Golfers revel in unseasonably warm winter temperatures

Though a winter storm is bringing blizzard conditions to the midwest and northeast areas of the country in the coming days, golfers have been taking advantage of unseasonably warm winter temperatures by playing December rounds of golf.

From Ohio to New York, snow has been melting and courses have been opening to welcome golfers eager to get an unexpected round in over the holidays.

In western Michigan, pre-Christmas temperatures over 50 degrees inspired Maple Hill Golf Course in Grandville to reopen for interested players. The course usually closes for the season in late October.

At central New York’s Lyndon Golf Course in DeWitt, an estimated 40 rounds of golf were played on Friday, where melted snow and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees allowed for carts to be used.

In Alle Kiski, Penn., recent temperatures soared into the high 50s and low 60s, while Columbus, Ohio, hosted 147 rounds at Raymond Memorial Golf Course on Thursday.

“It’s like a Saturday in July,” said Marty Schlichar, who works at Reis Park Golf Course in Springfield, Ill., which had its warmest Christmas since 1982.  “It’s just been crazy.”

Unfortunately, the impending aforementioned storm will likely bring an end to the freakishly warm weather in the coming days, but for many golfers who live in cold areas of the country, the holiday heat-up was a most welcome treat.

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