March 27, 2010

This morning, I’ll be helping friends and fellow golfers D’Arcy and Lynda move their Yamaha golf cart from its shelter for the past 20 years at the Lethbridge Country Club. It’s one of a number of changes around Southern Alberta courses this spring.

But mainly, it’s a sign golf season is here. Yea! Started last Friday at Paradise Canyon, Henderson Lake, Milk River and Land ‘O Lakes, which drew 150 Saturday.

Counting those who couldn’t wait for official openings, it seemed downright crowded at the Bridge Valley par three even two weekends ago. And last week, as I whacked a large bucket of balls at Evergreen, wincing with each swing while the kinks worked their way out, more limber souls went straight to the tee boxes, fairways and greens.

For those of us who love (or endure) the game, this time of year holds infinite promise. It’s the same every time you step on the first tee box: this is the season, or the round, I’ll break 100, or 90, 80, 70, shoot a hole in one, birdie or two, par. Or, just get outdoors lots and enjoy the company.

Land O’ Lakes pro Jim Moulton says golf’s attraction is all those things. It’s also competitive, but mainly between you and you.

“You’re always trying to improve, your score, your swing. If you get a couple of good shots, it’s progress.”

Friend Al has been hitting balls at the Lethbridge Country Club driving range to work on some things the club pro is helping him with.

“I used to play to a seven handicap. I’d be happy if I could get it back down to a 10.”

He’ll have three new holes to play on by mid-May 2011, says manager Brian Huculak. Work on the $1.1 million project will start in early September to reconfigure holes 12, 13 and 14.

Over at Henderson Lake, the 600 members will face several new features on the course. The 9^th and 18^th greens have been redone and separated by a pond. The tee box on the par 3 8^th has been moved back, adding 65 yards to the old 100-yard distance. And ponds on 10 and 11 have been dredged deeper.

Club pro Paul Lowe says $400,000 has been spent on improvements.

At Paradise, 90^th of the top 100 Canadian golf courses ranked by Scoregolf, the course wintered well, says pro Matt Barkway. The ranking is good press, he says, but the course relies on a good following from Lethbridge and Calgary.

Elsewhere, Claresholm opened Thursday, Magrath Friday.

April 1 is the target for the Country Club, Raymond, Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek and Indian Hills, where they started to remove tarps from greens last Sunday, but the wind forced a reschedule to Wednesday.

Bow Island is shooting for April 3, “But I wouldn’t bet on it because we’ve still got a lot of snow, especially in the caraganas,” says new manager Lowell Lefler.

New Crowsnest Pass club pro Peter Stewart says he expects the course to open within a month.

And that Yamaha golf cart? It’s headed for Picture Butte, which opened Wednesday.