Spring is well on the way.
Birds are chirping, the grass is turning green and it’s light until 8.30 p.m.
What better time to dust off the clubs and hit the links for a quick 18 holes?
Westlock Golf Course opened this Saturday and the early warmth means more golfing than usual.
“It’s one of our earliest starts in recent years,” said CPGA head pro Kevin Lynes.
“Hopefully the weather stays on and we can keep going.”
The 18-hole course dates back to 1935 when the front nine was laid out. In 1991, a further nine holes were added to give the course its current configuration.
The first half is described as a traditional layout with smaller greens and tighter fairways and the back nine more a kin to links course.
“It’s definitely a mix of two courses,” Lynes said.
“The course itself is challenging, but now we have the three sets of tees there is something to accommodate all calibre of players.”
The club offers a number of activities and events throughout the year. They range from regular league play for men, women and juniors (aged 6-12) to lessons and special tournaments.
“We run the Westlock Motors Shootout thought the year,” Lynes said.
“We get a couple of qualifiers each week and then at the end Westlock Motors put on a $50,000 hole in one competition.
“For the couples, the mixed Scotch two-ball would be an opportunity to get out and golf with your wife or anybody of the opposite sex.”
Never golfed before? Not a problem. The course caters to all ages and skill levels.
The game can be expensive, so Lynes suggests dropping by the clubhouse before you put lots of money down at the sports store.
“I would recommend a couple of lessons for starters and if we find that we’re making good progress maybe a few more,” he said. “I wouldn’t recommend going out and buying a set of clubs until you have tried it.
“It could be quite an expensive endeavor to find a week later you don’t like it.
The course is currently open from about 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and booking a tee time is preferred as with all the competitions and events going on, it can be hard to get out sometimes.
