A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
While water hazards were really ice hazards, the Big Lake Golf Resort was open for golfers last Friday as the winter that wasn't continues. "We've owned the course for four years and this is, by far, our earliest spring opening," said resort co-owner Bill Jaskari.
Big Lake Golf Course got lots of media attention for its early opening. Here co-owner Bill Jaskari poses with Taryn Simmons, from Northern News Now, at the March 1 opening announcement in the Big Lake Clubhouse and bar.
Volunteers and staff prepare for the March 1 clean up day the Cloquet Country Club, which is not open yet. CCC Superintendent Jud Crist is pictured in the middle.
Cloquet Country Club volunteers were clearing dead trees, buckthorn and brush, and raking needles on March 1, in anticipation of an earlier than usual opening because of the lack of snow this winter.
Unprecedented.
That was the keyword from Big Lake Golf Resort co-owner Bill Jaskari, regarding the opening of the golf course on Friday, March 1. It was 11 a.m., about 50 degrees, and a few curious players and their vehicles were trickling into the golf resort parking lot.
"We've owned the course for four years and this is, by far, our earliest spring opening. In comparison to last year, when we experienced record snowfall, we opened for golf the second week of May," Jaskari said.
There is virtually no snow on the course, which is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for now. Golfers have to walk as carts are not yet allowed. Golfers should check the club's website for upcoming operating hours.
"We'll let Mother Nature dictate our operating hours for the short term," Jaskari said, "The ponds are still frozen and we have to wait until 11 a.m. to let the frost lift. But, we had an owners meeting Wednesday and decided to give it a go."
The outlook is for above average temperatures in Minnesota for March.
About 10 miles away, a crew of members and volunteers was out working at the Cloquet Country Club March 1-2. They were clearing dead trees, buckthorn and brush, and raking needles. CCC superintendent Jud Crist said that the minimal snow makes it easy to maneuver maintenance vehicles around the course with little turf damage.
"We still have covers on our greens that provide thermal benefits on these cool evenings. But, based on forecasts, we'll likely take them off this month," Crist said, adding that he peeked under the No. 1 hole green cover and the grass looked healthy. Crist feels the early opening will not negatively affect the turf grass for the 2024 season.
The Cloquet Country Club rented a lift truck for the occasion to reach hard-to-get-to limbs and dead trees. With many hands, and mild conditions, it made for a successful project. It looked beautiful with the St. Louis River and USG factory visible again through the brush and trees on the No. 5 tee. With the windy and warm conditions and lack of snow, volunteers were chatting and worried about potential fire danger. Texas was experiencing a wildfire the size of Delaware, and the threat and drought conditions - lack of snow cover - go all the way through the Midwest to northern Minnesota.
High school golf coaches are anticipating what could be an opening of their season "on time" without indoor practices. Barnum head coach Brent Donaldson said he would be surprised if their home course, the Rugged Spruce Golf Club in Mahtowa, doesn't open by the third week in March, when golf practice can start per Minnesota high school rules. Rugged Spruce owners Jim and Colleen Myhre are looking at likely a little later.
"Hopefully, toward the end of March," Jim said. "We'll see what the frost does here. Clay gets greasy with the thaw. We're all very excited to get going."
Whatever opening dates the local golf courses choose for this year, it definitely should be earlier than the 2023 season.
