We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
These four duffers were found on the Chinook Country Club golf course this past Saturday. The foursome of (L-R) Charlie Hergesheimer, Cal Laudermilk, Matt Williams and Jim Gallus have played the local course for years, even once on New Years day. This year though is the first that any of them could recall the course being played by as many as thirty people a day for the majority of February. The high school golf teams will begin using the course on March 14.
Josiah Wiig, Mike Seymour and Brent Schellin prepare to take advantage of the weather and get a round in at the local course. Above right, Matt Williams hits his drive off number eight tee box Saturday afternoon. The course has been played daily the last three weeks of February an occurrence that many who have played the hi-line links for years can't recall being able to do before.
Golf enthusiast have been able to enjoy the game considerably early than before as temperatures reached into the sixties last week.
The stretch of warm weather has brought many locals to break out their clubs and find a course to play on.
The Chinook Golf and Country Club nine hole course has certainly been one that has attracted people to come play.
People of all ages have ventured out to play the course in recent weeks. Nine year old Alexus Seymour has joined her dad, Chinook High School golf coach Mike Seymour, for a few February rounds.
Charlie Hergersheimer, Cal Laudermilk, Jim Gallus and Matt Williams have played the local course for years and this fabulous foursome has enjoyed several February rounds for the first time.
"This is my fourth time out this year," said Laudermilk. "I've golfed New Years day before so it's not completely out of the world."
"I think there would be even more people out here if it wasn't for the wind, but in February, I've never seen it like this," added Laudermilk.
"It was a zoo out here Friday, it was like a league night," said Gallus.
Hergerscheimer recalled a time in 1997, "We were able to play a few rounds then, it was pretty open, but not like this."
"We played a few rounds in January that year," added Gallus. "We played New Years day and had an Australian with us."
"This is the first time I have ever been out here in February like this," stated Williams. "I've heard of a lot of people playing the course right now."
"We've had more people out here this week than you have on a Saturday or Sunday at times in the summer," concluded Laudermilk.
The weather has allowed the course to be played by a number of local high school kids as well, "It's a unique situation we have right now," said Seymour.
"A few years ago the kids had to practice in the high school gym and at the Impact Zone until the end of April it seemed," added Seymour.
While the team faced a tough time getting on the course then, February has more than made up for it with this years group, "It's a great situation, hopefully the course comes along, we get some moisture and the kids, along with everyone else can get out and play a few rounds," concluded Seymour.
Course president Jeff Finley is pleased with the course and people playing it, "It's great to see people enjoying the course and in February no less."
Brent Schellin who has played the course for many years can remember playing a round in each month of the year, "I've played a few times in January, and February but to be able to play for several weeks and to have this many people on the course, I haven't seen that.
"The high school golf team will begin practice on March 14 with their first competition to take place the end of March.
The Sugarbeeters will host their own invitational the first week of May which is usually also the first week of local Men's and Woman's golf leagues.
Under normal circumstances local golfers are just breaking out their clubs and working the kinks out of their swings in early may but they way 2016 has began those same golfers may be in mid-season form the first week of League play.
