‘Yippee!’ Woodbury Municipal Golf Course Opens For The Season

“'Yippee!' and that kind of stuff.”

That was the reaction from local golfers after put the word out that it would open this week, according to Dan Moris, head golf pro at the Woodbury course.

The city-owned course was expected to open at noon on Wednesday, but the superintendent said the front nine looked good to go and would open at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

“This is early,” Moris said.

He said the only time Eagle Valley Golf Course opened earlier was 2000, when March 7 marked the first time golfers could hit the links there.

Across Woodbury on Tuesday, people were out bicycling, walking the city’s trail system or chipping away at the practice green at Eagle Valley.

Meanwhile, at Prestwick Golf Club, the golf course and driving range is set to open March 20. Spring rates are $45 without cart and $55 with cart. Golfers can call 651-731-4779 for tee times.

Forecasts for Woodbury call for a high of 75 Wednesday, with highs at or near 70 the rest of the week.

The rain on Sunday night into Monday helped the grounds at Eagle Valley thaw out, which is the biggest factor for when the course opens, Moris said. That and having the snow completely melted.

“This year, it didn’t matter—the winter was so mild that there wasn’t a lot of frost (in the ground),” he said.

Some courses are more aggressive, trying to be the first to open for the season, but Eagle Valley is more conservative, Moris said. “We want to protect the turf.”

The back nine at Eagle Valley should open on Thursday, but that too could be moved up with the good weather, Moris said, adding that the greens seem to have come through the winter better this year than last.

About 50 golfers are expected on Wednesday, with another 200 or so over the weekend. Carts are still not allowed on the course, but that will likely change soon, Moris said.

Because people can’t golf year-round in Minnesota, there’s an extra bit of excitement at Eagle Valley each spring when the weather turns, Moris said.

Moris also touted the . And its Royal Club, which gives an extra incentive for Woodbury residents to hit the local course. “(The deal) pretty much beats every other course out there,” he said.

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