Golf courses prepping ahead of warm temperatures
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
Rhode Islanders are getting ready to head outside as our first taste of spring is coming this week.
Sunday was a quiet day at the North Kingstown Golf Course with the exception of a few bundled up golfers, but come later this week, these fairways will be packed with people.
"We know we’re gonna get hit hard. We’re one of the more popular golf courses in the state,” said Tom Bouchard of the North Kingstown Golf Course.
The course officially opened for the season last week, but with sixty and even seventy degree days in the forecast, staff like Tom Bouchard know the first thing several New Englanders want to do is hit the links.
"The maintenance crew and the golf course staff getting ready,” said Bouchard.
They’re calling in extra workers, bringing out additional golf carts and most importantly, perfecting the greens.
"Driving around picking up all kinds of winter blow down, cleaning off the greens, raking up the bunkers, trying to make it as if it were summer ready,” Bouchard said.
And this week, it could feel like summer. This winter has been one of the warmest meteorological winters ever. This time last year, there was still plenty of snow on the ground and golf courses were nowhere near ready to open.
"It’s an economic win for the town, we get to get our season started early, and it just plays better for everyone,” said Bouchard.
© WLNE-TV 2016
