Sports

Golfers revel in early course openings

A warm, almost snowless winter has delivered the earliest tee times local golf course managers can recall.

"This is our earliest opening ever," said Palmer Golf Course director of golf George Collum on Wednesday.

Collum said the course has been open since March 21, which is two days earlier than the previous record of March 23 in 2002. And while that year had low snow conditions, this winter's odd un-winter has the course "way ahead of that year."

"The course is unbelievable for this time of year," Collum said.

As of Wednesday, all 18 holes were open, although temporary greens were being used on seven holes. The driving range is open but subject to closure if conditions change. Collum said golf carts aren't yet allowed, as the fairways remain soggy as the ground underneath thaws.

"It's going to get softer and wetter before it gets really dry," he said.

Collum said business has been brisk.

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"We've been really busy," he said, estimating that more than 100 weekend golfers showed up to play on both Saturday and Sunday.

Wednesday also marked the first day of the season at Settler's Bay, which is located about 10 miles west of Wasilla. Operations manager John Schirack said the course opened the front nine on Wednesday and plans to have all 18 holes – with no temporary greens – open for business by Friday.

Schirack said the warm winter allowed the course's greens to survive in excellent condition.

"This year it appears every one of them is alive and doing well," he said.

Like Collum, Schirack said this spring's early opening is unprecedented.

"I'm going to say typically it's been the 15th of April, and it's usually slushy and icky then," he said.

Also open in the Mat-Su is Fishhook Golf Course, a nine-hole layout just north of Palmer that's offering $10 all-you-can-golf rates on temporary greens. The driving range is also open.

Valley courses are typically the first to open, with Anchorage-area layouts lagging a bit behind. That's the case again this year, although Anchorage Golf Course operations manager Jeri Cunningham said they're also way ahead of schedule. If conditions don't change, Cunningham said AGC could be open for play by mid-April.

"It's looking good. I actually went out and walked the entire course last night," she said. "I was amazed at how dry it was and how very little snow and how clean it was."

There were no big winter storms to knock down trees, leaving the course almost free of woody debris.

"It looks really good," she said, noting that the driving range could be open later this week.

Cunningham said the early spring has course managers scrambling to get ready for business sooner than expected.

"It's a matter of hiring people," she said. "This is way early for us."

Cunningham said people interested in the latest information on the course can visit the AGC website or follow the course on Facebook.

Other area courses are still waiting for things to thaw out before allowing golfers out. At the par-3 Fox Hollow course in South Anchorage, a clubhouse worker said the course is clear of snow and will likely be open within two weeks. The 36-hole Moose Run facility north of town is still closed, with no set timetable for its spring opening. Check www.mooserungolfcourse.com for updates.

Matt Tunseth

Matt Tunseth is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News and former editor of the Alaska Star.

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