[PCCraig]

This past "Winter" has been anything but for most of the United States, being one of the warmest since they started keeping records in 1870. In addition to the warm weather, many places have received far less than normal snow/precipitation over the past 4-5 months.

This, for example, is from http://www.startribune.com/weather/blogs/Paul_Douglas_on_Weather.html :

2011-2012: New York's Second Warmest Winter In History; Warmest February Ever. The Huffington Post has more specifics: "Yup, it's official: February was the warmest New York February since people started keeping track back in 1870. At a balmy average of 40.9 degrees, this February ties the 1984 record and caps off a remarkably warm three months, the "second warmest climatological winter on record, trailing only 2001-02," according to Gothamist. By contrast, the coldest February occurred in 1934, when temperatures averaged only 19.9 degrees, a staggering 21 degree difference."

Here in Minnesota we're expected to reach 50* on Tuesday (March 4th) and the forecast over the next two weeks calls for more 40*+ and some ~60* weather. I'm obviously hoping for an early start to the golf season and was wondering if courses have begun to open up early in other "northern" states, and how the courses have come out of this strange winter.

[Sam Morrow]

Playing down here with Jeff Shelman yesterday it was so foreign to me to hear about clubs with short seasons.

[Mark Saltzman]

Some public courses around Toronto have announced they will open within a week!

[Mark Johnson]

Pat,

assuming the forecast holds and there are no more major snows, i would expect a few of the lower end munis to open around march 17th-18th.  (Parkview, Inverwood, Mississippi National).    I would expect most private courses to target around April 1.

[PCCraig]

Pat,

assuming the forecast holds and there are no more major snows, i would expect a few of the lower end munis to open around march 17th-18th.  (Parkview, Inverwood, Mississippi National).    I would expect most private courses to target around April 1.

April 1 seems to be the usual opening date for most courses up here. But with a long term forecast like this I'm hoping for most to open sooner! :

[Mark Johnson]

Pat,

What is that website-- didnt know it was supposed to be that warm?  My gues is that it would accelerate the public course schedule much more than the private course schedule.   Maybe last week in march for privates but i couldnt see much before then.

Our super has told us that it is usually 3-5 days after the greens are uncovered until it can be playable.   This gives time for cleanup, tree trimming and other projects.

Something else that will imapct private club opening is that many of the seasonal crew workers may not be in town yet.

[PCCraig]

Mark,

I've been following Paul Douglas' weather blog after Chris Tritabaugh recommended it. It can be found at http://www.startribune.com/weather/blogs/Paul_Douglas_on_Weather.html

[BHoover]

Here in Columbus, the forecast for this week looks somewhat promising (mid-50s). With luck, next weekend might be decent golf weather. I'm hoping that by mid-March, the courses will be open for play.

[Ken Fry]

Most public courses have stayed open almost this entire winter in our area (Northern Indiana).  The privates have remained closed.

I can't ever remember such a bizarre winter.  Running carts in January on a 50 degree day??  Never in this part of the world.  Calling Al Gore?

Ken

[John McCarthy]

I played four times in Chicago in January and Feb 1.  (On a horrible county owned course but it was golf in January in Chicago).    I have flowers blooming in my front yard today. 

I dig global warming.  In fact, I might go to my garage and start my car.  We all have to do our bit, no?

[Tom_Doak]

Officially, Crystal Downs always opens on May 1st.  You are welcome to go out and play earlier if weather permits.  We actually had a few days in January that were playable, but there is nearly a foot of wet snow on the ground today, so I don't think I'll try it this week.

[jeffwarne]

Officially, Crystal Downs always opens on May 1st.  You are welcome to go out and play earlier if weather permits.  We actually had a few days in January that were playable, but there is nearly a foot of wet snow on the ground today, so I don't think I'll try it this week.

Many courses.particularly high end courses, can't open until their staff returns,who usually/often are employed elsewhere--just because it's nice in New York doesn't mean they can leave their job in Florida.

Sadly many of these courses could easily open earlier much earlier, but expectations about conditioning, service,food,lockerrooms,and a host of other silly amenities and service expectations,cause ownership to delay until fully staffed and ready.

[Mark Saltzman]

Officially, Crystal Downs always opens on May 1st.  You are welcome to go out and play earlier if weather permits.  We actually had a few days in January that were playable, but there is nearly a foot of wet snow on the ground today, so I don't think I'll try it this week.

Many courses.particularly high end courses, can't open until their staff returns,who usually/often are employed elsewhere--just because it's nice in New York doesn't mean they can leave their job in Florida.

Sadly many of these courses could easily open earlier much earlier, but expectations about conditioning, service,food,lockerrooms,and a host of other silly amenities and service expectations,cause ownership to delay until fully staffed and ready.

I won't play a course if I have to park my own car. No valet, no play.

[Tim Johnson]

Ontario will have temps in the -10 range for the next couple of days, starting Wednesday it gets upto +13 and looks like an average of +8 until March 18. I imagine the private courses wont open until late March/April  but it is looking like the public courses will be opening by weeks end. On the down side, all of our igloo's will be melting early this year.

