Unseasonably warm spring temperatures are being greeted with enthusiasm throughout the region, especially by those who enjoy the game of golf.
Pitcher's Pond golf course in Whiteway, Trinity South was bristling with activity over the weekend, with some 350 rounds played on the nine-hold facility on Saturday and Sunday, said manager Ray Tuck.
"It was one of the busiest weekends we ever had this early in the season," said Tuck, adding that the course is in "great" condition.
Temperatures reached into the low 20s over the weekend.
Pitcher's Pond is traditionally one of the first courses in the province to open, and this year was no exception. Tuck said the first players stepped to the tee on March 6, following a mild winter with very little snowfall.
He said one enthusiast showed up with a specialized propane heater in his enclosed golf cart, which is symbolic of the extremes some people will go to play the game.
With the rain and cold temperatures from summer 2011 still fresh in everyone's minds, outdoor enthusiasts are hoping that summer 2012 is more forgiving, and are encouraged by the early signs.
Many of those making their way around the course this past weekend were quick to point out that the recent cluster of warm days surpassed the entire month of June 2011.
Pitcher's Pond, which opened in 2005, is run by a board of directors. Tuck said all profits are reinvested into the course.
