GOLF GUIDE Manitoba 2020 SATURDAY MAY 23, 2020
FIND GREAT PLACES TO TEE OFF THIS SUMMER!
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, CALL: 204-697-7209 SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Experience... • 18 beautiful, manicured golf holes minutes from Clear Lake. • The area’s only driving range/practice facility with grass tees, a putting green, a chipping area complete with a sand bunker to hone your skills. • Green fees, annual memberships, or groups of any size are welcome. Call 204-848-2382 and one of our staff will be happy to help. • Stay and Play Packages available!
2 Green Fees for the price of 1! Expires October, 2020. Valid on regular priced 18 Hole Green Fees (with cart).
Clear Lake, Manitoba
204-848-2382
Check for details online at www.golfpoplarridge.com
GOLF GUIDE 2020 M A N I T O B A
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A STRANGE NEW WORLD PANDEMIC PROMPTS CHANGES TO HOW GAME IS PLAYED
18 Hole Championship Golf Course Nestled in the scenic Pembina Valley at the south end of Pelican Lake. This family-owned-operated golf course offers elevations rising up 125ft and large undulating greens. Tree lined fairways & meander- ing creek offers some of the most scenic views and challenging holes anywhere. “Nothing Quite Like It!”
STE. ANNE, MB
per person includes golf & power cart one coupon good for up to 20 people Monday to Friday anytime. Not including Holidays Not valid with any other specials or discount offers. Expires June 12, 2020. $ 49 1-800-615-7773 www.oakwoodgolf.net
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY Featuring ball removal system
• A short drive, only 2 hours from Oak Bluff • 9 hole putting green • 40 golf car rentals • Licensed clubhouse and restaurant • Outdoor patio Check us out on Facebook Corporate & Group Bookings Welcome 204-537-2487 www.pleasantvalleygolfclub.ca
Carman Golf & Curling Club
1.204.745.2366
www.carmangolfandcurlingclub.com
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03 GOLF GUIDE 2020 M A N I T O B A
Owners Association (NGCOA), says so far, so good. “At Tuxedo, for example, we have a greeter in the parking lot, and traffic is one way in and out of the pro shop. Our patio isn’t open yet, and we aren’t using any plates to serve food. We encourage people to book tee times online, and tee times have been spaced 12 min- utes apart to guard against congestion.” On the course, meanwhile, the definition of holing out is taking on a new meaning, Ladobruk says. “Unlike in the past, golfers won’t be able to reach all the way down into the cup to pull the ball out of the hole. Course operators have gotten creative in this area, either raising up the cup or using a pool noodle or other devices so you can easily pick the ball out. There also won’t be ball washers, water fountains or rakes for raking out bunkers, all to minimize contact.” Granted, playing under the new guidelines and re- strictions is going to feel awkward. That said, there is some good news: golf is a game that’s perfectly suited to social distancing. “With the proper steps and measures in place, you can still play and be safe,” Ladobruk notes. “There’s plenty of room to spread out on the tee or on a fair- way, where you can stand or walk six, maybe 10 feet from each other. Yet, you can still enjoy a great walk, be outside and spend four hours enjoying the com- pany of friends in a great setting.” At the same time, there’s a certain responsibility that accompanies being allowed to play golf, Lado- bruk adds. “Golfers must understand the new rules and do their best to follow them. We’re fortunate that golf courses were allowed to be open, so everyone needs to take the new course guidelines seriously. It’s a privilege to be able to play, so we need to take things seriously.” Adam Boge, executive director of the Manitoba Open and owner of Golf Mentor Teaching Academy, says that golf could experience a resurgence due to the opportunity for golfers to simultaneously socialize and exercise while maintaining a safe social distance. “I think it’s a huge opportunity for golf and all the facilities here,” he says. “There could be a big boom for golf. A lot of people could come to realize it’s the total package – fun, active, and perfect for enjoying time with friends in a safe, beautiful setting.” Ladobruk agrees. “My hope is that people will discover golf and what a great sport it is. Because it allows you to socialize safely, I think there’s a good chance it will become an option for more people. Casual players will play more, and both casual and avid players may end up bringing more new players out to the course.” Brotchie says the key to everything working will be how well golfers respect the new rules. “We’ll have to see how the new rules evolve, how courses can operate and if people abide by the rules. If they don’t, things could go the other way and cours- es could close. So far, things have gone really well.”
