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Cooke Municipal prepping for earlier start this golf season

Apr 14, 2015 | 3:07 PM

The Cooke Municipal Golf Course driving range is open and ready for eager golfers to tune their swing for the new golf year and they may be able to hit the links earlier than in recent years.

After last year’s late opening on May 9, Cooke’s assistant pro Ryan Wells believes the course could open around two weeks earlier this year, but no official decision has been made.

However, the track is coming along and should be in playing condition sooner rather than later.

“The course is looking good, it wintered really well and we’re pretty excited to get an early start over the last couple of years,” said Wells. “All the members are getting the itch here, it will finally be nice to get out there and play some golf.”

Wells added Cooke could make a decision on when the course will open as early as this Friday. The course should be open well in advance for the May Day Masters, the first big tournament at Cooke this season.

In June, Cooke will host the CN Future Links Prairie Championship, a Golf Canada junior tournament June 12-14.

“That’s probably the big one for us this year,” said Wells. “We’re kinda getting the team put together for the volunteers. There will be lots of juniors from all over the country here booking their practice rounds already.

“We’re looking forward to that and it should be a great event.”

In last year’s Future Links in Shilo, Man., Shaunavon’s Corey Bailey was the top Saskatchewan golfer finishing in sixth place. He’s already signed up for this year’s tournament.

Prince Albert’s Zach Hurd was tied for 17th in the tournament.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow