Mother Nature was kind to the Birchbank Golf Course this winter, and with the expertise of course superintendent Greg Kennedy the greens and fairways are in great shape, the course ready to play.
Despite a gentle interlude of snow Wednesday, area golfers have been working out the kinks on the Birchbank driving range since Monday and after a forgettable spring last season, the course is scheduled to open today (weather permitting).
With golf carts and golfers revved up and ready to hit the fairways, all holes and greens at Birchbank are in play, and the course opening weeks ahead of last year’s schedule.
“Everything looks good, we treated with my winter fungicide, almost perfect control,” said Kennedy.
And while the practice putting green took a bit of a hit from being in the shade, the rest of the putting surfaces are almost perfect says Kennedy.
“The playable greens are all in great shape, and the fairways when the sun comes up and green up things will be really good. We had a good winter, right off the bat we had a snow cover and we didn’t have any freezing, like rain, freezing, thawing, freezing, thawing. It was fairly mild and with the good snow cover, it protected it. But everything was done the same the year before it was just Mother Nature, she was good to us this year.”
To welcome spring and celebrate the early opening, Birchbank is slashing the prices on green fees, offering 25 per cent off until the end of April. In addition, any new golfers wishing to become a member will have the $500 initiation fee waived, and family memberships will also have free access to the driving range for the season.
“Then in May right through September we’ll have green-fee specials almost every day and all the long weekends,” said business manager Kelly Rintoul.
Dennis Bradley returns to the pro shop with a full line of golf clubs and accessories, from Nike, Callaway, Titleist, Taylor Made, and more as well as the expertise to custom fit all makes and model to your swing.
“We’ve got a big selection and we have some deals where we are the only ones in the area to carry those products,” said Bradley.
In addition to a great selection and exclusive rights, the pro shop will also meet all Golf Town prices.
“We need to be competitive so now if someone needs a Ping putter or a Nike driver they don’t need to go to Kelowna to get it,” added Bradley.
A highlight of the season is the B.C. Boys High School golf championships slated for June and the Trail Smoke Eaters return to the links for its annual fundraiser.
“I think after last year, people will just appreciate it even more,” added Rintoul. “With the course condition, and the specials, we are all excited about the season.”
Birchbank is also hiring in the pro shop and the new restaurant that is set to open in early April.
Like Birchbank Golf on FaceBook and be entered to win special prize draws.
Tee times and driving range open at 10 a.m.