Golf courses open for the season in Calgary

Greg Suchan was in the first group to tee off at Blue Devil to kick off Calgary's golf season Thursday morning.

Suchan had the honor of scoring the first hit of the season. But as he said, sometimes things don't go according to plan.

“My daughter and her husband got me a new driver for Christmas and I completely forgot it still had the packaging. “I think I could have hit him with a pack, maybe that would have helped,” he laughed.

LONG WINTER

As he took the wrap off the driver, Suchan dropped it right down the middle and chipped the first hole.

He says he's happy to be back on the course.

“It's been a long winter.” He said.

“It started off really well, but then it got cold out there. It seemed like it took forever, but it dried quickly and we're happy.”

Some golf courses opened in Calgary on Thursday.

Worth the wait

Golfers in Calgary thought they'd get an early start to the season, but the weather isn't holding back.

But as a golfer, you should always be optimistic. Robert Little was with Suchan and he too is excited about the start of the season.

“The last few snows have dampened the excitement for the new season,” he said.

“But the sun has risen,” he added, “and the grass is already turning green.” We are ready to go now.

BLESSING

The golf courses look in good condition this time of year.

Play Golf Calgary COO Slade King says the snow wasn't that bad last week.

“It's greener than usual, just a time of melting snow,” he said.

“We've had this heat, then another snow, which brings moisture, and then it warms up again,” he added. “That combination made for good opening day conditions this year.”

Additional courses open Friday, including Speargrass, Springbank Links, Maple Ridge and McCall Lake. The Track says they will open on Saturday.

Several courses opened in Lethbridge on March 13.