Get your golf bags packed and your swing ready to go. The season appears to be just around the corner.
Many area 18-hole golf courses are scheduled to open as early as next week -- and the people who run them couldn't be happier about the early start to their seasons.
"Last year was the worst year ever," said Dave Solga, the director of golf at Medora's Bully Pulpit Golf Course. "I hope we never see another one like it."
Bully Pulpit opened on May 18 last year. Solga said Thursday the course is nearly ready and is preparing for all 18 holes to be open for business Friday, April 9.
Other local courses were put in similar situations last year. However, all seems to be going well for them thanks to this spring's mild weather.
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Heart River Golf Course in Dickinson is preparing to open on Tuesday, but Jeremy Davis, the course professional, said that date is tentative.
"We're going to reassess Monday and see what kind of precipitation we got over the weekend," Davis said. "We're hopefully that Tuesday will look good."
Kirby Robb, the professional at Pheasant Country Golf Course in South Heart, said the course is hoping to be open by the middle of next week.
"It's pretty wet out there yet," Robb said. "This moisture (Thursday) isn't helping the situation any. The snow's about all gone, but it's still pretty wet yet. It's kind of rinsing the course."
Robb said being open next week would be a blessing, considering Pheasant Country opened on April 18 last season.
Solga said there is still some clean up remaining at Bully Pulpit, but not enough to deter the course from opening on schedule.
"It looks really good," Solga said. "The snow is just about all gone, and not that that's keeping us from opening. It's the clean-up."
Opening earlier has an obvious benefit -- higher income -- for the courses, and Davis said every extra day helps that cause. However, he added the management at Heart River doesn't want to push their luck either.
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"As long as the course is playable," Davis said. "If we get out there too soon, it's just going to damage it."
Heart River Golf Course, Dickinson
Open: Tuesday, April 6
Web: www.dickinsonparks.org/HRCG.asp
Phone: 701-456-2050
Bully Pulpit Golf Course, Medora
Open: Friday, April 9
Web: www.medora.com/bully-pulpit/
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Phone: 701-623-4653
Pheasant Country Golf Course, South Heart
Open: Next week, date TBD
Web: www.pheasantcountrygolf.com
Phone: 701-677-4653
Visit course Web sites for fees and tee times.