BY TODD LEWYS On May 4, golf courses in Manitoba opened for business. However, it won’t be business as usual this spring and summer. That’s because just as the coronavirus has forced us to change the way we live our daily lives, it is also forcing changes to how we play the game. Golf Manitoba executive director Jared Ladobruk says that golf course operators are doing their part to make the game safe for golfers. “The industry made a presentation to the province about best practices and safety solutions, and that presentation was well-received,” he says. “It satisfied all their questions, so golf courses were given the go-ahead to open.” Not surprisingly, golfers are going to have to deal with a new set of rules and regulations when they ven- ture out to tee it up during the 2020 season.
“I think there’s a huge opportunity for golf and all the facilities here. There could be a big boom for golf.” - Adam Boge, Manitoba Open
For start- ers, players will
be encouraged to book tee times online to minimize contact with pro shop staff. Then, players will be encouraged to show up about 15 to 30 minutes in advance of their tee time (times will differ from course to course) to avoid creating excess traffic in the pro shop and around the first tee. As might be expected, golfers must now stay two metres (or more) apart at all times, and only one golfer is allowed to ride in a power cart at a time. While there will be flagsticks on greens, golfers can’t touch them. Harry Brotchie, president of Lakeland Golf Manage- ment and vice-president of the National Golf Course
GOLF GUIDE 2020 M A N I T O B A
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THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF GREAT PLACES TO GOLF IN MANITOBA
PHONE NUMBER, NUMBER OF HOLES, WHETHER THE COURSE IS PUBLIC (PU) PRIVATE (P) OR SEMI-PRIVATE (SP) COURSE INFORMATION INCLUDES:
Tee off at more than 125 courses this season
Assiniboine Golf Club* 204-988-9313____________ 9 SP Beausejour Golf Course 204-268-2010_____________9 PU Bel Acres Golf & Country Club* 204-632-8337____________18 SP Birtle Riverside Golf Club 204-842-5364_____________ 9 P Black Bear Golf Course 204-345-9977_____________9 PU Boissevain Golf Course 204-534-2365_____________9 PU Breezy Bend Country Club* 204-895-7205_____________18 P Bridges Golf Course* 204-735-3000____________18 PU Buffalo Point Resort 204-437-2777____________18 PU Carman Golf & Curling Club* 204-745-2366____________18 PU Cartwright Town & Country Club 204-529-2260_____________9 PU CFB Winnipeg 17 Wing Golf Course 204-832-8436______________9 P Clear Lake Golf Course* 204-848-4653____________18 PU Crescent Drive Golf Course 204-986-5911_____________9 PU Dauphin Lake Golf Resort* 204-638-9400____________18 PU Delahunt (Treherne) Golf & Country Club 204-723-2502 ____________ 9 PU Deer Ridge Golf Course 204-726-1545_____________9 PU Deloraine Golf & Country Club 204-747-2411_____________9 PU Elkhorn Resort & Conference Centre 204-848-2802_____________9 PU Elmhurst Golf & Country Club* 204-224-2244_____________18 P Falcon Lake Golf Course* 204-349-2554____________18 PU Falcon West Golf Course 204-777-7273____________18 PU Fisher Branch Golf & Country Club 204-372-6855_____________9 PU Gilbert Plains Country Club* 204-548-3030____________18 PU Girouxsalem Golf & Country Club 204-326-5722_____________9 PU
