Golfers will be able to begin booking tee times as early as 6 a.m. on Tuesday for the first rounds of the season at the local 18-hole layout, but like every course in the city and province, things are going to be very, very different.
And for pro shop manager Dwight Bearchell, that’s all fine and well if they at least have a chance to finally swing the clubs.
“We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “I think everyone is aware of what the situation is, we just want everyone to manage their social distancing and that kind of stuff as well as follow all the rules that will be in place.”
The Lynbrook will open tee times to all players, both members and non-members, on Tuesday. All players must book ahead, seeing as no walk-ons are allowed, and tee times must be booked three days in advance.
“As more tee times become available we’ll alter that for members,” Bearchell said. “Right now, members and non-members have the same opportunity because they both support the club, so we thought we’d give everyone the same chance to get on the course. That’s fair to everybody.”
The first groups will go off at the aforementioned 6 a.m. tee time on the 15th, with an 18-hole foursome on the front nine and nine-hole group on the back. After that, it’ll be every 12 minutes on the front nine -- an improvement to the 20 minute tee times originally mandated as per government regulations in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Phase 1 plan.
And before you ask, that format is strict as can be.
“We’re hoping they reduce that as time goes on, but we don’t want to mess that up,” Bearchell said. “We’ll have marshalls out there on a full-time basis to make sure we don’t mess it up, because there would be some heavy duty fines involved and if it’s bad enough they’ll shut down the course.
“But I think it’s fair; people just have to follow the rules and we have signs all over the place out there saying just that.”
Tee times can be booked through Chronogolf.ca or by calling the pro-shop, with payment available over the phone, online and by debit at the course. Cash can not be accepted, as per government guidelines.
Folks driving on Ninth Avenue toward Thatcher have seen for themselves the kind of shape the Lynbrook is in, with the extra time to prepare having been put to good use. It all means things should be in excellent condition when May 15 hits.
“The course is looking great, and we still have another week to go on it. I know we’ve had a lot of people out there walking, no one out there carrying golf clubs, and people have been saying it looks like it’s in great shape,” Bearchell said. “The other day you could almost sit back and watch the course change colour, then if we get this rain they’re talking about this weekend, that’ll improve it even more.”
For more information, check the Lynbrook website or find them on Facebook for the latest up-to-date info.
