There’s been a little extra wait for golfers looking to hit the links in Whistler, but the anticipation will be over this weekend with two local courses opening for play.
The Whistler Golf Club is set to welcome players on Saturday (May 14), and director of golf Alan Kristmanson said that’s a few days later than usual for the Arnold Palmer-designed course to open.
“It was a late spring, obviously, with respect to snow loads. We’ve still got a bit out there, but this is typically the time of year we open,” he said, noting that the course survived the winter well.
“Everything’s greening up quick, we’re nice and dry and getting lots done. We’re ready to go.”
Nicklaus North Golf Course will be the first local track to open, as Friday (May 13) will be the first day of play for the club. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club won’t be too far behind, as it is scheduled to open on May 20.
“This is probably the best that we’ve come through the winter in a long time,” said Chateau Whistler director of golf Gregg Lown. “We’ll be two weeks behind opening, but aside from two holes we’re still taking snow off of, the course has come back really green.
“The greens are all in good shape, which is very positive and a great way to get us started.”
The Whistler Golf Club opened its practice facilities on Easter weekend and Kristmanson said there’s been a steady stream of players coming to work on their game in advance of the season.
“I think there’s been some pent-up golf frustration because of the cold spring, so we’ve been rockin’ over there ever since,” he said. “Our group clinics all started this week, so everybody’s getting their games tuned up and our teaching pros are on site.”
The practice range was completely re-built last year after it served as a parking lot during the Olympics and Kristmanson is pleased to have it up and running from the beginning of the season.
“We’re very excited with how it came through the winter,” he said. “All the new drainage worked great and it’s really green over there already.”
Kristmanson said he expects the first tee to be busy for the club’s first two weekends.
“It would be nice if the temperatures warmed up a bit, but it’s been cold everywhere,” he said. “There’s no question that golf is getting off to a late start in the entire province; most the pros I’ve talked to have said it’s been a slow start.
“But we’re going to wake up one day, it’ll be 22 degrees and away we go.”
Up in Pemberton, Big Sky Golf and Country Club and The Meadows at Pemberton have both been open for a few weeks.
Big Sky head professional Courtney Foxgord said it was a later-than-usual opening for her course, too, but that it survived the winter well.
“We had a lot of snow cover, so that really helped with keeping it insulated,” she said. “It came out in amazing shape, so we definitely lucked out.”
Foxgord noted that the early season in Pemberton has seen better weather than in Whistler but that there’s still room on Big Sky’s tee sheet to accommodate more players.
“Hopefully, once the courses in Whistler open, people will stop thinking about skiing,” she laughed.
Most of the Whistler-area courses have all decided to drop their green fees by approximately 25 per cent this season, so resort visitors have the chance to play some of B.C.’s best tracks for less cash.
“The locals have always been able to take advantage of great passes, specials and programs — those haven’t changed at all and they’re still great value,” said Kristmanson. “For our destination guests, we’ve brought ourselves down where we think we’re comparable to anybody and I think we show great value.”
Early season rates are in effect at all courses until the end of May.
