NEWS

Golfers line up for late-November golf in Minnesota

By Kristi Belcamino
Published on
Golfers line up for late-November golf in Minnesota

Golfers hit the greens in swarms at Phalen Park Golf Course this weekend after a stretch of warmer weather spurred the facility to re-open.

People eager to tee off lined up out the door and around the corner today.

"I've had someone on the tee box every eight minutes since 8:30 a.m.," said Steve Slaikeu, who was working in the pro shop.

He estimates that around 1:30 p.m. there were 350 golfers on the course.

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"It's been really busy today even with the fog and everything," he said. "I've been packing the tee. It's just crazy. Everybody is having a great time."

A voice message at the course says that the golf is available first come, first serve and warns that four greens have minor snow cover, "but, hey it is the end of November."

There have been no complaints. Everybody is just happy to golf the last week of November.

"The feedback I'm getting is that the course is in superlative condition given the time of year," Slaikeu said. "The greens are in good shape ... people are really enjoying themselves."

The course re-opened last year, as well, after a string of 45-degree days in early December.

Saturday's high hit 46 degrees, about 10 degrees higher than normal, according to Eric Ahasic, of the National Weather Service.

On Sunday, temperatures reached into the low 40s, again about 10 degrees higher than the average high, he said.

Slaikeu said the golf course will decide each day this week whether to remain open.

"Tomorrow it looks like a rainy day so it could be rained out," he said. He suggested people to call first.

Rain is expected to swoop in Sunday with the heaviest downpour between 7 and 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The moisture will bring higher temperatures with it. The mercury will soar Monday to an expected high of 52 degrees.

Spotty showers will linger on and off through Thursday with temperatures remaining between 35 and 45 degrees most of the week.