Courtesy: CHAT Newsroom

By Angela Kazmierczak

Golfers antsy to return to golf course

Apr 3, 2023 | 5:32 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – More snow fell yesterday, almost three centimeters, and there’s more of the white stuff in the forecast for this evening.

Temperatures have stayed below seasonal average now for weeks.

For some golfers, the continuing winter weather is making them anxious to return to the golf course.

“I’m just looking forward to getting open. It’s been a long winter for everybody, and I think everybody is antsy to kind of get out in the sunshine,” said Brian Oliphant, head professional at Connaught Golf Club.

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Oliphant hopes the driving range will open this Friday or Saturday, but he’s unsure about the golf course. The golf course usually opens a week or two after the range. First, the weather needs to be above zero so the tarps can be taken off the grass.

“Last year we opened April 1st, and the year before was March 27th. So this will be one of our later opening dates that we’ve had,” said Oliphant.

Kyle Fougere, a meteorologist with Environment Canada and Climate Change, says the delays are occurring because of the La Nina conditions in the east.

“When we have La Nina conditions in the eastern pacific, near the equator, temperatures are a lot colder than normal and it does have an effect on Western Canada, where it shifts our jet stream to the west,” said Fougere.

As explained, a La Nina at the end of spring delays spring and the snow from melting. The conditions are expected to diminish though, with temperatures returning to normal.

“It’s going to take a little while for it to melt, but fortunately the coldest and wintery part of the year is behind us and hopefully spring is on the horizon,” said Fougere.

Oliphant hopes for Connaught Golf Club to open next week or on April 21, 2023.