Spring 2011
For background go to: http://kimberleygolfclub.blogspot.com/2010/04/when-do-we-open.html.
In 2010 we had no snow at the same time of year and opened 9 holes on April 17 with the remaining of the course open for play by the middle of the following week. This year?
Opening depends on more than just the disappearance of snow from the course. Aside from waiting for conditions to dry up from the run off, I also like to have as much as the irrigation going as possible since the turf will require small amounts of water to help in the continual recovery from the winter as well as cope with the stress associated with play and maintenance. I've long given up the idea of having everything completely prepared for play first thing in the spring. Even after the snow melts and the course drys we would need another 5 -7 days with a crew of at least 6 to clean up from the winter and prep the entire course for play. My guess is people are anxious to get out and probably don't want to wait. Working in and amongst play is slow and inconvenient (for everybody!) but it probably only adds a few days to the clean up and as a general rule, I think, people just want to get out and work out the cob webs for the first few rounds.
A guess would have things up and running no sooner than the third week in April?
