Source: The Leader-Post (Regina, Saskatchewan)
The Harbour Golf Club and Resort is the first off the tee.
The 18-hole facility near Elbow opened Thursday on regulation tees and greens. The Harbour has a tradition of being one of the first courses in the area to open.
"We don't try to be the first but our course is set up better than most for drainage and that kind of thing,'' said Rick Jukes, co-manager of the golf course.
The course is even allowing golf carts to be used on the opening weekend.
"It's 100 per cent golf,'' Jukes said. "The greens are great and they wintered very well. They are better than those at the Masters, just not as fast.''
The head start on the other golf courses was welcomed by Jukes. Golfers suffered through a long wet spring in 2004 and it slowed the start to the season.
"It helps because it's revenue,'' said Jukes. "Our costs don't change just because it's April and whether we're open or closed. If we get some money coming in, it's that much better, especially after last year.''
Golfers unwilling to make the two-hour drive to scratch the early itch will have to be patient. None of the local golf courses are open. There are still protective tarps and flax on most of the tees and greens.
"They're going to start removing ours Monday,'' said Mark Patterson, head professional at Emerald Park Golf and Country Club. "After that, we should be open on nine holes within a week.''
Driving ranges are available, though. The Paisley Golf Oasis Practice Range on Hwy No. 1 West is already open. The ranges at the Murray and Tor Hill golf courses are expected to open today. The range at the Royal Regina Golf Club opened Friday.
That's good news for the members of the Royal Regina because the bottom portion of the 18-hole course is under water. Dean Brown, associate professional at the Royal Regina, said the club expected Wascana Creek to spill over its banks.
"They warned us,'' Brown said. "We knew when they opened the weirs there would be some flooding. That's part of being on the flood plain.''
The area's golf courses are still wet, albeit not as flooded as the Royal Regina. Golf course superintendents and their staff are busy setting up the courses for the season. That means replacing benches, ball washers and all of the other amenities golfers expect on the course.
The courses should start opening over the next week or so, weather permitting. All should be in play by May 1.
Brown offered this advice for eager golfers looking to get their first swings of the season.
"They should go to the range, loosen up and hit some balls,'' Brown said. "That's probably the biggest thing they can do right now.''