Gladstone Golf & Country Club 204-385-2998_____________9 PU Glen Lea Golf Course* 204-728-9090____________ 18 SP Glenboro Golf & Country Club* 204-827-2856_____________9 PU Glendale Golf & Country Club* 204-832-1306_____________18 P Grand Pines Golf Course* 204-756-2345____________18 SP Granite Hills Golf Course* 204-345-4653____________18 SP Halcrow Lake Golf & Country Club 204-627-2300_____________9 PU Hamiota Golf Club 204-764-2341_____________9 PU Harbour View Golf Course 204-222-2751_____________9 PU Hecla Golf Course* 204-279-2072____________18 PU Heritage Golf Course 204-757-2830_____________9 PU Holiday Mountain Golf Course 204-242-2172_____________9 PU Inwood Golf & Country Club 204-278-3536____________18 PU John Blumberg Golf Course* 204-986-3490____________27 PU Kenora Golf & Country Club 1-807-468-7995__________ 18 PU Kildonan Park Golf Course* 204-986-5679____________18 PU Killarney Lakeside Golf Club 204-523-8277____________18 PU Kingswood Golf & Country Club* 204-736-4079____________18 PU Kyle Memorial Golf Course 204-427-2376____________ 9 PU Lake of the Sandhills Golf Course 204-437-4653____________18 PU Lakeside Golf Club 204-759-2002_____________9 PU Lakeview Hecla Golf Course 204-279-2072____________18 PU Lakewood Hills Golf Course 204-848-2450_____________9 PU Larters at St Andrews Golf & Country Club* 204-334-2107____________18 PU LaVerendrye Golf Club 1-888-424-5046__________ 18 PU
Links at the Lake Golf Course* 204-642-8858____________18 PU Lorette Golf Course* 204-878-2172____________ 9 SP Lundar Co-op Golf & Country Club 204-762-5877_____________9 PU MacGregor Town & Country Club 204-685-3100_____________9 PU Manipogo Golf & Country Club 204-646-2100_____________9 PU Maplewood Golf Club 204-433-3344____________18 PU Manitou Town & Country Golf Club 204-242-2287_____________9 SP Mars Sandhills Golf Course 204-265-6444____________18 PU McCreary Golf & Country Club 204-835-2711_____________9 PU Melita Golf Course 204-522-3820_____________9 PU Miami Golf & Country Club 204-435-2756____________ 18 SP Minnedosa Golf & Country Club* 204-867-3151____________18 PU Minnewasta Golf & Country Club* 204-822-4992____________18 PU Neepawa Golf & Country Club* 204-476-5711____________ 18 SP Netley Creek Golf & Country Club 204-738-4653____________18 PU Niakwa Country Club 204-256-7326_____________18 P Northern Pines Golf Course 204-728-6967_____________9 PU Oak Lake Golf Club 204-855-2641_____________9 PU Oak Island Golf Course 204-855-2262____________18 PU Oakview Golf & Country Club 204-327-5590_____________9 PU Oakwood Golf Course 204-422-8045____________18 PU Old Drovers Run Golf Course 204-431-4653_____________9 PU Phantom Lake Golf Club 204-687-3335_____________9 SP Pilot Mound Town & Country Club 204-825-2766____________ 9 PU Pinawa Golf Club* 204-753-2294____________18 PU Pine Falls Golf Club 204-367-8463_____________9 PU
Pine Ridge Golf Club* 204-222-6477_____________18 P Pleasant Valley Golf Club 204-537-2487____________18 PU Poplar Ridge Golf Course 204-848-2382____________18 PU Portage Golf Club* 204-857-6177____________ 18 SP Quarry Oaks* 204-326-4653____________27 PU Reston Golf Club 204-877-3511_____________9 PU Ridgewood Golf Course 204-326-6225_____________9 PU River Oaks Golf Course* 204-261-4653____________18 PU Riverdale Golf & Country Club 204-328-7122_____________9 PU Riverview Golf & Country Club 204-746-2027_____________9 PU Roblin Golf & Country Club 204-937-4774_____________9 PU Roland Golf Club 204-343-2409_____________9 PU Rossman Lake Golf Club 204-859-2391_____________9 PU Rossmere Country Club* 204-988-1530___________ 18 SP Russell Golf Club 204-773-2969_____________9 PU Sandhills Golf & Country Club 204-834-2325_____________ 9 SP Sands Beach Golf Club 204-268-3364_____________9 PU Sandy Hook Golf Club* 204-389-5466____________18 PU Sandy Lake Golf Course 204-585-5227_____________9 PU Scotswood Links 204-436-2600____________18 PU Selkirk Golf & Country Club* 204-482-2050____________ 18 SP Shilo Golf & Country Club* 204-765-3623____________ 18 SP Shooters Family Golf Centre 204-339-2326____________18 PU Souris & Glenwood Golf Club* 204-483-2956_____________9 PU Southport Golf Course 204-428-3174_____________ 9 SP Southside Golf Course* 204-254-6709____________18 PU
* indicates Golf Manitoba member.
