Merlene Netterfield has a list of provincial accomplishments that include: three-time winner of the Manitoba Junior Championship, the 1956 Manitoba Amateur Championship, 5-time winner of the City and District Championship, 6-time winner of the Manitoba Senior Championship, 9-time member of the Inter-Provincial Teams and 9-time member of the Senior Team Championship.

At the National level, Netterfield (nee Wach) teamed up with Heather Lawrence, Ann Tachan and Marg Homenuik, and gave Manitoba its first Canadian Amateur Team Championship in 1962.

In 1983, her first year as a Senior, Netterfield dominated, winning low gross Canadian over 54 holes at the Canadian, runner-up in the event to Alice Dye of the U.S.A., and low gross individual which resulted in her being named Canadian Senior Lady Golfer of the Year. She was also named Canada’s Number-Ten Senior Lady Golfer of the Year in 1986 and a runner-up for Manitoba Golfer-of-the-Year in 1987.

With three holes-in-one plus several National net team trophies, her trophy case and scrapbooks overflowed. She was the first Manitoba lady to win provincial Junior (1953), Amateur (1956) and Senior (1983) championships. Netterfield took pride in her 69 at Marine Drive in Vancouver, a record that stood for 31 years until it was broken in 1992 at the World Amateur Team Championships.

Netterfield’s golf career began at the age of 15 when she hit her first ball in the Kinsmen hole-in-one contest on Ellice Avenue. She played golf at the Polo Park course, riding her bike from Weston with her clubs over her shoulder at 5:30 in the morning. She continued to play Polo Park, Windsor, Tuxedo, Clear Lake and Kildonan. In 1950 she took lessons with Harold Eidsvig at Niakwa. “He helped me become the golfer, and person, I am today.”, said Netterfield. She also singled out Chick Duncan and Colleen Hitchison.