Business & Tech

Mild Winter Keeps Golfers on the Links

A fair-weather winter means business is up around county golf courses.

While area ski resorts are crying into their hot chocolate over this year's mild winter, other recreational sports businesses couldn't be happier.

With temperatures hitting the high 60s at times in January and the 50s on several February days, it seems that the golf season never ended for Potomac's and Darnestown's links and driving ranges.

"We have definitely been playing a lot of golf, relatively, for January and February," said TPC Potomac's head professional Jay Dufty. A membership club famed for its PGA tournaments, TPC Potomac saw 300 rounds of golf played this January, compared to just 40 in January of last year.

"We like it to be mild because we get an earlier start," he said.

Similarly, Darnestown's Bretton Woods golf course has seen a stiff increase, head golf pro Jim Napier said.

"In 2011, the month of January saw virtually zero [rounds played]," Napier said. "We've probably done 300 to 400 rounds this January."

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Quince Orchard freshman golfer Colton Christensen is one player taking advantage of the weather at the Darnestown course. The 15-year-old has played on average once per week this winter compared to once per month in 2011, he said.

"It has given me a great opportunity to continue working on my golf game through the winter, something we usually don't get in Maryland," Christensen said.

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Montgomery County has been benefiting from the increase in playing time as well. The county revenue authority runs nine golf courses throughout the area and has seen around a 25 percent increase in business this winter, according to Wayne Rohauer, director of golf operations.

"It's definitely different this year," Rohauer said. "There have been numerous days where we've seen 150 rounds of golf this year."

Driving ranges have been pretty busy as well, with business up 10 to 15 percent, he said.

Rohauer attributed the increase to this year's fair-weather winter, but he considers the higher temperatures "a double-edged sword." The extra revenue is great for additions and improvements to the courses, but the increased traffic doesn't give the county's greens much time for rest and recovery, and some courses can get muddy during the winter months.

"Golf courses tend to take a bit of a beating," Rohauer said. "A perfect winter would bring a little bit of snow to insulate the grass and the grounds."

The county has alternated opening and closing its courses to allow golfers to enjoy the weather, while making the necessary time for repairs, according to Keith Miller, executive director of the revenue authority. This spring, golfers may see a little more repair work on the grounds than usual, but the work shouldn't affect game times.

Although Montgomery County finally saw some real winter weather this weekend, with a flash freeze affecting most of the area, warmer temperatures should come back in the later part of this week, meaning the golf courses will again be open for business.

North Potomac-Darnestown Patch editor Greg Cohen contributed to this report.


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