Southwood Golf & Country Club* 204-269-7867_____________ 18 P St. Boniface Golf Club* 204-233-4276____________ 18 SP St. Charles Country Club* 204-889-4444____________ 27 P St. Malo Golf & Cabins 204-347-5514_____________9 PU Steinbach Fly-in Golf Club* 204-320-4653____________18 PU Sunnyside Golf Club 204-728-2374____________18 PU Swan River Golf & Country Club* 204-734-3935___________ 18 PU Teulon Golf & Country Club* 204-886-4653___________ 18 PU The Golf Dome 204-489-7776____________ n/a P The Players Course* 204-697-4976_____________9 PU The Shamrock Golf Course 204-878-2098_____________9 PU Thompson Golf Club 204-778-5537_____________9 PU Transcona Golf Club* 204-222-6171____________18 SP Tuxedo Golf Club* 204-888-2867____________18 PU Victoria Beach Golf Course 204-756-2435_____________9 PU Virden Wellview Golf Club 204-748-1721___________ 9 PU Warren Golf Course 204-322-5104____________18 PU Wheat City Golf Course* 204-729-2177____________18 PU Wildewood Golf Course* 204-284-7385___________9/18 SP Windsor Park Golf Course* 204-986-3006____________18 PU Winkler Centennial Golf Club* 204-325-7582____________18 PU Winnipeg Canoe Club Golf Course 204-233-1105_____________9 PU Winnipegosis Golf Course 204-656-4737_____________9 PU
05 GOLF GUIDE 2020 M A N I T O B A
Over the past 20 years, Garth Goodbrandson has set the gold standard for coaching not just in Manitoba, but in Canada. SUBMITTED PHOTO
to. I thought coaching was neat, so it was a natural fit for me.” Over the past 20 years, Goodbrandson has set the gold standard for coaching not just in Manitoba, but in Canada, says Ingram, his former junior development partner at Golf Manitoba. “He may not take credit for or know how significant his contributions were to the game of golf in Canada, never mind Manitoba,” Ingram explains. “He’s done so much for the game locally, and nationally.” In his low-key, determined way, Good- brandson worked tirelessly to make the province and nation a better breeding ground for young golfers. He got scholarships for players attending Canadian universities, spearheaded the Manitoba, Western Canada and Canada Games programs and lobbied success- fully to get two junior teams into the local Mundie Putter League to help juniors gain competitive experience against older players. Little wonder, then, that Goodbrandson was inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame as a builder in 2016. His record speaks for itself: a nomination as one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 teach- ers, the National Post’s Top 50 Teachers in Canada and countless national and re- gional awards (2014 Canadian University Men’s Golf Coach of the Year, 2012-13 University of Manitoba Coach of the Year and Manitoba PGA Leader of the year in 1999 and 2000). Most recently, he was Manitoba PGA Teacher of the Year from 2017 to 2019. And while he received more than his share of national recognition, Goodbrandson’s focus was always set squarely on growing the game in Manitoba, particularly on the junior side. Ingram – who co-founded the University of Manitoba’s golf program with Goodbrand- son in 1999/2000 – says his friend’s influ - ence on player development in Manitoba has been huge. “I feel that Garth might go down as the
best coach in Manitoba golf history,” he says. “Very few professionals here have had such a positive impact on so many of the province’s top players.” For his part, Goodbrandson says he did – and still does – what comes naturally. “I’ve always seen it as my job to prepare players by helping them with their attitude, mental preparation and game plan,” he says. “Every player is different. I just try to do what’s best for them to make them the best they can be.” Golf Manitoba’s executive director, Jared Ladobruk – who played for Goodbrandson at the U of M in the late ’90s – says his former teacher and mentor is the quintes- sential golf coach. “He truly is a great coach. With his holistic approach, he breaks down the game and identifies what you do well, and what you need to work on. Most importantly, he not only wants to make great golfers, but great people.” Now, after 38 years, Garth is winding down his career. Though it’s chock full of highlights, two stand out – the 2014 Canadian University Championship and a fifth-place finish at the tournament in 2018. “We won the 2014 Canadian University Championship with hard work, a great at- titude and great preparation,” he says. “In 2018, we came third with five new players. They were great people, had a great atti- tude and worked really hard.” More than anything, Goodbrandson values the relationships he’s forged over nearly four decades in golf. “When I look at it now, I just see all the great relationships I’ve gotten out of golf, with players and families. When they see me, they want to come up and talk with me – that’s a great feeling. It’s gratifying to have the respect of others.” He adds that while he may be hanging up his shingle at Golf Manitoba, he won’t stray far from the game.
