Local golfers teeing up for warm weather

Golf season may be starting early this year for some courses around the region, due to an upswing in warm weather.

Many local golf courses tend to open at the start of April, when winter has completely finished, but with the warm weather on Monday reaching 20.5 C and breaking temperature records, golfers took advantage of the dry conditions.

“Monday was crazy, the whole weekend was crazy, so as soon as we announced we were going to open Saturday, Sunday and Monday filled up,” said Ron Silver, the director of golf for Ariss Valley Golf and Country Club.

Silver said the phone didn’t stop ringing for three days straight. On Monday, they had a full course of golfers from open to close. Silver added that the local golf course was open Tuesday as well for the warm weather.

Typically, Silver said they open in the first week of April. If the weather continues to be favourable, Silver said they will likely open 3 or 4 weeks earlier than their anticipated opening date.

Silver added that it looks like they will be open next week as well when warmer temperatures hit on Thursday and Friday.

 “We get a bonus next week where we get daylight saving time too. A lot of golfers like to play after work for just the extra hour there till 7 o’clock at night, 7:30, with the light we’ll be pretty busy.”

Municipally owned golf courses, however, have yet to open. Doon Valley Golf Course and Rockway Golf Course are still closed for the season — but that could change.

Lisa Collins, the manager of sport development and golf for Kitchener Golf said they are looking for consistently mild temperatures before opening; any chance of frost delays their ability to open.

“If milder temperatures continue, Rockway and Doon, we could open early for the season, but this would depend on conditions and staffing,” said Collins.

Collins added they tend to open early April but if the warm weather keeps up, they will look at opening sooner for people to enjoy.