Rainy weather that was forecast over the past weekend was not enough to prompt the local golf courses to postpone their planned opening day.
The Sundre Golf Club and Coyote Creek Golf and RV Resort planned to officially roll out the welcome mat for golfers on Friday, April 19.
The driving range at the former had opened earlier last week, said Scott Shouldice, head golf pro at the Sundre Golf Club, with maintenance workers busily preparing to get the whole course ready to open by Friday.
This year’s opening day — while largely on par with the average year — was notably much earlier than last season, when both the courses were forced to wait until May 11 due to the weather and enduring late season snow.
“Any time we can get open mid-April is usually what we shoot for,” said Shouldice.
Dean McBride, head pro at Coyote Creek Golf and RV Resort, said last year was the latest that course had ever opened.
Dave Wall, a longtime member of the Sundre Golf Club who lives near Bergen, did not pass up the chance to hit the fairways last Thursday ahead of the official opening of the season. It was his first time out on the course this year, and he made this putt on Hole No. 10 in one shot to make par. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
Regardless of the turn for the worst in Friday’s weather forecast, both of the head golf pros expressed enthusiasm for this year’s earlier start to the season. They also said their courses were faring rather well following the bitter deep freeze of the recent polar vortex.
“The course wintered really well,” said Shouldice, adding no damage was sustained and the fairways were in largely good condition for the start to the season.
“It’s in very good shape.”
While the Sundre Golf Club will be hosting the second annual Wade Konschuh Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, May 24, no other major events have been lined up, such as last year’s Alberta Golf provincials junior competition that brought top talent from around the province to both the local courses.
At Coyote Creek, McBride said plans are in place to host the annual STARS Renegade Golf Tournament on Friday, Aug. 23, and the Sundre and District Aquatic Society will also be hosting a fundraising event for the Aquaplex on Saturday, June 8.
Following last year’s rough season, which was plagued by a late start and an early end, he sounded optimistic about the coming season and said conditions at the course were looking favourable despite a few lingering patches of snow.
“Everybody’s been going at it daily, trying to get it going. It’s quite a grind in the spring to get it all set up,” he said.
“From what I’ve heard from the superintendent, all is looking good,” he said, adding, “We’re just excited to get going.”
