THUNDER BAY – Lenore O’Donnell spoke for her playing partner Jil Meyer and everyone else who arrived at Dragon Hills Golf Course for the opening day of the 2024 season.
“It’s really crazy that we are out here this early, but it’s great,” O’Donnell said.
After opening up the driving range earlier this week, the facility kicked off play on its nine-hole course on Friday afternoon.
“Honestly, it’s pretty shocking,” Joe McDonough said. “I don’t think I was out until mid- or late May last year.
“When I saw online that they were thinking about opening up on Friday, I had the clubs polished off and ready to go.”
Dragon Hills Golf Course superintendent Darryl Moro said it was an easy winter for the turf and the greens.
“From tee to green, there’s hardly any blemishes out there,” Moro added. “It’s like how I put it to bed back in November. With a little bit of heat, it will be back to business as usual.
“After some long winters, I definitely hoped and prayed for a normal spring but I couldn’t imagine this. This is the earliest that we have ever been open.”
While it’s not exactly mid-season conditions, local golfers are enjoying the fact that they can get out on the links already.
“It’s Augusta National conditions for Thunder Bay in March that’s for sure,” McDonough said.
“I still can’t believe the course is open this early. The grass is in good shape for the first couple of swings I’ve taken and everyone here has done an awesome job.
“I think it’s going to be a great spring for everyone in the golf community.”