Dave Caron makes his putt on the 10th green at East Mountain Country Club. (Photo from Mark Perez)
WESTFIELD – The arrival of harsh temperatures during the winter tends to cause people to stay inside, but a popular hobby outdoors, has made quite the early return at one local establishment.
East Mountain Country Club announced on Jan. 12 that they would be re-opening their golf course for play due to the warmer conditions.
According to co-owner Mark Perez, the course was shut down last year for maybe 10 days all winter. This year, East Mountain Country Club closed in the middle of December.
“We’re surprised to be open,” said Perez. “To get this (warm weather) two years in a row is kind of nice.”
Just before the decision was made to open the course back up, a couple of workers along with Perez went out on the course and cleaned up the greens.
Since Jan. 12, Perez says that they have been averaging 40 to 50 players a day.
Larry Lanier chips onto the green at East Mountain Country Club on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Depending on what Mother Nature has in store throughout the winter, Perez never expects the course to open in the winter.
“This time of year you don’t expect anything,” said Perez. “You’ll take whatever you can get.”
A number of avid golfers have taken advantage of the opportunity to play golf in January.
“It’s great for guys like me,” said Dave Caron, who was just finishing up his round. “You don’t want to sit around the house.”
For Larry Lanier, he has plenty of experience with playing golf in the winter, as he has done so since the 1980’s.
While going onto the next tee box, Lanier talked about how the frozen ground on the course and the cold temperatures has its positive and negative effects.
“It’s great for the drives,” said Lanier. “The big problem is judging how far you can hit it.”
Dennis Bajek was another golfer on the course that was seen playing on Tuesday morning. Although Bajek certainly enjoyed the exercise, he was able to say that the cold weather conditions also made his round enjoyable.
“I’m doing a little bit better than I normally do,” said Bajek.
Perez noted that very little circumstances regarding the weather will stop his country club from allowing golfers on the course.
“The only thing that closes us is snow,” said Perez.
Perez and the rest of the East Mountain Country Club staff will take this part of the season, week by week, and hope that Mother Nature continues to be in the golfer’s favor.
