Getting back into the swing of things

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Photo by Eoin Devereux. Jeanie Lee of Neepawa takes advantage of the warm weather on Monday, May 2 getting in a round of golf  at the Neepawa Golf & Country Club.

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

The recent warm weather has allowed golf enthusiasts to get back out on the greens, as the  Neepawa Golf & Country Club (NGCC) has opened for the summer. Early on, the cooler conditions across the region did not make a round of 18 that much of a pleasurable experience, but CPGA head golf professional for the NGCC, Landon Cameron, said that the weather is finally starting to cooperate. Cameron said that has allowed the course to come into form a bit quicker than usual.

“The tee boxes and greens are already in mid-summer condition,” said Cameron. “This is the best I have seen the golf course look in the spring. The greens all wintered very well and everything else is taking shape, just needed a bit of heat to green it up.”

There were no major changes to the course to start the year, though Cameron did note that staff and volunteers have been doing some clearing of the brush and bushes along the river banks to improve the sight lines.

As for major tournaments or events that are set for 2016, Cameron said they’re looking forward to hosting the CN Future Links Prairie Classic. That is a junior event that is run by Golf Canada and sees top golfers from across western Canada compete. It’ll be held at NGCC from Friday, June 10 to Sunday, June 12. Cameron said it will be nice for the club and the community in general to be on display on a national stage. Some of the other events of note for the season include the annual Senior Men’s tournament on July 11,  the opening round of the two day Desert Classic Men’s Open on July 30 (day two will be held in Carberry) and the Ladies Sunflower Fall Classic on Sept. 10. A complete list of the course’s tournament schedule can been seen at the Neepawa Golf website.

As for the membership, Cameron noted that they have a large and loyal group of golfers who have been very happy with what they’ve seen so far. He said what he’s heard the most is that they’re just excited to be getting out on the course and enjoying the sunshine and scenery.

Correction: Tournament dates originally listed were the 2015 dates. The correct dates from 2016 have been added to the online edition. A correction will also be made in the Wednesday, May. 11 edition of the Neepawa Press