By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
The warm temperatures this weekend may have put the kibosh on the Grand Rapids Griffins’ Great Skate Winterfest and other winter activites, but the unseasonably warm weather is bringing good news for golfers.
The Kent County Parks Department announced today that Kaufman Golf Course, which is located in Wyoming at 4807 Clyde Park Ave. SW, announced last week that it would be open for walking play only for the next three days, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, Feb. 18 – 20. Reservations can be made by calling 616-538-5050. Online reservations are not available at this time.
“Kaufman Golf Course has a reputation as a great course among the golfing community,” said Parks Department Director Roger Sabine. “We’ve seen turnout grow in recent years. The staff at Kaufman have really helped keep this course in phenomenal shape and one of the top public courses in the state.”
Rates for these special February dates are $19 for 18 holes, or $13 for nine holes. Seniors can play 18 for $15, nine holes for $10.
For more information about all of the Kent County Parks, visit www.kentcountyparks.org.
Several private courses will be open as well this weekend.
“This is probably about the third time in 20 some years that we have been open in February,” said Mike Boogaard, owner and operator of Pines Golf Course, 5050 Byron Center Ave. SW. This weekend, Pines Golf Course will be open and allowing carts, probably one of the few courses that will be doing so, Boogaard said.
If both weather and course conditions allow it, Boogaard said, then he will open the course. “And the phone has been ringing pretty steady asking if we are going to be open,” he said. For available tee times, call 616-538-8380.
The same holds true about conditions for other courses as well. Maple Hill Golf Course, 5555 Ivanrest SW, has facilities open throughout the year and its course will be open for walking only during the warm weather, according to sources at Maple Hill. For more on Maple Hill, call 616-538-0290.
Several of the golf pros did recommend that if you are interested in taking advantage of the the warm weather by getting in a game that you call the course you are interested in first to check available tee times.
