Never too soon to swing the sticks

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/03/2021 (1892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Tuesday at 4 p.m., Southside Golf Course announced they were opening up for the season on Thursday. 

Five minutes later, the phone began to ring.

It hasn’t stopped since. 

The semi-private course in Grande Pointe is experiencing a rush like never before — they are booked solid for the next five days. Southside general manager Jaclyn Steep said there was a year when the course opened on St. Patrick’s Day, but apart from that, a March 18 start date is the earliest they’ve ever had.

“We’re way ahead of schedule. We opened our driving range on March 6 which was another record-setting timeframe. Usually, it’s the first week of April,” said Steep.

“So, we’re almost a month ahead of time in the whole scheme of things, which is pretty awesome.”

The warm spring weather and the lack of major snowfalls this winter made it possibsle to open so soon. Shooters Family Golf Centre on Main Street also had tee times on Thursday and told the Free Press they’re anticipating a big turnout on the weekend. Highs for today and Saturday are expected to be 13-14 C.

Most courses around town are still in the process of getting ready for their opening day. 

Southside was a bit wet, but considering it’s a golf in Manitoba in the middle of March, nobody had any complaints. Tee times are being offered between 11 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.

“People on the phone are in such an amazing mood,” Steep said.

“They can’t wait to get here, they can’t wait to be outside, see their friends and play golf with their family and have another outdoor activity that they can do.”

While the day had a semblance of “normal,” there’s still a ways to go. Eager golfers were lined up outside the pro shop as only one person was allowed in at a time. There are also the same precautions being taken as last season: ball washers, bunker rakes, and benches have all been removed and golfers are asked to leave the pin in the cup. 

It’s all Steep has known since she started at Southside. 

“Last season was my first season. It’s almost great because I didn’t know any different, right? So, I just went for it. It was crazy. I started March 17 last year and by the end of that week, we found out we were in lockdown,” she said.

Last year, Manitobans weren’t able to hit the links until May 4 owing to COVID-19 restrictions. Longtime friends Wes Wold, 63, and Glen Naylor, 65, usually don’t tee off on Day 1 of the season, but with the sun shining, they jumped at the chance after being cooped up for the past few months. 

“Especially after COVID, being able to do anything outside is fantastic,” Naylor said. “I’ve been waiting for this to happen.”

Wold added: “I would’ve never guessed I would be playing this early. I’ve been golfing for 40 years and I don’t think I’ve ever played in March in Winnipeg.”

Predictably, nobody appeared to be in mid-season form. At the same time, nobody seemed to care. People were just happy to be outside swinging a club. Trent Robertson and Connor Stewart — members of the University of Manitoba Bisons men’s golf program — were all smiles as they stepped up to hit their first drive of the season.

“As long as I beat him for some money that’s all that matters,” Robertson said with a laugh. “I missed the social aspect of it. Coming out with your buddies, shooting the s–t, and just looking for the golf ball.”

Golf isn’t the only sport in town that’s getting the ball rolling as tennis courts are beginning to unlock their gates. Riverdale Park in West St. Paul, the new courts at Dakota Collegiate, and Kildonan Tennis Club all saw action last weekend. Windsor Park put their nets up on Thursday and Sargent Park Tennis Garden is making two courts available on Saturday.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31