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Stettler Golf Country Club opens for the season

Golf season began later than usual this year on April 28
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Golfers are out hitting the links at the Stettler Golf and Country Club now that the snow has finally disappeared. (Landin Chambers/Black Press)

Local golfers are out practicing their swings since the Stettler Golf and Country Club opened for the season on April 28.

“It’s been a slow start,” said Ernie Sheriff, manager at the Stettler Golf and Country Club. “Last year we were open on April 8, and two years ago it was April 1.

“It’s been kind of frustrating to sit around and watch all of the snow on the ground,” he added. “But we’re off and rolling now.”

Although the opening date is later in the year than usual, the recent warm weather has certainly improved conditions.

“Last Tuesday, hole 1 and 9 were basically a lake, because it doesn’t drain very well. But we had a very good drying wind last week, and Thursday was 24 degrees so that really dried it out.”

Now that the course is open, preparations are underway for various league nights that will be held each week.

“Ladies’ league is on Tuesday nights. We’re always looking for women to join that. It’s a very social event. They come out here at 5:30 p.m. and do a shotgun start. They play their round of golf and then come in and have a meal as a group.

“Mens’ league is on Wednesdays. We’ve got about a hundred guys this year, which is the norm. They come out and get their round in playing nine holes, and we’re still looking for guys to join that as well.

“We also have the juniors league. That starts up on May 7, and I’ve got a group of six-eight year olds on Mondays, 9-12’s on Tuesdays, and a teenager group on Thursdays.

“It’s really grown, as we’ll be at about 55 to 60 kids learning how to play golf this year. From when I started here six years ago to now, that’s a huge increase.”

Sheriff points out the interest from the younger generation is great to see as “golf has been in a bit of a downturn since Tiger Woods’s downfall, and also in this province because of the recession.”

“When Tiger was dominant there was all sorts of interests in golf, especially from kids. There hasn’t really been that dominant figure in the last six, seven, eight years, where kids can identify and want to be that guy in golf.

“But there are guys here in Canada competing and doing well on the PGA Tour now, like Adam Hadwin who’s had a good start to his season. David Hearn is another example that comes to mind.

“It’s been a struggle for a lot of courses in this area in the last couple of years. We’re hoping to maintain what we did last year, and I think we’ll be close to that. Our downturn wasn’t really a drop in memberships, but the casual golfer who only golfs a few times a year finding something else to do because of their finances.”



landin.chambers@stettlerindependent.com

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The golf season in Stettler began a little later than usual, as the course opened on April 28 this year. (Landin Chambers/Black Press)