Committed golfers have still been battling the cold this week, but many courses are beginning to close if they haven't already. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Trevor Redden

Golf's Gone

Successful, unusual golf season coming to an end

Oct 16, 2020 | 12:35 PM

Recent frosty weather has brought an end to golf season in Prince Albert, and local courses are calling it a successful year.

Cooke Municipal Golf Course officially closed earlier this week, putting a unique year in the rear view.

“2020 was an interesting year,” Head Professional Darcy Myers explained. “At the start of the season there was a lot of unknowns and a lot of restrictions in place. But as we got things opened up and navigated things a little bit, things turned out really well.”

Myers said the tee sheets were virtually full for the whole year, and there were plenty of new faces out to enjoy one of the few activities you could still take part in despite pandemic restrictions.

The most notable impact to the course were lessons and tournaments, with those mostly shut down for the whole year. As a result, Myers does expect the course to run a deficit this year, but not to the degree that had been expected.

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“We were projecting a pretty significant loss but as the season went on things evolved and we were able to reduce the loss. With tournaments impacted the way they were we are going to have a deficit but it will be a lot more manageable than we predicted,” Myers said.

In addition to safely handling golfers all season, Myers pointed out how important it was to be able to host the Men’s Northern for the 99^th consecutive year, setting things up for the 100^th edition next year.

“It was really important with that being the first tournament of the year to make sure that went ahead,” Myers said.

Just a few minutes down the highway, it was a similarly positive year at Kachur’s Golf Club.

Owner and operator Patty Kachur acknowledged a “scary start,” but quickly recognized that golf was going to be a popular activity.

“Golf was an out for everybody. They didn’t have to be locked in their house anymore, they could come out here and be safe,” Kachur said.

One of the areas that saw a lot of business at Kachur’s was food services, with a large pavilion capable of hosting groups while accommodating physical distancing.

“Our food service was crazy this year, it was way up,” Kachur said. “The pavilion had tables every two metres. It was set up for 80 people instead of [the usual] 200, but we did a lot of food.”

Pro shop sales were up as well, as Kachur had to re-stock golf balls much more frequently than she had in past years.

Similar to Cooke, Kachur’s had a lot of new golfers out trying the sport for the first time as local residents spent more time enjoying their backyard.

“The tourists didn’t come in, but the locals didn’t leave. We had more families and beginners wanting to get out,” Kachur said.

Ultimately, she said she was focused on keeping everybody safe, and that was accomplished.

“It was a great season, other than the virus flying around,” Kachur reflected.

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden