KAMSACK - “Nothing positive ever comes out of a negative attitude.”
This is the sage coaching advice that 17-year-old Hunter Kutcher of Regina said he has relied on many times when he gets down on the golf course, or when things get tough.
The honour roll student at Regina’s Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School has already racked up an impressive list of distinctions, including the Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year, the 2021 Archie Cameron Award from the Royal Regina Golf Club, and the Saskatchewan Junior Men’s Golf Championship.
Born to parents Wendy Stone and Dave Kutcher of Regina, golf would become an integral part of Hunter’s athletic lifestyle from as early as age four. While visiting his grandparents, Stan and Judy Stone of Madge Lake, and long-time members at the Madge Lake Golf Course outside of Kamsack, Hunter spent a lot of his childhood on the greens at the Duck Mountain Provincial Park.
“We had a special club made for him,” recalled grandfather, Stan Stone. “But it was a right-handed club and we quickly discovered Hunter was a ‘lefty’ and it wouldn’t be of much use.”
As he grew, Hunter would diversify his athletic pursuits – trying out football, track and field, volleyball, badminton, and soccer.
“I feel like being an overall well-rounded athlete is the best,” explained Hunter. “I am in good shape from playing other sports which makes training for golf a little easier to do. It also makes the long days on the course easier because my body is in good shape to handle it.”
By 2017, his passion for golf had noticeably increased. With club memberships in both Regina and Madge Lake, at just 13 years old, Hunter moved into competitive golfing, beginning with the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT).
“I fell in love with golf at the age of 12 and have not looked back since,” recalled Kutcher. “I started playing tournament golf one year later and that lit a fire inside of me. I am a competitive player who will do anything it takes to help myself and my team to be successful. I work hard every day to improve and reach my goals by studying my golf swing and constantly analyzing ways to perfect it.”
Throughout the summer of 2021, weekends have been booked solid for Hunter – either with training or tournament competition. His commitment and drive have resulted in a number of tournament championship titles and an invitation to play for the Canadian National Golf Team.
“Having an active lifestyle since a young age is a factor in my athletic success. I have always been very sporty since a young age so playing competitive sports is where I love to be. No matter what sport it is I love it to be in a competition, even if it is a sport I never play, I always love the pressure of a competition.”
Advice for younger players
For younger players who are looking to follow in Hunter’s footsteps, the accomplished athlete has the following advice: “Start playing and just have fun. Get a feel for tournament golf but never put too much pressure on yourself. Enjoy being out on the golf course and play your own game.”
Today, Hunter remains dedicated to his personal fitness with a gym membership, team training, specialized golf training, and working with a golf coach, Jeff Chambers of Jeff Chambers Golf Academy in Swift Current. He credits his family for helping him find that delicate balance between his studies, volunteer efforts, and competitive golfing schedule.
“My family supports me by travelling with me to most of my tournaments and making themselves available to get me what I feel I need to be successful that week. They are always open to me talking about my round afterward to debrief.”
