(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Back in the swing of things

Cooke Municipal Golf Course opens Friday

May 20, 2020 | 4:22 PM

There’s some good news for golfers in Prince Albert. The City of P.A. has confirmed Cooke Municipal Golf Course will open Friday.

Tee times will be available online and over the phone beginning Thursday.

Meanwhile the city is preparing for a difficult season at the course, with the cancellation of tournaments and restrictions due to COVID-19 threatening revenues.

The facility has already undergone a costly renovation to comply with the new rules.

“The reason it took us a while to decide [on the opening] is we are going to have financial loss at the golf course,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW. “And we wanted to work and see how we can minimize it or at least know what we have to prepare for going down the road.”

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While Dionne said exact figures on the projected financial shortfall are still unknown, a report will come to council in mid-July.

The Mayor was also concerned by “verbal abuse” levelled at golf course staff by members of the public annoyed by the delayed start. In a media release he said staff and the golf community had no choice in the matter and the decision to open late was city administration’s alone.

“It was a tough decision that required careful consideration and it was ours to make,” he said. “To the season pass holders that were upset about losing minimal time over the weekend, you will easily make it up since at this point, all tournaments will not be proceeding.”

A number of new safety procedures will be in place when the layout reopens and Dionne cautioned that they must be strictly adhered to.

“We need to remember that this is a test for the public to respect the Golf Course guidelines in the Re-Open Plan,” said Dionne. “If you cannot respect the rules, you will not be able to golf at our facility.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom