Golfers itching to hit the course amid chilly start to spring

Edmonton golfers were seen already hitting the green before the 11 a.m. opening at the Mill Woods driving range on Friday.

A slow start to Edmonton spring has golfers eager to get on the course, so much that one driving range saw a lineup an hour before opening.

“We posted that we’re opening at 11 a.m. on Friday, and people were here at 10 a.m.,” said Mill Woods Golf Course superintendent Todd Paquette. “We were packed. There were lineups.”

Friday saw more seasonal temperatures with a high around 13 C and sunny skies.

“It seems like it was a long time coming. Early March was kind of nice, and we thought this might be an early start,” said Paquette.

But we’re not quite out of the weeds yet, with snow forecasted for mid-week.

“That would be tough if we got snow on Wednesday,” said Paquette.

Temperatures are expected to be below average for the coming week, but that likely won’t stop die hard golfers from getting some swings in.

“It’s not even 11 a.m. yet and we got guys hitting balls,” said Paquette.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Darcy Seaton