CARLYLE - Driving past the Carlyle Golf Course, one can often see a bright yellow truck parked near the clubhouse. This vehicle belongs to local resident Mike Makelki who is an avid golfer.
Mike, Clareen and family moved to Carlyle from Weyburn in 1994. He was employed with Talisman Energy and then Crescent Point Energy and retired in 2018. He started golfing later in life after his two children, Garett and Michelle, were completing their local schooling.
“Clareen bought me my first set of golf clubs back when I was forty years old. I think she paid a whopping $75 and they were a Father’s Day present. She bought them from the Weyburn Coop. Included in the seven-piece set was a driver, a three wood, a putter and four irons. Definitely a starter set but it got me into golfing.”
Makelki has been a longtime member of the Carlyle Golf Club and a season ticket holder since moving to town. He was on the board of directors for ten years and was also club president for three. He is an avid curler and an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion and Moose Mountain Elks.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Makelki and his good friend Gerald Clark organize what is called drop-in golf. Anyone, male, female, young or old, can come out and participate. The nine-hole fun event has a tee off time of 9:30 a.m.
Makelki was a huge contributor to the Carlyle Golf Club when the sand greens were converted to grass back in 2000. “We have as good a course that there is in all of Saskatchewan. Terri Field and her staff in the clubhouse are friendly and accommodating. Steve Polsom and his grounds crew do a tremendous job and the course is in beautiful condition.”
Mike Makelki simply loves the game of golf and is very deserving to be honoured as the Observer Golfer of the Week.
