This Weekend's Weather Provides a Business Boost After a Cold, Rainy October
TRAVERSE CITY -- Nothing says November like a round of golf! At least, this has been the case for the past several days.
Temperatures over the weekend either set records or came close in many areas of lower Michigan. Alpena broke a record from 1916 on Saturday with a high of 65 degrees. Gaylord set a record the following day when the mercury climbed to 64 degrees. Even warmer temperatures in the low 70's were reported in western Lower Michigan on Sunday.
For golf enthusiasts, it's a welcome change from the cold, rainy weather that defined October. At a time of year when many people start to put away their clubs, area golf courses, driving ranges, and pro shops have been seeing some extra business.
Doug Lichty, owner of the TC Golf Center, says, "We had some people coming in to practice over this weekend and we sold some clubs. We even got our first call about a Christmas gift. Someone was looking for a golf bag for their daughter."
At the Elmbrook Golf Course in Traverse City, the parking lot was overflowing with cars on Sunday according to Golf Director Bob Summers. "Customers usually complain about golf. They'll talk about how they have a sore ankle or hit the ball into the rough or something like that, but not this weekend! Everyone has been smiling and it's been one of the best weekends of the year, I think. We're doing really well."
While warm weather in November is unlkely to last too long, golfers will still have opportunities this week to get a tee time. Many golf courses will remain open as long as the weather permits. Summers says, "It's day to day. If we don't have three inches of snow on the ground, we'll be open."
