BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – As the golf world turns its attention to the Masters Tournament, the season in Northeast Wisconsin is only just beginning.
At Ledgeview Golf Course, greens are starting to open, but inconsistent spring weather has led to a slow and soggy start. Periods of rain, cold temperatures and wind have forced course operators to constantly adjust plans.
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“In the last two weeks, it’s been a lot of start and stop, start and stop,” Ledgeview Golf Course owner Steve Payant said. “The toughest thing to do in the spring is communicate with everyone that yes, we are open, but we are walking only. Or yes, we have carts today but might not tomorrow.”
With several courses in the Green Bay area still closed, local high school and college teams are improvising. Athletes are traveling wherever they can find playable conditions to begin their seasons.
“You have schools from Gillett and Oconto, and Bay Port and Preble trying to get tee times because a lot of their courses are not open yet,” Payant said.
Players say the conditions have made early-season practice a challenge.
“It’s been pretty wet, cold and windy,” Green Bay East senior Tyler Arvey said. “We’ve gone out here as much as we can, but we’ve had to go a lot of places because a lot of courses in Wisconsin are not open right now.”
Despite the slow start, the excitement surrounding the Masters underway this week in Augusta is helping draw golfers out.
“Even if it’s a cold, cruddy night, people stop out and support us and watch the Masters,” Payant said. “It’s unbelievable to see how green it is there, and you look out here and it’s still brown. But pretty soon we will be there.”
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Conditions in Green Bay may not be up to par compared to those at Augusta National.
But for Wisconsin golfers eager to shake off winter, any opportunity to hit the links is enough to get back into the swing of things.
