After a long winter wait, Calgary golfers will soon be able to dust off those clubs and hit the links again.
The City of Calgary says it is preparing to open two city-owned golf courses later this week. McCall Lake and Maple Ridge golf courses will open, weather permitting, on Friday.
The city says opening the courses will depend on several criteria being met, including temperatures above 5 C, hopefully no snow and no standing water left on the courses, and the ability for golfers to travel along the courses without causing damage.
Reduced rates will be in effect.
In response to questions from Global News, the city said it does not expect to need to use temporary greens because “the greens that have been uncovered thus far look really good.”
Tee times will be available between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. and can be booked online by logging onto the city’s website.
The city says while it aims to have some courses open by April 1, this is the latest opening in at least six years.
Despite the later-than-normal opening of the courses, the off-season was a bit shorter than normal for golfers as unusually warm weather allowed the city to open Maple Ridge and Shaganappi golf courses to play on Dec. 5, 2023. The city says those tee times were all booked up in less than an hour.
Several golf courses in the Edmonton and Lethbridge areas have also already opened for spring play.