[Tim Martin]

Officially, Crystal Downs always opens on May 1st.  You are welcome to go out and play earlier if weather permits.  We actually had a few days in January that were playable, but there is nearly a foot of wet snow on the ground today, so I don't think I'll try it this week.

Many courses.particularly high end courses, can't open until their staff returns,who usually/often are employed elsewhere--just because it's nice in New York doesn't mean they can leave their job in Florida.

Sadly many of these courses could easily open earlier much earlier, but expectations about conditioning, service,food,lockerrooms,and a host of other silly amenities and service expectations,cause ownership to delay until fully staffed and ready.

Many of the public courses in Ct will open this week with temps approaching 60 by Friday. The privates are definitely lagging behind although if the weather pattern stays as is I would think many will be open by St. Pat`s Day. That said a bunch of the Muni`s have been open all Winter long.

[archie_struthers]

     


We've been playing golf  here at the Jersey Shore all winter. We unofficially opened the club here last week, althoug the bar never really shut down lol!  

For anyone who enjoys a good one day event , we are having the "Irish Open " a week from Thursday , to,kick off the St Paddy's day weekend. We set it up real hard , but the beer and food are gratis and last year we had almost 75 players. That starts the season for us Irish lads!   Call the golf shop for details , or e-mail me . We'll have plus to thirty  handicaps playing, but be forewarned , it will be playing real tough that day. A Carnoustie set up !

[Tim Martin]

   


We've been playing golf  here at the Jersey Shore all winter. We unofficially opened the club here last week, althoug the bar never really shut down lol! 

For anyone who enjoys a good one day event , we are having the "Irish Open " a week from Thursday , to,kick off the St Paddy's day weekend. We set it up real hard , but the beer and food are gratis and last year we had almost 75 players. That starts the season for us Irish lads!

Anybody that can make it over to Greate Bay for this event should be all in as the golf and atmosphere are first rate. I can`t wait to get back!

[Tom_Doak]

With all the warm weather on the eastern seaboard, does anybody know if the courses in Myrtle Beach are getting killed because people don't have to drive south for golf?

[Ronald Montesano]

Tom D...

If Myrtle's conditions are better than the mix of soggy-frozen ground that we have in the NE, the Strand won't suffer a bit. Pair that with folks who already reserved trips and MB should do JF.

RE the B-Lo, we have two courses (Terry Hills and Byrncliff) that have been open since November 1st, weather permitting. A bunch more promise to open this week, although they are not the higher-end pubs.

[Jeff Shelman]

Pat,

Assuming we don't see any additional snow/cold (which doesn't seem to be the case based on the 10 day forecast), I think we might see lower end publics opening by the weekend of March 16-18. I think we'd see more places open the following weekend, but I'm not holding my breath on private clubs being open then.

If I had to put my $5 down, I'd guess that we'll see some privates opening around the 28th or 29th.

Two years ago, pretty much every club was open the last weekend of March. For many clubs, that was earlier than they had ever opened in the past. I hope that will be the case this year.

[Carl Nichols]

My home course, outside of Washington, DC, is currently planning to go from temporary to regular greens on March 12.  Several other courses in the area have their greens open already (or didn't close them at all). 

[PCCraig]

Pat,

Assuming we don't see any additional snow/cold (which doesn't seem to be the case based on the 10 day forecast), I think we might see lower end publics opening by the weekend of March 16-18. I think we'd see more places open the following weekend, but I'm not holding my breath on private clubs being open then.

If I had to put my $5 down, I'd guess that we'll see some privates opening around the 28th or 29th.

Two years ago, pretty much every club was open the last weekend of March. For many clubs, that was earlier than they had ever opened in the past. I hope that will be the case this year.

Jeff,

Sounds like the most we can hope for would be a last week in March opening for most courses (3 weeks). Considering the minimal snow or any significant storms it seems like it should be an easy spring cleanup in the MSP area. I was over at T&C for dinner this past Friday night and did a loop around the course...other than a few branches down from last week's ice/snow storm it was pretty clean.

Maybe we can hope for another early year round at Logger's Run!

[Michael George]

There is 6 inches of snow in northern Ohio this morning - not soon enough.

[Mark Johnson]

Pat,

Assuming we don't see any additional snow/cold (which doesn't seem to be the case based on the 10 day forecast), I think we might see lower end publics opening by the weekend of March 16-18. I think we'd see more places open the following weekend, but I'm not holding my breath on private clubs being open then.

If I had to put my $5 down, I'd guess that we'll see some privates opening around the 28th or 29th.

Two years ago, pretty much every club was open the last weekend of March. For many clubs, that was earlier than they had ever opened in the past. I hope that will be the case this year.

wow.... first time jeff has ever agreed with me on anything

[BHoover]

There is 6 inches of snow in northern Ohio this morning - not soon enough.

This is why, despite my love for NE Ohio, I'm not sad that I no longer live there.  Even though Columbus is by no means San Diego, spring generally arrives at least a few weeks prior to NE Ohio.  As I type this, I'm praying that we don't get hit with a March snowstorm.

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