Foiled fore! Major golf courses in St. John's still not open

There's something missing from the major golf courses in the St. John's area this spring — golfers.

"Mother Nature was not very nice to us this year," said Jamie Moran, general manager of Bally Haly Country Club.

"We had a lot of ice coverage that came in early December and didn't leave for the entire season."

Moran said grass can survive up to 60 days covered in ice, but this year, there were 100. 

"What ice does, it suffocates the grass and kills it. We have a lot of death on the golf course." 

The two courses at Clovelly, also in the east end of St. John's, are also still closed because of ice coverage on the fairways and greens.

So is Glendenning in the west end of the city and the two courses in Pippy Park.

Over on the driving range at Clovelly, Brent Rolph, a member for three years, is working on his swing in anticipation of finally hitting the links.

"You like to get out as soon as you can, but I guess you have to take care of the grass too," said Rolph.

Grass isn't the only thing hurting

Normally, the courses would have been open for a week or two by now and Moran said they are all taking a financial hit.

"I think golf in general has suffered in the St. John's region. We'd be busy this time of year. Our members would have joined by now," he said.

Clovelly, Glendenning, and Bally Haly are all private/public courses which have members, but also permit non-members to pay green fees to play a round.  

Glendenning management said they will be offering members some form of credit because of the delayed opening, though the exact figure is still being worked out. 

Judy Dobbin, co-owner of Clovelly, said members there will be given a 16 per cent credit of their membership fee that can be used in the club's restaurant and pro-shop.

Bring on the heat

Glendenning's general manager Patti Hamilton said it will probably be a couple of weeks before the course will open. 

For its part, Clovelly's game plan is to have it's smaller Black Duck course open on May 26, and the larger Osprey course open on June 15.

Pippy Park is also hoping to open on May 26.

Bally Haly's Moran said ultimately, Mother Nature is in control. 

"We need more heat. We need to get some more grass growing out there to have have a better idea. We are probably still two weeks away from knowing for sure when we'll open," he said. 

"The quicker we can get people out there, the better."

In the meantime, 18-year Bally Haly member Brian Grant is trying to keep his game in shape on the driving range. While he's itching to get out on the course, he is philosophical about the slow season start.

"There's not much we can do about that unfortunately. I'll just have to play more often," Grant said, laughing.

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