Starting Tuesday, Quarry Oaks Golf Course will be the host site for the 2026 Manitoba Mid-Amateur Championship, featuring golfers from across the province and a couple of local products, too.
How it came to Quarry
It wasn’t the original plan for the event to be held at Quarry Oaks, but Penner says it kind of worked out well in their favour. “We had a little bit of an opportunity with the event being rained out up in Gilbert Plains, so I took the opportunity to step in and help out the golf community and bring the event to Quarry Oaks. Golf Manitoba was searching, hoping they could still have their event in a timely manner, so we kind of stepped in at the last second, and we’re excited to have it out here at Quarry Oaks and see some of the mid-am and what they can do around here.”
“We’ve had the pleasure of hosting a few big junior events over the past couple of years,” Penner continues. “To get some of the adult events out here as well, it’s a good opportunity to showcase our course condition we’re in this year.”
Giving the course teeth
Day-to-day, golfers who have played the Desert and Oak courses know the challenges that come with every swing, but Penner says they do go a little further when it comes to hosting an event like the mid-am, making it more challenging for the hopefuls. “We do try and put the pins in different locations that the public maybe wouldn’t see on a typical round,” Penner says with a sly grin. “It will definitely make for more challenging thoughts, and also force golfers to make decisions, like being aggressive or staying out of possible trouble.”
Loving the new gig
This year is the first for Ian Penner as the head professional at Quarry Oaks, a position he is loving. “It’s been pretty exciting just being at Quarry Oaks in the past and having the ability to come home and kind of lead the golf community around here,” he says proudly. “It’s been a pleasure just to get back into the Steinbach area and pitch in with the mid-am this year in particular.”
On top of the events and golf, Penner has enjoyed connecting with the community, saying that people have been fantastic, and friendships have been forming. “The community is second to none,” he says with a smile. “Everyone is always pretty happy when they come to the course. People are known by their first name. The staff always does their best to make them feel at home. People appreciate that, and I’ve enjoyed being a part of it, too.”
Tournament season
Throughout the next few weeks, Penner says things will really be picking up between everyday golf and tournaments. “We have a pretty busy schedule for the next two to three weeks and then again in August. It’ll be some long days, and then we’ll be open to the public on the weekends and get everybody else’s round in, so it’s good to mix that in with all of our leagues and regular public play, but it’s definitely a busy place.”
Favourite course views
There are two holes on the course that Penner says might be his personal favourites, with both being holes that have seen their fair share of golf balls donated to the water. “Well, the island green on Quarry 6, if you play Quarry, is always a tough shot over the water,” he says with a chuckle. “Desert 8 is another good par three over the water that kind of stands out as a nice scenic hole, while also being quite difficult.”
Manitoba Mid-Am
On Tuesday, golfers will be playing 36 holes across the Desert and Oak courses, with opening tee times starting around 7:00 a.m. On Wednesday, they will play a full 18 holes.
