(WBEN) - With the weather in Western New York making an early turn for spring, many will be looking to take advantage of the warmer and drier conditions and get in some early action on the local golf courses.
A number of local courses are not quite ready to open for business after another winter. However, the nicer weather and warming temperatures are allowing for some to get cleanup efforts started much earlier than usual.
"Just the basic stuff that goes into it, really. From the storms that we had this winter, it knocked down a few trees and just [have to] pick up the branches," said Chris Carroll, director of golf operations for Buffalo Olmsted Parks. "Unfortunately, we really can't do any cutting yet. We need the weather to make a full turn and kind of be a little bit consistent. But just some basic spring cleaning, if you will, getting the machines going. So it's gonna be good."
Carroll says a large number of people in the City of Buffalo already have the itch to get out and hit the links for their first round of the season. He's already been getting phone calls on plans for opening day, and whether or not an early open to the year is in the cards.
"We are not in full swing just yet, we are getting our staff back here pretty soon. Our goal is to open the golf course a little bit earlier," Carroll said. "People are chomping at the bit, and just hope the good weather continues."
Last year, courses like Cazenovia and Delaware Park were able to open earlier than expected on April 12, while the course at South Park opened on April 28. Is Carroll expecting an even earlier open to the 2024 season?
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"That's up to Mother Nature more than us. I certainly would like it. I know the golfers would love it," he said. "Our goal always is April 20, now we've kind of moved it more to April 15. But I would love April 1, if Mother Nature keeps giving us this good weather. Who knows, maybe we can even push it up a little sooner."
In the Town of Tonawanda, Councilman Carl Szarek says crews have been out earlier than usual this year to start cleaning the course at both Brighton Park and Sheridan Park.
"Especially at Brighton Park, we have a lot going on there with our recreation enhancement project. It's giving us an opportunity to clear the courses of twigs and whatever had fallen over the year, and repairing some of the grass that got maybe ruined by the snow over the year. It gives us a great chance to clean everything up, clean the leaves up, a lot of branches out there - we had a few windy days over the winter," said Szarek, who serves as the chair of the Parks and Recreations committee in Tonawanda. "It gives us an opportunity this week and next to really take a look and evaluate what we need to do to get the courses open."
Szarek usually goes by the activity at the Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome to gauge how busy he expects the upcoming season to be at both golf courses. He says there was a line of people waiting to practice their shots at the dome when he was there this past week.
"We have over 30 spots for people to hit balls at our golf dome, and the downstairs and upstairs ranges were both full for the whole day," Szarek said. "It's a great place to be, even on a day like today where the sun's out but still a little cool."
Opening day for both Brighton and Sheridan golf courses are normally set for May 1, but Szarek admits the town is probably going to try and bump up the first day on the link a bit sooner than that. How much earlier will Szarek look to open both courses?
While he would love to get the courses open before May or at the end of April, Szarek says the town has to be careful about opening up too early.
"My goal is to make sure those courses are in great shape, because honestly, our Sheridan course is one of the premier courses in Western New York. If it's not in tip-top shape when the golfers come on at the end of April, we get a lot of complaints," he said. "Even our Brighton course, which is a little easier to play, we want to make sure that's clean and safe for all the golfers. But we're very excited about the nicer weather, and we're going to take a look at the next couple of weeks and see how it looks. Maybe we can sneak a couple days in there."
Meanwhile, the links are officially open at Audubon Golf Course on Maple Road in Amherst. Golfers have been out on the course for the last couple of weeks with the warmer weather, which is the earliest course manager Nick Dowhan can ever remember.
"It's been a fantastic jolt of energy this early on in the season. We've been managing Audubon here for the past four seasons, and this is, by far, the earliest start we've gotten to a golf season here," said Dowhan in an interview with WBEN. "Between membership, public and league play, everyone's super excited to get the season rolling early."
Despite being open for golfers this early, Dowhan says it's still a bit too wet on the course to allow for golf carts just yet.
"We're actually looking to put golf carts on the course this time next week, which is probably going to be a record-breaking occasion for Audubon with the allowance of golf carts this early in the season. I don't think we've ever let them out this early before," Dowhan said.
For some golfers, this past week was the first time they've hit the links for a round with the weather officially warming up. For others, they've already taken advantage in the process of honing in their game early this season.
"Just being able to get out here this early, I don't think anyone probably really expected it," said resident Tom Pannullo. "Buffalo weather, it can be very unpredictable, but just being able to be out here in 50 degree weather is awesome. No complaints."
"It's a beautiful day. You've gotta get out whenever you can," said Amherst resident Josh. "We're in Buffalo, so take advantage of this weather, get a good early start to the golf season so that when we get to mid-season, I'm really primed and ready to go."
Although the course is not quite at its peak form this early in the year, golfers certainly feel it's manageable, especially for it being the early parts of March in Western New York.
"It gets challenging, a little tricky when it's a little wet, but nothing you can't push through. It actually makes you a better golfer to get that kind of environment," Josh said. "I'm pretty happy to be out here. The sun is shining, so I think that's the most important thing here for me."
As the days keep going by, crews at Audubon Golf Course are keeping an eye on the two-week weather forecast, which is already looking promising for the weather to break for the better.
"We're bringing in all the staff earlier than ever before, and everyone's just really excited to get spring underway. Hopefully, the weather continues and we have a beautiful summer as well," Dowhan said.
Are those hitting the links ready to declare winter over and spring officially here?
"Absolutely. I'm ready to put the winter coats away and bring out the shorts and t-shirts," Pannullo said. "I'm really hoping that the groundhog - whatever his name is, Phil - hoping that he was right this year."
"Winter is definitely over, it's definitely springtime here," Josh agreed. "I mean, it's not going to be in the upper 60s and 70s consistently, but whenever you get sunshine, as long as it's over 40 degrees, you're gonna find me out here and a lot of these golfers out here, so we're good."