Northern Golfers: When is your home course opening?

« **Reply #25 on:** March 05, 2012, 12:03:10 PM »

This seems like an obvious answer so apologies in advance for what may be a stupid question but will the leaves and grass start growing earlier? Is it temperature based exclusively or is it also dependent on the length of days and angle of the sun in the sky (direct rays vs. not)

« **Reply #26 on:** March 05, 2012, 12:05:58 PM »

The super at my club mentioned this weekend that we might have an early opening. That would be the last week of March, as during the early spring two years ago. Last year was a killer winter in Minnesota, but we still got on our course by the second week of April. Pat, after living in the Twin Cities area for 32 years, I've come to plan on the last week of March to the first week in April. We hit that window about 95 percent of the time.

« **Reply #27 on:** March 05, 2012, 03:59:10 PM »

Elcona Country Club outside of South Bend, IN is opening in two days on the 7th:

http://elconaccgrounds.blogspot.com/2012/03/course-opening.html

« **Reply #28 on:** March 05, 2012, 04:37:11 PM »

Quote from: PCraig on March 05, 2012, 03:59:10 PM

Elcona Country Club outside of South Bend, IN is opening in two days on the 7th:

http://elconaccgrounds.blogspot.com/2012/03/course-opening.html

Pat,

While it will be 60 the day they open, it doesn't look so attractive the rest of the week. High around 45. I'm a pretty hearty golfer but not yet. Elcona is close to us. It's been a weird winter. I hope spring is a little bit more predictable for golfers and courses alike.

Ken

« **Reply #29 on:** March 05, 2012, 07:58:45 PM »

here in north central massachusetts we are still planning to have member clean up day on march 31st according to the presidents letter that came the other day. the snow we got wed-fri will probably melt this week, but the course is always wet and best that we don't mess her up.

« **Reply #30 on:** March 06, 2012, 10:01:53 AM »

Pat,

fyi... braemar is targeting opening its range mid next week and exec course shortly thereafter.

« **Reply #31 on:** March 06, 2012, 10:02:42 AM »

Quote from: Mark Johnson on March 06, 2012, 10:01:53 AM

Pat,

fyi... braemar is targeting opening its range mid next week and exec course shortly thereafter.

Nice! Progress!

« **Reply #32 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:59:16 PM »

Pat, got an e-mail from your old stomping grounds/Jamie Locke -- they open tomorrow! 60+ but very windy here today, and over 60 forecast for tomorrow as well. . .

« **Reply #33 on:** March 06, 2012, 01:59:45 PM »

Quote from: Mark Smolens on March 06, 2012, 12:59:16 PM

Pat, got an e-mail from your old stomping grounds/Jamie Locke -- they open tomorrow! 60+ but very windy here today, and over 60 forecast for tomorrow as well. . .

Mark,

That's really incredible, as I know the Superintendent (Mike) really dislikes pulling the green covers and opening the course too early. I do remember them opening for a few days back in either February 2001 or 2002 as it was in the 60's. Otherwise it was almost always the last week in March.

------------

This is from the WGN Weather Blog, looks like it's going to be a warm March!:

« **Reply #34 on:** March 06, 2012, 02:12:43 PM »

Quote from: Mark Smolens on March 06, 2012, 12:59:16 PM

Pat, got an e-mail from your old stomping grounds/Jamie Locke -- they open tomorrow! 60+ but very windy here today, and over 60 forecast for tomorrow as well. . .

And, a couple miles to the north, Winnetka is "hoping" to open this Friday.

« **Reply #35 on:** March 06, 2012, 02:15:04 PM »

You guys are lucky! Usually when someone moves, they go someplace warmer...somehow I ended up in the only place with a shorter season than Chicago!

« **Reply #36 on:** March 06, 2012, 05:29:56 PM »

It's all a matter of perspective, Pat. I moved south to the Twin Cities.

Northland just got over a foot of snow.

« **Reply #37 on:** March 11, 2012, 12:23:48 AM »

It looks like we're on track for our earliest opening ever at St. Catharines G&CC in St. Catharines, Ontario. We just got word that our short game facility (Ian Andrew design) will be opening Sunday (later today) and the course is likely opening mid-week. This will easily break the record for earliest opening in the club's history.

My wife just had a major surgery and is very early in her recovery, so it's unlikely I can take advantage but it's great news for players in the Niagara Region as we've enjoyed one of the mildest winters of my lifetime here.

