

  • Bunkers should be raked carefully and thoroughly after use. This also applies to those playing in the evening. The course team does not have the ability to complete a full rake prior to play, so any footprint left in the evening, may affect members playing in the morning.
  • Ball marks must be repaired, including your own and any others you can attend to while waiting. 
  • Golf carts should remain on cart paths wherever possible, respect directional signage and stay at least 20 yards away from the greens unless you have express permission to go elsewhere. 
  • Cigarette butts are to be disposed of properly-not in the divot mix bottles, on the ground, or anywhere on the course. Use a garbage bin or take them back with you to dispose of at the back shop. Please be mindful of others on the range as well. If you smoke, take an outside spot where the wind takes the smoke away from people beside you.
  • Greens and pins require special care. Many members putt with the flagstick in, but this has led to visible wear and tear on even the best-cut holes by 10 am. To preserve the work of our maintenance staff, it’s recommended that you remove the pin and gently retrieve your ball.

Additionally, for early tee times:

  • Do not hit up on players or staff.  The staff require time and space to complete their work preparing the course for play and members should be allowed to complete their round in timely fashion, without being unduly pushed. Adjust your pace of play accordingly to give the maintenance team time to do their job properly.

As always, divots should be filled with the provided divot mix, especially large ones that be collected by mowers.

The practice green should never have range balls on it. This is not an appropriate look for a private club. If you would like to work on your game, please use your own balls.

When practicing in the back lot, please collect your balls when finished for the next person. Common courtesy. 

On a positive note, I must say my overall experience this year has been significantly improved, and I want to thank all those—members and staff—who’ve contributed to that.

Lastly, a few important reminders:

  • When bringing a guest to the club, please ensure they are aware of and follow all club expectations. We want them to enjoy the same high standards we all appreciate as members.
  • If you experience any issues with staff, course conditions, food and beverage, or service, please do not engage with staff directly. These matters should be brought to Wade or Terry so they can be addressed properly.

Let’s work together to keep Niakwa the exceptional club we all take pride in.

Jay Doyle

Club Captain

2025 Men’s Senior Putter Qualifying

Feb 14, 2025

Please join me in thanking Ken Warwick for serving as Captain of the Senior Putter Team over the past decade. We appreciate all his efforts.

As Club Captain, I will manage the team until we identify a candidate and train them to take over as our new Captain.

If you are 55 or older and interested in qualifying for the Niakwa Men’s Senior Putter Team, please submit your name, email address, and handicap by February 28th.

The team is comprised of eight players, with two spots reserved for an over-65 team. Selection is based on the following criteria:

  • Senior Club Champion will be exempt from qualifying
  • Three qualifying spots
  • Four Captain’s picks, determined by:

             – Past performance
             – Course being played
             – Importance of the match
             – Weather conditions

To qualify, you must submit your scores into the team group chat, including:

  • Who you played with
  • The number of birdies or eagles
  • The tee you played from

Please note that qualifying rounds can be played from gold, blue/gold or blue tees. Players who qualify, or who are selected, will be notified via the team group chat on, or before, the Sunday evening prior to that week’s match. If you do not submit a score, we will assume you are not available or not performing at a qualifying level.

We encourage all members who enjoy competitive golf and camaraderie to participate. I look forward to hearing from everyone soon.

Thank you,

Jay Doyle, Club Captain
Jay@mcarthurfinancial.ca

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