It's another season of shanks and nice swings as Innisbrook Golf Course opens for business, despite a snowtrap or two on the greens.
“Actually it wintered really well,” says Craig Membery at Innisbrook. “The greens are in great shape for this time of year. We just lost the snow last week and they came out beautiful.”
Ask Ed Emsley about "beautiful" and he'll tell you he just left it – a golf course in Bahamas. Golfing in Canada at this time of year is a little different.
“Here you have to wear a skidoo suit,” he says. “Summer in Canada is two weeks of bad skiing, but we'll take what we can get.”
Caley McDonough agrees, but she's not golfing, she's driving the beverage cart. She says this late start is nothing like last year.
“I can remember being out in the beer cart in shorts around Easter time, so it's a little depressing to think about it that way,” she says.
Last year on April 19 the mercury soared to almost 20C, and golfers had been out for weeks.
Alex Cooper isn't complaining, however, he's just happy to be out on the links.
But how has he prepared for the season?
“No training,” he says, “but there's nothing like getting out here and learning the hard way.”
And the hard way is a good way for Bear Creek Golf Club. Conditions are great and response has been so good they're having a tough time trying to keep up with the crowds of excited golfers.
“Since we announced on Friday that we're opening up, the phone has been ringing off the hook,” says Drew Moyer at Bear Creek. “Everybody's been waiting for this day.”
However, with 10 to 15 mm rain coming over the next little while, those greens are going to be slow and soggy.
