SPORTS FLASHBACK 2020: Fly-In season ends on a positive note

For golf courses around the country, and in fact throughout the world, 2020 has been a golf season like no other.

Golf clubs in this area are now closed with the onset of fall. The Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club closed for the season the day after the annual George Pauls Classic. The tournament is held every year in memory of the late George Pauls, an icon at the club for his contributions in so many areas over the years.

Among the Pauls’ legacy is the flourishing Monday afternoon seniors’ league, which he founded. It was the 36th annual George Pauls Classic, a tournament he founded himself to mark the end of another golf season. The Club has carried on the tradition after the passing of Pauls in 2014.

The tournament, with 70 players teeing it up this year, has long had a social aspect to it, as George would have wanted it, and every year includes one hole where participants swing with only one arm, in memory of Pauls, who lost an arm in World War II.

George Pauls was an accomplished golfer and curler and was well-known around the province for his exploits.

At the time of his passing, in 2014, Steinbach Fly-In golf pro Brian Guenther recalled a time when he was only 17 and was playing a round of golf with the local legend.

“I had a pretty good round, shot a 78. George beat me by one stroke.”

As golfers played their final round of the 2020 season, Guenther took time to talk about the just-completed season.

The club did about 21,000 rounds this year, which was similar to recent years, he said. But that was despite no leagues being held at the club, as well as the cancellation of all tournaments because of COVID.

In addition, the season started late because of the pandemic and there were restrictions with the number of golfers allowed on the course until the end of June. For the rest of the year, in July, August and September, the golf course was packed, Guenther said.

“All things being considered, the club ended up making money this year. There was a time in mid-April when we didn’t even know if we would have a season.”

Guenther says one of the reasons for the successful season, despite the trying times, was the new partnership the club formed with Santa Lucia Pizza.

“They know what they are doing, they are experienced operators and they have been a tremendous asset, not only to the golf club but in the community as well.”