NEWS

Wisconsin golf courses are opening this February for golf, seriously

By Jacob Carpenter
Published on
Wisconsin golf courses are opening this February for golf, seriously

It's not a bad lie: Wisconsin golfers will be able to hit the links this weekend.

Three county golf courses in Milwaukee and Waukesha will be open for business Friday, as temperatures are expected to approach record highs over the weekend.

Duffers can putter around Grant Golf Course in South Milwaukee, Lincoln Golf Course in Glendale and Moor Downs Golf Course in Waukesha throughout the weekend and likely into next week, as long as the weather holds up. High temperatures are expected to range from the high 40s on Friday to the mid-50s on Saturday and Sunday, with mostly sunny skies forecasted.

Joe Mrozinski, assistant chief of business development for Milwaukee County Parks, said Grant and Lincoln golf courses will stay open "as long as Mother Nature allows."

 

 

"For February, the courses are in fantastic shape, but they're definitely in winter mode right now," Mrozinski said.

The one hitch in this early open: top-flight golfers might be disappointed in their three options. The trio of courses are all on the shorter side, with Grant Golf Course topping out at 5,200 yards, Moor Downs Golf Course checking in at about 2,700 yards for nine holes, and Lincoln measuring 2,600 yards for nine holes.

Nevertheless, it's a rare opportunity to waggle the sticks before winter has checked out. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's forecasted high of 56 degrees in Milwaukee will flirt with the Feb. 18 record of 57 degrees, set in 1877.

Grant and Lincoln golf courses were chosen because they have more sand in the soil compared to other Milwaukee County tracks, better facilitating drainage, Mrozinski said.

Tee times in Milwaukee County can be booked starting at 8 a.m. Friday. No golf carts will be allowed on the courses, though push carts will be available.

Rates will be $12 for nine holes and $18 for 18 holes at Grant, $10 at Lincoln and $5 at Moor Downs.