Golf is usually underway in Quesnel earlier than most northern B.C. communities, but this year really drives that point home.
April 5 was the first open day for the Quesnel Golf Club (QGC), for the entire front nine and the back nine not far behind.
The facilities at Richbar Nursery & Golf Gardens opened on April 6.
“This is almost a full two weeks in advance. We opened the driving range also two weeks earlier than last year,” said Kathy Gook, the director of golf operations at QGC.
The reason for the early commencement is the wintertime drought and warm seasonal temperatures.
“We all had a pretty good idea that it was going to be earlier than last year,” Gook said. “Super good news from Brenda (McKeown, course superintendent) is that it is looking like all our greens came through the winter very well.”
Gook said QGC has put effort into an annual course improvement plan, in recent years, and hopes the prolonged dry weather won’t set that back. Unlike most sport and recreation facilities, a golf course is a living, breathing, drinking thing.
“Staff is presently working on getting a pump and water source going,” Gook said. “I do know there is always that concern about sufficient water to maintain the course, so we shall see as we open things up. This is always that fun part of the year for Brenda and her crew to see how the sprinklers have survived the winter.”
Both Quesnel golfing facilities have more than just golf to offer. Richbar is a nursery vending plants, trees and perennials, as well as their nine-hole course and licensed cafe.
The QGC has Bogie’s Kitchen, its own popular destination with Jen Collins in the manager’s chair. The club added new range hitting mats and a covered hitting area is in the works. The pro shop has a range of golf equipment and now pickleball equipment as well, and golf fitting sessions are on the retail menu.
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