Dust off the clubs; it’s opening day on the golf course

Last weekend, there was still four inches of snow on some of the fairways at Blue Devil Golf Club. This weekend, there will be foursomes instead.

It’s now officially birdie (or bogey) season in Calgary, with a handful of hangouts opening for business Friday or Saturday.

“With the snow on the ground and how cold it was, I think this kind of snuck up on a lot of people,” said Play Golf Calgary’s chief operating officer Slade King, who announced that both Blue Devil and Links of GlenEagles would be ready to roll Friday on full greens and tees.

“Last year, it was beautiful in February and straight through, so it wasn’t that shocking when we opened in March. This year, it kind of turned from winter to spring in a week. Things can turn so quick.”

And when things turn, the teesheets start to fill up quick, too.

Fox Hollow will also welcome the first wave Friday, although they’re still on temporary dance floors.

Crews at a couple of Windmill Golf’s local properties — Boulder Creek and Silverwing Links — have been hustling to peel back tarps, prepping for Saturday openings on a full slate of regular greens.

“Anytime we can play in March, that’s always exciting, and this is the third year in a row we’ve been able to do that,” said David Robinson, executive director of golf operations at both Boulder Creek and Silverwing Links.

“A lot of people are anxious to get out. And in the short time that I was in the pro shop (Thursday), I booked at least two foursomes from Edmonton. They get the word that we’re open and, ‘Roadtrip!’ They’re on their way down.”

They likely won’t be disappointed.

“We don’t want to jinx it, but our superintendent at Silverwing said the greens are as good as he’s ever seen them winter,” Robinson said.

Chances are, many local pinseekers were keeping their schedules clear this weekend to attend the PGA of Alberta’s annual Calgary Golf Show at BMO Centre.

Now, they could be digging divots instead. There might be patches of snow in some sand-traps, but you won’t hear any complaining.

“Everybody has had cabin fever, right? They’ve been inside the house or inside the golf dome for four months,” said Greg Griffith, head professional at Fox Hollow. “Now, it’s opening day. We’re outside, we put the ball on a tee and we’re going to have a pint after. Everybody is happy.”

Double-digit temperatures are forecast into next week.