GIVING HIS ALL TO THE GAME Goodbrandson has played pivotal role in developing young golfers
Then, he signed on with Golf Manitoba (then the Manitoba Golf Association) as director of player development in the fall of 1997. “When I joined the MGA, I also started with the Royal Canadian Golf Association’s national coaching team with (Toronto’s) Henry Brunton and Derek Ingram,” recalls Goodbrandson. I learned a ton from Henry and Derek, and from guest coaches like (Sweden’s) Pia Nilsson. That’s where my passion for coaching really started.” Turns out, that passion for coaching came naturally. “My dad (Siggi) inspired me to be a coach,” he says. “He was a high-level hockey coach. I’d seen all the preparation he put in, and how well he treated people. As a role model, he was great to look up
BY TODD LEWYS Sometimes, it takes time to find your true calling. Take Golf Manitoba’s director of player development, Garth Goodbrandson, for example. For the first 18 years of his career, he plied his trade as a teaching professional, gaining experience at Tuxedo Golf Club, Halcrow Lake Golf and Country Club in the Pas, Breezy Bend Country Club and finally at Minnewasta Golf & Country Club in Morden. During that time span, he learned from gifted teachers such as John Isaac (Tux- edo), Sandy Paterson (Breezy Bend) and many others.
GOLF GUIDE 2020 M A N I T O B A
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(Top) Craig Yahiro helped hundreds of young golfers to pursue their dreams during his 20-plus years as a pro at Rossmere. (Below) Yahiro became close friends with rock star Alice Cooper thanks to their mutual love of golf. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
BY JIM TIMLICK
The Manitoba golf community lost one of its most beloved members suddenly and unexpectedly when former Rossmere pro Craig Yahiro was struck down by a fatal stroke two years ago. Yahiro was always quick to help others throughout his golf career, whether it was offering a bit of advice on how to improve their swing or just sharing a story to make them laugh. So it seemed only fitting when family, friends and former col - leagues banded together to honour the memory of Yahiro following his death in January 2018 that they decided to establish a scholar - ship fund to assist young people involved in the local golf scene. The Craig Yahiro Memorial Scholarship provides $1,000 bursa- ries annually to two young people (one male, one female) who are members of Golf Manitoba or work at a local golf course and are pursuing a post-secondary education. Kate Gregoire of Quarry Oaks Golf Course and Brett Aseltine of Niakwa Country Club were the first recipients and were presented with their awards last summer. Cheryl Tresoor says her brother was a humble man but took great pride in the work that he did to develop the junior program at Rossmere Golf and Country Club, where he worked as the head golf professional from 1991 until 2014. Friends and family all agreed a scholarship fund would be an appropriate way to honour Yahiro’s legacy while promoting the game among the next gen- eration of golfers, she explains.
