SWINGING FOR SPRING
Chris Lucas tees off at the Orchard View Golf Club near Ruthven on Friday when temperatures reached highs near 6 C. Unseasonably warm weather attracted several diehard golfers with the official start of spring still more than a month away.
Unseasonably warm weekend weather is luring some Essex County golfers out of hibernation.
Orchard View golf course opened at noon Friday and had more than 100 players booked for Saturday and another 70-plus with Sunday tee times.
“Traditionally we’re one of the first to open if not the first at least in the Windsor area,” said Dave Bell, a CPGA pro at Orchard View. “
With the forecast calling for double-digit highs into next week, Bell said the course could be open “for the next four or five days. Then you never know what’s going to hit.”
Silver Tee Golf and Virtual Gaming Centre won’t open the driving range just yet but employee Ryan Lengel said mini golf will open Saturday, Sunday and even Monday for Family Day — if the weather holds.
Tecumseh Golf was bracing for a busy weekend of dishing out practice balls by the bucket.
“It’s been steady,” said Jeff Delorenzi of business through the winter at the year-round practice facility. “I would expect (Saturday) to get smoked. Fifty degrees in February is usually the benchmark.”
Indeed, the weekend weather could produce a couple of records for the Windsor region.
A projected Saturday high of 14 C would break the previous mark of 12.9 C set Feb. 18, 2011.
The record of 14.4 C for Feb. 19 was established just a year ago.
“Both records are at risk,” said Geoff Coulson, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. “Anyone who’s a fan of springlike weather, this is certainly going to be for them.”
Fellow meteorologist David Phillips warned against tossing the snow shovel to the back of the shed just yet.
“It’s a false spring,” Phillips said. “It’s a teaser. The jury is still out on March and April. Look at last year, you had snow in May.”
Snow totals are below average heading into the second half of the month. This area averages 129. 3 centimetres of snow over the winter season. To date, we’ve seen 80.6 cm.
With 51.7 cm of the white stuff, the month of December surpassed the long-term average of 28.8 cm. At just 23.6 cm, January was below the average of 37.2 cm and at a paltry 5.3 cm so far in February is way behind the monthly average of 30.5 cm.
Mild temperatures have made it a great winter season for turf according to longtime Roseland superintendent Pat Hebert.
“What’s different this year from previous years is that we haven’t had that extreme cold,” Hebert said. “Extremely cold weather with no snow cover can cause problems. This winter is one of the best I’ve seen on the golf course. There’s no disease out there whatsoever.”
While Roseland has been getting lots of phone calls about opening day, Hebert said he’s sticking to his normal goal of mid-March.
“My target date is March 17 and I’ve only hit it about five times in 30 years,” he said. “It’s been a good winter but it isn’t done yet. Let’s wait for March and April, we’ll probably get nailed.”
It’s been a good winter but it isn’t done yet. Let’s wait for March and April, we’ll probably get nailed.