ESTEVAN - The naming rights arrangement between TS&M Supply and the Woodlawn Golf Club has worked out so well, the two sides have agreed to continue the relationship.
The 18-hole championship course will be known as the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course for another 10 years.
Woodlawn head pro and general manager Amanda Minchin said it's been a great partnership since it was put in place in 2012, a year after the course was badly damaged by the flood of 2011. An extra two years were added to the initial deal due to the COVID pandemic.
She said the two sides met early last year to discuss the partnership and if it was still beneficial for everybody.
"TS&M and DNOW, right from the get-go, they said that they wanted to stay on board with it. There was no question about stepping away or anything like that, so that was awesome," Minchin said in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday. "We worked on buiding something, a great agreement for people last winter, and it came together quite seamlessly."
The value of the arrangement was not announced.
Things have changed for both sides in the past 10 years, but the arrangement still works great, she said.
"There's great communication, and we're figuring out something that worked for us and worked for them that would help just get more people out here golfing," said Minchin.
Minchin said the money from the deal will be directed to the operating budget. Woodlawn is still working to pay off a loan for the refurbishment and redesign of those holes following the flood. Once the loan is paid off, the money will be directed to special projects.
Karry Biette, the vice-president of Canada for DNOW/TS&M, said the oilfield company stepped up after the flood. The management at TS&M at that time made a donation to the golf course to help get it back on its feet, and now it's more about maintaining a "first-class facility" in the Estevan area.
"It brings value to TS&M and it brings value to the Woodlawn golf course," said Biette. "The partnership allows Woodlawn to make sure its facilities are first class, and that benefits everyone in the community and the surrounding area."
TS&M has "industry-leading" name recognition, Biette said, and the pact with Woodlawn has only added to its profile.
The leadership at the golf course and at the oilfield company have changed, but Biette believes the partnership is still strong.
"There's some good synergy with TS&M and community involvement and the golf course in that they have a first-class facility and we're trying to help them maintain that," said Biette.
TS&M will have its annual golf tournament at Woodlawn on July 26. There will be 144 golfers on the course for what is a client and staff appreciation day. It's also a chance to say thanks to the golf course for its partnership.
Minchin doesn't know of many courses that have sold their naming rights. She knows of clubhouses and other buildings and amenities that have sponsor's names attached, but not a course itself.
"Definitely in 2012, this, for a golf course was definitely something very, very unique," said Minchin.
The course is grateful for its sponsors, and to TS&M for continuing to purchase the naming rights, because it allows the course to run more smoothly.
