It might say February on the calendar but for golfers it was spring all weekend at the Picture Butte Golf Club.
The course opened to play last Wednesday, Feb. 1 and drew the attention of both media and golfers from across the province and even nationally.
“We’ve received a number of calls from all over, across the province and out of the province,” said Head Pro Dean Sklarenko.
The decision to open early has provided great exposure for the club and Sklarenko said he’s had players call from B.C., Saskatchewan and all round Alberta.
Saturday golfers even traveled five hours from Edmonton just to take in the course’s winter opening.
Last month he said the staff were brainstorming over coffee and wondered if the course could actually be opened to take advantage of the unseasonably warm winter weather.
When Head Superintendent Clint Collier said it could be done the idea took off.
“We made a run for it.”
It took about three days of steady work to get the course prepared for the opening including a straight five hour stint to get the first nine holes open.
While it has been nice for the club to be the first to open, Sklarenko said he had no idea the opening would create such media attention.
“We didn’t know we were going to get the exposure we did.”
As soon as the opening hit the news last Tuesday he was instantly getting bookings.
“I haven’t been off the phone since.”
He said Wednesday and Thursday were steady and Friday, with the warmer temperatures, over 120 players took to the course. Saturday he had already put 100 players on the course by 11 a.m., 385 over the weekend and almost 500 since the course opened.
Sklarenko said this is the earliest the course has ever opened, coming on the heels of one of their latest openings.
In the six year’s he has been the head pro, last year’s April 24 opening was the latest start during his tenure.
Previously the earliest opening he’s been involved with at the club was March 11, 2007. He’s under no illusions winter weather won’t be returning at some point but the club plans to make good use of the warm temperatures while they hold.
He said at some if continued play will hurt the grounds they will close.
“If we can remain open we’ll remain open.

The early opening did meet with some skepticism from golfers. Sklarenko said some questioned if it was real, if it was a joke but were excited to get the chance to play in February when they learned the course really was opening.
For 12-year-old Liam Jevne the chance to play weekend golf in February with his dad Glen was “amazing”.
Glen heard the news on the radio and at first just didn’t believe it.
“I thought it must be getting close to April 1.”
But when he heard it again he told his son they were going golfing for the weekend. The pair made the five hour drive Friday night from Wetaskiwin, played a round Saturday and planned to play again Sunday before heading back home.
“I think it’s pretty amazing,” said Liam. “In Wetaskiwin it’s still covered in snow.”
He added he really thought his dad was joking when he said they were going golfing for the weekend.
Calgary’s Jonathan Bourchier said he went in early to work Saturday just so he could get down to Picture Butte to golf.
“I’ve been up since 4 a.m.”
He added it was wonderful and amazing to be able to play a round of golf in February.