The snowfall this past winter provided a very good base layer of protection. (Facebook/Martin Ring)
Fore!!

Green fever: Cooke Municipal opens Wednesday

May 10, 2022 | 2:00 PM

Golfing enthusiasts in the Prince Albert area are likely sitting on pins and tees.

The 113th season at Cooke Municipal Golf Course kicks off Wednesday, with the first tee time at 10 a.m. Those working in the pro shop have been taking bookings for over a week. Prentice professional Drew Ryhorchuk told paNOW the phones have been ringing off the hook.

“You tell the hype is there with everyone wanting to golf after a long winter. They’ve got the golf itch for sure,” he said.

Ryhorchuk added for the first day, they’ve got a full tee sheet right from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cooke was one of the busiest golf courses in Saskatchewan in 2021 with over 31,000 rounds and 2022 is shaping up to be another busy season highlighted by Golf Saskatchewan’s Men’s and Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship July 12 to 15.

“We are very excited to get this season going, as everyone knows it was a very long and cold winter,” Darcy Myers, Cooke head professional said in a statement. “Course superintendent Pierre Vezeau and his team have done a wonderful job prepping the course for the season, we look forward to getting back to normal with regular league play and tournaments.”

Drew Ryhorchuk said all the greens wintered really well. Here’s a look at hole 14. (Facebook/Martin Ring)

Vezeau, who was elected the president of the Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Association for 2022, also is anxious to get the season underway.

“Our turf team has been busy preparing for opening day and is very pleased with the condition of the golf course as the 2022 season approaches,” Vezeau said. “Our cultural practices and programs completed each fall are designed assuming we will receive typical snow fall and winter temperatures so it’s always nice when the weather cooperates. Current conditions are typically what we’d see midseason so we are off to a great start again this year.”

Tee times are available by calling Darcy’s Pro Shop.

A number of other courses in the region are also set to open this week. Elk Ridge’s nine hole Tamarack course will open first, followed the remainder of the course by May long.

The course at Candle Lake Golf Resort opens Saturday, and Kachur’s has been open since last Wednesday.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

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