SCHOLARSHIP HONOURS LATE PRO’S DEDICATION TO GOLF
Take your game to the next level! Book your next tee time at the GRANITE HILLS GOLF CLUB
Tee times can be booked at 204-345-4653 or toll free at 855-593-3306 granitehillsgolf@wswmail.net www.granitehills.ca 14 DAY ADVANCE BOOKINGS • GIFT CARDS
Expires May 31/20 SPRING SPECIAL Green Fee with power cart $ 52
LAC DU BONNET, MB
07 GOLF GUIDE 2020 M A N I T O B A
“He always made you feel really important. He was always interested in what you had to say.” – Ryan Del Bigio
“Craig really enjoyed working with juniors and did a lot to develop the junior program at Rossmere,” Tresoor says. “We wanted to continue on with that legacy and make sure we honoured it appropriately.” Funding for the scholarship is provided through a charitable golf day and social that is held annually at Rossmere. This year’s event has yet to be scheduled because of the pandemic. The scholarship is adminis- tered through the Golf Manitoba Scholar- ship Fund (GMSF), a registered charity that has provided more than $205,000 in schol- arships throughout Manitoba and North- western Ontario since 1986. Ryan Del Bigio, who worked as Yahiro’s assis-
tant pro between 2006 and ’11 and now sits on Rossmere’s board of directors, says he couldn’t think of a better way to honour the memory of his friend and former mentor. “He was the best boss in the world. His staff meant everything in the world to him. We were like one big family,” Del Bigio re- calls. “Every single person he met he always made you feel really important. He was al- ways interested in what you had to say.” While Yahiro might have been humble about his many accomplishments, they did not go unnoticed. In 2009 he was he was named Manitoba Golf Professional of the Year by the PGA of Canada. “I think what made him such a great teacher
was he was so easy-going,” Del Bigio says. “You would always feel he was genuinely interested in you as a person and not just as a student of golf. There are some in- structors who look at every lesson as just another paycheque. With Craig it wasn’t like that. He was genuinely interested in you and genuinely cared about you.” Over the years, Yahiro tutored thousands of golfers here in Manitoba as well as in Phoenix, where he spent his winters and worked part-time as an assistant pro at an area golf course. On one memorable day in Phoenix, the head pro at the club where he worked told Yahiro he had a lesson with someone named Alice
and to head out to the practice range. He returned to the pro shop a few minutes later saying he didn’t see any women outside. The pro informed him the Alice in ques- tion was rock star Alice Cooper. The two soon formed an unlikely friendship. Yahiro caddied for Cooper at several PGA pro-am events, including the Bob Hope Open, and they would golf together at Rossmere when- ever Cooper played a show in Winnipeg. When Cooper played here in 2018 he dedi - cated the show to his late friend. “I don’t know what it was,” Tresoor says. “They just kind of clicked.” Yahiro’s family and friends hope to see the Craig Yahiro Memorial Scholarship con- tinue to be offered to young golfers well into the future. And while the modest man it honours of might be a little embarrassed by the at- tention of having his name attached to it, Tresoor says she has no doubt her brother would be fully supportive of its goal. “He would be proud that his name is on the scholarship and that it’s supporting young people who are living their dream in terms of education and trying to pursue their inter- est in golf.” For more information on the Craig Yahiro Memorial Scholarship visit http://golfmb. ca/scholarship/.
Home of the Par 6
WESTMAN’S FINEST GREENS!
TWO FOR ONE/ REGULAR RATES Valid anytime. Must bring in coupon. Not valid with other coupons or promotions. Expiry date: Oct. 31, 2020. 2020 SPECIALS (Excludes Holidays) MONDAY 18 HOLES $ 20 walking | $ 30 with cart WEDNESDAYS 18 HOLES $ 20 walking | $ 35 with cart FRIDAY TWILIGHT @2:00 PM $ 20 walking | $ 28 with cart TOURNAMENTS WELCOME 18 Holes Licensed Clubhouse La Broquerie, MB | 1-204-424-5046 Toll Free: 1-888-424-5046
STAYCATION
COUPLES & INDIVIDUAL STAY & PLAY at Wheat City Golf Course & Shilo Country Club Packages include 2 rounds each of golf with carts and a 1 night stay at the Victoria Inn Brandon. Must be a Manitoba resident.
WEEKEND RATES
SINGLE OCCUPANCY MID WEEK $ 189
COUPLES OCCUPANCY MID WEEK $ 279
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Buy 1 round of Golf and receive 1 round FREE With this coupon!
COUPLES
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Email grady@wheatcitygolf.com FOR AVAILABLE DATES AND TEE TIMES Based on availability taxes not included. Covid 19 questions asked at time of booking.
Book tee times online: www.lavgolf.ca
2020
GOLD MEDAL Best Golf Course – Westman
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