The Valley is place to be this weekend if you’re a golfer

It's time to tee up, and gas up, if you're an Anchorage golfer looking for an early-season fix.

The Valley's two golf courses, Palmer Golf Course and Settlers Bay Golf Course, will both be open this weekend.

The Palmer course, which opened earlier this week, has temporary greens on 12 of its 18 holes and is charging $20 per round.

Early season hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The driving range should open next week, said Dan Gorman of the course's pro shop.

"We've got lots playing today," Gorman said Thursday afternoon. "It's 55 degrees."

Settlers Bay on Knik-Goose Bay Road opens for the season Friday with no temporary greens or tarps, said Becky Gerritsen of the pro shop. Carts must stay on cart paths for now, she said.

As of Thursday afternoon, Gerritsen had booked tee times for 120 players for Friday and 170 for Sunday.

"We're rockin' and rollin' pretty good," she said.

Hours and greens fees vary by day: The course is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday ($28 Tuesday-Thursday, $44 Monday-Wednesday-Friday) and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends ($48).

There won't be golf in Anchorage for at least another week, although the Anchorage Golf Course driving range will open Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

"We still have some snow on the course," AGC head pro Tom Farris said. "We're hoping for later next week."

At Moose Run's two courses, lingering snow and ice could delay play until the first week of May.