« **Reply #38 on:** March 11, 2012, 11:44:16 AM »

Jason Topp, Jeff Shelman and I are playing at 1 p.m. today (March 11) at Mississippi Dunes, just south of St. Paul. First time I've ever teed it up before St. Patrick's Day in Minnesota.

« **Reply #39 on:** March 11, 2012, 11:45:53 AM »

Quote from: Rick Shefchik on March 11, 2012, 11:44:16 AM

Jason Topp, Jeff Shelman and I are playing at 1 p.m. today (March 11) at Mississippi Dunes, just south of St. Paul. First time I've ever teed it up before St. Patrick's Day in Minnesota.

Be careful, Jeff has been down in Texas working on his game.

« **Reply #40 on:** March 11, 2012, 12:15:02 PM »

I know. The stakes will be miniscule.

« **Reply #41 on:** March 11, 2012, 02:19:55 PM »

Rick -

I look forward to reading about this grudge match in "From Fields to Fairways Volume II."

« **Reply #42 on:** March 11, 2012, 02:22:03 PM »

This weekend...

« **Reply #43 on:** March 11, 2012, 03:37:47 PM »

Quote from: Rick Shefchik on March 11, 2012, 11:44:16 AM

Jason Topp, Jeff Shelman and I are playing at 1 p.m. today (March 11) at Mississippi Dunes, just south of St. Paul. First time I've ever teed it up before St. Patrick's Day in Minnesota.

I managed to hit balls yesterday at the Edina Muni's outdoor range. It was about 65* (warmer today) and the range was packed with golfers ready to hit balls. The grounds though were sopping wet as the snow and ice was melting fast.

The covers are still on the greens at my course, but with the long range forecast calling for 70's all week with little rain I'm hoping it opens in a couple weeks on the ~23rd or so.

« **Reply #44 on:** March 11, 2012, 05:08:30 PM »

My home course in Columbus, OH opened a few days ago, and we had a sunny weekend. So I took advantage of the weather and played Saturday and Sunday. Felt really good to get outsid and breathe some fresh air. The course was surprisingly dry and the greens were actually somewhat firm. The mild winter here in central Ohio no doubt played a role in that.

...I just wish the firm, dry conditions would last all season, but they won't when our superintendent goes sprinkler crazy.

« **Reply #45 on:** March 11, 2012, 07:19:34 PM »

My home course in Grand Rapids, Michigan opened yesterday - according to one of the pros the earliest opening ever. Today we had tee times booked solid from 10.3a to 2.3p and the range was full most of the day. It was 60 and breezy today and the rest of the week looks pretty warm with some rain.

I leave for Bandon on Tuesday for four days of golf - the current long range forecast has quite a bit of rain and wind. Gusts tomorrow are expected to be up to 55mph with nearly an inch of rain with nearly 3 inches over the next three days.

Hopefully, things will improve a bit before we land in North Bend...

« **Reply #46 on:** March 12, 2012, 01:07:50 AM »

Akron, OH...

Flagsticks are on the greens and some courses are letting out carts (off the paths even).

My course had 50+ today (walking only). Some Cleveland courses are still on temps but that will most likely change this week.

« **Reply #47 on:** March 12, 2012, 10:57:29 AM »

Quote from: Morgan Clawson on March 11, 2012, 02:19:55 PM

Rick -

I look forward to reading about this grudge match in "From Fields to Fairways Volume II."

Well - we didn't lose too many balls.

We had a great time. Weather was ideal. The course was quite dry considering how recently the snow melted. Everyone made a birdie. We wisely did not bet.

The course did a great job of turning the weekend into an event but play was slow because they crammed too many people on the course. In July the slow play would have been irritating. In March, it was no problem at alll.

« **Reply #48 on:** March 12, 2012, 04:24:34 PM »

Tedesco opens all 18 on Friday 3/16, including practice range and carts allowed with no restrictions.

Earliest I've seen in 15ish years of golf at TCC.

Last year was 4/6 F9 and 4/13 B9....and the worst was back in 2003 where the course didn't open till 4/25, and the 16th green opened for the Memorial Day member-member.

« **Reply #49 on:** March 12, 2012, 04:39:17 PM »

Ontario
Publics are open with a couple of temps not sure when most privates will open.
Played Braeburn Sunday, not bad condition but obviously the greens are not good. Just have to hammer putts but I am golfing in March so I can complain.

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