(File Photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

On the Links

Melfort Golf and Country Club hoping for April 17 opening

Apr 9, 2021 | 3:06 PM

The Melfort Golf and Country Club is hoping to open in just over a weeks’ time.

General manager Kevin Ryhorchuk told northeastNOW Saturday, April 17 is the goal to open the course for the 2021 golf season. It’s about a month earlier than the 2020 golf season as government and health authorities didn’t allow courses to open until they gave the green light. This season, courses are allowed to open as they see fit.

Ryhorchuk said the course itself is looking good and should be excellent by opening.

“I think it wintered fairly well,” he said. “Just now once they put the first cut to it, then start getting some warm weather and some water to it, I think we’ll be ok.”

The 2020 golf season saw a number of new restrictions and ways to play the game due to COVID-19. It included elevated cups to avoid having the golf ball drop completely into the cup, social distancing measures, no ball washers, and no large gatherings. Most of those measures will be in place once again, and Ryhorchuk said to start the season, the kitchen will not be fully functional, but there will be sandwiches, drinks, and some confectionary for the golfers.

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Ryhorchuk said they hope to see the ability to gather again soon.

“Hopefully that’ll change back to the way it used to be,” he said. “But for the time being, as long as we can get out and golf, I think we’ll be ok.”

Tournaments are now permitted in Saskatchewan, according to a recent government announcement, but award presentations and receptions must be done virtually. Shotgun starts are now allowed with one group of four allowed on a tee box at a time.

Since tee times are also mandatory for the golf season, the club has started using a new online tee time booking system through Tee-on golf.

“They still can call us, that’s not a problem,” Ryhorchuk said. “But that’s just one way of helping out everybody.”

Ryhorchuk said to keep an eye on the Melfort Golf and Country Club Facebook page for more updates on the opening of the course.

The driving range is expected to open at the same time as the course itself.

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mat.barrett@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6