WEYBURN \u2013 At 61, Rick Hallberg remains a force in senior golf, having won\u00a0six of the last eight provincial championships. Now he will lead Team Saskatchewan at the Canadian Men’s Senior Golf Championship in New Minas, Nova Scotia\u00a0from Sept. 9 to 12.<\/p>\n
His secret? No magic formula, just decades of dedication and a love for competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I don’t know,\u201d said Hallberg when asked about his consistency. \u201cI just play lots of golf and try to play a lot of tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was no single turning point in his recent victories, just steady, disciplined play.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really,\u201d he said. \u201cI just tried to avoid making bogeys and keep the ball in play.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lifetime on the course<\/p>\n
Hallberg\u2019s golf journey began almost as soon as he could walk, swinging a club by age four or five. While his game has evolved over the decades, experience has sharpened his strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI probably play a little smarter golf than when I was younger,\u201d he said. \u201cI play a lot of golf with my buddies at the lake and I play a lot of tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n
His mindset in competition has also shifted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say\u00a0I approach it a little bit different now, just focus on not making bogeys and not making mistakes, try to play smart golf.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staying tournament tough<\/p>\n
With nine or 10 events already played this year, Hallberg believes his mental edge comes from constant competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think probably just the amount of competitive rounds that I play in a year. That helps. I think I played about 9 or 10 tournaments already this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
He excited\u00a0to leading\u00a0Team Saskatchewan at the Canadian Senior Championships. Joining him will be Brad Phelps (Saskatoon) and Martin Green (Prince Albert).<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to it,\u201d said Hallberg.<\/p>\n
The real reward: The golf family<\/p>\n
What fuels his fire after all these years? For Hallberg, it\u2019s the friendships forged on fairways across the country.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all the great guys he met at these tournaments, he said. He has been to the nationals many times and developed friendships over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s probably about 20 guys that\u00a0pretty much go to all the same tournaments I go to. I have made so many good friends through the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he has made buddies with guys at the nationals from just about every province and he looks forward to seeing them at the upcoming Canadian tournament in Nova Scotia in September.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to get back out there and see all those guys and hang out with them for a week while you\u2019re participating in a championship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Advice for next generation<\/p>\n
For young golfers eyeing similar success, Hallberg keeps it simple.<\/p>\n
“The best advice I can give a young golfer is get some good instruction,\u201d he said, adding they should start young.<\/p>\n
\u00a0“Get them out on the\u00a0golf course and having fun and it will progress from there.\u201d<\/p>\n