After more than a foot of snow fell on Steamboat Springs, Colo., late last week, the Steamboat Golf Club, Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club and Haymaker Golf Course all closed their doors. Steamboat GC has already reopened while Rollingstone Ranch GC plans to open its front nine by October 9.
The late-week storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on Steamboat Springs, Colo., forced some early closures for area golf courses, but most of the links aren’t keeping their doors locked for long, the Steamboat Pilot & Today reported.
Steamboat Golf Club shut down when the snow accumulated and the temperatures dropped below freezing, but it reopened the course to the public October 6, the Pilot & Today reported.
Likewise, Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club shut down but plans to at least open its front nine by October 9, Director of Golf Brian Thorne said.
Haymaker Golf Course shut down first thing on October 4 but reopened its practice areas and driving range the following Monday, October 7. Haymaker employee Ryan Luttrell said the entire course likely would reopen Wednesday, the Pilot & Today reported.
Thorne and his assistant have never seen winter conditions like the snowstorm quite this early in the season, he said. Rollingstone Ranch tries to weather the inclement conditions as long as possible, but the staff does circle a tentative shutdown date each year, the Pilot & Today reported.
“Typically, I do the third Sunday in October,” Thorne said. “We’ll keep it open when we can. The 27th was kind of our D-Day this year though.”
Steamboat Golf Club incoming General Manager Seann Conway said his course takes similar action, setting a tentative date for the Sunday closest to Halloween, which is November 3. But because Steamboat Golf Club is the farthest west and lowest elevation of all the local courses, Conway said it can attract golfers later into the season—even members from other Steamboat clubs, the Pilot & Today reported.
“Sunday was a little light; folks didn’t quite believe we were open,” Conway said about the course’s reopening. “But now the word has gotten out, we were really busy today. We saw some members from the Rollingstone Ranch and some surrounding courses out. It’s just a beautiful day to be out. It’s great weather.”
But as the golf-friendly weather begins to fade, at least a few courses will be operating at special rates to squeeze the last little bit of play they can. Steamboat Golf Club will drop to $35 for 18 holes and $24 for nine holes. Rollingstone Ranch is running a locals-only special of $75 every day of the week, the Pilot & Today reported.
As wintry conditions have ascended on the valley, course general managers are gearing up operations to preserve their courses for the dormant months ahead, the Pilot & Today reported.
“The guys are busy. The outside staff is busy getting the course prepared for winter,” Conway said. “The crew will stay busy getting the course ready to be put to bed for the winter season.”
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