Golfers Taking Advantage Of Nice Weather

by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
November 19, 2012 5:54 PM


For those living in the Midwest outdoor sports normally aren’t taking place in mid November. But for the second year in a row that is not the case.

 "It's pretty amazing. (In) South Dakota you don’t get a whole lot of opportunities to play golf in November,” said Ray Heidenson, who was golfing at Bakker Crossing Golf Course.

Ray Heidenson and Marlin Wangsness were golfing at Bakker Crossing Golf Course in Tea.

The two say they wanted to drive a few balls before putting together their Thanksgiving sermons.
    
"The last couple years have been a little nicer, and it’s nice to get out,” said Heidenson.

"It's beautiful out here for November. We can have a few like this in December and January it would be great,” said Marlin Wangsness, who was also golfing at Bakker Crossing Golf Course.

Jason Crisp, the assistant golf professional at the course said with the nice weather, golfers can expect to be able to tee off for quite some time.      

“We know, we are expecting almost 70 degrees, so we expect to see a lot of people out there. We are getting the carts back out for them,” said Jason Crisp, assistant golf professional at Bakker Crossing Golf Course.

In Sioux Falls at Elmwood Golf Course, over 100 golfers were busy enjoying the weather.
 
“Obviously to be open around Thanksgiving is pretty rare, although its been two years now that good weather has come this time of the year,” said Tom Jansa, President of Dakota Golf Management.      
      
Tom Jansa, President of Dakota Golf Management said normally a season starts the beginning of April and continues through the beginning of November.

But the 2012 season has been one for the record books.  

“We golfed every month last year and we golfed in January of this year and opened March 8. February was the only month we didn’t play golf,” said Jansa.

Gordon Eggebraaten said he didn’t take advantage of the eleven months of golfing he could have had.

"I usually don't play much in the winter time,” said Gordon Eggebraaten, who was golfing at Elmwood Golf Course.

But for the 2013 season, he’s had a change of heart.

"I hope we can play all winter,” said Eggebraaten.

And if we have a warm winter again, he just might be able to.
   
Elmwood Golf Course will be open through November 28, including Thanksgiving Day. Bakker Crossing will be open through the weekend as well. Both may stay open longer, depending on what the weather does.